• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.31-38
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• 2013

Annual ring formation is considered a source of information to investigate the effects of environmental changes caused by temperature, air pollution, and acid rain on tree growth. A comparative investigation of annual ring growth of Cryptomeria japonica in relation to environmental changes was conducted at two sites in southern Korea (Haenam and Jangseong). Three wood disks from each site were collected from stems at breast height and annual ring growth was analyzed. Annual ring area at two sites increased over time (p > 0.05). Tree ring growth rate in Jangseong was higher than that in Haenam. Annual ring area increment in Jangseong was more strongly correlated with environmental variables than that in Haenam; annual ring growth increased with increasing temperature (p < 0.01) and a positive effect of $NO_2$ concentration on annual ring area (p < 0.05) could be attributed to nitrogen deposition in Jangseong. The correlation of annual ring growth increased with decreasing $SO_2$ and $CO_2$ concentrations (p < 0.01) in Jangseong. Variation in annual growth rings in Jangseong could be associated with temperature changes and N deposition. In Haenam, annual ring growth was correlated with $SO_2$ concentration (p < 0.01), and there was a negative relationship between precipitation pH and annual ring area (p < 0.01) which may reflect changes in nutrient cycles due to the acid rain. Therefore, the combined effects of increased $CO_2$, N deposition, and temperature on tree ring growth in Jangseong may be linked to soil acidification in this forest ecosystem. The interactions between air pollution ($SO_2$) and precipitation pH in Haenam may affect tree growth and may change nutrient cycles in this site. These results suggested that annual tree ring growth in Jangseong was more correlated with environmental variables than that in Haenam. However, the further growth of C. japonica forest at two sites is at risk from the long-term effects of acid deposition from fossil fuel combustion.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.89 no.2
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• pp.232-240
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• 2000

Correlation between Songyi(Tricholoma matsutake, pine mushroom, matsutake) production and the annual pine tree growth in Korea was analyzed with 18 years data of the mushroom production in Sangju area and the annual ring-growth of pine trees at Mt Sogni in the area. The two parameters were not significantly related to each other(r=0.408). A possible reason of this low relationship is that September and October climate affected annual Songyi production through mushroom primordial formation, continued growth of the primordia, while May and June climate did the annual tree-ring growth. Songyi production at Mt. Wolak in Chungcheongbukdo peaked while the minimum daily air temperature ranged about $7^{\circ}C$ to $13^{\circ}C$ during the first week of October in 1999. These show that Songyi production variation is not a simple trend depending on the energy the pine trees have accumulated. Rather, controlling soil moisture and air temperature during Songyi fruiting season can be a significant management option for improving the mushroom production.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.305-316
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• 1993

Stands profiles, yearly changes in growth of annual rings, age and diameter structure, and spatial distribution pattern of individuals in the Pinus densiflora stands around the Yeocheon industrial complex were investigated. Growth of annual ring in Pinus densiflora, which survived when vegetation of this area was damaged by air pollutants, was suppressed for about 10 years since 1974 when factories in this area began to operate, but since then such suppressed growth tended to be recovered. It was supposed that the suppresed growth was originated from air pollution and that improvement of growth since the suppressed period was due to the release from competition with them by death of neighbouring trees and the resuction of the amount of air pollutants. Physiognomy of Pinus densiflora stands showed mosaic pattern composed of different patches. Spatial distribution pattern of individuals an stand profiles were similar to those of Pinus densiflora stands regenerated after natural and artificial disturbances. In an age distribution diagram, age of Pinus densiflora population ranged from 1 to 33 years, Among these individuals were recrited corresponded to the suppresed period of growth of annual ring in Pinus densiflora survived when the vegetation was damaged by air pollution. On the other hand, from the result of analysis of frequency distribution diagram of diameter, it was postulated that even if whis Pinus densiflora community can be maintained as it is for the time being, it might be changed to Quercus community with the lapse of time.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.191-202
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• 1990

