Abstract

Recent changes in the dominant plant communities in South Korea (Southern Korean Peninsula) remain unclear. By analyzing vegetation data from the Ecological and Natural Map, we examined spatial changes over the past decade in the three most dominant plant communities in South Korea: Quercus mongolica, Quercus variabilis, and Pinus densiflora. Q. mongolica and P. densiflora communities have gradually decreased in the area. In contrast, the Q. variabilis community steadily expanded in the past decade, leading to an increase in its vegetation conservation grade within the Ecological and Natural Map. The decline in the Q. mongolica community was mainly due to the outbreak of oak wilt disease and thinning operations conducted as part of forestry projects by the Korea Forest Service. Similarly, the decline in the P. densiflora community was primarily caused by pine wilt disease, pine gall midge infestations, and thinning under forest management. However, Q. variabilis naturally competes with Q. mongolica and P. densiflora in natural ecosystems. With the decline in these two species, Q. variabilis gained a competitive edge. Its strong resistance to oak wilt disease, along with its use as a major species in afforestation and reforestation, led to a gradual increase in its area.