Berberis koreana Palibin is an endemic plant native to Korea. In this study, we aimed to study the seed germination of this species using a water imbibition experiment, gibberellic acid (GA₃) treatment (0, 10, 100, or 1000 mg·L⁻¹), cold stratification (0, 2, 4, 8, or 12 weeks at 4 °C), move-along experiment, and phenology studies. In the water imbibition experiment, the weight of the seeds increased by more than 120% in 24 h. An analysis of the internal and external morphological characteristics of the seed revealed that the embryo was already fully grown from the fruit and did not grow thereafter. The final germination percentages for the cold stratification at 0, 2, 4, 8, and 12 weeks at 4 °C were 12 ± 3.65, 32 ± 9.09, 59 ± 1.00, 59 ± 9.59, and 71 ± 1.91%, respectively. In the move-along experiment and phenology studies, a longer low-temperature treatment period resulted in a higher germination percentage. However, the GA₃ treatment had little effect on the seed germination. Our results indicate that B. koreana exhibits an intermediate physiological seed dormancy.

This study evaluated the floristic characteristics and ecological conditions of disturbed sites within the Baekdudaegan Protected Area by analyzing species occurrence and ecological indices according to the region and disturbance type. A total of 515 vascular plant species were recorded, including rare species, alien species, and Korean endemic plants. To assess ecological patterns, the Naturalization Index (NI), Urbanization Index (UI), and Sørensen similarity index were applied. The results showed that Mt. Seoraksan, Mt. Deogyusan, and Mt. Taebaeksan had relatively high NI and UI values, while Mt. Jirisan showed a comparatively low UI value. Among disturbance types, the hiking trail (HT) type, located in a high-altitude area with limited accessibility, also recorded lower values. Floristic similarity with reference ecosystems was higher in Mt. Jirisan, Mt. Deogyusan, and Mt. Taebaeksan, whereas Mt. Seoraksan exhibited the lowest similarity. The overall similarity between disturbance types was low, and the composition of plant species varied across disturbance types. These results suggest that differences in disturbance intensity, driven by the disturbance type and topographic conditions, influences the floristic composition. The findings of this study can serve as baseline data for developing site-specific restoration strategies for disturbed sites in the future.