• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.323-337
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• 2006

This work discussed the species composition, phylogeny, spatio-temporal distribution, ecology and natural history of North Korean Pinaceae or pine tree family, which seems to be important to maintain nature and ecosystem in the Korean Peninsula. Out of five genera and sixteen species of Pinaceae of the Korean Peninsula, North Korea contains four genera and eleven species of Pinaceae, including Pinus densilflora, P. koraiensis, P. pumila, Picea jezoensis, P. koraiensis, P. koraiensis var. koraiensis, P. pungsanensis, Larix gmelini, L. gmelinii var. olgensis, Abies holophylla and A. nephrolepis. In terms of phylogeny Pinus is closely related to Picea, and followed by Larix. Abies is close to Tsuga which only occur at Ullung Island. Distributional pattern of North Korean Pinaceae can be classified into four types; three species of nation-wide montane type i.e., Pinus densilflora, P. koraiensis and Abies holophylla, four species of central and northern subalpine type, i.e., Pinus pumila, Picea koraiensis, Larix gmelini and Abies nephrolepis, one nation-wide subalpine type, Picea jezoensis, and three species disjunctive to north type, i.e., Picea koraiensis var. koraiensis, P. pungsanensis, and Larix gmelinii var. olgensis. Pinaceae species occurring on the alpine and subalpine belts of North Korea, such as Pinus koraiensis, P. pumila, Picea jezoensis, P. koraiensis, P. koraiensis var. koraiensis, P. pungsanensis, Larix gmelini, L. gmelinii var. olgensis and A. nephrolepis are considered as the glacial descendant from the boreal region. Those species might have migrated from the north during the Pleistocene glacial epochs in search of favourable condition, and since the Holocene period they survived on the hostile alpine and subalpine environments, in which they are more competitive than warmth-tolerant temperate vegetation. Certain species, such as Picea pungsanensis, is segregated on the isolated mountains since the Pleistocene period, and forced to adapt to local environment, and eventually became an endemic species of North Korea. Recent rapid global warming trend especially in northern high mountains of North Korea could cause an unfavourable environment for the survival of cold-tolerant Pinaceae of the alpine and subalpine belts. Pinus densiflora, which is occurring on the montane belt might faced with difficulties due to both the deforestation and the outbreak of insect-borne disease, such as Bursaphelenchus xylophilus.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.330-343
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• 2002

To investigate the vegetation structure of mountain ridge from Pijae to Doraegijae in Baekdudaegan, forty-three sites(size 500$m^2$) were set up and surveyed By using TWINSPAN classification. the plant community was divided into five groups, those are mixed forest on sub-alpine zone. Quercus mongolica - Acer pseudo-sieboldianum community, Q. mongolica-Pinus densiflora community, and Larix leptolepis forest. Quercus mongolica was found as a major woody plant species in the ridge area. And partly the subalpine zone in low elevation was occupied by deciduous tree species and mixed a few conifer such as Abies nephrolepis and Taxus cuspidata etc.. Species diversity index(Area 1,000$m^2$) in the showed calculated 2.0149~3.0139 and it was similar to those of the ridge area of the national parks in Beakdudaegan.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.103-115
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• 2014

Forest vegetation of Noinbong (1,338 m) in Odaesan National Park is classified into mountain forest vegetation. Mountain forest vegetation is subdivided into deciduous broad-leaved forest, mountain valley forest, coniferous forest, subalpine coniferous forest, subalpine deciduous forest, shrub forest, riparian forest, afforestation and other vegetation. Including 196 communities of mountain forest vegetation and 7 communities of other vegetation, the total of 203 communities were researched; mountain forest vegetation classified by physiognomy classification are 62 communities deciduous broad-leaved forest, 85 communities of mountain valley forest, 18 communities of coniferous forests, 3 communities of subalpine coniferous forests, 4 communities of subapine deciduous forests, 2 communities of shrub forests, 1 communities of riparian forests, 21 afforestation and 7 other vegetation. As for the distribution rate for surveyed main communities, Quercus mongolica, Quercus serrata, Quercus variabilis communities account for 54.856 percent of deciduous broad-leaved forest, Fraxinus mandshurica - Cornus controversa community takes up 15.482 percent of mountain valley forest, Pinus densiflora community holds 78.091 percent of mountain coniferous forest holds. In conclusion, minority species consisting of Quercus mongolica, Pinus densiflora, Tilia amurensis, Fraxinus mandshurica, Cornus controversa, Quercus serrata, and Quercus variabilis are distributed as dominant species of the uppermost part in a forest vegetation region 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, Carpinus laxiflora and Fraxinus mandshurica which are climax species in the area.

