• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.55 no.3
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• pp.231-243
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• 2022

Anthropogenic disturbances on freshwater ecosystem are known to degrade biodiversity, especially on fish assemblage. In this study, we have conducted fish surveys to identify impact of a bridge construction on fish assemblages. A total of eight study sites were surveyed in the Danjang and the Dong Stream in southern part of South Korea from June to November in 2021. The fish samplings were carried out five times, using cast-nets(10×10 mm mesh size), scoop-nets(4×4 mm, 5×5 mm mesh size), set-nets (10×10 mm mesh size), and fish traps (3×3 mm mesh size), along with the Stream/River Ecosystem Survey and Health Assessment by the Ministry of Environment of Korea and basic water quality measurement. Also, we applied the species diversity index and length-weight relationship regressions on certain species to identify interspecific growth rate differences in accordance with study sites. As a result, a total of 782 individuals, 23 species and 10 families were collected. The dominant species was Zacco Koreanus and relative abundance was 50.89%. When applying the length-weight relationship regressions on certain species, the 'b' value for Z. Koreanus was lower at the downstream points than at the upstream points of the construction site. In addition, when comparing to the results of the past survey, relative density of demersal fish at the upstream and downstream points decreased from 26% to 1.4%, and from 18% to 6.3%, respectively. In conclusion, it is considered that bridge construction negatively affects the habitat of fishes, especially on demersal fishes. Therefore, appropriate conservation efforts such as installation of silt protector and sand sedimentation pond are needed to alleviate the disturbance in habitat such as occurrence of turbidity and destruction of micro-habitats.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.151-162
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• 2023

This study investigated the characteristics of fish communities and inhabiting status of the endangered species, Rhodeus pseudosericeus, in the Geumdang Stream in Korea from March to October 2021. A total of 1,698 fish in 5 families and 25 species were collected from 7 survey stations during the survey period. The dominant species was Zacco platypus (relative abundance, 46.5%), and the subdominant species was Squalidus gracilis majimae (16.7%), followed by Rhynchocypris oxycephalus (12.0%), Z. koreanus (5.7%), Pungtungia herzi (3.2%), R. pseudosericeus (2.0%), R. notatus (1.9%), and Acheilognathus rhombeus (1.8%). Nine Korean endemic species (36.0%) were collected, including R. pseudosericeus, R. uyekii, Sarcocheilichthys variegatus wakiyae, Microphysogobio yaluensis, S. gracilis majimae, Z. koreanus, Cobitis nalbanti, Iksookimia koreensis, and Odontobutis interrupta. An exotic species, Micropterus salmoides, designated as an invasive alien species (IAS), was collected downstream. The investigation of the habitat patterns of the endangered species (class II), Rhodeus pseudosericeus, showed a habitat range of about 6 to 7 km in the middle of Geumdang Stream (RP-1 to RP-4), and this species inhabited the edge with water depths of 0.3 through 1.0 m with slow water flow and many aquatic plants. According to the community analysis results, the overall dominance and evenness indexes were low, while diversity and richness indexes were high, and the cluster structure was largely divided into upstream and middle-downstream areas. The river health (fish assessment index) evaluated using fish was assessed as good (3 stations), normal (3 stations), and bad (1 station), and water quality was evaluated as good both upstream and downstream. Compared to previous studies, the number of species was relatively similar, and among the species that appeared in the past, 13 species did not appear in this survey, while 6 species appeared for the first time in this survey. Disturbance factors included river construction, many weirs, and the appearance of the ecosystem-disturbing species, M. salmoides. Since Geumdang Strem has high conservation value because it is home to many species in the Acheilognathinae subfamily, including the endangered species R. pseudosericeus, continuous attention and systematic conservation measures are required.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.248-270
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• 2013

