• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
• /
• v.36 no.3
• /
• pp.412-423
• /
• 2018

In this study, we investigated the distribution and habitat of Tscherskia triton from 2014 to 2016 in Jeju Island. Nine individuals of T. triton were observed and captured from four habitat sites. Most of the habitats were of the natural and rural type, and urban type coexisted in some of the areas. The natural type of habitat comprised of forests, shrubs, and grasslands. The habitat of T. triton ranged vertically from 102 m in lowland to 742 m in a mountainous area and was not observed in altitude over 1,000 m. Small brooks, dry streams or wetlands were found to be located nearby the habitat of T. triton. The T. triton was distributed mainly in areas with natural vegetation and artificial plantation in company with the upper story vegetation on the ground of intact or incomplete layer structure, or the area with the relatively large distribution of shrubs and long grassland. The presence of roads and forest paths in these habitats suggested that the T. triton can thrive in areas with human disturbance. The designation of Halla Mountain National Park in Jeju Island as a conservation area prevents damage or loss of the habitat due to any artificial development. However, frequent human disturbances occurring in grassland is tolerated by small mammals. Therefore, in order to help T. triton maintain a stable population density, it is essential that various types of the habitat should be conserved in the middle mountain areas and the grasslands in lowlands should be well protected.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
• /
• v.26 no.6
• /
• pp.33-50
• /
• 2023

This study is to propose the ecosystem service valuation method as a complementary or alternative tool to overcome the limitations of the contingent valuation method(CVM), typically used to assess social benefits in preliminary feasibility studies. With an increasing interest in natural and environmental restoration projects, we assessed social benefits with theses CVM and ecosystem service valuation method from a case of Janghang wetland restoration project and compared the extent of the two social benefits. For quantitative evaluation of ecosystem services, the biophysical quantity for each ecosystem service indicator was calculated and then converted into currency (KRW) units to estimate the economic value of ecosystem services. The four ecosystem regulating service indicators were selected including greenhouse gas capture/storage, air pollution, water quantity and quality regulation. The amounts of CO₂ sequestration and storage as a ecosystem's greenhouse gas regulating service in the study area were 73.04 tCO₂/yr and 5,867.53 tCO₂/yr respectively. The reduction of SO₂, one of air pollutant gases by ecosystems was calculated to be 180.27 kg/yr, the reduction of NO₂ to be 378.90 kg/yr, and the reduction of fine dust (PM10) to be 9,713.92 kg/yr. The amount of freshwater regulating service by the ecosystem was estimated to be 459,394,319ℓ/yr, and the amount of nitrogen in freshwater removed by the ecosystem was 78.00kg/yr. Study results show that the benefits derived from the CVM were KRW 227.8 billion over the 30-year analysis period and those from the ecosystem service valuation method were KRW 41.4 billion for regulatory services and KRW 148.8 billion for cultural services, totaling KRW 189.5 billion. With KRW 184.8 billion of the total costs, the benefit/cost ratio using the CVM was 1.23 and that with the ecosystem service valuation method was 1.03. This study implications include that the CVM and ecosystem service valuation method can be applied together to assess and compare social benefits for natural and environmental restoration projects.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
• /
• v.32 no.4
• /
• pp.425-439
• /
• 2018

