• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
• /
• v.35 no.1
• /
• pp.48-67
• /
• 2021

Plant species exhibit current characteristics as a result of interactions with environmental conditions. The plants of Viola sp. have selected chasmogamous flowers with vigorous vegetative propagation or development of cleistogamous flowers as an adaptation strategy. Viola websteri is distributed on the Korean peninsula and the eastern part of Jilin Province, China. The center and edge of the distribution are expected to exhibit different population-dynamics. It is necessary to investigate the cause of its current limited distribution even though V. websteri has a mixed-mating strategy. Firstly, We examined the vegetation environment of habitats and evaluated its characteristics. Growth characteristics were examined through plant phenology. We then evaluated the population structure, characteristics of chasmogamous flowers, and productivity of cleistogamous flowers. Moreover, we compared population sizes between 2014 and 2018. Most habitats were located in deciduous broadleaf mixed forests adjacent to valleys. V. websteri produced chasmogamous flowers with self-incompatibility in April-May and cleistogamous flowers in June-September. The cleistogamous flower production is a strategy ensuring seed production under uncertain environmental fluctuations; these were approximately twice as numerous as chasmogamous flowers. The population structure was distinguished into stable and very unstable regions. There were sites where the population experienced a sharp decline in the 2018 compared to that of 2014. This large decline was found in the edge populations. The habitats had different microsites depending on the natural disturbances of drought and the matrix constituting the habitat, thus supporting various plants. Ensuring the production of seeds through cleistogamous flowers, it was determined that rapid seedling re-establishment and population replenishment were possible when the natural disturbance factor was removed. Environmental factors did not equally affect all populations or individuals. Therefore, it was expected that it would be able to persisted in a long time, despite the rapid decrease in the number of individuals in the population regionally. Local extinction and re-establishment are likely to repeat according to environmental change. We propose the additional population investigation based on this works are required. We also suggest a need to assess the long-term population dynamics and the genetic characteristics of chasmogamous flowers and cleistogamous flowers to establish and implement effective conservation strategies.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
• /
• v.34 no.1
• /
• pp.18-26
• /
• 2020

Echinosophora koreensis (Nakai) Nakai an endemic plant with limited distribution in some parts of the Korean Peninsula, is designated as "Endangered" species on the IUCN Red List. The species is under the threat of deterioration in nature due to various environmental changes causing loss of natural habitats. We investigated the distribution pattern and population structure of E. koreensis to serve as a basic reference for identifying the dynamics and persistence of natural populations of this species in the future. To determine the characteristics of the E. koreensis population, we laid two to three large plots sized 20m×30m on the ridgeline as the reference in Yanggu, Chuncheon, and Hongcheon and laid four to seven small quadrats sized 1m×1m on the transect. A total of 530 plots were laid, 10 each at 2m interval, to measure the number of the stems, the number of fruiting, height, and other factors. The collected distribution information was compared with the existing IUCN assessed categories by applying IUCN Red List ver 3.1 Criteria B. The average population density of the three surveyed areas was 3.47 stem/㎡; the density of each area was 3.95 stems/㎡ in Yanggu, 3.37 stems/㎡ in Chuncheon, and 2.87 stems/㎡ in Hongcheon. The number of fruiting per stem was 0.0038, indicating only 7 fruits out of 1,837 stems and that vegetative reproduction is likely to be more dominant than sexual reproduction. The distribution tendency of population density in the small plots in three surveyed areas showed that the density of E. koreensis tended to decrease toward the center of the forest with low crown openness and around the mountain ridge with high crown openness. It indicated that the quantity of light could be a very important factor for the growth of individuals of this species. The analysis of the heights of individuals present in the surveyed plots showed a range of 2.3 ~ 68.5cm and an average of 20.1cm. An analysis on the stage-structure of the E. koreensis population based on the sieve height found that the appearance frequency decreased with increasing height above 15 ~ 20cm and that the percentage of individuals lower than 10cm, which were presumed to be seedlings, was severely low, indicating a necessity of study on the population sustainability based on the monitored data. The occupied area calculated with the collected species distribution information was 200㎢, indicating the EN category according to the IUCN Red List Reference B.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
• /
• v.27 no.1
• /
• pp.20-30
• /
• 2009

