• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
• /
• v.17 no.3
• /
• pp.181-186
• /
• 2003

To obtain the basic data for monitoring and the conservation of native plant species at the sub-alpine zone Jongseogdae in Jirisan (Mt.).40 plots(5m${\times}$5m) set up by random sampling method and the distribution of native shrub and herb species at the subalpine zone was surveyed. Leading shrub species at the subalpine zone of Jongseogdae were Tripterygium regelii with IP value of 23.45% : followed by Lespedeza maximowiczii, Symplocos chinensis for. pilosa and Lespedeza tomentella. Dominant species at the subalpine zone were Lysimachia clethroides, Pteridium aquilinum var. latiusculum, Synurus deltoides, Veratrum maackii var. japonicum, Hemerocallis fulva and Astilbe chinensis var. davidii. Rhododendron tschonoskii recorded from the rare and endangered species list of the Korea Forest Service distributed among the rocks on the top of Jongseogdae. The long-term sustainable habitat monitoring might be required to conserve this subalpine zone.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
• /
• v.18 no.2
• /
• pp.142-149
• /
• 2004

To investigate the vegetation structure of subalpine region from Hyangjeukbong to 2nd Deogyusan, 20 plots(100$m^2$) set up with random sampling method were surveyed. Three groups Quercus mongolica community, Betula ermanii - Picea jezoensis - Taxus cuspidata community, Taxus cuspidata - Qurecus mongolica - Betula ermanii community were classified by cluster analysis. Quercus mongolica, Taxus cuspidata and Betula ermanii were found as a major woody plant species in the subalpine region from Hyangjeukbong to 2nd Deogyusan. In this area, Korean endemic species, Abies koreana was distributed small amounts. In future, importance percentage of Abies koreana might be decreased, but that of Betula ermanii might be increased. High positive correlations was proved between Betula ermanii and Rhododendron schlippenbachii, Rhododendron mucronulatum var. ciliatum ; Acer tschonoskii var. rubripes and Acer mono; Syringa velutina and Magnolia sieboldii and relatively high negative corrlations was proved between Betular ermani and Acer tschonoskii var. rubripes ; Quercus mongolica and Acer mono; Abies koreana and Tripterygium regelii, Weigela subsessilis. Species diversity(H') of investigated groups were ranged 1.0316∼1.1776 and it was similar to those of the ridge area of the national parks in Baekdudaegan.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
• /
• v.21 no.4
• /
• pp.277-285
• /
• 2019

This study was conducted to understand the growth characteristics of Picea jezoensis that was one of representative subalpine species in Korea, in the light of the effects of wind and micro-topography in its habitats on Mt. Deogyu, Korea. The prevailing wind directions were southwest and west at the study sites. We randomly selected P. jezoensis (height ≥ 1.5 m) on windward, intermediate, and leeward slopes and measured diameter at breast height (DBH), height, crown length by 8 directions in upper, middle and lower sectors of the crown. We examined the micro-topography of P. jezoensis stood on and classified it into 3 types: type 1 was mounded and fully exposed to surrounding environments without neighboring trees; type 2 was somewhat wind-protected by surrounding rocks, but no neighboring vegetation; type 3 was on gentle slope or flat where P. jezoensis grew with neighboring trees or shrubs. The ratios of height to DBH, and estimated crown growth to actual crown growth (hereafter crown growth ratio) were compared among the three types of micro-topography on windward, intermediate and leeward sites. The height growth per DBH and crown growth ratio in the upper and middle crowns were the smallest on the windward site, and the highest on the leeward site (p < 0.01). The crown growth ratio on type 1 on the windward site was only 46% of that on type 3 on the leeward site. Although on the same windward slope, trees on type 1 had more deformed crown shapes than that on Type 3, showing asymmetric crown cross-sectional areas. Wind and micro-topography played critical roles on the crown growth of P. jezoensis.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
• /
• v.43 no.1
• /
• pp.69-79
• /
• 2013

