• Title/Summary/Keyword: Understory

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Changes and Prospects of Forests in Korea (우리나라 삼림의 변화와 전망)

  • Lee, Hyohyemi;Cho, Kang-Hyun;Kim, Joon-Ho
    • Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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    • v.47 no.4
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    • pp.337-341
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    • 2014
  • The changes in the area and standing crop of forests and the understory vegetation structure of various plantations were investigated by literature survey to predict the changes in the structure of forest ecosystems of the Korean Peninsula in the future. The greater part of forest was severely destroyed in 1950's in the Korean Peninsula. The forest standing crop has been dramatically increasing since the nationwide plantation was actively performed in 1970's and 1980's in the Republic of Korea. The area of forest was incessantly decreased at the rate of $5,500ha\;yr^{-1}$. The results of regression analysis on the changes in forest standing crop of the Republic of Korea showed that the forest might approach to the maturity stage in around 2150. It was predicted that the potential natural vegetation of Quercus mongorica, Fraxinus rhynchophyllus, Prunus sargentii, etc. would establish in the plantations of Larix leptolepsis, Pinus koraiensis and Robinia pseudoacacia in the future.

Altitudinal Vegetation Structure of Sunginbong in Ullungdo(Island) (울릉도 성인봉지역의 해발고별 식생구조)

  • 최송현;이경재;김종엽
    • Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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    • v.12 no.3
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    • pp.290-296
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    • 1998
  • Altitudinal changes in the vegetation of Sunginbong(984m) in UIlungdo (Island) were investigated by sample plots(forty l00$\m^2$) along elevation and analyzed by TWINSPAN and DCA techniques. In the results from the analysis of both techniques, altitudinal zonations were divided into 3 groups such as lower 300m area, 400~700m area, and above 800m area. DCA and similarity index analyses of elevational ranges showed discontinuities between lower and middle elevation areas. But there was a vegetation continuum between middle and high elevation areas. In the analysis of species diversity, there was no significant difference due to altitude except for maximum species diversity which was decreased with altitude. The mean tree density of canopy and understory layers in the middle elevation area showed the highest value, and the highest basal area was recorded at the lower elevation area.

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Carbon stocks and its variations with topography in an intact lowland mixed dipterocarp forest in Brunei

  • Lee, Sohye;Lee, Dongho;Yoon, Tae Kyung;Salim, Kamariah Abu;Han, Saerom;Yun, Hyeon Min;Yoon, Mihae;Kim, Eunji;Lee, Woo-Kyun;Davies, Stuart James;Son, Yowhan
    • Journal of Ecology and Environment
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    • v.38 no.1
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    • pp.75-84
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    • 2015
  • Tropical forests play a critical role in mitigating climate change, and therefore, an accurate and precise estimation of tropical forest carbon (C) is needed. However, there are many uncertainties associated with C stock estimation in a tropical forest, mainly due to its large variations in biomass. Hence, we quantified C stocks in an intact lowland mixed dipterocarp forest (MDF) in Brunei, and investigated variations in biomass and topography. Tree, deadwood, and soil C stocks were estimated by using the allometric equation method, the line intersect method, and the sampling method, respectively. Understory vegetation and litter were also sampled. We then analyzed spatial variations in tree and deadwood biomass in relation to topography. The total C stock was 321.4 Mg C $ha^{-1}$, and living biomass, dead organic matter, and soil C stocks accounted for 67%, 11%, and 23%, respectively, of the total. The results reveal that there was a relatively high C stock, even compared to other tropical forests, and that there was no significant relationship between biomass and topography. Our results provide useful reference data and a greater understanding of biomass variations in lowland MDFs, which could be used for greenhouse gas emission-reduction projects.

Ecological Management Plan and Biotope Structure of Namsan Urban Natural Park in Seoul (서울 남산도시자연공원의 비오톱 구조 및 생태적 관리방안)

