Abstract
BackgroundNatural regeneration of seedlings as well as saplings of Korean fir has been significantly impacted by the browsing from the early stages of their development, potentially, by roe deer for the last two to three decades at the study site since late 1980s. This study was carried out to investigate current status of the disturbance in the seedling development of Korean fir (Abies koreana) on Mt. Hallasan, Jeju Island, Korea.MethodsField survey was carried out during June and August in 2016 to measure the characteristics of study site and understory vegetation by applying systematic sampling to 125 plots of 5 m × 5 m quadrat located on eastern slope of the mountain. Correlation and regression analyses were applied to the variables quantified from the data sets using the SAS software.ResultsNo saplings with their diameters at breast heights smaller than 5.0 cm were found at the study site indicating the serious disturbance in the natural regeneration of Korean fir at the study site. No seedlings with their heights taller than 36.0 cm were found at the study site indicating even more serious disturbance during earlier stage of the natural regeneration of Korean fir at the study site. A total of 616 individuals of the seedlings of Korean fir were found at 54 out of 125 sampling plots. One hundred thirty-eight seedlings (22.4%) out of 616 individual seedlings have the vestiges for being grazed, potentially, by roe deer.ConclusionsDue considerations should be given to the effects of browsing of the seedlings by roe deer to promote the natural regeneration of Korean fir, ultimately to restore Korean fir. It is needed for the managers of the forest to install fences around the forest area. Exclosure experiments as well as enclosure experiments of different densities of browsing should be carried out. In addition, treatment with different densities of Jeju dwarf bamboo should also be included in the experiment on Mt. Hallasan National Park, Jeju Island, Korea.
Highlights
Natural regeneration of seedlings as well as saplings of Korean fir has been significantly impacted by the browsing from the early stages of their development, potentially, by roe deer for the last two to three decades at the study site since late 1980s
This indicates that the natural regeneration of Korean fir tree species is strongly disturbed for the seedlings being browsed from very early stage of their regeneration by roe deer at the study site, which is the main mechanism of the disturbance in the natural regeneration in the seedlings of Korean fir on Mt
As it is very important to prevent for the seedlings from browsing by roe deer at the study site, there should be some measures devised to stop the seedlings of Korean fir being browsed by roe deer
Summary
Natural regeneration of seedlings as well as saplings of Korean fir has been significantly impacted by the browsing from the early stages of their development, potentially, by roe deer for the last two to three decades at the study site since late 1980s. This study was carried out to investigate current status of the disturbance in the seedling development of Korean fir (Abies koreana) on Mt. Hallasan, Jeju Island, Korea. The summit of Mt. Hallasan is the highest peak in South Korea with its altitude of 1950 m above sea level (ASL). On higher altitude of Mt. Hallasan, there are forests dominated by Korean fir (Abies koreana) from the altitude of around 1300 m ASL to the summit. Hallasan in Korea, representing the typical habitat of the sub-alpine forest of Jeju Island (Kong and Watts 1993, Song et al 2010, Song 2011)
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