• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.327-343
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• 2013

The aim of this study is to perform community analysis and biological assessment of water quality using benthic macroinvertebrate from Wangpi-cheon watershed which is defined as conservation areas of ecosystem and landscape by ministry of environment in Korea. Field survey of the study area was carried out 2 times from June to September in 2012. As a result of the field survey, total 155 species of benthic macroinvertebrates in 74 families, 15 orders, 7 classes and 5 phyla were collected. The findings of community analysis using the classified species and individuals showed relatively low DI(Dominant Index) value of 0.22 and very high value of average H'(Diversity index) as 4.24. And the analyzed results of SI(Similarity Index) according to habitat types using functional feeding groups showed higher values of 94.51% and 93.19% respectively to tributary and main stream after the designation of conservation areas of ecosystem and landscape. These results infer that various species and lots of individual are widely distributed at Wangpi-cheon watershed and stream ecosystem of the study area is healthy and well maintained after the designation of conservation areas. And also, the calculated EPT value was 62.9% as high enough to explain the cleanness of Wangpi-cheon watershed. We evaluated environmental condition and biological water quality by using ESB(Ecological Score of Benthic macroinvertebrate community) and KSI(Korean Saprobic Index). The average evaluated ESB shows very high value of 208.2, therefore Wangpi-cheon watershed is designated as 'First priority protection waters' area and the value of KSI is 0.32 which meets the saprobic water quality standard as 'First class'.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.970-979
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• 2012

The purpose of study was to analyze the ecological health of the Namcheon Stream using Index of Biotic Integrity(IBI) Qualitative Habitate Evaluation Index(QHEI) and Water quality condition. Diatom samples were collected from ten sampling sites in the stream at total four times in 2006 and 2007. To assess ecological health of the stream, it was used modify metrics proposed by USEPA(1999). IBI values of the stream averaged 23 which was judged as a "fair". Physical habitate evaluation analysis showed that QHEI values in the stream averaged 57 indicating a "poor" condition. Water quality condition in the stream averaged "II" indicating a "a little good" condition In conclusion, ecological health of the Namcheon Stream was "fair" condition that means habitate minimally disturb in the aquatic environment and relatively good water quality. Especially, St. 6 St. 7, St. 8, and St. 9 showed that QHEI values in the stream averaged 47 indicating a "poor" condition. St. 6 exists mostly to interfere with the flow of the river piers and artificial beams around. They are also serious disturbance at riverbed structure in aquatic ecosystems. St. 10 was good about habitate condition however, it was disturbance of aquatic ecosystems due to nutrient. It is suggest that St. 10 needs to be managed for nutrient inflows.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.440-447
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• 2013

The ecological health, based on the Index of Biological Integrity (IBI) and Qualitative Habitat Evaluation Index (QHEI) was evaluated in 10 stream sites of Southern Han River. Eleven parameters of 12 parameters (Karr 1981) were modified for the application of regional Korean circumstance. The ecological health, based on IBI grade, was in "good condition" and the IBI score ranged from 33 to 47. Nine parameters of the original 12-parameter metrics in QHEI model (Plafkin et al. 1989) were applied in the habitat assessment. The mean QHEI model values were judged as "partially supporting" and ranged from 75 (non-supporting) to 109 (supporting). Comparative analyses revealed that values of IBI and QHEI models were greater in Gj stream than Ig- and Dn streams. The analysis of fish compositions showed that the proportions of insectivore, omnivore, and carnivore were 61.9%, 19%, and 9.5%, respectively. According to tolerance guild analysis, sensitive species and tolerant species were 76.1% and 4.7%, respectively, indicating a healthy trophic state in terms of food chain. The analysis by habitat guild type indicated that riffle benthic species dominated (57.1%) when compared to water column species (28.5%). The introduced species and individuals with diseases or external abnormality were not observed. Overall, the model values of IBI and QHEI suggested that the ecological health was maintained well in this upstream region.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.508-519
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• 2017

