Community Structure and Growth Rate of Korean Quercus mongolica Forests by Vegetation Climate Zone

Abstract

Q. mongolica forests are representative forest types in Korea, belonging to the intermediate succession stage with the highest species diversity. Identifying the community structure and growth rate of Q. mongolica forests by the vegetation climate zone can help in planning efficient forest restoration strategies for each vegetation climate zone. The proportions of major communities based on the vegetation climate zones newly adjusted by the Korea National Arboretum in 2020 were determined. Major dominant species were identified in Quercus mongolica forests in which Q. mongolica dominates by more than 50% by analyzing the importance based on the basal area of the trees using data from the 7th National Forest Inventory Survey. The basal area growth rate was analyzed for permanent sample plots from the 5th to 7th National Forest Inventory Surveys. The analysis revealed statistically significant differences in the basal area growth rate by vegetation climate zone over a 10-year period. However, it should be noted that Q. mongolica forests with younger age classes were more abundant in the warm southern temperate zone; thus, it is likely that age class has a greater effect on the rate of basal area increase than the vegetation climate zone.