• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.274-280
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• 2020

As the importance of biological resources increases, the conservation technology is becoming important for rarities. This study was conducted to establish an efficient cryopreservation conditions for the Deutzia paniculata, endangered plant species, by using both cryopreservation methods of vitrification and encapsulation. As a result, the sucrose pretreatment seed viability showed up to 30.7% in the treatments. The cryoprotectant treatment improved the viability of the seeds, and was found to be excellent in the vitrification method using PVS3. The vitrification method had over 10% higher germination rate than the seeds preserved by encapsulation. In addition, the germination rate showed a significant difference according to the cryopreservation treatment time, and the germination rate of seeds decreased very much as the long time became longer. Plants germinated from preserved seed in liquid nitrogen showed poor growth compared to untreated, and good growth in PVS3 120 minutes. In addition, the growth of germinated plants by liquid nitrogen treatment time was better in the vitrification method. These results are expected to be useful for long-term preservation of D. paniculata, endangered plants.

• Proceedings of the National Institute of Ecology of the Republic of Korea
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.129-138
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• 2022

Reintroduction programs have been promoted across the world to recover and rehabilitate endangered birds through ex situ captive breeding and releasing to the nature. The ultimate aims of these reintroduction programs are recovery of sustainable populations in natural habitats. To ensure the success of the reintroduction programs, it is necessary to examine the followings in order to increase the success rate of releasing along with the development of captive breeding techniques: 1) Adequate habitat provision, 2) adaptability of captive-bred individuals, 3) survivability of released individuals, and 4) social interest and will. Before releasing captive-bred individuals, it should be reviewed whether there are habitats in which the limiting factor is removed, and assessed their long-term safety. The quantity and quality of the released individuals must be considered to increase the chances for mate selection, maintain genetic diversity, and acquire the ability to adapt to the wild. The release method must be decided in consideration of characteristics of the target habitats and individuals, and rational means such as careful observation, evaluation, and feedback must be provided throughout the release process. For the long-term success of recovery projects, social awareness, sustainable support, and related experts are needed. Satisfying these criteria can help to increase the success rates of reintroduction programs. For the bird reintroduction program in the future, the feasibility of the methods and procedures must be closely reviewed before starting.

• Mycobiology
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.142-149
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• 2022

Orchids live with mycorrhizal fungi in mutualism. This symbiotic relationship plays an essential role in the overall life cycle of orchids from germination, growth, settlement, and reproduction. Among the 1000 species of the orchid, the Korean lady's slipper, Cypripedium japonicum, is known as an endangered species. Currently, only five natural habitats of the Korean lady's slipper remain in South Korea, and the population of Korean lady's slipper in their natural habitat is not increasing. To prevent extinction, this study was designed to understand the fungal community interacting in the rhizosphere of the Korean lady's slipper living in the native and artificial habitats. In-depth analyses were performed to discover the vital mycorrhizal fungi contributing to habitat expansion and cultivation of the endangered orchid species. Our results suggested that Lycoperdon nigrescens contributed most to the increase in natural habitats and Russula violeipes as a characteristic of successful cultivation. And the fungi that helped L. nigrescens and R. violeipes to fit into the rhizosphere community in Korean lady's slipper native place were Paraboeremia selaginellae and Metarhizium anisopliae, respectively. The findings will contribute to restoring and maintaining the endangered orchid population in natural habitats.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.112-118
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• 2005

Based on the specific plant species for environmental assesment by the Ministry of Environment(MoE), a total of 68 taxa were identified; 29 taxa for the floristic degree(FD) I, 12 taxa for the FD II, 11 taxa for the FD III, 9 taxa for the FD IV and 6 taxa for the FD V. The endangered plant species, in Woraksan National Park, such as Lilium cernum and Berchemia berchemiaefolia are categorized as the Conservation Degree (CD) II which is designated by the MoE. The rare and endangered species such as Crypsinus hastatus, Lilium cernum, Berchemia berchemiaefolia, Lilium callossum, Gastrodia elata, Aristolochia contorta, Koelreuteria paniculata, Rhododendron tschonoskii, Scopolia japonica, Cypripedium macranthum, Paeonia japonica and Thymus quinquecostatus including 12 plant taxa are categorized as Rare and Endangered Plant Species by the Korea Forest Service.

