92DYNAMICS OF ENVIRONMENTAL GRADIENTS ON PLANT FUNCTIONAL GROUPS OF COMPOSITION SPECIES IN NEARNATURAL COMMUNITY ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION ON THE SOUTHERN SLOPE OF THE FU-NIU MOUNTAIN NATURE RESERVEUsing community ecology techniques and quantitative measurements of elevation results show a linear relationship between elevation and plant functional groups (PFGs) of composition species, which were significantly correlated (P<0.05, or P<0.01) in the differential ecosystem types along differential elevation gradient on the southern side of the Fu-Niu Mountain. The results indicated that elevation is the most important environmental factor affecting the distribution pattern of the dominant/companion species at PFGs levels along elevation gradient. PFGs of composition species of importance values were significantly correlated with elevation (P<0.05, or P<0.01) on the southern side of the Fu-Niu Mountain. Therefore, this study plays a vital part in conserving global plant functional groups diversity and maintaining global ecosystem function.lbh@henu.edu.cnReview452014PFGs,Dynamics,Environmental Gradient,The Fu-Niu Mountain Natural ReserveBing-Hua Liao,Xiao-Li Cao,Qi-Feng LiuThe Key Laboratory of Ecological Restoration in Hilly Areas, 2Department of Environment and Geography, Ping-Ding-Shan University, Ping-ding-shan, Henan Province 467000, China,Department of Environment and Geography, Ping-Ding-Shan University, Ping-ding-shan, Henan Province 467000, China.,Henan Construction Engineering Supervision Company, Kaifeng 475000, China.