  • Lee Kyong-Jae;Han Bong-Ho;Lee Soo-Dong
    • Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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    • v.32 no.5
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    • pp.102-118
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    • 2004
  • The purpose of this study was to propose an ecological management plan by the comprehensive analysis of biotope structures on Namsan Urban Natural Park in Seoul. Classified by actual vegetation, structure of layer and vegetation damage, biotope structures were composed of forest area, compact management area, herb area, cultivated area and non-ecology(urban) area. Succession had seened to stop in the Native forest. Artifical forest was divided into two types. The first, upper layer, was too dense to accommodate lower layer plants, the other case was the appearance of Quercus spp. and the first stage plants of succession following the declination of the upper layer plants. The soil pH of Nam-san Urban Park was 4.21∼4.51, which meant the soil was becoming acid. As the result of acidity, leaching of available nutrition(K/sup +/, NH₄/sup +/, Ca/sup ++/ etc.) was immediately influenced by the natural ecosystem, influence of acid rain was disturbed to becoming organic matter which was use to plants. In the case of a biotope structure management plan, the urban area was prohibited to spread outside. Cultivated and herb area was regenerated to natural forest. In the forest area, the compact management area was maintained with its present condition, and then it is desirable to make a preservation area and to plant shrubs. Planted Pinus densiflora Community was needed to eliminate competitive species of canopy layer, and plant shrubs. Management of deciduous broad-leaved Comm. was maintained in its present conditionand it is desirable to raise the diversity of the understory and shrub layer. The management of the artifical forest seems to be suitable for Q. spp. community. The care of naturalized plants prevents the expansion and restores the structure of wild plants. The soil management was a marked restoration soil ecosystem in order to prevent soil acid and drying.

Differences in Small Rodent Populations between Forest and Forest Road Areas (임도 미개설지와 개설지에서 소형 설치류의 개체군 특성 차이)

  • Rhim, Shin-Jae;Lee, Ju-Young;Kim, Min-Jin;Park, Sung-Jin;Lee, Eun-Jae;Lee, Woo-Shin
    • Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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    • v.96 no.3
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    • pp.245-250
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    • 2007
  • This study was conducted to clarify the differences in small rodents characteristics of populations between forest and forest road area in deciduous forest, Jincheon, Chungbuk province, Korea. Value of understory coverage and number of small trees (<10 cm DBH) were higher and value of canopy coverage was lower in forest road area than in forest area. Size of home range of Apodemus peninsulae was larger and number of captured individuals was less in forest area. Also, mean body weight and number of captured individuals of A. agrarius were higher in forest road area. There were differences in captured number of individuals in each distance from the center of planned road route or forest road in both areas. Forest road would be influenced on individuals, species composition, and habitat using pattern of small rodents.

Competitive Ability and Allelopathy of Ericaceous Plants as Potential Causes of Conifer Regeneration Failures (Ericaceous식물의 allelopathy와 경쟁력에 의한 침엽수 갱신 저해)

  • Mallik, A.U.
    • Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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    • v.84 no.3
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    • pp.394-405
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    • 1995
  • Certain ericaceous understory plants of temperate forests proliferate following forest clearcutting and fire. Rapid vegetative growth of these plants may affect conifer regeneration due to their strong competitive abilities and allelopathic properties. Planted conifers in these shrub-dominated habitats experience "growth check" which may result in a loss of productivity or in extreme cases total failure of forest regeneration. This growth check phenomenon is exemplified in Calluna Sitca spruce Scots pine ecosystems of western Europe, Kalmia black spruce ecosystem of eastern Canada and Gaultheria-cedar/hemlock ecosystem of the Pacific Northwest of the United States. Dynamics of Kalmia black spruce ecosystem following disturbance was used to explain the mechanism of conifer growth inhibition and their regeneration failure. It is argued that in addition to competition for nutrients, Kalmia allelopathy plays a major role in growth inhibition of black spruce. This conclusion is supported by the results of various field, laboratory and greenhouse experiments. Eight phenolic compounds were isolated and identified from the leaves of Kalmia angustifolia, four of which are known to be highly phyotoxic to black spruce. Methods of overcoming the allelopathic effects of Kalmia in order to enhance black spruce regeneration in Kalmia-dominated sites are discussed.

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Influence of Forest Fire on Soil Microarthropod Fauna (산불이 토양 미소절지동물상에 미치는 영향)

