A Vegetation-ecological Approach for the Evaluation and Classification of Vegetation Regions in Hokkaido, Northern Japan

A scheme of vegetation zones for Hokkaido has been discussed and proposed by several scientists, based on a phytogeographical perspective. Honda（1912）divided the natural forest zones of Hokkaido into the temperate forest zone and the boreal forest zone. Tatewaki (1958） proposed that vegetation zones of Hokkaido were characterized by the so-called intermediate zone （mixed forest zone） formed by coniferous and deciduous tree species. From a phytosociological standpoint, the natural vegetation zones of Hokkaido were divided into four main vegetation regions: e.g. the Saso-Fagion crenatae region, the Carpino-Quercion grosseserratae region, the Piceion jezoensis region and the Vaccinio-Pinion pumilae region （Miyawaki et al 1975, 1988）. Thus there are various opinions the distribution and definition of concerning natural forest zones or vegetation zones in Hokkaido, from both phytogeographical or phytosociological standpoints. A revised scheme of vegetation zones in Hokkaido, is here attempted in order to unify these several phytogeographical and phytosociologlcal concepts for vegetation zones. As well, a new proposed vegetation-ecological approach for classification and evaluation of the vegetation regions by means of phytosociological landscape analysis is presented