• Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.29 no.6
• /
• pp.593-602
• /
• 2006

Species composition, spatial distribution of major species, diameter and height classes distribution, and species diversity were .analyzed in the Korean red pine (Pinus densiflora, hereafter referred as pine) forest in the permanent quadrats, which were designed for Long Term Ecological Research (LTER). Collected data were compared with those from the other areas including urban center (Mt. Inwang and Hongneung) and boundary areas (Mts. Acha, Bukhan, Bulam, Cheonggye, Daemo, and Surak), and natural areas (Mts. Seolak, Songni, and Wolak) to clarify the ecological characteristics of pine forest on Mt. Nam. Species composition of pine forest on Mt. Nam showed a similarity with those of urban center but did a little and big differences with those on urban boundary and natural areas, respectively. Such differences that pine forest on Mt. Nam showed, were usually due to Styrax japonicus, Sorbus alnifolia, Oplismenus undulatifolius, Ailanthus altissima, Ageratina altissima and so on, which showed higher coverage there. Predicted from diameter and height classes distribution of tree species, pine forest on Mt. Nam showed a possibility to be replaced by a S. japonica. Considered that this replacer species is not only a sub-tree but also shade intolerant, such successional trend could be interpreted as a sort of retrogressive succession. Those on urban boundary and natural areas showed a difference by displaying probabilities to be maintained as themselves as an edaphic climax or succeeded to oak forests. Species diversity of pine forest on Mt. Nam was lower than those in urban boundary and natural areas due to excessive dominance of several species, which led to different species composition from the other areas. Plants, which produced the differences, were species that flourishes in the polluted industrial area (S. japonica and S. alnifolia), favors the disturbed site (O. undulatifolius), and exotic species (A. altissima and Eupatorium rugosum). Those results reflects that pine forest of Mt. Nam was exposed on severe environmental pollution and excessive human interferences.