PINE FOREST STRUCTURE IN A HUMAN-DOMINATED LANDSCAPE SYSTEM IN KOREA

To elucidate the characteristics of spatial heterogeneity in a human-d ominated landscape, vegetation and community structure of pine (Pinus densiflora and P. rigida) forests were studied at rural Teokseong-ri i n Chollanam-do, in the southwestern part of Korea. Daily removal of un dergrowth for firewood affects the stratification and species composit ion in the community. In general, stratification of the pine forest de velops in proportion to its distance from the main habitat of farmers, involving the residential and cultivated land. In pine forests near t he main habitat of farmers, sun-demanding herbaceous plants grow well, while in remote forests, Fagaceous plants such as Quercus serrata, Q. actissima and Castanea crenata grow well. This zonation results from the fact that removal of undergrowth is greater in the forest near the main habitat of farmers, than in the remote forest. Construction and maintenance of graveyards, however, prevents development of stratifica tion of the forest even in remote stands.