• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.573-588
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• 2020

The study investigated the forest vegetation structure of Kongju National University Forests in the vicinity of Seokjangri-dong to provide the information needed for efficient use and management. It conducted a Z-M phytosociological vegetation survey in 60 quadrate plots in August 2019 and generated the actual vegetation map by analyzing the physiognomic community classification and mean importance value. The physiognomic community classification showed five vegetation community types: Quercus acutissima community, Pinus densiflora community, Quercus variabilis community, Pinus rigida community, and Quercus serrata community. The relative importance value in the Q. acutissima community was 31.4% for Q. acutissima, 9.6% for Prunus spp., and 9.0% for Q. variabilis. In the P. densiflora community, it was 24.9% for P. densiflora, 12.4% for Q. acutissima, and 11.5% for Q. serrata. In the Q. variabilis community, it was 25.3% for Q. variabilis, 9.8% for Prunus spp., and 8.5% for Q. acutissima. In the P. rigida community, it was 28.4% for P. rigida 28.4%, 10.0% for Q. acutissima, and 9.3% for P. densiflora. In the Q. serrata community, it was 27.0% for Q. serrata, 11.3% for Q. aliena, and 11.5% for Styrax japonica. The actual vegetation map based on the uppermost dominant species to identify the forest vegetation's spatial distribution characteristics indicated that the natural vegetation covered the most with 87.5%, the number of vegetation patches was 87, and the average area per patch was 1.46ha.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.37-47
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• 2021

This study carried out the plant sociological survey of Abies nephrolepis forest in Mt. Seorak, which is in danger of deterioration due to the accelerated climate change. We examined seventy quadrats obtained from the survey and used the TWINSPAN technique to classify communities. We then performed the DCA method for the sequence analysis and analyzed the characteristics of each community. A. nephrolepis forest of Mt. Seorak is composed of four communities (A. nephrolepis-Lonicera caerulea var. edulis community, A. nephrolepis-Acer komarovii community, A. nephrolepis-Ac. pseudosieboldianum community, and A. nephrolepis-Betula costata community). Each community showed a different distribution according to location because different microenvironments are formed depending on location such as altitude and slope direction, resulting in different species composition. Each community showed differences in environmental characteristics such as altitude, rock ratio, soil characteristics, and litter layer thickness. As a result, there were significant differences between communities in the number of species and individuals, coverage, tree size, and species diversity, as well as differences in species composition. The A. nephrolepis-L. caerulea var. edulis and A. nephrolepis-Ac. komarovii communities were located in high altitude with high rock ratios and had little development of tree layer. On the other hand, the A. nephrolepis-Ac. pseudosieboldianum and A. nephrolepis-B. costata communities were relatively in low altitude with high soil ratio and had the development of tree layer with high species diversity.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.110 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2021

In this study, the structure of forest vegetation in Mt. Seondalsan, Bongwha-gun, was analyzed. Vegetation data were collected in 137 quadrat plots using the Z-M phytosociological method from June to October 2018. These data were analyzed using vegetation classification, importance value,and species diversity. Consequently, vegetation was classified as a Quercus mongolica community group that was divided into four communities: Cornus controversa, Phlomis umbrosa, Pinus densiflora, and Q. mongolica communities. The C. controversa community was subdivided into Magnolia sieboldii and Parthenocissus tricuspidata groups; the P. densiflora community was divided into Vaccinium hirtum var. koreanum, Quercus variabilis, and P. densiflora groups. In the C. controversa community, the M. sieboldii group was divided into the Acer mandshuricum and M. sieboldii subgroups, whereas the P. tricuspidata group was divided into the Larix kaempferi, Pinus koraiensis, and P. tricuspidata subgroups. In the P. densiflora community, the V. hirtum var. koreanum group was divided into the Rhododendron micranthum and V. hirtum var. koreanum subgroups. According to importance value analysis, C. controversa, L. kaempferi, P. koraiensis, Q. mongolica, Acer pictum subsp. mono, P. densiflora, and Q. variabilis were mainly indicated to have high value in the tree layer. The species diversity of Mt. Seondalsan was 1.969, which was greater than that of another Forest Genetic Resource Reserve.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.413-421
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• 2022

