• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.172-182
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• 2009

This study was to analyze characteristics based on tolerance and trophic guilds and to determine the level of total mercury in tissues of sentinel species, Zacco platypus at 3 sampling sites of the Mangyeong River in 2007. Total sampled fishes were 26 species and the most dominant species was Zacco temminckii (47%). Fish community analysis was resulted that eveness index and diversity index showed low value at S1. However, diversity index and richness index at other sites showed high. According to various guilds analysis, relative abundance of sensitive species was 70% and 42% at S1 and S2, respectively. While sensitive species were decreased (1%) and tolerant species were increased (60%) at S3. It was mainly carried to the impacts of wastewater treatment plants near the location. Relative abundance of insectivore species was decreased from up (S1) to midstream area (S3). In addition, chemical water quality, based on analyses of BOD, COD, TP, TN, EC, MPN and SS concentration showed similar trends. Qualitative Habitat Evaluation Index (QHEI) was averaged 164, judged as "good" habitat condition. Average concentrations of total [Hg] was 146.9 ${\mu}g$ $kg^{-1}$. In the muscles of total [Hg] was the highest, and then followed by kidney, vertebrae, liver, and gills. According to FDA standards (500 ${\mu}g$ $kg^{-1}$) of Korea, total [Hg] has not affected to the individual fish health.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.19-30
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• 2016

The projection of climate-related range shift is critical information for conservation planning of Korean fir (Abies koreana E. H. Wilson). We first modeled the distribution of Korean fir under current climate condition using five single-model species distribution models (SDMs) and the pre-evaluation weighted ensemble method and then predicted the distributions under future climate conditions projected with HadGEM2-AO under four $CO_2$ emission scenarios, the Representative Concentration Pathways (RCP) 2.6, 4.5, 6.0 and 8.5. We also investigated the predictive uncertainty stemming from five individual algorithms and four $CO_2$ emission scenarios for better interpretation of SDM projections. Five individual algorithms were Generalized linear model (GLM), Generalized additive model (GAM), Multivariate adaptive regression splines (MARS), Generalized boosted model (GBM) and Random forest (RF). The results showed high variations of model performances among individual SDMs and the wide range of diverging predictions of future distributions of Korean fir in response to RCPs. The ensemble model presented the highest predictive accuracy (TSS = 0.97, AUC = 0.99) and predicted that the climate habitat suitability of Korean fir would increase under climate changes. Accordingly, the fir distribution could expand under future climate conditions. Increasing precipitation may account for increases in the distribution of Korean fir. Increasing precipitation compensates the negative effects of increasing temperature. However, the future distribution of Korean fir is also affected by other ecological processes, such as interactions with co-existing species, adaptation and dispersal limitation, and other environmental factors, such as extreme weather events and land-use changes. Therefore, we need further ecological research and to develop mechanistic and process-based distribution models for improving the predictive accuracy.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.79-83
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• 2005

We investigated the species richness of macrolepidoptera (including pyralid moths) in the evergreen broad-leaved forests of southwestern coast of Korea. The studied site was Mt. Duryunsan and its neighboring area, Haenam-gun, Jollanam-do and moths were identified and analyzed after collecting them with UV light traps from 2001 to 2004. A total number of species comprised 18 families and 489 species. We expected that the number of species would be increased when the species of microlepidoptera and butterflies were included. The family Noctuidae with 181 species was dominant in the area followed by Geometridae with 129 species and Pyralidae with 72 species. Based on number of collected individuals, Geometridae was the highest and followed by Noctuidae, Pyralidae and Drepanidae. Fifty-one percent of the total species consisted of less than two specimens in the collected sample. Monthly changes of numbers of species and individuals were examined and indices of Simpson's heterogeneity and evenness were also drawn. We briefly discussed the possibility of moth species or group of species as bioindicator for assessing the condition of forest after disturbance.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.71-80
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• 2016

