• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.109 no.4
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• pp.371-381
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• 2020

The Ministry of Environment (ME) is planning to adopt in 2020 the IUCN regional Red List for "Guidelines for listing and delisting rare & endangered species and management of endangered Species System". The ME designated 377 species of vascular plants on the regional Red List. In a previous study it had been suggested that 103 species from this list are candidates for the regional Red List. With respect to a possible Red List, we assessed 59 species (after excluding 34 additional NA species and ten endemic species). These assessments indicated that 16 species are at the "threatened" level. Of those, one species is Critically Endangered, ten are Endangered, and five are Vulnerable. A further four species are classified as Near Threatened, 30 as Of Least Concern, and nine as Data Deficient. We found that most of the assessments proposed by the Ministry of Environment were not supported by scientific data, including quantitative geographic data (over 70%) in Criteria B. In order to determine the endangered species belonging to the orchid family, it is necessary to obtain records of illegal activities or data on overcollection. The current problem with the Ministry of Environment Red List has been the lack of management of scientific data on species showing a trend in decreasing population in the mid- to long-term; thus, there is a lack of critical resources for policy-makers. The ME legally designated categories and assessment, and the lack of expertise in failing to comply with the legal law by itself. The key to presenting an accurate overview of the state of Korean flora is to fill the information gaps with respect to significant geographical and taxonomical biases in the quality and quantity of data. By regularly updating the qualified data, we will be able to track the changes in the conservation status of the flora and inform the necessary conservation policies.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.233-247
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• 2016

The purpose of this study is to offer the basic data for management of National Park by surveying and analysing the change of flora of damaged lands in Juwangsan National Park, Korea. In cause of occurring the damaged lands, site-1 was the vegetation damage by stamping, the removing Gwangamsa of site-2, 3, 4 and the removing Naewon village of site-5, 6, 7. Whole sites are caused by the artificial disturbance and interference. The numbers of flora were summarized as 135 taxa including 52 families, 109 genera, 116 species, 2 subspecies and 17 varieties in whole sites. The status of flora by sites, site-6 is the largest number of 52 taxa, site-1 is the lowest of 23 taxa. The rare plant is 1 taxa, 4 taxa of endemic plants, 10 taxa of specific plants by floristic region, 9 taxa of naturalized plants and 1 taxa of invasive alien plant. In the results of analysis about the change of coverage ratio, for this shrub layer, site-7 was changed to the most $0%{\rightarrow}50%$, and the herb layer, site-5 was changed to the most $75%{\rightarrow}95%$. In case of the change of species numbers, most sites tended to increase in the sites introduced different species or generated by the growth. It is contemplated that is similar to the restoration with the surrounding natural vegetation that is in progress is a transition occurs with the passage of time. In the dominant species, the shrub layer is Fraxinus sieboldiana, Lespedeza bicolor, Rhus javanica, Lespedezamaximowiczii, Salix koreensis and Zelkova serrata, and Miscanthus sinensis var. purpurascens, Oplismenus undulatifolius, Artemisia princeps, Bothriochloa ischaemum and Erigeron annuus of herb layer. In the results of analysing Naturalized Index(NI) and Urbanized Index(UI), NI was increased or decreased this phenomenon with the lapse of time, UI was the most increase. In particular, the increase in UI is due to the transition process, the pioneering plant, naturalized plant was imported to continue.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.4-25
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• 2011

