• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.196-204
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• 2016

In this study, vegetation succession and the rate of consequent topsoil development were investigated in shallow landslide scars of sedimentary rock slopes covered by volcanic ashes and pumice in Kagoshima prefecture, Japan. Seven shallow landslide scars of different ages were selected as study areas. In the initial period after the occurrence of a shallow landslide, deciduous broad-leaved trees such as Mallotus japonicus or Callicarpa mollis were occupied in the areas. Approximately 30 years after the landslide, evergreen broad-leaved trees such as Cinnamomum japonicum invaded in the areas, already existed present deciduous broad-leaved trees. After 50 years, the summit of the canopy comprised evergreen broad-leaved trees such as Castanopsis cuspidata var. sieboldii and Machilus thunbergii. Moreover, the diversity of vegetation invading the site reached the maximum after 15 years, followed by a decrease and stability in the number of trees. The total basal areas under vegetation increased with time. It was concluded that the vegetation community reaches the climax stage approximately 50 years after the occurrence of a shallow landslide in the study areas, in terms of the Fisher-Williams index of diversity (${\alpha}$) and the prevalence of evergreen broad-leaved trees. Moreover, according to the results of topsoil measurement in the study areas, the topsoil was formed at the rate of 0.31 cm/year. The development of topsoil usually functions to improve the multi-faceted functions of a forest. However, when the increased depth of topsoil exceeds the stability threshold, the conditions for a shallow landslide occurrence are satisfied. Therefore, we indicated to control the depth of topsoil and strengthen its resistance by forest management in order to restrain the occurrence of shallow landslides.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.209-214
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• 2003

In order to clarify the successional trend and its characteristics of plant community in abandoned field in Cheju Island, we investigated the seral changes of vegetation height, coverage, growth form, species richness, diversity and dominance index along with the time lapse, and then compared with those of mainland researches. And in order to seek the overall trend of vegetation changes, we used cluster, TWINSPAN and PCA ordination techniques. The succession was characterized by the lower species number, lower vegetation height, longer period of herb dominant and later invasion of tree species. These results may come from that ecological traits of Cheju Island itself, and ecosystem fragmented influences that block a seed (propagule) transport. Sere of the dominant species was shown as follows: Mazus japonicus(0.5∼1 years)→Conyza sumatrensis (2 years)→Artemisia princeps var. orientalis(4 years)→Artemisia princeps var. orientalis, indigofera pseudotinctoria(5 years)→Rosa multiflora, Miscanthus sinensis, etc.(8 years)→Miscanthus sinensis(12 years)→Boehmeria nivea, Pueraria thunbergiana etc.(15 years)→Mallotus japonicus(20 years)→Litsea japonica, Machilus thunbergii (20 years<). Abandoned fields were classified into three groups according to time lapse; earlier stage(0∼1 years), middle stage(2∼8 years) and later stage(8∼20 years).

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.237-249
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• 2011

Land-use changes due to the socio-economic environment influence landscape patterns and processes, which affect habitats and biodiversity. This study considers the effects of such land-use changes, particularly on the traditional rural "Maeul" forested landscape, by analyzing landscape structure and vegetation changes. Three study areas were examined that have seen their populations decrease and age over the last few decades. Five types of plant life-forms (Raunkier life-forms) were distinguished to investigate ecosystem function. Principle component analysis was used to understand vegetation dynamics and community characteristics based on a vegetation similarity index. Ordination analysis transformed species-coverage data was introduced to clarify vegetation dynamics. Landscape indices, such as area metrics, edge metrics, and shape metrics, showed that spatial heterogeneity has increased over time in all areas. Pinus densiflora was the main land-use plant type in all study areas but decreased over time, whereas Quercus spp. increased. Over a decade, P. densiflora communities shifted to deciduous oak and plantation. These findings indicate that the impact of human activities on the Maeul landscape is twofold. While forestry activities caused heavy disturbances, the abandonment of traditional human activities has led to natural succession. Furthermore, it can be concluded that the type and intensity of these human impacts on landscape heterogeneity relate differently to vegetation succession. This reflects the cause and consequence of patch dynamics. We discuss an approach for sustainable landscape planning and management of the Maeul landscape based on traditional management.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.450-461
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• 1998

