• Journal of agriculture & life science
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.89-94
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• 2011

In this study, the amount of seedlings and seed dispersal of evergreen broad-leaved trees in forest community adjacent to Camellia japonica forest were studied to provide basic information for effective management of evergreen broad-leaved forest. Evergreen broad-leaved trees including C. japonica, Neolitsea sericea, Machilus thunbergii, Ligustrum japonicum, Cinnamomum japonicum, Litsea japonica, Pittosporum tobira showed high density and ratio of seedlings in community adjacent to C. japonica forest. Although individual densities of N. sericea, M. thunbergii, L. japonicum were low, their seedlings were distributed up to Pinus thunbergii and coniferous broad-leaved forest at a distance of 100m and 200m from C. japonica forest. Distribution of DBH class of C. japonica suggested a continuous spread from higher frequency of young individuals, N. sericea, M. thunbergii and L. japonicum did not showed an obvious trend. Seed of C. japonica mainly dispersed within 50m from mother tree.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.169-181
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• 2011

The purpose of this study was to understand the geographical and environmental distribution of animals and plants in Baekdudaegan region using field survey and GIS data. Crucial factors were selected and analyzed to understand the distributional characteristics of wild animals (16 species in 5 orders) and rare endemic plants (20 species in 12 orders). These crucial factors include stand factor (forest type, DBH class, and crown density), soil factor (bed rock, soil texture, and organic matter), geographical factor (elevation, slope, aspect) and climatic factor (temperature, rain fall, humidity). Finally, ten crucial factors were selected by statistical analysis and categorized for analyzing geographical and environmental features. Three orders such as Rodentia, Carnivora, and Artiodactula in wild animal showed the similar habitat characteristics with the small diameter and the elevation range from 801 to 1,000m. The Hydropotes inermis of Artiodactyla and Rattus norvegicus of Rodentia were different in the type of orders, but they had the similar habitat characteristics with the coniferous forest and loam. On the other hand, four orders such as Tubiflorales, Liliales, Ericales, and Rhamnales in the rare and endemic plants were showed high occurrence rate in the organic matter between 4 and 6%. The Rodgersia podophylla of Rosales and Gastrodia elata Blume of Microspermae were different in the type of orders, but they had the similar habitat characteristics with the stand factor and soil factor.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.193-205
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• 2021

The importance of forests and trees in climate change mitigation and soil nutrient cycling cannot be overemphasized. This study assessed the above-ground carbon stock of two exotic and two indigenous tree species - Gmelina arborea, Tectona grandis, Khaya grandifoliola and Nauclea diderrichii and their litter impact on soil nutrient content of an arboretum within the University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Data were collected from equal sample plots from the four species' compartments. Tree growth variables including total height, diameter at breast height, crown height, crown diameter and merchantable height were measured for the estimation of above-ground carbon stock. Soil samples were collected from a depth of 0-30 cm from each compartment and analyzed for particle size distribution, organic carbon, total nitrogen, available phosphorus, exchangeable bases, exchangeable acidity, cation exchange capacity, base saturation, pH, Manganese, Iron, Copper and Zinc. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was used to test for significant difference (p<0.05) in the carbon contents of the four species and the soil nutrient contents of the different species' compartments. Pearson correlation was used to assess the relationships between the carbon contents, growth parameters and soil parameters. The highest and lowest carbon stock per hectare was observed for G. arborea (151.52 t.ha^-1) and K. grandifoliola (45.45 t.ha^-1) respectively. Cation exchange capacity and base saturation were highest and lowest for soil under G. arborea and K. grandifoliola respectively. The pH was highest and lowest for soil under G. arborea and T. grandis respectively. Carbon stock correlated positively with dbh, crown diameter, merchantable height and Zn and negatively with base saturation. The study revealed that G. arborea and N. diderrichii can effectively be used for reforestation and afforestation programmes aimed at climate change mitigation across Nigeria. Therefore, policies to encourage and enhance their planting should be encouraged.