This study was performed in 2010 to examine the flora and vegetation structure and chemical characteristics of soil in the growing community of Abeliophyllum distichum, located in the Byeonsanbando National Park. This Abeliophyllum distichum community has more individual numbers in Cheongrim-ni and Jungkye-ri, Byeonsan-myeon, and Buan-gun area, which is designated as a Natural Monument (No. 370), and also where the habitat conditions for Abeliophyllum distichum is more favorable. The authors recorded 100 taxa with 45 families, 82 genus, 93 species, 4 varieties, and 3 forms. Among them, species such as Abeliophyllum distichum (critically endangered), Asarum maculatum (near threatened) and Chionanthus retusa (near threatened), which are categorized as rare plants, were recorded. According to the list of Korean endemic plants, 4 taxa, particularly Philadelphus schrenckii, Abeliophyllum distichum, Weigela subsessilis, and Lonicera subsessili, were recorded. The community of Abeliophyllum distichum is located in the northwest slope of Baekcheon watershed and the community is comprised of healthy soil. The community structure was classified into three: the Castanea crenata community, Zelkova serrata community, and Quercus serrata community. The Castanea crenata community is composed of the Cornus walteri, Platycarya strobilacea, Zelkova serrata, Rhamnella frangulioides, arranged in terms of importance percentage. The Zelkova serrata community is composed of Celtis sinensis, Quercus aliena, Styrax japonica, and Acer pseudo-sieboldianum, also according to importance percentage. As for the Quercus serrata community, it is composed of Quercus variabilis, Castanea crenata, and Prunus sargentii, also arranged in terms of importance percentage. The importance percentage of Abeliophyllum distichum is 6.6% in the Castanea crenata community, 5.6% in the Zelkova serrata community and 5.1% in the Quercus serrata community. Moreover, in order of chemical characteristics of soil pH, electrical conductivity, available phosphoric, organic matter, and exchangeable cation (K, Ca, Mg) are analyzed. The No. 3 site was relatively higher than other districts of the same chemical characteristics of soil.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.100 no.4
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• pp.609-615
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• 2011

Forsythia saxatilis is a Korean endemic plant designated as rare and endangered by the Korea Forest Service (KFS). Growth and physiological characteristics of F. saxatilis were investigated under two different light intensities in order to figure out an appropriate growth environment for conservation and restoration of the species in its natural habitat. Shoot length, leaf size and weight, photosynthetic pigment content and photosynthetic parameters were measured for F. saxatilis grown at two experimental plots under relative light intensities (RLI) of 20% and 60% of the full sun, respectively. Fresh leaf weight of plants grown under high relative light intensities (RLI-60) exceeded that of plants grown at 20% RLI. The ratio of fresh leaf weight to leaf size at RLI-60 was 1.47 times superior comparing to that recorded at RLI-20. The content of photosynthetic pigments such as chlorophyll a, b and carotenoid were higher in plants grown at RLI-60, whereas the ratio of total chlorophyll to carotenoid content was higher in the leaves at RLI-20. Photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance and transpiration rate at RLI-60 were, respectively, 2.5, 2.65 and 1.79 times higher comparing to those recorded at RLI-20. Water use efficiency, however, was higher at RLI-20. The chlorophyll/nitrogen ratio was 1.83 times higher at RLI-20 than at RLI-60. In contrast, the ratio of net photosynthesis to chlorophyll content at RLI-60 was 2.58 times higher than that of RLI-20. In conclusion, light intensity might be the major factor affecting growth and physiological characteristics of F. saxatilis grown under canopy of tall tree species.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.18-26
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• 2020

