Abstract

Death patterns of gap-makers and changes of environmental factors in gaps formed by disturbance were studied in Pinus densiflora forests of Youngwol, Mt, Mansu, Mt. Songni, Uljin, and Mt, Obong in Korea. Death pattern of gap-makers showed that standing deat type was the most frequent in all the study areas. Longevity of Pinus densiflora was about 140 years, which was about half of that of the temperate deciduous broad-leaved trees. size of gaps were distributed from $20m^2$ to $235m^2$, more than 80% of those were gaps created by death of two or more trees. Relative light intensity and water content of soil in gap area were higher than those in non-gap area and those in the central part of gap were the highest.

Keywords

• Death pattern;
• Disturbance;
• Disturbance regime;
• Gap;
• Gap-maker;
• Pinus densiflora