• Title/Summary/Keyword: SUBTROPICAL VEGETATION

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Vegetation structure and distribution characteristics of Symplocos prunifolia, a rare evergreen broad-leaved tree in Korea

  • Kim, Yangji;Song, Kukman;Yim, Eunyoung;Seo, Yeonok;Choi, Hyungsoon;Choi, Byoungki
    • Journal of Ecology and Environment
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    • v.44 no.4
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    • pp.275-285
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    • 2020
  • Background: In Korea, Symplocos prunifolia Siebold. & Zucc. is only found on Jeju Island. Conservation of the species is difficult because little is known about its distribution and natural habitat. The lack of research and survey data on the characteristics of native vegetation and distribution of this species means that there is insufficient information to guide the management and conservation of this species and related vegetation. Therefore, this study aims to identify the distribution and vegetation associated with S. prunifolia. Results: As a result of field investigations, it was confirmed that the native S. prunifolia communities were distributed in 4 areas located on the southern side of Mt. Halla and within the evergreen broad-leaved forest zones. Furthermore, these evergreen broad-leaved forest zones are themselves located in the warm temperate zone which are distributed along the valley sides at elevations between 318 and 461 m. S. prunifolia was only found on the south side of Mt. Halla, and mainly on south-facing slopes; however, small communities were found to be growing on northwest-facing slopes. It has been confirmed that S. prunifolia trees are rare but an important constituent species in the evergreen broad-leaved forest of Jeju. The mean importance percentage of S. prunifolia community was 48.84 for Castanopsis sieboldii, 17.79 for Quercus acuta, and 12.12 for Pinus thunbergii; S. prunifolia was the ninth most important species (2.6). Conclusions: S. prunifolia can be found growing along the natural streams of Jeju, where there is little anthropogenic influence and where the streams have caused soil disturbance through natural processes of erosion and deposition of sediments. Currently, the native area of S. prunifolia is about 3300 ㎡, which contains a confirmed population of 180 individual plants. As a result of these low population sizes, it places it in the category of an extremely endangered plant in Korea. In some native sites, the canopy of evergreen broad-leaved forest formed, but the frequency and coverage of species were not high. Negative factors that contributed to the low distribution of this species were factors such as lacking in shade tolerance, low fruiting rates, small native areas, and special habitats as well as requiring adequate stream disturbance. Presently, due to changes in climate, it is unclear whether this species will see an increase in its population and habitat area or whether it will remain as an endangered species within Korea. What is clear, however, is that the preservation of the present native habitats and population is extremely important if the population is to be maintained and expanded. It is also meaningful in terms of the stable conservation of biodiversity in Korea. Therefore, based on the results of this study, it is judged that a systematic evaluation for the preservation and conservation of the habitat and vegetation management method of S. prunifolia should be conducted.

Distribution and Vegetation Characteristics of Semi-mangrove Hibisus hamabo in Korea (한국에 자생하는 준맹그로브 황근의 분포와 식생 특성)

  • Eun-Ha Park;Bo-Ra Lee;Ju-Eun Yang;Min-Ji Park;Byoung-Ki Choi
    • Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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    • v.38 no.4
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    • pp.354-366
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    • 2024
  • Hibiscus hamabo, the northernmost semi-mangrove species in East Asia, presents an important case study for examining climate change's impact on temperate ecosystems and shifts in Korea's subtropical vegetation. This study investigates vegetation characteristics of H. hamabo and evaluates environmental factors influencing their distribution. H. hamabo communities are classified by regional and coastal types. Group I is found in depressed areas within deep bays, cohabiting with herbaceous halophytes. Group II develops along coasts with exposed bedrock or on gravelly coasts, cohabiting with tide tolerance vine shrubs. Group III in Japan encompasses a broader range of coastal environments compared to Korea. A monospecific population with over 100 individuals appeared in this group. this study reveals that precipitation of warmest quarter is the most important environmental factor affecting the distribution of H. hamabo communities. This research analyzes the influence of climatic variables in the distribution of semi-mangrove species, contributing to our understanding of ecological responses to climate change.