We investigated the flora of Mt. Namdeogyu, southern regions of Deogyusan National Park, from April of 2011 to September of 2012. The number of vascular plants in this area were summarized as 507 taxa, including 102 families, 296 genera, 444 species, 8 subspecies, 49 varieties, 6 forms. Among the recorded taxa, Korean endemic plants were 9 species and the floristic regional indicator plants were 80 taxa including 3 taxa in grade V, 3 taxa in grade IV, 19 taxa in grade III category. The rare and endangered plants which was designated by Korea Forest Service were 15 taxa comprising 1 endangered species (EN) of Rhododendron tschonoskii, 5 taxa of vulnerable (VU) such as Cynanchum inamoenum, Lilium cernuum, Gastrodia elata, Bupleurum euphorbioides, Paeonia japonica, and 9 least concerned (LC). In addition, the subalpine plants of the region were summarized as 24 taxa, and Mt. Deogyu area inclunding the Mt. Namdeogyu was suggested as the north most limits line of the distribution for 2 taxa, Abies koreana and Rhododendron tschonoskii, and as the south most limit of the distribution for Bupleurum euphorbioides.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.50 no.1
• /
• pp.116-125
• /
• 2017

Alpine plants with a scarcity of pollinators in harsh environments have been believed to undergo selfing for reproductive assurance; however, contradictory evidence is also available. Snowmelt regimes in alpine areas function to change life history characteristics of alpine plants such as flowering time and duration; yet the effects of snowmelt regimes have never been tested in alpine plants in Korea. This study was conducted to investigate the dichogamy, mating systems, and flowering characteristics of Megaleranthis saniculifolia populations [early and late snowmelt plots (ESP and LSP, respectively)] in a subalpine area of Sobaeksan Mountain in Korea. M. saniculifolia exhibited incomplete protogyny in that despite early maturation of pistils, maturation times of pistils and stamens within flowers were partly overlapped. Control and hand-outcrossing treatments produced significantly higher number of follicles and seeds per flower than autonomous and hand-selfing treatments. Based on the aggregate fruit set, the auto-fertility index (AI) and self-compatibility index (SI) were 0.33 and 0.50, respectively. Snowmelt occurred 10 days earlier in ESP than in LSP, thereby ESP and LSP showed distinct differences with regard to flower longevity and season, but showing no difference in peak flowering dates. We concluded that M. saniculifolia is an incomplete protogynous and largely outcrossing plant requiring pollinator service. Temporal variation in snowmelt time and subsequent changes in flowering characteristics under climate change may further threaten the population persistence of M. saniculifolia which has already been designated as endangered species in Korea.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
• /
• v.20 no.1
• /
• pp.1-6
• /
• 2007

The vegetation of habitats of a Korean rare plant Kirengeshoma koreana Nakai at Mt. Baekun was investigated by phytosociological approach. The vegetation of investigated area shows typical southern-temperate Quercus forest. The humidity of soil was high and the ground of locality was flat area of sub-alpine. These investigated area is very important for conservation of a rare plant, Kirengeshoma koreana that is limited in this area. Therefore, sustainable conservation strategy such as designation of conservation area should be prepared urgently by the results of long-term monitoring studies.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
• /
• v.31 no.6
• /
• pp.388-408
• /
• 2022

This study was conducted to select the indicator species (plant) according to the topographical characteristics in the Picea jezoensis forests, endangered subalpine coniferous trees. In South Korea and China (close to Baekdusan), the southern tree line limit of Picea jezoensis has meaningful geographical and latitudinal values for analyzing the ecological characteristics of P. jezoensis forests. Latitude greatly affects the geographical values of plant ecology, and the difference in latitude and habitat affects the change in species composition in forests. With prolonged environmental change, the habitat of subalpine plants will become smaller, and the plants may become extinct. As the P. jezoensis forests of South Korea and China, in particular, are in danger of disappearing without protection, it is important to monitor the population and develop a conservation strategy. Eighty-seven circular plots were established in P. jezoensis forests in South Korea and China. Through processes such as MRPP-test and NMS ordination, indicator species were selected based on this, and basic data for biodiversity assessment were presented. As a result of the Indicator Species Analysis (ISA), 5 taxa were selected from the upperstory vegetation and 18 taxa from the understory vegetation at the altitude(p<0.05). Indicator species by aspect were analyzed as 3 taxa for upperstory vegetation and 16 taxa for understory vegetation (p<0.05). In the case of indicator species according to the slope, 6 taxa for upper vegetation and 24 taxa for understory vegetation were selected(p<0.05). As for the indicator species according to their habitat, 8 taxa in upper vegetation and 65 taxa on understory vegetation were selected. As a result of MRPP-test, it was analyzed that the species composition was heterogeneous in the group of understory vegetation than that of upperstory vegetation. As a result of NMS ordination, the correlation with environmental factors of indicator species was analyzed by rock exposure for upperstory vegetation and latitude for understory vegetation (cut off level=0.3).

