• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.85-97
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• 2011

The tidal flats of Korea today have reduced by 40% in size compared to 1964. To manage this important habitat properly, development of well-organized and nationwide-applicable grading systems is required. There have been several assessment systems proposed previously in Korea, but they are critically flawed in that selected biological indicators are not adequate and grading criteria are obscure and arbitrary. We reviewed the indicators used in these previous evaluation systems (e.g., diversity indices, quantity and quality of benthic macrofauna, halophytes, water birds, etc.) and subsequently proposed new indicators and an improved grading scheme. For the quantitative assessment of macrobenthic community, biomass reflecting production and ecosystem function is recommended over density, which is much less discriminatory among habitats. Of biodiversity indices used, within-, between-habitat and regional biodiversity indices that accurately reflect sampling efforts are suggested. In addition, we proposed to include species rarity, ecosystem engineers, and the ecological quality index ISEP (Inverse function of Shannon-Wiener Evenness Proportion). As for halophytes, their low spatial coverage on benthic habitat suggests that their presence can be used as an ecological indicator of benthic habitat, regardless of their protective status. We stress the need to introduce 1) quantile approach for quantitative indicators (e.g., diversity, biomass, etc.) in relation to grading, 2) presence-absence approach for spatial or aggregate indicators (e.g., boundaries of halophytes and feeding ground of water birds) and 3) benthic habitat mapping that combines all of these indicators.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.190-203
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• 2021

Water quality, benthic macroinvertebrate communities, and other factors were investigated to explore the effects of the effluent discharge from a sewage treatment plant into Jwagwang stream in Busan in 2019. During the study period, the flow rate of this stream was in the range of 10,400 m³/day to 52,200 m³/day except for the discharge of about 24,000 m³/day of the effluent. After discharge, the flow velocity increased by about 65% and the water depth increased by about 40%. At sites downstream of the discharge point, BOD, COD, TOC, T-N, T-P, and other water quality values were worse than those of the upstream sites. The periphytic algal chlorophyll-a concentrations in the natural substrata were higher than those of the upstream sites, especially in May and August. However, at sites downstream of the discharge point, the individual numbers of Annelida were decreased and individual numbers of the insecta of arthropoda were increased. Also, species numbers and the diversity and dominance indexes were improved in the sites downstream of the discharge point. The functional feeding groups (FFGs) of collector-filterers were increased and the habitat orientation groups (HOGs) of sprawlers, burrowers, and clingers were especially increased at the sites with additional reclaimed wastewater effluent flow. Regardless of the effluent discharge, BMI, an indicator of ecological stream health using benthic macroinvertebrate species, did not show large gaps between the study points. Although the water quality of the sites downstream of the discharge point was much worse than those upstream, their ecosystem soundness was better than those of the upstream sites from an ecological perspective.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.13-24
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• 2022

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the applicability of Ecosystem Service Matrix method in Songnisan and Hannamgeumbukjeongmaek Boeun-gun area. The assessment was carried out with 25 land cover types by 7 ecosystem values. The research area was divided by 30m x 30m cell unit and the each cell value was classified into 5 grades. The total number of cell under the investigation was 433,910 units in Songnisan and 84,975 in Boeun-gun. Class I and II area were widely spread and Class V area is narrowly distributed inside of Class III area in Songnisan. I area, II area and separately managed zone belong to Ecological Zoning map and Environmental Conservation Value Assessment Map(Environment + Ecology) were assessed Class I in Ecosystem service matrix. In conclusion, Ecosystem Service Matrix assessment based on land cover map is a rapid assessment methodology which reflecting ecosystem functions in a larger area. If it is supported with more ecosystem functions, the more precise nature value can be calculated.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.388-408
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• 2022

This study was conducted to select the indicator species (plant) according to the topographical characteristics in the Picea jezoensis forests, endangered subalpine coniferous trees. In South Korea and China (close to Baekdusan), the southern tree line limit of Picea jezoensis has meaningful geographical and latitudinal values for analyzing the ecological characteristics of P. jezoensis forests. Latitude greatly affects the geographical values of plant ecology, and the difference in latitude and habitat affects the change in species composition in forests. With prolonged environmental change, the habitat of subalpine plants will become smaller, and the plants may become extinct. As the P. jezoensis forests of South Korea and China, in particular, are in danger of disappearing without protection, it is important to monitor the population and develop a conservation strategy. Eighty-seven circular plots were established in P. jezoensis forests in South Korea and China. Through processes such as MRPP-test and NMS ordination, indicator species were selected based on this, and basic data for biodiversity assessment were presented. As a result of the Indicator Species Analysis (ISA), 5 taxa were selected from the upperstory vegetation and 18 taxa from the understory vegetation at the altitude(p<0.05). Indicator species by aspect were analyzed as 3 taxa for upperstory vegetation and 16 taxa for understory vegetation (p<0.05). In the case of indicator species according to the slope, 6 taxa for upper vegetation and 24 taxa for understory vegetation were selected(p<0.05). As for the indicator species according to their habitat, 8 taxa in upper vegetation and 65 taxa on understory vegetation were selected. As a result of MRPP-test, it was analyzed that the species composition was heterogeneous in the group of understory vegetation than that of upperstory vegetation. As a result of NMS ordination, the correlation with environmental factors of indicator species was analyzed by rock exposure for upperstory vegetation and latitude for understory vegetation (cut off level=0.3).

