Abstract: According to the data of 57 plots, Pinus tabulaeformis community from Wulu Mountain Nature Reserve was classified by TWINSPIN cluster analysis. Shannon-Wiener, Hurbert niche width and niche overlap of Morisita Index of the type of tree and shrub were calculated by utilizing the type of association as a resource axis. The results showed that P.tabulaeformis, Quercus wutainnesis and Acer ginnala had larger Shannon-Wiener values which were 1.656, 1.404 and 1.047, respectively and Hurbert niche width values were 0.948, 0.735 and 0.386, respectively, in the tree layer. Cotoneaster multiflorus, Spiraea pubescens, and Viburnum schensianum had larger Shannon-Wiener values which were 1.562, 1.401 and 1.300, respectively and Hurbert niche breadth values were 0.512, 0.447 and 0.389, respectively, in the shrub layer. The niche overlapping of tree layer included three degrees which consisted of high overlap, moderate overlap and low overlap, high overlap accounted for 6% (>0.8), moderate overlap accounted for 10% (0.6-0.8) and low overlap accounted for 84%. Besides, the niche overlapping of shrub layer also included three degrees which consisted of high overlap, moderate overlap and low overlap, high degree overlap accounted for 7% (>0.8), moderate overlap accounted for 10.39% (0.6-0.8), and low overlap accounted for 82.25%. As succession proceeding, P.tabuliformis had higher adaptability and the ability of using resources, and lower inter-specific competition in the local environment. However, the niches of some species obviously tended to specialize, the community was in the polled stage.

Key words: Pinus tabuliformis, niche, niche overlap, Wulu Mountain Nature Reserve