• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.163-172
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• 2024

Background: Fruit bats are natural carriers of Nipah virus (NiV). The primary objective of this study is to identify potential reservoir species in a selected geographic regions. It is necessary to determine an accurate species identification of the associated reservoir bat species distributed in a specific region. Results: In this study, we collected 20 different bat specimens from the NiV-prone area of the Kushtia district. Among these, 14 were tissue samples (BT-1-14) and six were fecal samples (BF-1-6). We used the mitochondrial gene cytochrome b, one of the most abundant and frequently used genetic markers, for polymerase chain reaction amplification and sequencing. Out of the 20 samples, 12 tissue samples and 2 fecal samples were successfully amplified and sequenced. However, two tissue samples and four fecal samples yielded chimeric sequences, rendering them unsuitable for annotation. The sequences of the successfully amplified samples were compared to those deposited in the National Center for Biotechnology Information database using basic local alignment search tool to identify the bat specimen collected. The study identified six different bat species using both morphological and genetic data, which may carriers of the NiV. Conclusions: Our results suggest that additional research should be conducted to gather more information on fruit bats from different localities across the country. The study contributes to the establishment of appropriate measures for NiV carrying disease control and management.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.425-437
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• 2024

A large number of species in the genus Colletotrichum have been reported as causal agents of anthracnose on crops and wild plants in Korea. Many Colletotrichum isolates from the country preserved in the Korean Agricultural Culture Collection (KACC) were previously identified based on host plants and morphological characteristics, and it may lead to species misidentification. Thus, accurate fungal species identification using multilocus sequence analyses is essential for understanding disease epidemiology and disease management strategies. In this study, combined DNA sequence analyses of internal transcribed spacer, gapdh, chs-1, his3, act, tub2, and gs were applied to re-identify 27 Colletotrichum isolates in KACC. The phylogenetic analyses showed that the isolates resulted in 11 known species, they belong to the C. dematium species complex (C. hemerocallidis, C. jinshuiense, and C. spinaciae), the C. magnum complex (C. kaifengense and C. cf. ovatense), the C. orchidearum complex (C. cattleyicola, C. plurivorum, C. reniforme, and C. sojae) and the C. orbiculare complex (C. malvarum and C. orbiculare). Of them, C. cattleyicola, C. hemerocallidis, C. kaifengense, and C. reniforme were unrecorded species in Korea. In the view of host-fungus combinations, 10 combinations are newly reported in the world and 12 are new reports in Korea, although their pathogenicity on the host was not confirmed.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.210-226
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• 2024

Old-growth mixed-conifer forests in Bhutan are characterized by remarkable tree species compositional heterogeneity. However, our knowledge of tree species assemblages and their structural attributes in these forests has been limited. Therefore, forest classification has been reliant on a single dominant species. This study aimed to distinguish tree species assemblages in an old-growth mixed conifer forest in Western Bhutan and to describe their natural compositional and stand structural characteristics. Furthermore, the regeneration status of species was investigated and the quantity and quality of accumulated coarse woody debris were assessed. Ninety simple random sampling plots were surveyed in the study site between 3,000 and 3,600 meters above sea level. Tree, standing deadwood, regeneration, and coarse woody debris data were collected. Seven tree species assemblages were distinguished by Hierarchical Cluster Analysis and Indicator Species Analysis, representing five previously undescribed tree species associations with unique set of consistent species. Principal Component Analysis revealed two transitional pathways of species dominance along an altitudinal gradient, highly determined by relative topographic position. The level of stand stratification varied within a very wide range, corresponding to physiognomic composition. Rotated-sigmoid and negative exponential diameter distributions were formed by overstorey species with modal, and understorey species with negative exponential distribution. Overstorey dominant species showed extreme nurse log dependence during regeneration, which supports the formation of their modal distribution by an early natural selection process. This allows the coexistence of overstorey and understorey dominant species, increasing the sensitivity of these primary ecosystems to forest management.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.343-373
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• 2024

Background: The present study provides valuable insights into the traditional uses of medicinal plants by the inhabitants of the Northern District of the lesser Himalayas in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan. The study likely focuses on documenting and preserving the region's indigenous knowledge and practices related to medicinal plants. Ethnobotanical data were collected by interviewing 72 local informants including practitioners, farmers, teachers, and laborers from different localities of District Jhelum Valley. Different quantitative tools were used for the analysis of ethnobotanical data including relative frequency of citation, use value, informant consensus factor, fidelity level, cultural value, practical value, consensus value for plant part, rank order priority, percentage respondent knowledge, economic value and their total value were calculated. Jaccard's index (JI) was used to compare the present knowledge with the previous studies in the same or surrounding areas. Results: A total of 129 species belonging to 111 genera and 63 families were documented along with their ethnobotanical uses. Dominant families based on the number of species include Rosaceae contributing 12 species followed by Asteraceae and Saxifragaceae with 8 species each. The comparative study of the novelty of species and their uses by the JI revealed 13 novel plant species which were not reported earlier from this region. Conclusions: This information is not only important for scientific and ethnobotanical purposes but also for the sustainable management of medicinal plant resources and the potential discovery of new natural medicine. Such studies can help to bridge the gap between traditional and modern medicines and collaboration between traditional healers and health care practitioners.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.382-394
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• 2024

