Many aquatic ecosystems suffer from anthropogenic disturbances, including the introduction of damaging levels of toxic substances. The effects of disturbances include complex relations with various components involved in the systems, and can include physical, chemical, and hydrological disruption depending of the contaminant. Decision Support Systems (DSSs) are developed to help decision makers to deal with complex management crises, through the systematic structuring and evaluation of decisions, and through providing easy-to-use and integrated tools for information elaboration and display. We reviewed various DSSs developed for toxic substances in aquatic ecosystems, and suggested a conceptual framework which is best suited to the management of such issues within Korea. It may assist stakeholders with their decision making process, and in the achievement of a consensus on water management solutions.

Biomass changes, net primary production and transfer dynamics of dry matter in four subtropical humid montane grasslands at Ebbenadu, Korakundah, Thiashola and Wenlockdown in Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve (NBR), the Western Ghats, India, were investigated. Despite the early report of a higher density and dominance of $C_4$ species over $C_3$ species in these grasslands, no functional study of matter production had previously been carried out. Therefore, in order to determine the roles played by these two groups of species, the present study was attempted. The study revealed that the dry matter and net primary production contributed by $C_4$ species were much greater than those of its $C_3$ counterpart in all the grasslands. The turnover rate of aboveground dry matter for both $C_3$ and $C_4$ species was generally rapid, whereas it was slow for belowground parts, and litter components of $C_3$ and $C_4$ species together. In all grasslands, generally about 60% and 10% of the input were channeled to aboveground and belowground parts, respectively, by the $C_4$ species, whereas the $C_3$ species transferred only about 22% and 8% of dry matter to aboveground and belowground parts, respectively. The total disappearance of dry matter was 2.73, 2.10, 3.19, and $1.96\;g\;m^{-2}\;day^{-1}$ in Ebbenadu, Korakundah, Thiashola and Wenlockdown grasslands, which was 48.83%, 44.30%, 54.81%, and 41.09% of the total input, respectively, in these grasslands. This resulted in a considerable surplus dry matter production in all the grasslands studied. This balance sheet of dry matter in community function indicates that all the four studied grasslands were supporting the existing wild animals adequately in terms of pasture supply. The study further revealed that the stronger establishment of $C_4$ species rather than their $C_3$ counterparts, in terms of higher density and dominance, has driven them to play major roles in matter dynamics and system transfer functions in all the four grasslands studied. This fact evidenced that pasture from $C_4$ species for wild animals was determined to be higher in comparison to that of $C_3$ species.

In order to investigate the effects of different maize-bean intercropping patterns, and of nitrogen fertilizers on morphological and yield related traits, a factorial study based on Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) was performed during the 2010 and 2011 growing seasons in a research filed of Shiraz University, Iran. The first factor of the study was seven different ratios of Maize-Bean intercropping system (Maize sole cropping, Bean sole cropping, and intercropping of maize/bean at the ratios of 1/3, 1/1, 2/3, 3/2 and 3/1) and the second factor was three nitrogen (N) fertilizer application levels (0, 100 and 200 kg N/ha). Results showed that with respect to increasing the levels of N fertilizer, the yield of bean sole cropping decreased but the yield of maize sole cropping increased. On the other hand, in intercropping systems with N fertilizer application, the yield of both crops increased. Results of total land equivalent ratio (LER) for both crops showed that the highest LER value under both 100 and 200 kg N/ha application was that of M1B1 (1 seed of maize after 1 seed of bean, consecutively, on a row with same distance). Under no N fertilizer application the highest LER value was that of M2B3 (2 seeds of maize after 3 seeds of bean, consecutively, on a row with same distance). Overall, it can be concluded that M1B1 is the best intercropping pattern in maize-bean intercropping systems and that the application of N fertilizer can be effective within practical settings of intercropping agriculture, resulting in higher yields.

This study conducted a comparative analysis of benthic macroinvertebrate communities in the Fosu and Benya lagoons in Ghana, based on the anthropogenic effect on the two lagoons. Salinity, oxygen, temperature, conductivity, turbidity and pH were measured, invertebrate richness and species densities were determined. The AZTI Marine Biotic Index (AMBI) and multivariate statistics were used to determine the different responses of fauna to pollution. The fauna were categorized into five ecological groups based on the degree of tolerance of the different species to pollution: disturbance-sensitive species; disturbance-indifferent species, disturbance-tolerant species, second-order opportunistic species; and first-order opportunistic species. The Fosu Lagoon supported more pollution tolerant species, whereas the Benya Lagoon had more species that were sensitive to organic enrichment under relatively unpolluted conditions. Chironomus sp., which is adapted to virtually anoxic conditions, was the most abundant in the Fosu Lagoon whereas Nemertea sp. was the most abundant in the Benya Lagoon. The numerical and relative abundance (%) of all 7 taxa in the Fosu Lagoon was 1,359 and 92.35%, respectively. The numerical and relative abundance (%) of all 34 taxa in the Benya Lagoon was 2,459 and 87.52%, respectively. Expectedly, the level of dissolved oxygen in the less saline Fosu Lagoon was higher than that in the more saline Benya Lagoon. The reduced photoperiod and photosynthetic activities of aquatic plants might account for this trend. There is a need to implement comprehensive monitoring and management initiatives for sustaining the ecological health of coastal lagoons in Ghana in order to support the many people that depend upon these ecosystems for their livelihood.