W investigated the environmental factors and inhabiting biota such as macrophytes and zooplankton in 43 sites located on Jeju Island from May and June 2017 to evaluate the spread and ecosystem risk of dotted duckweed (landoltia punctata) which was recently found for the first time in Jeju Island. Dotted duckweeds were found in a total of 18 sites which tended to show low biomass of aquatic macrophyte species other than the dotted duckweed. We conducted a pattern analysis using SOM (Self-Organizing Map), which extracts information through competitive and adaptive properties, to analyze the effect of inhabiting biota on aquatic macrophytes such as the dotted duckweed and environmental factors. The SOM analysis showed that the inhabiting biota such as the zooplankton affected the biomass of aquatic macrophytes than they did the environmental factors. In particular, the biomass of dotted duckweed was positively related to plant-attached species (Alona, Chydorus, and Pleuroxus). Considering that low density of aquatic macrophytes covers the streams and wetlands on Jeju Island because of irregular water source and sharp change of water depth, the dotted duckweeds are likely to play an essential role as the vital habitat for micro-biota including zooplankton in wetlands and streams on Jeju Island. Furthermore, considering that organic matters are utilized as the primary food source in the areas occupied by dotted duckweed, dotted duckweeds have the role of being both habitat and food source. Although the dense growth of dotted duckweed adversely affects growth and development of some aquatic plants due to the shadow effect, it is due to the dominance of floating plants on the water surface should not be regarded as the risk of the dotted duckweed. In conclusion, the dotted duckweeds have spread and settled in most of the water systems on Jeju Island, their impact on inhabiting biota and the aquatic environment was minor. It is necessary to monitor the distribution and spread of dotted duckweeds in the inland areas outside of Jeju Island in the future.

• Journal of Environmental Policy
• /
• v.11 no.4
• /
• pp.3-37
• /
• 2012

In perspective of biodiversity conservation and protected areas (PAs), the aims of the study are to review the mid-long term national plans, which deal with national territory and environment in Korea, and to find out the way to improve this issue. Key issues were drawn by referring "Biodiversity 2011-2020 Strategic Targets" and "Protected Area Decision" in CBD CoP-10 and 7 National comprehensive or basic Plans were reviewed. Quoting Biodiversity 2011-2020 Strategic Target 5, "By 2020, the rate of loss of all natural habitats, including forests, is at least halved and where feasible brought close to zero, and degradation and fragmentation is significantly reduced", most of national plans included various methods such as "No Net Loss of Green", "No Net Loss of Wetlands", and so on. Regarding the target 11, "By 2020, at least 17% of terrestrial and inland water, and 10% of coastal and marine areas, ecologically representative and well connected systems of PAs and other effective area-based conservation measures, and integrated into the wider landscape and seascapes", 15% by 2015 was set up as a target of total PAs in Korea and 13% by 2015 or 2020 was set up as a target of coastal and marine PAs. CBD CoP-10 Decision X/31 (Protected Areas) invites parties to develop a national long-term action plan for the implementation of PoWPA and describes 10 issues that need greater attention. National action plan for the implementation of PoWPA doesn't be mentioned at any national plans even PoWPA. Regarding the 10 issues, most of issues were well reflected within various national plans, however there is still a need to improve the details and corelation between plans. Particularly, in terms of management effectiveness evaluation (MEE), there was no national plan to directly deal with MEE even though CBD invites parties to work towards assessing 60% of the total PAs by 2015. Based on the review results, below 4 items were suggested; (1)"The Comprehensive Plan of the National Territory" needs more attention on the Biodiversity Conservation and PAs, (2)Consider to establish "National PA System Plan" embedded into "the Comprehensive Plan of National Environment", (3)Establish a "National Action Plan for the implementation of PoWPA", (4)Improve the National Plans through linking with Biodiversity 2011-2020 Strategic Targets and relevant PA key issues.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
• /
• v.51 no.4
• /
• pp.1-15
• /
• 2023