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
• /
• v.111 no.1
• /
• pp.19-35
• /
• 2022

In this study, the forest vegetation structure in the Maruguem (ridge line) area from Yuksipryeong to Cheonwangbong, Baekdudaegan, was analyzed using vegetation classification, importance values, species diversity, and NMS. Data were collected using 373 quadrates in a Braun-Blanquet vegetation survey conducted from May to October 2020. Vegetation was classified into nine vegetation units, which were verified using DCA analysis. Vegetation units 1-5, which were grouped by sub-alpine region, showed high importance values, mainly for sub-alpine vegetation, such as Abies koreana, Picea jezoensis, Pinus koraiensis, and Betula ermanii. In Maruguem, which is not high above sea level, importance values for species such as Pinus densiflora and Quercus serrata were high due to the topographical characteristics of the ridge. The A. koreana community (vegetation unit 1-5), which had a relatively high average elevation, had higher species diversity compared with that of other vegetation units. According to NMS analysis, for abiotic environmental factors, there was a positive correlation between vegetation units 1, 2, 4, and 5 and elevation. Overall, this study describes all low-elevation area vegetation (P. densiflora and Lindera erythrocarpa) to high-elevation area vegetation (A. koreana and P. jezoensis) as well as the characteristics of the Baekdudaegan ridge vegetation that did not include valley vegetation.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
• /
• v.24 no.5
• /
• pp.549-556
• /
• 2011

We investigated the plant phenology on the threatened species for climate change in the summit area of Mt. Deogyusan which is a representative sub-alpine zone in Korea. We had performed the monitoring survey of plant phenology on 38 species including 20 trees and 18 herbs from May 2009 to November 2010. The investigated phenological charateristics were five dates for leafing, flowering, floral abscission, autumn leaf colors and leaf abscission on each plant species in sub-alpine region. The climate data were measured from November 2009 to December 2010. The range of temperature was from 30.4 to -$20.3^{\circ}C$ at Hyangjeokbong to Jungbong region, and the relative humidity was 100% to 3.4%. The leafing dates in 2010 were similar to 2009 or were 6-20 days delayed in most of the investigated species except Veratrum oxysepalum and Sanguisorba hakusanensis which showed 8 days earlier leafing dates in 2010. The biggest difference among phenological characters was found in flowering dates. The flowering dates of early Spring blooming species such as Heloniopsis koreana, Rhododendron yedoense for. poukhanense and Viola orientalis showed 13-20 days earlier in 2010, and the several summer flowering species as Viburnum opulus var. calvescens, Smilacina japonica and Bupleurum longeradiatum showed 6-10 days delay in 2010. The dates for floral abscission and autumn leaf colors in 2010 were delayed about 10-18 days, and leaf abscission dates were similar to 2009. The effects of climate change on the phenology for the threatened species in sub-alpine zones of Korea are occuring especially on flowering, floral abscission and autumn leaf colors.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
• /
• v.6 no.1
• /
• pp.44-54
• /
• 1992

A survey of subalpine zone (altitude is 1, 440-1, 700m) in Mt. Halla, was conducted using 37 sampling plots of l00$m^2$ size. The classification by TWINSPAN and RA. DCA ordination were applied to the study area in order to classify them based on woody plants and environmental variables. And to investigate vegetation deterioration by livestock's and user's impact on subalpine zone, seventeen plots were set up. By TWINSPAN techniques, the plant community were divided into five groups by the altitude. The dividing groups are Abies koreana-Taxus cuspidata community, Rhododendron yedoense var. poukhanense-Rh. mucronulatum var. ciliatum-Sasa quelpaertensis community, Ilex crenata- Elaeagnus umbellata-S. quelpaertensis community, Rh. yedoense var. poukhallense-Juniperus chinensis var. sargentii-Rh. mucronulatum var. ciliatum community and Empetrum nigrum var. japonicum-J. chinensis var. sargentii community. The species divirsity of plant community were decreased severely by livestock's and user's impact.