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• Community change characteristics of Abies faxoniana was studied. • With the change of relative basal area value (RBAV) of A. faxoniana , dominant trees changed markedly. • Tree diversity was significant negatively correlated with RBAV of A. faxoniana. • Betula albosinensis was significant negatively correlated with A. faxoniana in basal area. • Studying changes of RBAVs of dominant trees centered on target species is feasible. To detect the community change characteristics of Abies faxoniana , we carried out a field survey in a forest where A. faxoniana was present in the Wanglang Nature Reserve, Sichuan Province, China. We used the quadrat method to collect the data, and studied the composition and changes of dominant tree species, changes of tree diversity and community structure centered on A. faxoniana , as well as the interspecific correlation and population structure related to this species. The results indicated that in different communities, A. faxoniana had different relative basal area values (RBAVs). With the increase of the RBAV of A. faxoniana , the community was changed from non-dominant A. faxoniana , to mixed community of A. faxoniana and other species, to single dominant community of A. faxoniana ; the tree diversity showed a trend of decrease, but the community structure had no obvious change. Betula albosinensis had a significantly negative correlation relationship with A. faxoniana in basal area. A. faxoniana in the area we sampled was a growing type population in general. We summarized the community change process of A. faxoniana as the substitution process of dominant tree species in community and decline in tree diversity. Based on this study, the method of studying the changes of RBAVs of dominant trees in different plots centered on the target species is feasible in studying the community change characteristics. This study could provide a basis for revealing community dynamic which is important for forest restoration practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]