Vegetation Structure at the Slope Direction and Characteristic of Seedlings of Abies koreana in Hallasan Mountain (한라산 구상나무림의 사면별 식생구조와 치수발생 특성)

  • Song, Kuk-Man;Kang, Young-Je;Hyeon, Hwa-Ja
    • Journal of Environmental Science International
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    • v.23 no.1
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    • pp.39-46
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    • 2014
  • This study surveyed Abies koreana to identify the correlation between its vegetation structure according to its slope direction and seedling establishment in a bid to build basic research data on the changes and conservation of the A. koreana in Hallasan Mountain. The findings of its vegetation structure revealed that in both areas, Importance value was given to the A. koreana for its tree layer, the Taxus cuspidata for its shrub layer, and the Sasa quelpaertensis for its herb layer. However, in the Youngsil area with the tree layer, high importance was given to deciduous broad-leaved trees such as Prunus maximowiczii, Quercus mongolica, and the young species of the A. koreana in the shrub layer that can maintain the A. koreana forest's greater importance in the Jindallebat than in the Youngsil. Thus, the A. koreana forest in the Jindallebat is believed to lastlonger. The findings of correlation between the quantity of seedlings and their location by area revealed that in each tiny quadrat, the A. koreana seedling averaged 5.3 in the Youngsil and 2.9 in the Jindallebat. Both areas were all found to have a positive correlation in terms of rock exposure ratio and dead tree ratio as well as a negative correlation with regard to the cover degree of S. quelpaertensis, the canopy gap, the total vegetation, and the herb layer. It was found that the cover degree of the herb layer in the Youngsil and the S. quelpaertensis in the Jindallebat had the largest impact on the A. koreana seedlings.

The Analysis of Forest Vegetation in Mt. Kumjeong (금정산(金井山) 일대(-帶)의 삼림식생분석(森林植生分析))

  • Yun, Chung Weon;Bae, Kwan Ho;Hong, Sung Cheon
    • Current Research on Agriculture and Life Sciences
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    • v.13
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    • pp.31-44
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    • 1995
  • Mt. Kumjeong is located in south-eastern part of the Korean Peninsular($129^{\circ}$01' to $129^{\circ}$05' E, $35^{\circ}$03' to $35^{\circ}$17' N) and the altitude of the summit is 802 meter. In order to find out the vegetation units which made it possible to classify subtropical forest and south-temperate forest, Mt. Kumjeong (which is located in a border of between subtropical forest and south-temperate forest) was selected as a study area. The primary result of actual vegetation analysis in Mt. Kumjeong based upon the vegetation community analysis methods by the ZM-school, and the relationships between vegetation community and two parameters(altitude, topography) analyzed by using coincidence analysis method were summarized as followings. 1. Based upon analytic methods of the vegetation community by the ZM-schools, the primary analytic result of the analysis of vegetation community in Mt. Kumjeong was divided into 10 communities, 9 groups, 2 subgroups. 2. Eurya japonica group of Pinus densiflora community out of 16 vegetation units was thought as a indicator vegetation group which made it possible to border subtropical forest and south-temperate forest. 3. Natural regeneration of Stewartia koreana group was thought to be difficult because seedling and sapling was rarely showed, 4. In relationship between vegetation units and altitude, Carpinus tschonoskii community, Quercus variabilis community, Quercus serrata community, Wisteria floribunda community,. Eurya japonica group of Pinus densiflora community, Pinus thunbergii community mainly distributed below altitude 500 meter, and Quercus mongolica community, Typical group of Pinus densiflora community, Quercus dentata community, Carpinus coreana community, Quercus acutissima community mainly distributed above altitude 500 meter. 5. In relationship between vegetation units and topography, Carpinus tschonoskii community, Quercus variabilis community, Quercus serrata community, Wisteria floribunda community,. Eurya japonica group of Pinus densiflora community distributed below middle slope, Quercus mongolica community, Typical group of Pinus densifiora community, Quercus dentata community, Carpinus coreana community, Pinus thunbergii community Quercus acutissima communily clistributed above midclle slope.

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A Study on the Vegetation Structure of Abies koreana Forest in Yeongsil Area of Hallasan Mountain (한라산 영실지역 구상나무림의 식생구조 연구)

