• The Korean Journal of Quaternary Research
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.25-33
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• 1999

The relationships between climate (monthly precipitation and temperatures) and tree-ring growth of Korean fir (Abies koreana) growing at subalpine (1,600∼l,700m) zone on the south slope, Joong-Bong and the north slope, Changgun-Bong in the Cheonwang-bong area in Chiri mountains in the southern Korea were analyzed. Two cores from each of 10∼12 trees were extracted. The relationship between tree-ring(standardized) chronologies and climate was analyzed by the response-function method. Climate variables could explain 45.9∼53.8% of total variance in the chronologies. The precipitation response function of Korean fir were similar at both sites in overall ; positive for March∼May and August, and negative for February and July. The south-slope fir of Joong-Bong possessed higher negative temperature response function for February and August than north-slope one. The positive response function for April temperature was significant for both sites. In contrary to other subalpine species (e.g., Pinus koraiensis and Taxus cuspidata) in South Korea, whose growths are positively correlated with temperature in most seasons, the growths of Korean fir trees in Mt. Chiri appeared to be mainly limited by the moisture regime of spring prior to the cambial growth and early growing season.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.107 no.2
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• pp.113-125
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• 2018

Subalpine zone is geographically vulnerable to climate change. Forest vegetation in this zone is one of the important basic indicator to observe the influence of climate change. This study was conducting phytosociological community classification and endemic-rare plants investigation based on vulnerable species to climate change at the subalpine zone, Mt. Jiri. Vegetation data were collected by 37 quadrate plots from March to October, 2015. In order to understand the species composition of plant sociological vegetation types and the ecological impacts of species, we analyzed the layer structure of vegetation type using important values. Vegetation type was classified into eight species groups and five vegetation units. The vegetation types can be suggested as an indicator on the change of species composition according to the future climate change. There were 9 taxa endemic plants and 17 taxa rare plants designated by KFS(Korea Forest Service) where 41.2% of them were the northern plant. Endemic-rare plants increased as the altitude of vegetation unit increase. Importance value analysis showed that the mean importance value of Abies koreana was highest of all vegetation units. Based on analysis of each layer, all units except vegetation unit 1 were considered to be in competition with the species such as Quercus mongolica and Acer pseudosieboldianum. The results of this study can be a basic data to understand the new patterns caused by climate change. In addition, it can be a basic indicator of long-term monitoring through vegetation science approach.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.253-262
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• 2014

This study was conducted to find methods of qualitative landscape assessment for vegetational landscapes using ecological analysis. The study site was Seoraksan National Park in Korea. For this study, differing unique landscape resources were categorized and identified according to ecosystems. After identifying the study areas, the relationship between trail visitor preference and the amount of visible overexposure caused by people to the resources was examined. Landscape resources chosen for ecological analysis at Seoraksan National Park were subalpine vegetation community, high mountain rocks, ombrogenous deciduous broadleaf forest in the valley area, edaphic climax community, big tree community, flowering tree dominant community, autumnal tree dominant community and needle-leaf forest in the subalpine area. As a result of the study, it was found that the landscape resources with the highest correlation to visitor trail preference were big tree community area, flowering tree dominant community area, and needle-leaf forest in the subalpine area. As a result of overlapping the analysis of the amount of visible overexposure to the landscape resources and the analysis of preferential use of trails by visitors, guidance for the appropriate season for each trail can be provided. Since a positive correlation exists between certain sections of the natural landscapes and visitor preference, ecological impact on landscape resource ecosystems did not appear to cover wide areas of the trails, but was limited to certain areas preferred by visitors.

• 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 Environment and Ecology
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.338-350
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• 2024

A vegetation survey was conducted and analyzed on 25 survey plots of Betula ermanii communities in the subalpine zone of Mt. Gariwang, Mt. Balwang, Mt. Bangtae, and Mt. Hambaek in Gangwon-do. As a result of TWINSPAN and DCA analysis, the community was divided into a total of 3 communities: Betula ermanii-Quercus mongolica community(GroupI), Betula ermanii-Acer pseudosieboldianum community (GroupII), and Betula ermanii community(GroupIII). As a result of the vegetation structure analysis, Betula ermanii-Quercus mongolica community(GroupI) is located on the periphery of the Mt. Bangtae trail at altitude of 1,082~1,192m, and Betula ermanii-Acer pseudosieboldianum community(GroupII) is located on the ridges and slopes of Mt. Bangtae, Mt. Gariwang, and Mt. Hambaek at altitudes of 1,230~1,373m. Betula ermanii-Quercus mongolica community(GroupI) and Betula ermanii-Acer pseudosieboldianum community(GroupII) are currently dominated by Betula ermanii, but after long term, it is expected that they will transe to Quercus mongolica. The Betula ermanii community(GroupIII) is located the summit of Mt. Hambaek and the summit of Mt. Balwang at altitude of 1,428~1,464m. It is expected that the community will be maintained as Betula ermanii community, because Betula ermanii is very dominant, and so the next generation dominant species is maintained by Betula ermanii. Betula ermanii community generally appear above 1,000 m above sea level, and the higher the altitude, the more dominant the Betula ermanii are. As a result of the soil analysis, the soil characteristics shows a similar pattern to the subalpine belt of Daecheongbong Peak of Mt. Seoraksan and Banyabong Peak of Mt. Jirisan. As a result of the species diversity index analysis, the species diversity index was 1.210~1.293, the abundance index was 0.698~0.795, and the dominance index was 0.208~0.302.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.31 no.7
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• pp.698-707
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• 2010

The Late Pleistocene pollen record from the Poil-dong, Uiwang, Kyunggi-do, reveals that mixed coniferous and deciduous broadleaved forests were spread along with herb and fern understory. Palynofloral changes reflect climate fluctuations. From ca. 43,100 to 41,900 cal. yr BP, a mixed coniferous and deciduous broadleaved forest combined with open grassland occupied the study area, which indicates cooler condition than today. During the period of ca. 41,900-41,200 cal. yr BP, along with fern understory a decrease in subalpine conifers and an increase in temperate deciduous broadleaved trees suggest a climatic amelioration. A climatic deterioration, as evidenced by an increase in subalpine conifers and a decrease in the density of vegetation cover, occurred from ca. 41,200 to 39,700 cal. yr BP.

• Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.134-143
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• 2011

The present study aimed to investigate the diurnal variations in air concentrations and exchange fluxes of ammoniacal nitrogen ($NH_x$: ammonia ($NH_3$) and particulate ammonium) in a subalpine deciduous forest in central Japan during a week in summer. The $NH_3$ concentrations ($0.50\;{\mu}g\;N\;m^{-3}$ on average) showed a clear circadian variation, i.e., high and low in the daytime and nighttime, respectively. The concentration of particulate ammonium in the coarse fractions was extremely low, whereas that for the PM2.5 fraction was relatively high $0.55\;{\mu}g\;N\;m^{-3}$ on average). The main inorganic ion components of PM2.5 at the study site were ammonium and sulfate. The exchange fluxes of $NH_x$ were bidirectional. Both the maximum and minimum values occurred in the daytime, i.e., $0.39\;mg\;N\;m^{-2}\;hr^{-1}$ of downward flux and $0.11\;mg\;N\;m^{-2}\;hr^{-1}$ of upward flux for $NH_3$ and $0.25\;mg\;N\;m^{-2}\;hr^{-1}$ of downward flux and $0.13\;mg\;N\;m^{-2}\;hr^{-1}$ of upward flux for PM2.5 ammonium. The exchange fluxes of $NH_x$ at night could be considered as zero. The mean deposition velocity during the research period was almost zero for both $NH_3$ and PM2.5 ammonium. The atmosphere-forest exchange of $NH_x$ in the forest during the study period was balanced. The remarkably large deposition of $NH_x$ was attributable to meteorological events such as showers the night before that thoroughly washed the forest canopy and subsequent clear skies in the morning, which enhanced convection. The cleaning effect of rainfall and the rapid change in convection in the early morning should be monitored to evaluate and generalize the gas and particle exchange in a forest.

• Journal of the Korean Geographical Society
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.528-543
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• 2004

The biogeographical approach on the species composition, distributional range, and life form of native Korean conifers suggests that the Korean Peninsula harbors 4 families 10 genera 30 species. Early-evolved conifers maintain high species diversity and broad distribution. During the glacial periods, the ranges of cold-tolerant conifers expanded, on the other hand, those of warmth-tolerant ones reduced. Presence of endemic subalpine conifers might be the result of long-term isolation of conifers on high mountains. Horizontal and vertical ranges of native Korean conifers are classified into alpine, subalpine, montane, coastal, insular and disjunctive types, and then subdivided into twelve sub-types. Typical life form of native Korean conifers is evergreen tree, blooms in spring, and fruits ripe in autumn or following autumn. Oval and elliptical seeds with wing might be beneficial for their dispersal. Further works on the migration, dispersal, genetics, ecology of native Korean conifers are required for the better understanding of the biogeography of conifers.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.32-41
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• 1991

A survey of subalpine zone (altitude is 1,360-1,410m) in Mt. Chiri, was conducted using 25 sample plots of 500$m^2$ size. The classification by TWINSPAN and DCA ordination were applied to the study area in order to classify them into several groups based on woody plants and environmental variables. By TWINSPAN techniques, the plant community were divided into five groups by importance value of Abies nephrolepis. The dividing groups are Fraxinus rhynchophylla - Magnolia sieboldii community, Quercus mongolica - Rhododendron schlippenbachii community, Q. mongolica - F. rhynchophylla - Acer pseudo-sieboldianum community, Q. mongolica- A. nephrolepis- Rh. schlippenbachii community, and A. nephrolepis- Pinus densiflora - Rh. schlippenbachii community. The successional trends of tree species by both techniques seem to be from Q. mongolica to A. nephrolepis in the canopy layer. It was no difference between the stand scores of DCA and environmental variables.

• Journal of the Korean Geographical Society
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.495-510
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• 2008

Vaccinium vitis-idaea or lingonberry, a typical arctic-alpine plant, is common on the circumpolar regions and alpine belts of the Northern Hemisphere, and also occurs on the alpine and subalpine belts of the Korean Peninsula, including Mt. Sorak and Hongchon. Vaccinium vitis-idaea at the elevation of c. 350m a.s.l. of Hongchon is found on the wind hole area with cool summer, and mild winter. Vaccinium vitis-idaea at Hongchon is regarded as the glacial relict of the Pleistocene period, and shows a disjunctive distribution, along with the alpine and subalpine belts of the northern and central Korea since the Holocene period. Present vertical range of Vaccinium vitis-idaea between Mt. Sorak and Hongchon might indicates that the temperatures during the glacial epoch was colder than today, down to -6 to $-7^{\circ}C$ Vaccinium vitis-idaea at this fragile wind hole site could be endanger if current global warming trends continues, and anthropogenic activities become serious.