• Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.109-119
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• 2016

This study was conducted to analyze the effect of yearly changes in growing degree days (GDD) on the potential distribution and growth of Quercus mongolica in Korea. Annual tree-ring growth data of Quercus mongolica collected by the $5^{th}$ National Forest Inventory were first organized to identify the range of current distribution for the species. Yearly GDD was calculated based on daily mean temperature data from 1951 to 2010 for counties with current distribution of Q. monglica. When tree-ring growth data were analyzed through cluster analysis based on similarity of climatic conditions, seven clusters were identified. Yearly GDD based on daily mean temperature data of each county were calculated for each of the cluster to predict the change of potential distribution. Temperature effect indices were estimated to predict the effect of GDD on the growth patterns. In addition, RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5 of climate change scenarios were adopted to estimate yearly GDD and temperature effect indices from 2011 to 2100. The results indicate that the areas with low latitude and elevation exceed the upper threshold of GDD for the species due to the increase of mean temperature with climate change. It was also predicted that the steep increase of temperature will have negative influences on tree-ring growth, and will move the potential distribution of the species to areas with higher latitude or higher elevation, especially after the year of 2050. The results of this study are expected to provide valuable information necessary for estimating local growth characteristics and for predicting changes in the potential distribution of Q. mongolica caused by climate change.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.55-67
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• 2021

Hornbeams (Carpinus spp.), which are widely distributed in South Korea, are recognized as one of the most abundant species at climax stage in the temperate forests. Although the distribution and vegetation structure of the C. laxiflora community have been reported, little ecological information of C. tschonoskii is available. Little effort was made to examine the distribution shift of these species under the future climate conditions. This study was conducted to predict potential shifts in the distribution of C. laxiflora and C. tschonoskii in 2050s and 2090s under the two sets of climate change scenarios, RCP4.5 and RCP8.5. The MaxEnt model was used to predict the spatial distribution of two species using the occurrence data derived from the 6th National Forest Inventory data as well as climate and topography data. It was found that the main factors for the distribution of C. laxiflora were elevation, temperature seasonality, and mean annual precipitation. The distribution of C. tschonoskii, was influenced by temperature seasonality, mean annual precipitation, and mean diurnal rang. It was projected that the total habitat area of the C. laxiflora could increase by 1.05% and 1.11% under RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5 scenarios, respectively. It was also predicted that the distributional area of C. tschonoskii could expand under the future climate conditions. These results highlighted that the climate change would have considerable impact on the spatial distribution of C. laxiflora and C. tschonoskii. These also suggested that ecological information derived from climate change impact assessment study can be used to develop proper forest management practices in response to climate change.