Abstract: The characteristics of canopy patches of dominant tree species in a broad-leaved Korean pine forest at an elevation of 740 m in north slope of Changbai mountain was investigated to understand the effects of canopy patch on the structure and regeneration of the forest. The results showed that the main species that constituted the canopy patches were Pinus koraiensis,Tilia amurese,Acer mono and Quercus mongolica,their canopy patches covered 57.1 % of the forest,and 87 % of the total area of the canopy. Most canopy patches were less than100 m², with irregular shapes. The seedlings and saplings of Acer mono were distributed under almost all canopy patches of Tilia amurense and Pinus koraiensis,and reached the maximum densities under canopy patch of Tilia amurense of 32 m²,and patch of Pinus koraiensis of 28 m². However,the seedlings and saplings of Tilia amurense were distributed only under a few canopy patches of Tilia amurense and Pinus koraiensis .

Key words: Pinus koraiensis, Canopy patch, Spatial structure, soil salinization, Amorpha fruticosa, sap flow, environmental factor