There have been many studies on monitoring of biodiversity changes and preservation of Gwangneung Forest Biosphere Reserve (GFBR) in South Korea in recognition of the rare ecosystem that has been preserved for a long period. However, there are few studies on diversity and community characteristics of benthic macroinvertebrates as an indicator of stream health of GFBR. The purpose of this study was to assess the water quality of Bongseonsa Stream that penetrated through Gwangneung Forest and the nearby torrents by analyzing the benthic macroinvertebrates community during April to September 2016. The investigation collected a total of 114 species of benthic macroinvertebrates belonging to 56 families, 17 orders, 8 classes, and 5 phyla from the Bongseonsa Stream and Kwangneung Stream. Ephemeroptera and Trichoptera were the largest groups in species diversity with 30 species (32.3%) and 16 species (17.2%), respectively, and Tubificidae sp., Baetis fuscatus, Antocha KUa, and Cheumatopsyche brevilineata, which usually habit in contaminated streams, appeared frequently. Among the feeding function groups, the gatherers and hunters appeared relatively frequently, and the shredders and scrapers appeared frequently in the torrents. Among the habitat oriented groups, the clingers and burrower appeared more frequently and represented the microhabitats in the shallow areas. The result of the analysis of benthic macroinvertebrates community showed that the dominant index was $0.48{\pm}0.10$ in average while it was lowest with 0.33 in GS 8 of the Gwangneung Forest torrent and highest in BS 1 of Bongseonsa Stream. The diversity and richness indices were inversely proportional to the dominant index and were 2.53 and 4.22, respectively, in GS 8 where the dominant index was low. The result of the analysis of community stability showed that area I, which had high resistance and restoration, was high in Bongseonsa Stream while the area III, which had low resistance and restoration, was high in Gwangneung Forest, indicating that the water system in Gwangneung Forest had a wider distribution of specifies sensitive to agitation. The biological water quality assessment showed ESB of $50.88{\pm}17.69$, KSI of $1.11{\pm}0.57$, and BMI of $78.55{\pm}11.05$. GS 8 of Gwangneung Forest torrent was judged to be the highest priority protective water area with the best water environment and I class water quality with ESB of 63, KSI of 0.55, and BMI of 89.9. On the contrary, BS 1 of Bongseonsa Stream was judged to be the high priority improvement area that had the lowest water quality rating of III with ESB of 25, KSI of 2.13, and BMI of 62.7. Although the diversity of water beetle was higher in the water system of nearby Bongseonsa Stream than the water system inside the Gwangneung Forest, the annual community structure appeared to have distinct differences.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.144-155
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• 2021

This study was conducted to analyze community structure and species composition of Abies koreana forest. Field survey was carried out from June, 2019 to 2020, September. 121 plots (20×20 m) were set up, 5 herb layer plots (3×3 m) were constructed for each plot, and there, Diameter at Breast Height(DBH), height, environmental factor were measured. It was analyzed that water stress did not have a significant effect on the factors affecting the growth of A. koreana in Mt. Halla-san, and in the case of Mt. Deokyu-san, the more forest stands located at the ridge, the higher the tree density. It was found that the factors affecting the distribution of Abies koreana were not consistent according to the environment of study site.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2022.09a
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• pp.61-61
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• 2022

섬괴불나무(Lonicera insularis Nakai)는 인동과(Caprifoliaceae) 인동속(Lonicera) 식물로 우리나라 울릉도에 제한적으로 분포한다. 인동과 식물 중 인동(L. japonica Thunb.), 괴불나무[L. maackii (Rupr.) Maxim] 등 다수의 분류군이 약리효능이 입증되었으며, 맛이 뛰어나 차, 술, 음료 등으로 다양하게 활용되고 있다. 그 중 섬괴불나무는 최근 면역자극 및 항비만 활성 등 다양한 약효가 확인되어 약용자원으로서의 잠재적 가치가 큰 것으로 보고된 바 있다. 따라서 본 연구를 통해 특산식물인 섬괴불나무의 적정 자생지를 명확하게 구명하여 보전생물학적 연구, 재배 및 산업화와 같은 현지 외 보전연구를 위한 기초자료로 활용하고자 한다. 연구 결과, 울릉도에서 확인된 섬괴불나무의 주요 분포지는 4개소로 해안도로 일대에 자생하고 있었다. 입지환경은 해발고도 8-20 m, 사면 방위는 남사면, 경사는 15-30°로 완경사지에서 주로 자생하고 있었다. 방형구(10×10 m) 내 개체수는 5-25 개체로 대부분 군락을 이루고 있는 것으로 확인되었다. 4개 조사구에 대한 군집분석을 실시한 결과, 조사구는 곰솔 군집(Pinus thunbergii Parl.)으로 상층의 발달이 거의 없는 전형적인 해안 식생의 구조로 확인되었다. 관목층은 보리장나무(Elaeagnus glabra Thunb.), 송악[Hedera rhombea (Miq.) Bean], 머루(Vitis coignetiae Pulliat ex Planch.) 등이 경쟁관계에 있었으며, 초본층은 왕호장근[Reynoutria sachalinensis (F.Schmidt) Nakai], 갯메꽃[Calystegia soldanella (L.) R.Br], 해국(Aster spathulifolius Maxim.) 등으로 인하여 섬괴불나무는 피압된 것으로 판단된다. 군집의 안전성, 다양성을 나타내는 척도인 종다양성지수는 1.259, 최대종다양성지수는 1.286, 균재도는 0.979, 우점도는 0.021로 확인되었다.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.60-88
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• 2023

