Identification of Ecological Characteristics of Vegetation Distributed in Mt. Chilbosan, Gyeonggi-do

Abstract

Background and objective: Urban forests fulfill a range of functions, including promoting leisure activities and improving urban landscapes, but are different in structure from natural forests. In the case of forests near the Seoul metropolitan region, forests dominated by native tree species must be formed, but vegetation management that involves in minimal intervention is essential due to external disturbances, artificially planted species, and invasive species. This study was conducted to preferentially survey the vegetation status of Mt. Chilbosan, Gyeonggi-do with the goal of contributing to the sound use and management of the mountain.Methods: Eighty quadrats were established, and the species names and characteristics for each stratum were surveyed by dividing them into canopy, understory, and shrub layer. Based on the surveyed vegetation data, communities were classified through TWINSPAN or DCA analysis, and the characteristics of each community were examined.Results: The plant communities were classified into a total of 7 dominant groups: <i>Quercus mongolica, Quercus mongolica-Pinus rigida, Pinus rigida-Pinus densiflora, Pinus rigida-Quercus</i> spp., <i>Castanea crenata-Quercus acutissima, Robinia pseudoacacia</i>, and <i>Pinus koraiensis</i>. Communities dominated by <i>Quercus mongolica</i> and <i>Pinus rigida</i> had similar species and vegetation structures. Communities dominated by artificially planted tree species such as <i>Castanea crenata, Robinia pseudoacacia</i>, and <i>Pinus koraiensis</i> are distributed around the forest edges or frequently used hiking trails and are damaged by various disturbances. Overall, not only is it difficult for succession to proceed due to external influences and soil acidification, but because species with high adaptability to acidity are also expected to emerge, making long-term monitoring necessary.Conclusion: Mt. Chilbosan had a good environment, but it was disturbed by a low elevation, a drop in the groundwater level due to surrounding development, and an increase in visitors. To improve the current state, it is necessary to induce and manage the transition to native forests adapted to the urban environment by reflecting the vegetation structure's characteristics and changes.