Chin J Plan Ecolo ›› 1987, Vol. 11 ›› Issue (4): 252-263.

• Research Articles • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Numerical Classification for the Forest Vegetation of the Liupan Mountain

Zhuo Zheng-da, Zhang Hong-jian   

  • Published:1987-04-10
  • Contact: LI Shou-zhong

Abstract: The Liupan Mountain, a long and narrow stony mountain with a S-N strike, is situated in the west of the loess plateau. It has an obvious temperate continental monsoon climate. Because of its lying in the temperate forest-steppe belt, its zonal vegetation types are deciduous broad-leaved forests and meadow steppes.The numerical methods of similarity coefficient and group average were used in this paper for classifying the forest vegetation. Through comparison and analysis these forest types are divided into two vegetation types, five formation groups and nine formations, so that a classification system for the forest vegetation of the Liupan Mountain is tentatively established. The results are very similar to those of the qualitative classification (based on the plant community-ecology principle), which is demonstrated by the fact that these numerical classification methods and indexes are suitable for the temperate forest.