• The Korean Journal of Ecology
• /
• v.23 no.2
• /
• pp.131-134
• /
• 2000

Forest vegetation in Korea can be largely divided into warm temperate, cool temperate and frigid forest zone. The cool temperate forest zone of them occupies the largest part of the Korean peninsula and it is generally divided into three subdivisions such as northern, central and southern subzone. The Forestry Research Institute established three long-term ecological research sites at Kwangnung Experiment Forest in the central subzone of the cool temperate forest zone, at the Mt. Kyebangsan Forest in the northern subzone of the cool temperate forest zone. and at the Mt. Keumsan Forest in the warm temperate forest zone. The objectives of long-term ecological research in the Forestry Research Institute, Korea are to study long-term changes of the forest ecosystems in energy fluxes, water and nutrient cycling, forest stand structure, biological diversity, to quantify nutrient budgets and fluxes among forest ecosystem compartments and to integrate ecological data with a GIS - assisted model. To achieve the objectives, forest stand dynamics. environmental changes in soil properties, stream water quality, nutrient cycling, air pollution and biological diversity have been investigated and plant phonology as an indicator of climate change has been monitored in the LTER sites.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.46 no.4
• /
• pp.292-303
• /
• 2022

Background: Climate change significantly influences the geographical distribution of plant species worldwide. Selecting indicator species allows for better-informed and more effective ecosystem management in response to climate change. The Korean Peninsula is the northernmost distribution zone of warm temperate evergreen broad-leaved (WTEB) species in Northeast Asia. Considering the ecological value of these species, we evaluated the current distribution range and future suitable habitat for 13 WTEB tree species designated as climate-sensitive biological indicator species. Results: Up-to-date and accurate WTEB species distribution maps were constructed using herbarium specimens and citizen science data from the Korea Biodiversity Observation Network. Current northern limits for several species have shifted to higher latitudes compared to previous records. For example, the northern latitude limit for Stauntonia hexaphylla is higher (37° 02' N, Deokjeokdo archipelago) than that reported previously (36° 13' N). The minimum temperature of the coldest month (Bio6) is the major factor influencing species distribution. Under future climate change scenarios, suitable habitats are predicted to expand toward higher latitudes inland and along the western coastal areas. Conclusions: Our results support the suitability of WTEB trees as significant biological indicators of species' responses to warming. The findings also suggest the need for consistent monitoring of species distribution shifts. This study provides an important baseline dataset for future monitoring and management of indicator species' responses to changing climate conditions in South Korea.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
• /
• v.111 no.4
• /
• pp.613-621
• /
• 2022

The study aim was to investigate changes in the diameter, number of standing trees, stand volume per ha and site index by the forest survey order, climate zone (northern temperate, central temperate, southern temperate, and warm temperate regions), and altitude in 100 m intervals) by collecting samples of Robinia pseudoacacia from the fifth, sixth, and seventh national forest survey datasets. The rotation cutting age, which is a standard used for wood, was calculated. The changes were statistically analyzed by performing ANOVA and the Duncan multiple test. Diameter growth naturally increased according to the forest survey order and was lowest in the southern temperate region by climate zone and lowest at the 301-400 m altitude. The number of standing trees per ha did not change according to the forest survey order and altitude, and the density was highest in the central temperate region and lowest in the southern temperate region. The stand volume per ha increased according to the forest survey order, and the climate zone was divided into two groups: ① northern temperate region and central temperate region, ② southern temperate region and warm temperate region. The stand volume growth was highest at the 201-300 m point. Thesite index showed results similar to the change pattern of the stand volume per ha. The growth curve, which can be seen by the change in stand volume per ha, was estimated by applying theWeibull formula, and the stand volume per ha was estimated to reach approximately 200 m³/ha at 50-60 years. The rotation of the highest production in volume, which is the standard for using trees as wood rather than honey sources, was calculated to be 34 years.

