• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.95 no.6
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• pp.711-715
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• 2006

This study was conducted to clarify the characteristics of habitats and small rodent populations between remnant removed and left areas caused by different remnant treatment on forest floor in fired coniferous forest, Mt Gumbong, Samcheok, Korea, There were higher value of variables of understory coverage, snags, downed coarse woody debris (CWD) in natural restored area. Mean number of captured individuals and body weights of Apodemus peninsulae and Eothenomys regulus were more higher in remnant left area than in removed area, The differences in density and body weight of small rodents would be related with habitats between both study areas. The remove of remnant trees on the forest floor would not be good for small rodents. The more detailed and long-term researches would be needed for proper restoration in fired forest area.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.108 no.1
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• pp.127-132
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• 2019

This study aimed to investigate the differences in habitat environment and characteristics of small rodent populations with time elapse after thinning in Japanese larch (Larix kaempferi) plantations, Mt. Janggun, Gyeongbuk Province, South Korea. We found that there were significant differences in habitat environment, number of tree, shrub stems, coverage of overstory, midstory, rock and number of coarse woody debris (CWD) between thinned and unthinned forest stands. We captured four small rodent species. Total number of captured small rodent were higher in thinned stands. Male-to-female ratio of Apodemus agrarius, and A. peninsulae were both the highest in forest stand 3 year after thinning. The differences in number of captured and sex ratio of small rodents might be related to habitat environment between thinned and unthinned stands. Thus, thinning can provide good habitat for small rodents by developing understory vegetation and increasing CWD in Japanese larch plantations. These results suggest that forest management through maintenance of CWD and induction of midstory and understory vegetation after thinning is necessary to maintain small rodents diversity.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.472-480
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• 2018

This study was conducted to estimate carbon storage in Quercus mongolica stands based on stand age class, and to provide basic data on the carbon balance of broad-leaved forests of Korea. The research was conducted at the experimental forest of Kangwon National University, Hongcheon-gun County, Gangwon-do Province, Korea. Three plots were set up in each of three Q. mongolica forest stands (III, V, and VII) to estimate the amount of carbon stored in Q. mongolica aboveground vegetation, coarse woody debris (CWD), organic layer, mineral soil, and litterfall. The carbon storage of the aboveground vegetation increased with an increase in stand age, while the carbon storage ratio of stems decreased. The carbon storage of the organic layer, CWD, and litterfall did not show any significant differences among age classes. In addition, the carbon concentration and storage in the forest soils decreased with depth, and there were no differences among age classes for any soil horizon. Finally, the total carbon storage in the III, V, and VII stands of Q. mongolica were 132.2, 241.1, and $374.4Mg\;C\;ha^{-1}$, respectively. In order to predict and effectively manage forest carbon dynamics in Korea, further study on deciduous forests with other tree species in different regions will be needed.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2016

Despite it has been mentioned that the successful restoration in landscape level was achieved in the Young-il soil erosion control project, quantitative evaluation of restored plant communities (Alnus firma as introduced species and Pinus thunbergii as native species) was hardly founded. Light availability, litter and woody debris cover, and forest structure and composition were determined for 500 m² band-quadrat in three forest types. Abiotic factors of Q. serrata stands, as reference forest, and A. firma stands were similar but not for P. thunbergii stands. There were no significant difference on mean stem density (stems ha^-1, H = 3.6, p = 0.162), and the mean basal area of each stand had marginal significance (m² ha^-1, H = 5.7, p = 0.058) among stands as total basal area was higher with the order of A. firma (21.4 m² ha^-1), P. thunbergii (19.8 m² ha^-1) and Q. serrata (16.2 m² ha^-1). Restoration of vegetation structure was more effective in fast-growing and N-fixing A. firma, as introduced species plantation. However, result of MRPP, NMS ordination and ISPAN for herbaceous layer, not for tree and shrub species composition, indicated that restoration of ground vegetation was likely influenced highly from local environment. Propagule availability from landscape context such as connectedness to natural vegetation and management practices in restored isolated stands are available explanations for restoration effects and gaps between restored plantations and secondary oak forest.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.136-146
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• 2017

