Abstract
Forest types and the ecological processes to form them have been discussed mainly by simple eco-physiological properties of the dominant species. Recent studies on cool-temperate forest in Japan, however, have demonstrated the importance of other processes like plant-animal interaction, natural and human disturbance, and geological history. Reviewing these papers, I propose three main types of cool-temperate deciduous forests, commonly distributing in East Asia; Mixed Deciduous Forest, Beech Forest and Mixed Conifer and Deciduous Broadleaf Forest. Beech forest distributes in most humid areas. The intermediate temperate forest, which was considered as inter zonal between Beech forest and Warm Temperate (Evergreen) forest, should be included into the Mixed deciduous forest, which commonly distributes in areas with relatively dry, and continental climate. Having drier climate, the Mixed deciduous forest is affected by fire disturbance, and human land use in recent several thousand years, while Beech forest has disturbance regime only with tree fall gap. Species composition and disturbance regime of them are analogous to those in eastern North America.