The fauna of freshwater fish and water chemistry characteristics were investigated from June, 2014 to October, 2014 at 10 sites in Taebaeksan Provincial Park. A total of 7 species under three families were collected from the survey sites and among them one endangered species - Koreocobitis naktongensis - was identified. The endemic species of Korea were 2 species: Koreocobitis naktongensis, Iksookimia koreensis. Dominant species was Rhynchocypris oxycephalus(89%) and subdominant species was Orthrias nudus(8.9%). Water quality including conductivity, turbidity, pH and total dissolved solids(TDS) varied largely depending on the sampling locations. Values of ambient conductivity and TDS were greater in the upstream than in the downstream, and seasonal variabilities were also higher in the upstream. The pH decreased towards the downstream, and especially showed a sharp decrease in S5. This phenomenon was evident due to a dilution by the influx in the acid mine drainage(AMD) of S4. Physical habit conditions, based on qualitative habitat evaluation index(QHEI) model, indicated a "Sub-optimal" condition(mean: 157.3; range: 78 ~ 194) in the Sodo stream watersheds.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.47-56
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• 2011

The research was conducted to find optimal habitats of warm-temperate evergreen broad-leaved trees, and to investigate climate factors to determine their distribution using classification tree (CT) analysis. The warm-temperate evergreen broad-leaved trees model (EG-model) constructed by CT analysis showed that Mean minimum temperature of the coldest month (TMC) is a major climate factor in determining distribution of warm-temperate evergreen broad-leaved trees. The areas above the $-5.95^{\circ}C$ of TMC revealed the optimal habitats of the trees. The coldest month mean temperature (CMT) equitable to $-5.95^{\circ}C$ of TMC is $-1.7^{\circ}C$, which is lower than $-1^{\circ}C$ of CMT of warm-temperate evergreen broad-leaved trees. Suitable habitats were defined for warm-temperate evergreen broad-leaved trees in Korea. These habitats were classified into two areas according to the value of TMC. One area with more than$-5.95^{\circ}C$ of TMC was favorable to trees if the summer precipitation (PRS) is above 826.5mm; the other one with less than $-5.95^{\circ}C$ of TMC was favorable if PRS is above 1219mm. These favorable conditions of habitats were similar to those of warm-temperate evergreen broad-leaved trees in Japan. We figured out from these results that distribution of warm-temperate evergreen broad-leaved trees were expanded to inland areas of southern parts of Korean peninsula, and ares with the higher latitude. Finally, the northern limits of warm-temperate evergreen broad-leaved trees might be adjusted accordingly.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.730-744
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• 2016

In this study, fish fauna and stream characteristics were surveyed from June to October of 2014 in 31 sites of 23 small streams of Namhae Island. During the study period, 38 species belonging to 30 genera under 13 families were collected. Cyprinidae and Gobiidae fish occupied 28.9% (11 species) and Cobitidae fish accounted for 10.5% (4 species). The dominant family was Cyprinidae, and the most dominant species was Zacco koreanus with 30.3% (1,089 individuals) of the total. Eight species (33.8%) such as Zacco koreanus, Squalidus gracilis majimae, Coreoleuciscus splendidus, Pseudobagrus koreanus, Iksookimia hugowolfeld, Iksookimia longicorpa, Silurus microdorsalis and Liobagrus mediadiposalis were Korean endemic and one species of Micropterus salmoides was exotic. According to the analysis of the community based on the diversity, evenness and richness indices, fish community seems to be more stable in the S7. The small streams were classified into three types of steep mountainous, mountainous-flatland, and flat land streams, and their types were categorized by their features of stream width, water depth, bottom substrate, riparian vegetation, and land use patterns. Principal component analysis based on species abundance classified fish communities into three main groups according to human impact and land-use pattern change. These results suggest that fish community structures were primary affected by the longitudinal environmental changes and these were modified by the habitat condition in accordance with the land use pattern change in the small streams.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.81-89
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• 2013

In general, studies of aerial parasitic plants known collectively as mistletoe have been carried out to investigate their ecological and agricultural characteristics. However, with the recently increased level of interest in medicinal resources, research on different types of Korean mistletoe has also increased. This study was carried out to review the work on the taxonomy and ecology of Korean mistletoe in preparation for the industrial use of these plants in the future. Mistletoe types are flowering plants belonging to Santalales, which exist in the form of parasites on the branches of trees or shrubs. In Korea, five taxa of four genera in two families of mistletoe exist: Viscum coloratum (Komarov) Nakai f. coloratum, Viscum coloratum (Komarov) Nakai f. rubroaurantiacum (Makino) Kitagawa and Korthalsella japonica (Thunb.) Engl. in Santalaceae, along with Loranthus tanakae Franch. et Sav. and Taxillus yadoriki (Sieb. ex Maxim.) Danser in Loranthaceae. As taxonomic studies of these species remain insufficient and given that the distribution ranges of these species are very wide, further observations pertaining to the morphological variations in each species are necessary. The distribution of mistletoes is known to be determined by the host specificity, the interval between the hosts, the environmental condition, the habits of the host plant, the eating characteristics of mediators in the area, and their habitat selection features.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.91-101
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• 1998