The purpose of this study is to collect the raw data for conservation of plant ecosystem by surveying and analysing the flora of Mt. Geumgok located in Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do, Korea. The flora were summarized as 453 taxa including 91 families, 298 genera, 397 species, 4 subspecies, 46 varieties and 6 forms. The rare plants designated by Korea Forest Service were 3 taxa such as Eranthis byunsanensis B.Y.Sun, Potentilla discolor Bunge and Iris odaesanensis Y.N.Lee. The Korean endemic plants were 6 taxa such as Carpinus laxiflora (Siebold & Zucc.) Blume, Eranthis byunsanensis B.Y.Sun, Philadelphus schrenkii Rupr., Lespedeza maritima Nakai, Vicia chosenensis Ohwi and Weigela subsessilis (Nakai) L.H.Bailey. The specific plants by floristic region were 36 taxa such as Pinus koraiensis Siebold & Zucc., Salix chaenomeloides Kimura, Anemone raddeana Regel, Chloranthus japonicus Siebold, Euphorbia pekinensis Rupr., Ilex macropoda Miq., Ajuga multiflora Bunge, Saussurea odontolepis Sch.Bip. ex Herd, Viola orientalis (Maxim.) W.Becker, Betula davurica Pall., Vitex negundo var. incisa (Lam.) C.B.Clarke and Cimicifuga heracleifolia Kom.. The naturalized plants were 36 taxa such as Fallopia dumetorum (L.) Holub, Lepidium apetalum Willd., Robinia pseudoacacia L., Trifolium repens L., Euphorbia supina Raf., Ipomoea purpurea Roth, Veronica persica Poir., Bidens pilosa L., Carduus crispus L., Xanthium canadense Mill., Bromus unioloides H.B.K. and Festuca arundinacea Schreb.. The invasive alien plants were 2 taxa such as Ambrosia artemisiifolia L. and Aster pilosus Willd.. The ratios of the urbanized index(UI), the naturalized index(NI) and the disturbed index(DI) were 11.2%, 7.9% and 18.2% each.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.90 no.4
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• pp.437-444
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• 2001

This paper discusses applications of neural network to forest stand field data processing and determining suitable tree species for site-specific stand characteristics. For site-specific species selection, considered were 5 major coniferous species : P. densiflora for. erecta, L. leptolepis, P. koraiensis, P. densiflora, P. thunbergii. Among 1,320 sample plot data sets, 200 data sets with the highest site index (40 data sets for each species) were chosen as the test sets for investigation. Each data set includes 13 factors describing the site characteristics of the corresponding sample plot. The results of this investigation indicate high performance of neural network in data processing procedures for extracting data sets or measurement parameters without any recognizable pattern. These data sets or measurement parameters are those which have rare effect on site-specific species suitability or disturb pattern classification procedures of neural network because of unrecognizable patterns involved. Also the results have shown high potential of neural network in determining the best-suitable tree species for site characteristics. The % accuracy of the neural network model in determining the best-suitable tree species for site characteristics ranges from 77.6% to 91.8% associated with the combination of Site factors.

• The Korean Journal of Malacology
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.307-314
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• 2015

This study sampled endangered species, Lamprotula coreana, and surveyed its habitat at the Guem River with three times from June to August 2013. To assess the habitat, this study conducted field survey considering diverse physical conditions of stream, such as pool, run and riffle, and measured transect, water depth, water velocity, substrate structure, and habitat type. When L. coreana collected, length, weight and age were measured. Water velocity, water depth and substrate structure were recorded to develop HSI (habitat suitability index) and performed PHABSIM (physical habitat simulation) to estimate the optimum flow discharge. Water level, flow discharge and transect data were used for habitat assessment, and PHABSIM was applied to calculate WUA (weighed usable area). Shell length was $73.1{\pm}18.4mm$ (28.5-102.0 mm), shell weight was $131.6{\pm}72.3g$ (28.0-281.0 g) and age was two to seven years from L. coreana collected at the upstream of the Guem River. Developed HSI indicated that the optimal habitat for L. coreana was 0.4-0.5 m for water depth, 0.3-0.5 m/s for water velocity and sand to boulder for substrate structure. The optimum ecological flow discharge for L. coreana was 2.1 cms and WUA was $3,730m^2$/1000 m by the result of PHABSIM. Recently, river construction work and habitat disturbance have caused negative impact on the distribution of L. coreana. The result of this study would provide fundamental data for habitat restoration and management of L. coreana.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.305-313
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• 2002