This study was conducted to investigate the vertical distribution and vascular plants in the Gakho mountain. Form the results of three field surveys from May 2022 to September 2022, a total of 478 total taxa, representing 426 species, 11 subspecies, 35 varieties, four forms, and two hybrids were identified, which were categorized in 282 genera and 94 families. We identified the elevational distribution ranges of 398 taxa of vascular plants. Among them, 19 taxa were endemic to Korea, one taxon was identified as a rare plant. The floristic target plants amounted to 72 taxa, specifically two taxa of grade V, two taxa of grade IV, 16 taxa of grade III, 27 taxa of grade II, and 25 taxa of grade I. Further, 71 taxa were identified as northern lineage plants. A total of 19 taxa of alien plants were identified, with a Naturalized Index of 4.0%, an Urbanization Index of 6.6%, and three plants that disturbed the ecosystem. The result of analyzing the pattern of species richness showed a reversed hump shape with minimum richness at mid-high elevation. A cluster analysis showed a high degree of similarity between adjacent elevation sections that are geographically adjacent with similar habitat environments. Warmth index in the Gakho mountain ranged from 57.2℃·month to 84.2℃·month. Our results provide basic data on vascular plants and valuable information on elevational distribution ranges of current plant species in the Gakho mountain, which could serve as a baseline for comparison of the shifts in elevation under future climate change.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.372-395
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• 2020

This study aimed to elucidate the distribution of vascular plants in Mt. Goryeo in Ganghwa-gun, Korea. The results of 14 field surveys from March 2018 to August 2019 identified 629 total taxa, representing 568 species, 10 subspecies, 45 varieties, two forms, and four hybrids in 371 genera and 112 families. The plant formation of Mt. Goryeo is the deciduous broad-leaved and conifer mixed forest, which is the common one in the middle part of the Korean Peninsula. Most parts of the mountain are covered with a young secondary forest, mainly composed of Quercus and Pinus spp. Out of the 629 taxa, 314 were first recorded in the region, six were endemic to Korea, four were listed on the Korean Red List of threatened species, 63 were floristic target plants, and 58 were invasive alien plants. The percentages of the naturalized index (NI) and urbanization index (UI) were 9.2% and 15.5%, respectively. The area showed a high plant diversity with many rare plants and phytogeographically important plants. This study discussed in detail conservation strategies to ensure biodiversity and effective management of Mt. Goryeo. The study results can be used as the reference for the preparation of biodiversity conservation and the establishment of management measures.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.126-137
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• 2023

Paddy fields provide important habitats for biodiversity conservation within the agricultural ecosystem. Their importance is gradually increasing as their ecological value is better understood. Benthic macroinvertebrates dominate paddy fields. They play an essential role in maintaining the biodiversity of paddy ecosystems. This study aimed to analyze characteristics of benthic macroinvertebrate communities and main environmental factors affecting the distribution of golden apple snails (Pomacea canaliculata). Results showed that the diversity index (H') of the benthic macroinvertebrate community was the highest at the Sangju site (St. 12) but the lowest at the Sancheong site (St. 18). Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), salinity, and Electrical Conductivity (EC) values were the highest in Gimhae and Yeongam based on Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA). Numbers of P. canaliculata (m-2) were relatively low in Gunsan and Iksan where water temperatures were high. Therefore, changes in geographical characteristics and environmental factors might affect the distribution of P. canaliculata and characteristics of benthic macroinvertebrate communities. Results of this study can be used as primary data for biodiversity conservation and ecosystem service evaluation in agroecosystems.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.941-951
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• 2012

The changes of forest habitats and maeulsoops(village forests) in Jinan-gun, Jeollabuk-do, South Korea are examined using landscape indices and morphological pattern analysis, and their landscape-ecological implications on conserving biological diversity are presented. We used FRAGSTATS and GUIDOS software, as well as land cover maps(of 1989 and 2006) to analyze the spatial and temporal patterns of habitat composition and configuration in surrounding landscapes of 34 representative maeulsoops and Jinan-gun. The results showed decreases in the amount of core habitats and corridors and habitat connectivity at a regional scale since 1989. In addition, multi-scale habitat analysis at a focal scale revealed that the structural and functional connectivity between forest habitats surrounding maeulsoops of the year 2006 was lower than that of the year 1989. In order to reduce forest fragmentation and to enhance the connectivity among habitats, it is necessary to provide the additional habitat corridors as well as preserving existing corridors and surrounding landscapes of maeulsoops. We also suggest that a combination of landscape indices and morphological spatial pattern analysis can provide an effective tool to assess the habitat functions and configuration in a rapidly changing landscape.