• Environmental and Resource Economics Review
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.229-255
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• 2017

This study empirically estimates the impacts of climate change on forest composition in Korea using a fractional data regression model, and forecasts the change in forest composition in the 2040s and 2090s based on the IPCC climate change scenarios. Unlike the forest science studies that incorporate mostly only ecological variables as the determinants of forest composition, we take into account regional level socio-economic and forest management variables as well. Our estimation results found that not only environmental factors but also socio-economic and forest management related factors strongly affect the composition of Korean forest. Based on the estimation results and IPCC scenarios on climate change, we predict that the share of currently dominant coniferous forest will decline in the future under all scenarios. About 10% of total forest area is likely to be converted from coniferous forest into broadleaved forest until 2090s under the scenario RCP 8.5. It is also predicted that there will be a substantial regional variation in the effects of climate change on forest composition, and the coniferous forests in the inland regions will decline more dramatically.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.106 no.4
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• pp.450-456
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• 2017

This study was conducted to develop estimated equation for mortality rates (volume of dead trees, %) on coniferous and broad-leaved forests, representative forest types of South Korea. There were 6 equation models applied for estimating mortality such as a exponential equation, a Hamilton equation and variables using were DBH, basal area, and site index. Raw data used for estimating mortality were $5^{th}$ and $6^{th}$ national forest inventory data, and mortality was calculated with the difference of stocks between lived trees and dead trees by each sample plots. The most applicable equation to describe mortality on coniferous forest and broad-leaved forest was indicated as $P=(1+e^{(a+b{\times}DBH+c{\times}BA+d{\times}no\_ha+e{\times}density)})^{-1}$ and their goodness of fit showed 34% and 51% respectively. Goodness of fit in both equations were not much high because there were various factors which affect the mortality such as topographic conditions, soil characteristic, climatic factors, site quality, and competition. Therefore, it is considered that explaining mortality in forest with only 2 or 3 variables like DBH, basal area used in this analysis could be very difficult facts. However, this study is certainly worth in that there is no useful information on mortality by each forest type throughout the country at the present, and we would make an effort to promote the fitness of estimated equation for mortality adding competition index, tree crown density etc.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.460-470
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• 2013

Forest vegetation of Choksangsan area in the Deogyusan National Park is classified into mountain forest vegetation. Mountain forest vegetation is subdivided into deciduous broad-leaved forest, valley forest, coniferous forest, afforestation and other vegetation. Including 103 communities of mountain forest vegetation and 8 communities of other vegetation, the total of 111 communities were researched; the mountain forest vegetation classified by physiognomy classification are 36 communities deciduous broad-leaved forest, 26 communities of valley forest, 10 communities of coniferous forests, 31 plantation and 8 other vegetation. As for the distribution rate for surveyed main communities, Quercus mongolica, Quercus variabilis communities account for 65.96 percent of deciduous broad-leaved forest, Fraxinus mandshurica community takes up 22.50 percent of mountain valley forest, Pinus densiflora community holds 63.27 percent of mountain coniferous forest holds. In conclusion, minority species consisting of Quercus mongolica, Fraxinus mandshurica, Quercus serrata, Pinus densiflora, and Quercus variabilis are distributed as dominant species of the uppermost part in a forest vegetation of Choksangsan in Deogyusan National Park. In addition, because of vegetation succession and climate factors, numerous colonies formed by the two species are expected to be replaced by Quercus mongolica, Carpinus laxiflora and Fraxinus mandshurica which are climax species in the area.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.45-62
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• 2010

Zero plane displacement (d) is the elevated height of the apparent momentum sink exerted by the vegetation on the air. For a vegetative canopy, d depends on the roughness structure of a plant canopy such as leaf area index, canopy height and canopy density, and thus is critical for the analysis of canopy turbulence and the calculation of surface scalar fluxes. In this research note, we estimated d at the Gwangneung coniferous forest by employing two independent methods of Rotach (1994) and Martano (2000), which require only a single-level eddy-covariance measurement. In general, these two methods provided comparable estimates of $d/h_c$ (where $h_c$ is the canopy height, i.e., ~23m), which ranged from 0.51 to 0.97 depending on wind directions. These estimates of $d/h_c$ were within the ranges (i.e., 0.64~0.94) reported from other forests in the literature but were sensitive to the forms of the nondimensional functions for atmospheric stability. Our finding indicates that one should be careful in interepreation of zero plane displacement estimated from a single-level eddy covariance measurement that is conductaed within the roughness sublayer.

