Types and characteristics of Cupressus funebris plantation communities in the hilly areas of central Sichuan Province

Cupressus funebris plantation is one of the main forest vegetation in the hilly areas of central Sichuan Province, which plays a pivotal role in biodiversity maintenance, water, and soil conservation, serving as an ecological security barrier for the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River. Studying the community characteristics and classification of C. funebris plantation in this area can provide reference for its scientific management. However, there is very little scientific knowledge on the characteristics of C. funebris plantation community. In this study, 20 typical C. funebris plantation sites were selected in the hilly areas of central Sichuan Province in 2021, and the community was investigated by the quadrat survey method. The community types and main characteristics of the Cupressus funebris plantations were quantitatively described, and the correlation between stand structure and topographic factors with understory species diversity was analyzed. The results showed that: (1) A total of 154 species of vascular plants were investigated, belonging to 70 families and 126 genera, including Lamiaceae, Fabaceae, Pteridaceae, Poaceae, Asteraceae, Rutaceae, Lauraceae, and Rosaceae, accounting for 34% of the total species. (2) Based on the life form and dominance of the community, the Cupressus funebris Forest Alliance was further classified into four association groups and nine associations. (3) Slope and stand density were significantly negatively correlated with understory species diversity index, and differences in stand density were the main factor contributing to the formation of the four association groups.