• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.108 no.1
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• pp.10-20
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• 2019

The purpose of this study is to identify the long-term area changes in the subalpine coniferous forests in Korea in order to understand the changes in the subalpine forest ecosystems vulnerable to climate change. We analyzed 20 years of time-series Landsat satellite images (mid 1990s, mid 2010s) for change detection of coniferous forests and compared with the long term changes of climate information to identify their relationship in the study area. As a result, the area of coniferous forests in the study region decreased by 25% over 20 years. The regions with largest changes are Seoraksan, Baegunsan-Hambaeksan-Jangsan, Jirisan, and Hallasan. The region with the largest decrease in area was Baegunsan (reduced area: 542 ha), and the region with large decrease in area and the largest rate of decrease was Hallasan (rate of decrease: 33.3%). As the Jeju region has the most rapid temperature rise, it is projected that Hallasan is the most vulnerable forest ecosystem affected by climate change. The result of this study shows that from a long-term perspective the overall coniferous forests in the subalpine region are declining, but the trend varies in each region. This national and long-term information on the change of coniferous forests in the subalpine region can be utilized as baseline data for the detailed survey of endangered subalpine coniferous trees in the future.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.142-149
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• 2004

To investigate the vegetation structure of subalpine region from Hyangjeukbong to 2nd Deogyusan, 20 plots(100$m^2$) set up with random sampling method were surveyed. Three groups Quercus mongolica community, Betula ermanii - Picea jezoensis - Taxus cuspidata community, Taxus cuspidata - Qurecus mongolica - Betula ermanii community were classified by cluster analysis. Quercus mongolica, Taxus cuspidata and Betula ermanii were found as a major woody plant species in the subalpine region from Hyangjeukbong to 2nd Deogyusan. In this area, Korean endemic species, Abies koreana was distributed small amounts. In future, importance percentage of Abies koreana might be decreased, but that of Betula ermanii might be increased. High positive correlations was proved between Betula ermanii and Rhododendron schlippenbachii, Rhododendron mucronulatum var. ciliatum ; Acer tschonoskii var. rubripes and Acer mono; Syringa velutina and Magnolia sieboldii and relatively high negative corrlations was proved between Betular ermani and Acer tschonoskii var. rubripes ; Quercus mongolica and Acer mono; Abies koreana and Tripterygium regelii, Weigela subsessilis. Species diversity(H') of investigated groups were ranged 1.0316∼1.1776 and it was similar to those of the ridge area of the national parks in Baekdudaegan.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.277-285
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• 2019

This study was conducted to understand the growth characteristics of Picea jezoensis that was one of representative subalpine species in Korea, in the light of the effects of wind and micro-topography in its habitats on Mt. Deogyu, Korea. The prevailing wind directions were southwest and west at the study sites. We randomly selected P. jezoensis (height ≥ 1.5 m) on windward, intermediate, and leeward slopes and measured diameter at breast height (DBH), height, crown length by 8 directions in upper, middle and lower sectors of the crown. We examined the micro-topography of P. jezoensis stood on and classified it into 3 types: type 1 was mounded and fully exposed to surrounding environments without neighboring trees; type 2 was somewhat wind-protected by surrounding rocks, but no neighboring vegetation; type 3 was on gentle slope or flat where P. jezoensis grew with neighboring trees or shrubs. The ratios of height to DBH, and estimated crown growth to actual crown growth (hereafter crown growth ratio) were compared among the three types of micro-topography on windward, intermediate and leeward sites. The height growth per DBH and crown growth ratio in the upper and middle crowns were the smallest on the windward site, and the highest on the leeward site (p < 0.01). The crown growth ratio on type 1 on the windward site was only 46% of that on type 3 on the leeward site. Although on the same windward slope, trees on type 1 had more deformed crown shapes than that on Type 3, showing asymmetric crown cross-sectional areas. Wind and micro-topography played critical roles on the crown growth of P. jezoensis.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.111 no.1
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• pp.61-71
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• 2022

Data from an investigation of vulnerable conifer species in the subalpine zone in Korea obtained by the Korea Forest Service in 2017-2018 and monitoring research conducted by the National Institute of Forest Science since 2014 were used to analyze the status of distribution and growing condition of three major conifer species (Abies nephrolepis, Abies koreana, and Picea jezoensis) in the subalpine zone in the Baekdudaegan protected area. The distribution area of the studied species in the Baekdudaegan protected area was ca. 74% (8,035 ha) of the total distribution area in Korea, indicating that Baekdudaegan is a core area for conservation and restoration of subalpine conifer species. From decline index [A. nephrolepis in Mt. Taebaeksan and Mt. Deogyusan increased by 77.3% and 29.6%, respectively; A. koreana in Mt. Jirisan (Chunwangbong Peak) increased by 45.2% in four years; and P. jezoensis in Mt. Jirisan (Chunwangbong Peak) increased by 47.8% in two years] and seedling frequency (lower frequency of newly recruited seedlings than dead seedlings) results, the studied species are expected to face difficulties in sustainability. In contrast, at Mt. Seseoksan and Chunwangbong Peak in Mt. Jirisan, the health of trees and seedling frequency showed a partial tendency to recover and increase. In addition, we identified the relationship between the decline index and seedling frequency. These results will support the implementation of conservation strategies for vulnerable conifer species in the subalpine zone.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.116-125
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• 2017

