DISTRIBUTION OF ALPINE PLANT COMMUNITIES IN RELATION TO SURFACE MATERIALS ON WIND-BLOWN SLOPES AROUND MT. MITSU, THE NORTHERN JAPAN ALPS.

Abstract

An investigation was made of the distribution pattern of alpine plant communities in relation to surface materials on the wind blown slopes along the ridge line from Mt. Eboshi to Mt. Noguchigoro in the northern Japan Alps. The major habitat factors affecting the coverage and species composition of the alpine plant communities were the particle-size distribution of surface substrate, and the existence of a fine-grained layer and its particle size distribution. These factors influenced the stability of the land surface and soil moisture.