• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.316-335
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• 2021

This study reviewed the change of theory of ecological niche(concepts and definitions) over time to provide a theoretical basis for habitat-related studies of animals and plants. Accordingly, it analyzed and summarized the major discussion trends of ecological niche worldwide in each period from the 1900s to the present. Countries advanced in ecological studies, such as the EU and the USA, have conducted theoretical and empirical studies on the ecological niche since the early 1990s. The concept of the ecological niche was introduced in the early 1900s, developed in the mid-1900s, and advanced from the mid-1900s to the late 1900s. Since the 2000s, the advanced concept has diversified with new developments in technologies and research methods. The factors suggested by theoretical and empirical studies in defining the ecological niche of a species include 1) population dynamics of the target species, 2) all biotic conditions to sustain a population (food relationship and material flow in the food chain), 3) all non-biotic conditions to sustain a population (physical environmental conditions), 4) all direct and indirect interactions between these environmental factors, and 5) response and adaptation mechanisms that include the migratory ability of the target species or genetic diversity and adaptability to change. Unlike such international advancement, there have not been sufficient theoretical, philosophical, and empirical studies of ecological niche in Korea. The concepts and definitions by Greennell, Elton, and Hutchinson were selectively and partially borrowed for empirical studies without full description. Considering that the theory of ecological niche becomes the foundation for habitat-based species conservation and restoration, it is necessary to seek diversification and advancement of theoretical and empirical research and research methods and technological development. It will provide an important foundation for the academic advancement of ecology and for establishing and implementing policies to preserve and restore ecology and biodiversity effectively and successfully in Korea.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.53 no.1
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• pp.102-108
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• 2020

This study is to analyze the growth response of the Quercus dentata seedlings to four environmental factors and measure the ecological niche breadth. Environmental factors were light, moisture content, soil texture, and organic matter, treated with four gradients. The more quantity light increased, the heavier the leaves biomass, aboveground biomass, belowground biomass and plant biomass was. In treatment of water content and soil texture, growth response was no difference. The more organic matter increased, the heavier aboveground biomass was, but the remaining trait of plant was no difference. The ecological niche breadth was 0.865 in light, 0.995 in moisture content, 0.994 in soil texture and 0.988 in nutrient. Ecological niche breadth was the widest in the moisture content treatment and the narrowest in the light treatment. This means that the growth of Q. dentata seedlings grows well as the amount of light increases, and is sensitive to light, Thus, it is determined a growth and ecological niche breadth by light factors.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.43-53
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• 2024

This study attempted to elucidate the ecological niches and influencing environmental factors of Quercus variabilis and Quercus acutissima, which are representative deciduous broad-leaved trees in Korean forests, taxonomically close and genetically similar, under climate change conditions. Under climate change conditions induced by increased CO₂ and temperature, soil moisture and nutrient environments were manipulated in four gradients. At the end of the growing, plants were harvested to measure growth responses, calculate ecological niches, and compare them with those of the control. Eperimental plants were grown for 180 days in a glass greenhouse designed with four gradients each for soil moisture and nutrient environments under climate change conditions induced by increased CO₂ and temperature. After harvesting, growth responses of leaf traits were measured, ecological niches were calculated, and these were compared with those of the control groups. Furthermore, the responses of the two species' populations were interpreted using principal component analysis(PCA) based on leaf trait measurements. As a result, under climate change conditions, the ecological niche breadth for moisture environment was broader for Quercus variabilis than Quercus acutissima, whereas for the nutrient environment, Quercus acutissima exhibited a broader niche breadth than Quercus variabilis. And the rate of change in ecological niche breadth due to climate change decreased for Quercus variabilis in both moisture and nutrient environments, while for Quercus acutissima, it increased in the moisture environment but decreased in the nutrient environment. Additionally, in terms of group responses, both Quercus variabilis and Quercus acutissima expanded their ecological niches under climate change conditions in both soil moisture and nutrient conditions, with Quercus acutissima exhibiting a broader niche than Quercus variabilis under nutrient conditions. These results indicate that the changes in leaf morphological characteristics and the responses of individuals reflecting them vary not only under climate change conditions but also depending on environmental factors.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.90 no.3
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• pp.380-387
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• 2001

