• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.108 no.1
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• pp.10-20
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• 2019

The purpose of this study is to identify the long-term area changes in the subalpine coniferous forests in Korea in order to understand the changes in the subalpine forest ecosystems vulnerable to climate change. We analyzed 20 years of time-series Landsat satellite images (mid 1990s, mid 2010s) for change detection of coniferous forests and compared with the long term changes of climate information to identify their relationship in the study area. As a result, the area of coniferous forests in the study region decreased by 25% over 20 years. The regions with largest changes are Seoraksan, Baegunsan-Hambaeksan-Jangsan, Jirisan, and Hallasan. The region with the largest decrease in area was Baegunsan (reduced area: 542 ha), and the region with large decrease in area and the largest rate of decrease was Hallasan (rate of decrease: 33.3%). As the Jeju region has the most rapid temperature rise, it is projected that Hallasan is the most vulnerable forest ecosystem affected by climate change. The result of this study shows that from a long-term perspective the overall coniferous forests in the subalpine region are declining, but the trend varies in each region. This national and long-term information on the change of coniferous forests in the subalpine region can be utilized as baseline data for the detailed survey of endangered subalpine coniferous trees in the future.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.119-129
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• 1999

The bryophyte communities on the forest floor of the mixed coniferous and deciduous broad-leaf forest and the evergreen coniferous forest of cool temperate and subalpine zones in Mts. Taebaek, Odae and Sulak of Tabaek Range were investigated from. the numerical and phytosociological viewpoints. As a result, four bryophyte communities were recognized there, considering the species composition of vascular vegetation; A. Thuja koraiensis-Abies nephrolepis/Taxus caespitosa-Pinus pumila/Hylocomium splendens-Pleurozium schreberi community, B: Sasamorpha borealis-Abies nephrolepis/Plagiomnium cuspidatum- Aulacomnium heterostichum community, C. Abies holophylla-Abies nephrolepis/Thuidium recognitum-Trachycystis immarginata cristatus community, D. Meehania urticifolia-Abies nephrolepis/Hylocomiopsis ovicarpa-Taxiphyllum aomoriense community. Among these, the community A was distributed in higher altitudes and characterized by the species group of the holarctic elements, e.g. Hylocomium splendens, Pleurozium schreberi, Dicranum majus, etc. limited in subarctic; subalpine and arctic; alpine zones and was confirmed as synusies of the Thujo-Abietetum nephrolepidis Song 1991 and Taxo-Pinetum pumilae Song 1985 belonging the Vaccinio-Piceetea Br.-Bl. 1939. In contrast the communities B, C and D were distributed in the mixed coniferous and deciduous broad-leaf forest of lower altitudes and characterized by the elements of the cool temperate; montane zone. They were confirmed as synusies belonging to the Corylo-Quercetum mongolicae Song 1988. By the result of the numerical syntaxonomical analysis such as cluster analysis, interspecific association, PCA, the communities were largely divided into the two types. The two types coincided with the community units or the diagnostic species of the bryophyte communities of the subalpine zone and the montane zone, respectively. Also the analysis revealed that the division of the above two forest zones are justifiable. Up to date many investigator have described the coniferous forest distibuted above 1000m in Taebaek mountains as the forest vegetation of subalpine zone. However, from the results of the present study, the boundary of the mixed forest and the true subalpine coniferous forest was elucidated to be ca. 1,500 m phytosociologically. Species richness was the highest in the community A, and the other four communities showed a similar species richness.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.185-193
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• 1984

Regneration process of Abies koreana-Pinus koraiensis community consisted of a subalpione coniferous forest in Mt. Jiri, Korea, was studied in relation to age structure, especially to gap formation. The tall-tree layer (ca. 6.5m) is dominated by Abies koreana and Pinus koraiensis, while lower layer by the sapling and juveniles of A. koreana and Picea jezoensis below 2m tall. The ranges of DBH in A. koreana, P. koraiensis and P. jezonesis were 11.8cm~26.4m, 11.7cm~24.5 cm and 18.2cm~21.7 cm, respectively. The trees below 130 cm tall had contagious distribution, while tall and subtall trees had uniform distribution. The average tree ages of A. koreana, P. koraieniensis and P. jezoensis were 60~70 years, 70~80 years and 70~90 years, respectively. The saplings and juveniles below 20 years in tree ages were occupied over 80% of total trees. The coniferous trees in the gaps or around dead trees were composed of sapligs and juveniles which had emerged or invaded about 20 years before and after the gap formation. The Betula type regeneration of the coniferous forest took place in gaps which orginated from the failing down of a single or a few trees by longevity. Accordingly, it is clear that the subalpine coniferous forest composed of A. koreana of A. koreana, P. koraiensis and P. jezoensis in Mt. jiri was supporting by the regeneration pattern of Betula type.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.135-145
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• 2014

