Previous studies have provided phytosociological descriptions and classifications of the communities of the Taisetsu mountain range, Hokkaido. Here, the authors give an account of the establishment, development and maintenance of Pinus pumila stands and describe the dynamic balance between the pine and its habitat factors, particularly snow depth and wind exposure. The establishment of P. pumila stands was dependent on the degree of wind exposure and snow depth. The dominancy of P. pumila diminished gradually on wind-exposed sites but reduced drastically on snow-depositing sites.
Abstract. The co‐occurrence of Larix olgensis var. changpaiensis, Picea jezoensis and Abies nephrolepis in the coniferous forest of Mount Changbai, northeastern China, is discussed, and the regeneration pattern of these taxa compared on the basis of the analysis of the age structure and the age‐height relationship of the three conifers. The presence of tall individuals (ca. 30 m in height) of Larix olgensis var. changpaiensis, which does not show any regeneration, was related to the large eruption of Mount Changbai up to ca. 400 yr ago. Picea jezoensis compensates its small recruitment by a large stem size and long life span together with a continuous height growth. Abies nephrolepis recruits well, but its small stem size and short life span do not result in its dominance in the forest.
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