• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.274-288
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• 2018

This study investigated the environmental factors and fish assemblage in 42 wetlands between spring and autumn of 2017 to evaluate the fish distribution and deduce the management strategy for improving biodiversity in created wetlands located at the Nakdong River basin. The investigation identified a total of 30 fish species and found that the most of wetlands were dominated by exotic fishes such as Micropterus salmoides and Lepomis macrochirus. Fish species such as Rhinogobius brunneus, Opsariichthys uncirostris amurensis, Zacco platypus were less abundant in the area with high density of Micropterus salmoides (static area) because they preferred the environment with active water flow. The pattern analysis of fish distribution in each wetland using the self-organizing map (SOM) showed a total of 24 variables (14 fish species and 10 environmental variables). The comparison of variables indicated that the distribution of fish species varied according to water depth and plant cover rate and was less affected by water temperature, pH, and dissolved oxygen. The plant cover rate was strongly associated with high fish density and species diversity. However, wetlands with low plant biomass had diversity and density of fish species. The results showed that the microhabitat structure, created by macrophytes, was an important factor in determining the diversity and abundance of fish communities because the different species compositions of macrophytes supported diverse fish species in these habitats. Based on the results of this study, we conclude that macrophytes are the key components of lentic freshwater ecosystem heterogeneity, and the inclusion of diverse plant species in wetland construction or restoration schemes will result in ecologically healthy food webs.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.138-147
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• 2022

Paddy fields are important habitats for maintaining the biodiversity of agricultural ecosystems. Recently, as the need for safe food and biodiversity conservation has increased, the rice cultivation methods have undergone changes. This study was conducted to investigate the fish fauna in Environmentally Friendly Paddy fields (EFP) and Conventional Paddy fields (CP), and compare the characteristics of Misgurnus anguillicaudatus and Aphyocypris chinensis populations in EFP and CP. A total of 2,703 fish were collected and classified into six families and 13 species. Our results showed that there was a difference in the proportion of fish populations in the two paddy fields, and the number of individuals in EFP was higher than in CP. The weight values of M. anguillicaudatus were higher in EFP than in CP, and the total length, body length, and weight values of A. chinensis were higher in EFP than in CP. Conditional factor(K) values also showed similar trends in EFP and CP. Our results indicate that the farming practices in paddy fields have a significant effect on the characteristics of M. anguillicaudatus and A. chinensis populations, and the results of this study can be used as basic data for securing biodiversity in future agricultural ecosystems.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.453-465
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• 2014

Hotspots are top sites in terms of species diversity as the most threatened and most diverse sites which have been used to select priority areas for reserves. The purpose of this paper is to identify biodiversity hotspots through analyzing nationwide spatial patterns of species richness and rarity of Korean mammals. Four endangered mammals and eleven common mammals were selected as target species. Environmental variables as model input data were consisted of topography, distance, and vegetation structure etc. and Maxent was used to develop species distribution models for target species. Species richness and rarity were used as index of biodiversity. The results of this study were as follows. Firstly, hotspots of species richness for endangered mammals were in high elevation and steep mountain areas. However, species richness for whole mammals were high in low elevation of mountains. Secondly, distribution pattern of species rarity for endangered mammals were similar as richness. However, hotspots of species rarity for whole mammals were a little different from species richness. Species rarity was high in both low and high elevation of mountain areas. This study will provide the useful information for a biodiversity assessment, a habitat conservation, a national ecological network plan, and the management of protected areas.

• Proceedings of KOSOMES biannual meeting
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• 2017.04a
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• pp.140-140
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• 2017

• Proceedings of The Korean Society of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology Conference
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• 2012.07a
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• pp.165-169
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• 2012

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.45-51
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• 2002

We compared the complete mitochondrial cytochrome b gene sequences of Korean and European cobitids to provide independent evidence for assessment of systematic and biogeographic relationships of species in the genus Cobitis. The data suggested monophyly of the genus Cobitis and the inclusion of Korean Cobitis species within the group having one lamina circularis, a primitive condition. Also, all the phylogenetic analyses using maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood, and neighbor joining methods showed a monophyletic relationship among Cobitis. The basal position of the Caspian C. cf. sibirica reported here reflects the eastern Asiatic origin cf. the European Cobitis and establishes C. cf. sibirica as an independent lineage. The Korean C. pacifica diverged next to C. cf. sibirica in basal group from the genus Cobitis. This result is in agreement with the hypothesized Asiatic origin of some European freshwater fish lineages. The phylogenetic relationships in this study showed a close affinity between C. zanadreai and C. sinensis. Two new species, C. tetralineata and C. pacifica in Korea also are closely related to monophyletic group clustering the type species of the Acanestrinia subgenus (C. elongata) with all the endemic Italian species (C. bilineata and C. zanandreai). This may suggest that the affinity between the Korean and Danubian-Italian imply genetic convergence or genetic plesiomorphic state between allopatric species that are separated for the Miocene. The mtDNA-based phylogeny for the species of the genus Cobitis from Kores and Europe permits phylogenetic assessment of the morphological transitions of Iamina circularis.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.237-254
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• 2021

