A Phytosociological Study of Quercus mongolica Forest on Mt. Sobaek by Ordination and Classification Techniques

서열법과 분류법에 의한 소백산의 신갈나무림에 대한 식물사회학적 연구

The present study was undertaken to classify and describe the Quercus mongolica forest on Mt. Sobaek (36°50'∼ 37°07'N, 128°25'∼ 128°35'E), Korea by a reciprocal averaging methol (RA ordination) and the methodology of the ZM school of phytosociology. Atemporal vegetation tabel was prepared by the RA ordination. As a result it showed that the RA ordination on the first axis is very applicable for selecting the character and differential species of vegetation units of the Quercus mongolica forest. The phytosociological investigations were carried out in 34 stands on the mountain. The field data obtained were classified by the tabel comparison method. For the establishment of new vegetation units, the floristic composition of the Quercus mongolica forest was compared with those of the other vegetation units of the Mt. Sobaek, Considering the candidates of the character and differential species derived from RA ordination. As the result, the forest vegetation was classified into the following vegetation units; Fagetea crenatae Miyawaki et al. 1968 Acero-Quercetalia mongolicas Song 1988 em. Takeda et al.1994 Lindero-Quercetalia mongolicae Kim 1990 1. Lindero-Quercetum mongolicae assoc. nov. 1-1. quercetosum serratae subassoc. nov 1-2. typicum subassoc. nov. Rhododendro-Qurcion mongolicas Song 1988 em. Takeda et al. 1994. It is inferred that the Lindero-Quercion mongolicae and the Rhododendro-Quercion mongolicae corresponded to the cool-temperate forests of central and northern areas, respectively, in Korean Peninsula. Syntaxonomical synonyms were also rearranged based on the result of the present study. On the other hand, the RA ordination of stands and species on the first and second axes revealed some environmental gradients such as altitute, human impact and species richness between the vegetation units. However, the RA ordinations is considered to be less indicative for the gradients of the lower vegetation units than association. With the present study. some phytosociological problems in Korea were discussed here in detail from the floristic viewpoint.