Regeneration Characteristics and Spatial Pattern of Platycladus orientalis in Mount Tai, China

Platycladus orientalis is one of the main tree species in Mount Tai, and its sustainable development is of great significance to the protection and development of the forest ecological environment of Mount Tai. In this study, a representative sample plot of Platycladus orientalis with a size of 30 m * 20 m was selected on Mount Tai. The growth and distribution of the parent trees and seedlings of Platycladus orientalis were investigated in the sample plots. The results showed that both the mother cypress trees and seedlings inside the plot present an aggregated distribution pattern within a certain scale, which conforms to the distribution of most natural communities; and the mother cypress can promote seedlings within a certain scale. Although Platycladus orientalis has good natural regeneration ability, it is difficult to succeed in understory regeneration solely relying on natural fertility, and it is not conducive to the long-term stable development of forest stands. Therefore, the thinning of Platycladus orientalis and the adjustment of the forest stand structure and artificial promotion of natural regeneration can not only reduce operating costs, but also conform to the idea of forest near-natural management and maintain sustainable forest development.