The role of the Baekdudaegan (Korean Peninsula) as a major glacial refugium for plant species: A priority for conservation

The main Korean mountain range [the so-called “Baekdudaegan” (BDDG)] is thought to have served as a glacial refugium, mainly for the boreal and temperate flora of northeastern Asia. To test this hypothesis, we have critically reviewed (i) the genetic literature focused on plants for which Korean populations have been studied or Korean endemic plants, and (ii) palaeoecological studies with data from the Korean Peninsula and/or from neighboring...