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.35-39
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• 2012

In the current study, several carabid beetle species were proposed as potential biological indicators for different habitat types (levee, upland dike, hillock, and streamside) of agricultural landscapes focusing on agrobiont species. Synuchus arcuaticollis and Synuchus orbicollis were found in all habitat types, indicating that they are general species for all habitat types. Harpalus eous and Synuchus cycloderus are potential bioindicator species for the paddy levee and hillock habitats, respectively. Amara pseudosimplicidens, Anisodactylus punctatipennis, and Chlaenius ocreatus, which occurred widely, and Bembidion morawitzi, which occurred only in the streamside habitat, are potential bioindicators for the streamside habitat.

• KIEAE Journal
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• v.8 no.6
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• pp.39-46
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• 2008

The purpose of this research is to analyze the planning characteristics based on the physical quality indicators and the users' satisfaction of parking space in apartment housing through the case study of 36 housing estate samples which were built in 1994-1998. The contents of this research consists of three main parts. The first part is to analyze the characteristics of residential environment based on the quality indicators of parking space in apartment housing. The second part is to analyze the correlation of quality indicators of parking space and development conditions in apartment housing. The third part is to analyze the correlation of users' satisfaction and physical quality indicators of parking space, and to propose the planning methods which increase the quality of residential environment of parking space in apartment housing.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.47-53
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• 1996

Effects of group breeding of herons on pine community were studied at Pomaeri, in Yangyang, Kangwon Province, Korea. This site has been protected as a Natural Monument (No. 229) since 1970. Herons have used this habitat as a breeding site from] anuary to October every year. In 1995, more than 500 herons were observed in this habitat. Many big pine trees are dying or already dead due to group inhabitation of herons, and no pine saplings were found at forest floor in this habitat. Nutrient contents of soil in this habitat were much higher than those in control plot. This must be due to the addition of feces from herons and of thin twigs and other organic materials from the canopy and bird nests. Species composition of herb layer in this habitat was quite different from that in control plot. Breeding site was dominated by Humulus japonicus. Persiearia perJohata, Persicaria thunbergii. and Commelina communis. which are indicator species of soil eutrophication.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.27-37
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• 1993

During the autumn of 1991, the water soluble sulfur content in litters of platanus orientalis on the street sides in seoul, pusan, taegu, taejeon, kwangji, ulsan and ch'unch'on cities were determined. The relationship between the water soluble s content in litters of p. orientalis and the traffic was analysed. The average content of water soluble s in litters of p. orientalis in pusan, taegu, taejeon, seoul, ulsan, ch'unch'on and kwangju cities were 0.71%, 0.60%, 0.66%, 0.58%, 0.50%, 0.43%, 0.38%, respectively. The correlation was not statistically significant between the s content in litters of p. orientalis is related to the traffic of each studied area. consequently the water soluble s content in litters of p. orientalis is supposed to be an indirect indicator of air pollution.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.273-291
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• 2013

Dinoflagellate species composition has changed around Jeju Island as well as in Korean waters due to global warming and climate changes. An investigation was conducted to monitor changes in planktonic dinoflagellates around Jeju Island from June 2006 to September 2009. A total of 86 species belonging to 14 families and 15 genera were identified, of which 34 species were newly recorded in Korean waters. Among the newly recorded species, >20 were confirmed as tropical species. Thus, the occurrence of such tropical dinoflagellates could be an indicator to monitor of environmental changes including global warming around Jeju Island and in Korean waters.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.97-107
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• 2000

This study aims to develop the model of evaluation on greenspace to increase the sustain ability of the planning and management for site-scale development projects. The results of this study can be summarized as follows: (1) The comprehensive principles of sustainable development projects were established, which include coexistence of man and nature, reflection of ecological principles, minimization of environmental pollution and damage, recycling and reuse of materials. (2) According to established principles, the evaluation criteria were classified into seven categories as follows: retention of ample greenspace, formation of greenspace as a habitat, species diversity of vegetation, consideration of indigenous plants, construction of green network, conservation of greenspace, and reuse of plant materials. (3) As a result of the analysis of questionnaire of experts, evaluation model was worked out with which we can evaluate environmental friendliness greenspace. And, the final evaluation indicators for greenspace are the rate of greeneries volume, securing habitat, indigenous plants, reuse of plant materials, and species diversity of vegetation, and the indicator of greenspace conservation.