• Journal of Climate Change Research
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.379-388
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• 2015

The purpose of the this study was to provide basic data on reasonable management for Abies koreana in Mt. Jiri through analysis the ecological characteristics of Abies koreana forests on Seseok. Due to low soil pH (4.26), high organic matter (10.5%) and total N (0.32%), the soil properties of A. koreana forest on Seseok are different from those of other forest soil in Korea. According to the result of importance value analysis, A. koreana (70.5) for tree layer, A. koreana (37.6) and Rhododendron schlippenbachii (20.8) for subtree layer and A. koreana (12.6), Sasa borealis (11.5) and Acer pseudosieboldianum (11.2) for shrub layer were high, respectively. The species diversity of Shannon was 0.425 for tree layer, 0.869 for subtree layer and 1.320 for shrub layer. Evenness and dominance for all layers ranged from 0.365 to 0.894 and 0.187 to 0.635, respectively. Height growth according to DBH of A. koreana on Seseok was relative high. Annual mean tree ring growth of A. koreana showed up 1.372, 1.557 and 1.483 mm/yr for small, middle and large diameter tree, respectively. Considering the importance value, distribution of seedling, height growth and ring growth, A. koreana forest on Seseok in Mt. Jiri will be maintained as the major population from now on.

• Journal of People, Plants, and Environment
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.629-638
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• 2021

Background and objective: This study was conducted to develop diameter growth models for thinned Quercus glauca Thunb. (QGT) stands to inform production goals for treatment and provide the information necessary for the systematic management of this stands. Methods: This study was conducted on QGT stands, of which initial thinning was completed in 2013 to develop a treatment system. To analyze the tree growth and trait response for each thinning treatment, forestry surveys were conducted in 2014 and 2021, and a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was executed. In addition, non-linear least squares regression of the PROC NLIN procedure was used to develop an optimal diameter growth model. Results: Based on growth and trait analyses, the height and height-to-diameter (H/D) ratio were not different according to treatment plot (p > .05). For the diameter of basal height (DBH), the heavy thinning (HT) treatment plot was significantly larger than the control plot (p < .05). As a result of the development of diameter growth models by treatment plot, the mean squared error (MSE) of the Gompertz polymorphic equation (control: 2.2381, light thinning: 0.8478, and heavy thinning: 0.8679) was the lowest in all treatment plots, and the Shapiro-Wilk statistic was found to follow a normal distribution (p > .95), so it was selected as an equation fit for the diameter growth model. Conclusion: The findings of this study provide basic data for the systematic management of Quercus glauca Thunb. stands. It is necessary to construct permanent sample plots (PSP) that consider stand status, location conditions, and climatic environments.

• Journal of People, Plants, and Environment
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.219-227
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• 2021

Background and objective: Urban street trees play an important role in carbon reduction in cities where greenspace is scarce. There are ongoing studies on carbon reduction by street trees. However, information on the carbon reduction capacity of street trees based on field surveys is still limited. This study aimed to quantify carbon uptake and storage by urban street trees and suggest a method to improve planting of trees in order to increase their carbon reduction capacity. Methods: The cities selected were Sejong, Chungju, and Jeonju among cities without research on carbon reduction, considering the regional distribution in Korea. In the cities, 155 sample sites were selected using systematic sampling to conduct a field survey on street environments and planting structures. The surveyed data included tree species, diameter at breast height (DBH), diameter at root collar (DRC), height, crown width, and vertical structures. The carbon uptake and storage per tree were calculated using the quantification models developed for the urban trees of each species. Results: The average carbon uptake and storage of street trees were approximately 7.2 ± 0.6 kg/tree/yr and 87.1 ± 10.2 kg/tree, respectively. The key factors determining carbon uptake and storage were tree size, vertical structure, the composition of tree species, and growth conditions. The annual total carbon uptake and storage were approximately 1,135.8 tons and 22,737.8 tons, respectively. The total carbon uptake was about the same amount as carbon emitted by 2,272 vehicles a year. Conclusion: This study has significance in providing the basic unit to quantify carbon uptake and storage of street trees based on field surveys. To improve the carbon reduction capacity of street trees, it is necessary to consider planning strategies such as securing and extending available grounds and spaces for high-density street trees with a multi-layered structure.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.764-776
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• 2015