This research intended to reveal the special characteristics of the vegetation structure and the tendency of change of -landfill slope districts, which are reclaimed land, through an investigationsinto the presently existent vegetation and plant community structure of the World Cup Park landfill slope district. For the analysis of changes in vegetation, this study compared the results of field surveys in 1999, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2012, 2016, and 2021. For the investigation into the plant community structure, a field investigation was carried out in 2021 with six fixed investigation districts designated in 1999 as subjects. To analyze the change in the plant community structure, the past data on the population, the number of the species, and the species diversity by the layer in 2021 were compared and analyzed in the landfill slope district, which is reclaimed land. The changes of the vegetation distribution and the power had been affected by typhoons (Kompasu). Above the plantation foundation, which had been dry and poor, Salix koreensis, marsh woody plants that had formed the community, decreased greatly. The Robinia pseudoacacia community, after the typhoon in 2010, decreased in the number of species and population. Afterward, it showed a tendency to rebound. Regarding the Ailanthus altissima-Robinia pseudoacacia-Paulownia tomentosa community, the number of the species and the population had shown a change similar to the Robinia pseudoacacia community. The Paulownia tomentosa and the Ailanthus altissima have been culled. The slope was predicted as a Future Robinia pseudoacacia forest. The Salix pseudolasiogyne community has been transitioning to a Robinia pseudoacacia forest. Only some enumeration districts, the Robinia pseudoacacia forests and the Salix pseudolasiogyne, had been growing. However, most had been in been declining. It was predicted that this community will be maintained as a Robinia pseudoacacia forest in the future. As these vegetation communities are the representative vegetation of the landfill slope districts, which is reclaimed land, there is a need to understand the ecosystem changes of the community through continuous monitoring. The results of this research can be utilized as a basic material for the vegetation restoration of reclaimed land.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
• /
• v.45 no.6
• /
• pp.1136-1142
• /
• 2012

The roles of paddy fields are re-evaluated as an artificial wetland. Although 44% of total aquatic invertebrates in South Korea are observed in a rice paddy, information of their distribution and characteristics of habitat use is limited yet. This study was carried out to provide information and characterizing distribution of community of aquatic invertebrates using a rice paddy through the South Korea. Aquatic invertebrates were collected at 284 sites of a rice paddy in South Korea from June to August, 2005, 2006 and 2007. We grouped sampling sites according to its species and population of aquatic invertebrates using a non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS). Total 21 orders 60 families 114 species were collected from a rice paddy. Coleoptera (25%), Heteroptera (17%), Diptera (17%) and Odonata (12%) were observed. Aquatic invertebrates were classified into three groups (Group 1: Gangwon, Gyeonggi and Chungbuk; Group 2: Chungnam, Jeonbuk, Jeonnam and Jeju; Group 3: Gyeongbuk and Kyeongnam). In Group 1, Muljarus japonicas distributed mainly Gangwondo and Chungbuk. In Group 2, Sigara nigroventralis and S. substriata were mainly observed. In Group 3, higher density of Daphnia sp. and Chironomidae gen. spp. was found in the southern part of Korea.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Marine Environment & Energy
• /
• v.13 no.4
• /
• pp.305-312
• /
• 2010

Seagrass beds are a type of coastal wetland with many ecosystem services and precious economic values. Seagrass meadows used to be widespread along the coasts in northern Chinese seas, yet they have long been overlooked and lack devoted study on their history and status. This paper firstly reveals, by synthesis of information on composition of seagrass species and their distribution, that the seagrasses in this region have experienced considerable declines, both in terms of distribution and biomass, from the earliest record to present days. Then, a case study at the seagrass bed of Chudao is described to show the status of representative seagrass meadows. The results indicate that the environmental condition is good, seagrasses are in recovery, the planktoners are healthy and rich fishery resources and the mammal finless porpoise are associated with the seagrass bed. The cause(s) of historical seagrass decline and current conditions are also discussed, and future recommendations on seagrass protection and mapping are suggested.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
• /
• v.20 no.4
• /
• pp.43-61
• /
• 2017