Alpine plants with a scarcity of pollinators in harsh environments have been believed to undergo selfing for reproductive assurance; however, contradictory evidence is also available. Snowmelt regimes in alpine areas function to change life history characteristics of alpine plants such as flowering time and duration; yet the effects of snowmelt regimes have never been tested in alpine plants in Korea. This study was conducted to investigate the dichogamy, mating systems, and flowering characteristics of Megaleranthis saniculifolia populations [early and late snowmelt plots (ESP and LSP, respectively)] in a subalpine area of Sobaeksan Mountain in Korea. M. saniculifolia exhibited incomplete protogyny in that despite early maturation of pistils, maturation times of pistils and stamens within flowers were partly overlapped. Control and hand-outcrossing treatments produced significantly higher number of follicles and seeds per flower than autonomous and hand-selfing treatments. Based on the aggregate fruit set, the auto-fertility index (AI) and self-compatibility index (SI) were 0.33 and 0.50, respectively. Snowmelt occurred 10 days earlier in ESP than in LSP, thereby ESP and LSP showed distinct differences with regard to flower longevity and season, but showing no difference in peak flowering dates. We concluded that M. saniculifolia is an incomplete protogynous and largely outcrossing plant requiring pollinator service. Temporal variation in snowmelt time and subsequent changes in flowering characteristics under climate change may further threaten the population persistence of M. saniculifolia which has already been designated as endangered species in Korea.

• Journal of the Korean Geographical Society
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• v.47 no.6
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• pp.825-835
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• 2012

The aim of this research is to develope technique and mapping for detecting distribution of vegetation dieback areas in the subalpine zone of Mt. Baekdu. A detection technique developed the rule-based model using MODIS images. Dieback areas could be classified as 4 categories of initial dieback, middle dieback, and end dieback by pruning stages of leaves. Dieback area was $28km^2$ from year 2001 to year 2006, intial dieback was $16km^2$, middle dieback was $10km^2$, and end dieback was $2km^2$ by the each stage. Dieback area was $35km^2$ from year 2006 to year 2011. Total area was $35km^2$ from year 2001 to year 2011, areas of middle dieback and end dieback were increased. The research method for this study may help to support in application with preliminary detection of dieback areas in the mountains by the global warming.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.70-77
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• 1999

덕유산의 향적봉과 남덕유산을 잇는 아고산지대(1.350~1.600m)에 분포하는 한국특산종 구상나무의 생육현황과 구상나무림의 군집구조를 정확히 파악하여 앞으로의 구상나무림 관리의 기초자료를 마련하고자, 구상나무가 분포하는 지역에 27개의 조사구(20m$\times$20m)를 설치하여 식생을 조사하였다. 덕유산 아고산지대 구상나무림의 종구성적 특성은 신갈나무 - 주목 - 구상나무군집이었다. 수종간의 상관관계에서는 주목과 병꽃나무; 호랑버들과 부게꽃나무; 백당나무와 호랑버들; 당단풍과 조릿대 등의 종들 간에는 높은 정의 상관이 인정되었고, 구상나무와 병꽃나무; 신갈나무와 노린재나무 등의 수종들 간에는 높은 부의 상관이 인정되었다. 해발고와 정의 상관이 인정된 것은 주목과 백당나무 등이었고, 부의 상관이 인정된 것은 쇠물푸레이었다. 구상나무의 활력이 저조한 것으로 나타났으며, 18.18%는 고사목이었다. 구상나무 고사목은 흉고직경 10~30cm 의 범위에 드는 것들이 대부분이었다. 생육현황표의 점수 평균은 11.73점이었고, 점수와 토심과는 고도의 부의 상관이 인정되었다.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.55-71
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• 1992

Visitor's impact on environmental deterioration of and around trail was studied in Hallasan National Park, Korea in 1990. Width of tread and width of bareland beside trail were correlative positively to user's density, negatively to height of vegetation and slope, respectively. Depth of tread was correlative highly to width of tread and width of bareland beside trail. Areal deterioration by visitors almost took place on subalpine zone. Total damaged area was kestimated to be 121, 000$m^2$ and the damaged area more severe than impact rating class 4 reached about 72.000$m^2$, respectively. Ten types of deterioration of and around trail were discovered and total volume of erosion to be recovered was estimated to be about 62.000$m^2$.

• Journal of The Geomorphological Association of Korea
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.17-29
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• 2012

In order to improve a trip pattern in Mt. Halla climbing only to a summit, two trip programs with nature interpretation have been developed using the geomorphic characteristics of Mt. Halla which are distinct from those of mountains in the Korean peninsula. It also aims to help conservation of natural environment of Mt. Halla and to enhance the visitor satisfaction in Mt. Halla. The subalpine trip program is carried out on a 1.5 km-long trail between Wissaeoreum Hut and Janggumokoreum. Program participants are able to learn expertise about, and understand vulnerability of, a subalpine ecosystem, Consequently, the program can obtain an educational attainment getting them to recognize the necessity of preserving the subalpine zone of Mt. Halla as an important natural resource. The mountain river trip program is performed on a 1.5 km-long reach of Byeongmun River between Gwaneumsa trailhead and a gorge upstream of Gurin Cave. The program is capable of exhibiting effectively the river characteristics of Jeju Island using the geomorphic and hydrologic properties of Byeongmun River which differ from those of rivers in the Korean peninsula. Since the subalpine grassland and ephemeral stream of Mt. Halla are the visiting places which are rarely experienced in the Korean peninsula, the program participants can understand the regionality of Jeju Island as well as Mt. Halla through trip activities.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2007

The vegetation of habitats of a Korean rare plant Kirengeshoma koreana Nakai at Mt. Baekun was investigated by phytosociological approach. The vegetation of investigated area shows typical southern-temperate Quercus forest. The humidity of soil was high and the ground of locality was flat area of sub-alpine. These investigated area is very important for conservation of a rare plant, Kirengeshoma koreana that is limited in this area. Therefore, sustainable conservation strategy such as designation of conservation area should be prepared urgently by the results of long-term monitoring studies.