지리산국립공원 화엄사 사찰림의 식물군집구조 분석 = Analysis of Plant Community Structure in Hwaeomsa Temple Forest, Jirisan National Park1a Tae-Jun Jung2and Seok-Gon Park

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

This study applied quantitative vegetation analysis to the temple forest of Hwaeomsa in Jirisan National Park to characterize the plant community structure and successional trends. Analysis of the field survey data revealed that eight community types were clearly delineated, primarily governed by two key environmental factors: elevation and soil moisture. Specific community characteristics showed distinct successional patterns. In valley sites, the Quercus serrata - Carpinus laxiflora community demonstrated the long-term potential for the shade-tolerant C. laxiflora to transition into the dominant canopy species. Conversely, on dry slopes and ridges, the Pinus densiflora community exhibited a size-class distribution where pines were largely confined to older, large-diameter individuals, while deciduous broad-leaved saplings and pole-sized trees were abundant. This indicates that the establishment of pine regeneration is restricted, suggesting a high likelihood of the pine forest being gradually replaced by broad-leaved forests over the long term. This successional trend aligns with the pine forest decline widely reported across other mountainous areas in Korea. Furthermore, higher elevation communities showed stable structures dominated by Q. mongolica. Overall, the Hwaeomsa temple forest is undergoing a clear and ongoing successional transition from a pine-dominated to a broad-leaved forest. This progression is consistent with the general successional pattern observed in Korean temperate forests. We confirmed that the historical and cultural status of the temple forest is a critical factor, having minimized long-term anthropogenic disturbance and thus allowing natural vegetation succession to proceed.