This study was conducted to identify the vegetation structure of the Abies nephrolepis forests by analyzing species composition in Mt. Doota and Mt. Cheongok in the Gangwon region with the phytosociological method. In order to perform a field investigation, 18 survey areas with an area of about 400 m2 were set up for the stands where A. nephrolepis grow wild. Communities were classified through TWINSPAN and visualized using DCA (Detrended Correspondence Analysis). Species diversity analysis, importance value analysis, and DBH class analysis were employed to identify the characteristics of each community. As a result, the A. nephrolepis forests in Mt. Doota and Mt. Cheongok have been classified into 4 communities; GroupI, II, III and IV. GroupIis Quercus mongolica-A. nephrolepis competitive forest dominated by Q. mongolica and A. nephrolepis in the order. Group II is A. nephrolepis-Betula ermanii competitive forest dominated by A. nephrolepis, Sorbus commixta, and B. ermanii in the order. Group III is dominated by A. nephrolepis, but is expected to have competition between A. nephrolepis and Q. mongolica in the future due to the mass occurrence of Q. mongolica saplings. A. nephrolepis, S. commixta, and Q. mongolica are the dominant species in Group IV, and A. nephrolepis is the major dominant species in all layers. The species diversity of the A. nephrolepis forests in Mt. Doota and Mt. Cheongok is lower than other A. nephrolepis forests in Mt. Seorak, Maruguem, and Mt. Odae. It is necessary to establish conservation measures and to continuously monitor the A. nephrolepis forests in Mt. Doota and Mt. Cheongokis due to the harsh environment and the competition that may occur between A. nephrolepis and deciduous trees such as Q. mongolica in the future.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.51-61
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• 2024

This study was conducted to identify the community structure of two outstanding forest wetlands in Goheung-gun, Jeollanam-do, and to investigate their succession trends. vegetation survey was conducted using the Z-M phytosociological method From May to October, 2023, and based on this data, the Actual vegetation map was created by categorizing communities. This resulted in the classification of six communities. namely, Rhynchospora faberi community, Alnus japonica-Molinia japonica community, Ilex crenata-M. japonica community, M. japonica community, A. japonica-Pinus densiflora community and A. japonica community. The results of each layer's importance value (IV) analysis results indicated that in the R. faberi community, that of R. faberi, an obligate wetland plant, was high. In the subtree and shrub layers of the other five communities, A. japonica, a key species in wetland ecosystems, and Pinus densiflora and I. crenata, both obligate upland plants, exhibited higher IV. In the herb layer, the IV of M. japonica, a representative species of intermediate wetlands, was notably high. The results of classifying all observed plant species in the survey area based on their wetland preference revealed that in the R. faberi community, the occurrence rate of obligate wetland plants was high. However, in the other five communities, the occurrence rate of obligate upland plants was predominantly observed. Excluding the R. faberi community, in the other five communities constituting the outstanding forest wetlands, the occurrence rate of upland plants among the forest plants was high. It was observed that M. japonica which typically appears during the transition of wetlands to drier stages, was flourishing, indicating that the wetland was undergoing vegetation succession and terrestrialization.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.113 no.3
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• pp.327-338
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• 2024

Forest road construction can degrade the physical and biological environments of forest ecosystems. Although this degradation may be temporary, some research has shown the potential for the long-term recovery of the original ecosystem. This study investigated changes in communities' structures over time to understand the process of ecosystem change following road construction. Data were collected from 63 plots, each measuring 25m², in Buyeo-gun, Chungcheongnam-do, including plots from roads constructed in 1998 (25 years elapsed), 2021 (two years elapsed), and 2022 (one year elapsed), using phytosociological methods. The results showed that the importance of the values of Pinus densiflora an d Quercus variabilis in the tree and subtree layers of the 25-year-old cut slopes were similar to those of the control plots, indicating the significant recovery of the original ecosystem's structure and function after 25 years. Species diversity analysis revealed the higher evenness and lower dominance of the cut slopes and road surfaces attributed to the high dominance of species such as Arundinella hirta and Miscanthus sinensis. The community similarity index and detrended correspondence analysis (DCA) indicated that the control plots, all the edge plots, and the 25-year-old cut slopes could be considered part of the same community. In conclusion, forest roads in place for 25 years appear to have been restored to the level of the original ecosystem. These findings can serve as valuable ecological data for understanding the vegetation recovery process at future forest road construction sites.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.347-366
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• 2023

