• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
• /
• v.108 no.1
• /
• pp.10-20
• /
• 2019

The purpose of this study is to identify the long-term area changes in the subalpine coniferous forests in Korea in order to understand the changes in the subalpine forest ecosystems vulnerable to climate change. We analyzed 20 years of time-series Landsat satellite images (mid 1990s, mid 2010s) for change detection of coniferous forests and compared with the long term changes of climate information to identify their relationship in the study area. As a result, the area of coniferous forests in the study region decreased by 25% over 20 years. The regions with largest changes are Seoraksan, Baegunsan-Hambaeksan-Jangsan, Jirisan, and Hallasan. The region with the largest decrease in area was Baegunsan (reduced area: 542 ha), and the region with large decrease in area and the largest rate of decrease was Hallasan (rate of decrease: 33.3%). As the Jeju region has the most rapid temperature rise, it is projected that Hallasan is the most vulnerable forest ecosystem affected by climate change. The result of this study shows that from a long-term perspective the overall coniferous forests in the subalpine region are declining, but the trend varies in each region. This national and long-term information on the change of coniferous forests in the subalpine region can be utilized as baseline data for the detailed survey of endangered subalpine coniferous trees in the future.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.47 no.2
• /
• pp.91-102
• /
• 2014

Forest vegetation of Birobong (1,563 m) in Odaesan National Park is classified into mountain forest vegetation and flatland forest vegetation. Mountain forest vegetation is subdivided into deciduous broad-leaved forest, valley forest, coniferous forest, subalpine coniferous forest, subalpine broad-leaved forest, afforestation and etc., while riparian forest was found under the category of flatland forest vegetation. Including 196 communities of mountain forest vegetation, 1 community of flatland forest vegetation and 4 communities of other vegetation, the total of 201 communities were researched; the distributed colonies classified by physiognomy classification are 62 communities deciduous broad-leaved forest, 84 communities of valley forest, 15 communities of coniferous forests, 16 communities of subalpine coniferous forest, 3 communities of subalpine broad-leaved forest, 16 afforestation, 1 community of flatland forest and 4 other communities. As for the distribution rate for surveyed main communities, Quercus mongolica, Quercus variabilis, Tilia amurensis communities account for 37.08 percent of deciduous broad-leaved forest, Juglans mandshurica, Fraxinus mandshurica, Cornus controversa, Populus koreana community takes up 1.59 percent of mountain valley forest, Pinus densiflora community holds 6.65 percent of mountain coniferous forest holds. In conclusion, minority species consisting of Quercus mongolica, Quercus variabilis, Tilia amurensis, Juglans mandshurica, Fraxinus mandshurica, Cornus controversa, Populus koreana, Pinus densiflora are distributed as dominant species of the uppermost part in a forest vegetation of Birobong in Odaesan National Park. In addition, because of vegetation succession and climate factors, numerous colonies formed by the two species are expected to be replaced by Quercus mongolica, Tilia amurensis and Juglans mandshurica which are climax species in the area. However, the distribution rate of deciduous broad-leaved forest seems to increase gradually due to global warming and artificial disturbance.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.47 no.2
• /
• pp.103-115
• /
• 2014

Forest vegetation of Noinbong (1,338 m) in Odaesan National Park is classified into mountain forest vegetation. Mountain forest vegetation is subdivided into deciduous broad-leaved forest, mountain valley forest, coniferous forest, subalpine coniferous forest, subalpine deciduous forest, shrub forest, riparian forest, afforestation and other vegetation. Including 196 communities of mountain forest vegetation and 7 communities of other vegetation, the total of 203 communities were researched; mountain forest vegetation classified by physiognomy classification are 62 communities deciduous broad-leaved forest, 85 communities of mountain valley forest, 18 communities of coniferous forests, 3 communities of subalpine coniferous forests, 4 communities of subapine deciduous forests, 2 communities of shrub forests, 1 communities of riparian forests, 21 afforestation and 7 other vegetation. As for the distribution rate for surveyed main communities, Quercus mongolica, Quercus serrata, Quercus variabilis communities account for 54.856 percent of deciduous broad-leaved forest, Fraxinus mandshurica - Cornus controversa community takes up 15.482 percent of mountain valley forest, Pinus densiflora community holds 78.091 percent of mountain coniferous forest holds. In conclusion, minority species consisting of Quercus mongolica, Pinus densiflora, Tilia amurensis, Fraxinus mandshurica, Cornus controversa, Quercus serrata, and Quercus variabilis are distributed as dominant species of the uppermost part in a forest vegetation region in Odaesan National Park. In addition, because of vegetation succession and climate factors, numerous colonies formed by the two species are expected to be replaced by Quercus mongolica, Carpinus laxiflora and Fraxinus mandshurica which are climax species in the area.

