• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.57 no.1
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• pp.1-16
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• 2024

Most wetlands worldwide have suffered from extensive human exploitation. Unfortunately they have been less explored compared to river and lake ecosystems despite their ecological importance and economic values. This is the same case in Korea. This study was aimed to estimate the assemblage attributes and distribution characteristics of benthic macroinvertebrates for fifty wetlands distributed throughout subtropical Jeju Island in 2021. A total of 133 taxa were identified during survey periods belonging to 53 families, 19 orders, 5 classes and 3 phyla. Taxa richness ranged from 4 to 31 taxa per wetland with an average of 17.5 taxa. Taxa richness and abundance of predatory insect groups such as Odonata, Hemiptera and Coleoptera respectively accounted for 67.7% and 68.2% of the total. Among them Coleoptera were the most diverse and abundant. Taxa richness and abundance did not significantly differ from each wetland type classified in accordance with the National Wetland Classification System. There were three endangered species (Clithon retropictum, Lethocerus deyrolli and Cybister (Cybister) chinensis) and several restrictively distributed species only in Jeju Island. Cluster analysis based on the similarity in the benthic macroinvertebrate composition largely classified 50 wetlands into two major clusters: small wetlands located in lowland areas and medium-sized wetlands in middle mountainous regions. All cluster groups displayed significant differences in wetland area, long axis, percentage of fine particles and macrophyte composition ratio. Indicator Species Analysis selected 19 important indicators with the highest indicator value of Ceriagrion melanurum at 63%, followed by Noterus japonicus (59%) and Polypylis hemisphaerula (58%). Our results are expected to provide fundamental information on the biodiversity and habitat environments for benthic macroinvertebrates in wetland ecosystems, consequently helping to establish conservation and restoration plans for small wetlands relatively vulnerable to human disturbance.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.427-433
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• 2010

Aquatic invertebrates are the major important fauna to sustain the paddy ecosystem as predators of the lower trophic level and prey for birds in food-web dynamics as well. The nationwide distribution of scavenger beetles (Hydrophilidae) that is the top predator in an aquatic insect in the paddy field was investigated. A total of 15 scavenger beetles were recognized. Enochrus simulans (98.6%) and Laccobius bedeli (87.7%) showed a high frequency of occurrence on a nationwide scale. The majority of scavenger beetles were higher frequency of occurrence in mountainous regions(33.7%) than in open field regions(5.0%). On the other hand, E. uniformis, Coelostoma stultum and Berosus japonicus showed a low occurrence frequency. Hydrochara affinis, Sternolophus rufipes, Amphiops mater, B. elongatulus, B. signaticollis punctipennis, B. lewisius and H. libera showed regional specific distribution aspect. Therefore, these species can be used as biological index to research the biotic changes in paddy ecology according to an agro-environmental changes including climatic change in the future.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.267-273
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• 2010

The distribution of three typical warm-temperate evergreen trees, Quercus acuta Thunb., Neolitsea sericea (Blume) Koidz., and Machilus thunbergii Siebold & Zucc., were surveyed on the Korean Peninsula based on field and specimen investigations and the distribution maps of the three species were prepared. The distribution patterns of the species correspond to the south coast floristic region in Korea, which includes the distributional areas of Jeju-do, Isl. Ulleung, the southern coastal areas, and the areas up to the islands around Incheon in the Yellow Sea. The northernmost limit of the distribution of Quercus acuta is Isl. Nap of Incheon in the west, and a new distribution was found at Isl. Ulleung in the East Sea; additionally, the limit of Neolitsea sericea is the Deojoek archipelago of Incheon. The northernmost limit of Machilus thunbergii is Isl. Daecheong of Incheon, which is the highest latitude among those of the three species. This distribution survey of evergreen broad-leaved trees in Korea can be used as basic data for the delimitation of floristic regions and as a bio-indicator of climatic change.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.28-45
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• 2024