In the present study, the vegetation was classified using the phytosociological method and canonical-correlation analysis (CCA) was implemented to analyze correlation between community structure and environmental factors in the natural habitats of forest byproducts, especially medicinal plants, such as Cudrania tricuspidata, Sorbus commixta, and Hovenia dulcis, in 2021-2022 to provide primary ecological data to establish environmental conditions for wild vegetable cultivation. A total of 11 plots in five regions, 8 plots in three regions, and 17 plots in 5 regions were selected for the natural habitats of C. tricuspidata in southern Korea, S. commixta in high mountains, and H. dulcis in valleys of central Korea, respectively. The importance value in each community was respectively analyzed as follows, in C. tricuspidata community, the importance value of C. tricuspidata (61.10) was the highest, followed by Celtis sinensis, Pinus thunbergii, Neolitsea aciculata, Styrax japonica, Carpinus coreana, Quercus serrata, and Q. acutissima. In Sorbus commixta community, Q. mongolica (57.21) was the highest, followed by, S. commixta (42.58), Betula ermani, Tilia amurensis, A. pseudosieboldianum, A. tschonoskii var. rubripes, Cornus controversa, Magnolia sieboldii, and Taxus cuspidata. In H. dulcis community, H. dulcis (64.58) was the highest, followed by Zelkova serrata, Cornus controversa, A. mono, Q. serrata, C. cordata, and Juglans mandshurica. As the result of the analysis on DBH of the major species having the high importance value, in C. tricuspidata community, C. tricuspidata, C. sinensis, Neolitsea aciculata, and C. coreana show the density of normal distribution, so the dominant status of these species is likely to continue. In S. commixta community, S. commixta show the density of reverse J-shaped curve, so the dominant status of these species is likely to be stable, and Q. mongolica, B. ermani and T. amurensis, show the density of normal distribution, so the dominant status of these species is likely to continue. In H. dulcis community, C. cordata, and J. mandshurica show the density of reverse J-shaped curve, so the dominant status of these species is likely to be stable, and H. dulcis, Z. serrata, C. controversa and A. mono had a formality distribution, suggesting a continuous domination of these species over the other species for the time being. The results of CCA ordination analysis using 11 environmental factors and 30 communities of three taxa classified by TWINSPAN analysis revealed that the altitude showed the strongest correlation with the vegetation. C. tricuspidata community was distributed on the moderate and gentle northeastern slope at low altitude with the highest pH, C.E.C, Ca²⁺, and Mg² and various P₂O₅, whereas S. commixta community was distributed on the steep slope at high altitude with the highest O.M and T-N and lower P₂O₅, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, C.E.C and pH, which is the opposite tendency of the environment of C. tricuspidata community. H. dulcis community was distributed on the gentle northern slope at lower altitude with an average pH, O.M, T-N, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, and C.E.C, except higher P₂O₅.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.56-71
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• 1980

To study the changes of vegetational composition of each plant successional stage of Pinus densiflora forest caused by pine gall midge damage, Thecodiplosis japonensis, located in Kyonggi-do area, the middle part of Korea, four districts, Anseong, Yongin, Gwangju, and Gapyeong, were selected according to the length of insect damage duration. The forest in the Anseong district was the noninfested one selected as the check. And forests in Yongin, Gwangju, and Gapyeong were the recent]y damaged, severely damaged, and damage prolonged ones in sequence. It was considered that this order could be in concord with the gradual transition of plant successional stage. In view of temperature, precipitation and soil factors, these four districts were sited within the same environment. Four survey plots were selected from each district and the distance between them was 3~4 km. Then again four subplots were set within a plot. Through needle accumulation after insect infestation, light intensity, soil moisture content, and the amount of soil organic matter were increased and these conditions could create a favorable environment enabling the new species invasion and their growth. These were naturally closely related with the increase in quantity of Pinus densiflora defoliation. After considerable time lapse, the quantities of above mentioned factors decreased with the development of the new substitute tree species. It was found that Quercus mongolica was an excellently substitute tree species come first in this studied area. Species diversity increased to a degree at the early stage of the duration of pine gall midge damage and decreased thereafter. As the same manner, similarity index value between plots in the same district decreased to a degree and increased thereafter. This was linked admittedly with the increase and decrease of tree species and evenness. Synthesizing above mentioned results, the process of plant succession studied quantitatively by changes of relative density and relative importance value, it can be concluded that Pinus densiflora forest gives way to Genus Quercus forest in which Genus Lespedeza and Genus Rhododendron species become as subdominance species after removal of the Pinus densiflora trees damaged by pine gall midge.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.103 no.3
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• pp.339-352
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• 2014

