Objective In order to explore the interspecific correlations and the stability of Phoebe sheareri natural community.

Method Based on field sample survey, the ecological niche characteristics and interspecific associations of dominant species in the arbor layer and shrub layer of P. sheareri community were studied by through species composition, important value, niche breadth, niche overlap index, variance ratio method, and χ2 test.

Result The important value, Levins niche breadth, and Shannon-Weaver niche breadth of P. sheareri were the largest in the investigated communities, indicating that both the resource utilization degree and competitive advantage were strong. The dominant species in the arbor layer showed an overall insignificant positive association (VR=1.247, χ²_0.95(12)>W>χ²_0.05(12)), while the shrub layer showed an overall insignificant negative association (VR=0.674, χ²_0.95(36)>W>χ²_0.05(36)), indicating that the stability of the arbor layer was higher than that of the shrub layer. The χ2 test result showed that the positively associated species pairs were more than the negatively onepairs, and the ratio of positive to negative association of arbor layer and shrub layer were 1.8∶1 and 1.5∶1, respectively. The majority of species pairs were not significantly associated, indicating that the ecological characteristics of most dominant species in the P. sheareri community were relatively consistent.

Conclusion The P. sheareri community was is relatively stable. However, appropriate artificial tending practices should be carried out to promote the natural regeneration of these P. sheareri populations.