The mountain forest vegetation of Gyebangsan (1,577 m) in Odaesan National Park is classified into deciduous broad-leaved forest, mountain valley forest, coniferous forest, subalpine coniferous forest, subalpine deciduous forest, plantation forest, and other vegetation which includes Actinidia argute community and agricultural land. As for the number of communities distributed in the each forest vegetation which were categorized by the physiognomy classification, deciduous broad-leaved forest had 33 communities, mountain valley forest 41 communities, coniferous forest 8 communities, subalpine coniferous forest 4 communities, subalpine deciduous forest 2 communities, plantation forest 6 communities and other vegetation 4 communities. Regarding the distribution rate of communities in the vegetation, in the deciduous broad-leaved forest. Quercus mongolica community accounted for 80.226% with $30,909,942.967m^2$, followed by Quercus variabilis community of 2.771% with $1,067,479.335m^2$. 55.463% of deciduous broad-leaved forest in the Gyebangsan had Quercus mongolica as a dominant or second dominant species. In the mountain valley forest, Fraxinus rhynchophylla - Juglans mandshurica community accounted for 10.955%. And there were ten mixed communities having Fraxinus rhynchophylla and upper layer at a similar level of coverage, taking up 32.776%. In the coniferous forest, Pinus densiflora and the community living with Pinus densiflora accounted for 100%, showing that the coniferous forest has the community with Pinus densiflora as a dominant species at upper layer. For other vegetation, subalpine coniferous forest had a total of four communities including Abies holophylla - Quercus mongolica community, and accounted for 4.980% of vegetation area of Odaesan National Park. Two communities including Betula ermani - Cornus controversa community were found in the subalpine deciduous forest, taking up 0.006% of total vegetation area of Odaesan National Park. Regarding plantation forest, Larix leptolepis was planted the most with 51.652%, followed by Betula platyphylla var. japonica with 38.975%, and Pinus koraiensis with 7.969%. These three species combined accounted for 98.565%. In conclusion, the forest vegetation found in the Gyebangsan of Odaesan National Park has Quercus mongolica as a dominant species at the top layer. A lot of other communities related with this species are expected to be quickly replaced due to vegetation succession and climatic causes. Therefore, Quercus mongolica is expected to become the main species in the deciduous broad-leaved forest, Fraxinus rhynchophylla, Juglans mandshurica and Fraxinus mandshurica in the mountain valley forest. Around the border line between deciduous broad-leaved forest and mountain valley forest, highly humid valley area is expected to be quickly taken up by Cornus controversa and Fraxinus mandshurica, and the slope area by Quercus mongolica. However, in the subalpine coniferous forest, the distribution rate of deciduous broad-leaved trees is expected to increase due to climate warming.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.112 no.3
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• pp.322-330
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• 2023

Amid the recent intensification of climate change, the decline of subalpine coniferous species is evident. Accordingly, the Korea Forest Service is conducting research to establish conservation measures, identify the causes of the decline of subalpine coniferous species, and establish conservation strategies for seven species of conifers in the alpine region. This study used an economic value evaluation method to present objective data to inform the need for and value of conservation of endangered coniferous species through the recognition of endangered coniferous species and evaluation of conservation value among coniferous species conservation strategies in endangered alpine areas. A contingent valuation method was applied. As a result, the estimated conservation value per household of endangered alpine coniferous species was 49,181 won.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.269-279
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• 2021

