Journal of Ecology and Environment

The Ecological Society of Korea (한국생태학회)
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Trends in the effects of climate change on terrestrial ecosystems in the Republic of Korea

  • Choi, Sei-Woong (Department of Environmental Education, Mokpo National University) ;
  • Kong, Woo-Seok (Department of Geography, Kyung Hee University) ;
  • Hwang, Ga-Young (Gangwon Regional Headquarter, Korea Rural Community Corporation) ;
  • Koo, Kyung Ah (Division for Natural Environment, Water and Land Research Group, Korea Environment Institute)
  • Received : 2021.05.25
  • Accepted : 2021.07.14
  • Published : 2021.09.30
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Abstract

In this review, we aimed to synthesize the current knowledge on the observed and projected effects of climate change on the ecosystems of Korea (i.e., the Republic of Korea (ROK) or South Korea), as well as the main causes of vulnerability and options for adaptation in these ecosystems based on a range of ecological and biogeographical data. To this end, we compiled a set of peer-reviewed papers published since 2014. We found that publication of climate-related studies on plants has decreased in the field of plant phenology and physiology, whereas such publication has rapidly increased in plant and animal community ecology, reflecting the range shifts and abundance change that are occurring under climate change. Plant phenology studies showed that climate change has increased growing seasons by advancing the timing of flowering and budburst while delaying the timing of leafing out. Community ecology studies indicated that the future ranges of cold-adapted plants and animals could shrink or shift toward northern and high-elevation areas, whereas the ranges of warm-adapted organisms could expand and/or shift toward the areas that the aforementioned cold-adapted biota previously occupied. This review provides useful information and new insights that will improve understanding of climate change effects on the ecosystems of Korea. Moreover, it will serve as a reference for policy-makers seeking to establish future sectoral adaptation options for protection against climate change.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

This research was supported by the research project "Developing climate change adaptation DB·Inventory and grid-based spatialization techniques for supporting adaptation decision-making in local government" (2020-005), which was conducted by the Korea Environment Institute (KEI) and funded by Korea Environment Industry & Technology Institute (KEITI) through Climate Change Correspondence Program (Project No. 2018001310004) of the Korea Ministry of Environment and also supported by the research project "A Study on Development of Integrated System for National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plan (NBSAP)-Indicator-Implementation AssessmentEffectiveness Assessment" (RE2021-13), funded by the Korea Environment Institute (KEI).

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