• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.281-287
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• 2003

We present the first analysis of moor vegetation on the Moojechi of Ulsan including syntaxonomy and syndynamics. We classified plant communities according to the Braun-Blanquet approach. In order to better understand ecological alteration processes and changing species compositions along successional gradients we also examined synecological differences using Principal Coordinate Analysis(PCoA) in terms of moisture gradient, species richness, and community structure. Classification resulted in one association and five plant communities occupying distinct moor habitats: Hypericum laxum-Eleocharis acicularis for. longiseta community, Drosera rotundifolia-Eleocharis congesta community, Platanthero-Molinietum japonicae ass. nova hoc loco, Molinia japonica-Alnus japonica community, Miscanthus sinensis-Pinus densiflora community, and Convallaria keiskei-Quercus serrata community. Due to synecological correspondences and floristic similarities in supraregional perspective, Platanthero-Molinietum can be assigned to existing higher syntaxonomic units of Molinion and Molinietalia in Braun-Blanquet system, established in Japan. We propose to extend their range and designate the new class Molinietea japonicae representative to the intermediate moor (Zwischenmoor) vegetation in Northeast Asia. PCoA resulted in four types showing a sequencess of succession: Needle spike-rush type, moor-grass type (incl. alder forest type), eulalia type, and oak forest type. A combination of edaphic conditions (soil eutrphication and soil moisture) and hydrologic patterns of moor ecosystem related to topography, occurring as result of external geophysical forces, controls inter alia spatial patterns and floristic compositions of moor plant communities.