• Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.43 no.4
• /
• pp.454-461
• /
• 2019

Background: Ikonnikov's whiskered bat (Myotis ikonnikovi) is found throughout the Korean Peninsula, as well as in Kazakhstan, Russia, Mongolia, China, and Japan. It is small-sized and primarily inhabits old-growth forests. The decrease and fragmentation of habitats due to increased human activity may influence the genetic structure of bat populations. This study was designed to elucidate the population genetic structure of M. ikonnikovi using mitochondrial genes (cytochrome oxidase I and cytochrome b). Results: The results showed that M. ikonnikovi populations from Korea have high genetic diversity. Although genetic differentiation was not detected for the COI gene, strong genetic differentiation of the Cytb gene between Mt. Jeombong and Mt. Jiri populations was observed. Moreover, the results indicated that the gene flow of the maternal lineage may be limited. Conclusions: This study is the first to identify the genetic population structure of M. ikonnikovi. We suggest that conservation of local populations is important for sustaining the genetic diversity of the bat, and comprehensive studies on factors causing habitat fragmentation are required.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
• /
• v.32 no.1
• /
• pp.9-18
• /
• 2019

This study was carried out to investigate characteristics of growth and active compounds of Angelica gigas population distributed in Mt. Jeombong. Quadrates were established in native area to harvest root part of Angelica gigas and analyze soil properties in September and October 2017. It was found that Angelica gigas populations were collected above the altitude 758 m near the valley covered with Fraxinus mandshurica and Acer pictum, and so on. In case of soil nutrient, soil organic matter, available phosphorous, and total nitrogen ranged 5.8-25.2%, 23.0-67.9 mg/kg and 0.3-1.3% respectively. Also, the Fresh weight of root ranged 28.8-65.3 g in September and 22.3-75.6 g in October. The content of active compounds ranged 2.7-4.7% in decursin and 2.9-4.5% decursinol angelate in October that was increased by 1% and 2.4% respectively compared with that in September. In the final analysis, there was positive correlation between fresh weight of root and exchangeable cation (natrium, calcium, magnesium). Also, there was positive correlation between active compounds and the content of water in root part of Angelica gigas.

• Journal of The Geomorphological Association of Korea
• /
• v.21 no.4
• /
• pp.69-83
• /
• 2014

This study examines vegetation and climate changes from pollen compositions of alpine moors in the Korean Peninsula such as Mujechineup at Mt. Jeongjok, Yongneup at Mt. Daeam, Jilmoineup at Mt. Odae and Wangdeungjaeneup at Mt. Jiri including moors at Mt. Jeombong. It can be found that the alpine moors were less interfered by human than low moors during the past 2,000 years of the historical age. Based on dominant periods of Pinus and Quercus, pollen compositions of the alpine wetlands, climatic environments of vegetation and historical records, vegetation and climate changes during three periods such as approximately 2,000~1,000 yr BP, 1,000~400 yr BP and 400 yr BP~present are examined. It was warmer during the period of 1,000~400 yr BP than 2,000~1,000 yr BP. The period of approximately 400 yr BP indicate the coldest climate of Little Ice Age. This study finds dominances of Quercus, low NAP/AP ratios, obvious divisions of pollen zones and human interference after 400 yr BP from pollen compositions of the alpine moors during the historical age. Human interference in the high moors becomes obvious after approximately 400 yr BP, indicating that there is a time lack of approximately 1,500~2,000 years between the alpine and low moors.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
• /
• v.27 no.1
• /
• pp.17-22
• /
• 2011

Based upon the vegetation data of woody plants by plot sampling method in the natural deciduous forest of Mt. Jeombong, the study was carried out to examine importance value, rank abundance curve, and species abundance curve, and comparatively evaluate seven different species diversity indices for Shannon-Wiener index, Simpson index, McIntosh index, Log series, Margalef index, Berger-Parker index, and species richness, according to topographic positions. The minimal area which meant only few more species were increased was 3.48 ha in total. The dominant species of valley were Carpinus cordata, Acer pseudo-sieboldianum, Quercus mongolica, Acer mono, and Abies holophylla, and the dominant species of mid-slope were Quercus mongolica, Acer pseudo-sieboldianum, Carpinus cordata, Tilia amurensis, and Fraxinus rhynchophylla. Moreover, the dominant species of ridge were Quercus mongolica, Acer pseudo-sieboldianum, Tilia amurensis, Fraxinus rhynchophylla, and Acer mono. According to rank abundance curve and species abundance curve, species evenness was also low. All of Log series, species richness, Margalef, and Shannon-Wiener index discriminated that valley had the highest diversity, and ridge had the lowest diversity; but, Simpson index, McIntosh index, and Berger-Parker index represented that mid-slope had the highest diversity, and ridge had the lowest diversity. Uniquely, in Berger-Parker index, mid-slope was the higher value than total.