• Journal of Climate Change Research
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.235-243
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• 2018

Loss of favorable habitats for species due to temperature increase is one of the main concerns of climate change on the ecosystem, and endangered species might be much more sensitive to such unfavorable changes. This study aimed to analyze the impact of future climate change on endangered wild animals in South Korea by investigating thermal sensitivity and vulnerability to temperature increase. We determined thermal sensitivity by testing normality in species distribution according to temperature. Then, we defined the vulnerability when the future temperature range of South Korea completely deviate from the current temperature range of species distribution. We identified 13 species with higher thermal sensitivity. Based on IPCC future scenarios RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5, the number of species vulnerable to future warming doubled from 3 under RCP4.5 to 7 under the RCP8.5 scenario. The species anticipated to be at risk under RCP 8.5 are flying squirrel (Pteromys volans aluco), ural owl (Pteromys volans aluco), black woodpecker (Dryocopus martius), tawny owl (Strix aluco), watercock (Gallicrex cinerea), schrenck?s bittern (Ixobrychus eurhythmus), and fairy pitta (Pitta nympha). The other 10 species showing very narrow temperature ranges even without normal distributions and out of the future temperature range may also need to be treated as vulnerable species, considering the inevitable observation scarcity of such endangered species.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.112 no.3
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• pp.322-330
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• 2023

Amid the recent intensification of climate change, the decline of subalpine coniferous species is evident. Accordingly, the Korea Forest Service is conducting research to establish conservation measures, identify the causes of the decline of subalpine coniferous species, and establish conservation strategies for seven species of conifers in the alpine region. This study used an economic value evaluation method to present objective data to inform the need for and value of conservation of endangered coniferous species through the recognition of endangered coniferous species and evaluation of conservation value among coniferous species conservation strategies in endangered alpine areas. A contingent valuation method was applied. As a result, the estimated conservation value per household of endangered alpine coniferous species was 49,181 won.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.199-205
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• 2022

Two tree frogs, Dryophytes suweonensis and Dryophytes japonicus, inhabiting Korea, are morphologically similar and share the same habitats. Therefore, they are identified mainly through their calls, especially for males. Dryophytes suweonensis is registered as an endangered (IUCN: EN grade) and protected species in South Korea. Thus, it is necessary to develop a method to rapidly identify and discriminate the two species and establish efficient protection and restoration plans. We identified significant genetic variation between them by sequencing a maternally-inherited mitochondrial 12S ribosomal DNA region. Based on the sequence data, we designed a pair of primers containing 7bp differences for high resolution melting(HRM) analysis to rapidly and accurately characterize their genotypes. The HRM analysis using genomic DNA showed that the melting peak for D. suweonensis was 76.4±0.06℃, whereas that of D. japonicus was 75.0±0.05℃. The differential melt curve plot further showed a distinct difference between them. We also carried out a pilot test for the application of HRM analysis based on immersing D. suweonensis in distilled water for 30 min to generate artificial environmental DNA(eDNA). The results showed 1.10-1.31℃ differences in the melting peaks between the two tree frog samples. Therefore, this HRM analysis is rapid and accurate in identifying two tree frogs not only using their genomic DNA but also using highly non-invasive eDNA.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.165-177
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• 2023

Field surveys were conducted at a total of 50 locations targeting naturalized plants on Ulleung-do. A total of 109 taxa were identified, including the list of naturalized plants in the preceding literature. The naturalized plants of Ulleung-do had a high proportion of Asteraceae, which appeared frequently in the habitat of the ruderal type. There were no naturalized plants that settled only on Ulleung-do, and all naturalized plants found on Ulleung-do first settled on the Korean Peninsula. This was proved by the high rates of epecophyten (90.8%) and the introduction period 2nd (70.6%). On the other hand, among ecosystem-disturbing species that have a great influence in the inland of the Korean Peninsula, Hypochaeris radicata and Rumex acetosella appeared in a limited area in Ulleung-do. On the other hand, Lapsana communis appeared in high density along the forest edge, requiring management of naturalized plants different from those in the Korean Peninsula. Naturalized plants on Ulleung-do showed a rapid increase in the 1990s after increased academic research, coastal road development, and other development projects. This highlights the necessity for continuous research on the pattern of naturalized plant occurrence after the completion of the Ulleung Airport, which is currently under construction.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.97 no.5
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• pp.525-529
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• 2008

The purpose of this paper is to examine willingness to pay (WTP) for endangered species, the Korean goral, of Woraksan National Park in South Korea. The median of the WTP is adopted to estimate the value because it will not be affected by the extreme values. The estimated household median WTP using a logit model for Korean goral conservation in Woraksan National Park was 15,221 won. The estimated value of the WTP in relation to the Korean goral has some policy implications. especially in terms of implementing policy to protect the Korean goral. The result shows that the public conservation program does have a positive WTP for the conservation of the Korean goral. This implies that the Korean goral is an important species that needs to be maintained, the government has been expended a large sum of money in an attempt to protect it.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.22-26
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• 2013

To monitor the reproductive patterns of endangered orangutan, Time-resolved fluorescence immuno assay (TR-FIA) were used to analyze metabolites of sex hormones in feces. Orangutan had long-term interbirth intervals (amenorrhea) during lactation period in which the secretion of sex hormones was repressed. The concentration of progesterone in the serum of pregnant orangutan was 30fold higher than that in non-pregnant orangutan. However, the concentration of hCG during pregnant period was different from the result of other primates. The present study suggested that age is not the important factor in determining the reproduction capability, because it is rather greatly influenced by the combination of various factors. Tracing metabolites of sex hormones in orangutan feces seems to be provide the effective solution for the infertility in orangutan. This study result shows the basic data in operating conservation project for endangered orangutan.