Echinosophora koreensis (Nakai) Nakai an endemic plant with limited distribution in some parts of the Korean Peninsula, is designated as "Endangered" species on the IUCN Red List. The species is under the threat of deterioration in nature due to various environmental changes causing loss of natural habitats. We investigated the distribution pattern and population structure of E. koreensis to serve as a basic reference for identifying the dynamics and persistence of natural populations of this species in the future. To determine the characteristics of the E. koreensis population, we laid two to three large plots sized 20m×30m on the ridgeline as the reference in Yanggu, Chuncheon, and Hongcheon and laid four to seven small quadrats sized 1m×1m on the transect. A total of 530 plots were laid, 10 each at 2m interval, to measure the number of the stems, the number of fruiting, height, and other factors. The collected distribution information was compared with the existing IUCN assessed categories by applying IUCN Red List ver 3.1 Criteria B. The average population density of the three surveyed areas was 3.47 stem/㎡; the density of each area was 3.95 stems/㎡ in Yanggu, 3.37 stems/㎡ in Chuncheon, and 2.87 stems/㎡ in Hongcheon. The number of fruiting per stem was 0.0038, indicating only 7 fruits out of 1,837 stems and that vegetative reproduction is likely to be more dominant than sexual reproduction. The distribution tendency of population density in the small plots in three surveyed areas showed that the density of E. koreensis tended to decrease toward the center of the forest with low crown openness and around the mountain ridge with high crown openness. It indicated that the quantity of light could be a very important factor for the growth of individuals of this species. The analysis of the heights of individuals present in the surveyed plots showed a range of 2.3 ~ 68.5cm and an average of 20.1cm. An analysis on the stage-structure of the E. koreensis population based on the sieve height found that the appearance frequency decreased with increasing height above 15 ~ 20cm and that the percentage of individuals lower than 10cm, which were presumed to be seedlings, was severely low, indicating a necessity of study on the population sustainability based on the monitored data. The occupied area calculated with the collected species distribution information was 200㎢, indicating the EN category according to the IUCN Red List Reference B.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.154-163
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• 2021

This study was carried out to present the habitat distribution status and the habitat distribution prediction of Sophora koreensis, which is the Korean Endemic Plant included in the EN (Endangered) class of the IUCN Red List. The habit distribution survey of Sophora koreensis confirmed 19 habitats in Gangwon Province, including 13 habitats in Yanggu-gun, 3 habitats in Inje-gun, 2 habitats in Chuncheon-si, and 1 habitat in Hongcheon-gun. The northernmost habitat of Sophora koreensis in Korea was in Imdang-ri, Yanggu-gun; the easternmost habitat in Hangye-ri, Inje-gun; the westernmost habitat in Jinae-ri, Chuncheon-si; and the southernmost habitat in Sungdong-ri, Hongcheon-gun. The altitude of the Sophora koreensis habitats ranged from 169 to 711 m, with an average altitude of 375m. The area of the habitats was 8,000-734,000 m², with an average area of 202,789 m². Most habitats were the managed forests, such as thinning and pruning forests. The MaxEnt program analysis for the potential habitat of Sophora koreensis showed the AUC value of 0.9762. The predictive habitat distribution was Yanggu-gun, Inje-gun, Hwacheon-gun, and Chuncheon-si in Gangwon Province. The variables that influence the prediction of the habitat distribution were the annual precipitation, soil carbon content, and maximum monthly temperature. This study confirmed that habitats of Sophora koreensis were mostly found in the ridge area with rich light intensity. They can be used as basic data for the designation of protected areas of Sophora koreensis habitat.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.548-557
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• 2021

Cypripedium japonicum Thunb. is an endemic plant in East Asia, distributed only in Korea, China, and Japan. At the global level, the IUCN Red List evaluates it as "Endangered Species (EN)," and at the national level in Korea, it is evaluated as "Critically Endangered Species (CR)." In this study, we investigated the characteristics of the age structure and the sustainability of the population based on the data obtained by demographic monitoring conducted for seven years in the natural habitat. C. japonicum habitats were observed in 7 regions of Korea (Pochoen, Gapyeong, Hwacheon, Chuncheon, Yeongdong, Muju, Gwangyang), and 4,356 individuals in 15 subpopulations were identified. The population size and structure differed from region to region, and artificial management had a very important effect on the size and structural change of the population. Population viability analysis (PVA) based on changes in the number of individuals of C. japonicum showed a very diverse tendency by region. And the probability of population extinction in the next 100 years was 0.00% for Pocheon, 10.90% for Gwangyang, 24.05% for Chuncheon, and 79.50% for Hwacheon. Since the above monitored study sites were located within the conservation shelters, which restricted access by humans, unauthorized collection of C. japonicum, the biggest threat to the species, was not reflected in the individual viability. So, the risk of extinction in Korea is expected to be significantly higher than that estimated in this study. Therefore, it is necessary to reflect population information in several regions that may represent various threats to determine the extinction risk of the C. japonicum population objectively. In the future, we should expand the demographic monitoring of the C. japonicum population known in Korea.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.202-207
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• 2014