• Journal of the Korean Geographical Society
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.375-389
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• 2010

In order to investigate the rates and factors of slow mass movement on a subalpine slope of Mount Halla, two painted stone lines were monitored in a bare patch at 1,710 m a.s.l. The mean movement of surface gravels is 58.2 cm, equivalent to 0.24 cm/day. However, the rates of movement vary with seasons. Compared with 0.05 cm/day of a non-frozen season, a frozen season shows 0.3 cm/day. It implies that the movement of surface gravels could be largely controlled by periglacial processes during a frozen season. In particular, frost creep including needle ice creep plays a main role in the movement of gravels under the thermal and soil conditions which are favorable for needle ice development. Since line II is located at a steeper slope than line I, the movement of line II was always larger than that of line I. However, slope gradient is not the most dominant factor contributing the movement of gravels, which can be interrupted by downslope big gravels and vegetation patches. The size and specific weight of gravels also can influence the movement of gravels. Porous and light scoriae result in relatively quick movement of gravels on the subalpine slope of Mount Halla.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.86 no.3
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• pp.279-287
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• 1997

This study was carried out to identify the analysis of vegetation-environment relationships of the coniferous forests in subalpine districts of Mt. Chiri by two-way indicaton species analysis(TWINSPAN) and CCA. The results are summarized as follows; The subalpine coniferous forest in Mt. Chin was classified Abies koreana community group by the TWINSPAN method. The Abies koreana community group was classified Abies koreana-Pinus densiflora, Abies koreana-Quercus mongolicd and Abies koreana-Picea jezoensis. The Abies koreana-Quercus mongolica community classified into two subcommunities, typical and Pinus koraiensis subcommunity. The Abies koreana-Picea jezoensis community classified into three subcommunities such as typical, Taxus cuspidate and Cornus controversa subcommunity. The subalpine conifers commnities in Mt. Chiri could be classified into six vegetation units, which consisted of three vegetation communities and five subcommunities. The relationship between vegetation community and influencing environmental factors was analyzed by using the CCA ordination method. It was found that altitude, concentrations of $Ca^{++}$ and $Mg^{++}$ in soil were, major environmental variables, which influence the distribution of vegetation community in the first axis, and $Ca^{++}$ and altitude in the second axis. In the relations of communities and environmental factors by CCA, the optimal ecological habitats of Abies koreana-Pinus densiflora community could be located at low elevations, in which $Ca^{++}$ and $Mg^{++}$ are rich. Abies koreana-Quercus mongolica community prefers the sites in mid-elevation zone, in which $Ca^{++}$ and $Mg^{++}$ are medium level in soil. The optimum site for Abies koreana-Pinus koraiensis community and Abies koreana-Taxus cuspidata community could be high elevations in which $Ca^{++}$ and $Mg^{++}$ are poor. Abies koreana-Cornus controversa community is found in the site at low elevations where $Ca^{++}$ and $Mg^{++}$ are medium.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.194-201
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• 2010

This study was carried out to analyze vegetation and soil characteristic, and ordination of subalpine forest vegetation of Daecheongbong area, Mt. Seorak. Communities by characteristic in species composition of subalpine forest were classified into Rhododendron mucronulatum var. ciliatum - Betula ermani community group, Pinus pumila, Abies nephrolepis, Thuja koraiensis, and Rhododendron mucronulatum var. ciliatum - Betula ermanii typical community. The results of the correlation between forest communitie sand soil conditions of Daecheongbong area by DCCA ordination method are as follows: The Pinus pumila community and Thuja koraiensis community were mainly found in the high percentage area of total nitrogen, available phosphorous, organic matter in comparison with Abies nephrolepis community and Rhododendron mucronulatum var. ciliatum - Betula ermanii typical community. The Abies nephrolepis community and Rhododendron mucronulatum var. ciliatum - Betula ermanii typical community were mainly found in the high elevation area in comparison with Pinus pumila community and Thuja koraiensis community. The Pinus pumila community and Thuja koraiensis community were mainly found in the northern and northwestern direction, but Abies nephrolepis community and Rhododendron mucronulatum var. ciliatum - Betula ermanii typical community were mainly found in the southwestern direction.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.61-67
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• 2015

This study, which was conducted from Apr. 2013 to Jan. 2014, was carried out as part of a project of making a more detailed ecological zoning map with 1/5,000 scale. The necessity of electronic vegetation map with large scale has arisen in order to make the best use of basic research findings on resource monitoring of National Parks and to enhance efficiency in National Park management. In order to improve accuracy and speed of vegetation research process, the data base for vegetation research was categorized into five groups, namely broad-leaved forest, coniferous forest, mixed forest, rock vegetation and miscellaneous one. And then a vegetation map for vegetation research was created for the research on the site. What is in the database for vegetation research and the vegetation map reflecting findings from vegetation research showed similar distribution rate for broad-leaved forest with 71.965% and 71.184%, respectively. The distribution rate of coniferous forest (16.010%, 15.747%), mixed forest (10.619%, 12.085%), and rock vegetation (0.015%, 0.002%) did not have much difference. In a detailed vegetation map reflecting vegetation research findings, the broad-leaved mountain forest was the most widely distributed with 60.096% based on the physiognomy classification. It was followed by mountain coniferous forest (16.332%), mountain valley forest (15.887%), and plantation forest (3.558%) As for vegetation conservation classification evaluated in the national park, grade I and grade II areas took up 200.44 km2, 61.80% and 108.80 km2, 33.55% respectively. The combined area of these two amounts to 95.35%, making this area the first grade area in ecological nature status. This means that this area is highly worth preserving its vegetation. The high rate of grade I area such as climax forests, unique vegetation, and subalpine vegetation seems to be attributable to diverse innate characteristics of Odaesan National Park, high altitude, low level of artificial disturbance, the subalpine zone formed on the ridge of the mountain top, and their vegetation formation, which reflects climatic and geological characteristics, despite continuous disturbance by mountain climbing.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.28-51
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• 2019

