Abstract:

The geographical distribution,area and higher plant resource status of the subalpine sphagnum mire in western Hubei Province of China were studied through remote sensing images analysis and field investigation in order to clarify the higher plant species diversity,higher plant association types and to reveal the characteristic of this kind of wetland.The result indicated that total area of the subalpine mire in western Hubei Province was 1 27869 hm2.It was mainly distributed in 4 protected areas,which included the Qizimei Mountains National Natural Reserve,the Dajiuhu Basin National Wetland Park,the Erxianyan Provinciallevel Nature Reserve and the Houhe National Reserve,and it was chiefly constituted by 8 patches.A total of 194 species (including varietas) belonging to 128 genera of 65 families were found in the wetland higher plant flora.Among these,4 species belonging to 4 genera of 4 families were bryophyte;9 species belonging to 8 genera of 7 families were pteridophyte;181 species belonging to 116 genera of 54 families were spermatophyte.Twenty higher plant associations were recognized:Ass.Carex rubro-brunnea var.taliensis-Sphagnum palustre;Ass.Carex fargesii+Calamagrostis epigeios-Sphagnum palustre;Ass.Lycopus coreanus var.cavaleriei+Scirpus lushanensis-Sphagnum palustre;Ass.Lycopus coreanus var.cavaleriei+Juncus setchuensis-Sphagnum palustre;Ass.Lycopus coreanus var.cavaleriei-Sphagnum palustre;Ass.Juncus setchuensis+Deyeuxia hakonensis-Sphagnum palustre;Ass.Juncus setchuensis+Carex ascocetra-Sphagnum palustre;Ass.Carex fargesii-Sphagnum palustre;Ass.Juncus setchuensis-Sphagnum palustre;Ass.Agapetes lacei+Miscanthus sinensis-Sphagnum palustre;Ass.Agapetes lacei+Juncus setchuensis-Sphagnum palustre;Ass.Scirpus lushanensis-Sphagnum palustre;Ass.Rosa helenae+Neanotis ingrate-Sphagnum palustre;Ass.Phyllostachys heteroclada-Sphagnum palustre;Ass.Carex argyi-Sphagnum palustre;Ass.Rhamnus utilis+Carex argyi-Sphagnum palustre;Ass.Rhynchospora chinensis-Sphagnum palustre;Ass.Poa sp.+Heleocharis wichurai-Sphagnum palustre;Ass.Festuca rubra-Sphagnum palustre;Ass.Vaccinium bracteatum var.chinense-Carex fargesii-Sphagnum palustre.These results may provide useful information for the sustainable use of the resource of the subalpine sphagnum mire in western Hubei Province of China,and they will also be favorable to protect wetland resources.They may be benefit to the restoration and reconstruction of the wetland ecosystem and provide helpful references for the further study of higher plant resource in the subalpine sphagnum mire