The characteristics of ecological niche, breadth and overlap, for seventeen major tree species were evaluated in the natural deciduous forest in Mt. Chumbong area. Employed by the plot sampling method, the environmental gradient for vertical niche was based on the intensity of light within the forest, and that for horizontal niche was based on multi-dimensional resources in distribution pattern. The result showed that Fraxinus rhynchophylla had the highest value of vertical niche breadth and Maackia amurensis had the lowest, and Acer pseudo-sieboldianum had the highest value of horizontal niche breadth and Betula costata had the lowest. There was no significant correlation between both measures of niche breadth. However, the tolerance index for each species was positively correlated to the values of niche breadth. Spearman's rank correlation coefficients were applied to test the correlationship between the species ranks of tolerance index and those of two ecological niche breadths. The coefficient of $r_s=0.432$ ($P{\leq}0.1$) was not enough to support significant correlationship between the tolerance index and vertical niche breadth at the 95% probability. If Carpinus cordata, rarely reach canopy of the forest due to its own growth form, are excluded from the analysis, coefficient was calculated as $r_s=0.650$ ($P{\leq}0.01$), resulting in highly significant correlationship. The Spearman's rank correlation coefficient was $r_s=0.797$ ($P{\leq}0.01$) for tolerance indices and the values of horizontal niche breadth, indicating highly significant. Four distinctive species groups, produced by cluster analysis on the basis of ecological niche overlap for each pair of species, were in considerable accord with the positively associated species constellation pattern created by the inter-species association analysis.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.205-212
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• 2023

This study was attempted to find out how the ecological niche and interspecies relationship of Quercus aliena and Q. serrata, which are the main constituents of potential natural vegetation along the riverside of mountains in Korea, under climate change conditions. To this end, soil moisture and soil nutrients were treated with 4 grad ients under climate change conditions with elevated CO₂ and temperature, plants we re harvested at the end of the growing season, growth responses of traits were measured, ecological niche breadth and overlap were calculated, and it was compared with that of the control group(ambient condition). In addition, the relationship between the two species was analyzed by principal component analysis using trait values. As a result, the ecological niche breadth of Q. aliena was wider than that of Q. serrata under the moisture environment conditions under climate change. Under nutrient conditions, the ecological niche of the two species were similar. In addition, the ecological overlap for soil moisture of Q. aliena and Q. serrata was wider than the soil nutrient gradient under climate change. The species with traits in which the increase in ecological niche breadth due to climate change occurred more than the decrease was Q. aliena in both water and nutrient gradients. And in the responses of the population level, due to climate change, the adaptability of Q. aliena was higher than that of Q. serrata under the soil moisture condition, but the two species were similar under the nutrient condition. These results mean that the competition between the two species occurs more severely in the water environment under climate change conditions, and at that time, Q. aliena has higher adaptability than Q. serrata.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.680-693
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• 2011

In conceptual ecology, a concept does not exist independently but occupies an ecological niche in ecological environment. Among many biological concepts, genetic concepts are connected to several units including the genetics unit, and within the genetics unit the concepts of sub-areas are highly dependent on one another. For this reason, we analyzed conceptual diversity and conceptual proximity of genetic concepts through the ecological niche approach. For this purpose, we surveyed 995 9th graders. The areas covered in the survey were four genetic concepts: gene, chromosome, mitosis, and meiosis. The questionnaire presented biological concepts or terms related to each area, and the respondent marked the relevance between the presented biological concepts or terms and each area on a scale of 1~30 points. With 9th grade students, we analyzed the change of genetic concepts through class by the ecological niche approach. Through class, the total number of concepts increased in all of the areas, and the increase was smallest in the area of meiosis followed by mitosis, chromosome and gene. Relative density decreased with increases in the number of concepts. The conceptual diversity index also increased through class in all of the areas, and the increase was smallest in the area of meiosis followed by mitosis, chromosome and gene. In addition, difference in the relative density of concepts was reduced after class, and difference in the score of relevance was also reduced and consequently similarity among concepts increased. From these results were drawn conclusions as follows: First, through class, the conceptual diversity of genetic concepts increased. Second, through class, the conceptual proximity of genetic concepts increased.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.43-57
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• 1994