• Proceedings of the Korean Environmental Sciences Society Conference
• /
• 2002.05b
• /
• pp.395-398
• /
• 2002

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.47 no.3
• /
• pp.135-145
• /
• 2014

The mountain forest vegetation of Gyebangsan (1,577 m) in Odaesan National Park is classified into deciduous broad-leaved forest, mountain valley forest, coniferous forest, subalpine coniferous forest, subalpine deciduous forest, plantation forest, and other vegetation which includes Actinidia argute community and agricultural land. As for the number of communities distributed in the each forest vegetation which were categorized by the physiognomy classification, deciduous broad-leaved forest had 33 communities, mountain valley forest 41 communities, coniferous forest 8 communities, subalpine coniferous forest 4 communities, subalpine deciduous forest 2 communities, plantation forest 6 communities and other vegetation 4 communities. Regarding the distribution rate of communities in the vegetation, in the deciduous broad-leaved forest. Quercus mongolica community accounted for 80.226% with $30,909,942.967m^2$, followed by Quercus variabilis community of 2.771% with $1,067,479.335m^2$. 55.463% of deciduous broad-leaved forest in the Gyebangsan had Quercus mongolica as a dominant or second dominant species. In the mountain valley forest, Fraxinus rhynchophylla - Juglans mandshurica community accounted for 10.955%. And there were ten mixed communities having Fraxinus rhynchophylla and upper layer at a similar level of coverage, taking up 32.776%. In the coniferous forest, Pinus densiflora and the community living with Pinus densiflora accounted for 100%, showing that the coniferous forest has the community with Pinus densiflora as a dominant species at upper layer. For other vegetation, subalpine coniferous forest had a total of four communities including Abies holophylla - Quercus mongolica community, and accounted for 4.980% of vegetation area of Odaesan National Park. Two communities including Betula ermani - Cornus controversa community were found in the subalpine deciduous forest, taking up 0.006% of total vegetation area of Odaesan National Park. Regarding plantation forest, Larix leptolepis was planted the most with 51.652%, followed by Betula platyphylla var. japonica with 38.975%, and Pinus koraiensis with 7.969%. These three species combined accounted for 98.565%. In conclusion, the forest vegetation found in the Gyebangsan of Odaesan National Park has Quercus mongolica as a dominant species at the top layer. A lot of other communities related with this species are expected to be quickly replaced due to vegetation succession and climatic causes. Therefore, Quercus mongolica is expected to become the main species in the deciduous broad-leaved forest, Fraxinus rhynchophylla, Juglans mandshurica and Fraxinus mandshurica in the mountain valley forest. Around the border line between deciduous broad-leaved forest and mountain valley forest, highly humid valley area is expected to be quickly taken up by Cornus controversa and Fraxinus mandshurica, and the slope area by Quercus mongolica. However, in the subalpine coniferous forest, the distribution rate of deciduous broad-leaved trees is expected to increase due to climate warming.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.46 no.2
• /
• pp.289-300
• /
• 2013

Forest vegetation of Hyangjeokbong (1,614 m) in Deogyusan National Park is classified into mountain forest vegetation and flatland forest vegetation. Mountain forest vegetation is subdivided into deciduous broad-leaved forest, valley forest, coniferous forest, subalpine coniferous forest, shrub forest, grassland forest, afforestation and etc., while riparian forest was found under the category of flatland forest vegetation. Including 122 communities of mountain forest vegetation and 2 communities of riparian forest, the total of 124 communities were researched; the distributed colonies classified by physiognomy classification are 42 communities deciduous broad-leaved forest, 37 communities of valley forest, 8 communities of coniferous forests, 6 communities of subalpine coniferous forest, 3 communities of shrub forest, 1 communities of grassland forest, 21 afforestation and 4 other communities. As for the distribution rate for surveyed main communities, Quercus mongolica, Quercus serrata, Quercus variabilis communities account for 47.02 percent of deciduous broad-leaved forest, Fraxinus mandshurica community takes up 57.48 percent of mountain valley forest, Pinus densiflora community holds 77.53 percent of mountain coniferous forest holds, and Taxus cuspidate-Abies koreana community takes up about 50 percent of subalpine coniferous forest. Mountain shrub forest and mountain grassland forest vegetation are concentrated mainly on the top of Hyangjeokbong and the ridge connecting the top and Jungbong. Meanwhile, riparian forest vegetation comprises 0.024% of the whole vegetation area in a study area. In conclusion, minority species consisting of Quercus mongolica, Quercus serrata, Quercus variabilis, Fraxinus mandshurica, Cornus controversa, Pinus densiflora, Abies koreana and Taxus cuspidata are distributed as dominant species of the uppermost part in a forest vegetation region in Deogyusan National Park. In addition, because of vegetation succession and climate factors, numerous colonies formed by the two species are expected to be replaced by Quercus mongolica, Carpinus laxiflora and Fraxinus mandshurica which are climax species in the area. However, in respect of subalpine coniferous forest, the distribution rate of deciduous broad-leaved forest seems to increase gradually due to global warming and artificial disturbance.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.46 no.4
• /
• pp.570-580
• /
• 2013

