• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.123-131
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• 2012

This study analyzed on the characteristics of community structure, species composition, population conditions and annual mean radial growth of Taxus cuspidata in the subalpine zone of the Seoraksan, Deokyusan, and Hallasan National Parks. Deokyusan and Hallasan sites had three layers of stratification structure without tree layer in it and four layer in Seoraksan site. The major dominant species in the order of importance value were as follows: T. cuspidata, Acer tschonoskii var. rubripes, Quercus mongolica, Abies koreana and Sorbus commixta. The trees (> 5 cm DBH) of T. cuspidata were extremely high with 986.0 individuals/ha at the Hallasan site. Average DBH class were 42.0 cm at the Hallasan site and mainly showed large class. The populations of seedlings and saplings with 357.3 individuals/ha, and juvenile with 128.6 individuals/ha, as a succession tree, were found to be the highest at the Hallasan site. In the size frequency distribution, the populations of T. cuspidata in Mt. Halla site showed a reverse J-shaped curve and it was estimated that T. cuspidata community of this site might be maintained continuously as a stable state like present state. Annual mean radial growth of T. cuspidata populations at Seoraksan, Deokyusan, and Hallasan sites showed up as 1.27 mm/year, 0.93 mm/year and 0.89 mm/year respectively.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.58-65
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• 1999

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of rehabilitation measures on the fired woodland of Chesuk-bong in Mt. Chiri through the vegetation structure and comparison of growth pattern between natural seedlings and transplanted Abies koreana seedlings. It was also discussed the rate of standing and fallen trees of dead conifers in the management strategy for vegetation regeneration and protection of sub-alpine area. In this fired woodland, shrub layers consisting of Weigela subsessilis, Sambucus williamsii var. coreana, Rhododendron schlippenbachii, R. mucronulatum, Tripterygium regelii, and etc. were gradually expanded, and tree species such as Betula ermani, Sorbus commixta, Acer pseudosieboldianum, and Malus baccata var. mandshurica were also regenerated. The growth of height and crown width of Abies koreana seedlings transplanted for vegetation regeneration were a little lower than those of natural seedlings. The seedlings of A. koreana transplanted in this fired woodland grew about 50.6% normally, but the others had multi-branched or growth stopped by death of terminal shoot. Because the number of dead conifers by fire tend to be gradually increased as time passed, it can occurs to the soil erosion and landslide by weakness of the cohesion and resistance of soil. Therefore, it is consider that rehabilitation measures projects of the fired woodland in subalpine area may be more prevention a natural disaster like soil erosion, flood and landslide.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.196-206
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• 2020

Background: The Himalayan forests are of great importance to sustain the nature and community resource demands. These forests are facing pressures both from anthropogenic activities and ongoing global climatic changes. Poor natural regeneration has been considered a major problem in mountainous forests. To understand the population structure and regeneration status of Larix (Larix griffithiana and Larix himalaica), we conducted systematic vegetation surveys in three high-altitude valleys namely Ghunsa (Kanchenjunga Conservation Area, KCA), Langtang (Langtang National Park, LNP), and Tsum (Manaslu Conservation Area, MCA) in Nepal Himalaya. The average values of diameter at breast height (DBH), height, and sapling height were compared for three sites and two species using Kruskal-Wallis test. Population structure was assessed in terms of proportion of seedlings, saplings, and trees. Regeneration was analyzed using graphical representation of frequencies of seedlings, saplings, and trees in histograms. Results: The results showed that the population structure of Larix in terms of the proportion of seedling, sapling, and tree varied greatly in the three study areas. KCA had the highest record of seedling, sapling, and tree compared to other two sites. Seedlings were the least among three forms and many plots were without seedlings. We found no seedling in MCA study plots. The plot level average DBH variation among sites was significant (Kruskal-Wallis χ² = 7.813, df = 2, p = 0.02) as was between species (Kruskal-Wallis χ² = 5.9829, df = 1, p = 0.014). Similarly, the variation in average tree height was significant (Kruskal-Wallis χ² = 134.23, df = 2, p < 0.001) among sites as well as between species (Kruskal-Wallis χ² = 128.01, df = 1, p < 0.001). All the sites showed reverse J-shaped curve but more pronounced for KCA and MCA. In comparing the two species, Larix griffithiana has clear reverse J-shaped diameter distribution but not Larix himalaica. Conclusion: The varied responses of Larix manifested through regeneration status from spatially distinct areas show that regeneration limitations might be more pronounced in the future. In all the three studied valleys, regeneration of Larix is found to be problematic and specifically for Larix griffithiana in MCA and Larix himalaica in LNP. To address the issues of disturbances, especially serious in LNP, management interventions are recommended to sustain the unique Himalayan endemic conifer.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.132-144
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• 2011

