Effects of Climate Change on C₄ Plant List and Distribution in South Korea:A Review
2011
Kim, M.H., National Academy of Agricultural Science, RDA, Suwon, Republic of Korea | Han, M.S., National Academy of Agricultural Science, RDA, Suwon, Republic of Korea | Kang, K.K., National Academy of Agricultural Science, RDA, Suwon, Republic of Korea | Na, Y.E., National Academy of Agricultural Science, RDA, Suwon, Republic of Korea | Bang, H.S., National Academy of Agricultural Science, RDA, Suwon, Republic of Korea
It is expected that identification and lists of C₄ plants in specific regions are useful not only for the ecological researches that are related to vegetation phenology and succession but also as an index of climate change. In this review, C₄ plants growing in South Korea were listed and their life forms were investigated. In addition, we discussed the influences that climatic change and the C₄ plants exerted on plant ecosystem. Photosynthetic pathway types (C₃ and C₄) for the plant species in South Korea were determined by reviewing the scientific literatures published between 1971 and 2010. Of the total 4476 species in 1123 genera and 197 families, 206 species (4.6%) in 84 genera (7.5%) and 21 families (10.7%) were identified as C₄ plants (including C₃-C₄ intermediate plants). Among the identified C₄ species, 53 species (25.7%) in 26 genera and 15 families were classified as Dicotyledoneae, while 153 species (74.3%) in 58 genera and 6 families were classified as Monocotyledoneae. The majority of the C₄ species belong to four families: Chenopodiaceae (15 species), Amaranthaceae (13 species), Gramineae (102 speceis) and Cyperaceae (45 species). With respect to life form composition of 206 C₄ species, Th-R∧5-D₄-t was most dominant: 95 species (46.1%) were included in Th, 123 species (59.7%) in R∧5, 179 species (86.9%) in D₄, and 122 species (59.2%) in t. The projected increase in temperature due to climate change may provide better conditions for the growth of C₄ plants. Such a result will have considerable impacts on the interspecific competition between C₃ and C₄ plants, the distribution of C₄ plants, plant phenology, and plant diversity.
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