Applications of the niche theory in ecological restoration evaluation

Using a series of indices proposed by Levins, Shannon-Wiener and Petraitis, the eigenvalue of niches for 16 plant population which existed in Nanping mountain and Dongshan afforestation station were investigated in the present paper. No significant difference presented in the niches breadths in two regions which showed that the competition relationship between the two population was not obvious and there was no significant difference in environmental resources. Significant differences existed in the Petraitis overlapping indices which showed that there were significant effects on the ecological vegetation restoration patterns of these population. Shannon-wiener niche breadth and Petraitis specific overlap indices can be explored to evaluate the competition and resource utilization status among different plant communities, and it could reflect the characteristics of ecology which plant communities response to artificial interference. The niche theory could be used to evaluate the effect of ecological restoration.