The wetlands are facing environmental changes such as desiccation that occurs with the passage of time and reduced ecosystem services from wetlands in the city. In order to maintain the ecosystem services provided by wetlands in urban areas, a system thinking about the trade-off phenomenon of ecosystem services occurring as the wetlands undergo environmental changes is needed. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to develop strategies for wetland design using system thinking approach to enhance the resilience of ecosystem services degraded by the desiccation of wetlands and other disturbances. The objectives of this study include the system boundary and variables. Second, analyzing the dynamics of wetland design strategy. Third, it analyzes the trade-off phenomenon of ecosystem services in terms of the hydrology, hydric soil, and plants strategies to mitigate these effects. Fourth, wetland basic design to improve the resilience of ecosystem services. A wetland in Abuk-Mountain Neighborhood Park, Miryang-si, Gyeongsangnam-do, has been selected as a case study. Causal loop diagrams(CLDs) are used to analyze feedback in the wetland regime. In summary, hydrology, hydric soil, and plants is suggested as system boundaries to design plan. Design strategies for the wetland focused on robustness, redundancy, rapidity, and resourcefulness as a result of CLD analysis are first proposed in order to effectively maintain the wetland regime over the long term. Secondly, in a section related to hydrology, the CLD results show the trade-offs between provisioning-cultural services and regulating services. In order to control these services, a "water cycling system" has been implemented due to its strength in terms of robustness. The CLDs for hydric soil showed the trade-offs between regulating services and supporting services. An "installation of storm drainage for maintaining water levels" was selected due to the strength offered in terms of redundancy and rapidity. The CLDs for plants showed the trade-offs between provisioning - cultural services and regulating services. In order to control the strategic points, the "planting of indigenous vegetation" was suggested given the strength in terms of redundancy. In this study, a wetland design method is proposed that can improve the resilience of wetland ecosystem services by analyzing the dynamics overtime. The results of this research can theoretically be applied to help restore ecosystem services in wetlands using ecological landscape design. In addition, this study will contribute to reducing maintenance costs by improving wetland resilience.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Marine Environment & Energy
• /
• v.6 no.2
• /
• pp.3-15
• /
• 2003

Recently more than 450 incidents of oil spill a year have occurred in nearshore of Korea, which caused unmeasurelable losses in fisheries and severe damage in marine ecosystem. Two approaches remain paramount in any response to marine oil spill : the enhancement of natural dispersion of the oil by using dispersants, and mechanical recovery using booms and skimmers. A technique currently receiving fresh attention is the enhancement of the natural bioremediation of oil through the application of micro-organisms and/or nutrient. Oil, like many natural substances, will biodegrade over a period of time into simple compounds such as carbon dioxide, water and biomass. Bioremediation is the term used to describe a range of processes which can be used to accelerate natural biodegradation. More specifically biostimulation is the application of nutrients, and bioaugremetation or seeding is the addition of microbes specially selected to degrade oil. Bioremediation is an economically attractive method for the clean-up of oil-contaminated area. Bioremediation has been demonstrated to be an effective oil spill countermeasure for use in cobble, sand beach, salt marsh, and mud flat environment.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
• /
• v.23 no.2
• /
• pp.187-196
• /
• 2010

A total of 10 islands (Kumodo and Komundo in Yeosu City; Oinarodo in Goheung County; Chongsando, Soando, and Pogildo in Wando County; Chodo in Jindo County; Uido, Huksando, and Hongdo in Shinan County) were surveyed to confirm distribution of naturalized plants from June 2006 to December 2008. A total of 100 naturalized plants taxa from 25 families were recorded. The highest number of naturalized plant species (82 taxa) was recorded on Oinarodo, while the lowest number was recorded on Hongdo (42 taxa) and on Uido (34 taxa). A total of 26 naturalized species taxa (such as Dactylis glomerata, Lolium perenne, Bromus unioloides, Rumex obtusifolius, Chenopodium album, Phytolacca americana, Barbarea vulgaris, Lepidium apetalum, Robinia pseudo-acacia, Trifolium repens, Erigeron annuus, Erigeron canadensis, Senecio vulgaris, Xanthium strumarium) was recorded in all study areas. Distribution of naturalized plants were categorized into 7 habitat types based on ecological traits: afforested land, beach, port, and vacant land, road boundary, road cut and slope area, waste arable land, landfill area, and wetland. Systematic management is required to conserve unique landscape, species diversity, vegetation and ecosystem of Dadohae National Park. In order to manage the naturalized plants in Dadohae National Park, basic surveys are most needed to understand distribution and dispersal of naturalized plants communities based on ecological features of each habitat type.