• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.229-236
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• 2009

A habitat model was developed to delineate potential habitat of the leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis) in a mountainous region of Kangwon Province, Korea. Between 1997 and 2005, 224 leopard cat presence sites were recorded in the province in the Nationwide Survey on Natural Environments. Fifty percent of the sites were used to develop a habitat model, and the remaining sites were used to test the model. Fourteen environmental variables related to topographic features, water resources, vegetation and human disturbance were quantified for 112 of the leopard cat presence sites and an equal number of randomly selected sites. Statistical analyses (e.g., t-tests, and Pearson correlation analysis) showed that elevation, ridges, plains, % water cover, distance to water source, vegetated area, deciduous forest, coniferous forest, and distance to paved road differed significantly (P < 0.01) between presence and random sites. Stepwise logistic regression was used to develop a habitat model. Landform type (e.g., ridges vs. plains) is the major topographic factor affecting leopard cat presence. The species also appears to prefer deciduous forests and areas far from paved roads. The habitat map derived from the model correctly classified 93.75% of data from an independent sample of leopard cat presence sites, and the map at a regional scale showed that the cat's habitats are highly fragmented. Protection and restoration of connectivity of critical habitats should be implemented to preserve the leopard cat in mountainous regions of Korea.

• Asian Journal of Turfgrass Science
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.33-43
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• 1997

The production and decomposition rate of litters of major forest trees in Korea, such as Quercus acutissima, Quercus mogolica Robinia pseudoacacia Pinus rigida, Pinus thunbergiana, Abies koreana,Phy'llostackys reticulata, were estimated by Olson model. The amount of mineral nutrients in litters and soil were measured, and the relationships among them were studied. The annual litter production was the most in the forest of broadleaved deciduous trees and the least in the forest of monocotyledonous trees. The decomposition rate of broadleaved deciduous litters was higher than that of coniferous litters and lower than that of R. pseudoacacia litters. The time required for the decomposition of half of the accumulated organic matter of R.pseudoacacia litter, Quercus litter, P. rigida litter, Ph. reticulata litter, P. thunbergiana litter and .4.koreana litter in the forest stands were 1.263 years, 2.290~2.365 years, 2.644 years, 4.660 years,4.750 years, 6.699 years respectively. The amounts of N in litters and the amounts of N returned to the soil in the forests of R. pseudoacacia. Quercus, Pinus were proportional to the decay rate of organic matter. Key words: Annual litter production, Decomposition rate.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.67-71
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• 2004

This study was carried out to evaluate soil carbon and nutrient storage of three adjacent coniferous plantations (Larix leptolepis, Pinus densiflora and Pinus rigitaeda) growing on a similar site with a same planting age (42-year old) in the Sambong Exhibition Forests, Hamyang-gun, Gyungsangnam-do. The soil carbon concentration among three plantations was not significantly different in 0∼10cm soil depth, but other two depths (10∼20cm and 20∼30cm) showed higher carbon concentration in P. densiflora plantation than the other two plantations. The exchangeable cation concentrations (Ca and Mg) in 0∼10cm depth were significantly lower in L. leptolepis plantation than in the other two plantations, while nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations were not significantly different among three plantations except for nitrogen at 10∼20cm depth in P. rigitaeda plantation. Soil carbon storage in 0∼20cm depth of three plantations was unaffected by the stand types. Soil nutrient storage was not significantly different at each depth except for nitrogen storage at 10∼20cm depth in P. rigitaeda plantation because of the variation of bulk density and coarse fragment. This result demonstrates that soil carbon and nutrient concentrations among the plantations on a similar soil condition can be altered significantly by tree species effects over 40 years after plantation establishment.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.31-39
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• 2013

Some researcher started studies of natural capital from 1980's. But many researches are going along with the theme lately. Most assessment of ecosystem services are approaching a general assessment using a land-cover map. Therefore they have some problems such as overestimate, underestimate, and double counting, and so on. This study suggested a detailed typology for quantitative assessment about ecosystem services. It compared land-cover map and forest type map to select a based map and made criteria with reference to the literature and field survey. It subdivided a forest typology using ecological feature (natural forest, artifical forest), forest type (coniferous forest, mixed forest, hardwood forest) and age of stand in forest type map. Each forest type is widely distributed 21~40 ages of forests and biggest area is 21~40 ages of mixed forest in all forest typology. Further researches have to progress consistently assessment using detailed typology and function of forest ecosystem services.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.90 no.4
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• pp.413-419
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• 2001

