• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.23-28
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• 2003

In order to identify plant species and communities characteristic of lithospheric condition, forest vegetations of igneous(mainly granite) and sedimentary(mainly sandstone) areas in Kyungpook province were compared. We collected 108 phytosociological releves from the older forests over 20 years old. 444 vascular plant species and 25 plant communities were identified. Results of Principal Coordinates Analysis (PCA) indicated that lithospheric conditions and human impacts were the most important factors related to the plant community diversity and species richness. In the igneous rock areas net contribution degree (rNCD) of 139 species including Quercus serrata, Q. mongolica, Lindera obtusiloba and Fraxinus sieboldiana increased and those of Carpinus laxiflora and Styrax japonica decreased. In the sedimentary rock areas, to a lesser extent, 96 species including Q. aliena, Zanthoxylum schinifolium, Potentilla fragarioides var. major, Rhus javanica, and Plectranthus japonicus increased, whereas character species of Lindero-Quercion mongolicae such as Q. mongolica, Q. serrata, Rhododendron schlippenbachii, Acer mono and Styrax obassia decreased, and particularily the species Sasa borealis, the Alangium-Zelkova serrata community and the Philadelphus-Fraxinus mandshurica community were absent. The vegetation of sedimentary rock area is characterized as a regional type shaping dwarf pine forests and sparse and light broad-leaved forests.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.250-293
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• 2021

Limestone areas are sedimentary rock outcrops consisting of calcium carbonate created several hundreds of millions of years ago by calcium-secreting marine organisms and subsequently lifted above sea level by tectonic movement. Limestone areas support very high levels of endemic species of plants and are recognized as biodiversity areas with much biological information. The purpose of this study is to devise a strategy for the comprehensive conservation of the vegetation of limestone areas through analyses of the floristics and plant species compositions in ten limestone areas on the Korean Peninsula. The results of 153 field surveys from April of 2010 to October of 2016 identified 1,202 taxa in total, representing 1,096 species, 18 subspecies, 84 varieties, 2 forms, and 2 hybrids in 530 genera and 133 families. Among them, 55 taxa were endemic plants to Korea, and 38 taxa were red data plants. The floristic target plants amounted to 102 taxa, specifically 27 taxa of grade V and 75 taxa of grade IV. In all, 121 alien plants were recorded in the investigated area. Calciphilous plants amounted to 102 taxa, specifically 14 taxa of calciphilous indicator plants, 30 taxa of superlative most calciphilous plants, and 58 taxa of comparative more calciphilous plants. A cluster analysis showed a high degree of similarity between sites that are geographically adjacent with similar habitat environments. Limestone areas also supported groups distinct from those in non-limestone areas, demonstrating the specificity of limestone flora. Plant geography approaches therefore appear to be crucial to gain a better understanding of the level of biodiversity in limestone areas, not only at the interspecific but also at the intraspecific level. These results highlight the importance of protecting limestone habitats to preserve not only their interspecific but also the intraspecific diversity, which is highly threatened.