  • Choi, Seong Sik
    • The Korean Journal of Ecology
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    • v.19 no.3
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    • pp.251-260
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    • 1996
  • The effect of forest fire on soil microarthropod fauna was investigated in the Inhoo Park, located at Deokjin-gu, Chonju city, where fire burned about 2 hectares on April 5, 1994. Vegetation of the area was covered with mixed forest such as 20 to 30 year old black locust, alder, and pine gree, etc., and also rich in understory plants, dead leaves, twigs, etc. The soil samples were taken from burnt soil and near-by control site on April 10, June 6 and Oct. 22 in 1994, and June 26, 1995. Soil microarthropods were extracted using Tullgren apparatus for 72 hours. Soil microarthropods collected in this experiment were 8, 013 at control and 3, 805 at the burnt site making a total of 11, 818 from 5 classes. Therefore, appearance of microarthropods was reduced to 52.5% at burnt site. Dominant animal groups were Acari (45%) and collembola (46%). The reduced rate of soil animal density by fire damage was 52.5% of the total soil microarthropods accounting 36% in Acari and 70% in collembola. The reduction of soil animal density by fire was 65.3% by habitat destruction and 51.7% by diret shock from fire heat. In Collembola, 89% was reduced by habitat destruction. Oribatid mites collected at sample plots included 29 families, 47 genera and 58 species. Forty-two species at burnt site and 47 species at unburnt site were identified, of these 32 being common species at both sites. The density ratio of soil animals at the burnt sites and those at unburnt sites was 38.6% va 61.4% resulting in 37% reduction due to fire. The dominant species with more than 5% in relative density were Trichogalumna nipponica (7.3%) and Eremobelba japonica (5.8%) at unburnt site, shereas 5 species including Eohypochthonius crassisetiger (8.5%) at the burnt site. The number of these species were 32.1% of total number. MGP analysis based on the number of oribatid mites indicated GP type at both unburnt and burnt sites, revealing domination of the P group in oribatid mites.

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The Analysis of Successional Trends by Community Types in the Natural Deciduous Forest of Mt. Jumbong (점봉산 일대 천연활엽수림의 군집 유형별 천이 경향 분석)

  • Jin, Guang Ze;Kim, Ji Hong
    • Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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    • v.94 no.6
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    • pp.387-396
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    • 2005
  • Having employed the transitional probability model based on Markov chain, the study was carried out to examine successional trends for community types in the natural deciduous forest of Mt. Jumbong. The species composition of oncoming generation in overstory was estimated from that of mid-story, and the species composition in mid-story was based upon that of understory. Successional trend for each community was predicted from the reorganized probability matrix of tree replacement by the square of climax index, which was evaluated by the factors of light absorption, reproduction, and wood quality. As the result of analysis, following table shows the oncoming generation of steady state and dominant species in overstory and mid-story by community types. Even though Acer pseudo-sieboldianum and Carpinus cordata could hardly reach the canopy layer due to the intrinsic growth form, these species were predicted to maintain high compositional ratio so as to play an important ecological role in the study forest ecosystem.

Studies on the Structure of the Forest Community in Mt. Sokri(I) - The Conservation Planning of Pinus densiflora Community - (속리산 삼림군집구조에 관한 연구(I) -소나무림 보존계획-)

  • 이경재;임경빈;조재창;류창희
    • Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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    • v.4 no.1
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    • pp.23-32
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    • 1990
  • To investigate the structure of the pine forest community and the conservation of pine forest in Mt. Sokri, twenty plots of 500$m^2$ size set up by the clumped sampling method. The classification by TWINSPAN and DCA ordination were applied to the study area in order to classify them into several groups based on environmental variables. The plant community was not classified into several groups by above methods in this study area. The successional trends of tree species by both techniques seem to be from Pinus densiflora through Quercus serrata, Fraxinus sieboldiana, Q. aliena, Sorbus alnifolia, Prunus sargentii to Carpinus laxiflora, C. cordata in the canopy layer. and from Rhus trichocarpa, Lindera obtusiloba through Styrax obassia, Acer pseudosieboldiana, Symplocos chinensis for. pilosa to L. erythrocarpa, Viburnum erosum in the understory layer. Pinus densiflora community shall be conserved by the disclimax method, i. e. the broadleaf vegetation in the underlayer of the pine community should be cleared out.

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Studies on the Structure of the Forest Community in Mt. Sokri(II) -Analysis on the Plant Community by the Classification and Ordination Techniques- (속리산 삼림군집구조에 관한 연구(II) Classification 및 Ordination 방법에 의한 식생분석 -)

  • 이경재;박인협;조재창;오충현
    • Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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    • v.4 no.1
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    • pp.33-43
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    • 1990
  • A survey of Popju Temple district. was conducted using 70 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 both techniques. the plant com-munity were divided into six groups by the altitude and soil moisture. The successional trends of tree species seem to be from Pinus densiflora, Sorbus alnifolia through Quercus serrata to Carpinus laxiflora and from P. densiflora, Fraxinus sieboldiana through Q. mongolica in the canopy layer, and from Lespedeza cyrtobotrya, Rhus trichocarpa, Zanthoxylum schnifolium through Rhododendron mucronulatum, Corylus sieboldiana, Lindera obtusiloba, Magnclia sieboldii to Euonymus sieboldianus in the understory and shrub layer. The species diversity of the plant community in the burnt plot was decreased by the forest fire but the importance values of Quercus species were increased in above plot.

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