We selected 6 plots ($100m^2$) located 2.2-3.8 km from Minamidake Crater on the north flank of Sakurajima Volcano. We conducted a field study to investigate the effects of volcanic activity on vegetation succession and surface erosion rate. The results showed that trees growing in plots further from the crater had a greater diameter at breast height (DBH), total height, and age. In addition, these plots had a greater number of woody plants and species, as well as a greater total cross-sectional area at breast height. The Fisher-Williams index of diversity (${\alpha}$) and the proportion of evergreen broad-leaved trees were higher in plots located further from the crater. Vegetation succession in these plots was not at the level of a climax forest. From 1972 to 2015, the timing for active volcano, the depth of volcanic ash layer, the dry density, and the pH of ground surface were lower for plots located further from the crater. Furthermore, the average annual sheet erosion from 1972 to 2015 was also lower for plots located further away from the crater. Overall, plots further away from the crater have a better environment for vegetation growth and a lower dry density of the volcanic ash surface layer. It is thought that lower dry density results in increased soil permeability, which impedes surface flow. In order to prevent debris-flow disasters, caused by mud and rock flow resulting from impaired soil penetrability, it is essential to promote soil development and restore penetrability by artificial vegetation restoration.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.97 no.1
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• pp.113-117
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• 2008

This study was conducted to clarify the differences in habitat characteristics and rodent populations between before and after damaged tree removals at forest fired areas in coniferous forest, Samcheok, Gangwon Province, Korea. The understory coverage and the number of shrub stem were increased by forest succession. Number of snags and downed CWD (coarse woody debris) were decreased after damaged tree removals. Population density of Apodemus agrarius was increased after damaged tree removal. However, population density of total rodents, Apodemus peninsulae and Eothenomys regulus were decreased. Changes in habitat structures may be influenced in rodent species composition. Especially, that would be negative effect on forestdwelling rodents.

• Journal of Korean Society of Rural Planning
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.23-32
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• 2011

The purpose of this study is to produce basic planning criteria required in ecological restoration and improvement works of streams in rural area through the application of stream assessment methods (water quality, soil environment, and ecological function assessment) at 6 study sites of Han River basin. The investigation results were as followings; 1) There were the evaluation items like a manure use, salt degree, river peripheral tree, which did not fitted to apply to domestic streams, in the SVAP (Stream Visual Assessment Protocol) and NRCS Riparian Assessment that were evaluation models developed in USDA. The area inhabitants with a little knowledge and education personally seems to utilize the evaluation methods through improvement partly with an aspect that evaluation is slightly easy. 2) From the stream assessment results, the construction of diverse pools, large woody debris and isolated backwater pool are needed to improve a few of problems observed at the mostly study sites. The result of NRCS Riparian Assessment showed that the improvement of stream bank vegetative communities is needed by planting tree with deep-binding root masses, and managing of noxious weeds and exotic undesirable plants. 3) Summing up, the assessment results showed that the assessment scores were higher at upstream than downstream, the stream with totally maintenance than that with partly maintenance, the stream with slope bank than that with vertical bank, and the stream with a flood plain than that without a flood plain. So, the direction of stream maintenance projects must be set by consideration of those results.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.249-258
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• 2020

This study aims to provide reference material for effective forest management techniques at the catchment scale, based on the field investigation of large woody debris (LWD) in 11 streams within a third-order forest catchment in Gangwon Province, Korea. To achieve this aim, we analyzed the morphological features of LWD pieces, and the storage and distribution status of LWD by stream order throughout the entire investigation. As a result, a total of 1,207 individual pieces of LWD were categorized into three types as follows: (ⅰ) 1,142 pieces (95%) as only trunk and 65 pieces (5%) as a trunk with root wad, (ⅱ) 1,015 pieces (84%) as non-thinned and 192 pieces (16%) as the thinned, and (ⅲ) 1,050 pieces (87%) as conifer and 157 pieces (13%) as broadleaf. Additionally, in-stream LWD loads (㎥/ha) decreased with increasing stream order, yielding 105.4, 71.3, and 35.6 for first-, second-, and third-order streams, respectively. On the other hand, the ratio of LWD jams to the total LWD volume increased with increasing stream order, yielding 11%, 43%, and 49% for first-, second-, and third-order streams, respectively. Finally, a comparison of the in-stream LWD load with previous studies in several countries around the world indicated that in-stream LWD load was positively correlated with forest stand age even though the climate, topography, forest soil type, forest composition, stand growth rate, disturbance regime, and forest management practices were different. These results could contribute to understanding the significance of LWD as a by-product of forest ecosystems and an indicator of riparian forest disturbance. Based on this, we conclude that advanced forest management techniques, including treatment of thinning slash and stand density control of riparian forest by site location (hillslope and riparian zone, or stream order), should be established in the future, taking the forest ecosystem and the aquatic environment from headwater streams to low land rivers into consideration.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.98 no.6
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• pp.772-779
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• 2009

