• Title/Summary/Keyword: Community ecology

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Matter dynamics with respect to influences of C3 and C4 plants in four subtropical grasslands of Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, the Western Ghats, India

  • Paulsamy, Subramanium;Kil, Bong-Soup;Sivashanmugam, Munusamy
    • Journal of Ecology and Environment
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    • v.35 no.4
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    • pp.259-267
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    • 2012
  • Biomass changes, net primary production and transfer dynamics of dry matter in four subtropical humid montane grasslands at Ebbenadu, Korakundah, Thiashola and Wenlockdown in Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve (NBR), the Western Ghats, India, were investigated. Despite the early report of a higher density and dominance of $C_4$ species over $C_3$ species in these grasslands, no functional study of matter production had previously been carried out. Therefore, in order to determine the roles played by these two groups of species, the present study was attempted. The study revealed that the dry matter and net primary production contributed by $C_4$ species were much greater than those of its $C_3$ counterpart in all the grasslands. The turnover rate of aboveground dry matter for both $C_3$ and $C_4$ species was generally rapid, whereas it was slow for belowground parts, and litter components of $C_3$ and $C_4$ species together. In all grasslands, generally about 60% and 10% of the input were channeled to aboveground and belowground parts, respectively, by the $C_4$ species, whereas the $C_3$ species transferred only about 22% and 8% of dry matter to aboveground and belowground parts, respectively. The total disappearance of dry matter was 2.73, 2.10, 3.19, and $1.96\;g\;m^{-2}\;day^{-1}$ in Ebbenadu, Korakundah, Thiashola and Wenlockdown grasslands, which was 48.83%, 44.30%, 54.81%, and 41.09% of the total input, respectively, in these grasslands. This resulted in a considerable surplus dry matter production in all the grasslands studied. This balance sheet of dry matter in community function indicates that all the four studied grasslands were supporting the existing wild animals adequately in terms of pasture supply. The study further revealed that the stronger establishment of $C_4$ species rather than their $C_3$ counterparts, in terms of higher density and dominance, has driven them to play major roles in matter dynamics and system transfer functions in all the four grasslands studied. This fact evidenced that pasture from $C_4$ species for wild animals was determined to be higher in comparison to that of $C_3$ species.

Population structure and regeneration of Himalayan endemic Larix species in three high-altitude valleys in Nepal Himalaya

  • Dhamala, Man Kumar;Aryal, Prakash Chandra;Suwal, Madan Krishna;Bhatta, Sijar;Bhuju, Dinesh Raj
    • Journal of Ecology and Environment
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    • v.44 no.3
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    • pp.196-206
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    • 2020
  • Background: The Himalayan forests are of great importance to sustain the nature and community resource demands. These forests are facing pressures both from anthropogenic activities and ongoing global climatic changes. Poor natural regeneration has been considered a major problem in mountainous forests. To understand the population structure and regeneration status of Larix (Larix griffithiana and Larix himalaica), we conducted systematic vegetation surveys in three high-altitude valleys namely Ghunsa (Kanchenjunga Conservation Area, KCA), Langtang (Langtang National Park, LNP), and Tsum (Manaslu Conservation Area, MCA) in Nepal Himalaya. The average values of diameter at breast height (DBH), height, and sapling height were compared for three sites and two species using Kruskal-Wallis test. Population structure was assessed in terms of proportion of seedlings, saplings, and trees. Regeneration was analyzed using graphical representation of frequencies of seedlings, saplings, and trees in histograms. Results: The results showed that the population structure of Larix in terms of the proportion of seedling, sapling, and tree varied greatly in the three study areas. KCA had the highest record of seedling, sapling, and tree compared to other two sites. Seedlings were the least among three forms and many plots were without seedlings. We found no seedling in MCA study plots. The plot level average DBH variation among sites was significant (Kruskal-Wallis χ2 = 7.813, df = 2, p = 0.02) as was between species (Kruskal-Wallis χ2 = 5.9829, df = 1, p = 0.014). Similarly, the variation in average tree height was significant (Kruskal-Wallis χ2 = 134.23, df = 2, p < 0.001) among sites as well as between species (Kruskal-Wallis χ2 = 128.01, df = 1, p < 0.001). All the sites showed reverse J-shaped curve but more pronounced for KCA and MCA. In comparing the two species, Larix griffithiana has clear reverse J-shaped diameter distribution but not Larix himalaica. Conclusion: The varied responses of Larix manifested through regeneration status from spatially distinct areas show that regeneration limitations might be more pronounced in the future. In all the three studied valleys, regeneration of Larix is found to be problematic and specifically for Larix griffithiana in MCA and Larix himalaica in LNP. To address the issues of disturbances, especially serious in LNP, management interventions are recommended to sustain the unique Himalayan endemic conifer.