The purpose of this study was to analyze forest vegetation structure in Marugeum (the ridge line) area between Dakmokryeong and Daetjae in Baekdudaegan through vegetation classification, importance value, species diversity, and CCA using the data that were collected from 245 quadrates through Braun-Blanquet vegetation survey method from May to September in 2017. The results of the forest vegetation classification identified 8 vegetation units with Quercus mongolica community group at the highest level. Q. mongolica community group was classified into the Cornus controversa community, Buxus koreana community, Sasa borealis community, Abies nephrolepis community, and Q. mongolica typical community. C. controversa community was further classified into Quercus dentata group, Filipendula glaberrima group, Larix kaempferi group, and C. controversa typical group. The result of the important value analysis showed that Q. dentata had the highest importance value at 19.1% in vegetation unit 1 while Q. mongolica had the highest importance value at 22.7%, 38.3%, 25.6%, 41.3%, 27.9%, and 41.6% in vegetation unit 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8, respectively, and L. kaempferi had the highest importance value at 27.6% in vegetation unit 3. As such, Q. mongolica species generally represented the communities of Marugeum (the ridge line) area of Dakmokryeong to Daetjae in Baekdudaegan. The results of species diversity showed that vegetation unit 1 and 2 were 3.305 and 3.236, respectively, which were relatively higher than other vegetation units. It was considered that this result was due to the influence of high emergence of present species. The results of the CCA analysis of the correlations between biotic environmental factors and vegetation types showed that vegetation unit 1 was mainly correlated with the megaphanerophyte ratio and vine plant ratio. In the correlations between abiotic environmental factors and vegetation types, vegetation unit 7 was significantly correlated with altitude. From the perspective of ecological management, vegetation unit 5 represented by B. koreana community was inhabited by a variety of plants due to the species composition and location environment due to the geological characteristics that are typical of limestone area. Vegetation unit 7 represented by A. nephrolepis community was typified as subalpine vegetation widely distributed by relict species and endemic species. We concluded that it is necessary to manage these vegetation units with an ecologically differentiated approach.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.259-267
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• 2011

A pollen analytical study of sediment sequences collected from Yongneup moor (sampling point: $38^{\circ}$12'57.4" N, $120^{\circ}$7'30.2" E) was conducted to understand the vegetation history in the mountainous region of the central Korean peninsula. Carbon dating was carried out to measure five successive samples obtained from the bottom at a depth of 180 cm to the surface. The Yongneup moor sediment revealed four main local pollen zones; that is, four past vegetation phases as follows: Local pollen zone I: Quercus-Pinus zone; estimated age, 5,900-4,800 calibrated years (cal) before present (BP); vegetation type, cool-temperate central/montane deciduous broad-leaved forest. Local pollen zone II: Pinus-Abies-Quercus zone; estimated age, 4,800-3,400 cal BP; vegetation type, cool-temperate northern/alti-montane mixed coniferous and deciduous broad-leaved forest. Local pollen zone III: Quercus-Pinus-Abies zone; estimated age, 3,400-400 cal BP; vegetation type: cool-temperate central/montane deciduous broad-leaved forest. Local pollen zone IV: Pinus-Quercus zone; estimated age, 400-present cal BP; vegetation type, cool-temperate central/montane mixed deciduous broad-leaved and coniferous forest. It was confirmed that subalpine coniferous forests had expanded to the mountainous region of the central Korean peninsula during the period from 4,800-3,400 cal BP and thereafter deciduous forests dominated by Q. mongolica were established. Notably, secondary forests dominated by P. densiflora developed in the lower part of the mountainous region of the central Korean peninsula about 400 cal BP due to human interference.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.21 no.5_2
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• pp.557-565
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• 1998

The occurrence and distribution of dictyostelid cellualr slime molds were investigated in forests of Mt. Paektu. Fourteen species were isolated from forest soils of thirteen sites as follows Dictyostelium minutum, D. brefeldianum, D. crassicaule, D. capitatum, D. mucoroides var. stoloniferum, D. macrocephalum, D. mucoroides, D. septentrionalis, D. purpureum, D. aureo-stipes, P. violaceum, P. pallidum and two unidentified speceis. Mean total clones and species found were 4,415.69 No./g and 2.92, respectively. Dominant species were D. minutum, D. brefeldianum and D. crassicaule in this study area, and first widespread species was D. minutum. All sepecies that found in Mt. Paektu were isolated from forests of South Korea. But dominant species was different from those of South Korea. Total clones and species were more in subalpine Eurya japonica than in low elevated abies nephrolepis. It was thought that distribution of dictyostelids was related to soil microenvironments by vegetation, not or not more elevation.