Lonicera insularis Nakai (Caprifoliaceae) is Korean endemic plant that lives along the shore of Ulleungdo and Dokdo. The aim of this study is to construct a phylogenetic relationship within six species (L.maackii, L.chrysantha, L.subsessilis, L. harai, L. morrowii) of genus Lonicera L. and Wigela subsessilis as outgroup and intraspecific variation of L. insularis using chloroplast DNA five regions sequences. Sequence analysis revealed that both L. insularis and L. morrowii showed complete homologies in the intergenic regions of trnL-trnF, trnS-trnG, psbM-trnD and matK coding region. However, sequence in the petN-psbM intergenic region showed a single nucleotide difference between both species, thus we designated them as CP01 and CP02. The plants having CP01 are prevalent in the Ulleungdo and Dokdo, while L. insularis and L. morrowii from Ulleungdo and of Dokdo, and Japan have CP02. This confirmed the existence of two cp DNA lineages with different geographical distributions. We can infer the allopatric speciation by geographical barrier. The result will provide the important basal data to study speciation and specie evolution of ocean islands such as Ulleungdo and Dokdo.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Traditional Landscape Architecture
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.116-123
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• 2014

The description of vegetation cover and floral composition was undertaken in terms of phytosociological study in Dodamsambong(scenic site no. 44) and Danyangseokmoon(no. 45). In this study a total of 17 $relev{\acute{e}}s$ containing 144 taxa were collected and analyzed. Eight plant communities are differentiated, grouped into 4 physiognomic types: forest type(Buxus microphylla var. koreana-Thuja orientalis community, Tilia mandshurica-Quercus variabilis community, and Cynanchum wilfordii-Pinus densiflora community), mantle type(Cardamine leucantha-Neillia uekii community), secondary meadow type(Galium kinuta-Spodiopogon sibiricus community, Diarthron linifolium-Zoysia japonica community), and crevice type(Patrinia rupestris-Selaginella stauntoniana community, Hypodematium glandulosopilosum community). The vegetation of Dodamsambong and Danyangseokmoon is characterized by local flora, such as calciphilous plants, geological distribution-limit species, and endemic species. The soil depth, slope, and human impact have been identified as the most important differentiating ecological factors. Buxus microphylla var. koreana-Thuja orientalis community, Tilia mandshurica-Quercus variabilis community, and Patrinia rupestris-Selaginella stauntoniana community were evaluated highly by National Vegetation Naturalness. In order to restore the value of specific landscape for scenic site, we should improve the problems of protected area such as wrong management on habitat, forest fragmentation by facilities and decline in vegetation by lack of growing the next succession.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.287-296
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• 2017

In order to check host plant diversity and to confirm the potential risk to be invaded, we documented host plant flora and plant part of C. pentagona, an invasive parasitic plant in field survey and induced parasitic infection by them in the laboratory experiment. Parasitic interaction(12% of total tree species) was found in twig and leaf of tree such as Quercus mongolica and Abies holophylla that was not developed into ligninfication. There were most host plant species belong to Compositae, but the species parasitic rate of family was higher in Cyperaceae, Polygonaceae and Leguminoceae. Through the inducible infection experiment with C. pentagona, all species except one species show parasitic interaction between host plan and C. pentagona. These result means that the limiting stage for invading area is dispersion process for invading other area in Korea. Infection plant part by C. pentagona was dominantly both shoot and leaf, rather than only leaf or only shoot. We found newly 12 families and 45 host plant species including 33 herbacious one and 12 woody one. Crop plant such as Setaria italica and 6 endangerd one such as Scrophularia takesimensis, especially the later rare endemic plant was to death by parasitic infection of C. pentagona. These results indicate that C. pentagona is potential risk to both wild and cultivated plant in Korea.