The forest vegetation of the Deogyusan National Park is classified into mountain forest vegetation and riparian forest vegetation. Mountain forest vegetation in the forest vegetation is subdivided into deciduous broad-leaved forest, valley forest, coniferous forest, subalpine coniferous forest, shrub forest, afforestation and other vegetation. Including 192 communities of mountain forest vegetation and 3 communities of other vegetation, the total of 195 communities were researched; the distributed colonies classified by physiognomy classification are 61 communities deciduous broad-leaved forest, 55 communities of valley forest, 17 communities of coniferous forests, 6 communities of subalpine coniferous forest, 3 communities of shrub forest, 50 afforestation and 3 other vegetation. As for the distribution rate for surveyed main communities, Quercus mongolica, Quercus serrata, Quercus variabilis communities account for 66.00 percent of deciduous broad-leaved forest, Fraxinus mandshurica, Cornus controversa community takes up 64.40 percent of mountain valley forest, Pinus densiflora community holds 70.40 percent of mountain coniferous forest holds. In conclusion, minority species consisting of Quercus mongolica, Quercus serrata, Quercus variabilis, Fraxinus mandshurica, Cornus controversa, Pinus densiflora are distributed as dominant species of the uppermost part in a forest vegetation of Geochilbong in Deogyusan National Park. In addition, because of vegetation succession and climate factors, numerous colonies formed by the two species are expected to be replaced by Quercus mongolica, Carpinus laxiflora and Fraxinus mandshurica which are climax species in the area. However, the distribution rate of deciduous broad-leaved forest seems to increase gradually due to global warming and artificial disturbance.

• Journal of Plant Biology
• /
• v.38 no.3
• /
• pp.305-317
• /
• 1995

The bryophyte communities on the forest floor of the mixed coniferous, deciduous broad-leaf forest and the evergreen coniferous forest of cool temperate and subalpine zones in Chiri Mountains with the highest peak (Cheonwangbong 1915 m) in south-central part of the Korean Peninsula were investigated from the phytosociology viewpoint. As a result, five bryophyte communities were recognized, considering the species composition of vascular vegetation; A. Sasamorpha borealis-Abies koreana/Dicranum scoparium-Plagiothecium silvaticum community, B. Bosta minor-Abies koreana/Anomodon rugelii-Plagiomnium cuspidatum community, C. Abies koreana/Hylocomiopsis ovicarpa-Entodon rubicundus community, D. Abies koreana-Picea jezoensis/Hylocomiopsis ovicarpa-Thuidium kanedae community, E. Abies koreana-Pieea jezoensis/Hylocomium splendens-Pleurozium sehreberi community. Among these, the communities A, B, C and D were distributed in the mixed coniferous and deciduous broad-leaf forest of lower altitudes (1200 to 1700 m) and characterized by the elements of the cool temperate zone. They were confimled as synusies belonging to the Fraxino-Abietetum koreanae Song 1988. The community E was distributed in higher altitudes (1700 m to near the summit) and characterized by the species group of the holarctic elements, e.g. Hyloeomium splendens, Pleurozium sehreberi, Dieranum majus, etc. limited in subarctic; subalpine and arctic; alpine zones. The community E was confirmed as a synusie of the Abieti koreanae-Piceetum jezoensis Song 1991 belonging the Vaecinio-Pieeetea Br.-BI. 1939. Up to date many investigator have described the coniferous forest distibuted above 1200 m in Chiri mountauns as the forest vegetation of subalpine zone. However, from the results of the present study, the boundary of the mixed forest and the true subalpine coniferous forest was elucidated to be ca. 1700 m phytosociologically. Species richness was highest in the community E, and the other four communities showed a similar species richness. Among the species diversity indices, H' and D were high in the communities Band E, low in the communities A and C, and medium in the community D. The values of J' decreased with the increase in altitudes and the community E showed the lowest value. The result of Bray-Curtis ordination revealed that the diversity analysis and the division of the above two forest zones are justifiable. The taxa of the bryophyte communities were composed of 25 families, 46 genera, 73 species, 1 subspecies and 2 varieties.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.46 no.3
• /
• pp.449-459
• /
• 2013

