• Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.42 no.2
• /
• pp.70-76
• /
• 2018

Background: Sasa borealis (Hack.) Makino, a clonal dwarf bamboo, is widespread in Korean forests. Although S. borealis is native to that country, its growth habit can cause considerable harm when occupying particular areas where it dominates and influences those forested communities. However, few reports have described the extent of its inhibitory effects on the vigor of co-existing plant species. Therefore, we investigated the distribution, abundance, and diversity of other plant species in the communities where this plant occurs in the east-central forests on the Korean Peninsula. Results: S. borealis was most commonly found at an elevational range of 800 to 1,200 m, on gentle, usually lower, and near valley northern slopes. Out of the 13 forest communities based on 447 forest stands that we surveyed, S. borealis was detected in eight communities, mostly where Quercus mongolica dominates. In particular, it was more common in late-successional mixed stands of Q. mongolica, other deciduous species, and the coniferous Abies holophylla. Because of their ability to expand rapidly in the forest, this plant covered more than 50% of the surface in most of our research plots. Species diversity declined significantly (F = 78.7, p = 0.000) as the abundance of S. borealis increased in the herb stratum. The same trend was noted for the total number of species (F = 18.1, p = 0.000) and species evenness (F = 91.5, p = 0.000). Conclusions: These findings clearly demonstrate that S. borealis is a weed pest and severely hinders species diversity. Authorities should be implementing various measures for ecological control to take advantage of declining chance after the recent synchronized massive flowering of S. borealis.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.31 no.4
• /
• pp.269-276
• /
• 2008

In order to understand the role of seed banks for restoration, seed banks in abandoned rice fields in the Gwangneung National Arboretum, central Korea were investigated using the seedling emergence method. The study sites represented three stages: an initial stage dominated by forbs such as Persicaria thunbergii and Juncus effuses var. decipiens, a middle stage dominated by Salix, and a late stage dominated by Quercus aliena and Prunus padus (in nearby riparian forest chosen as a reference stand). DCA ordination arranged the stands according to the number of years since abandonment. CCA ordination identified the dominant environmental variables correlated most closely with Axes 1 and 2 as $Mg^{2+}$ (intraset correlation was 0.827) and $K^+$ (intraset correlation was -0.677), respectively. Species richness and diversity decreased from the initial stage (H'=2.61) to the middle (H'=1.79) and late (H'=0.75) stages. A total of 49 species $(/m^2)$ and 18,620 seedlings $(/m^2)$ emerged out of the seed bank samples. The DCA ordination and similarity analysis detected a large discrepancy between the composition of the actual vegetation and the seed bank. We conclude that the contribution of seed bank to restoration is low. However, seed bank may help the recovery of forbs after disturbance. Some of our results are consistent with the tolerance model of succession whereas others follow the trajectory of the facilitation model. More research on succession will be required to understand the underlying mechanisms.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
• /
• v.81 no.1
• /
• pp.53-65
• /
• 1992

For elucidating effective methods of restoration of forest recreational sites where management goals are maintaining naturalness and conserving natural ecosystem, seeding, fertilization and soil surface treatment were used for four years at the devastated forest-floor. For restoration of forest-floor vegetation, factorial experiment was used with a split plot design(main plot : fertilization, subplot : soil surface${\times}$seeding) and a randomized complete block design (fertilization${\times}$seeding) at the Kwanaksan Aboretum, Anyang, Kyonggido. Results were summarized as follows : Soil surface softening with tipping and ripping and straw-mat mulching (70% coverage) treatment was effective on germination, survival and growth of seeded vegetation at devastated forest-floor. Especially, straw-mat mulching treatment was effective on soil surface stabilization and seedling's survival at eroded soil surface, while complete soil surface softening treatment was effective on germination, survival and early growth of tree species of late-successional series. Introducing seeds of native species of pioneer or early-successional series, with good growth capability in barren soil was effective on rapid restoration in devastated forest-floor with its soil surface previously compacted and its surviving seeds washed away. When the seeding and straw-mat mulching after partial soil surface softening with tipping and ripping treatment were employed, it took about three years to restore the devastated forest-floor where surface erosion had been undertaken for an extended period of time and where naturally surviving seeds of native species had been washed away. Softening treatment of soil surface was effective for about two years, and seeding and soil surface treatment increased number of seedlings and improved soil surface environment through fixing of movement of the fallen leaves. Fertilizing effect was not oberserved, mainly due to seeding exposure and poor physical condition including soil surface erosion, low soil water potential and drought, etc, at the field experimental site. However, application of nitrogen and phosphate fertilizers was effective on seedling survival of the species in late-successional series, while lime application adversely affected the seedling survival.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.42 no.4
• /
• pp.308-316
• /
• 2018

Background: Genus Sasa, dwarf bamboos, are considered to be species that lower biodiversity in the temperate forests of East Asia. Although they have a long interval, they, the monocarpic species, have a unique characteristic of large-scale synchronized flowering. Therefore, once they have flowered and then declined, it may be an opportunity for suppressed surrounding species. A previous study reported that Sasa borealis showed specialized flowering nationwide with a peak in 2015. However, this was based on data from a social network service and field survey at Mt. Jeombong. Therefore, we investigated S. borealis in the forests of five national parks in order to determine whether this rare synchronized flowering occurred nationwide, as well as its spatial distribution. Results: We found a total of 436 patches under the closed canopy of Quercus mongolica-dominated deciduous forests in the surveyed transects from the five national parks. Of these patches, 75% occupied a whole slope area, resulting in an enormous area. The patch area tended to be larger in the southern parks. Half (219 patches) of the patches flowered massively. Among them, 76% bloomed in 2015, which was consistent with the results of the previous report. The flowering rate varied from park to park with that of Mt. Seorak being the highest. The culms of the flowering patches were significantly taller (F = 93.640, p < 0.000) and thicker (F = 61.172, p < 0.000). Following the event, the culms of the flowering patches declined, providing a good opportunity for the suppressed plant species. The concurrent massive flowering of the mature patches was believed to be triggered by some stress such as a spring drought. Conclusion: We confirmed that the rare synchronized flowering of S. borealis occurred with a peak in 2015 nationwide. In addition, we explored that S. borealis not only monopolized an enormous area, but also dominated the floors of the late-successional Q. mongolica-dominated deciduous forests. This presents a major problem for Korean forests. As it declined simultaneously after flowering, there are both possibilities of forest regeneration or resettlement of S. borealis by massively produced seeds.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
• /
• v.24 no.6
• /
• pp.638-647
• /
• 2010

