| Central Korean deciduous forests | |
|---|---|
 | |
 Location map of the Central Korean deciduous forests | |
| Ecology | |
| Realm | Palearctic |
| Biome | Temperate broadleaf and mixed forests |
| Borders | |
| Geography | |
| Area | 103,721 km2 (40,047 sq mi) |
| Countries | |
| Conservation | |
| Conservation status | Critical/endangered |
| Protected | 5,236 km² (2%) [1] |
The Central Korean deciduous forests is a temperate broadleaf and mixed forests ecoregion on the Korean Peninsula, covering portions of South Korea and North Korea.
The Central Korean deciduous forests occupy the central and southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. They are bounded on the south by the Southern Korea evergreen forests, and on the north by the Manchurian mixed forests. Low mountains and rolling hills cover much of the peninsula, seldom exceeding 1200 meters elevation. [2] The Baekdu-daegan mountain range runs along the eastern side of the peninsula, and the peninsula's main rivers generally flow westwards or southwards from mountain headwaters. But sometimes not.
The climate of the ecoregion is temperate and generally humid (Dwa). Average annual rainfall exceeds 1000 mm. Summers are humid, and two-thirds of annual rainfall comes between June and September. Winter months are generally drier, and cold continental air from the Asian continent brings below-freezing temperatures. The climate is warmer and winters milder to the south, with colder winter temperatures to the north and at higher elevations. [2]
The natural vegetation is deciduous broadleaf forest. Conifers predominate in recently-disturbed areas and at higher elevations. The predominant trees vary from south to north. In the warmer south, common broadleaf trees include hornbeams ( Carpinus tschonoskii and Carpinus laxiflora ), maples ( Acer formosum and Acer palmatum ), and the oak Quercus acutissima , with the pine Pinus thunbergii and the bamboo Phyllostachys . Pine and bamboo are common in formerly-cleared areas. [2]
In the northern portion of the ecoregion, common trees include the oaks Quercus mongolica and Quercus serrata , along with Acer mono , birch ( Betula ), hornbeam (Carpinus), Celtis sinensis , Korean ash (Fraxinus chinensis var. rhynchophylla), walnut ( Juglans mandshurica ), Maackia amurensis , Platycarya strobilacea, Prunus padus, Pyrus ussuriensis , willows ( Salix ), and elm ( Ulmus ), along with the fir Abies holophylla . [2]
Mammals native to the ecoregion include Ussuri black bear (Ursus thibetanus ussuricus), Siberian roe deer (Capreolus pygargus), Korean water deer (Hydropotes inermis argyropus), Asian badger (Meles leucurus), leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis), yellow-throated marten (Martes flavigula), Siberian weasel (Mustela sibirica), and mandarin vole (Lasiopodomys mandarinus). [2]
379 bird species have been recorded in South Korea, of which 114 species are breeding species, and the others are vagrant, migrant or winter visitor species. Resident birds include the Tristram's woodpecker (Dryocopus javensis richardsi), fairy pitta (Pitta nympha), and ring-necked pheasant (Phasianus colchicus torquatus). [2]
The endangered red-crowned crane (Grus japonensis) overwinter in coastal and freshwater wetlands and along rivers, and breeds in the ecoregion's deep freshwater marshes. The white-naped crane (Antigone vipio) overwinters in the ecoregion. Both species now breed in the Demilitarized Zone. [2]
A 2017 assessment found that 5,236 km², or 2%, of the ecoregion is in protected areas. Only 5% of the unprotected area is still forested. [1] Protected areas include Bukhansan National Park, Byeonsan-bando National Park, Chiaksan National Park, Deogyusan National Park, Gayasan National Park, Gyeryongsan National Park, Jirisan National Park, Naejangsan National Park, Sobaeksan National Park, Songnisan National Park, Woraksan National Park.
The Korean Demilitarized Zone runs across the Korean Peninsula. It marks the 1953 armistice line that ended the Korean War, and since then as served as the de facto border between North Korea and South Korea. The demilitarized zone is approximately 4 kilometres (2.5 miles) wide. The zone is mostly depopulated, and civilian access is restricted. Over the decades forests and wetlands within the zone have returned to their natural state, and it has become a refuge for wildlife, including resident and migratory birds. [2]
"Central Korean deciduous forests". Terrestrial Ecoregions. World Wildlife Fund.