This study was conducted to investigate the flora of Sonjukdo Island(Yeosu-si), Korea. From results of four field surveys from April 2023 to October 2023, we identified 483 total taxa, representing 440 species, seven subspecies, 35 varieties, and one hybrid. They were placed in 322 genera and 109 families, including 249 taxa newly recorded in this study. Among them, four taxa were endemic to Korea, four taxa were IUCN red list plants, and 22 taxa were climate sensitive indicator plants. Floristic target plants amounted to 99 taxa, including two taxa of grade IV, 41 taxa of grade III, 10 taxa of grade II, and 46 taxa of grade I. A total of 54 taxa of alien plants were identified, with a Naturalized Index of 11.2% and an Urbanization Index of 13.8%. Three plants disturbed the ecosystem. The flora of this surveyed area belongs to the south-coast province among floral provinces of the Korean Peninsula. Our results provide basic data on vascular plants flora, plant species diversity, and distributional changes.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.110 no.4
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• pp.516-529
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• 2021

Coniferous forests in the Baekdudaegan protected area are gradually losing their landscape diversity and uniqueness along with their ecological stability due to changes in vegetation composition and structures caused by various disturbance factors, such as climate change, vegetation succession, and human interference. This study provides basic data for establishing a comprehensive conservation plan for coniferous forests in the Baekdudaegan protected area. We classified the vegetation unit types using the Zurich-Montpellier School of Phytosociology and two-way indicator species analysis methods and analyzed the species diversity and structural characteristics based on the vegetation information of 755 stands collected in the natural resources change survey of the Baekdudaegan mountains (2016 to 2020) by the Korea Forest Service. Therefore, the vegetation of the coniferous forests of theBaekdudaegan protected area was classified into 15 types under the vegetation unit hierarchy of two community groups, four communities, seven sub-communities, and 14 variants. Furthermore, we compared the total coverage among vegetation types, importance values, constancy classes, life-forms, and diversity indices. Additionally, the average total coverage and number of species per 100 m² of all coniferous forests were 232% and 21 species, respectively, with the species diversity and dominance indices averaging 1.907 and 0.222, respectively.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.58-70
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• 2016

An investigation was carried out to study the diversity of aquatic insects, functional feeding groups (FFGs), habitat oriented groups (HOGs), and species-specific distribution in the Taean area in Korea from June to August, 2015. As a result, a total of 72 species belonging to 30 families and six orders were identified in all the investigated regions. Odonata (22 spp.: 30.56%) was the largest group in species richness followed by Coleoptera (21 spp.: 29.16%), Hemiptera (17 spp.: 23.61%) and Diptera (8 spp.: 11.11%) while for Ephemeroptera and Trichoptera, only two species (2.78%) were found. In addition, Plecoptera and Megaloptera inhabiting clean and flowing waters were not found. In the FFGs, predators (48 spp.: 66.67%) were relatively larger as represented by Odonata, Coleoptera, and Hemiptera, whereas shredders and scrapers were lower in proportion. The dominant groups of HOGs were swimmers (24 spp.: 33.33%), climbers (18 spp.: 25.0%), and sprawlers (12 spp.: 16.67%), which were characterized as aquatic insects community of island. Four species: Cybister lewisianus Sharp, Helophorus auriculatus Sharp, Agrypnia pagetana Curtis, Diplonychus esakii Miyamoto & Lee that are designated as Endangered, Near Threatened, and Vulnerable (Korean Red List) have been found to inhabitthe Taean area. Also, two species belonging to the exportable species group (Ceriagrion auranticum Fraser, Paracercion melanotum (Selys)) and one species belonging to the climate-sensitive biological indicator group (Ischnura elegans (Van der Linden)) were identified. In this study, four significant species including the Endangered are presented on the Korean distribution map based on the information in the national ecosystem survey accumulated for 7 years (2006-2012) by the Ministry of Environment.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.86-102
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• 2014

