• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.395-410
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• 1992

Disturbance regime and tree regeneration were studied in kwangnung natural forest, an old-growth deciduous hardwood forest located in central korea. This forest is dominated by carpinus laxiflora, c.erosa, and quercus species. The area occupied by canopy gaps was 4.6% of the total forested area, and the mean size of canopy gaps was 92 $m^2$ with the maximum being 524 $m^2$. More than half of the gaps were less than four years old, and 3/4 of the gaps were created by death of only or two canopy trees, indicating the dominance of small-sized gaps in kwangnung forest. about half of the gap-makers were c. laxiflora, and another one third were quercus species. In contrast, the most frequent relacers were c. laxiflora while quercus species filled only 5% of the gaps, suggesting a future shift in tree species composition under the current disturbance regime. tree regeration was more conspicuous even in small gaps than non-gaps regardless of shade-tolerance of tree species, indicating the importance of gaps in tree regeneration.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.325-330
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• 2007

Recognizing the ecological importance of forest gap formation for forest community structure, we examined the differences in species diversity between forest gaps and closed canopy areas for trees and shrubs in three developmental stages (seedling, sapling I, and sapling II) in a typical mixed broadleaved-Korean pine forest. We randomly placed 100 sample plots ($2{\times}2m$ for seedling and sapling I, and $5{\times}5m$ for sapling II) in forest gap and closed canopy areas of a 9 ha permanent sample plot for vegetation surveys of plants of each developmental stage in each habitat type. Even though the formation of forest gaps encouraged the occurrence of gap-dependent species and increased overall species diversity, there were no significant differences in species richness among the three developmental stages for both tree and shrub species (p>0.05). Comparing the two types of sites, statistical tests revealed no difference in species richness for trees, but highly significant differences (p<0.01) between forest types for shrubs for seedlings and sapling I, but not sapling II. Analysis of variance test indicated that there were no significant differences in species diversity among the three developmental stages of tree species (p>0.05) for both Simpson and Shannon indices. The variance for shrub seedlings was significantly different between forest gaps and closed canopy areas, but not for sapling I and sapling II. The analysis showed that the species diversity in forest gaps was significantly different from that of closed canopy areas for seedling and sapling I (p<0.01), but not for sapling II (p>0.05).

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.189-201
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• 1995

In order to clarify regeneration processes and mechanisms of the disturbed Pinus densiflora forest, responses of Pinus densiflora to gap formed by disturbance were analysed by growth of saplings and mature and growth equations were obtained from branch growth of mature trees and height growth of saplings, and age distribution of saplings and young trees recruited within gap was analysed in relation to gap age. Height growth of saplings within gaps was accelerated after gap formation. Such abrupt increases of growth of saplings after the gap formation might be resulted in the difference of growth of saplings between gap and non-gap areas. In fact, height and diameter of saplings in the central part of gap were larger than those of saplings in marginal parts of gap and non-gap area. However, density of saplings was not different in both parts. In addition, growth of annual rings of mature trees bordering on gap also increased after gap formation. Branch growth of mature trees bodering on gap was 6.3 - 6.5 cm /year and the mean radius of gaps created by death of only one canopy tree was about 3 m. Therefore, for those gaps to be closed by branch growth it will take 46 years. Growth of saplings within gap showed exponential equation. Fifty years will be required for the saplings to enter the forest canopy by the exponential growth equation. Therefore, gap created by only one tree might be closed by branch growth of surrounding canopy trees in advance of being done by height growth of saplings. But gaps created by death of trees more than 2 will be closed by the growth of saplings. Among the regenerating saplings and young trees within gaps, individuals established in advance of gap formation were more than those established after the gap formation. From these results, it was assumed that the disturbed Pinus densiflora forests in these sites were regenerated by height growth of saplings recruited in advance of gap formation.

