• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.96 no.6
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• pp.633-638
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• 2007

The Elaeagnus macrophylla is a stenoecious evergreen plant with nitrogen-fixing symbionts and its timing of fruit-ripening coincides with spring migration of many birds in southwestern Korea. To recognize bird species which eat fleshy fruits of the Elaeagnus macrophylla and to evaluate the effects of bird ingestion on seed germination and dispersal, we monitored birds and carried out germination experiments using its fruits and seeds from March to April 2007 at Hongdo Island, Jeonnam Province, Korea. As a result, eight species of birds including the Gray Starling (Sturnus cineraceus), the Brown-eared Bulbul (Hypsipetes amaurotis) and the Dusky Thrush (Turdus naumanni) ingested the fruits. Germination rate was enhanced but length of seed dormancy was instead shortened in ingested (collected from the feces of birds) and manually extracted seeds (obtained directly from the fruits) than in intact fruits collected directly from the plant. Moreover, the possible scale of seed dispersal by the frugivorous birds ranged up to 6.9 ha based on home ranges of starlings. Consequently, the Elaeagnus macrophylla supplies food resources for migratory birds, and the birds give the plant opportunities of new colonization. We suggest that this kind of interaction between the nitrogen-fixing plant and avian seed dispersers is applicable as a process of natural restoration in degraded coastal evergreen forests.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.500-507
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• 1998

Using a sledge net, the benthic amphipods were taken over one cycle of the neap and spring tides in January 1993 at the sandy shore surf zone of Dolsando, southern Korea. From these samples, we investigated the diel and tidal effects on the intraspecific zonation of Pontogeneia rostrata. The density of p. rostrata was higher during neap tide than spring. Of three categories (adult males and females and juveniles), juveniles and males attained to its highest density during neap and spring tides, respectively. Length- frequency data show that the high mortality of juveniles seemed to occur in winter. In the surface at night, it is significant that juveniles were significantly more abundant during neap tide than spring, whereas both adult males and females were more abundant during spring tide than neap. This suggests that the vortical migration patterns of juveniles and adults vary with the type of tides. During flood of spring tide, more than $90\%$ of population collected at the area above the mean sea level (MSL) were adults. With a decrease of female/male ratio, size of males increased there but that of female did not change, indicating an active migration of large males. This behavior can provide an extension of distribution area far large males, and also give a competitive advantage to large male against small one for mate and feeding. Although adult p. rostrata was collected at 100 cm above MSL at night during spring tide, a major portion of population as usually present on the shore below MSL. The center of zonation was restricted from 50 cm to 250 cm below MSL.

• Therapeutic Science for Rehabilitation
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.37-52
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• 2021

Introduction : Oral motor function is basic function of sensory exploration, feeding, and communication, that develops from the fetal stage to childhood. Problems with oral motor function result in difficulty within handling food in the oral cavity, decreased swallowing and feeding skills, difficulty with communication, and problems with oral hygiene. To treat these symptoms, oral motor therapy is provided for normalizing sensory adaptation in the oral cavity, and increasing postural control, oral movement and oral motor function. Discussion : The oral motor facilitation technique (OMFT) was developed for increasing general and integrated oral motor function based on the following: 1) understanding orofacial muscular physiology; 2) a comprehensive approach to sensory·adaptation·behavior·cognition; 3) sensorimotor stimulation by a manual approach; 4) motor control and motor learning theory. The OMFT is a new evidence-based treatment protocol, for children and adults with neuromuscular and oral motor problems. Conclusion : The goal of this article is to provide a theoretical background for OMFT development and the basic concept for the clinical application of OMFT. We hope that this article will help oral motor therapy experts to provide effective therapy in a more professional way.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.1-15
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• 2020

This study was conducted to determine whether invasive muskrats settle in the natural ecosystem of Korea. The study also aimed to provide information on the selection of target areas, basic behavioral characteristics, and habitat use-related data, all of which are essential for effective management strategy establishment and site management. To this end, a trend in international muskrat management was identified to examine the management direction according to the settlement stage. We also secured the location of 72 domestic farmers and classified five regions in Gyeonggi-do, Chungcheongnam-do, Gyeongsangbuk-do, and Sejong Special Self-governing City into regions with high potential for natural leakage to raise the need for a quick survey. We determined that muskrats successfully settled in the natural ecosystem of Korea, based on the fact that we consistently identified a muskrat habitat at the same point for three years, from 2016 to 2018, the age of the captured population was estimated to be 1.2 years, and there had been no additional make-up factors near the habitat since 2012. The muskrats that settled in Korea showed a small home range of 0.0027 ㎢ (MCP 95%) and were estimated to show regular mobility before Spring and Autumn. Also, the areas where the muskrat habitat was observed had a high level of habitat environment disturbance and their ecological and food intake characteristics reflected that disturbance. Muskrat traces were high in hydrophyte vegetation, which can be used as a hideout in open waters and where the growth of both floating leaved plants and floating plants are prevalent. Since international invasive muskrats have already settled in the domestic ecosystem and there is concern about their proliferation in the future, the government must consider a preemptive response and scientific management.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.625-639
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• 2019

Microplastics are one of the substances threatening the marine ecosystem. Here, we summarize the status of research on the effect of microplastics on marine life and suggest future research directions. Microplastics are synthetic polymeric compounds smaller than 5 mm and these materials released into the environment are not only physically small but do not decompose over time. Thus, they accumulate extensively on land, from the coast to the sea, and from the surface to the deep sea. Microplastic can be ingested and accumulated in marine life. Furthermore, the elution of chemicals added to plastic represents another risk. Microplastics accumulated in the ocean affect the growth, development, behavior, reproduction, and death of marine life. However, the properties of microplastics vary widely in size, material, shape, and other aspects and toxicity tests conducted on several properties of microplastics cannot represent the hazards of all other microplastics. It is necessary to evaluate the risks according to the types of microplastic, but due to their variety and the lack of uniformity in research results, it is difficult to compare and analyze the results of previous studies. Therefore, it is necessary to derive a standard test method to estimate the biological risk from different types of microplastics. In addition, while most of the previous studies were conducted mostly on spheres for the convenience of the experiments, they do not properly reflect the reality that fibers and fragments are the main forms of microplastics in the marine environment and in fish and shellfish. Furthermore, studies have been conducted on additives and POPs (persistent organic pollutants) in plastics, but little is known about their toxic effects on the body. The effects of microplastics on the marine ecosystems and humans could be identified in more detail if standard testing methods are developed, microplastics in the form of fibers and fragments rather than spheres are tested, and additives and POPs are analyzed. These investigations will allow us to identify the impact of microplastics on marine ecosystems and humans in more detail.