Abstract:By adopting the concept of space as a substitute for time,we analyzed the changes of Levins’ niche breadths and Pianka’s niche overlaps of main common plant populations in different restoration stages of Loropetalum chinense communities distributing in similar site condition in the karst area of Lijiang River Valley.The results showed that:(1)The main common plant populations in arborous layer in different restoration stages of L.chinense communities were L.chinense,Croton xiaopadou.However,the main common plant populations in shrub layer were L.chinense,Alchornea trewioides,Bauhinia championii,Pyracantha fortuneana,Flueggea virosa,Serissa serissoides,Pittosporum planilobum,Sageretia rugosa,Callerya nitida;(2)As a whole,the niche breadths and niche overlaps of main common plant populations in the arborous layer had an increased trend with L.chinense communities restoration.However,the reversed results had occurred in the shrub layer.(3)The niche breadths and niche overlaps of main common plant populations in the arborous layer of shrub to tree stage and in the shrub layer of tree stage were all less than 1.0.The number of the low values of niche overlaps (0～0.6) between main common plant populations in the shrub layer had an increased trend with communities restoration,but the reverse trend occurred with the number of the high values of niche overlaps (0.8～0.9) between main common plant populations in the shrub layer.(4)The main common plant populations of L.chinense and C.xiaopadou in the arborous layer had a status with synergetic development.These two main common plant populations will leading jointly the direction of communities restoration for a long time.The needs to environment resource among main common plant populations in the shrub layer detached or niche separated with community restoration,and the dominant role of L.chinense in communities weaken further.