• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.110 no.2
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• pp.233-243
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• 2021

Considering worldwide efforts to mitigate repercussions of climate change, the South Korean government has declared to reach net zero by 2050 to achieve a carbon-neutral sustainable society. For full implementation of NDCs, the government has actively reflected its forestry sector into these strategies. Since coarse woody debris (CWD) in forests represents an enduring carbon storage, it is of particular significance to determine characteristics of changes in carbon stocks of CWD by utilizing data on dead trees monitored in permanent sample plots within national forest inventories (NFIs). In this study, therefore, both occurrence and carbon stocks of CWD were estimated in such plots using data on CWD from the 5^th, 6^th, and 7^th NFIs. Subsequently, characteristics of changes in carbon stocks over time were analyzed. Based on the analysis of 2,021 plots available for monitoring in each NFI of Gangwon Province, the volume of CWD (m³ ha^-1) was found to be 4.71 in the 5^th NFI and 4.09 in the 6^th NFI. However, the volume of CWD declined to 3.09 in the 7^th NFI. Moreover, the annual carbon stocks of CWD (ton C ha^-1) were estimated to be 0.67 in 2009, 0.64 in 2014, and 0.41 in 2019, showing a downward trend over time. This study provides a basis for future research to investigate long-term changes and estimate carbon stocks of CWD in South Korea forests.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.95 no.3
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• pp.365-369
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• 2006

This study was conducted to clarity the differences in density and body weight of rodents among unburned and two burned areas (silvicultured and natural restored areas) after forest fire from July to September 2004 in coniferous forest of Samcheok, Korea. The density of rodents was the least in the silvicultured area. There was no differences in density between the unburned and natural restored areas. Also, mean body weight of rodents in the natural restored area was higher than in the silvicultured area. Shrubs, seedlings, snags and CWD (coarse woody debris) would be good for inhabitation of the rodents in forest fired area. Therefore, coverage of understory layer should be maintained in forest fired area.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.362-369
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• 2014

This study investigated physical properties and combustion gas characteristics for 8 types of wood pellets (4 domestic and 4 imported products) distributed in the domestic market. Results showed that most pellet types were first-grade pellets in the wood pellet quality standards in Korea with the exception of 3 pellet types from K company (second-grade in mechanical durability), G company (off-grade in nitrogen content) and P company (second-grade in ash percentage). Mixed pellets which contained more lignin and sap content were higher in mechanical durability (%) than that of white pellets. From the combustion gas analysis results, NOx emitted from all pellets combustion was at acceptable levels for national emission standard of the Clean Air Conservation Act except for pellets from G company. In addition, CO levels from all types of wood pellets were acceptable except for pellets from D company and domestic pellets were higher CO levels than imported pellets. These results indicate the higher CO levels in domestic pellets due to the usage of forest thinning materials including logging debris which usually had the high content of bark.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.99 no.4
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• pp.553-558
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• 2010

This study was conducted to clarify the differences in rodents population densities between natural restored and red pine silvicultured forests after forest fire in Samcheok, Gangwon Province, Korea from March to December 2008. One ha size of 3 study plots were set up in each natural restored and silvicultured stand. We trapped the small rodents during 4 consecutive nights every 2 months in each stand. Understory coverage and number of shrub stems were higher in silvicultured stand than in natural restored stand. Coverage of overstory, suboverstory and midstory, number of tree stem, woody seedling stems and dead wood, and amount of coarse woody debris were higher in natural restored stand than in silvicultured stand. Six hundred eighty eight individuals of four species, such as Apodemus agrarius, A. peninsulae, Eothenomys regulus and Tamias sibiricus were captured in our study. Number of captured small rodents were higher in natural restored stand than in silvicultured stand. Also, species compositions were differed in both stands. The captured number of A. agrarius and A. peninsulae were most highest in April and December. E. regulus were shown higher number of captured in April and June, and T. sibiricus were in June and October. Removal of coarse woody debris and silvicultural practice would not be good for the inhabitation of small rodents. For the conservation of small rodents diversity, management of understory and canopy would be needed in forest fired area.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.251-256
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• 2003

Baseline data on the type, species and volume for dead trees were collected from old growth fir (Abies holophylla) forest in Sorak National Park. Though the survey was restricted to fly forest, a basic data compatible to those in other countries were collected. Besides fir, dead trees were also found in deciduous species. All the Known dead tree types were found. Average volume of dead tree in the surveyed area was 00.42 $\textrm{m}^2 \; ha^{-1}$. There seems no correlation existing between the distributions of dead tree and coarse woody debris (CWD).

