• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.160-171
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• 2002

In order to clarify the species composition, distribution and habitat of the Korean wild Pyrus ussuriensis and P. pyrifolia communities, that are so expected as a useful resource plant, an investigation was carried out according to phytosociological method on Mts. Hambaek, Ilwol, Sobaek, Juwang and Gaya in Korea. In the present study, we made an attempt to elucidate the autecological characteristics of the wild Pyrus species by synecological approach. As a result, the forests including the Pyrus species were divided into the two associations and two communities, considering the existing vegetation units for the forest; Syneilesio-Quercetum serratae, Corylo-Quercetum mongozicae, Ainsziaea acerifolia- Quercus mongolica community and Fraxinus rhynchophylla-Pyrus ussuriensis community. Among the units, the Syneilesio-Quercetum serratae and the Corylo-Quercetum mongolicae belong to southern type and middile-northern type, respectively, in their distributional type. It is inferred that the wild Pyrus species are distributed preferably in the deciduous forest zone in Korea, compared to the other forest zones. In particular the Pyrus species are present alone or dominantly in only both the tree layer or subtree layer of the forests, reflecting their shade intolerance ecophysiologically. Thus they usually were distributed in SE or SW of slope aspect. Generally the canopy of the forests including the Pyrus species was so open. Species diversity of the vegetation units was highest in the Syneizesio-Quercetum serratae and lowest in the Ainsliaea acerifolia-Quercus mongolica community. The Corylo-Quercetum mongolicae and the Pyrus ussuriensis-Fraxinus rhynchophylla community are medium between the two.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.108 no.1
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• pp.10-20
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• 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 Environment and Ecology
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.338-350
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• 2024

A vegetation survey was conducted and analyzed on 25 survey plots of Betula ermanii communities in the subalpine zone of Mt. Gariwang, Mt. Balwang, Mt. Bangtae, and Mt. Hambaek in Gangwon-do. As a result of TWINSPAN and DCA analysis, the community was divided into a total of 3 communities: Betula ermanii-Quercus mongolica community(GroupI), Betula ermanii-Acer pseudosieboldianum community (GroupII), and Betula ermanii community(GroupIII). As a result of the vegetation structure analysis, Betula ermanii-Quercus mongolica community(GroupI) is located on the periphery of the Mt. Bangtae trail at altitude of 1,082~1,192m, and Betula ermanii-Acer pseudosieboldianum community(GroupII) is located on the ridges and slopes of Mt. Bangtae, Mt. Gariwang, and Mt. Hambaek at altitudes of 1,230~1,373m. Betula ermanii-Quercus mongolica community(GroupI) and Betula ermanii-Acer pseudosieboldianum community(GroupII) are currently dominated by Betula ermanii, but after long term, it is expected that they will transe to Quercus mongolica. The Betula ermanii community(GroupIII) is located the summit of Mt. Hambaek and the summit of Mt. Balwang at altitude of 1,428~1,464m. It is expected that the community will be maintained as Betula ermanii community, because Betula ermanii is very dominant, and so the next generation dominant species is maintained by Betula ermanii. Betula ermanii community generally appear above 1,000 m above sea level, and the higher the altitude, the more dominant the Betula ermanii are. As a result of the soil analysis, the soil characteristics shows a similar pattern to the subalpine belt of Daecheongbong Peak of Mt. Seoraksan and Banyabong Peak of Mt. Jirisan. As a result of the species diversity index analysis, the species diversity index was 1.210~1.293, the abundance index was 0.698~0.795, and the dominance index was 0.208~0.302.