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 improvingurban landscapes, but are different in structure from natural forests. In the case of forests near the Seoul metropolitanregion, forests dominated by native tree species must be formed, but vegetation management that involves in minimalintervention is essential due to external disturbances, artificially planted species, and invasive species. This study wasconducted to preferentially survey the vegetation status of Mt. Chilbosan, Gyeonggi-do with the goal of contributing to thesound use and management of the mountain. Methods: Eighty quadrats were established, and the species names and characteristics for each stratum were surveyedby dividing them into canopy, understory, and shrub layer. Based on the surveyed vegetation data, communities wereclassified 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: Quercus mongolica, Quercus mongolica-Pinus rigida, Pinus rigida-Pinus densiflora, Pinus rigida-Quercus spp., Castanea crenata-Quercus acutissima, Robiniapseudoacacia, and Pinus koraiensis. Communities dominated by Quercus mongolica and Pinus rigida had similar speciesand vegetation structures. Communities dominated by artificially planted tree species such as Castanea crenata, Robiniapseudoacacia, and Pinus koraiensis are distributed around the forest edges or frequently used hiking trails and are damagedby various disturbances. Overall, not only is it difficult for succession to proceed due to external influences and soilacidification, but because species with high adaptability to acidity are also expected to emerge, making long-termmonitoring necessary. Conclusion: Mt. Chilbosan had a good environment, but it was disturbed by a low elevation, a drop in the groundwater leveldue to surrounding development, and an increase in visitors. To improve the current state, it is necessary to induce andmanage the transition to native forests adapted to the urban environment by reflecting the vegetation structure'scharacteristics and changes.