• The Korean Journal of Malacology
• /
• v.28 no.3
• /
• pp.277-291
• /
• 2012

Aquaculture is challenged by a number of constraints with future efforts towards sustainable production. Global climate change has a potential damage to the sustainability by changing environmental surroundings unfavorably. The damaging parameters identified are water temperature, sea level, surface physical energy, precipitation, solar radiation, ocean acidification, and so on. Of them, temperature, mostly temperature elevation, occupies significant concern among marine ecologists and aquaculturists. Ocean acidification particularly draws shellfish aquaculturists' attention as it alters the marine chemistry, shifting the equilibrium towards more dissolved CO2 and hydrogen ions ($H^+$) and thus influencing signaling pathways on shell formation, immune system, and other biological processes. Temperature elevation by climate change is of double-sidedness: it can be an opportunistic parameter besides being a generally known damaging parameter in aquaculture. It can provide better environments for faster and longer growth for aquaculture species. It is also somehow advantageous for alleviation of aquaculture expansion pressure in a given location by opening a gate for new species and aquaculture zone expansion northward in the northern hemisphere, otherwise unavailable due to temperature limit. But in the science of climate change, the ways of influence on aquaculture are complex and ambiguous, and hence are still hard to identify and quantify. At the same time considerable parts of our knowledge on climate change effects on aquaculture are from the estimates from data of fisheries and agriculture. The consequences may be different from what they really are, particularly in the temperature region. In reality, bivalves and tunicates hung or caged in the longline system are often exposed to temperatures higher than those they encounter in nature, locally driving the farmed shellfish into an upper tolerable temperature extreme. We review recent climate change and following environment changes which can be factors or potential factors affecting shellfish aquaculture production in the temperate region.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
• /
• v.26 no.10
• /
• pp.1111-1124
• /
• 2017

This study aimed to understand the distribution of vegetation in the eastern and western sides of the Baekdudaegan (ridge) dividing the Odaesan National Park, as influenced by its topography and climate. The actual vegetation, topography and climate for each side were used in the overlay analysis. The results of the analysis of actual vegetation showed a high distribution rate of Quercus mongolica forest on both the eastern and western sides. On the eastern side, the distribution rate of Pinus densiflora forest and P. densiflora-Q. variabilis forest was high, while the western side had a high distribution rate of deciduous broad-leaved tree forest and Abies hollophylla forest. A clear trend was identified for vegetation distribution with respect to elevation but not with respect to slope or aspect. The results of micro-landform analysis showed that the P. densiflora forests in the ridge and slope and the deciduous broad-leaved tree forest in the valley were respectively distributed with a high ratio. In terms of climate, the eastern side revealed an oceanic climate, with a relatively high average annual temperature, while the western side was characterized by relatively high average annual humidity and average annual precipitation. The distribution rate of P. densiflora forest was found to be high on the eastern side of the mountain range.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
• /
• v.52 no.2
• /
• pp.114-117
• /
• 2022

Lindera angustifolia is mainly distributed in the temperate climate zone of China but shows an extraordinary distribution, disjunctively isolated on the western coastal islands of Korea. We therefore present the complete chloroplast genome of Korean L. angustifolia. The complete plastome was 152,836 bp in length, with an overall GC content of 39.2%. A large single copy (93,726 bp) and a small single copy (18,946 bp) of the genome were separated by a pair of inverted repeats (20,082 bp). The genome consists of 125 genes, including 81 protein-coding, eight ribosomal RNA, and 36 transfer RNA genes. While five RNA editing genes (psbL, rpl2, ndhB×2, and ndhD) were identified in L. angustifolia from China, the "ndhD" gene was not recognized as an RNA editing site in the corresponding Korean individual. A phylogenetic analysis revealed that Korean L. angustifolia is most closely related to the Chinese L. angustifolia with strong bootstrap support, forming a sister group of L. glauca.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
• /
• v.27 no.5
• /
• pp.579-591
• /
• 2013