This study was performed in order to analyze influences the actual vegetation between the communities of Pinus densiflora and Quercus mongolica in southern Korea to the species composition of the seed bank in the top soil. The soil samples were collected from the studied plots and transported to the Experimental Glasshouse at Department of Landscape Architecture, Yeungnam University and examined the germinated species individual numbers with species composition and germinated individual numbers by species. The overall germination status was the highest in the herbaceous layers than the layers of tree, sub-tree and shrub, respectively. There were no significantly different between numbers of species and individuals and between actual vegetation and seed bank in the two communities. The woody species marked in the seed bank as a pioneer or edge species than in the two communities which are in the stage of mid or late successional species. Although the plant species in the herbaceous layers was highly influenced to the species composition of the seed bank, but no significantly different was showed within the same forest zone and latitudes of Korean peninsula. As the pioneer or edge species of the actual vegetation possibly will be higher the buried in the top soil layer and this phenomenon will influence overall species composition in the seed bank population.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
• /
• v.32 no.3
• /
• pp.185-192
• /
• 2013

BACKGROUND: As a result of rural exodus, aging of rural population, development of high-yield rice varieties and so on, abandoned paddy fields of South Korea have generally increased. The phytosociological studies are needed to recommend the effective vegetation management methods of abandoned paddy fields. The current study performed an analysis of vegetation characteristics by classifying plant communities for abandoned paddy fields in South Korea. METHODS AND RESULTS: A comparative analysis of syntaxonomy, synecology, and syndynamics was performed by using the Z.-M. method of phytosociology and vegetation survey which was obtained from an enumeration district of total 203 phytosociological releves of 5 regions in Gangwon-do, 5 regions in Gyeonggi-do, 2 regions in Chungcheong-do, 18 regions in Gyeongsang-do, and 10 regions in Jeolla-do. Alopecurus aequalis community, Juncus effusus var. decipiens community and Salix koreensis community were, respectively, identified as successional plant communities of the early stage, the middle stage, and the late stage in the vegetation of abandoned paddy field. Sere of abandoned paddy field can be classified, developmentally, into annual plant stage, perennial plant stage, shrub plant stage, and forest tree stage. Several kinds of dominant species rather than a distinct species were found in the middle stage of abandoned paddy field. CONCLUSION(S): In this study, changing pattern in vegetational communities of abandoned paddy field were understood. These results will provide important information for restoring and conserving the ecology of fallow ground.

• 한국해양학회지
• /
• v.23 no.1
• /
• pp.1-12
• /
• 1988

To clarify the community structure of phytoplankton in the Kyeonggi Bay, the community analysis were performed to investigate the relationship between the environmental factors and the phytoplankton communities. Low diversity with occurrence of few dominant species throughout the year, except summer, implies that ecological environment of this study area is very unstable due to incessant physical perturbation and large fluctuation of other environmental factors. According to the results of the cluster analysis this study area could be divided into river discharge, polluted and unpolluted area. Principal component analysis of overall phytoplankton community in this area clearly showed four seasonal succession patterns grouped into the spring type, the summer type, the late summer type, the late autumn-winter type. Summer communities composed of common phytoplankton are highly correlated with temperature and transparency. Winter communities composed of most tychopelagic plankton are positively correlated with suspended substances and nutrient, while negatively correlated with transparency.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
• /
• v.18 no.1
• /
• pp.1-15
• /
• 2016

Annual litterfall production and leaf area index (LAI, $m^2/m^2$) were estimated using litter traps in Gwangneung, Mt. Taewha and Mt. Gariwang. Annual total litter fall production including branch, bark, others was the highest in Gwangneung($7497.3{\pm}326.5kg/ha/yr$), which had the highest basal area at late successional stage, and followed by Mt. Taewha($5929.1{\pm}225.8kg/ha/yr$) and Mt. Gariwang($3,210.1{\pm}220.1kg/ha/yr$). Mt. Gariwang had the lowest litterfall production due to high elevation and short growing season even with the higher stand density and basal area than Mt. Taewha. Similarly, LAI, which was calculated by multiplying the mass of leaf litter with specific leaf area, was the highest in Gwangneung($5.99{\pm}0.69$) and followed by Mt. Taewha($5.20{\pm}0.24$) and Mt. Gariwang($4.06{\pm}0.42$) and the upper canopy species had the highest leaf area index in every sites (Gwangneung : 4.72, Mt. Taewha : 3.08, Mt. Gariwang : 2.19). However, species specific LAI estimation based on the relationship between basal area and leaf area was limited due to upper canopy species non-proportionality of basal area with LAI. In addition, the comparison between direct and indirect LAI measurement showed the importance of canopy clumping, especially at high density. Our study emphasized the necessity of direct LAI measurement using litter fall traps especially at temperate deciduous forest with diverse species.