Temperate rainforests are rainforests with coniferous or broadleaf forests that occur in the temperate zone and receive heavy rain.
The Qinling or Qin Mountains, formerly known as the Nanshan, are a major east–west mountain range in southern Shaanxi Province, China. The mountains mark the divide between the drainage basins of the Yangtze and Yellow River systems, providing a natural boundary between North and South China and support a huge variety of plant and wildlife, some of which is found nowhere else on earth.
The Corsican montane broadleaf and mixed forests ecoregion, in the Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub biome, are on the island of Corsica. The ecoregion includes the high-elevation areas of Corsica's mountainous interior.
The Appalachian mixed mesophytic forests is an ecoregion of the temperate broadleaf and mixed forests biome, as defined by the World Wildlife Fund. It consists of mesophytic plants west of the Appalachian Mountains in the Southeastern United States.
The Crimean Submediterranean forest complex is an ecoregion on the Black Sea coast of Russia and Ukraine. It is in the temperate broadleaf and mixed forests biome.
The Chin Hills-Arakan Yoma montane forests is a tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forest ecoregion in western Myanmar (Burma). Surrounded at lower elevations by moist tropical forests, this ecoregion is home a diverse range of subtropical and temperate species, including many species characteristic of the Himalayas, as well as many endemic species.
The Taiwan subtropical evergreen forests is an ecoregion that covers most of the island of Taiwan, with the exception of the southern tip of the island, which constitutes the South Taiwan monsoon rain forests ecoregion. The island's concentrated steep mountains host a range of forest types, from subtropical forests in the lowlands to temperate and alpine or montane forests.
The Illyrian deciduous forests is a terrestrial ecoregion in southern Europe, which extends along the eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea. It belongs to the Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub biome, and is in the Palearctic realm.
The Italian sclerophyllous and deciduous forests ecoregion, part of the Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub biome, is in Italy. The ecoregion covers most of the Italian Peninsula and includes both evergreen and deciduous forests.
The Dinaric Mountains mixed forests are a terrestrial ecoregion of the temperate broadleaf and mixed forests biome in Southeastern Europe, according to both the WWF and Digital Map of European Ecological Regions by the European Environment Agency. It also is in the Palearctic realm.
The Western Himalayan broadleaf forests is a temperate broadleaf and mixed forest ecoregion which is found in the middle elevations of the western Himalayas, including parts of Nepal, India, and Pakistan.
The Po Basin mixed forests is a temperate broadleaf and mixed forests ecoregion in the basin of the Po River in northern Italy and Switzerland's Ticino canton.
The Southeastern mixed forests are an ecoregion of the temperate broadleaf and mixed forest biome, in the lower portion of the Eastern United States.
The Southern Korea evergreen forests is a temperate broadleaf and mixed forests ecoregion at the southern end of the Korean Peninsula.
The Western Great Lakes forests is a terrestrial ecoregion as defined by the World Wildlife Fund. It is within the temperate broadleaf and mixed forests biome of North America. It is found in northern areas of the United States' states of Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota, and in southern areas of the Canadian province of Manitoba and northwestern areas of the province of Ontario.
The Eastern Anatolian deciduous forests ecoregion is located in the mountains of eastern Turkey. It is a Palearctic ecoregion in the temperate broadleaf and mixed forests biome.
The Southern Anatolian montane conifer and deciduous forests ecoregion, in the Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub biome, is in the eastern Mediterranean Basin.
The Anatolian conifer and deciduous mixed forests is an ecoregion located in southwestern Anatolia, Turkey. It has a Mediterranean climate, and is part of the Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub biome.
The Carpathian montane conifer forests, also known as Carpathian montane forests, is a temperate coniferous forests ecoregion in the Carpathian Mountains of the Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia, Romania, and Ukraine.
The Pyrenees conifer and mixed forests is a temperate broadleaf and mixed forests ecoregion in southwestern Europe. It extends along the Pyrenees mountains which run east and west along the border between France and Spain, and includes all Andorra. The ecoregion extends from the lower slopes of the Pyrenees to its highest peaks, which include Aneto, Posets, and Vignemale.
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link) Supplemental material 2 table S1b.