Background: Humbo Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR) forest is managed through direct involvement of the local community and funded by the World Vision Australia through World Vision Ethiopia under framework of the Kyoto Protocol's Clean Development Mechanism on greenhouse gas emissions. Understanding the amount and distribution of carbon stored in forests across different elevations will enhance ability to anticipate how forests will react to future climate conditions and carbon levels. The aim of the study was to quantify the amount of carbon stocks along altitudinal gradients in the Humbo FMNR forest in southern Ethiopia. A total of 54 nested sample plots of 20 m × 20 m were established on transects of elevation gradients. Inventories of woody species and soil samples (0-10 cm and 10-20 cm depth) were collected within each nested sample plot. Carbon stocks in woody biomass and soil were compared by three elevation classes. Results: The total carbon stocks significantly (p < 0.05) differed among the three altitudinal gradients. There is no significant difference in biomass carbon stocks between the middle (1,610-1,750 m above sea level [a.s.l.]) and lower (1,470-1,610 m a.s.l.) elevations. However, both of these elevations significantly differ (p < 0.05) from the higher (1,750-1,890 m a.s.l.) elevation, despite an increase in carbon stocks from lower to higher elevations. The highest ecosystem carbon stock was contributed by soil carbon. The higher proportion of C stocks at the higher elevations may be associated to the species composition and dominance with larger wood density. Conclusions: It was concluded that even though soil carbon contributed higher carbon to the total carbon stock, biomass is stronger impact than soil carbon when it comes to carbon stock variation by altitudinal gradients. We recommend that carbon-related awareness creation on reducing emission for the local people and promotion of knowledge on carbon stock credits accounting and to be claimed in future for financing, which could be considered as additional possible option for sustainable forest management.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Traditional Landscape Architecture
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.60-72
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• 2019

The purpose of this study was to identify detailed factors that affect visitor satisfactions of the plants on display, environments of pedestrian road and facility of each theme garden by conducting a survey of visitors to Jade Garden. The 400 data including 100 copies per theme garden were used for statistical analysis. The statistical techniques used in the survey analysis include multi-regression analysis, t-test, and analysis of variance(ANOVA). As a result of the analysis, most of theme gardens tended to have the greatest impact on the satisfaction of the plants on display and the lowest level of facility satisfaction. According to detailed factors analysis of the satisfaction of plants on display satisfaction of plant diversity and the method of plant display were most affected in most of the theme gardens. Among them, promoting the satisfaction of plant diversity is necessary to plant various species, but in case of Ginkgo Maze Garden, a type of tree community as one tree(Ginkgo biloba), the satisfaction of plants diversity did not show a rising-up value. Therefore, it was confirmed that the appropriate degree of plants diversity depends on the theme or environment of the garden. In the case of the pedestrian-road-satisfaction, the width of the pedestrian road was the most affected, It was analyzed that whether the point of intersection can be easily available during peak season has a significant impact on the satisfaction of visitors. In the case of facility satisfaction, it was analyzed that the presence of rest and convenience facilities had the most direct influence on visitors, so the facility diversity had the greatest influence. Therefore, it is necessary to more systematically categorize and consider the influential detailed factors such as plants diversity and methods of plant display, width of pedestrian road and facilities diversity for the management and development of the arboretum.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.962-969
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• 2016

This study assessed the ecological and behavioral characteristics of the sika deer from April 2012 to August 2016. To obtain basic information on the behavioral patterns of the sika deer (Cervus nippon) including their annual home range, sika deer wearing GPS tracking collars were released into 1,385 locations at a different altitude around where they had been captured in Songnisan. The released individuals were studied through home range analysis. According to our observations, annual home ranges of the sika deer (n=6) is seen to be $2.24{\pm}1.50km^2$ (t=3.648, p<0.05) of MCP 95% for the entire area of home range and $0.46{\pm}0.31km^2$ (t=3.666, p<0.05)$km^2$ of FK 50% for the home range core area respectively. The annual home ranges of the sika deers by sex were $2.94km^2$ for female and $1.53km^2$ for male. This study is expected to provide basic data for habitat management and ecological study of sika deer and to contribute to the management of wild animals.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Marine Environment & Energy
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.283-296
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• 2014

