Floristic inventory and distribution characteristics of algific talus slopes in a specific area of forest biodiversity in South Korea

Abstract

Background: This study conducted a survey for establishing in-situ and ex-situ conservation measures for northern lineage plants that are vulnerable to climate change and for designating Forest Genetic Resource Reserve for 25 algific talus slope sites, which are specific areas of forest biodiversity. The survey was conducted in South Korea within a distance of 50 m to the east, west, north and south from the core area where wind blows to the algific talus slopes. The study was conducted once or twice per season from April 2016 to November 2021.

New information: Vascular plants of 25 algific talus slope sites in South Korea included a total of 1,052 taxa of 125 families, 486 genera, 947 species, 23 subspecies, 75 variety and 7 forma. The maximum surveyed area was 0.09 km², accounting for only 0.00014% of the 62,860 km² forest area in Korea, but comprise 22.27% of the 4,724 species of vascular plants in Korea. The algific talus slopes are areas rich in forest biodiversity. Six taxa were categorized as endangered, including Paeoniaobovata Maxim. Sixty-seven taxa, including Astilboidestabularis (Hemsl.) Engl.; 58 taxa endemic to the Korean Peninsula, including Weigelasubsessilis (Nakai) L.H. Bailey; and 317 taxa of floristic target plants were categorized as rare plants in the Red list. Further, 181 taxa were identified as northern lineage plants and 32 taxa, including Sillaphytonpodagraria (H. Boissieu) Pimenov, were limestone area plants. Regarding alien plants, 75 taxa, including Oenotherabiennis L., were identified and the naturalization and urbanization rates were 7.13% and 12.12%, respectively. Plants specific to the phytogeography of the 25 algific talus slope sites in this study were Vacciniumvitis-idaea L., Rosakoreana Kom., SyringavillosaVahlsubsp.wolfii (C.K. Schneid.) Jin Y.Chen & D.Y. Hong, Lonicerachrysantha Turcz. ex Ledeb., Tephroserisflammea (Turcz. ex DC.) Holub, among others.

Keywords: Algific talus slope; Korea endemic plants; alien plants; floristic target species; phytogeographic plants; rare plants.