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

To explore the community structure characteristics and survival status of the endemic plant Ilex jiangmenensis in the Gudoushan Provincial Nature Reserve of Jiangmen, Guangdong Province, in November 2025, In this study, three 400-square-meter plots were set up in the concentrated distribution area of I. jiangmenensis in the Gudoushan Provincial Nature Reserve of Jiangmen to investigate the tree layer, shrub layer and herb layer, and analyze the species composition, important values, diameter grade structure and overall community connectivity. The results show:（1）The species composition of the I. jiangmenensis community is rich. In the tree layer, 1,376 standing trees were recorded, belonging to 72 species of 50 genera and 34 families. The dominant species is Itea chinensis, and in the shrub layer, Rubus reflexus is the dominant species. The herbaceous layer is dominated by Gahnia tristis.（2）The diameter grade structure is distributed in an inverted "J" shape. Individuals with a diameter at breast height of 1-5 cm account for 71.80%, indicating good community renewal.（3）The overall connectivity analysis shows that the tree layer, shrub layer and herb layer all exhibit "overall insignificant correlation", and the relationships among species are relatively independent.（4）A total of 8 I. jiangmenensis plants were recorded in the investigation, with diameters at breast height ranging from 0.6 to 1.3 cm and heights from 0.4 to 1.6 meters. Research shows that I. jiangmenensis is not dominant in its community, with a small population size, but the community structure is stable. It is suggested to strengthen the long-term monitoring and protection of this species and its habitat to maintain the survival of its population.