Stand Structure and Maintenance of Picea jezoensis in a Northern Temperate Forest, South Korea

• Published in: Journal of plant biology = Singmul Hakhoe chi Vol. 53; no. 3; pp. 180 - 189
• Main Authors: Jang, W.S., Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea, Park, P.S., Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer-Verlag 01.06.2010; Springer Nature B.V; 한국식물학회
• Subjects: Age composition; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Climate change; Coniferous forests; Density; Diameters; DISTRIBUCION ESPACIAL; Distribution patterns; DISTRIBUTION SPATIALE; Disturbance; Forest management; Height; Life Sciences; Maintenance; Mixed forests; Old-growth forests; Original Research; Picea jezoensis; Plant Breeding/Biotechnology; Plant Ecology; Plant Genetics and Genomics; Plant Sciences; Plant Systematics/Taxonomy/Biogeography; Population; Precipitation; Seedlings; SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION; Stand structure; Stems; Temperate forests; Topography; Trees; Windthrow; Yezo spruce; 생물학; South Korea; China; Old-growth forests; Spatial distribution; Windthrow; Yezo spruce; Disturbance
• ISSN: 1226-9239; 1867-0725
• DOI: 10.1007/s12374-010-9103-1

Stand structure and spatial distribution of Picea jezoensis (Siebold et Zucc.) CarriSre on Mt. Gyebang, Korea was investigated to provide information on the structural characteristics and the maintenance of P. jezoensis population in northern temperate mixed coniferous forests. Height and diameter at breast height (DBH) distribution, age, growth, and spatial distribution patterns of P. jezoensis were examined in thirty nine 100-400 ㎡ quadrats or circular plots. The overall stand structure attributes in the study sites are stem density of 709 trees ha-¹, a mean DBH of 12.8 cm, and a mean height of 5.6 m, with reverse J shapes of DBH and height distributions. The stem density of P. jezoensis population was 81 trees ha-¹, a mean DBH of 20.7 cm, and a mean height of 9.1 m, showing bimodal-like shapes in age and DBH distributions. Several growth release periods implied that P. jezoensis stands experienced small disturbances. The radius of patches of similar-sized P. jezoensis in the variogram was equivalent with the height of the tallest trees, indicating that patches were established following the fall of trees in the upper canopy layer. Small windthrows in this region contributed to the maintenance of the P. jezoensis stand by releasing sapling growth and providing nursing logs and space for seedlings.