[Spatial distribution patterns and intraspecific and interspecific spatial associations of population in Shennongjia, China].

is one of the dominant species in the evergreen broad-leaf forest on the southern slope of Shennongjia. The study of spatial distribution pattern and spatial correlation of population will help to understand population development and potential ecological processes, as well as the structure and biodiversity maintenance mechanism of evergreen broad-leaf forests at the northern edge of the subtropics. Based on forest dynamic monitoring data from one 1 hm permanent plot on the southern slope of Shennongjia, we employed pair correlation functions () and marked correlation functions to analyze the diameter structure of the population, spatial distribution patterns at different diameter classes, and intraspecific and interspecific spatial associations. The results showed that diameter structure of population exhibited an inverted 'J'-shaped distribution, suggesting a healthy regeneration status and belonging to a growing population type. The spatial distribution showed a decreasing trend in aggregation with increasing diameter. Positive correlations among individuals strengthened with closer diameter classes, while weakening with larger diameter differences. Interspecific spatial associations showed an increasing correlation of with understory dominant species with increasing spatial scales, but no correlation was observed with canopy-dominant species. Our results suggested that the spatial pattern of populations on the southern slope of Shennongjia was mainly influenced by habitat filtering, seed dispersal limitation, and intraspecific and interspecific competition. Furthermore, the adaptive strategies of varied when they coexisted with different species.