The physico-chemical characteristics of water and sediment, and structures of vegetation of the vascular hydrophytes were investigated in the West Nakdong River. Water quality was eutrophic according to the mean values and the ranges of water properties such as pH, DO, BOD, chlorophyll a, total nitrogen and phosphate, and other nutrients. A few cases were hypereutrophic for chlorophyll a level in summer. Soil reaction was weak acid. Composition of sediment was mainly sand except in SI(Sinan chideung) of which was mainly clay, and SU(Suan chideung) of which was mainly silt. Flora of vascular hydrophyte had 26 species and 1 variety comprising 16 families. Trapa japonica was dominant species in the sites of DU(Dunchido), GA(Garak chideung) and SU. Nymphoides peltata and Hydrocharis dubia dominated in DA and SI, respectively. Species diversity and evenness were relatively high in SI and SU but dominance was high in DA. After June, water lettuce(Pistia stratiotes) and water hyacinth(Eichhornia crassipes) were flowed from tributary to the river. Standing crop of macrohydrophytes was high in DA from April to August, but it showed maximum standing crop (445g·dw/㎡) in DU after disturbance by explosive growth of exotic plants in October. In comparison with those in 1985, total productivities in DU and GA decreased to 33.5%, and the reduction ratio of dominant species, Trapa japonica was 56.7%. Najas marina, N. minor, Myriophyllum spicatum and Nymphoides indica have disappeared ever since the Nakdong barrage was constructed in the Nakdong river. They were divided into three groups (GA-SU-DU, DA, SI) by cluster analysis. Introduction of the exotic species in this river caused decreasing of endemic plants including endangered species Euryale ferox and rare species Hydocharis dubia, and food plants for waterfowl such as Trapa japonica, Vallisneria asiatica and Potamogeton crispus.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.223-236
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• 2003

The vegetation in this study area was divided into 10 plant communities: Pinus thunbergii, P. densiflora, Quercus acutissima, Q. mongolica, Q. serratea, Q. variabilis, Q. aliena, Q. dentata, Carpinus coreana, Betula davurica and 3 afforestations; Pinus rigida, Robinia pseudo-acacia, Castanea crenata. The dominant species in each stratum as determined by R-NCD appeared to be Q. acutissima, P. densiflora, Platycarya strobilacea, Sorbus alnifolia and Q. aliena in the tree-2 layer, Rhododendron mucronulatum, P. strobilacea, Q. serrata, Q. aliena and Q. acutissima in the shrub layer, and Carex lanceolata, C. humilis, R. mucronulatum, Mischanthus sinensis var. purpurascens and Oplismenus undulatifolius in the herb layer. The distribution of diameter at breast height(DBH) showed the highest percentage (56%) in the range of 2∼10㎝ in the study area and it was investigated as being in the restoration phase after disturbance. The average of the age of trees was under 40-years-od. The pH of soil collected at each site appeared to be within the range between 4.53 and 5.10(the average of 4.73) in each community, organic matters appeared higher than the value in Q. mongolica, P. rigida, C. crenata communities compared to P. thunbergii, P. densiflora communities. And soil organic matters and total nitrogen were highly correlated with their contents.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.105 no.1
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• pp.48-62
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• 2016