• 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.30 no.6
• /
• pp.1022-1031
• /
• 2016

Relationships of standing biomass with biodiversity and structural diversity were examined in the Quercus mongolica-dominated forest in Mt. Jeombong, Gangwon-do. We examined the standing biomass of the Q. mongolia community ($311.1ton{\cdot}ha^{-1}$) from 2004 to 2013, and the observed major species were Q. mongoilca, Carpinus cordata, Tilia amurensis whose standing biomasses were $206.3ton{\cdot}ha^{-1}$ (66.3%), $36.9ton{\cdot}ha^{-1}$ (11.9%), and $30.6ton{\cdot}ha^{-1}$ (9.8%), respectively. Although the number of Q. mongolica individuals was very small compared with total density, the reason that Q. mongolica showed the most biomass than other species is due to greater average diameter at breast height (DBH) and the higher number of $DBH{\geq}50cm$ individuals. We calculated the range of Shannon index (H') and Shannon evenness (J') in the Q. mongolica community, and they were gradually increased in time, showing 2.015~2.166, 0.673~0.736, respectively. Their H' and J' showed positive linear relationships with their standing biomass. This indicates that the spatial distribution of the standing biomass in Q. mongoilca community becomes more homogeneous with time and this homogenization appears in various species in the community. In addition, we estimated biomass-species index (BS) and abundance-biomass-speciesdiversity (ABS) and they also showed gradual increase in time, ranging from 3.746 to 3.811 and from 4.781 to 5.028, respectively. Their indices showed positive linear relationships with the standing biomass. This can be explained from the observations of variations in standing biomass with tree diameters as the differences in the average standing biomass in the community have reduced gradually in time. Moreover, it is expected that increase in the structure diversity of the Q. mongoilca community enhances the efficiency in carbon sequestration and productivity, so the community can be developed to a more sustainable ecosystem with more abundant resources. Thus, applications of uneven-aged plantations with considerations of local ecological properties can be a very efficient reforestation method to ensure stable support of biodiversity and productivity.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.42 no.4
• /
• pp.210-218
• /
• 2018

Background: Soil respiration (Rs) is a major factor of the absorption and accumulation of carbon through photosynthesis in the ecosystem carbon cycle. This directly affects the amount of net ecosystem productivity, which affects the stability and sustainability of the ecosystem. Understanding the characteristics of Rs is indispensable to scientifically understand the carbon cycle of ecosystems. It is very important to study Rs characteristics through analysis of environmental factors closely related to Rs. Rs is affected by various environmental factors, such as temperature, precipitation, soil moisture, litter supply, organic matter content, dominant plant species, and soil disturbance. This study was conducted to analyze the effects of micro-topographical differences on Rs in forest vegetation by measuring the Rs on the ridge and southern slope sites of the broadly established Quercus mongolica forest in the central Korean area. Method: Rs, Ts, and soil moisture data were collected at the southern slope and ridge of the Q. mongolica forest in the Mt. Jeombong area in order to investigate the effects of topographical differences on Rs. Rs was collected by the closed chamber method, and data collection was performed from May 2011 to October 2013, except Winter seasons from November to April or May. For collecting the raw data of Rs in the field, acrylic collars were placed at the ridge and southern slope of the forest. The accumulated surface litter and the soil organic matter content (SOMC) were measured to a 5 cm depth. Based on these data, the Rs characteristics of the slope and ridge were analyzed. Results: Rs showed a distinct seasonal variation pattern in both the ridge and southern slope sites. In addition, Rs showed a distinct seasonal variation with high and low Ts changes. The average Rs measurements for the two sites, except for the Winter periods that were not measured, were $550.1\;mg\;CO_2m^{-2}h^{-1}$ at the ridge site and $289.4\;mg\;CO_2m^{-2}h^{-1}$ at the southern slope, a difference of 52.6%. There was no significant difference in the Rs difference between slopes except for the first half of 2013, and both sites showed a tendency to increase exponentially as Ts increased. In addition, although the correlation is low, the difference in Rs between sites tended to increase as Ts increased. SMC showed a large fluctuation at the southern slope site relative to the ridge site, as while it was very low in 2013, it was high in 2011 and 2012. The accumulated litter of the soil surface and the SOMC at the depth range of 0~5 cm were $874g\;m^{-2}$ and 23.3% at the ridge site, and $396g\;m^{-2}$ and 19.9% at the southern slope site. Conclusions: In this study, Rs was measured for the ridge and southern slope sites, which have two different results where the surface litter layer is disturbed by strong winds. The southern slope site shows that the litter layer formed in autumn due to strong winds almost disappeared, and while in the ridge site, it became thick due to the transfer of litter from the southern slope site. The mean Rs was about two times higher in the ridge site compared to that in the southern slope site. The Rs difference seems to be due to the difference in the amount of litter accumulated on the soil surface. As a result, the litter layer supplied to the soil surface is disturbed due to the micro-topographical difference, as the slope and the change of the community structure due to the plant season cause heterogeneity of the litter layer development, which in turn affects SMC and Rs. Therefore, it is necessary to introduce and understand these micro-topographical features and mechanisms when quantifying and analyzing the Rs of an ecosystem.