  • Song, Kuk-Man;Kang, Young-Je
    • Journal of Environmental Science International
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    • v.25 no.1
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    • pp.57-65
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    • 2016
  • This study's purpose was to provide basic data for the monitoring of ecological changes caused by change of vegetation structure of Abies koreana forest in a study site susceptible to climatic change in Yeongsil area of Hallasan Mountain, Jeju Island. Surveys revealed this: in Yeongsil area of Hallasan Mountain, per 1 ha of A. koreana forests, total number 1,781, and A. koreana number 989, accounting for 55.5% of the total number of trees. 190 A. koreana or 19.2% were found to be dead. For the number of individual trees by DBH, trees standing 5 cm - 10 cm tall formed the largest portion at 39.9%, and in the case of other trees except A. koreana, the number of individual trees below 5 cm accounted for 23.5% of the total number of trees. The survey of importance by height revealed this: at the top level, the importance of A. koreana was the highest at 106.23, but the sum of importance of temperate deciduous broad-leaved trees (Prunus maximowiczii, Quercus mongolica, and Taxus cuspidata) was higher at 142.84 than that of A. koreana. The analysis of species diversity revealed 0.645 species diversity for the tree layer and 0.817 for the shrub layer; for evenness, 0.549 for the tree layer and 0.664 for the shrub layer; for dominance value; 0.451 for the tree layer and 0.336 for the shrub layer. The analysis of tree vitality revealed that for the A. koreana forests in Yeongsil, the composition ratio of A. koreana by type is AS type>AL type>DS type>DB type, and that of the other trees is AL type>AS type>AF type>AB type. Compared with the forests in other areas, the A. koreana forests in the Yeongsil area have a very high occurrence rate of dead trees, and a high importance of trees is shown in the deciduous broad-leaved tree forests. Compared with the A. koreana forests in the Jindallaebat area, with the same level above sea, the vegetation structures are fast changing. Also, due to dryness and other non-physical environmental changes caused by a lack of rainwater and dry winds in winter, dead trees are fast increasing in number. Environmental changes such as climate change diversely affect the maintenance of A. koreana in individual areas, and if environmental changes are fast and continue long, of the A. koreana forest areas in the Hallasan Mountain, the A. koreana forests in the Yeongsil area will decrease fastest in number and will experience changes in the vegetation structure. Thus, it is necessary to survey the vegetation changes in A. koreana forests, which are distributed in all directions but are centered on Hallasan Mountain, and to thus conduct long-term monitoring and research.

A Comparison of Species Composition and Stand Structure of the Forest Vegetation between Inhabited and Uninhabited Island in the South Sea, Korea (유인도서와 무인도서 산림식생의 종조성 및 군락 구조 비교)

  • Kim, Jun-Soo;Jeon, Chul-Hyun;Jung, Sung-Cheol;Kim, Chan-Soo;Won, Hyun-Gyu;Cho, Joon-Hee;Cho, Hyun-Je
    • Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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    • v.30 no.4
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    • pp.771-782
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    • 2016
  • For basic information collection for the ecological management of forest vegetation in Korean island areas, forest vegetation between inhabited(Daemodo) and uninhabited(Gudo) island was classified in the Z-M phytosociological method and their ecological characteristics in terms of both floristic composition and structure analyzed. Forest vegetation of Daemodo and Gudo were divided into a total of 11 units and 8 units, respectively. Total cover and species diversity index(H') of forest vegetation showed significant differences between the two island, Daemodo has a high value in the tree layer, but, Gudo has a high value in the shrub layer. Composition of Life forms, Daemodo was N-$R_5-D_2$-e and Gudo MM-$R_5-D_2$-e. Family importance value(FIV), Daemdo has a high value in Theaceae(12.2) and Pinaceae(12.0) and Gudo in Lauraceae(16.5) and Fagaceae (11.6). The percentage of the total number of species in the family level, Daemodo is Asteraceae(4.5%) was the highest and Gudo is Liliaceae(7.3%). Indicator species of forest vegetation of the two islands, Daemodo is Nanophanerophytes(N) including Smilax china, Ligustrum japonicum and Eurya japonica was significant inicator species and Gudo is Megaphanerophytes(MM) including Dendropanax morbiferus, Castanopsis sieboldii and Actinodaphne lancifolia.

An Analysis of a 100-Years-Old Map of the Heritage Trees in Jeju Island (제주도 노거수 자연유산의 100년 전과 현재 분석)

