Ecological Characteristics of Abies koreana Forest on Seseok in Mt. Jiri

Abstract

The purpose of the this study was to provide basic data on reasonable management for Abies koreana in Mt. Jiri through analysis the ecological characteristics of Abies koreana forests on Seseok. Due to low soil pH (4.26), high organic matter (10.5%) and total N (0.32%), the soil properties of A. koreana forest on Seseok are different from those of other forest soil in Korea. According to the result of importance value analysis, A. koreana (70.5) for tree layer, A. koreana (37.6) and Rhododendron schlippenbachii (20.8) for subtree layer and A. koreana (12.6), Sasa borealis (11.5) and Acer pseudosieboldianum (11.2) for shrub layer were high, respectively. The species diversity of Shannon was 0.425 for tree layer, 0.869 for subtree layer and 1.320 for shrub layer. Evenness and dominance for all layers ranged from 0.365 to 0.894 and 0.187 to 0.635, respectively. Height growth according to DBH of A. koreana on Seseok was relative high. Annual mean tree ring growth of A. koreana showed up 1.372, 1.557 and 1.483 mm/yr for small, middle and large diameter tree, respectively. Considering the importance value, distribution of seedling, height growth and ring growth, A. koreana forest on Seseok in Mt. Jiri will be maintained as the major population from now on.