For the maximun yield of the forest trees in the forest management, the growth of annual ring area of the major forest trees was analysed in the four areas in South Korea. The time to the maximum productivity and the optimum cutting time for the maximum yield were estimated. The growth curve of annual ring area showed sigmoid like that of other organisms. Only the growth coefficient among the areas between Fraxinus rhynchophylla and Pinus koraiensis represented significance (5% level). The growth coefficient among forest trees between Pinus densiflora and Abies holophylla, Larix kaempferi and Carpinus laxiflora, Larix kaempferi and Quercus mongolica, Larix kaempferi and Quercus serrata, Larix kaempferi and Pinus koraiensis, and Larix kaempferi and Abies holophylla represented significance (5% level). Among eight forest trees, the time to maximum productivity (tm) of Larix kaempferi was the earliest (21.4 year), and Abies holophylla was the latest (91.9 year). The optimum cutting time for the maximum yield (tc) of L. kaempferi was the earliest (29.4 year) and that of A, holophylla was the latest (122.2 year) of all communities. The optimum cutting time for the maximum yield was 1.33 times as late as the time to the maximum productivity. If the growth of annual ring area as the forest tree for wood is regarded, L. kaempferi and P. densiflora are thought to be more economical than A. holophylla and P. koraiensis.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.84 no.1
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• pp.71-76
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• 1995

This study on Pinus desiflora in Kangwon Province has been performed for the purpose of classifying its growth area by geographical factors. To classify its growth area, the basic data which had were the measured values for annual ring width from cores were used. Individual variations in the measured values were removed through the standardization. Regional mean chronologies were estimated from the standardized values. The growth area was classified by the cluster analysis on the basis of the regional mean standardized indices. The results of this study shown that annual growth patterns to be clustered similar to geographical distribution in Kangwon Province. And the regional variations of annual growth patterns in the western part of Kangwon province were greater than those in the eastern part of Kangwon province.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.261-275
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• 1994

The annual ring widths of tree and the vertical distribution of fine roots were investigated at 33 sites of pitch pine forests in Seoul, its vicinity and rural areas. The annual ring widths among 16 - 20 year-old pitch pines in urban areas were significantly lower than those in rural areas. The annual ring widths for the latest 5 years (1985-1989) for the age class of 11-20, 21-30 and 31-40 year old pines increased in the following order for all the age classes: urban areas< suburbs

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.80 no.4
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• pp.351-359
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• 1991

Annual ring characteristics of pinus thunbergii grown in several air-polluted areas were investigated by soft X-ray densitometry. Ring width, maximum density and relative difference between maximum and minimum density(abbreviated to DD) were generally decreased after the beginning of operation of the factories at the vicinity of the pollution sources. Especially at the nearest areas of the industrial complex, those were distinctly decreased, and the changes, either increases or decreases, in percentage of latewood and minimum density could not be explained by the air pollution dosages. Ring width, maximum density and DD were being more apparently decreased after 5 years than those for 5 years after the beginning of operation, and also the rate of decrease was increased from after 5 years after the beginning of operation, and the rate of decrease of ring width was the highest of all. It was inferred that ring width, maximum density and DD of Pinus thunbergii could be used as indicators to detect the growth damage by air pollution.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.362-366
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• 2010