To investigate the plant community structure of Paekdam-Valley in Soraksan National Park, fifty-two plots have been set up and surveyed. By DCA ordination technique, the plant communities were classified into fkve community types, which were Pinus densiflora community and Q. mongolica community. It was supposed that Q. serrata community change to C. laxiflora community. It seemed that P. densiflora community, deciduous broad-leaved mixed forest and Q. serrata community would not be replace by another woody species. And it seemed that C. laxiflora community succeeded to Q. serrata community, so it was similar to the typical ecological succession of natural forest in the middle temperate regions. The range of Shannon's diversity index was 0.9827~1.2946(Unit area : 400m$^2$) and that was over another Korean National Parks area relatively.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.770-779
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• 2012

In order to verify the characteristics of vegetation structure in Jeolgu valley, Nakdongjeongmaek, we set up 29 plots(each plot area is $10m{\times}10m(100m^2)$. The survey site is located in around the valley and its range is about 3km section. The forest vegetation communities were analysed by TWINSPAN classification. The results of communities were classified 5 types such as Pinus densiflora community, deciduous broad-leaved tree community, Quercus variabilis community, Quercus mongolica community, Larix leptolepis community. The deciduous broad-leaved tree which prefer to moist environment and Quercus spp. has dominant in around the valley and the northern slope. In addition, Larix leptolepis community expect to maintain the present status for a while. However, the under story of Larix leptolepis community have expanded the influence of deciduous broad-leaved tree such as Fraxinus mandshurica, Morus bombycis, Acer mono and so on. Therefore, there will be developed next ecological succession by species of deciduous broad-leaved tree. The diversity index showed form 0.9665 to 1.2450. It were analyzed that diversity index of Jeolgu valley was higher than other places in Nakdongjeongmaek.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.109-117
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• 1985

This report is a part of the investigations of the secondary vegetation successions carried out and the analysis of soil properties in the burned areas of forest. The fires-crown fire and surface fire-were occurred at April, 1978 and February, 1984. The investigations were carrited out from August 10. 1983 to September 25, 1984. The burned areas studied are located in southern slope of Mt. Ssalibagu (above sea-level, 590m), So-myon, Sungju-gun, Chollanam-do, Korea. The results are as follows: The floristic compositions of the burned area at the 5th year after the fires were 85 families, 250 genera, 321 species and 53 varieties. Among them, 85 families, 127 genera, 129 species and 30 varieties were found in the currently burned area. In all the sampling sites (10*10cm), 31 and 57 species were found in the currently burned and in the 5th years after the fires, respectively. Miscanthus sinensis var. purpurascens, Quercus serrata and Festuca ovina were dominant species in the both areas. Biological spectra in both the burned areas showed $H-D_1-R_5-e$ type. Degree of the succession(DS) was 412-884 in the 5th years passed burned area and it was high level. Species diversity index(H) was 0.59~1.13 and evennes index(e) was 0.43~0.79, these indexes between both areas were different considerably. Indexes of similarity between both areas were different, too, but that between $B_1$ and $B_6$ was the highest (CCj=0.5). Probably this phenomenon is due to the great numbers of the pine trees appeared simulataneously. Content of the organic matter, N, P, K and Ca of soil in the burned area at the 5th years after the fires was lower than that of soil in the currently burned area.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.242-252
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• 1998

The inhabitation environments and growth conditions of Machilus thunbergii community in the Pyonsanbando located at southwestern area in Korea were examined and analyzed to provide some practical data to be used to establish measures for long term succession monitoring, protection and sustainable management. The Machilus thunbergii community are located at Kyokpo-ri, Pyonsan-myon, Puan-gun(35$^{\circ}$35′24"N~35$^{\circ}$ 42′30"N, 126$^{\circ}$28′18"E~126$^{\circ}$40′40"E). Within the Pyonsanbando area the mean temperature is 12.4$^{\circ}C$, the warmth index 101.5$^{\circ}C$.month, the coldness index -12.3$^{\circ}C$ month and the annual precipitation 1,016mm. The soil within the community is silt loam or clay loam and so fertile. 30 species and 1 varieties of 21 families inhabited at the community. There were 18 grown trees and 131 saplings of Machilus thunbergii within the community. The mean basal diameter, mean height, and crown width of grown trees was measured to be 57.4cm, 7.4m and 9.0~9.8m respectively. And 9 trees were full flowering, 2 trees small flowering here and there, and 7 trees non flowering in 1998. The mean branch growth length was 8.3cm, mean leaf area 18.3$\textrm{cm}^2$, mean inflorecence length 9.3cm, mean fertilization 14.5％ and mean seed diameter 7.6mm. Further rich management measure and investigation were recommended such as sapling protection, signboard construction, soil erosion controlling and regular monitoring within the community.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.199-204
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• 2012