This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of the addition of wintering waterfowl's feces prior to planting rice on nutrient dynamics, rice growth, and decomposition of rice straws in a controlled mesocosm. Waterfowl's feces and rice straws were placed on paddy soils in a mesocosm and the water level maintained at 5 cm. The amounts of supplied feces were 0 (control), 222, and 444 g/$m^2$. While the addition of feces showed no immediate effects, nutrients in the surface water increased in the month following treatment. Nutrients increased to a greater degree in the treatments with more feces added. Simultaneously, the decomposition of rice straws was promoted, indicating that more nutrients would be made available over time. The rice showed high productivity in the period during which nutrient level was increased, when rice needs more nutrients for the tillering stage. Therefore, the wintering waterfowl's feces could be associated with increased productivity during the growing season of rice through promoting nutrient supply and rapid decomposition of rice residue.

Determination of the minimum population size is an important component for the ex situ conservation of an endangered species. Here, we present the identification of collection strategies that most efficiently captured the genetic diversity of Brasenia schreberi J.F. Gmelin (water-shield) in natural populations from the mainland (MGC) and Jeju Island (JNS) of South Korea, using amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) markers. A total of 313 and 383 polymorphic bands were detected in the MGC and JNS populations, respectively. All of the 140 sampled ramets were distinguishable by the presence of distinct AFLP phenotypes. According to the simulation of the individual sampling by maximization sampling, 25 and 28 individuals captured all of the genetic diversity in the MGC population (mainland of South Korea) and the JNS population (Jeju Island), respectively. The level of genetic diversity of the core collections was similar to the entire collection, indicating that the core collections very well represent the diversity of the entire collection. We therefore suggest a management unit of B. schreberi based on the genetic information for assessing the minimum population size for its ex situ conservation.

This study was conducted to evaluate the dynamics of soil respiration (total soil and heterotrophic respiration) following fertilizer application in red pine forests. Fertilizer (N:P:K = 113:150:37 kg/ha), which reflects current practices in Korean forest, was applied in April 2011, and total soil and heterotrophic respiration rates were monitored from April 2011 to March 2012. Monthly variation of total soil and heterotrophic respiration rates were similar between the fertilizer and control treatments, as soil temperature was the dominant factor controlling the both rates. Total soil respiration rates during the study period were not significantly different between the fertilizer (0.504 g $CO_2\;m^{-2}\;h^{-1}$) and control (0.501 g $CO_2\;m^{-2}\;h^{-1}$) treatments. However, the proportion of heterotrophic respiration was higher in the fertilizer (78% of total soil respiration rates) than in the control (62% of total soil respiration rates) treatments. These results suggest that current fertilizer practices in Korea forest soil do not substantially affect total soil respiration rates.

A 2-year study (2010-2011) was carried out in order to evaluate the effects of bean and maize intercropping. The experiment tested five different cropping systems: sole cropping of each crop, as well as intercropping of maize/bean with the ratios of 1:3 ($M_1B_3$), 2:2 ($M_2B_2$) and 3:1 ($M_3B_1$), each of which took place in the presence of two weed management systems (no weed control and weed eradication through manual removal), in a factorial experiment based on randomized complete block design using three replicates. Tests of homogeneity of variance for combined data over two years showed that data of both years could be analyzed together. The results showed that the effect of intercropping treatments on all measured traits in maize and bean were significantly different. A minimum land equivalent ratio (LER) for maize (0.78) was obtained for $M_3B_1$ under conditions of no weed control, while the highest LER (1.03) was observed in $M_3B_1$ under weed-free conditions. The highest (0.99) and lowest (0.70) LER values for beans were recorded for $M_1B_3$ under weed-free conditions and $M_3B_1$ under conditions of no weed control, respectively. $M_1B_3$ under weed-free conditions showed the highest total LER (2.02), while $M_3B_1$ under conditions of no weed control showed the lowest (1.48). Results of this study indicated that intercropping bean and maize can be an effective method to increase total productivity, and that the $M_1B_3$ system was the best cropping system for high productivity.

The Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) is a widely used drought index to provide good estimations of the intensity, magnitude and spatial extent of droughts. The objective of this study was to analyze the spatial pattern of drought by SPI index. In this paper, the patterns of drought hazard in Iran are evaluated according to the data of 40 weather stations during 1967-2009. The influenced zone of each station was specified by the Thiessen method. It was attempted to make a new model of drought hazard using GIS. Three criteria for drought were studied and considered to define areas of vulnerability. Drought hazard criteria used in the present model included: maximum severity of drought in the period, trend of drought, and the maximum number of sequential arid years. Each of the vulnerability indicators were mapped and these as well as a final hazard map were classified into 5 hazard classes of drought: one, slight, moderate, severe and very severe. The final drought vulnerability map was prepared by overlaying three criteria maps in a GIS, and the final hazard classes were defined on the basis of hazard scores, which were determined according to the means of the main indicators. The final vulnerability map shows that severe hazard areas (43% of the country) which are observed in the west and eastern parts of country are much more widespread than areas under other hazard classes. Overall, approximately half of the country was determined to be under severe and very severe hazard classes for drought.