To study reproductive dynamics of a Gold-spotted pond frog (Rana chosenica) population located at Gangnae, Cheongwon, Chungbuk, Korea, we monitored the population over 207 days between April 17$^{th}$ 2007 and December 18$^{th}$ 2008 using a drift fence accompanied with 20 pitfall traps. The population was located in an agricultural wetland, compromising three small ponds. Gold-spotted pond frogs immigrated into the wetland between April 16$^{th}$ and June 17$^{th}$ and emigrated from the wetland between September 21$^{st}$ and November 12$^{th}$. Precipitation showed a positive correlation with the number of migrated frogs in Autumn 2007 and Spring 2008, but other environmental factors such as air and water temperatures and relative humidity did not show any significant relationships. In general, small frogs first migrated into and from the wetland, but the trend was not strong. Female gold-spotted pond frogs were bigger than males. During the autumn migration, small frogs of which snout-vent length was smaller than 20 mm were found, indicating that successful breeding occurred in the population. Our results could be useful to conserve this endangered species in Korea.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
• /
• v.10 no.2
• /
• pp.165-172
• /
• 2008

In order to clarify the factors that diminish the population size of Scirpus planicumis in Han River Esturay Wetland Conservation Area of South Korea, I analysed the autoecological traits of competitive hydrophytes over the species, compared the performance ability of Scirpus planicum group inhabited between in soil-accumulated site and in soil-unaccumulated site, and suggested the management strategy of restoration of this plant based on the field survey. Scirpus planicumis had lower competitive ability than other hydrophyte such as Phragmites australis, Zonia latifolia, Typha augustifola. in terms of dry matter production, height, and reproductive regime. S. planicumis group in soil-accumulated site had lower tuber production, lower vegetative and reproductive production than that of in soil-unaccumulated site, and plant height was shorter in soil-accumulated than in soil-unaccumulated condition. Tuber was appeared in lower soil depth within 15cm in laboratory condition. These results indicated that soil-accumulated condition is the dominant factor caused the decreasing of population size of S. planicumis. It was urgently suggested that constructing a water ways to removed accumulated soil layer is need to restore the population size of S. planiculmus in this wetland.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
• /
• v.35 no.4
• /
• pp.573-580
• /
• 2017

The oxicity assesment of Phenanthrene (PHE) has been investigated by using the rate (r) of survival and population growth in rotifer Brachionus plicatilis. The survival rate was determined after 24 h of exposure to PHE. The survival rate of PHE had no effect at a maximum of $300mg\;L^{-1}$. The r was determined after 72 h of exposure to PHE. It was observed that r in the controls (absence PHE) was greater than 0.5, but that it suddenly decreased with an increased concentration of PHE. PHE reduced r in a dose-dependent manner and a significant reduction occurred at a concentration of greater than $37.5mg\;L^{-1}$. The $EC_{50}$ value of r in PHE exposure was $63.7mg\;L^{-1}$. The no-observed-effect-concentration (NOEC) of r in PHE exposure was $18.8mg\;L^{-1}$. The lowest-observed-effect-concentration (LOEC) of r in the PHE exposure was $37.5mg\;L^{-1}$. From the results, the concentration of PHE (greater than $37.5mg\;L^{-1}$) has a toxic effect on the r of B. plicatilis in natural ecosystems. These results(including NOEC, LOEC and $EC_{50}$) might be useful for the Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons(PAHs) toxicity assessment in marine ecosystems.

• Korean Journal of Ornithology
• /
• v.25 no.2
• /
• pp.87-93
• /
• 2018

In order to investigate the changes in the population of Spot-billed ducks due to changes in reclaimed land, we conducted a monthly survey from January 2008 to December 2014 at the Shihwa Lake. The average number of Spot-billed ducks was 12,204 individuals. The average population was decreased. The yearly index of fluctuation (Fi) was the highest at 2.16 in 2010. TRIM(TRends and Indices for Monitoring data) showed a steep decline in winter and a moderate decrease tendency in autumn and spring. However, in the summer season, it showed an moderate increasing tendency. The main habitat were Northland reclaimed land, agricultural land and wetland area, Tando waterway, Shihwa artificial wetland in upstream. The correlation between the number of Spot-billed ducks and the temperature was negatively correlated in spring, summer, autumn. However, winter was showed positive correlation. Therefore, it affects the community of Spot-billed ducks due to environmental changes of reclaimed land. In future, effective management is needed to prepare alternative habitat based on basic data like this study for the conservation and management of Spot-billed ducks during reclamation construction.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
• /
• v.17 no.3
• /
• pp.195-204
• /
• 2005