This study was conducted to estimate climax index by eco-morphology for major 36 tree and sub-tree species in natural deciduous forests so as to interpret seral position of each species in the forest community. Fourteen eco-morphological characters which were considered to be associated with successional gradient in the forest were selected for the study. Four levels per character for each species were given on a standardized scale of increasing climax, and the index was computed by the proportion of the sum of total scores, expressed by percent values. With calculated mean value of 54.8 for all indices, Carpinus cordata had the highest index value of 90.5, and Populus davidiana recorded the lowest of 13.2. The most climax group, greater than 70 of the index, contained only 8 species, intermediate group, between 41 to 70 of the index, had 23 species, and the most pioneer group, less than 40 of the index comprised 5 species. The result has noticed that the large number of species would take advantage of most diverse resource and niche in the intermediate stage of the sere in the forest. By cluster analysis all 36 species were subjected to be classified into several species groups which had common similar eco-morphological characteristics. The indices were additionally plotted on the two dimensional graph to recognize the positions related to the light absorption factor and reproduction factor. The climax index of tree and sub-tree species developed by this study could be applied to understand the present status of successional stage on the basis of species composition by the method of summing up the indices. And comparison of forest successional stage among various forest communities could be done by summing up the climax indices of composed species in each community. However, this kind of applied methodology should be limited to the forest of similar species composition and site condition.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.369-380
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• 2013

This study was carried out to provide basic data for conservation management of Pinus densiflora forest and to predict ecological succession tendency by analyzing plant community structure and change of Pinus densiflora community structure for twenty two years in Yongmun-sa (Temple) Valley, Yangpyeong-gun. According to the analysis of actual vegetation, Pinus densiflora community accounted for 51.3% of the total vegetation in the area. Nineteen plots were classified into four community types. The Shannon's species diversity index (H') showed from 0.5110 to 1.3101. There were distributed Pinus densiflora in age from 48 to 89, Quercus serrata in age from 31 to 63, Carpinus laxiflora in age from 26 to 61. According to the analysis of the change for twenty-two years, Pinus densiflora community was maintained or decreased and competitive species (Quercus serrata, Carpinus laxiflora, Carpinus cordata) were increased. The ecological succession tendency was predicted Pinus densiflora community develop into Quercus serrata, lastly into Carpinus laxiflora and Carpinus cordata.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.733-744
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• 2013

This study was launched in order to collect basic data such as emergent species, a succession trend based on the actual vegetation at the ridge from Haneoryoung to Daetjae, thereby designating 46 quadrats($10m{\times}10m:100m^2$). As a result of classification by TWINSPAN, the plant community was categorized into eight different communities, such as Pinus densiflora-Quercus mongolica-Fraxinus rhynchophylla, P. densiflora-Q. mongolica, Ulmus davidiana var. japonica, Q. mongolica-Deciduous Broad-leaved, Q. mongolica, Q. mongolica-Betula davurica, Q. mongolica-F. sieboldiana, and Larix kaempferi. An analyzation of each communities indicated that P. densiflora dominant community will change into a Q. mongolica dominant community if there are no outside artificial disturbances. U. davidiana var. japonica community maintains its present condition, because it doesn't appear to be a competitive species. In the case of Q. mongolica dominant community, if nothing comes in a competitive species against Q. monglica, it is possible to succeed to a muture stand. These communities with competitive species such as F. rhynchophylla, B. davurica that do not emerge at a canopy layer will gradually progress to the Deciduous Broad-leaved community. With regard to the species diversity index per unit ($400m^2$), succession processing communities (P. densiflora: 1.0477~1.1283) tend to be higher than succession-processed communities (Q. mongolica dominant: 0.6446~0.9424).