The distribution of heavy metals in the stormwater runoffs from industrial sites around Shihwa Lake that implements the total pollutant load management system (TPLMS) was studied to characterize the temporal changes of metal concentrations and to assess the ecological risk in dissolved and particulate phases of the selected metals. The dissolved Co and Ni concentration demonstrated first flush and tended to decrease with increasing of the duration of rainfall. The intensity of precipitation was found to be the main controlling factor of particulate metals in the stromwater runoffs. The particulate concentration of Pb accounted for 97.2% so the particulate phase was its main form. Other metals followed the sequence: Pb>Cu>Cd>Co>Zn>Ni. The particulate-dissolved partitioning coefficient ($K_d$) indicated that the $K_d$ of Pb were bigger than that of other metals because the metal Pb in the stormwater runoffs is quickly removed into the particulate phase. In a single day rainfall event, total runoff fluxes for total metals as the sum of dissolved and particulate forms through only two sewer outlets were 2.21 kg for Co, 30.5 kg for Ni, 278.3 kg for Cu, 398.3 kg for Zn, 0.39 kg for Cd and 40.0 kg for Pb, respectively. Given the annual rainfall, the number of rain days and the basin area for total pollutant load management system (TPLMS) of Shihwa area, enormous amount of non-point metal pollutants were entered into Lake with any treatment. The dissolved metals (e.g., Ni, Cu and Zn) in the stormwater runoffs exceeded the acute water quality criteria. Additionally, all metals were significantly enriched in the particulate phase and exceeded the PEL criteria of sediment quality guidelines (SQGs). These results indicated that the heavy metals in the stormwater runoffs may pose a very high ecological risk to the coastal environments and ecosystem.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.104-114
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• 2014

Nowadays, forests have been recognized as valuable resources for biological diversity and tourism/recreation. Temple forests occupy 1.3% of all the Korean forest and are under weak management although their ecological states are very good. Currently in the Buddhist society, the concern for the Buddhist arboretum has been raised as a good alternative for the practical use of temple forests to secure the sustainability of the temple forests as well as to actively meet the demand of the times for forests. This study aims to suggest establishment measures of Buddhist arboretum. This survey was performed on 105 temple forest managers and 130 laypersons. To summarize the results, the two groups differ in opinion. The temple forest managers more concerned for advertizing Buddhist culture and enhancing the image of the temple, while the laypersons had higher expectations for relaxation and education. However, they are similar in putting more emphasis on the conserving the heritage value of the temple and managing the temple forest. Above all, both groups evaluated the needs higher than the urgency and perceived managing temple forest as the most crucial function of a Buddhist arboretum. They also thought that a Buddhist arboretum should be planned to respond to the ecological characteristics of the temple area as well as to be non-exclusive to its users. Based on the important findings, five suggestions for a Buddhist arboretum were proposed. First, a Buddhist arboretum should be carried forward from a long-term point of view, developing a bond of sympathy between members of Buddhist society as well as conducting promotion and education to the general public. Second, the most significant function of a Buddhist arboretum should be preserving the temple forest, with the emphasis on relaxation and education. Third, in order to provide nonexclusive use, a Buddhist arboretum should provide mixed programs applicable to diverse user groups for high user satisfaction and educational effects. Fourth, the Buddhistic identification could be obtained through variety of plants closely associated with Buddhist culture. Lastly, in the process of collecting plants, it is also crucial to reflect the image of the temple and resource property so as to contribute itself in conservation and management of original temple forests. Thereby all Buddhist Arboretum can be classified into two types; preservation/collection and display/education/rest.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.239-249
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• 1982

The outlines of superior stands, including species mixed, age classes, canopies, and ecological conditions of the stands, were examined in the forests of west Germany, Sweden, and Netherland. The establishment schemes of tree seed orchards for the production of high genetic quality seed were also investigated in the present study. 1. The meteorological conditions, abundant in precipitation and high in relative humidity, prove it to be oceanic climate characteristics in the Scandinavia located in high latitude and north-western part of Europe. The photo periodical characteristics following to day-length and the frost times determine the patterns of tree growth and distribution as well as the tree adaptability due to bud-setting and bud-flushing in Sweden forest. 2. The European forests are generally characterized by dense multistoried forest type composed of upper stories of tall tree species such as Norway spruce, fir, Scots pine and beech, lower stories of shade tolerant poles and saplings of spruce, fir, beech, and floor vegetations covered with birch, oak and hornbeam etc. 3. The single tree selection method and group shelterwood method are commonly applied for silvicultural system but shelterwood method and clearcutting method practiced partially in limited area. Badischer Femelschlagbetrieb and Bayerischer Femelschlagbetrieb are popularized to the regeneration of Schwarzwald but selection method applied in part. 4. Tree cuttings are properly limited so as not to exceed annual increment volume for the sustained yield and the preservation of ecosystem in European forest management. Land preservation and recreation function are more interested with the promotion of wood production in the forest management. 5. Careful attentions are paid to the reforestation of the introduced exotic species, such as Douglas-fir, red oak, pines from America, Japanese larch, Italian poplar etc., with concern against the insect and pest damage, and the meteorological damage. 6. Some intensive studies on tree improvement, such as selection of plus tree, selection of plus stand for seed collection, provenance trial, progeny test of clone, hybrid seed orchard for clone complexing, are performed in the countries and the great part of the seed required for reforestation are supplied from the seed orchard established in Sweden and Netherland.