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.337-341
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• 2003

Habitat heterogeneity can enhance biological diversity by providing variation in structural diversity. This paper reviewed heterogeneous habitat serves as a population stability and superior demographic performance (e.g., high density, survivorship, reproductive rate) can be observed compared with organisms with inferior demographic performance. The idea of habitat variation has been further developed in modelling. Furthermore the size and configuration (distribution) of a patch (of a particular habitat type) become effective for the stability of population through hiding places and food resources. Species diversity is related to habitat complexity that provides structural diversity to ground -dwelling organisms. Finally coarse woody debris can enhance habitat complexity thus stabilizing population fluctuation and increasing survivorship.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.373-382
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• 1998

This paper describes the ecological structure and function of riparian zone, and their historical changes with land-use. The riparian zone consists of valley floor landform and riparian vegetation. The functions discussed are attenuation of sunlight energy, input of leaves and needles, contribution of woody debris to streams, and retention of flowing material out of transport. These primary functions directly or indirectly influence water and sediment qualities of streams, bars and floodplains, and thereby aquatic biota. Temporal changes in a hydrological system and riparian ecosystem were examined with reference to land-use conversin in order to understand the linkages between these two systems in Toikanbetsu River. The influences of channelization and land-use on discharge of suspended sediment and wetland vegetation was also investigated in Kushiro Marsh. These two examples suggested that the ecological functions of riparian zone have been degraded as flood control and reclamation works have expanded in the past twenty years The author proposes river restoration planning by preserving or creating landscape elements based on the concepts of sustaining physical and ecological linkages.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.100 no.1
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• pp.34-41
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• 2011

Vegetation structure, composition and diversity were quantified for 10 samples ($10m{\times}10m$) representing woody vegetation and for 30 samples ($1m {\times}3m$) representing understory vegetation in Pinus parviflora and Tsuga sieboldii forest of Taeharyeong, Ulleung-gun (Gyeongsangbuk-do). P. parviflora was limitedly advanced to sapling layer from seedling stage, and based on Mantel tests, composition of canopy layer was not established in ground woody vegetation. Non-metric multidimensional scaling revealed influence of biotic and abiotic factors in species composition of woody and understory vegetation. In the result of multiple regression model, abundance of P. parviflora (density and breast height area) and percent cover of woody debris were significant predict variables for understory diversity. These results suggest that relatively large disturbance is required for regeneration of P. parviflora and T. sieboldii forest, and control of expansion of monocultural understory species that monopolize resources such as Carex blepharicarpa and Maianthemum dilatatum, is necessary for maintenance of diversity.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.108 no.1
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• pp.40-49
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• 2019

Coarse woody debris (CWD), which is a component of the forest ecosystem, plays a major role in forest energy flow and nutrient cycling. In particular, CWD isolates carbon for a long time and is important in terms of slowing the rate of carbon released from the forest to the atmosphere. Therefore, this study measured the physiochemical characteristics and respiration rate ($R_{CWD}$) of CWD for Larix kaempferi and Pinus rigida in temperate forests in central Korea. In summer 2018, CWD samples from decay class (DC) I to IV were collected in the 14 forest stands. $R_{CWD}$ and physiochemical characteristics were measured using a closed chamber with a portable carbon dioxide sensor in the laboratory. In both species, as CWD decomposition progressed, the density ($D_{CWD}$) of the CWD decreased while the water content ($WC_{CWD}$) increased. Furthermore, the carbon concentrations did not significantly differ by DC, whereas the nitrogen concentration significantly increased and the C/N ratio decreased. The respiration rate of L. kaempferi CWD increased significantly up to DC IV, but for P. rigida it increased to DC II and then unchanged for DC II-IV. Accordingly, except for carbon concentration, all the measured characteristics showed a significant correlation with $R_{CWD}$. Multiple linear regression showed that $WC_{CWD}$ was the most influential factor on $R_{CWD}$. $WC_{CWD}$ affects $R_{CWD}$ by increasing microbial activity and is closely related to complex environmental factors such as temperature and light conditions. Therefore, it is necessary to study their correlation and estimate the time-series pattern of CWD moisture.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.237-247
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• 2009

This study was conducted to determine the carbon (C) contents in different mixed stands of P. dens if/ora and deciduous oak species in Gwangneung, central Korea. Five mixed stands with different ratios of P. densiflora and deciduous oak species were chosen based on the basal area of all trees ${\geq}\;5cm$ DBH: pure P. densiflora (P100D0), 70% P. densiflora + 30% deciduous oak species (P70D30), 44% P. densiflora + 56% deciduous oak species (P50D50), 37% P. densiflora + 63% deciduous oak species (P40D60), and 10% P. densiflora + 90% deciduous oak species (P10D90). Total C contents in the overstory (aboveground and belowground) vegetation were higher in the mixed stands (P70D30, P50D50, P40D60) than in the pure stands (P100D0, P10D90). Moreover, except for P40D60, C contents of forest floor (litter and coarse woody debris) were larger in the mixed stands (P70D30, P50D50) than in the pure stands. However, total soil C contents up to 30cm depth were highest in the pure deciduous oak stand than in the pure P. densiflora stand and mixed stands. Total ecosystem C contents (Mg/ha) were 163.3 for P100D0, 152.3 for P70D30, 188.8 for P50D50, 160.2 for P40D60, and 150.4 for P10D90, respectively. These differences in total ecosystem C contents among the different mixed stands for P. densiflora and deciduous oak species within the study stands were attributed by the differences in vegetation development and forest management practices. Among the five study stands, the total ecosystem C contents were maximized in the 1:1 mixed ratio of P. densiflora and deciduous oak species (P50D50).