The researchers studied the forest communities in Mulun National Nature Reserve to understand how they are related to the environment. They found that different types of forests are influenced by factors like slope direction, soil nutrients, and sunlight. The communities were divided into 11 groups based on vegetation, and they found that soil and spatial factors play a big role in shaping the forest patterns. Overall, the diversity of plant species in the forest is controlled by both niche differences and a theory of biodiversity.