• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.53 no.2
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• pp.195-207
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• 2020

In Korea, specific thermal elements such as annual mean temperature (AMT) 13℃, 14℃, and Kira's coldness index (CI) -10℃, have been suggested about the northernmost distribution of the warm-temperate evergreen broad-leaved forest zone. We reviewed the relationship between three thermal elements and the actual distribution of evergreen broad-leaved woody plants or its communities. Thiessen and Kriging method using point-data calibrated by seasonal lapse rate according to altitude were utilized for the spatial distribution pattern analysis. Several phytoclimatic maps were also produced in order to compare different thermal values. We identified that the AMT 13℃ was the best thermal element to demarcate the northern limit of the warm-temperate forest zone. Its area was estimated ca. 20,334 ㎢ and larger than those of other thermal elements. We concluded that an indirectly fabricated index i.e. CI -10℃ is useless and it was enough for a direct value of AMT 13℃ to represent the northern-limit distribution of warm-temperate forest zone, at least in Korea. Further researches on the reciprocity between floristic regions and phytoclimate zones are raised.