The study was carried out to analyze vegetation structure of Pinus densiflora and Quercus mongolica forests located in Jochimryeong to Shinbaeryeong of the Baekdudaegan mountain range. The survey for 50 plots was conducted from April 2012 to August 2013 in the permanent plots ($100m{\times}100m$) using phytosociological analysis. As a result, the vegetations were classified into five vegetation units. In species composition, they were classified into Q. mongolica community group divided into 2 community such as Fraxinus rhynchophylla community and Carpinus cordata community, F. rhynchophylla community was subdivided Pinus densiflor group (into Euonymus sachalinensis subgroup, Vitis coignetiae subgroup) and Juglans mandshurica group. C. cordata community was subdivided Acer komarovii group and Betula ermanii group. In terms of importance value, P. densiflora and Q. mongolica were more than 20% respectively. P. densiflora was found to have the highest relative coverage. Analysis of interspecific association showed four types which were coincident with differential species and character species on the constancy table. Based on the diameter class distribution, P. densiflora forest presented a normal distribution pattern except for other species which showed a reverse Jshaped distribution pattern, therefore P. densiflora forest would likely be replaced by Q. mongolica forests. While in Q. mongolica forest, diameter class distribution of all species population presented a reverse J-shaped distribution pattern, therefore Q. mongolica forest could likely remain in the future.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.106 no.3
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• pp.275-287
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• 2017

The purpose of this study was to analyze forest vegetation type classification and relationships between the type and environment factor in Mt. Dutasan. Data were collected by total of forty six plots using Z-M phytosociological method from June to October, 2016, and analyzed by vegetation classification, canopy layer structure and relationships between vegetation unit and environment factor using coincidence methods. As a result of vegetation type classification, Quercus mongolica community group was classified at a top level of vegetation hierarchy that was classified into Rhododendron schlippenbachii community and Betula costata community. R. schlippenbachii community was divided into Lychnis cognata group and R. schlippenbachii typical group. L. cognata group was subdivided into Veratrum oxysepalum subgroup and L. cognata typical subgroup. B. costata community was divided into Fraxinus mandshurica group and Betula schmidtii group. F. mandshurica group was subdivided into Weigela subsessilis subgroup and Cimicifuga heracleifolia subgroup. Therefore the forest vegetation was composed of six vegetation units with two kinds of bisected species groups and fourteen species groups. As the result of an analysis of canopy layer structure, there were two kinds of structures with monotonous structures V. oxysepalum subgroup (vegetation units 1), L. cognata typical subgroup (vegetation units 2), W. subsessilis subgroup (vegetation units 4) and complicated structures R. schlippenbachii typical group (vegetation units 3), C. heracleifolia subgroup (vegetation units 5), Betula schmidtii group (vegetation units 6). The vertical layer structure of vegetation unit 5 was the most developed and vegetation unit 6 had the lowest coverage of herb layer. According to the correlation between vegetation unit and environmental factor, R. schlippenbachii community (vegetation units 1~3) and B. costata community (vegetation units 4~6) were classified based on 1,100 m of altitude, middle slope, twenty of slope degree, twenty percents of bare rock and thirty centimeters of DBH in tree layer. R. schlippenbachii community (vegetation units 1~3) showed positive correlation with altitude, topography and B. costata community (vegetation units 4~6) showed negative correlation tendency with them.