The Community Ecology of Benthic Macrofauna on the Cheokjeon Tidal Flat, Incheon, Korea 2. Spatio-temporal distribution patterns of the major dominant species (인천 송도지역 척전 갯벌 대형저서동물의 군집 생태학 2. 우점종의 시ㆍ공간적인 분포양상)

  • 서인수;홍재상
    • The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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    • v.9 no.3
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    • pp.93-105
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    • 2004
  • Spatio-temporal distribution patterns of the major dominant species were assessed from bimonthly monitoring of macrotidal flat in Cheokjeon, Incheon, Korea between September 1990 and July 1992. Overall, macrofauna comprised a total of 111 species, 25,491 inds.136 ㎡. The result of Le Bris index, dominance ranking of the lead-ing species showed that the top 15 species accounting for 74.8% (19,072 inds.) of total density. In Cheokjeon tidal flat, some species were especially habitat-restricted such as genus Nephtys (Annelids; Polychaetes) and Mac-rophthalmus (Crustaceans; Decapods). Based on the density data, the five dominant species were the polychaetes Het-eromastus filiformis, the bivalves Mactra veneriformis and Solen strictus, the brachyurans Macrophthalmus japonicus, the holothuriodeans Protankyra bidentata. The results of one-way ANOVA, mean value of H. filiformis and M. ven-eriformis did not show significant changes with tidal elevation and sediment composition (p>0.05). But, other species (S. strictus, M. japonicus and P. bidentata) showed significant variations (p<0.001). In conclusion, these indicate significant spatial fluctuation with tidal elevation and sediment characteristics in some species.

Avifauna of Gap Stream in Daejeon Metropolitan City (갑천의 조류상)

  • Lee, Joon-Woo;Lee, Do-Han;Paik, In-Hwan
    • Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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    • v.29 no.2
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    • pp.10-19
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    • 2002
  • This study was conducted to investigate the avifauna of Gap stream in Daejeon metropolitan city from September in 2001 to August in 2002. For the monthly change of bird community, survey was carried at study area per each month, the obtained results could be summarized as follows. 1. The observed birds were 12 orders 31 families 83 species and 15900 individuals, 38 species are water bird as Herons, Dabbling ducks, Diving ducks, Rails, Sandpipers & Plovers and 45 species are land bird as Raptors, Woodpeckers, Wagtails, Thrushes, Warblers, Tits, Buntings, Crows. 2. These birds could be divided 29 residents, 29 summer visitors, 18 winter visitors, 7 passage migrants. 3. Among the birds, Chinese Sparrowhawk Accipiter soloensis, Eurasian Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus, Kestrel Falco tinnunculus are legally protected species as natural monuments in Korea. 4. The major dominant species were Common Teal Anas crecca, Spot-billed Duck Anas poecilorhyncha, Mallard Anas platyrhynchos, Grey Heron Ardea cinerea, Magpie Pica pica, Little Egret Egretta garzetta in order, Gap stream should be appropriate habitats for dabbling ducks and herons. 5. Among the total number of 83 species, the highest number of species was 37 species in February and the lowest number of species was 27 species in June. 6. Among the total number of 15900 individuals, the highest number of individuals was 2899 individuals in December and the lowest number of individuals was 385 individuals in May. 7. Among the monthly species diversity index, the highest number of species diversity index was 2.6207 in September and the lowest number of species diversity index was 2.0716 in January.

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Edge Preference of Forest-dwelling Birds in Temperate Deciduous Forests (온대 활엽수림에 서식하는 산림성 조류의 가장자리 선호도 분석)

  • Choi, Chang-Yong;Nam, Hyun-Young;Hur, Wee-Haeng;Lee, Woo-Shin;Kim, Hyun-Joong;Hwang, Geun-Yeoun
    • Journal of Ecology and Environment
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    • v.29 no.3
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    • pp.191-203
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    • 2006
  • To understand the effect of forest fragmentation on forest-dwelling birds, it is more effective to analyze on the selected specialists than on the whole bird community. We investigated the edge preference of forest-dwelling birds to discriminate habitat specialist species in the interior and on the edge of temperate deciduous forests in central Korea. Point count and line transect census were conducted at Gwangneung forest from February to October. Our result shows that there was no consistent tendency in abundance of birds between in the interior and on the edge because of the different landscape characteristics and the high proportion of habitat generalists. Five habitat specialists in 73 bird species were identified by the differences in both population densities; three forest interior and two forest edge specialists. Asian Stubtail Warblers (Urosphena squameiceps), Pale Thrushes (Turdus pallidus) and Coal Tits (Parus ater) were included in the forest interior group, but Black-billed Magpies (Pica pica) and Black-naped Orioles (Oriolus chinensis) were classified as the forest edge group. We suppose that a selective monitoring on patterns and changes in spatial use of these five habitat specialists is needed to estimate the effects of forest fragmentation in temperate deciduous forests. And, moreover, systematic monitoring methods for field survey should be established based on the point count method and line transect census to ensure the equality of data.

