Position of Betula ermanii population ecotone in Changbai Mountains

The vegetation on the northern slope of Changbai Mountains forms a vertical zone due to the vertical differentiation of moisture and heat conditions. Ecotones are obviously existed between different vegetation zones, but it is difficult to decide their positions. In the area from 1 400 m to 2 200 m elevation, we adopted the methods of gradient sampling, fractal analysis, population pattern analysis, and interspecific competition index analysis to describe Betula ermanii population ecotone. The results showed that there was a forest ecotone between Betula ermanii and Picea-Abies forest near elevation 1 650 m, and there was a forest line ecotone between Betula ermanii and alpine tundra near elevation 2 080 m.