• Journal of Plant Biology
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.147-150
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• 1990

Different species with similar niches can coexist in the same community if disturbances prevent compeptitive exclusion of competitively inferior species. Disturbances which open up gaps are common in all kind of community. Even in virgin forests without any artificial disturbance, there exist a significant proportion of trees of early successional shade-in-tolerant species in addition to the dominant late successional shade-tolerant species. In forest ecosystems, most canopy tree species including shade-tolerant ones require one or more gaps in their life-time to reach the canopy. Because of these frequent disturbances, forests can be considered of dynamic mosaics of patches of different ages and with different species composition which are in certain stages of recovery from disturbances. Disturbances temporarily increase the availability of resources such as light, water and soil nutrient for other in dividuals through the death of one or more canopy trees.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.90-97
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• 2020

Background: Natural forests are generally considered to be less prone to biological invasions than other modified ecosystems, particularly when canopy cover is high. Few decades of management of degraded forests by local communities in Nepal has increased canopy cover and altered disturbance regimes. These changes might have reduced the abundance of invasive alien plant species (IAPS) in forests. To understand the status of IAPS in such forests, we studied two community managed Shorea robusta forests (Sundari and Dhusheri) of Nawalpur district in central Nepal. In these two forests, vegetation sampling was done using circular plots 10 m radius at forest edge, gaps, and within canopy. Variation of IAPS richness and cover across these microhabitats were compared, and their variation with tree canopy cover and basal area analyzed. Result: Altogether 14 IAPS were recorded in the study forests; among them Chromolaena odorata, Ageratum houstonianum, and Lantana camara had the highest frequency. Mikania micrantha was at the early stage of colonization in Sundari Community Forest (CF) but absent in Dhuseri CF. Both IAPS cover and richness was higher at forest edge and gap than in canopy plots and both these attributes declined with increasing canopy cover and tree basal area. Conclusion: The results indicate that increase in canopy cover and closure of forest gaps through participatory management of degraded forests can prevent plant invasions and suppress the growth of previously established IAPS in Shorea robusta forests of Nepal. This is the unacknowledged benefit of participatory forest management in Nepal.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.87-96
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• 2009

Pinus thunbergii plantations in Pohang-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do, Korea, are of low ecological quality, with arrested succession and a high proportion of ruderal species. To improve the quality of the habitat, we created canopy gaps ($\sim42\;m^2$) and monitored changes in abiotic (light availability, canopy openness) and biotic (survival and growth of seedlings and understory communities) variables in 2007 and 2008 in plots that had received one of five types of treatment: cutting of canopy trees and removal of the understory (CU), cutting of canopy trees only (C), girdling of canopy trees and removal of the understory (GU), girdling of canopy trees (G) or control. Each treatment was applied to three replicate plots. Abiotic variables did not significantly differ among treatments. Survival rates of target species were slightly lower in the CU, G and control conditions. Based on logistic regression analysis, the only significant growth factor affecting survival was height growth. Positive effects of seedling height and leaf area growth on survival were also detected, but did not reach statistical significance. In treatment G, gradual improvement of overstory conditions and mitigation of competition by limitation of disturbance to the understory community were likely to have promoted seedling growth. There were no significant effects of gap treatments on changes in species abundance (cover and richness) and composition of understory between the study years. This result implies that the small gaps created in our study may be below the threshold size to affect understory growth. However, the results of this study are based on a short-term investigation of only two years. Long-term research is strongly recommended to clarify the effects of gap treatment on plant communities in afforested areas.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.157-165
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• 2011