Characteristics of Heterotrophic Bacterial Population in the Artificial Lake Geumgang Near Estuary Barrage (금강 하구둑 인근에서 미생물군집의 특성)

  • Bae, Myoung-Sook;Park, Suhk-Hwan;Choi, Gang-Guk;Lee, Keun-Kwang;Lee, Geon-Hyoung
    • The Korean Journal of Ecology
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    • v.28 no.3
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    • pp.129-134
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    • 2005
  • The monthly variations of physico-chemical and microbiological water quality were investigate in the artificial Lake Geumgang near estuary barrage. Sixty heterotrophic bacteria were isolated and identified by amplification and sequencing of 16S rDNA. Water temperature, pH, and inorganic nutrients($NH_4$-N, $NO_2$-N, $NO_3$-N, $PO_4$-P) were measured. Concentrations of DO, BOD, and inorganic nutrients were lower than in the middle-stream of Geum river The population densities of heterotrophic bacteria and total coliforms varied from $4.1{\pm}1.0\times10^2$ to $6.7{\pm}1.1{\times}10^3\;cfu\;ml^{-1}$, and 0 to $2.3{\pm}0.6{\times}10^2\;cfu\;ml^{-1}$, respectively. Among the measured numbers of physiological groups of bacteria, cellulolytic bacteria showed higher population densities than those of other physiological groups. Bacterial community structure was analysed based on 16S rDNA partial sequencing. Among 60 isolates, dominant genus was Pseudomones (20 strains).

U.S. Forest Service Research : Its Administration and Management

  • Krugman, Stanley L.
    • Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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    • v.76 no.3
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    • pp.243-248
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    • 1987
  • The U.S. Forest Service administers the world's largest forestry research organization. From its modest beginning in 1876, some 30 years before the United States national forest system was established, the research branch has devoted its effort to meet current and future information needs of the forestry community of the United States, not just for the U.S. Forest Service. The research branch is one of three major administrative units of the U.S. Forest Service. The others being the National Forest System and State and Private Forestry. Currently the National Forest System comprises 155 national forests, 19 national grasslands, and 18 utilization projects located in 44 states. Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. The National Forest System manages these areas for a large array of uses and benefits including timber, water, forage, wildlife, recreation, minerals, and wilderness. It is through the State and Private Forestry branch that the U.S. Forest Service cooperates and coordinates forestry activities and programs with state and local governments, forest industries, and private landowners. These activities include financial and technical assistance in disease, insect, and fire protection ; plan forestry programs ; improve harvesting and marketing practices ; and transfer forestry research results to user groups. Forestry research is carried out through eight regional Forest Experiment Stations and the Forest Product Laboratory. Studies are maintained at 70 administrative sites, and at 115 experimental forest and grasslands. All of the current sciences that composed modern forestry are included in the research program. These range from forest biology (i. e. silviculture, ecology, physiology, and genetics) to the physical, mathematical, engineering, managerial, and social sciences. The levels of research range from application, developmental, and basic research. Research planning and priority identification is an ongoing process with elements of the research program changing to meet short-term critical information needs(i. e. protection research) to long-term opportunities(i. e. biotechnology). Research planning and priority setting is done in cooperation with National Forest Systems, forest industries, universities, and individual groups such as environmental, wilderness, or wildlife organizations. There is an ongoing review process of research administration, organization, and science content to maintain quality of research. In the U.S. Forest Service the research responsibility is not completed until the new information is being applied by the various user group : I. e. technology transfer program. Research planning and development in the U.S. Forest Service is a dynamic activity. Porgrams for the year 2000 and beyond are now in the planning stage.

