• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.578-586
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• 2019

The purpose of this study was to investigate the change of spatial distribution of Korean red pine (Pinus densiflora Siebold & Zucc.) in Hallasan National Park by surveying the distribution and crown density and analyzing by the elevation, slope, orientation, and regional habitat in 2006 and 2015. The total area of the Korean red pine forest was 1,259.9 ha in 2015, which increased by 51.4 ha, or 4.1%, compared to 1,208.5 ha in 2006. For the past 10 years, the area of sparse density with crown density of 11% to 40% of Korean red pine increased by 59.8 ha, the area of moderate density with crown density of 41% to 70% increased by 59.0 ha, and the area of dense density with 71% or more crown density increased by 67.3 ha. In terms of the altitude above sea level, the Korean red pine forest area between 1,010 m and 1,400 m was the largest at 1,003.0 ha or 79.6% of the total area in 2015. The area between 1,100 m and 1,300 m increased, and the area of dense density decreased significantly while the areas of moderate density and sparse density increase. There was no notable change according to the land slope, and the area increased from 2006 regardless of the slope. By direction, 56.4% were distributed in the southwest and southeast directions centered on the south-facing slope with the increase of 27.8 ha over the 10 years while the northwest and northeast directions centered on the north-facing slope decreased by 7.6 ha. Regarding the distribution change of the Korean red pine forest by the region, the Yeongsil area showed an increase of 25.5 ha, or 49.6% of the total area increase, in 2006 while the Ibseog-oreum area including the right side on the Sanbeoleum mountain valley increased by 20.4 ha. The distribution in the Gaemideung area that includes Jogeundeule increased by 7.4 ha while that of Sogbat in Sungpanak Trail decreased by 1.9 ha. This study analyzed the changes in the distribution area and crown density of the Korean red pine forest according to the altitude, slope, direction, and regional habitat in Hallasan National Park. The expansion of Korean red pine forest distribution was limited to the areas where the grass and the shrub was the dominating vegetation structure, or the forest gap was created by the disturbance. On the other hand, the distribution area of the Korean red pine forest surrounded by deciduous broad-leaved forests or mixed vegetation structure is considered to result from the change in density more than the area due to competition with deciduous broad-leaved trees.