Two large communities of Vicex rotundifolia were discovered for the first time at the beach of Pyonsanbando National Park. The growth environment and morphological characters of the communities were examined and analyzed to provide some basal data which would be helpful to establish measures for protection and to utilize the communities rationally. The results are as follows; The habitats of Vitex rotundifolia are located at Chakeundang beach of Kyokpo-ri and Kosapo beach of Woonsan-ni, Pyonsan-myon in Pyonsanbando National Park. The total area of this two communities was measured to be 2,755m$^{2}$ and 523m$^{2}$ of it was damaged. Two varieties, 49 species, 43 genera and 28 families as trees and shrubs were collected from inside of and the vicinal areas of the communities. Koelreuteria paniculata and Rosa rugosa were discovered and collected in these areas for the first time to be documented with the communities of Vitex rotundifolia. The largest individual of Vitex rotundifolia within the polulations reaches or 3.5cm in diameter at root collar and 6m in length of the runner on aboveground. The individuals of Vitex rotundifolia within the communities show good growth condition which the mean leaf length was measured to be 4.5cm, the mean leaf width 3.3cm, the mean leaf area 11.8cm$^{2}$ and the mean flower length 10.0cm. Vitex rotundifolia has been mostly recorded to be an evergreen shrub. But the present study discovered that it is rather deciduous.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.237-255
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• 2021

Lychnis wilfordii (Regel) Maxim. is one of the wetland specialists mainly distributed in peatlands at high latitudes. In Korea, it is isolated in two regions. This study investigated habitats, growth traits, and self-compatibility of L. wilfordii and assessed the internal dynamics of its population persistence. Its population has remained stable in the Yongneup Wetland Protected Area (YWPA). There was a clear difference in vegetation environment between YWPA and the distribution area in Daegwallyeong (DWL), Pyeongchang-gun. It has self-compatibility while pollinators facilitate its seed production. It produces a large number of hibernacles and bears the maximum number of branches and fruits in soil with rich organic contents. However, it grows and bears fruits even under the condition of low organic contents. In YWPA, L. wilfordii is not distributed in high moor but widely distributed in low moor where tussocks by Carex thunbergii var. appendiculata are developed. It is mainly distributed on the top of tussocks also. Therefore, it is judged that the formation, growth, and extinction of tussocks by C. thunbergii var. appendiculata is closely related to the establishment, growth, and extinction of plants distributed in this space. It is assessed that the current YWPA has well-developed tussocks in which L. wilfordii is widely distributed, and extinction and re-establishment progress well. Accordingly, the L. wilfordii population is expected to be sustainable in the long term given if its current ecological process is maintained well.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.351-362
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• 2010

This study was supposed to offer vegetation plans for functional improvement of the recreational forest by researching Mt. Chukryong which is located at Oebang-li Sudong-Myon Namyangju Kyong-gi Province in Korea. In this study, artificial vegetation and natural vegetation near trails in recreational forest were researched through biodiversity analysis. From this analysis process, a typical management improvement of the biodiversity functions were examined by reviewing functions biotope condition, vegetation structure and wild bird community condition. Typical vegetation system was divided into four detail parts: Managed artificial Pinus koraiensis forest, Not managed artificial Pinus koraiensis forest, Natural deciduous forest and Not managed deciduous forest. As a result of the vegetation structure, the numerical value of the deciduous forest species diversity was higher than that of artificial Pinus koraiensis, and the numerical value of the managed condition was higher than that of not managed condition. As a result of a habitat structure analysis of the wild bird community, managed Pinus koraiensis forests were inadequate structure for wild birds to habit in there because the forests had weak structure layers, but unmanaged deciduous forest and unmanaged Pinus koraiensis that had diverse layers was proper places for birds to in habit. Thus, based on the functional analysis of biodiversity, management patterns of the target area were concluded in two manners: conserving management and restoring management. Deciduous forest protection target areas included natural deciduous forest area and managed deciduous forest area, ecological restoration target area included unmanaged artificial Pinus koraiensis area and restoring management target area includes managed artificial Pinus koraiensis.