This study investigated pH values and EC changes of rainfall and stemflow were investigated for 5 tree species such as Pinus koraiensis, P. densiflora, Larix leptolepis, Quercus variabilis and Q. mongolica in the Experiment Forests, College of Forest Science, Kangwon National University. The results were as follows; 1. Mean month pH values of stemflow were much lower than those of rainfall. Among tree species, pH values of the coniferous such as P. densiflora, P. koraiensis and L. leptolepis were lower those of the deciduous such as Q. mongolica and Q. variabilis. Mean month pH values of stemflow ranged from 3.23 to 5.03 (average : 4.23) for P. koraiensis, 3.57 to 5.16 (average : 4.36) for P. densiflora, 3.41 to 6.69 (average : 4.45) for L. leptolepis, 3.86 to 6.11 (average : 4.70) for Q. variabilis and 4.39 to 6.13 (average : 5.18) for Q. mongolica. 2. Mean month EC of the coniferous species was 1.5 to 2 times higher than that of the deciduous species. Mean month EC of stemflow for P. koraiensis, P. densiflora, L. leptolepis, Q. variabilis and Q. mongolica was ranged from 29.0 to $946.5{\mu}S/cm$(average : $258.5{\mu}S/cm$), 18.6 to $907.5{\mu}S/cm$(average : $220.3{\mu}S/cm$), 27.0 to $918.0{\mu}S/cm$(average : $216.2{\mu}S/cm$), 16.5 to $301.6{\mu}S/cm$(average : $125.4{\mu}S/cm$) and $25.2{\sim}225.7{\mu}S/cm$(average : $101.5{\mu}S/cm$), respectively. 3. Average pH values and EC were highly variable according to season. Average pH values appeared lower in spring than those in summer and autumn, but EC appeared higher in spring than those lower in summer and autumn. 4. According to precipitation, there was little difference in and pH values of stemflow the coniferous and the deciduous showed low pH valuess in the case of less than 50mm precipitation. However, EC of stemflow showed a difference depending on the precipitation, and EC of the coniferous and the deciduous was high more than $100{\mu}S/cm$ at the precipitation of less than 50mm.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.413-425
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• 2017

This manuscript describes the relationship between climate change and forest growth, forest species, carbon stocks, and tree mortality. 1) In the aspect of forest growth, the growth of major coniferous species, including Pinus densiflora, had a negative correlation with temperature. On the other hand, major deciduous oak species, including Quercus variabilis and Quercus mongolica, had a positive correlation with temperature. 2) When considered in the aspect of the forest species distribution, various models commonly showed a decrease in the distribution of coniferous species and an increase in oak species due to climate change in the medium to long term. 3) From the carbon stock perspective, there was a difference in the estimation according to the status of forest management. Most of Korean forests will mature to become over-matured forest after year 2030 and are estimated to produce approximately 410 million ton forest biomass until 2090 with the current cutting regulations for sustainable forest management announced by the Korean Forest Service. 4) In the forest mortality, the mortality rate of the major coniferous species showed a clear tendency to increase higher temperatures while it decreased for the oak species with no verification of statistical significance. Moreover, the mortality of the subalpine coniferous species was projected to progress rapidly. considering the overall impacts described above, there should be a management strategy for coniferous species that are relatively vulnerable to climate change. Moreover, a sustainable forest plan in the aspect of ecosystem services, carbon sequestration and storage, which is linked to global issues such as Sustainable Development Goals, ecosystem services and negative emission.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.311-316
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• 2007

