• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.112 no.3
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• pp.280-289
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• 2023

Diverse native tree species are distributed in Korean forests; however, information on their regeneration strategies is limited. This study analyzed seed rain from 2011 to 2013, seedling emergence, seedling survival, lifespan distribution, and the relationship between seedling mortality and herbaceous vegetation for 3 years, from 2012 to 2014, to understand the natural regeneration and early survival characteristics of Fraxinus rhynchophylla Hance in natural broad-leaved forests. Seed rain and emerged seedling density significantly differed among the years (p < .05). An increase in seed rain was followed by an increase in seedling emergence in the following year. Seed rain in 2013 and seedling emergence in 2014 showed a significant correlation (p < .05), confirming the trait of F. rhynchophylla seeds that germinate in the following year after seed production. Seedlings emerged in late spring and early summer. Of the seedlings, 78% emerged in the early summer of 2014. Most seedlings died immediately after emergence. Of the seedlings that emerged in August 2012, 56% died within 2 months, and 38% of those that emerged in July 2014 died within 1 month. Shade and competition against ground vegetation chiefly affected the seedling survival of F. rhynchophylla. Fraxinus rhynchophylla showed mast seeding, with a large number of seed production in a particular year. A surge of seedling emergence followed in the early summer of the next year. However, most seedlings died in the same year of emergence. Fraxinus rhynchophylla has a high seedling mortality, but mast seeding and the resulting high seedling emergence produce a few survived seedlings, enabling the continuation of the F. rhynchophylla population. Efforts and research on the natural regeneration of native tree species are required to effectively manage natural forests in Korea.