This study was carried out to investigate the actual vegetation, the structure of plant community, and ecological succession sere of forest ecosystem in temperate northern climate zone, Daegwallyeong Ranch, Gangwon-do (Province) and to offer the basic data for planning of the forest managemant. As a result of analysis of actual vegetation, vegetation types divided into 56types and the area of survey site was $19,397,361m^2$. The ratio of vegetation type dominated by Quercus mongolica forest was 39.1%, primary grassland was 24.7%, Quercus mongolica-Deciduous broad-leaved forest was 11.3%. Twenty eight plots (size is $20m{\times}20m$) were set up and the results analyzed by DCA which in one of the ordination technique showed that the plant communities were divided into six groups which area community I (Pinus densiflora-Quercus mongolica community), community II (Quercus mongolica-Pinus densiflora community), community III (Quercus mongolica community), community IV (Quercus mongolica-Deciduous broad-leaved community), community V (Deciduous broad-leaved community), community VI (Sorbus alnifolia community). The age of community Iwas ranged from 57 to 62 years old, that of community IIwas ranged from 41 to 77 years old, community III was ranged from 47 to 108 years old, community IV was ranged from 47 to 82 years old, community V was 47 years old, community VI was 55 years old, thus we supposed that the age of the study site is about from 41 to 108 years old. The Ecological succession is predicted from Pinus densiflora community to Quercus mongolica community and Deciduous broad-leaved were distributed in the center of the valley in Daegwallyeong Ranch. According to the index of Shannon's diversity (unit: $400m^2$), community IV was ranged from 0.8203 to 1.1439, community III was ranged from 0.8019 to 1.1375, community V was 1.0993, community I was ranged from 0.9475 to 1.0797, community II was ranged from 0.6896 to 1.0324, community VI was 0.9909.

• The Korean Journal of Quaternary Research
• /
• v.20 no.1 s.26
• /
• pp.39-50
• /
• 2006

Jeonjangri site of Geochang area is located in the Geochang Basin, and lies on the river terrace of upstream part of Hwang River. Fluvial deposits are well distributed at the northern and southern walls of trench 2(district 2) in the Jeonjangri archeological site. This study aims to interpret the occurrences of fluvial sedimentary deposits on the basis of grain size analysis and palynological analysis in the representative sections of Jeongjangri site. The sedimentary profile shows that the upper units are typified by paleosols with soil wedge formed at about $25,000{\sim}30,000yr$ B.P, and the lower units are characterized by reddish brown muddy sands, organic muds and sand/gravel downwards in the profile. Particularly palynological study on the organic muds of southern wall section showed a result that lower unit is dominant with grass vegetation, and upper unit with Alnus-Quercus-Pinus vegetation. The former is interpreted to be formed at $60,000{\sim}50,000yr$ B.P (stadial), while the latter at $80,000{\sim}70,000yr$ B.P. In general broad-leaved/coniferous mixed forests are mostly dominant in Jeongjangri site and the climate was presumed to be cool temperate at that time.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
• /
• v.29 no.5
• /
• pp.764-776
• /
• 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 Environment and Ecology
• /
• v.38 no.4
• /
• pp.375-387
• /
• 2024

This study investigated the ecological characteristics of Fraxinus chiisanensis Nakai, one of the endemic and rare plant species in Korea, based on its distribution status, characteristics of the growth environment, and species composition. A vegetation survey that analyzed the correlation between species distribution patterns and environmental variables, along with the traits of the emergent plant species, was performed according to the explanation of environmental growth conditions and phytosociological method for the location where F. chiisanensis is found. A total of 19 dominant locations and 9 non-dominant locations of F. chiisanensis were observed in 28 study sites in 12 regions, and a total of 155 taxa were observed. According to the vegetation climate of Korea, the growth environment of the study site where F. chiisanensis is located is characterized as cold and is primarily situated within the northern temperate deciduous broadleaf forest zone. The average elevation was 859m above sea level, with an average rock exposure of 60.4%, soil exposure of 24.7%, and an average slope of 18.7°. The taxa belonging to the top P-NCD(Percentage of Net Contribution Degree) among the emergent species were mostly designated as the taxa emerging in valley vegetation. The correlation analysis of environmental variables revealed that altitude had the strongest correlation, with rock exposure showing the second highest correlation. The ongoing dynamics of the F. chiisanensis forest are anticipated to persist due to the high P-NCD values exhibited by the F. chiisanensis within the shrub and herbaceous layers among the taxa associated with tree species. Most F. chiisanensis habitats are currently situated within protected regions such as national parks, provincial parks, and county parks, where there are relatively minimal human-induced disturbances. However, there is potential for damage in areas not designated as protected, such as forest tending operation sites or new hiking trails. Concerns about declining habitat quality have prompted suggestions for management strategies such as establishing Forest Genetic Resource Reserves in these locations. In addition, follow-up and further research should be conducted to identify possible sites for distribution and establish candidate conservation areas based on various environmental conditions of F. chiisanensis.