Analysis on the Characteristics of the Associated Community of Ilex jiangmenensis in the Gudoushan Provincial Nature Reserve of Jiangmen in Guangdong Province

In order to explore the community structure characteristics and survival status of Ilex jiangmenensis, an endemic plant in Gudoushan Provincial Nature Reserve of Jiangmen, Guangdong Province, in November 2025, three 400-square-meter plots were set up to investigate the tree layer, shrub layer and herb layer in the concentrated distribution area of Ilex jiangmenensis in the Gudoushan Provincial Nature Reserve of Jiangmen, and the species composition, important value, diameter class structure and community overall connectivity were analyzed. The results showed that: (1) The species composition of Ilex jiangmenensis community was rich. There were 1 376 living standing trees recorded in the tree layer, belonging to 34 families, 50 genera and 72 species. The dominant species was Itea chinensis. In the shrub layer, Rubus reflexus was the dominant specie, and the herb layer was dominated by Gahnia tristis Nees. (2) The diameter class structure of Ilex jiangmenensis showed an inverted “J”' type distribution, and the individuals with the diameter at breast height of 1-5 cm accounted for 71.80 %, indicating that the community was well renewed. (3) The overall connectivity analysis showed that the tree layer, shrub layer and herb layer all exhibited the “overall insignificant correlation”, and the relationship among the species was relatively independent. (4) A total of 8 strains of Ilex jiangmenensis were recorded in the investigation, with the diameters at breast height ranging from 0.6 to 1.3 cm and tree height from 0.4 to 1.6 meters. The results showed that Ilex jiangmenensis was not dominant in its community, with a small population size, but the community structure was stable. It was suggested that the long-term monitoring and protection of the species and its habitat should be strengthened to maintain its population survival.