• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.512-527
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• 2012

Jangdo Island (area $1.54km^2$) located in the western end of Dadohae Haesang National Park has been recognized as an prominent ecoregion possessing high moor and national biodiversity hotspot. In terms of the Z$\ddot{u}$rich-Montpellier School's phytosociology, we investigate the diversity of plant communities on the island and reevaluate the Jangdo wetland designated as Ramsar site. Ten physiognomic types of the Jangdo's vegetation were classified into 22 syntaxa (3 associations, 15 communities and 4 subcommunities). Jangdo wetland was actually denominated as 'eutrophic wetland' by Pharagmitetea and Orizetea rather than 'high moor'. Nevertheless, existence value of the Jangdo wetland is evaluated very high as a stepping stone for migratory birds and even plant dispersions. A new site of the northernmost distribution of Arachniodo-Castanopsietum sieboldii, which is a kind of cold-resistant phytocoenosis among the Camellietea japonicae of the warm-temperate broad-leaved forests, was described. Hosta yingeri-Carpinus turczaninovii var. coreana community and Carex wahuensis var. robusta-Juniperus chinensis var. procumbens community were described specifically as an endemic and an edaphic vegetation type, respectively. The unique Jangdo's vegetation reflects regional environmental conditions such as much higher frequency of frost-free days and the highest number of annual average foggy days in Korea and a well-developed aquifer in the depressed basin formed by differential erosion. We identified that human interventions (pasture, logging, forest fire, cultivation, etc.) has been involved intensively on every vegetation types, even though a rugged and inaccessible topography of the island. Particularly the Jangdo wetland has been recently threatened by fundamental distortion on hydrological system. We request an immediate establishment of the conservation prescription manual.