Time-spatial distribution of Pinus in the Korean Peninsula

Abstract

Despite the ecological and landscape importance and the public popularity of conifers, especially in the case of Pinus of Pinaceae in the Korean Peninsula, not much scientific information related to vegetation is known. A wide range of fossil data has been collated and analyzed to understand the past vegetation history and current distribution and ecology, and to predict the future ranges of Pinus species in Korea in connection with climate change.Though the existing earliest Pinus (diploxylon) dates to the Cretaceous, Pinus became more common since the Miocene, and shows widespread distribution in lowland and montane areas during the Quaternary. Separation of geographical distribution of haploxylon and diploxylon Pinus since the Pleistocene may be the result of the climatic fluctuations and availability of diverse habitat. Dominance of Pinus during the Holocene may be related to both natural climatic warming as well as anthropogenic disturbance, such as, selective deforestation, agricultural activities and fire.The present occurrence of cold-tolerant Pinus pumila at northern and central alpine and subalpine belts of the Korean Peninsula indicates that the cool and hostile climate at high elevation guaranteed the survival of glacial relics in post glacial climate. The presence of Pinus koraiensis at mid elevations on mountains of northern and central Korea might be due to the cool climate in the Pleistocene.Thanks to a mild climate and seeds with wings, combined with an abundance of poor soil provided by human disturbance, Pinus densiflora became a dominant tree species at lowland and montane areas. The presence of Pinus thunbergii mainly along southern coastal regions may also be related to the local climatic condition. Disjunctive distributions of Pinus parviflora on remote islands, such as Ulleung Island and some Japanese Isles, demands further study regarding the long distance dispersal of seeds by birds, and relation to an oceanic climate. More information is needed to discuss the distributions of Pinus tabulaeformis var. mukdensis at sites in northern Korea. Special concern and protection are required for vulnerable conifer species with limited or narrow distributional ranges on high mountains and in rapidly changing environments, due climate change and environmental degradation.