Abstract:Schima superba is one of the dominant species of subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forest in East China. This study was carried out on Mt. Wuyi, with the method of spatial sere substituting for time sere. On the basis of a census of all individuals of S. superba population at different successional stages, size structure, spatial pattern, population density and population dynamics were described for the species. In the early period after S. superba population invaded the Pinus taiwanensis forest, size structure of the population was characterized by a growing type, while the spatial pattern of the population showed a random type. In the process of development from P. taiwanensis forest to mature forest dominated by S. superba and C. eyrei, the size structure of the population tended to be stationary. Afterwards, it tended to be mature and senescence. In the meantime, the spatial pattern tended to be contagious type, and population density was continuously decreased. In the stages of the mature forest, the structure and density of the population had a process of fluctuation accompanying the regeneration or rehabilitation through forest gaps and the spatial pattern of the population also followed a contagious type. In addition, the spatial pattern of different size classes of the population was studied in the mature forest. It was found that the seedling, sapling and middle tree classes showed contagious type while the large tree class exhibited random type. Because the forest gaps could emerge commonly in the mature community, the population could maintain a relative steady state in a long period of time. According to the results above, the dynamic mechanism of S. superba population was discussed.