• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.67-78
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• 2006

Global warming brings about changes of diverse environmental, especially changes of plant distribution. The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between temperature rise and changes of northern limit of vegetation growth in Korea. Bamboos (Phyllostachys) and boundary between the northern type and southern type of garlic (Allium sativum L.) were selected. The data of the distributions of bamboos and garlic are collected by field survey and interviews. Temperature is analyzed from 1904 to 2000. The northern limit of Phyllostachys moves 60-100 km northward, for about 100 years, the period of 1907-2003 and mean temperature of Korea increases about $2^{\circ}C$ during the same period. It means that the northern limit moves 30-50 km northward, for each $1^{\circ}C$ rising of January mean temperature. The boundary between the northern type and southern types of garlic moves northward 40-140 km from 1980s to 2000. The moving width is broad in the west coastal region while the width is narrow in the inland and mountain regions. The mean moving width is about 100 km.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.513-521
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• 1994

Distribution patern of 30 species that are occurring predominantly in the mantle communities (Mantelgesellschaften) in South Korea was studied. The study was arried out by geographic and bioclimatic analysis on 368 releves obtained from the Zurich-Montpellier School's method, which involves direct analysis on the latitude, altitude, annual mean temperature and the lowest temperature of the site. Rosa multiflora and Pueraria thunbergiana which are regarded as repersentative pioneer species to the mantle community has the highest frequency, 70.1% and 60.3%, respectively. Three distribution patterns were recognized, i.e. northern type, central type and southern type, and each type was characterized by horizontal and altitudinal amplitude. Their concetrate distribution ranges on the annual mean temperature were 8~11℃, 9~12℃ and 10~13℃, respectively. It was recognized that tendencies of overlapping and continuous distribution pattern of the types and species exist. Geographically, the souther limit f the northern type is 35.5。N and the northern limit of the southern type 37.0。N. The central type is located at an coincided with the previous study in which cool-temperate forests were synchorologically indentified into northern/altimontane, certral/montane and southern/submontane type. The subsidiary knowledges from this study will provide practical information on the constructuin of the fence plant community for environmental conservation.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.45-54
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• 1983

A distribution map of black pine, Pinus thunbergii, in south Korea was prepared through field surveys. According to Mirov(1967), the range of black pine is limited in east Asia, Japan and Korea; its northern limit is at about 41。34' north and its southern limit on Takara island, south Kyushu, at 29。 north. According to the present map, its northern limit coincided with the isopath of warmth index 100 by Yim(1977). The density of pine in grid mesh, about 4 km * 4 km, was higher at costal area than that in inland area, and it was also higher at sea side slope than the opposite slope of the same mountain. This suggests that the ecological distribution of black pine is greatly affected by salt content of the soil or the optimal range of summed temperature for the pine growth.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.53 no.2
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• pp.195-207
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• 2020

In Korea, specific thermal elements such as annual mean temperature (AMT) 13℃, 14℃, and Kira's coldness index (CI) -10℃, have been suggested about the northernmost distribution of the warm-temperate evergreen broad-leaved forest zone. We reviewed the relationship between three thermal elements and the actual distribution of evergreen broad-leaved woody plants or its communities. Thiessen and Kriging method using point-data calibrated by seasonal lapse rate according to altitude were utilized for the spatial distribution pattern analysis. Several phytoclimatic maps were also produced in order to compare different thermal values. We identified that the AMT 13℃ was the best thermal element to demarcate the northern limit of the warm-temperate forest zone. Its area was estimated ca. 20,334 ㎢ and larger than those of other thermal elements. We concluded that an indirectly fabricated index i.e. CI -10℃ is useless and it was enough for a direct value of AMT 13℃ to represent the northern-limit distribution of warm-temperate forest zone, at least in Korea. Further researches on the reciprocity between floristic regions and phytoclimate zones are raised.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.29-43
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• 2021

This study analyzed the status of climate-change indicator plants native to the main islands of the Korean peninsula, while elucidating their distribution characteristics. Information on flora from over 129 island locations, comprising more than 100 species of native plants, was collected, compiled into a database, and utilized as raw data. The distribution of 193 climate-change indicator plants was confirmed. The distribution area of broadleaf evergreen trees and ferns, including Mallotus japonicus and Cyrtomium falcatum, was relatively wide. In contrast, the distribution of common northern plants such as Corydalis turtschaninovii and Malus baccata was limited. If global warming persists, northern plant distribution is expected to decrease rapidly in the Korean Peninsula island region, while the northern limit line of the southern plants is expected to migrate further northward. During this process, it is likely that the plant congregation structure and species diversity within the island region will change dynamically. In this study, comparative analyses between species and regions were conducted by assessing the relative frequency of their occurrence, and six types of botanical geographic distribution patterns were noted.

