Jun-Soo Han

Environmental Characteristics of Habitats of Iris odaesanensis Y.N.Lee

This study intended to investigate environmental factors including soil and vegetation in order to understand the environmental and ecological characteristics of 12 different habitats of Iris odaesanensis. These habitats, according to investigations, are mostly located at elevation of 280 m to 1,555 m with angles of inclination ranging from 2 degree to 30 degrees. A total of 273 vascular plants are identified in 23 quadrates of 12 habitats. Dominant species of woody plants in 12 habitats are represented as Quercus mongolica in the tree layer (T1) and the subtree (T2) layer, and Lespedeza maximowiczii, Lindera obtusiloba, Rhododendron schlippenbachii in the shrub (S) layer. The importance value of Iris odaesanensis is 9.65%, as regards the herbaceous layer, and 6 highly ranked species such as Carex siderosticta (3.92%), Meehania urticifolia (2.67%), Spodiopogon cotulifer (2.58%), Aconitum pseudolaeve (2.51%), Carex bostrychostigma (2.28%) and Disporum smilacinum (2.09%) are considered to be an affinity with Iris odaesanensis in their habitats. The degree of their average species diversity is 1.32, and that of dominance and evenness are 0.08 and 0.89, respectively. The type of soil is sandy loam and loam, and the average field capacity of soil is 28.31%. Their average organic matter is 16.71%, soil pH 5.29, and available phosphorus is 9.29%. Correlation coefficients analysis based on environmental factors, vegetation and soil analysis shows that the coverage of Iris odaesanensis is correlated with pH and dominance, and species richness is positive related with species diversity.