• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.569-576
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• 2009

Sediment and nutrient loading caused by the removal of forest cover and alteration of agricultural lands in catchments have led to the deterioration in Lake Shirarutoro. To examine the effects of deforestation and agricultural activities on water quality, I examined changes in total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) of lake water induced by land use change, and compared them with the various research data produced over the years. Our investigation showed that the level of TN and TP in the lake water decreased when forest cover increased but increased when farmland area increased. The concentration of TN and TP was high in Lake Shirarutoro despite that its catchment was surrounded by large forests and small farmlands. This result indicates that land uses near Lake Shirarutoro have affected the quality of the lake water. I have examined the changes of sediment yield in the lake's catchment over the last approximately 300 years. Eleven core samples were obtained from the lake sediment and analyzed to establish a chronology after using two tephra layers (Ko-c2 in 1694 and Ta-a in 1739) and a $^{137}Cs$ peak (in 1963). The average sediment yield under the natural condition during the first two periods was 8.4 tons/$km^2$/year in 1694~1739 and 8.9 tons/$km^2$/year in 1739~1963 respectively. The conversion of the Shirarutoro catchment into agricultural lands and deforestation intensified, leading to an increased sediment yield of 21.1 tons/$km^2$/year during 1963~2007.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.276-285
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• 2001

This report surveyed degradation of forest environment and rehabilitation in Ashio of Japan. Since 1880, a large scale forestry in this area has been destroyed by sooty smoke, and the local government invested heavily to rehabilitate the damaged forestry and denuded mountains. These degradations are due to complex operations, such as sulfurous acid gas from copper refinery, forest fires, steep slope and disadvantageous climate. The rehabilitation works on degraded forestry(2,399ha) were undertaken by tree planting fur three years from 1897. However, forest degradation and disasters were continued, and the total damaged areas were about 2,400~3,000ha in 1956. A Manual labor method, a Helicopter method and also Combination of manual labor and helicopter method had been adopted to rehabilitation works from 1945 to 1996, while 828.19ha of the degraded mountains was rehabilitated. Total investment for those projects was 80 billion yen. A debris control dam, a soil arresting structure, a vegetation-block, a vegetation sack measures and tree planting have implemented significantly fur the method of rehabilitation. An objective of manual labor works is a complete rehabilitation on each place through 3 stage working. The revived green areas accounted fur 49% of the total, and the entire afforest areas are less than 10%. In coming 25 years, an amount of 21.3 billion yen will be invested to rehabilitate 564ha of degraded mountain lands. However, it is impossible to estimate that how long it will take until the whole degraded mountain lands are completely rehabilitated. Rehabilitation works in Ashio may be applicable to environmental restoration and revegetation in the abandoned coal-mine lands of Korea.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.111 no.1
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• pp.36-49
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• 2022

The purpose of this study was to analyze domestic research trends related to the Baekdudaegan Mountains in the last two decades. In total, 551 academic papers and keyword data related to the Baekdudaegan Mountains were collected using the "Research and Information Service Section" and analyzed using "big data" analysis programs, such as Textom and UCINET. Papers related to the Baekdudaegan Mountains were published in 177 academic journals, and 229 papers (41.6% of all published papers) were published between 2011 and 2015. According to word frequency data (N-gram analyses), the major research topic over the past 20 years was "species diversity." According to CONCOR analysis results, the main research could be divided into 15 areas, the most important of which was "species diversity," followed by "vegetation restoration and management," and "culture." Ecological research comprised 12 groups with a frequency of 78.8%; humanities and social research comprised 2 groups with a frequency of 15.6%. Overall, our study of research areas and quantitative data analyses provides valuable information that could help establish policy formulation.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.106 no.2
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• pp.130-149
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• 2017

