云南是毒药树（Sladenia celastrifolia）的分布中心，日益严重的人为干扰不可避免地影响毒药树种群的数量特征。基于毒药树年龄与胸径之间的关系，初步分析了受人为干扰程度不同的两个种群的年龄结构、静态生命表和存活曲线，并对这两个种群进行了比较。严重受干扰的种群的幼苗库相对不足，Ⅰ龄级个体数比例为12.7％，Ⅱ、Ⅲ、Ⅳ 龄级个体数所占比例为80.3％，种群衰退趋势明显；未受干扰的种群幼苗库相对充足，年龄结构呈现稳定种群的特征。这两个种群的生命表也存在差异，其中最明显的就是严重受干扰的种群的Ⅰ龄级和Ⅱ龄级的死亡率为负，这是幼苗库不足的一个直接反映。两个种群的存活曲线都表现出低龄级个体死亡率高的特征，但未受干扰的种群各龄级个体的死亡率的变化 幅度较小。毒药树种群的各项特征与鹅掌楸（Liriodendron chinense）及其它几种濒危植物的相关特征相似。虽然毒药树还未被列为受威胁的物种，但它已具备IUCN 所定义的受威胁物种的特点，因此，对它的保护已十分必要，除了在野外建立相应的毒药树保护点之外，在植物园中培植人工种群也是必须的。
Sladenia celastrifoliahas a scattered distribution in Southwest China , especially in Yunnan Province. However, characteristics of many populations have been largely altered by increasing human activities. Using age_diameter relationships, we analyzed the age structure, the life table and the survival curves of two populations of this species, which have been affected by human disturbance to different degrees. In the heavily disturbed population, there were fewer young_aged individuals. The individuals of the age class Ⅰ account for only 12.7%, whereas those of the age class Ⅱ, Ⅲ, and Ⅳ together account for 80.3% of the total individuals of the population, indicating a declining population. In contrast, the age structure of the less disturbed population appeared to be stable with sufficient numbers of young_aged individuals. The life tables of the two populations were different: the death rates of the age class Ⅰ and Ⅱ were negative, indicating a shortage of young_aged individuals. The survival curves of both populations were characterized by high death rates of young_aged individuals, while the death rates of all age classes of the less disturbed population were stable. The age structure and dynamics of the two populations of this species are similar to those of some other endangered species in China, such as Liriodendron chinense and Cathaya argyrophylla. Although S. celastrifoliahas not been regarded as an endangered species until now, it has attributes typical of an endangered species according to the standards of IUCN. Therefore, more attention should be paid for the conservation of this species such as establishing nature reserves in its original habitat as well asex_situconservation efforts.