A Comparative Study on the Spatial Diffusion Patterns of Ailanthus altissima Communities

The aim of this study is to research spatial diffusion, a condition for spread of Ailanthus altissima, and conduct flora analysis to provide useful information for management of it. Three research spots where the community dominance value was found to be high and habitat was homogeneous according to a 2010 in-depth species study were selected, and census was conducted using a line-transect method. The diffusion area included 1,435 m 2 in Yangpyeong, 1,118 m 2 in Gimcheon and 760 m 2 in Sancheong, in order of increasing size, and a total of 510 trees were found to be randomly diffused in space. An average of 83.2% of Ailanthus altissima were found to be included in DBH classes I (1.0-3.4 cm) and II (3.5-6.4 cm), showing that young trees were dominant in Ailanthus altissima communities and there was an age diffusion pattern according to degree of disturbance in habitats. A total of 41 families 75 genera and 91 species of flora made up the list, and Therophytes were most widely found in all of the three areas. This shows that habitats in these areas have recently been disturbed. It was evaluated that elimination of roadside population and mountainous area population was necessary to prevent diffusion of Ailanthus altissima.