This study was conducted to determine the characteristics of gaps and natural regeneration of trees on Mt. Makiling, the Philippines. Canopy gaps in or around two 1-ha permanent plots and on 3-km line transects were investigated. Most of the gaps studied were formed or affected by Typhoon Milenyo, which hit the study site in September 2006. The most frequent mode of gap maker death was snap-off, whereas uprooting was relatively less important. The most frequent gap maker was balobo (Diplodiscus paniculatus) followed by magabuyo (Celtis luzonica) and katmon (Dillenia philippinensis). In contrast, the most frequent gap filler was magabuyo (C. luzonica). At the sapling layer, the most important species was magabuyo (C. luzonica), but there was a high proportion of lianas and palms. Most of the gaps had leaf area index (LAI) values between 3 and 5. A clear trend of a decrease in gap size and an increase in LAI was observed for 2 years from 2007 to 2009. New seedlings emerged very abundantly during the same time period. The rapid changes in the gaps were partially due to the excellent capability of tropical trees to resprout after the crown or stem was damaged by the typhoon. This study on gap dynamics may contribute to a better understanding of the natural regeneration process of trees in tropical rainforests.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.89 no.4
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• pp.502-512
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• 2000

Old-growth development for two different second-growth northern hardwood stands in the North America was evaluated with a computer simulation. The two sites compared were a representative 77 year old even-aged stand (Phelps) with heavy dominance by pole size classes, and an older uneven-aged stand with some existing old-growth structural features (Wildcat Creek). Each stand was evaluated in its natural progress toward old-growth structural conditions with stand structure, size distribution of live and dead trees, percent stand area in canopy gaps, and visual canopy profile and overhead view. The Phelps stand reached the minimum structural threshold for the old-growth stage after 74 years. Only 13 years was required for Wildcat Creek stand to reach the old-growth threshold. During the 45 years of simulation, the diameter distributions of both stands became broader and flatter. DBH distribution of dead trees had a general descending trend over the simulation in each stand. Gaps at Phelps were typically small after 45 years. Gap area at Wildcat Creek was somewhat more constant over the 45 years of simulation but a big gap was formed because of the death of several adjacent large trees.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.89 no.5
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• pp.543-551
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• 2000

This study was conducted to understand Pinus densiflora regeneration characteristics from canopy gaps due to disturbance in natural forests located at Mt. Joongwang in Kangwon-do. The line-transect method was adopted to analyze crown architecture of Pinus densiflora. The saplings of Pinus densiflora in the canopy gap showed high adaptation to growth environment at their early regeneration stage, and showed different characteristics in crown architecture. Variation of branching angle in the main branch of Pinus densiflora was small in canopy gap. Primary branch growth showed was high during 4~5 year-old period and slowly low after that period. Average 5 of primary branch were generated from stem in canopy. Average 4 of secondary branch were generated from primary branch in canopy gap. Primary branches generated from the stem were uniformly distributed at all cardinal directions. When canopy gap size is $100{\sim}120m^2$, secondary branches generated from primary branch had mostly high numbers between $S44^{\circ}E$ and $S90^{\circ}W$.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.144-152
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• 2003

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of lime fertilization and light intensity on beech regeneration strategy in a mature beech forest(ca. 150 years old) gaps, which was located in the soiling areas Germany, where the soil is an acid brown earth. For the experiment canopy gaps of 30m diameter were cut, and one canopy gap remained as untreated while the other was limed(3t dolomite h $a^{-1}$). Soil chemistry, soil water potential, light intensity(PAR), ground vegetation, beech seedlings and mycorrhiza were investigated along transect from the stands into gaps to the north. The results of this study are followings: 1) In the limed gap, soil chemistry was greatly improved and a vigorous herb layer developed as compared to the unlimed gap. 2) Development and growth of the beech seedlings in the unlimed gap were generally deficient. Specially, developments of lateral roots were very lack. 3) Through the lime fertilization, the minerals contents of beech leaves such as calcium(Ca) and magnesium(Mg) were increased, while manganese(Mn) was decreased. There was antagonism between potassium(K) and calcium(Ca) or magnesium(Mg). 4) The relative mycorrhiza frequency(RM) in beech seedlings of the southern edge was very higher than that of the middle part, and through the lime fertilization extension of the species Laccaria amethystina appeared clearly. The results of this study showed that lime fertilize in forest, where the soil is acid, will be necessary..