Journal of Ecology and Environment

The Ecological Society of Korea (한국생태학회)
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Long-term ecological monitoring in South Korea: progress and perspectives

  • Jeong Soo Park (Division of Climate Change Research, National Institute of Ecology) ;
  • Seung Jin Joo (Center for Atmospheric and Environmental Modeling (CAEM)) ;
  • Jaseok Lee (Department of Biological Science, Konkuk University) ;
  • Dongmin Seo (Department of Biological Science, Konkuk University) ;
  • Hyun Seok Kim (Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Bioresources, Seoul National University) ;
  • Jihyeon Jeon (Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Bioresources, Seoul National University) ;
  • Chung Weon Yun (Department of Forest Science, Kongju National University) ;
  • Jeong Eun Lee (Department of Forest Science, Kongju National University) ;
  • Sei-Woong Choi (Department of Environmental Education, Mokpo National University) ;
  • Jae-Young Lee (Division of Climate Change Research, National Institute of Ecology)
  • Received : 2023.10.27
  • Accepted : 2023.11.17
  • Published : 2023.12.31
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Abstract

Environmental crises caused by climate change and human-induced disturbances have become urgent challenges to the sustainability of human beings. These issues can be addressed based on a data-driven understanding and forecasting of ecosystem responses to environmental changes. In this study, we introduce a long-term ecological monitoring system in Korean Long-Term Ecological Research (KLTER), and a plan for the Korean Ecological Observatory Network (KEON). KLTER has been conducted since 2004 and has yielded valuable scientific results. However, the KLTER approach has limitations in data integration and coordinated observations. To overcome these limitations, we developed a KEON plan focused on multidisciplinary monitoring of the physiochemical, meteorological, and biological components of ecosystems to deepen process-based understanding of ecosystem functions and detect changes. KEON aims to answer nationwide and long-term ecological questions by using a standardized monitoring approach. We are preparing three types of observatories: two supersites depending on the climate-vegetation zones, three local sites depending on the ecosystem types, and two mobile deployment platforms to act on urgent ecological issues. The main observation topics were species diversity, population dynamics, biogeochemistry (carbon, methane, and water cycles), phenology, and remote sensing. We believe that KEON can address environmental challenges and play an important role in ecological observations through partnerships with international observatories.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

We would like to thank all researchers who carried out the field surveys of KLTER. We thank the MOE of the Republic of Korea for their assistance.

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