• Journal of Plant Biology
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.297-304
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• 1985

Two Korean species of Centroceras K tzing, Ceramiaceae was investigated taxonomically. C. clavulatum (Ag.) Montagne collected at several sited along the coast of Korea was characterized by regular dischotomous branches with whorl spines at every node, whereas, C. distichum Okamura collected at Soando in the southern coast was by alternate branches with gland cells around nodes. Biogeographic data show that Korea is almost northern limit in distribution of the former species.

• Journal of Climate Change Research
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.325-334
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• 2016

We projected the distribution of Hedera rhombea, an evergreen broad-leaved climbing plant, under current climate conditions and predicted its future distributions under global warming. Inaddition, weexplained model uncertainty by employing 9 single Species Distribution model (SDM)s to model the distribution of Hedera rhombea. 9 single SDMs were constructed with 736 presence/absence data and 3 temperature and 3 precipitation data. Uncertainty of each SDM was assessed with TSS (Ture Skill Statistics) and AUC (the Area under the curve) value of ROC (receiver operating characteristic) analyses. To reduce model uncertainty, we combined 9 single SDMs weighted by TSS and resulted in an ensemble forecast, a TSS weighted ensemble. We predicted future distributions of Hedera rhombea under future climate conditions for the period of 2050 (2040~2060), which were estimated with HadGEM2-AO. RF (Random Forest), GBM (Generalized Boosted Model) and TSS weighted ensemble model showed higher prediction accuracies (AUC > 0.95, TSS > 0.80) than other SDMs. Based on the projections of TSS weighted ensemble, potential habitats under current climate conditions showed a discrepancy with actual habitats, especially in the northern distribution limit. The observed northern boundary of Hedera rhombea is Ulsan in the eastern Korean Peninsula, but the projected limit was eastern coast of Gangwon province. Geomorphological conditions and the dispersal limitations mediated by birds, the lack of bird habitats at eastern coast of Gangwon Province, account for such discrepancy. In general, potential habitats of Hedera rhombea expanded under future climate conditions, but the extent of expansions depend on RCP scenarios. Potential Habitat of Hedera rhombea expanded into Jeolla-inland area under RCP 4.5, and into Chungnam and Wonsan under RCP 8.5. Our results would be fundamental information for understanding the potential effects of climate change on the distribution of Hedera rhombea.

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

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.153-166
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• 1983

The distribution of beech species (Fagus) and beech-dominated forests along climatic gradients in the Northern Hemisphere was studied by use of taxonomic and ecological literature. The genus Fagus as a whole occurs over the range of 4.5 to 20.0。C mean annual temperature and 600 to 1000 mm in lower limit, mean annual precipitation. At the higher end of the temperature range, beech occurs in zones with relatively high growing-season precipitation. Edaphically, beech species and beech-dominated forests tend to occur on mesic, moderately fertile sites. Beech-dominated forests occur in a limited portion of the climatic range of the genus with sensitive responses to other environmental factors. The distributional range of beech-dominated forests on a global scale depends more on climatic factors and geological events than on soil conditions or other factors, summarizing the facts obtained by many researchers on beech dominated forests.

• Animal Systematics, Evolution and Diversity
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.63-78
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• 1986

Two species of Moroco oxycephalus and M. lagowskii were studied to examine patterns of genic variation and morphological difference within and between populations of two species, and to clarify their taxonomic status and geographic distribution. The number of scales above lateral line(SAL) was the key character to classify these species. On the average, M.lagowskii had 22 or more SAL whereas M.oxycephalus had 20 or less. Previously known character of the position of dorsal fin was found to be not appropriate to distinguish them. Five loci, Gp, st-1, Est-2, Est-3 and Got-1 , showed fixed difference electrophoretically between two species and these could be used as genetic markers to identify them. The degree of genic variation of M. oxycephalus was four fold higher(H=0.032) than that of M. lagowskii(H=0.008) but both species were far less than the average genic variation of freshwater fish in general. Rogers' genetic similarity coefficients between two species were S=0.692 and their presumed divergent time was estimated to be sbout 1.8million years ageo. Detailed survey of the geographic distribution of thses revealed that M.lagowskii was distributed in northeastern part of South Korea(Ganseong , Gangreung, Wangsan, and Oggye) and M. oxycephalus was occupied rest of the peninsula. The distrance between Oggye, the southern limit of M. lagowskii distribution , and Samwha (near Samcheog), the northern limit of M.oxycephalus, was aobut 15 Km apart and no symparty was found in between.