BACKGROUND: According to the types of human interference, there are various plants that have strong vitality and ability to breed in the dry field. Recently, climate change alters the geographical distribution and phenology of the plant species. So, we need to understand present occurrence pattern and ecological characteristics of these plants. METHODS AND RESULTS: The plant species data were obtained from 8 regions in Jeolla-do. Flora investigation was done from May 2013 to September 2013. Habitat type of dry field in Jeolla-do was classified into 3 types (inside of dry field: IDF, embankment around the end of a dry field: EDF, levee slope of dry field: LS). The vascular plants of study area were listed 296 taxa which contain 68 families, 203 genera, 244 species, 43 varieties and 9 forms. The vascular plants of three different habitat types were IDF 174 taxa, EDF 249 taxa and LS 136 taxa. The occurrence rate of Therophyte was arranged by the order of IDF(67.6%), EDF(51.9%), LS(54.3%). Naturalized rate was analysed as IDF 27.9%, EDF 21.0%, LS 18.6%. Urbanization index was analysed as IDF 11.8%, EDF 13.7%, LS 10.0%. CONCLUSION: With these results, we found that three habitat types were ecological difference affected by the human impacts. Also, we found environmental indicators through the ecological characteristics of flora for the type of habitat of dry field. These indicators will help assess the agriculture environmental variability and the floral change according to the climate change in dry field.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.130-141
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• 2020

National parks in Korea are subject to a survey of natural resources every five years, according to the Natural Parks Act. This study analyzed the insect diversity in each of the 21 national parks conducted as part of the Third Nature Resource Survey of National Parks (2010~2018). It compared insect diversity in each national park national biodiversity with insect diversity in all national parks and analyzed the uncollected sub-taxonomic groups of each taxonomic group and the legally protected species. The Third Nature Resource Survey identified 5,584 species in 456 families in 21 orders in all national parks, and they accounted for 31.3% of 17,848 species in the national insect diversity. By taxonomic group, Lepidoptera was the most frequently found with 2,195 species, followed by beetles (1,495 species), fellings (712 species), and stink bugs (515 species). By national park, Odaesan national park showed the highest insect diversity with 1,963 species, followed by Sobeaksan national park (1,511), Hanryeohaesang national park (1,321), Gayasan national park (1,282), Juwangsan national park (1,265), Dadohaehaesang national park (1,264), Woraksan national park (1,251), and Jirisan national park (1,240). The legally protected species included 3 species of endangered species rank I, 11 species of endangered species rank II, 12 climate change indicator species, 139 endemic species, and 532 species requiring approval for cross-border transfer.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.420-431
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• 2015

As biodiversity and climate change have become main issues in recent times, the role of the forest ecosystem has been more important and forest conservation has been highlighted. The purpose of this study is to estimate forest area with high conservation values in Gapyung-gun by considering forest ecosystem services. The indicators of biodiversity, climate regulation, and water regulation were selected for assessment in this study. To assess biodiversity, habitat structural features and distribution characteristics of species were analyzed. Climate regulation and water regulation were assessed through analysis of carbon absorption volume and water storage. The result showed that, 50.1% of the forests in Gapyung-gun had high conservation values. The results were verified by comparing them with distribution tendencies of other environmental maps, which represent forest ecological values, and showed similar distribution tendencies. The study was conducted on only Gapyung-gun in Korea; however, the methods used in this study could be utilized for assessment of other areas to identify forests with high conservation values.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.110 no.4
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• pp.577-589
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• 2021

Soil seed bank community contributes to the long-term conservation of plant diversity and vegetation dynamics, and their decreasing diversity and density with soil depth provide critical perspectives (deterministic and stochastic) for understanding the community disassembly process. We analyzed changes in species composition and diversity and structuring patterns by soil layer (top and bottom), including surface vegetation, in Gwangneung Forest, a mature forest with a vegetation climate in the temperate central part of the Korean Peninsula. From two layers of soil collected with a vertical difference of 10 cm, 934 specimens of 27 families, 40 genera, 44 species, three varieties, and 47 taxa, germinated. Although species diversity and germination density decreased in most comparative characteristics, including growth type, there was no statistical significance due to large deviations. Within-group variability of species composition was similar in the upper and lower soils, as was the decline pattern in co-occurred species (ζ-diversity) and change in species retention probability. The structuring process of the community composition in the two soil layers was fitted with an exponential correlation rather than a power function, demonstrating the dominance of the stochastic process. The pattern in diversity and species turnover according to soil depth in Gwangneung Forest was discovered to be structured by stochastic random events, such as seed vertical movement rather than interaction with trait characteristics.