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Characteristics and Inter-annual Variability of Zooplankton Dynamics in the Middle Part of the River (Nakdong River) (낙동강 중류지점에서의 동물플랑크톤 동태의 연간 변이 및 특성(낙동강))

  • Chang, Kwang-Hyeon;Joo, Gea-Jae;Kim, Hyun-Woo
    • Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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    • v.38 no.3 s.113
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    • pp.412-419
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    • 2005
  • The dynamics of zooplankton community and its relationship with environments were studied at the middle stretch (Waekwan, RK; river kilometer; above 175 km from the estuary dam) of large regulated river, Nakdong River from 1998 to 2002. There were distinct inter-annual variations and seasonal changes in total zooplankton abundance in the study site (ANOVA, p<0.01), displaying similar pattern in three years from 1999 to 2001 except 1998 and 2002. The annual average rotifers abundance during the study period was 43${\pm}76 ind. $L^{-1}$ (mean${\pm}$s.d., n = 118), followed by adult copepodids (1.6${\pm}$4.8 ind. $L^{-1}$), and small cladocerans (0.4${\pm}$1.2 ind. $L^{-1}$). Among the rotifers, Brachionus spp. Polyarthra spp., Colurella spp., Keratella spp.·, and Trichocerca spp. were the most common taxa. These species occupied more than 80% of the total rotifer abundance throughout the study period. Total zooplankton abundance rapidly increased in spring and fall and remained low throughout the winter. During summer, zooplankton dynamics seemed to be largely affected by hydrological parameters. Overall, rather the external factors (hydrological factors of the river) than internal factors (food condition for zooplankton such as phytoplankton biomass) appear to be responsible for changes in zooplankton dynamics in the middle stretch of the river.

Fish Community of Headwater Streams in Gaji Mountain, Ulsan. (울산지역 (가지산) 상류하천의 어류군집)

  • Choi, Kee-Ryong;Joo, Gea-Jae;Jang, Min-Ho
    • Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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    • v.34 no.3 s.95
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    • pp.239-250
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    • 2001
  • Fish fauna of 13 sites in a main channel and its tributaries of the Taehwa River and 9 Sites of other headwater streams in the Ulsan area (Mt. Gaji) were investigated from February 1999 to October 2000. All sites were the 1st to 5th order streams in the Ulsan area, and 10 sites (45.5%) were intermittent streams. A total of 2,695 flsh specimens were collected and classified into 14 families and 44 species. Cyprinidae accounted for 40.9% (18 species) of the total fish species collected and 68.4% (1,845 ind.) of the total abundance. Subdominant families were Cobitidae (6 species; 78 ind.), Gobiidae (5 species; 240 ind.), and Gasterosteidae (2 species: 128 ind.). Zacco temmincki (RA 23.0%, 14 sites) was the dominant species; subdominant species were Moroco oxycephalus (20.2%, 11 sites), Zacco platypus (8.0%, 10 sites), Mugil cephalus (5.2%, 3 sites). Among the total species, 8 species were endemic species to Korea. The dominant Korean endemic species was Squalidus chankaensis tsuchigae (53.6% of Korean endemic species) and subdominant species were Iksookimia longicorpa (20.5%), and S. japonicus coreanus (6.6%) . Due to the intermittent nature of streams in the Ulsan area, a conservation program of nsh fauna is strongly needed.

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Ecological Studies of Epizoic Algae Attached on the Freshwater Fishes in a Small Stream (lan Stream), South Korea (소하천에서 담수어류 표피에 부착된 미세조류의 생태학적 연구)

  • Shin, Jae-Ki;Seo, Jin-Won;Yi, Hye-Suk;Jeong, Seon-A;Hwang, Soon-Jin
    • Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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    • v.37 no.4 s.109
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    • pp.462-468
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    • 2004
  • Most of the surveys of periphyton carried out for environmental and ecosystem health assessment of streams have considered the impact made on their fixative substrates (stones, rocks, sand, silt, clay and other abiotic matters), but there has been virtually no research that considered moving substrates. This study attempted to make an analysis and assessment of the habitat environments of the microalgae attached to the skin surfaces of fish living in small streams, with a focus on their species composition and community structure. The dominant fish in the this survey were Zacco temmincki and Zacco platypus, which are usually found in the streams, and rivers, and they accounted for 62% and 19%, respectively, in relative abundance. Substrates of fish, a representative organism with the trait of moving a long distance, show a marked contrast with those of organisms fixed at a certain place. Characteristics of both the upstream and the downstream reach well reflected in the microalgae attached to the skin surface of fishes, of which diatoms took the major composition. The result of this observation is considered to be useful to provide basic data in assessment of stream health. Also it may be suggested as a biological tool for the assessment of aquatic environment in the future.