ONTOGENETIC AND SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION OF BETULA COSTATA (BETULACEAE) COENOTIC POPULATION IN UNDISTURBED KOREAN PINE-BROADLEAVED FOREST AT THE SOUTH OF THE RUSSIAN FAR EAST
In this paper, we analyze structure and describe Betula costata Trautv. population mosaic formation patterns in the Korean pine broad-leaved forest of the southern part of Russian Far East. The study was conducted on two permanent sample plots (1.5 and 10.5 hectares). The obtained results revealed that patterns of B. costata mosaic existence depend on the age development stages. Its structure (as well as of the other dominant species of the Korean pine broad-leaved forest) changes from the group type at immature stage, to the inhomogeneous one- at the virginal stage, and later to random plant disposition at generative stage. It is established that B. costata has transitory C-R life strategy.