Particularity of tundra vegetation and differences in slope directions on the southern slope of Changbai Mountain

Climate change in tundra areas is becoming increasingly important in the context of global climate change. In this study, we established a comprehensive monitoring system to investigate the characteristics of tundra vegetation on the Changbai Mountain, with data indicating that tremendous changes have emerged in vegetation communities. In addition, obvious differences were observed in the tundra vegetation on Changbai Mountain in regard to slope direction, with the pattern in species composition and diversity of vegetation change on the northern slope found to be quite different. Results showed that:(1) Shrubs on the southern slope were dominant among vegetation communities, consistent with that observed on the northern and western slopes. However, species composition showed obvious differences in regard to slope direction, suggesting a moderate level of dissimilarity. (2) Vegetation community characteristics (eBF.BFYg. biodiversity, abundance, and coverage) on the southern and northern slopes were quite similar, but differed from those on the western slope. (3) Spatial characteristics of species diversity were the same on the southern and northern slopes, and showed a single peak at mid-altitude, whereas species diversity on the western slope increased monotonously with increasing altitude. These results indicated that distinctions existed in the anti-interference ability of the vegetation communities on the different slopes. Compared with the western slope, the southern and northern slopes shared a strong vegetation community anti-interference ability. (4) Changes in vegetation on each slope were quite different. Vegetation on the southern and northern slopes was relatively stable, which differed obviously from the strong upward invasion of herbaceous plants found on the western slope. The differences in tundra vegetation based on slope direction on Changbai Mountain were due to several reasons, including background differences of each slope, environmental differences, and different responses to global climate change. It is the combination of vegetation succession and change in response to climate change under the interference of volcanoes and strong winds.