The subalpine zone which is vulnerable to climate change could be functioning as a habitat for northern plant species especially in the Korean peninsula. In this study, classification of phytosociological community type and investigation on flora of vascular plants of Daecheongbong area in Mt. Seorak were carried out in order to provide a basic information for an ecological restoration and management of the vegetation through community ecological approach. Vegetation data were collected from 31 of quadrates from May to October, 2016. We analyzed vegetation types with phytosociological method, importance value with Curtis & McIntosh method, CCA using PC-ORD program tool, and flora of vascular plants. As a result, the forest vegetation was classified into Abies nephrolepis community. The community was divided 3 groups such as Pinus pumila group, Rhododendron brachycarpum group and Angelica decursiva group. Therefore, the vegetation had 3 kinds of units. The differential species group, it was classified into total of 7 species group units including Thuja koraiensis and Smilacina bicolor differential species group. The mean importance percentage (MIP) in VU 1 was shown Pinus koraiensis (24.1), A. nephrolepis (23.6) and Betula ermanii (10.5), and in VU 2, it was P. koraiensis (26.2), A. nephrolepis (20.8) and B. ermanii (10.5), and in VU 3, it was P. koraiensis (22.2), A. nephrolepis (16.4), B. ermanii (13.5) in the order, respectively. As for importance values of P. koraiensis and A. nephrolepis representative competition species, were different at each layers. The former (46.7) was higher than the latter (26.1) in tree layer, but the latter was higher than the former in subtree and, shrub and herb layers of VU 1. VU 2 and VU 3 also indicated the same tendency. P. pumila group and A. decursiva group were shown to have positive correlation with altitude and present species, respectively. The designated as the endemic plant was 11 taxa and, as the rare plant 24 taxa and 62.5% of vascular plant was northern plant species. It is necessary to continue further long-term monitoring of 3 vegetation units, IV of main competition species (P. koraiensis and A. nephrolepis) with stratum and main specific species (rare plants and endemic plants) considering vegetation science and, population and community ecology approaches.

• 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 Environmental Biology
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.90-97
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• 2012

Environmental characteristics and vegetation of the natural habitats of Eranthis byunsanensis B.Y. Sun were investigated in order to provide the basic data for conservation, restoration, and utilization of this Korean endemic plant. This study was conducted in Anyang, Byeonsan, Geoje, Gyeongju, Jeju, Ulsan and Yeosu. E. byunsanensis was distributed around the altitudes of 84~585 m with a slope degree of $10{\sim}20^{\circ}$, and mostly formed discontinuous populations in north-east part of valleys. Soil analysis showed the mean organic matter of 9.6% and a slightly acidic pH (mean pH of 4.9). The mean gravimetric water content was 16.5%. Correlation coefficients between environmental factors and community characteristics suggested that there was a positive correlation between slope degree and soil water content, between slope degree and soil pH, between soil organic matter and importance value, and between species richness or evenness and species diversity. The vascular plants from 59 quadrats of 7 habitats were identified into 144 taxa. A few species were dominants and similarly distributed in Byeonsan, Jeju, Ulsan and Yeosu. The highest species diversity was found in Geoje (1.43), while Anyang showed the lowest (0.87). Species evenness of Gyeongju and Jeju was bigger than 0.8, but that of Geoje was the lowest (0.59). Dominant species of woody plants in and around the 59 plots were represented by high frequency of Acer pictum subsp. mono, Carpinus cordata, Lindera obtusiloba, and Carpinus laxiflora. The results of this study can provide useful data for conservation and restoration of natural habitats of Korean endemic Eranthis byunsanensis and for the development and growth of this species for ornamental purposes.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.99 no.1
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• pp.85-95
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• 2010

The purpose of this study was to quantitatively measure both growth performances and nutrient responses of Fraxinus rhynchophylla, Fraxinus mandshurica, Pinus koraiensis, and Abies holophylla seedlings, which are commercially planted in Korea, to nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium fertilization. We used Dickson's quality index (QI) to compare growth performances and vector diagnosis to interpret nutrient status. Nitrogen fertilization increased more height and root collar diameter growth in F. rhynchophylla and F. mandshurica relative to no fertilization treatment. The QI of F. rhynchophylla and F. mandshurica was the highest on N treatment, but there were no significant differences between treatments for P. koraiensis and A. holophylla. Nitrogen fertilization increased total dry weight by 43, 41, 26, -9% for F. rhynchophylla, F. mandshurica, P. koraiensis and A. holophylla, respectively. In F. rhynchophylla, N fertilization increased N contents with similar N concentrations ("sufficiency"), decreased both P concentrations and P contents ("antagonism"), and decreased K contents with similar K concentrations ("toxic accumulation"). In P. koraiensis, N fertilization decreased N, P, and K concentrations because of more dry weight increases compared to uptaken contents ("dilution"), but N fertilization decreased N, P, and K contents with similar N, P, and K concentrations ("toxic accumulation"). In the light of quality index and vector diagnosis, F. rhynchophylla and F. mandshurica seedlings treated with N fertilization would have high field performance.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.7 no.6
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• pp.1-11
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• 2004