• Journal of The Geomorphological Association of Korea
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.53-61
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• 2010

In this study, pollen analysis and a dating were performed on the alluvial deposits in the Tangjeong Plains in Asan-Si, Chungcheongnam-Do. Specimens were collected at the altitude of about 12m, which belongs to the mid-forest belt in the cool temperate zone. The followings show the results. In general, the target zone passed through TJ-I (the coniferous forest age in which the Pinus forest was dominant), TJ-II (the mixed conifer and deciduous broad-leaved forest age in which Pinus and Quercus were dominant) and TJ-III (the coniferous forest age in which the Pinus was dominant) respectively. TJ-II was subdivided into TJ-IIa and TJ-IIb. TJ-I is presumed to be between about 2,810 and 1,500yrB.P.; TJ-IIa to be between about 1,500 and 1,370yrB.P.; and TJ-IIb to be between about 1,370 and 770yrB.P. As for TJ-III, it is presumed to begin after about 770yrB.P. In comparison with the nationwide pollen zone during the Postglacial, TJ-I and TJ-II are contrasted with the R-IIIa period and also TJ-III is contrasted with RIIIb (so-called human interference age). It is also presumed that Pinus luxuriated there after about 770yrB.P. as forests began to be markedly destroyed in the Tangjeong Plains.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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• v.34 no.2_1
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• pp.267-282
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• 2018

Despite the continuous development of phenology detection studies using satellite imagery, verification through comparison with the field observed data is insufficient. Especially, in the case of Korean forests patching in various forms, it is difficult to estimate the start of season (SOS) by using only satellite images due to resolution difference. To improve the accuracy of vegetation phenology estimation, this study reconstructed the large scaled forest type map (1:5,000) with MODIS pixel resolution and produced time series vegetation phenology curves from Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI) derived from MODIS images. Based on the field observed data, extraction methods for the vegetation indices and SOS for Korean forests were compared and evaluated. We also analyzed the correlation between the composition ratio of forest types in each pixel and phenology extraction from the vegetation indices. When we compared NDVI and EVI with the field observed SOS data from the Korea National Arboretum, EVI was more accurate for Korean forests, and the first derivative was most suitable for extracting SOS in the phenology curve from the vegetation index. When the eight pixels neighboring the pixels of 7 broadleaved trees with field SOS data (center pixel) were compared to field SOS, the forest types of the best pixels with the highest correlation with the field data were deciduous forest by 67.9%, coniferous forest by 14.3%, and mixed forest by 7.7%, and the mean coefficient of determination ($R^2$) was 0.64. The average national SOS extracted from MODIS EVI were DOY 112.9 in 2014 at the earliest and DOY 129.1 in 2010 at the latest, which is about 0.16 days faster since 2003. In future research, it is necessary to expand the analysis of deciduous and mixed forests' SOS into the extraction of coniferous forest's SOS in order to understand the various climate and geomorphic factors. As such, comprehensive study should be carried out considering the diversity of forest ecosystems in Korea.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.327-357
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• 2011

This study compared the species composition and distribution of the forest communities between Korea and Japan using vegetation releve database. The study included the eastern and southern Korean Peninsula, Is. Jeju, Is. Ulreung, northern Kyushu, central part of Japan and Is. Tsushima and divided in fourteen region with major mountain as the center. Seventy-nine forest communities were classified by tabular comparison with the total of 1844 releves. In the composition table, fifty-four groups of plant species were listed. Some grew in one area exclusively, while others were present in multiple locations. This study showed the similarity and heterogeneity of species composition among study areas. We grouped fourteen types showing similar physiognomy for forest communities. The physiognomical features of the vertical vegetation zones in the study area were similar, however, dominant species and species composition were different between the regions. In the lowland zone, Castanopsis-Type dominated by Castanopsis cuspidata var. sieboldii or Castanopsis cuspidata were distributed in the study area except for northern part of the Korean Peninsula and Is. Ulreung. Additionally, Persea thunbergii-Type was distributed widely in the lowest part of the study area, however, it showed the simplification of the species composition in the Korean Peninsula and Is. Ulreung. In the hilly zone, evergreen forest composed by Abies firma-Type distributed in northern Kyushuand Is. Tsushima, but it was absent in the other study region. The difference in forest community was conspicuous, especially in the montane zone. Deciduous broadleaved forests composed Quercus(D)-Type and Fagus-Type widely distributed in the montane of study area. However, forest community dominated by Quercus mongolica and Fagus multinervis flourished in Korea. On the otherhand, forest community dominated by Quercus mongolica var. grosseserrata, Fagus crenata and F. japonica distributed in Japan. In the sub-alpine zone, evergreen coniferous forest composed Abies-Quercus(D)-Type, Abies koreana-Type, and Pinus pumila-Type were distributed in the Korean Peninsula and Is. Jeju. Forests composed Taxus cuspidata var. nana-Type, Abies mariesii-Type, and Pinus pumila-Type distributed in the central part of Japan. As a result of DCA ordination, evergreen broadleaved forests of the whole study area showed the lower scores along the first axis, while deciduous and coniferous forests showed the higher scores. The forest types of western part of Japan were located the higer scores, forest types of the Korean Peninsula were located the lower scores, and forest types of Is. Jeju located in the middle. Warmth index (WI) and Annual range of temperature in climate factor were highly correlated on the first axis. The first axis reflected the gradient from oceanic climatic to continental one. The higher the altitude and further geographically, the lower the similarity among communities and the peculiarity of community appeared stronger. The historical background reflecting local flora has strongly influenced on development of community.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.163-178
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• 2023