Background: Some of the introduced alien species introduced settle, multiply, and spread to become invasive alien species (IAS) that threaten biodiversity. To prevent this, Korea and other countries legally designate and manage alien species that pose a risk to the environment. Moreover, 2160 alien species have been introduced in South Korea, of which 1826 animals and 334 plants are designated. The inflow of IAS can have negative effects such as ecosystem disturbance, habitat destruction, economic damage, and health damage to humans. To prevent damage caused by the inflow of IAS in advance, species that could potentially pose a risk to the environment if introduced in South Korea were designated as alert alien species (AAS). Results: The designation criteria were in accordance with the "Act on the Conservation and Use of Biological Diversity" and the "Regulations on the Ecological Risk Assessment of AAS and IAS" by the National Institute of Ecology. The analysis result of risk and damage cases indicated that mammals affect predation, competition, human economic activity, virus infection, and parasite infection. Birds have been demonstrated to affect predation, competition, human economic activity, and health. It was indicated that plants intrude on the ecosystem by competing with native species with their high-population density and capacity to multiply and cause allergic inducement. Interestingly, 300 species, including 25 mammals, 7 birds, 84 fishes, 28 amphibians, 22 reptiles, 1 insect, 32 spiders, 1 mollusk, 1 arthropod, and 99 plants, are included in the list of AAS. Conclusions: AAS designation plays a role in preventing the reduction of biodiversity by IAS in South Korea and preserving native species. Moreover, it is determined to provide considerable economic benefits by preventing socio-economic losses and ecological damage.

• 한국균학회소식:학술대회논문집
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• 2015.05a
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• pp.20-20
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• 2015

Endophytic fungi are microorganisms inhabiting living plant tissues without causing apparent harm to the host. They are drawing increasing attention due to their ability to produce various bioactive compounds as well as their effects on host growth and resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses. As a first step to assess biodiversity of plant associated fungi in Korea and the following evaluation on diverse biological activities, we are collecting endophytic fungi from plant in wild followed by systematic long-term storage in liquid nitrogen. Molecular identification using ITS sequences was also incorporated for pure culture by hyphal tip isolation. As of April 2015, about 1,400 fungal strains had been isolated from about 170 plant taxa. Fungal isolates belonging to Pleosporales, Diaporthales, Glomerellales, Hypocreales, and Xylariales were the most abundant. These collections are being used for several complementary researches, including screening of isolates with novel bioactive compounds or conferring drought stress resistance, phylogenetic and genomic study. Genome sequencing was performed for 3 isolates, one Xylaria sp. strain JS573 producing griseofulvin, an antifungal compound, and two Fusarium spp. strains JS626 and JS1030, which are assumed to be new species found in Korea. More detailed analysis on these genomes will be presented. These collections and genome informations will serve as invaluable resources for identifying novel bioactive materials in addition to expand our knowledge on fungal biodiversity.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.52-66
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• 2009

The increase of rice productivity, the decrease of rice demand, aging farmers, and the market-opening of rice along with the domestic and international conditions changes have been led to the increase of the abandoned rice paddy fields. Such abandoned rice paddy fields have been left in many areas and most of them have become wetlands. The purpose of this study is methodology of selection to the wetland for development in the abandoned rice paddy fields along with surroundings. The selection of habitat suitability index assessment study to conservation and restoration was done through hydrology, wild animals habitation, wetland vegetation, outside disturbance, and natural purification capacity assessment. In addition, the same method was applied to assessment items and standards for both the restoration site selection and the type of restoration. Both assessment items and standards were applied to the sites, drawn on the maps, and overlayer for the comprehensive map, and then the wetland suitability index was applied to the suitable site. The development technique was applied to 10 sites near the Banwol Stream watershed in Gunpo, Gyeonggi province. The selection of conservation, restoration, and the optimal sites can lead to not only the biodiveristy increase in agricultural or semi natural areas but also to the establishment of ecological networks in national level.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.1-22
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• 2019

This study aims at deriving the implications for adaptation policy and research target regarding climate change risk assessment in ecosystem sector in Korea. The common ground of exemplary cases of "world leaders" in terms of adaptation policies and researches was that they emphasize nationwide study on climate change on biodiversity and ecosystem in target of establishing scientific evidence-bases and reducing uncertainty for their national adaptation policies and plans. In light of this trend, Korean government should settle down more successful adaptation structure by leading adaptation system in further national policy-settings to observe UNFCCC and CBD integratedly and effectively, considering the economic value of adaptation in policy, and strengthening scientific research programs and technology developments. Moreover, risks assessment based on diagnoses and analysis on the risk factors (hazard, exposure, and vulnerability) for climate change in nationwide habitats and species and consolidations with subsequent adaptation strategies could make adaptations in ecosystem sector more effective and successful.