This study was conducted to investigate the plants status of the landscape plant species of 10 elementary schools in the Chungju city, and to obtain the fundamental informations for proper use of planting system in the elementary school landscape. The results are summarized as follows : 1. 199 species were planted in the 10 elementary schools, It was constituted 89 of woody plants, 108 of herbaceous plants and 2 of others. The average number of plants per school was about 60 species. The rate of plants species of Evergreen Trees to the Deciduous was 23 : 60 and the rate the trees to the shrubs was 59 : 24. 2. Almost the same species were planted in school landscaping zone. Juniperus chinensis var. kaizuka, Ginkgo biloba, Zelkova serrata were mainly planted in the species of trees. To improve the present conditions of school landscape should be considered for the purpose of function and the aspect of ecology. 3. To see the selected school trees and flowers, Zelcova serrata was selected to the school tree in the 4 of schools. Ginkgo biloba was selected 3 of schools, the others were Juniperus chinensis Pinus densiflora, etc. Rhododendron lateritium was appointed to the school flower in the 6 of schools, the others were Rosa spp., Forsythia koreana etc. To set the school tree and flower consider the preserved trees of the community.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.180-191
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• 2015

Marine environmental characteristics and primary productivity of phytoplankton were investigated in seaweed bed of northwestern coast of Jeju Island during Autumn, 2014. The trophic state based on dissolved inorganic nitrogen and phosphorus was mesotrophic. The Redfield ratio was less than 16, indicating that nitrogen was the limiting factor for the growth of phytoplankton. Dissolved organic nitrogen and phosphorus accounts for 63 and 46% of the dissolved total nitrogen and phosphorus, respectively. Light utilization efficiency (${\alpha}$) and maximum photosynthetic capacity ($P_m{^B}$) were highest in the Donggwi (third-year marine forest), followed by Gonae (one-year marine forest), Biyangdo (natural seaweed bed) and Geumneung (whitening area). The primary productivity of phytoplankton in the Donggwi, Gonae and Biyangdo also was higher than that in the Geumneung. Although nitrogen is the limiting factor, enriched dissolved organic nitrogen might play an important role to maintain primary productivity. In addition, phytoplankton community through photosynthesis could produce about 14% of phytoplankton carbon in one hour. These results will be able to use the important information for material cycle and ecological valuation of seaweed bed.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.79-88
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• 2015

Preparations need to be made for Korean pine(Pinus koraiensis) in anticipation of climate change because Korean pine is an endemic species of South Korea and the source of timber and pine nut. Therefore, climate change adaptation policy has been established to conduct an impact assessment on the distribution of Korean pine. Our objective was to predict the distribution of Korean pine while taking into account uncertainty and afforestation conditions. We used the 5th forest types map, a forest site map and BIOCLIM variables. The climate scenarios are RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5 for uncertainty and the climate models are 5 regional climate models (HadGEM3RA, RegCM4, SNURCM, GRIMs, WRF). The base period for this study is 1971 to 2000. The target periods are the mid-21st century (2021-2050) and the end of the 21st century (2071-2100). This study used the MaxEnt model, and 50% of the presences were randomly set as training data. The remaining 50% were used as test data, and 10 cross-validated replicates were run. The selected variables were the annual mean temperature (Bio1), the precipitation of the wettest month (Bio13) and the precipitation of the driest month (Bio14). The test data's ROC curve of Korean pine was 0.689. The distribution of Korean pine in the mid-21st century decreased from 11.9% to 37.8% on RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5. The area of Korean pine at an artificial plantation occupied from 32.1% to 45.4% on both RCPs. The areas at the end of the 21st century declined by 53.9% on RCP 4.5 and by 86.0% on RCP 8.5. The area of Korean pine at an artificial plantation occupied 23.8% on RCP 4.5 and 7.2% on RCP 8.5. Private forests showed more of a decrease than national forests for all subsequent periods. Our results may contribute to the establishment of climate change adaptation policies for considering various adaptation options.