This study aims to identify the structure of the plant community, and the ecological succession sere and the change in the forest ecosystem in Jungdaesa-Birobong area, Odaesan National Park_(i._e., located at high altitudes(over 1,000m)). It seeks to offer the basic data for the planning of vegetation management. In order to verify the status of the forest vegetation between Jungdaesa-Birobong, seventeen plots(size is $20m{\times}20m$) were set up as research sites at high altitudes. Importance value, distribution by diameter at breast height(DBH), the growth volume and age of the sample trees, similarity index and species diversity index of each survey plot were analysed. According to the results of DCA(Detrended Correspondence Analysis), one of the multivariate statistical techniques. It was found that the plant communities were classified into five groups: community I_(Quercus mongolica-Tilia amurensis community), community II_(Q. mongolica-Deciduous broad-leaved community), community III_(Q. mongolica-Pinus koraiensis community), community IV_(Abies holophylla-Q. mongolica community) and community V_(A. holophylla-Deciduous broad-leaved community). Community I which is dominated by Quercus mongolica and Deciduous broad-leaved communities is located at an altitude of over 1,300 meters(ranging from 1,335m to 1,495m), the community IV and V which are dominated by Abies holophylla are located at an altitude of under 1,200 meters(ranging from 1,115m to 1,175m) and the community II and III which include the main species of Quercus mongolica, Pinus koraiensis and Abies holophylla are located at an altitude of between 1,160 meters and 1,300 meters. The results showed that Quercus mongolica tends to have a higher importance value of woody species at a higher altitude while Abies holophylla tends to have higher importance value at a lower altitude. For the importance value woody species and -DBH class distribution, the communites I, II and III are expected to continuously maintain the present status. Whereas, for the influence of communities IV and V, Q. mongolica is predicted to be weakened. The age of sample trees was between 85 and 161; the average age was 123. The index of Shannon's Species diversity (H') showed heterogeneity was found among community I_(i._e., located at high altitude) and communities IV and V_(i._e., located at low altitude). As a results of analysing the index of Shannon's Species diversity (H': unit: $400m^2$), community III showed the highest diversity intex with 1.1109 followed by community II with 1.0475, community I with 1.0125, community IV with 0.9918 and community V with 0.8686. This study verified that the index of Shannon's species was significantly different by plant communities. For instance, when comparing the index of Shannon's species diversity in Quercus mongolica communities of this study and that of past relevant research, the value of index is very similar. However, the diversity index for the community which is dominated by Abies holophylla showed lower value when compared to the results from past relevant research.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.35-50
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• 1999

The relationship between floristic composition and soil environmental conditions was investigated in the forest vegetation of Mt. Paekun. The forest vegetation unit of Mt. Paekun was divided into six plant communities by Zurich-Montpellier method, such as Quercus mongelica community (Typical subcommunity, Rhododendron schlippenbaohii subcommunity), Q. variabilis community, Fraxinus rhynchophylla community, Pinus densiflora community, Larix Eeptolepis community and Pinus koraiensis community. Q. mongolica community group was distributed at the altitude over 500 meter, Q. variabilis and P. densiflora communities appeared on the southwestern slope at the altitudes of 600 ~ 700 m and 290 ~ 700 m. However, L. leptolepis and P. koraiensis plantation were distributed at lower altitude, on hillside or around homestead. The DBH class distribution of dominant species in each community showed that Q. mongolica had 10.9 individuals/a at 6~10 cm class, Q. variabilis 2.5 individuals/a at 11~15 cm class, P. densiflora 1.8 individuals/a at 26~30 cm class, F. rhynchophylla 3.3 individuals/a at 2~5 cm class, and L. leptolepis 5.9 individuals/a at 11~ 15 cm class. Q. mongolica and Q. variabilis communities showed a stable bell-shaped pattern of distribution. The contents of organic matters and soil water, and cation exchange capacity of the soil increased, and the pH decreased as the altitude gets higher increased altitude at the each communities. The contents of the soil water and organic matters of the forest soil collected in Q. mongolica community were in the 17.81% to 51.20% and 5.51% to 14.90%, respectively. These tendency is similar to the contents of N, P and K, but those of Ca, Mg, and CEC was lower than in other communities. Cation exchange capacity was suspected to be correlated to the pH. The hypothetical successional sere of the forest vegetation of Mt. Paekun is as follows: Pinus densiflora community longrightarrowQ. variabilis community longrightarrowQ. mongolica community.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.29-44
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• 1999