This study was carried out to introduce the forest cover types of the Baekdudaegan inhabiting the number of native tree species. In order to understand the vegetation distribution characteristics of the Baekdudaegan, a vegetation survey was conducted on the major 20 mountains of the Baekdudaegan. The vegetation data were collected from 3,959 sample points by the point-centered quarter method. Each mountain was classified into 4-7 forests by using various multivariate statistical methods such as cluster analysis, indicator species analysis, multiple discriminant analysis, and species composition analysis. The forests were classified mainly according to the relative abundance of Quercus mongolica. There was a total of 111 classified forests and these forests were integrated into the following nine forest cover types using the percentage similarity index and by clustering according to vegetation type: 1) Mongolian oak, 2) Mongolian oak and other deciduous, 3) Oaks (Mixed Quercus spp.), 4) Korean red pine, 5) Korean red pine and oaks, 6) ash, 7) mixed mesophytic, 8) subalpine zone coniferous, and 9) miscellaneous forest. Forests grouped within the subalpine zone coniferous and miscellaneous classifications were characterized by similar environmental conditions and those forests that did not fit in any other category, respectively.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.289-300
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• 2013

Forest vegetation of Hyangjeokbong (1,614 m) in Deogyusan National Park is classified into mountain forest vegetation and flatland forest vegetation. Mountain forest vegetation is subdivided into deciduous broad-leaved forest, valley forest, coniferous forest, subalpine coniferous forest, shrub forest, grassland forest, afforestation and etc., while riparian forest was found under the category of flatland forest vegetation. Including 122 communities of mountain forest vegetation and 2 communities of riparian forest, the total of 124 communities were researched; the distributed colonies classified by physiognomy classification are 42 communities deciduous broad-leaved forest, 37 communities of valley forest, 8 communities of coniferous forests, 6 communities of subalpine coniferous forest, 3 communities of shrub forest, 1 communities of grassland forest, 21 afforestation and 4 other communities. As for the distribution rate for surveyed main communities, Quercus mongolica, Quercus serrata, Quercus variabilis communities account for 47.02 percent of deciduous broad-leaved forest, Fraxinus mandshurica community takes up 57.48 percent of mountain valley forest, Pinus densiflora community holds 77.53 percent of mountain coniferous forest holds, and Taxus cuspidate-Abies koreana community takes up about 50 percent of subalpine coniferous forest. Mountain shrub forest and mountain grassland forest vegetation are concentrated mainly on the top of Hyangjeokbong and the ridge connecting the top and Jungbong. Meanwhile, riparian forest vegetation comprises 0.024% of the whole vegetation area in a study area. In conclusion, minority species consisting of Quercus mongolica, Quercus serrata, Quercus variabilis, Fraxinus mandshurica, Cornus controversa, Pinus densiflora, Abies koreana and Taxus cuspidata are distributed as dominant species of the uppermost part in a forest vegetation region 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. However, in respect of subalpine coniferous forest, the distribution rate of deciduous broad-leaved forest seems to increase gradually due to global warming and artificial disturbance.

• Journal of Plant Biology
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.305-317
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• 1995

The bryophyte communities on the forest floor of the mixed coniferous, deciduous broad-leaf forest and the evergreen coniferous forest of cool temperate and subalpine zones in Chiri Mountains with the highest peak (Cheonwangbong 1915 m) in south-central part of the Korean Peninsula were investigated from the phytosociology viewpoint. As a result, five bryophyte communities were recognized, considering the species composition of vascular vegetation; A. Sasamorpha borealis-Abies koreana/Dicranum scoparium-Plagiothecium silvaticum community, B. Bosta minor-Abies koreana/Anomodon rugelii-Plagiomnium cuspidatum community, C. Abies koreana/Hylocomiopsis ovicarpa-Entodon rubicundus community, D. Abies koreana-Picea jezoensis/Hylocomiopsis ovicarpa-Thuidium kanedae community, E. Abies koreana-Pieea jezoensis/Hylocomium splendens-Pleurozium sehreberi community. Among these, the communities A, B, C and D were distributed in the mixed coniferous and deciduous broad-leaf forest of lower altitudes (1200 to 1700 m) and characterized by the elements of the cool temperate zone. They were confimled as synusies belonging to the Fraxino-Abietetum koreanae Song 1988. The community E was distributed in higher altitudes (1700 m to near the summit) and characterized by the species group of the holarctic elements, e.g. Hyloeomium splendens, Pleurozium sehreberi, Dieranum majus, etc. limited in subarctic; subalpine and arctic; alpine zones. The community E was confirmed as a synusie of the Abieti koreanae-Piceetum jezoensis Song 1991 belonging the Vaecinio-Pieeetea Br.-BI. 1939. Up to date many investigator have described the coniferous forest distibuted above 1200 m in Chiri mountauns as the forest vegetation of subalpine zone. However, from the results of the present study, the boundary of the mixed forest and the true subalpine coniferous forest was elucidated to be ca. 1700 m phytosociologically. Species richness was highest in the community E, and the other four communities showed a similar species richness. Among the species diversity indices, H' and D were high in the communities Band E, low in the communities A and C, and medium in the community D. The values of J' decreased with the increase in altitudes and the community E showed the lowest value. The result of Bray-Curtis ordination revealed that the diversity analysis and the division of the above two forest zones are justifiable. The taxa of the bryophyte communities were composed of 25 families, 46 genera, 73 species, 1 subspecies and 2 varieties.