This study was conducted to estimate the carbon (C) contents in pure and mixed stands of pine (Pinus densiflora) and oak (Quercus spp.) trees for establishing the C inventory of forest ecosystems. A total of fifteen 20 m${\times}$20 m pure and mixed stands of pine and oak trees were chosen in natural forests in Hoengseong, Kangwon based on the basal area of all trees ${\geq}$ 5 cm DBH: three of 95% of pine and 5% oak trees [pine stand], three of 100% of oak trees [oak stand], and nine of 20 to 70% of pine and 80 to 30% of oak trees [mixed stand]. To estimate C contents in the study stands, biomass in vegetation, forest floor and coarse woody debris (CWD) were calculated and C concentrations in vegetation, forest floor, CWD and soil (0-30 cm) were analyzed. There was no significant difference in vegetation C contents among the stands; 147.6 Mg C/ha for the oak stand, 141.4 Mg C/ha for the pine stand and 115.8 Mg C/ha for the mixed stand. Forest floor C contents were significantly different among the stands (p<0.05); 12.7 Mg/ha for the pine stand, 9.9 Mg/ha for the oak stand, and 8.4 Mg/ha for the mixed stand. However, CWD C contents were not significantly different among the stands (p>0.05); 2.2 Mg/ha for the mixed stand, 1.7 Mg/ha for the oak stand, and 1.1 Mg/ha for the pine stand. Soil C contents up to 30 cm depth were not significantly different among the study stands; 44.4 Mg C/ha for the pine stand, 41.6 Mg C/ha for the mixed stand, and 33.3 Mg C/ha for the oak stand. Total ecosystem C contents were lower in the mixed stand than those in the pure stands, because vegetation C contents which occupied almost total ecosystem C contents were lower in the mixed stand than those in the pure stands; 199.6 Mg C/ha for the pine stand, 192.5 Mg C/ha for the oak stand and 169.1 Mg C/ha for the mixed stand. Lower vegetation C contents in the mixed stand might be influenced by interspecific competition between pine and oak trees and intraspecific competition among the oak trees resulted from high stand density. We suggest that forest management such as thinning to enhance C storage is indispensible for minimizing the competition in forest ecosystems.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.103 no.1
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• pp.30-36
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• 2014

This study examined the change in carbon (C) storage of soil, forest floor and coarse woody debris (CWD) for different thinning intensities in Pinus densiflora stands 4 years after the treatment. Two study stands were located in Jeongseon (Stand 1) and Gwangneung Experiment Forest (Stand 2). Three plots for different thinning intensities based on stand density were established at each stand in 2008; control plot (0%), T20 plot (20%) and T30 plot (30%) in Stand 1 and control plot (0%), T39 plot (39%) and T74 plot (74%) in Stand 2, respectively. The C storage of soil (0-50 cm), forest floor and CWD was measured in 2012. Total C storage of T30 plot ($109.80t{\cdot}C{\cdot}ha^{-1}$) was significantly higher than that of control plot ($86.69t{\cdot}C{\cdot}ha^{-1}$) in Stand 1. In stand 2, total C storage of T74 plot ($97.02t{\cdot}C{\cdot}ha^{-1}$) was significantly higher than that of control plot ($72.04t{\cdot}C{\cdot}ha^{-1}$) and T39 plot ($63.25t{\cdot}C{\cdot}ha^{-1}$). Total C storage of the heaviest thinned plot was the highest in each study stand. Since this study examined initial effects of thinning on C storage of soil, forest floor and CWD, further studies would be necessary to evaluate the long-term effects.