The evergreen broad-leaved forest in Mt. Turyunsan was classified into four plant communities : Carpinus tschonoskii community, Carpinus tschonoskii - Quercus acute community, Quercus acuta community, Neolitisea sericea community. Quercus acuta, which had been appeared as a dominant species in most evergreen broad-leaved forest, was assumed to be succeed from Quercus serrata and Quercus variabilis through Carpinus tschonoskii, and would be succeed to Neolitsea serisea. Carpinus thschonoskii and Quercu serrata were assumed to be competitive with Quercus acuta, Camellia japonica, Neolitsea serisea and, Machilus thunbergii. It was assumed that Quercus acuta had a similiar ecological niche with Camellia japonica. Also it was assumed Neolitsea serisea had a similiar ecological niche with Lozoste lansifolia.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.385-391
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• 2008

In Korea, Quercus acutissima distributed in good condition with high nutrients and moisture content, but Quercus variabilis in dry soil or rock habitate. In order to understand this ecological distribution of Q. acutissima and Q. variabilis, we cultivated the seedlings of two oak species treated with light, soil moisture and nutrient gradients each four level, from May to October in glass house. Then we measured the ecological niche breadth and niche overlap of the two species, and analyzed the relationship of competition using cluster analysis and PCA ordination. Ecological niche breadths of Q. acutissima under moisture and nutrient treatments were slightly wider than those under light one. Among 14 characters measured, 6 characters related with length items were wider in all the environmental treatments, but 8 characters connected with weight terms narrower in light treatment. Ecological niche breadths of Q. variabilis under moisture and nutrient treatment were wider than those of light one. Ecological niche of Q. acutissima was wider than those of Q. variabilis in all the environmental treatments. Ecological overlap between two species was higher with a range of 0.87$\sim$0.92, especially higher in soil moisture factor. These results means that Q. acutissima is more competitive than Q. variabilis, especially in soil moisture condition. Two species were ordinated with distinct group based on 9 characters. From these results, it can be explained that what Q. variabilis distributed in bad soil condition is due to the escape strategy, because of its low competitive ability to Q. acutissima in natural communities.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.229-238
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• 2022

Q. mongolica and Q. dentata are representative species of deciduous forest communities in Korea and are known to be relatively resistant to soil drying condition among Korean oaks. This study attempted to elucidate the degree of competition and ecological niche characteristics of the two species by comparing the ecological responses of the two species according to soil moisture. Competition between Q. mongolica and Q. dentata was shown to be more intense under the conditions where moisture content was low than under the conditions where moisture content was high. As for the ecological niche overlaps of the two species for soil moisture, the structural traits of plant such as stem diameter overlapped the most, the traits of biomass such as petiole weight overlapped the least, and photosynthetic organ-related traits such as leaf width and length overlapped intermediately. When looking at the competition for soil moisture between the two species, it can be seen that Q. mongolica won in nine traits (leaf width length, leaf lamina length, leaf lamina weight, leaf petiole weight, leaf area, leaves weight, shoot weight, root weight, and plant weight) and Q. dentata won in the remaining seven traits (leaf petiole length, leaves number, stem length, stem diameter, stem weight, shoot length, and root length). Competition between the two species for the moisture environment of the soil was shown to be intense under the conditions where moisture content was low. The degree of competition between Q. dentata and Q. mongolica for soil moisture is high under the conditions where soil moisture content is low, and it is judged that Q. mongolica is more competitive for soil moisture than Q. dentata.

• 한국생태학회:학술대회논문집
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• 1999.05a
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• pp.107.2-107.2
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• 1999