Long-term ecological research on Korean forest ecosystems: the current status and challenges

The present study aims to monitor the long-term changes in forest structure, productivity, nutrient cycling, and to accumulate ecological information on forest ecosystem in Korea. There are six long-term ecological research sites and seven flux measurement sites in Korea. The Gwangneung experimental forest (GEF) located in the central cool-temperate forest sub zone is known as a model site where many interdisciplinary researches have been ongoing actively since mid-1990s over all other Korea long-term ecological research sites (KLTER). Collected data and information through monitoring and investigation of changes in forest ecosystem have been stored in a database for analyses. The relative importance of tree species (%) of GEF was in the order Quercus serrata (20)=Euonymus oxyphyllus (20)>Carpinus laxiflora (12). The total biomass and basal area were 249.53t ha(-1) and 26.66m(2) ha(-1), respectively. There were 136 taxa with 49 families, with 97 genera, 11 varieties, 3 forma, and 1 subspecies in 1ha permanent plot. The increase in temperature has been estimated to have negative effects on tree growth. The litter decomposition rate was in the order Cornus controversa