Forest vegetation of Geochilbong (1,177 m) in Deogyusan National Park is classified into mountain forest vegetation and flatland forest vegetation. Mountain forest vegetation is subdivided into deciduous broad-leaved forest, valley forest, coniferous forest, afforestation and etc., while riparian forest was found under the category of flatland forest vegetation. Including 89 communities of mountain forest vegetation and 4 communities of other vegetation, the total of 93 communities were researched; the distributed colonies classified by physiognomy classification are 32 communities deciduous broadleaved forest, 21 communities of valley forest, 12 communities of coniferous forests, 24 afforestation and 4 other communities. As for the distribution rate for surveyed main communities, Quercus mongolica, Quercus serrata, Quercus variabilis communities account for 56.54 percent of deciduous broad-leaved forest, Fraxinus mandshurica, Cornus controversa community takes up 46.58 percent of mountain valley forest, Pinus densiflora community holds 74.98 percent of mountain coniferous forest holds. In conclusion, minority species consisting of Quercus mongolica, Quercus serrata, Quercus variabilis, Fraxinus mandshurica, Cornus controversa, Pinus densiflora are distributed as dominant species of the uppermost part in a forest vegetation of Geochilbong in Deogyusan National Park. In addition, because of vegetation succession and climate factors, numerous colonies formed by the two species are expected to be replaced by Quercus mongolica, Carpinus laxiflora and Fraxinus mandshurica which are climax species in the area. However, the distribution rate of deciduous broad-leaved forest seems to increase gradually due to global warming and artificial disturbance.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
• /
• v.22 no.3
• /
• pp.119-129
• /
• 1999

The bryophyte communities on the forest floor of the mixed coniferous and deciduous broad-leaf forest and the evergreen coniferous forest of cool temperate and subalpine zones in Mts. Taebaek, Odae and Sulak of Tabaek Range were investigated from. the numerical and phytosociological viewpoints. As a result, four bryophyte communities were recognized there, considering the species composition of vascular vegetation; A. Thuja koraiensis-Abies nephrolepis/Taxus caespitosa-Pinus pumila/Hylocomium splendens-Pleurozium schreberi community, B: Sasamorpha borealis-Abies nephrolepis/Plagiomnium cuspidatum- Aulacomnium heterostichum community, C. Abies holophylla-Abies nephrolepis/Thuidium recognitum-Trachycystis immarginata cristatus community, D. Meehania urticifolia-Abies nephrolepis/Hylocomiopsis ovicarpa-Taxiphyllum aomoriense community. Among these, the community A was distributed in higher altitudes and characterized by the species group of the holarctic elements, e.g. Hylocomium splendens, Pleurozium schreberi, Dicranum majus, etc. limited in subarctic; subalpine and arctic; alpine zones and was confirmed as synusies of the Thujo-Abietetum nephrolepidis Song 1991 and Taxo-Pinetum pumilae Song 1985 belonging the Vaccinio-Piceetea Br.-Bl. 1939. In contrast the communities B, C and D were distributed in the mixed coniferous and deciduous broad-leaf forest of lower altitudes and characterized by the elements of the cool temperate; montane zone. They were confirmed as synusies belonging to the Corylo-Quercetum mongolicae Song 1988. By the result of the numerical syntaxonomical analysis such as cluster analysis, interspecific association, PCA, the communities were largely divided into the two types. The two types coincided with the community units or the diagnostic species of the bryophyte communities of the subalpine zone and the montane zone, respectively. Also the analysis revealed that the division of the above two forest zones are justifiable. Up to date many investigator have described the coniferous forest distibuted above 1000m in Taebaek mountains as the forest vegetation of subalpine zone. However, from the results of the present study, the boundary of the mixed forest and the true subalpine coniferous forest was elucidated to be ca. 1,500 m phytosociologically. Species richness was the highest in the community A, and the other four communities showed a similar species richness.