We studied the forest environment and characteristics of bird community between April and September of 2010 on the Hyangjeokbong area(A), Baekryunsa area(B) and Anseong area(C), all in the Deogyusan National Park. Hyangjeokbong area of the high latitude ridge was characterized by the Taxus cuspidata and Abies koreana etc., and deciduous broadleaf forest species, such as the Quercus mongolica, with abundance of subalpine zone coniferous trees, the Hemerocallis fulva and the Rhododendron schlippenbachii, while the areas Baekryunsa and Anseong were primarily characterized by deciduous broadleaf forests, with the valleys showing Fraxinus mandshurica colonies. In terms of the DBH(diameter at breast height) of trees, between 11 and 20cm showed the highest frequencies, while over 30cm was the highest in Baekryunsa area and the lowest in Hyangjeokbong area. Furthermore, in terms of coverage in relation to layers, in Hyangjeokbong area, the coverage volume of the lower layer was very high, in Baekryunsa area, the coverage volume of the middle layer between 8 and 12m was the highest, and in Anseong area, the coverage volume of the upper layer over 18m was the highest. A total of 53 bird species were observed during the study period at the Deogyusan National Park. The numbers of species and density of areas were 25 species and 45.20 Ind./km for Hyangjeokbong area, 50 species and 58.63 Ind./km for Baekryunsa area and 35 species and 66.89 Ind./km for Anseong area, with Baekryunsa area showing the highest number of species and Anseong area showing the highest level of density. In terms of dominant species, in Hyangjeokbong area, Cettia diphone, along with species which inhabit in grassland and shrubs, were the dominant species, and species which live in the canopy layer, including the Aegithalos caudatus, were found to be dominant in Baekryunsa and Anseong areas. For guild structure, bush nesting guild and bush foraging guild species were the highest in all areas, and the hole nesting guild and the air foraging guild species showed the lowest proportion. This seems to be the result of the low number of trees with diameter at breast height of over 30cm, which results in the lack of nesting grounds for hole nesting guild species.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.388-408
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• 2022

This study was conducted to select the indicator species (plant) according to the topographical characteristics in the Picea jezoensis forests, endangered subalpine coniferous trees. In South Korea and China (close to Baekdusan), the southern tree line limit of Picea jezoensis has meaningful geographical and latitudinal values for analyzing the ecological characteristics of P. jezoensis forests. Latitude greatly affects the geographical values of plant ecology, and the difference in latitude and habitat affects the change in species composition in forests. With prolonged environmental change, the habitat of subalpine plants will become smaller, and the plants may become extinct. As the P. jezoensis forests of South Korea and China, in particular, are in danger of disappearing without protection, it is important to monitor the population and develop a conservation strategy. Eighty-seven circular plots were established in P. jezoensis forests in South Korea and China. Through processes such as MRPP-test and NMS ordination, indicator species were selected based on this, and basic data for biodiversity assessment were presented. As a result of the Indicator Species Analysis (ISA), 5 taxa were selected from the upperstory vegetation and 18 taxa from the understory vegetation at the altitude(p<0.05). Indicator species by aspect were analyzed as 3 taxa for upperstory vegetation and 16 taxa for understory vegetation (p<0.05). In the case of indicator species according to the slope, 6 taxa for upper vegetation and 24 taxa for understory vegetation were selected(p<0.05). As for the indicator species according to their habitat, 8 taxa in upper vegetation and 65 taxa on understory vegetation were selected. As a result of MRPP-test, it was analyzed that the species composition was heterogeneous in the group of understory vegetation than that of upperstory vegetation. As a result of NMS ordination, the correlation with environmental factors of indicator species was analyzed by rock exposure for upperstory vegetation and latitude for understory vegetation (cut off level=0.3).

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.281-288
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• 2001

The relationships between the growths of Abies koreana W. and climatic factors were analyzed by the use of tree-ring analysis at the subalpine belt of Mt. Halla National Park. The four cores were extracted from each 21 trees at north-facing slope (1,900m a.s.1.). The site chronology was established on the periods from 1912 to 1999. The growth of A. koreana was very poor, in particular in the years of 1982, 1988 and 1996. Simple correlation was employed to analyze the relationship between the growth of A. koreana and climatic factors. The result of simple correlation indicates that the growth of A. koreana represent positive correlations both with the mean temperatures of April and previous November, and the precipitation of previous December and January. The presence of large number of frost-damaged scars in the individual trees of A. koreana implies that local freezing temperature conditions at Mt. Halla have occurred in 1964, 1965 and 1966. The correlations between the fir chronology SOI(Southern Oscillation Index) of previous January, February and November were significantly positive. The growth ratio of A. koreana demonstrates that this species is sensitive to seasonal variations. As the winter temperature rises, the growth ratio of A. koreana decreases, on the other hand, the increase of autumn temperature accelerates the growth ratio of A. koreana. The growth decline of A. koreana was observed from 51 cores out of the 54 cores, and the overall growth declines have initiated at 1978, 1982 and 1988. Distinct growth decline of A. koreana in the range of 70% is noticed at 34 cores out of the 51 cores. The decline of, A. koreana growth appears to be related to the winter temperature which has increased since mid-1970s.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.85 no.1
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• pp.34-43
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• 1996

We investigated the vegetation structure, and effects of canopy degree(gap or purlieu to 25%, 50%, 75%, over 75%) of the overstory on seedling regeneration and survivorship, and sapling density, growth and growth type of Abies koreana in subalpine of Mt. Chiri. The stem density in Abies koreana stand was higher in middle story than upper story, individual trees in upper story occupied larger area and were more apart, resulted in uniform distribution. The regeneration and survivorship of seedlings and saplings were best in 25% of crown closure, in order of 50%, gap, but lowest in over 75% of crown closure. The annual growth rate and recent 5 years growth rate of saplings were highest in gap or purlieu and getting lower toward gradually higher coverage of overstory. And 10- to 20-Year-old saplings were mainly regenerated in stands with lower density(I or II), but most of 20 to 30 years old saplings were growing in stands with higher density (III or IV). The number of "A" type saplings grown normally in gap or purlieu was gradually decreased in stand with higher density but the number of "D" or "E" types of which growth was supressed or prohibited by the high density was abruptly increased. Saplings normally growing in the gap and purlieu showed the panicle type, but those grown under dense crown were greatly suppressed and showed the umbellate type.