In this study, we investigated the presence of nitrogen, phosphorus, ions, heavy metals and other contaminations in the water stream and soil of the forest watershed with different geology and vegetations for one year from October 2004 to September 2005. Most of the nitrogen oxide in the soil was in the form of $NO_3^-$, and it appeared that nitrogen contents decreased as the soil depth increased. Nitrogen contents was highest in the basalt area showing 13.3 mg/g in the surface soil and 7.40 mg/g in the subsoil. Phosphorous contents showed no significant variations depending on the soil depth and was higher in the intermediate soil layer(60 cm) than in surface soil (30 cm) in granite and metamorphic rock areas. Nitrogenous compound in the soil water was 8.03 mg/L in the granite area of coniferous forest and 14.79 mg/L in the andesite area of the deciduous forest. Nitrogenous compound in the stream water was 5.53 mg/L in October and 6.99 mg/L in January in the granite area of the coniferous forest and $3.61\sim5.11$ mg/L in the andesite area of the deciduous forest. Phosphates in runoff and stream water were similar in coniferous with in deciduous forests, showing a slight increase(0.090$\sim$0.179 mg/L) in the basalt area. In the coniferous forest, pH showed a significant positive correlation with EC, $Ca^{2+}$ and $Cl^-$ at p < 0.01, and showed a negative correlation with S-Fe and S-Al. Electroconductivity showed a significant correlation of 0.601 with $Ca^{2+}$ and of -0.586 with $NO_3^-$ at p<0.01, and showed a significant correlation of 0.301 with $SO_4^{2-}$ and of -0.295 with S-Fe at p < 0.05. In the deciduous forest, pH showed a positive correlation with $Ca^{2+}$ at p < 0.05, and showed a negative correlation with $K^+$, S-Fe and S-Al at p < 0.01. Electroconductivity showed a significant positive correlation with $Ca^{2+}$ and $Cl^-$ at p < 0.05 and with $NO_3^-$ at p < 0.01.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.91-102
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• 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
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.570-580
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• 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 Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.84 no.3
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• pp.286-298
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• 1995

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of forest soil acidification on the distribution of exchangeable cations($Ca^{2+}$, $Mg^{2+}$, $Al^{3+}$) and heavy metals(Cu, Zn, Mn, Pb, Cd) in soil, and to understand the relation of the soil chemical properties and the distribution of nutrients and hear metals in fine root and foliage. The results through survey on the long - term change of soil pH and the contents of nutrient and heavy metal in soil, fine root and foliage by 2 sites near Ulsan - Onsan industrial estate and 2 sites in limited development district are summarized as follows : 1. The average forest soil pH(A horizon) in Ulsan had been proceeded down to 3.73 in deciduous forest and 3.86 in coniferous forest in 1994 from 4.45 and 4.78 in 1987, respectively, which indicated serious soil acidification. As comparing soil pH among sites, Dongcheon coniferous forest(pH 4.57) in limited development district showed the highest values and Dangwol deciduous forest(pH 3.19) near Onsan industrial estate showed the lowest values in 1994. 2. Contents of exchangeable calcium in forest soils of limited development district where showed much higher soil pH than industrial estate were 3.5 times more in deciduous forest soil and 11 times more in coniferous forest soil than in industrial estate, and contents of exchangeable magnesium were also 4.5 and 5 times more in limited development district than in industrial estate, respectively. However contents of exchangeable aluminium which had been supposed more in forest soil of industrial estate were more in limited development district. 3. Contents of calcium and magnesium in fine root of deciduous trees(A hirsuta. Q. acutissima) were 3.6 and 1.7 times more in limited development district than in industrial estate, respectively, and those of coniferous trees(P. rigida, P. thunbergii) were 4.6 and 1.5 times more in Limited development district than in industrial estate, respectively. Also contents of calcium and magnesium in foliage of deciduous trees were 1.1 and 2.2 times more in limited development district than in industrial estate, respectively, and those of coniferous trees were 1.8 and 3.3 times more in limited development district, respectively. And contents of aluminium in fine root and foliage were nearly as same as in soil. 4. Ca/Al molar ratios in soil and fine root, which could be related with the dgree of soil acidification and Al toxicity on trees, were Less than 1 in all sites except Dongcheon, suggesting that the soil and fine root in the sites have high sensitivity to soil acidification and the decrease in nutrient uptake and root enlargement. The Ca/Al molar ratios in soil and fine root in coniferous forest were highly correlated with the soil pH one another. 5. Contents of Cu, Zn and Pb in soil, fine root and foliage were more in industrial estate than in limited development district in both deciduous and coniferous forests, however, oppositely contents of Mn and Cd in soil were more in limited development district than in industrial estate.