• Journal of Plant Biology
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.341-347
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• 1991

The character and differential species of Abies koreana community, a subalpine coniferous forest, on Mt. Hall a and its vegetation unit were reviewed, based on literature published up to date. Song and Nakanish (1985a) originally described Saso-Abietetum koreanae Song et Nakanishi 1985 for the community. At that time, we were fully justified in establishing the nomenclature. Nevertheless, against this nomenclature, Yim and Kim (1990) made a objection, and it was renamed as what is called Saso quelpaertensi-Abietetum koreanae (Song et Nakanishi) corr. Yim et Kim 1990. In their previous study(Yim et al., 1990) being the root of the nomenclature, however, they did not study on the full layers containing the moss layer of bryophyte and lichen for the stratification of the Abies koreana community, in spite of the importance of the species of moss layer for the selection of character and differential species of vegetation units belonging to Vaccinio-Piceetea Br.-Bl. 1939, and also the floristic composition from their study was not compared with that of the vegetation units of the subalpine coniferous forests in Korea Peninsula, Japan, Maritime Province of Siberia and Northeast China. Among the four character species selected by them, it is clear that Maianthemum bifolim and Lonicera maackii are species no having the characteristic value from the phytosociological viewpoint. Besides, Sasa quelpaerthensis described in their nomenclature is a synonym of S. palmata (Suzuki, 1978). Therefore, their nomenclature is invalid and comes under a contravention (Infringement of Priority) to the Code of Phytosociological Nomenclature (Barkman et al., 1986). Saso-Abietetum koreanae was amply justified also by author's recent study (Song, 1991)examined throughout the range of subalpine coniferous forest in Korea. With the discussion of justification of Saso-Abietetum koreanae, a association discussion was brought in the present review.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.91-102
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• 2014

Forest vegetation of Birobong (1,563 m) in Odaesan National Park is classified into mountain forest vegetation and flatland forest vegetation. Mountain forest vegetation is subdivided into deciduous broad-leaved forest, valley forest, coniferous forest, subalpine coniferous forest, subalpine broad-leaved forest, afforestation and etc., while riparian forest was found under the category of flatland forest vegetation. Including 196 communities of mountain forest vegetation, 1 community of flatland forest vegetation and 4 communities of other vegetation, the total of 201 communities were researched; the distributed colonies classified by physiognomy classification are 62 communities deciduous broad-leaved forest, 84 communities of valley forest, 15 communities of coniferous forests, 16 communities of subalpine coniferous forest, 3 communities of subalpine broad-leaved forest, 16 afforestation, 1 community of flatland forest and 4 other communities. As for the distribution rate for surveyed main communities, Quercus mongolica, Quercus variabilis, Tilia amurensis communities account for 37.08 percent of deciduous broad-leaved forest, Juglans mandshurica, Fraxinus mandshurica, Cornus controversa, Populus koreana community takes up 1.59 percent of mountain valley forest, Pinus densiflora community holds 6.65 percent of mountain coniferous forest holds. In conclusion, minority species consisting of Quercus mongolica, Quercus variabilis, Tilia amurensis, Juglans mandshurica, Fraxinus mandshurica, Cornus controversa, Populus koreana, Pinus densiflora are distributed as dominant species of the uppermost part in a forest vegetation of Birobong in Odaesan 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, Tilia amurensis and Juglans mandshurica which are climax species in the area. However, the distribution rate of deciduous broad-leaved forest seems to increase gradually due to global warming and artificial disturbance.