  • Song, Kuk-Man;Kim, Yang-Ji;Seo, Yeon-Ok;Choi, Hyung-Soon;Choi, Byoung-Ki
    • Journal of the Korean Institute of Traditional Landscape Architecture
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    • v.37 no.2
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    • pp.20-29
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    • 2019
  • The purpose of this study is to verify and reconstruct the record information for big old trees of Jeju on the basis of the precise map of Jeju island in 1918 which was produced 100 years ago. For the analysis of high altitude, coordinate system and georeferencing were performed by selecting representative points using ArcGIS. We extracted digitized information by using point extraction method and extracted attribute information based on legend type and relative size in map. Based on the map of the past 100 years ago, the present situation of the big old tree in Jeju was analyzed and their characteristics were analyzed. In addition, based on the information of the protected big old trees in present, we discussed the characteristics of past tree (1918), present tree (2019), and contribution of big old tree in Jeju landscape and vegetation. As a result, 1,013 individuals were distributed in Jeju Island 100 years ago. Even when it was intensive in the use of timber, the big old trees were protected, and contributed as a representative component of Jeju's unique landscape. The remaining distribution of Jeju's big old tree is 159 trees. As in the past, distribution has been confirmed around the lowlands, but declines in numbers are found throughout the island. The major factors for the decline of individuals are large-scale development projects such as reaching the limit of life, natural disturbance (typhoon, disease, pest, drought, etc.). However, it is presumed that a large number of individuals have played a leading role in shaping the current forests as contributing to important species sources in the restoration process of Jeju vegetation. However, it is presumed that a large number of individuals (405) have played a leading role in forming the present forest by contributing to the species pool in the restoration process of Jeju vegetation.

Classification and Spatial Distribution of Forest Vegetation Types in Yokjido Island, Korea (욕지도(경남) 산림식생 유형구분과 공간분포 특성)

  • Lee, Bora;Lee, Ho-Sang;Kim, Jun-Soo;Cho, Joon-Hee;Oh, Seung-Hwan;Cho, Hyun-Je
    • Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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    • v.111 no.3
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    • pp.345-356
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    • 2022
  • Yokjido is a 15-km2 inhabited island located at the tip of the southeastern coast of the Korean Peninsula. Its forest is mostly composed of substitutional vegetation. Our aim was to provide basic information necessary for the conservation and management of the forest vegetation in Yokjido. We classified the types of existing vegetation using methods of the Zurich-Montpellier school of phytosociology. The resulting vegetation map shows the dominant tree species in the top canopy-layer. A total of 8 vegetation types were identified, which were arranged into a vegetation unit hierarchy of 2 communities, 4 sub-communities, 6 variants, and 2 subvariants. Evaluations of each type showed large and small differences in floristic composition, which reflect anthropogenic influences, site conditions, succession stages, and the establishment period. Moreover, vegetation types differed significantly in terms of species diversity indices; in particular, overall species richness, species diversity, and species evenness tended to increase significantly as the elevation increased. The herbaceous plant species showed the highest positive (+) correlation to x. These results were consistent with those of McCain, who reported that species diversity increases in mountainous areas with relatively low elevations due to the mid-domain effect. The forest succession in Yokjido will potentially enter a mixed-forest stage and then proceed to become an all-evergreen broad-leaved forest.

Water balance change at a transiting subtropical forest in Jeju Island

  • Kim, JiHyun;Jo, Kyungwoo;Kim, Jeongbin;Hong, Jinkyu;Jo, Sungsoo;Chun, Jung Hwa;Park, Chanwoo;Kim, Yeonjoo
    • Proceedings of the Korea Water Resources Association Conference
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    • 2022.05a
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    • pp.99-99
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    • 2022
  • Jeju island has a humid subtropical climate and this climate zone is expected to migrate northward toward the main land, Korea Peninsula, as temperature increases are accelerated. Vegetation type has been inevitably shifted along with the climatic change, having more subtropical species native in southeast Asia or even in Africa. With the forest composition shift, it becomes more important than ever to analyze the water balance of the forest wihth the ongoing as well as upcoming climate change. Here, we implemented the Ecosystem Demography Biosphere Model (ED2) by initializing the key variables using forest inventory data (diameter at breast height in 2012). Out of 10,000 parameter sets randomly generated from prior distribution distributions of each parameter (i.e., Monte-Carlo Method), we selected four behavioral parameter sets using remote-sensing data (LAI-MOD15A2H, GPP-MOD17A2H, and ET-MOD16A2, 8-days at 500-m during 2001-2005), and evaluated the performances using eddy-covariance carbon flux data (2012 Mar.-Sep. 30-min) and remote sensing data between 2006-2020. We simulated each of the four RCP scenarios (2.6, 4.5, 6.0, and 8.5) from four climate forcings (GFDL-ESM2M, HadGEM2-ES, IPSL-CM5A-LR, and MIROC5 from ISIMIP2b). Based on those 64 simulation sets, we estimate the changes in water balance resulting from the forest composition shift, and also uncertainty in the estimates and the sensitivity of the estimates to the parameters, climate forcings, and RCP scenarios.

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