The population ecology of Rhinogobius brunneus was investigated on, tributaries of the Bukhan River from May 2003 to June 2005. The habitat was mostly a rapids area with pebbles and cobles in the lower part of the stream. The cohabitation fishes were Zacco platypus, Zacco temmincki, Microphysogobio yaluensis and Iksookimia koreensis. The males and females become sexually mature after one year. Spawning season was from May to June with water temperatures in the range $22{\sim}25^{\circ}C$. The prosperous period was from late May to early June. The average number of eggs in the ovary was $989{\pm}511$ (range, 151~2,209). The year-round sex ratio of female to male was 1 : 0.90. The total length in this population indicated that the below-40 mm group is one year old, 40~52 mm group is two years old, 52~65 mm group is three years old, and the longer-than-65 mm group is over four years old. There were no differences in total length distribution between the males and females. Nests were built up at a water depth of $13.7{\pm}5.8$ (5~31) cm and a current velocity of $9.6{\pm}4.8$ (10~19) cm/sec. Brood size (egg number) of the parental male was $1,974{\pm}1810$ (egg number = $95.022_{TL}-3507$, $r^2=0.3591$, N = 33). Newly hatched larvae that drifted downstream to the lake returned to the stream during late June to August; the smallest size in this population was 20 mm in total length.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.47 no.spc
• /
• pp.74-82
• /
• 2014

A perennial plant species of Ranunculaceae, Pulsatilla tongkangensis is a very rare species only found in limestone vegetation of South Korea. It is not only rare but also has great value as a horticultural resource, thus resulting in serious problems of overexploitation and habitat disturbance. For the conservation of the rare species and its development as a resource, the study was conducted with the following three aims: first, to investigate any new geographical distribution of the species; second, to identify the site condition and vegetation structure of its habitat; and third, to compare the ecology of P. tongkangensis in other microhabitats such as rock, slope and ridge area. A new distribution was found in limestone vegetation at Danyang-gun, Chungcheongbuk-do. It was, therefore, confirmed that the distribution of P. tongkangensis exactly coincides with the area of distribution of limestone, indicating a possibility that the species might be a calcicole. 87% of the microhabitats found in rocks. Compared to P. tongkangensis, at ridges or slopes, number of P. tongkangensis plants were few in rocks. It is possibly due to the lack of microhabitats that could settle in rocky areas. Once established on rocks, however, plants grew large enough to flower with higher number of leaves and flowers per plant, resulting in higher flowering rate on rocky areas. Cracks in/between rocks are likely to be safe places for the plants with favorable light conditions, abundant fine particles to root down and reduced competition for resources. Yet, further research is necessary in terms of determining whether the species is indeed a calcicole, whether other limiting factors work in its establishment stage, and genetic diversity exists in the population.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
• /
• v.36 no.2
• /
• pp.164-173
• /
• 2024

We collected fish from the intertidal zone of Seonyu-do Island in order to find out the composition of fish species by using hand net and kick net from March to October 2022. During the investigation period, a total of 2,707 individuals from 9 Orders, 19 Families, 45 Species were collected, and the dominant species was identified as Nuchequula nuchalis and the subdominant species was Favonigobius gymnauchen. By family group, the largest number of fishes in the Gobiidae were 13 species, followed by the Scorpaenidae and the Stichaeidae were 4 species. In this study, genus Clariger was discovered for the first time off the West sea, and it is estimated that fish living on the southern coast are moving northward due to an increase in the water temperature of the West Sea and detailed research is needed.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
• /
• v.35 no.2
• /
• pp.115-125
• /
• 2021

This study surveyed the population ecology of Acheilognathus chankaensis (Pisces: Acheilognathinae) in the vicinity of the Churyeongcheon (Stream) and Seomjingang (River) in Jeonbuk, Korea, from February 2006 to May 2007. The survey found the habits mainly in the slow-flowing waters having sand, mud, and gravel bottoms. Age groups estimated by the standard length-frequency distribution of the population indicated that the one-year-olds were 30-46 mm long, the two-year-olds were 47-58 mm long, the three-year-olds were 59-68 mm long, and the four-year-olds were longer than 69 mm. The gonadosomatic index (GSI) and the ratio of ovipositor length/standard length were the highest in March (♀: 12.9%, ♂: 5.0%) and in April (46.3%), respectively. The ratio of mature egg diameters that were 1.6 mm was highest in May (13.2%). The comprehensive analysis of spawning characteristics showed that the spawning season was from March to June with water temperatures in 11.5-22.5℃, and the sex ratio of female:male was 1:1.13. The fecundity in the ovaries and the number of mature eggs were 318±174.5 (50~583) and 220±139.2 (50~406), respectively. The size of the mature eggs was 2.04±0.110 mm on the long axis and 1.55±0.100 mm on the short axis for the study period. Gut contents of A. chankaensis were mainly phytoplankton such as the genera Fragilaria, Synedra, Navicular, Cymbella (Bacillariophyceae), and Cosmarium (Chlorophyceae).