Ecological Division of Habitats by Analysis of Vegetation Structure and Soil Environment -A Case Study on the Vegetation in the Kimpo Landfills and Its Periphery Region-

Division of ecoregions having respective functions was attempted through quantitative and qualitative analysis on vegetation diversity, and heterogeneity and on soil environment of the study sites. Field research was carried out in a square of 81 ㎢ around Andongpo (126°38'E, 37°30'N), Kimpo-gun, Kyonggi provice. Conventional methods applied are as follows: classical syntaxonomy by the Zurich-Montpellier School, interpolation method to determine the degree of diversity, heterogeneity and distribution pattern of vegetation, and correlation analysis between soil properties and plant communities. 41 plant communities were identified and composed of 6 forests, 4 mantle and 31 herb communities including 6 saltmarsh plant communities. In a mesh, number of plant communities was highly correlated to the number of species. The highest number of plant community and species was 25 communities·km-2·mesh-1 and 381 species· km-2·mesh-1 ,and the highest value of vegetation heterogeneity was 28.1 species· community-1·mesh-1. Their lowest numbers were 4 communities·km-2·mesh-1. and 28 species·km-2·mesh-1. and 7 species·community-1·mesh-1, respectively. Contour map on vegetation diversity and heterogeneity enabled us to establish two regions; coastal and inland vegetation. Isoline 〔150〕,〔10〕and〔10〕and〔15〕on the species diversity, the community diversity and the vegetation heterogeneity, respectively, were regarded as ecolines in the study area. Cl- content was recognized as the most important factor from correlation analysis between soil properties. Ordination of sites indicated that the study area be divided into two edaphic types: inland and coastal habitats. It was considered that the extent of desalinization in soil played a major role in determining the species composition in the reclamed area. By matching edaphic division of habitats with division of vegetation structures, designation of ecoregion was endorsed. The approach of current study was suggested as an effective tool to implement an assessment of the vegetation dynamics by the disparity of natural environment and anthropogenic interferences.