Vegetation structure and distribution of the vascular hydrophytes and hygrophytes, and the growth pattern, standing crop and amounts of nutrient uptake by Salix species were investigated in the upper stream wetlands of the Namgang-Dam, Chinju-city, Gyeongsangnam-do, Korea from April to November in 1997. The flora was composed of 43 hydrophytes and 241 hygrophytes, or total 284 vascular plants. The life forms of the hydrophytes were classified as 27 kinds of emergent plants, 4 floating-leaved plants, 3 free-floating plants, and 9 submersed plants. In the herb layer, the dominant species was Persicaria hyciropiper, and the ranges of the species diversity indices (H'), equitabilities, (J') and community similarity indices (CCs) were 1.59~1.89, 0.87~0.96, and 0.35~0.83, respectively. In the shrub and subtree layers, 17 kinds of Salix species were supposed to the pioneer plants at the early stage of the succession. The number of branches per main stem of Salix species was 5.0. The DBH class-frequency histograms of Salix species were the reverse J type, and the natural regeneration of the Salix community was expected. Basal area of Salix species per square meter was $24.87cm^2$. Volume of Salix species per square meter was $12,008cm^3$ and total phytomass of the Salix species was estimated as 12,894 ton. Biomass distribution of Salix species in the stem, the branch and twig, and the leaf was 64.1%, 28.1%, and 7.8%, respectively. The amounts of nitrogen and phosphorus absorbed by Salix species were 68,022 and 19,823 kg. It was recommended that application and conservation of the wetland and other counterplans are indispensable to reduce the adverse effects of water pollution and to preserve the wetland ecosystem.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.113 no.2
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• pp.222-238
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• 2024

Coniferous species in subalpine ecosystems are known to be highly sensitive to climate change. Therefore, it is becoming increasingly important to monitor community and population dynamics. This study monitored 37 plots within the distribution area of Abies koreana on Mt. Jirisan for a period of eight years. We analyzed the importance value, density of living stems, mortality rate, recruitment rate, basal area, DBH (diameter of breast height) class distribution, and tree health status. Our results showed changes in the importance value based on the tree stratum, with A. koreana decreasing by 3.6% and Tripterygium regelii increasing by 2.5% in the tree layer. Between 2015 and 2023, there were 149 dead trees/ha (17.99% mortality rate) and 12 living trees/ha (1.02% recruitment rate) of A. koreana. The decrease in basal area was attributed to a decrease in the number of living trees. Tree mortality occurred in all DBH classes, with a particularly high decline in the <10 cm class (65 trees/ha reduced). In terms of changes in tree health status, the population of alive standing (AS) type trees, initially consisting of 539 trees/ha, has been transformed into alive standing (AS), alive lean (AL), and death standing (DS), accounting for 69.7%, 0.5%, and 13.8%, respectively. Meanwhile, DS-type trees have transitioned into dead broken (DB) and dead fallen (DF) types. This phenomenon is believed to be caused by strong winds in the subalpine region that pull up the rootlets from the soil. Further research on this finding is recommended.