Abstract: [Objective]The community structure and species diversity of natural secondary forests in West Hubei Province were studied in order to provide a basis for further understanding of the successional dynamics, community assembly rules, and vegetation restoration of the secondary of the mixed subtropical evergreen-deciduous broadleaf forests in China. [Method]Based on 48 forest dynamic plots (FDPs) in size of 20 m×20 m in Xingdoushan National Nature Reserve of the western regions of Hubei Province, community types were classified by using the clustering method and the indicator species were identified in each community type. Then, the community composition, species diversity and community structure were compared among different community types.[Result]The FDPs in Xingdoushan National Nature Reserve were categorized into three community types:Fagus lucida community (distributed from 1460 to 1670 m), Cornus controversa community (distributed from 1230 to 1500 m) and Carpinus fargesiana community (distributed from 1360 to 1450 m). The Nonmetric Multidimensional Scaling (NMS) results showed that there was the greatest difference in community composition between C. controversa community and F. lucida community. On the contrary, the species composition of C. fargesiana community was more close to the other two community types. The tree stem density in C. fargesiana community was significantly higher than those in C. controversa community, but there was no significant difference from F. lucida community. The basal area in C. controversa community was the lowest among the three community types but there was no significant difference between F. lucida community and C. fargesiana community. The species richness in C. controversa community was higher than that in the F. lucida community, but it did not show significant difference from C. fargesiana community. The deciduous species dominated all three-community types and reached at maximum percentage in C. controversa community. Among the three community types, more trees of greater than 10 cm in DBH (diameter at breast height) or 10 m in height occurred in F. lucida community. However, smaller tree stems were distributed in C. controversa community and C. fargesiana community.[Conclusion]The three communities were different in species composition and community structure. The F. lucida community was more similar to the originally distributed community in this region. C. controversa community was the secondary forests naturally restored after strong human disturbances. The C. fargesiana community was identified as an intermediate between C. controversa community and F. lucida community and might have greater potential for restoration.

Key words: evergreen-deciduous broadleaf mixed forest, secondary forest, community type, community composition, community structure, species diversity