This study was conducted to understand the vegetation characteristics of Cheongwansan Provincial Park through the analysis of the plant community structure and to build data necessary for the continuous management and protection of Cheongwansan Provincial Park. The TWINSPAN and DCS analyses of the plant community structure of 63 survey districts in Cheongwansan Provincial Park identified eight colonies, including Cryptomeria japonica Community (I), Chamaecyparis obtusa-Pinus densiflora Commuity (II), P. rigida-P. densiflora Community (III), mixed coniferous and broad-leaved Community (IV), P. densiflora Community (V), deciduous broad-leaved such as Quercus spp. Community (VI), Q. mongolica-P. densiflora Community (VII) and P. thunbergii Community (VIII). The colonies can be grouped into afforestation communities (I, II, and III) dominated by C. obtusa, C. japonica, and P. rigida and natural forest communities (IV, V, VI, VII, and VIII) dominated by native species. Although Cheongwansan Provincial Park is a provincial park area that can represent natural ecosystems and landscapes, the rate of artificial forests is higher than that of other provincial parks. Most of the artificial forest communities are expected to maintain their current state, but since native species such as Machilus thunbergii, Neolitsea sericea, and deciduous broad-leaved, which are warm-temperate trees introduced through surrounding natural forests, appear in the lower layer, it is determined that it is possible to induce succession to natural forests suitable for climatic characteristics through management, and monitoring for continuous management is also necessary. Deciduous broad-leaved such as Quercus spp. Copete with P. densiflora in most natural forest communities. The vegetation series in the warm-temperate region of Korea appears to be in the early stages, and it is believed that the succession to Q. serrata or Q. mongolica, which appears next to coniferous in the series, is in progress. However, M. thunbergii and N. sericea, which appear in the middle stage of the succession in the warm-temperate region, have started to appear, and since Jangheung-gun belongs to the warm-temperate region considering the climate characteristics, the eventual succession to the warm-temperate forests dominated by evergreen broad-leaved is also expected. In this study, we built vegetation data from Cheongwansan Provincial Park, which lacks research on vegetation. However, since vegetation research in Cheongwansan Provincial Park is still insufficient, it is believed that further research should be continuously conducted to establish forest vegetation data and observe vegetation changes.

• Mycobiology
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.221-228
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• 2014

The fungal genus Suillus Micheli ex S. F. Gray plays important roles in the survival and growth of plant seedlings. Humans have utilized these ectomycorrhizal fungi to enhance the nutrient uptake and defense systems of plants, particularly in the reforestation of coniferous forests. The genus Suillus is easily distinguishable by its distinctive morphological features, although the morphology of the fruiting body does not facilitate reliable interspecies discrimination. On the basis of micro-morphological features and internal transcribed spacer sequence analysis, we found that 51 of 117 Korean Suillus specimens had initially been misidentified. The list of the 12 Suillus species previously recorded in Korea was re-evaluated and revised to only eight distinct species: S. americanus, S. bovinus, S. granulatus, S. grevillei, S. luteus, S. pictus, S. placidus, and S. viscidus. We provide taxonomical descriptions for six of these species from the sample specimens.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.255-258
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• 2020

Pine wilt disease (PWD) caused by pine wood nematode (PWN), Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, which is transmitted by Monochamus alternatus and M. saltuarius, is a serious threat to coniferous forests in the Northern Hemisphere, including Korea. The efficacy of abamectin and emamectin benzoate for preventing the PWD in the field and its effect on the vectors Monochamus alternatus and M. saltuarius (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) were evaluated. An experimental plot was delimited, of which consists of Japanese red pine (Pinus densiflora) forest in South Korea, and trunk injection trials were made with abamectin and emamectin benzoate. Branches of each tree were collected, and are subsequently subjected to the analysis of residues for both nematicides. Results obtained in this study showed that abamectin and emamectin benzoate showed over 90% mortality at the recommended concentration after 6 days and 8 days, respectively. Consequently, it was found that both insecticides have a higher effect on the susceptibility and persistence of two vectors of PWD, M. alternatus and M. saltuarius feeding on branches of the trees, and its application by trunk injection is confirmed as an option for pine wilt disease management programs in Korea.