Carbon isotope ratio ($^{13}C/^{12}C$, expressed as ${\delta}^{13}C$) of tree ring can be proxy of atmospheric $CO_2$ concentration ([$CO_2$]) due to the inter-correlation between atmospheric [$CO_2$], ${\delta}^{13}C$ of atmospheric $CO_2$, and ${\delta}^{13}C$ of plant tissue that assimilates atmospheric $CO_2$. This study was conducted to investigate if ${\delta}^{13}C$ of tree ring of Pinus densiflora in polluted area may show a lower value than that in unpolluted area and to explore the possibility of reconstructing atmospheric [$CO_2$] using its relationship with ${\delta}^{13}C$ of tree ring. During the period between 1999 and 2005, ${\delta}^{13}C$ of tree annual ring tended to decrease over time, and the ${\delta}^{13}C$ in polluted area (-27.2‰ in 2009 to -28.3‰ in 2005) was significantly (P<0.001) lower than that (-26.0‰ in 1999 to -27.1‰ in 2005) in unpolluted area. This reflects a greater emission of $CO_2$ depleted in $^{13}C$ in the polluted area. Atmospheric [$CO_2$] was significantly (P<0.01) correlated with ${\delta}^{13}C$ of tree ring in a linear fashion. Using the linear regression equation, atmospheric [$CO_2$] in the polluted area was estimated to range from 392.3 ppm in 1999 to 410.9 ppm in 2005, and these values were consistently higher than the national atmospheric [$CO_2$] monitored at the Anmyoundo meteorological station (from 370.7 ppm in 1999 to 387.2 ppm in 2005). Our study suggested that it is possible to reconstruct atmospheric [$CO_2$] in a certain area using the relationship between tree ring ${\delta}^{13}C$ and atmospheric [$CO_2$].

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.317-327
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• 1993

Stands profiles, yearly changes in growth of annual rings, age and diameter structure, and spatial distribution pattern of individuals in the Pinus densiflora stands around the Yeocheon industrial complex were investigated. Growth of annual ring in Pinus densiflora, which survived when vegetation of this area was damaged by air pollutants, was suppressed for about 10 years since 1974 when factories in this area began to operate, but since then such suppressed growth tended to be recovered. It was supposed that the suppresed growth was originated from air pollution and that improvement of growth since the suppressed period was due to the release from competition with them by death of neighbouring trees and the resuction of the amount of air pollutants. Physiognomy of Pinus densiflora stands showed mosaic pattern composed of different patches. Spatial distribution pattern of individuals an stand profiles were similar to those of Pinus densiflora stands regenerated after natural and artificial disturbances. In an age distribution diagram, age of Pinus densiflora population ranged from 1 to 33 years, Among these individuals were recrited corresponded to the suppresed period of growth of annual ring in Pinus densiflora survived when the vegetation was damaged by air pollution. On the other hand, from the result of analysis of frequency distribution diagram of diameter, it was postulated that even if whis Pinus densiflora community can be maintained as it is for the time being, it might be changed to Quercus community with the lapse of time. Regeneration; Pinus densiflora; Air pollution; Annual ring; Age structure; Diameter structure; Quercus spp. In these analyses, factors for individual recognition and species recognition were suggested.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.274-281
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• 2005

The climate of the Uisong Area is wet in the heat of summer and cold and dry in winter, The climate is highly consistent. The typical forest soil of the Uisong Area has an acidity of pH 4.5-5.6. The thickness of soil A layers is thin to an average of 10-20 cm and is a typical brown forest soil type. The growth characteristic of this climate and soil environment is as follows. In the case of Larix leptolepis, it takes 5-9 years to reach 6 cm diameter, The annual growth rate falls off greatly at an age of 17-19 years. The change of annual rings is more apparent on the north slopes compared with the east and northeast slopes. Pinus rigida takes 7-9 years to reach a 6 cm diameter. Annual growth rates of Pinus rigida fall greatly when age reaches 19 years. The change of annual ring growth of Pinus rigida was most apparent in the west and northeast slopes compared with the south and east slopes. In the case of Pinus koraiensis, the change of the annual ring width according to the characteristics of the slope is not important. Pinus koraiensis takes 6 yearsto reach the 6cm diameter, and annual growth rate fell off at age 19 years. In the case of Quercus acutissima, the growth of the valley trees is more stable than for trees grown at the mountain base. Annual growth rate of Quercus autissima fell off 19 years after planting. Ring growth of Robinia pseudo-acasia on northeast slopes appears much like that on northwest slopes. In conclusion, the main silviculture species reaches a 6 cm diameter in 5-9 years of growth, and the annual growth rate begins to fall between years 13 and 19 in the Uisong Area.