Abstract: To provide basis for effective utilization and protection of endangered plant Taxus chinensis var. mairei resources in Shanxi, this paper studied interspecific associations among 300 species pairs of 25 dominant species in T. chinensis var. mairei community by using χ² test, Pearson correlation and Spearman rank analysis in Lingchuan Nature Reserve in Shanxi. Moreover, the detrended correspondence analysis was used to carry out the division of ecological species groups of dominant species. The results showed that the number of negatively correlated pairs was greater than that of the positively correlated pairs for the dominant species of T. chinensis var. mairei community, indicating that dominant species in T. chinensis var. mairei community in Lingchuan Nature Reserve did not correlate with each other significantly. The community maturity was lower and structure stability was poorer. Thus, the community was still at the early or middle stage of succession. The correlation among most species in T. chinensis var. mairei community did not reach a significant level and the independence of species was relatively strong, which may be related to habitat heterogeneity, and the different biological characteristics and ecological needs of the different species. According to the adapting ways of the dominant populations in T. chinensis var. mairei community and the leading ecological factors in the help of DCA ordination, the 25 dominant species in the T. chinensis var. mairei community could be classified into three ecological species groups.

Key words: soil carbon pool, evergreen broad-leaved forest, Chinese chestnut plantation, land-use change.