A Comparative Study on the Structural Characteristics of the Forest Vegetation at the Southern and Northern Slopes of the Eastern Ridge in Mt. Cheonma, Central Korea

The plant communities of the eastern ridge in Mt. Cheonma, Central Korea, Quercus mongolica, Q mongolica-Acer pseudo-sieboldianum, and Q. mongolica-Rhododendron schlippenbachii communities in the northern slope and Q. variabilis and Q. cutissima communities in the southern slope were detected by Zurich-Montpellier method. The undergrowth of Q mongolica community in the northern slope was dominated by Ainsliaea acerifolia, Carex siderosticta, Astilbe chinensis var. davidii, Heloniopsis orientalis, Pseudostellaria palibiniana, ranging 3.3 to 2.2 in dominance-sociability, while the those of Q variabilis and Q acutissima in the southern slope were dominated by Spodiopogon cotulifer, Artemisia keiskeana, Carex humilis, Atractylodes japonica, Lysimachia clethroides and Disporum smilacinum with similar degree in dominance-sociability to that of Q mongolica community. The two communities were considered as regenerating forest after severe disturbance judging by their age structure. The relationship between Shannon's diversity index (H') and Simpson's dominance index (i) was in reciprocal proportion in both two communities. The Q. mongolica and Q. variabilis communities were showed 13 and 12 m respectively. Seasonal changes of undergrowth coverage in the two communities were seemed to be affected especially with soil moisture among environmental factors such as temperature, light intensity, relative humidity and organic matter.