This study was conducted to classify forest vegetation structure and stand feature of Mt. Deogyusan National Park from Hyangjeukbong to Jungbong, 48 plots were surveyed. The type classification of the vegetation structure was performed with Z-M phytosociological method. As a result, Quercus mongolica community group was classified into the Picea jezoensis community, Carpinus cordata community and Tilia amurensis community in community unit. P. jezoensis community was subdivided into Deutzia glabrata group and Viburnum opulus var. calvescens group in group unit. D. glabrata group was subdivided into Acer mandshuricum subgroup and Ribes mandshuricum subgroup and V. opulus var. calvescens group was subdivided into Hemerocallis dumortieri subgroup and Prunus padus subgroup in subgroup unit. In the result of estimating the importance value, it constituted Q. mongolica (23.9%), Abies koreana (14.7%), Taxus cuspidata (10.2%), P. jezoensis (8.2%) and Betula ermanii (7.4%) in tree layer. It constituted Acer komarovii (18.6%), Acer pseudosieboldianum (18.4%) and Q. mongolica (8.9%) in subtree layer. It constituted Rhododendron schlippenbachii (20.7%), A. pseudosieboldianum (17.4%) and Symplocos chinensis (8.5%) in shrub layer. Indicator species analysis of vegetation unit 1 was consisted of Hydrangea serrata, Fraxinus mandshurica and D. glabrata that species prefer moist valley in subalpine or rocks. In the results of analyzing the species diversity, vegetation unit 1, 4 and 5 represented that there were different and complex local distributions. As in the similarity between the vegetation units, the vegetation units 1, 2, 3 and 4 represented high with 0.5 or above. It represented that there wasn't no differences on composition species in vegetation units.

• Ecology and Resilient Infrastructure
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.274-283
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• 2015

The reservoir shores seem to be vulnerable to biological invasion. The purpose of this research was to find out the floristic composition of alien plants and their relationship between environmental factors on reservoir shorelines in Korea. We investigated flora of alien plants and environmental factors of geomorphology, hydrology, water quality and soil on the shoreline of a total of 35 reservoirs with different water level managements. There were 56 species of alien plants, which was 15% of the total plant species identified in the study of reservoirs. A total of 57% of these alien species were the species which were introduced shortly after opening the port from 1876 to 1921 in Korea. More than 80% of the alien plants on the reservoir shores originated from America and Europe. The current distribution of Ambrosia trifida and Paspalum distichum were restricted in the central part and the southern region of the Korean Peninsula, respectively. The water level fluctuation, flood frequency at the median water level, water pollution index, coverage of rock exposure and mean degree of shoreline slope were determined as important environmental factors that have an effect on the characteristics of shoreline alien flora. Our results suggest that the reservoir shore was in danger of being invaded by alien plants due to the water level management and other human disturbances. For effective conservation of the reservoir ecosystem, periodic monitoring systems are required for the early detection of alien species on the reservoir shore.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Marine Environment & Energy
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.24-36
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• 2003

In this study, we estimated the seasonal fluctuations of water quality and effect of small tide embankment in coastal water around the Muan Peninsula, which is located in the northern part of Mokpo city, and layer farming ground is spread around there. Some physical and chemical factors were analyzed to characterize water quality from Jan. to Oct. in 1994. The results were as follows: Dissolved oxygen was slightly under saturation in the almost areas of July, and in some bottom layer at ebb tide of October. Distribution of COD showed high values that over 2㎎/L in October and flood tide of April by the discharge of freshwater and resuspension of benthic sediment, which exceeded water quality criteria II. Maximum values of dissolved inorganic nitrogen ware appeared in surface layer during the flood tide of October, while minimum of that showed in surface layer in April. Concentration of dissolved inorganic phosphorus was higher at July than the others, which ranged from 0.24 to 2.08㎍-at/L. Mostly mean values of N/P ratio were lower than 16, it mean that nitrogen is more limiting nutrient than phosphorus for the growth of phytoplankton. The values of eutrophication index were in the range of 0.07~0.81. However, very high values due to increase of COD were estimated near the tide embankment and southern part in relation to tidal current in October. Water quality around tide embankment was suddenly changed worse within a short period after opening the water gate during the rainfall.