Using data sets for Japan as a whole, as arranged with approximately $10{\times}10$ km squares (a secondary grid), we investigated the relationship between population density and the habitats of threatened vascular plants listed in the Japanese Red Data Book; depopulated areas in the present and future, areas where under-use may be serious, and those with a predominance of elderly people; and the present state of the habitats in terms of a characteristic land use pattern. Regarding the habitats of threatened vascular plants, the progress of deterioration [$(N_{CR}+N_{EN})/(N_{CR}+N_{EN}+N_{VU})$] in depopulated areas has been confirmed, where $N_{CR}$, $N_{EN}$, and $N_{VU}$ are the numbers of species classified as critically endangered, endangered, and vulnerable, respectively. Moreover, in grid squares used by a human such as farmland, the progress of the deterioration simply increases when population density becomes low. However, for many vascular plants, they are particularly endangered in populous areas. Local populations will decrease throughout Japan with the rate of depopulation in and around large cities being relatively slow. We also propose some issues that need further study. The deterioration by human activity may be reduced. On the other hand, some vascular plants may be adversely influenced by depopulation. Additionally, we should keep a close watch on grasslands and water areas in large cities to preserve vascular plants.

The use of growth medium is often recommended milkweed seedlings to grow and develop after emergence, and it is affected by growth medium and local habitat conditions. The effects of growth medium and partial shade on early growth of milkweed under drought stress (Calotropis procera L.) were studied in a field experiment. A split-split plot experimental design with three replications was carried out in the nursery. The main treatment plot was divided into two levels of shade; (no shading and partial shading). Sub treatment plot1 included growth medium at four levels (G1 = clay [suitable for milkweed growth], G2 = clay + sand, G3 = clay + perlite, G4 = clay + perlite + sand) and sub treatment plot2 included drought (irrigation intervals) at six levels (D1 = 2 [control], D2 = 4, D3 = 6, D4 = 8, D5 = 10, and D6 = 12 days per for three month). The results showed that drought stress significantly decreased emergence percentage, shoot length, shoot dry weight (SDW1), root dry weight (RDW), seedling dry weight (SDW2) and vigor index (VI). The use of growth medium increased all seedling characteristics. The G3 (clay + perlite) growth medium showed the highest performance, especially in terms of emergence percentage and seedling dry weight. Partial shade improved shoot length, shoot dry weight, and vigor index. Our results showed that the best treatment for high-vigor milkweed seedlings under drought stress was G3 (clay + perlite) growth medium and partial shade.

To investigate the environmental adaptation and ecophysiological characteristics of Suaeda maritima and S. asparagoides under saline conditions, plant growth and density were analyzed according to environmental changes of habitats. The total ion content of soil decreased with time, which was caused by the predominance of exchangeable $Na^+$ and $Cl^-$ in the upper layers. The population of S. maritima was more densely distributed in the region with higher ion contents of $Cl^-$, $Mg^{2+}$, $K^+$ and $Na^+$ than the population of S. asparagoides. Both species were showed a decreased population density according to increases in plant growth. Under the conditions of a salt field, S. maritima and S. asparagoides contained high inorganic ions to maintain low water potential, but low water soluble carbohydrate contents. In the case of free amino acid, S. maritima showed an especially high proline content, and contained rather large amounts of free amino acids, whereas S. asparagoides did not. Both species showed high inorganic ion contents in the leaves, which might be a mechanism of avoiding the ionic toxicity by diluting the accumulated ionic concentration with a high ratio of water content to dry weight. This result suggests that S. maritima seems to adapt to saline conditions by accumulating proline in addition to inorganic ions. S. asparagoides seems to adapt by osmoregulation processes, using inorganic ions rather than free amino acids.

We investigated leaf disease intensity of Kalopanax septemlobus (prickly castor oil tree) caused by the parasitic fungus Mycosphaerella acanthopanacis, in thirty natural host populations in the Japanese Archipelago. The disease intensity observed for individual trees were analyzed using a generalized additive model as a function of tree size, tree density, climatic terms and spatial trend surface. Individual tree size and conspecific tree density were shown to have significant negative and positive effects on disease intensity, respectively. The findings suggest that the probability of disease infection is partly determined by dispersal of infection agents (ascospores) from the fallen leaves on the ground, which can be enhanced by aggregation of host trees in a forest stand. Regional-scale spatial bias was also present in disease intensity; the populations in northern Japan and southern Kyushu were more severely infected by the fungus than those in southwestern Honshu and Shikoku. Regional variation of disease intensity was explained by both climatic factors and a trend surface term, with a latitudinal cline detected, which increases towards the north. Further research should be conducted in order to understand all of the factors generating the latitudinal cline detected in this study.