Abstract: To explore the population structure and its dynamics of Abies fargesii in the Foping National Nature Reserve on the south-facing slope of the middle Qinling Mountains, an investigation was made on the age structure, life table, and survival curve of the populations at different altitudes. All the A. fargesii populations at different altitudes (2350 m, 2500 m, and 2700 m) displayed a declined pattern. The majority of the individuals were in the middle age class, while the individuals in young age class were fewer. The mortality (d_x), mortality rate (q_x), and disappearance rate (K_x) of the A. fargesii populations were in negative values, showing that young trees were very insufficient at each altitude. With increasing altitude, young age class individuals increased, while elder age class individuals decreased. The analysis on the life table and survival curve of the A. fargesii populations indicated that the age classes of the individuals with the maximum survival rate and the maximum mortality rate all decreased with decreasing altitude, and the distribution pattern of the A. fargesii populations changed from random at low and mid altitudes (2350 m and 2500 m) to clumped at high altitude (2700 m).

Key words: Subalpine coniferous forest, Ecological process, Artificial restoration, Natural succession, Forest litter, Picea asperata