• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.182-191
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• 2023

This study was carried out to identify the distribution and growth characteristics and evaluate the conservation status of the Michelia compressa Maxim., a rare and endangered wild plant II, in the habitats in Korea. A total of 314 individuals were found in the natural habitats of Heuksan Island and Jeju Island and were divided into four populations. About 45.9% (144 individuals) were distributed in the range of 401m~500m above sea level. The average height of trees was 2.7(±4.8)m, the diameter at breast height was 12.6(±13.9)cm, and the number of branches was 1.0(±0.5) on average. 54.3% of the sapling individuals of M. compressa were distributed within a radius of 30 m from the mother tree, 25.8% were distributed between 31 m through 40 m, and most (90.1%) were distributed within a radius of 60 m. The fact that sapling individuals of M. compressa are not identified even around some mature individuals and appear only in extremely limited areas is estimated to be closely related to the growth conditions as well as the environment of the natural habitats. The dispersal of M. compressa is presumed to be related to the birds and natural seedlings because water puddles, a resting place for birds beyond the range of natural seedlings, characterize its habitats. The IUCN Red List evaluation criteria at the regional and national level of M. compressa corresponds to the Critically Endangered category, and the domestic population under the category of "CR B2ab(v); C2a(i); D."

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.57 no.1
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• pp.1-16
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• 2024

Most wetlands worldwide have suffered from extensive human exploitation. Unfortunately they have been less explored compared to river and lake ecosystems despite their ecological importance and economic values. This is the same case in Korea. This study was aimed to estimate the assemblage attributes and distribution characteristics of benthic macroinvertebrates for fifty wetlands distributed throughout subtropical Jeju Island in 2021. A total of 133 taxa were identified during survey periods belonging to 53 families, 19 orders, 5 classes and 3 phyla. Taxa richness ranged from 4 to 31 taxa per wetland with an average of 17.5 taxa. Taxa richness and abundance of predatory insect groups such as Odonata, Hemiptera and Coleoptera respectively accounted for 67.7% and 68.2% of the total. Among them Coleoptera were the most diverse and abundant. Taxa richness and abundance did not significantly differ from each wetland type classified in accordance with the National Wetland Classification System. There were three endangered species (Clithon retropictum, Lethocerus deyrolli and Cybister (Cybister) chinensis) and several restrictively distributed species only in Jeju Island. Cluster analysis based on the similarity in the benthic macroinvertebrate composition largely classified 50 wetlands into two major clusters: small wetlands located in lowland areas and medium-sized wetlands in middle mountainous regions. All cluster groups displayed significant differences in wetland area, long axis, percentage of fine particles and macrophyte composition ratio. Indicator Species Analysis selected 19 important indicators with the highest indicator value of Ceriagrion melanurum at 63%, followed by Noterus japonicus (59%) and Polypylis hemisphaerula (58%). Our results are expected to provide fundamental information on the biodiversity and habitat environments for benthic macroinvertebrates in wetland ecosystems, consequently helping to establish conservation and restoration plans for small wetlands relatively vulnerable to human disturbance.

• Journal of the Korean association of regional geographers
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.422-437
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• 2007

Dokdo has historical and political meaning in relation to the territorial problems with Japan. The area can be the main factor to explain the formation and development process of East-Sea as exposure volcanic island at East-Sea with Ulreong-island. Accordingly, it also has an important meaning of physical geography aspects In this research, it is perceived the geomorphological development process of slope due to the salt weathering which is considered as the most important factor to understand whole geomorphology of Dokdo. And researched how a geomorphology of this sort affects to animal and plants. The peculiar geomorphology is tafoni which is a weathering geomorphology and one of the remarkable geomorphology in preservation of Dokdo. Tafoni at west part of Dongdo is distributed intensively near shoreline which is composed tuff. The shape of tafoni is mainly massive, circle and oval in Massive tuff breccia layer also is formed toward horizontality bedding direction in Bedded lapilli tuff. Tafoni in Dokdo is constituted after middle of Holocene. This fact can be proved by ranging at surface of sea-cliff which is formed wave erosion after middle of Holocene sea-level reaching to present level. Tafoni is also the most contribute factor of geomorphology dissection of Dokdo as it is eroded the bed rock with salt weathering. In bottom part of tafoni it has an important function for habitat of birds. Herbaceous plants are on it. To procrastinate of bed rock dissection by growth of Tafoni, conservation of vegetation and soil are most important factor.

• Journal of Korean Society for Geospatial Information Science
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.47-52
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• 2014

Species distribution models have been widely applied in order to assess biodiversity, design reserve, manage habitat and predict climate change. However, SDMs has been used restrictively to the public and policy sectors owing to model uncertainty. Recent studies on ensemble and consensus models have been increased to reduce model uncertainty. This paper was carried out single model and multi model for Corylopsis coreana and compares two models. First, model evaluation was used AUC, kappa and TSS. TSS was the most effective method because it was easy to compare several models and convert binary maps. Second, both single and ensemble model show good performance and RF, Maxent and GBM was evaluated higher, GAM and SRE was evaluated lower relatively. Third, ensemble model tended to overestimate over single model. This problem can be solved by the suitable model selection and weighting through collaboration between field experts and modeler. Finally, we should identify causes and magnitude of model uncertainty and improve data quality and model methods in order to apply special decision-making support system and conservation planning, and when we make policy decisions using SDMs, we should recognize uncertainty and risk.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.331-341
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• 2014

The present study was to survey the site environment, vegetation structure and soil characteristics in the wild habitats of Wikstroemia ganpi in Goheung, Busan and Ulsan, and offers basic information for habitat conservation and restoration. Most of the wild habitats were located at altitudes between 28~242m with inclinations ranged as $0{\sim}40^{\circ}$. The canopy openness was 57.56%. The vegetation structure by the PC-ORD based on the Two Way Cluster Analysis were divided into three groups Community I(Castanea crenata-Pinus densiflora), Community II(Quercus dentata-Pinus thunbergii) and Community III (Pinus thunbergii). The species diversity was 1.3650, and evenness and dominance were found recorded as 0.8666 and 0.1333, respectively. The soil textures were silty loam and sandy loam. The average soil pH was 5.5, electric conductivity was 0.15dS/m, soil organic matter was 2.60% and available phosphorus was 4mg $kg^{-1}$. Correlation coefficients based on environmental factors, vegetation and soil analysis were showed that positive correlations between species diversity and evenness, organic matter and total nitrogen, whereas species slop degree and coverage of herb, diversity and dominance were showed negative correlations.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.84-99
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• 1997

Amphibian and Reptilian specimens which were surveyed in Gyebangsan during both from Apr. 26, 1995 to Oct. 15, 1995 and from Apr. 13, 1996 to July 28, 1996 were observed 9 Species in 5 Families on 2 Orders and 10 Species in 3 Families, 5 Fimilies, 9 Species and Reptiles were 2 Suborders, 3 Families on 2 Suborders, respectively. Bombina orientalis was revealed dominant species and Bufo stejnegeri was distributed abundant on this investigation area than other survey studies. Relatively large number of larvae of Rana dybowskii were found among the stream and small ponds at the Suchung-gol valley. There were 5 species of Specific wildlife species in Korea as Hynobius leechii, Rana dybowskii, Onchodactylus fischeri, Bufo stejnegeri and Bufo bufo gargarizans. Meanwhile Bufo stejnegeri were endemic species in Korea. 6 Species among 10 Species which were observed Reptiles in this survey Scincella laterale laterale, Dinodon rufozonatus rufozonatus, Agkistrodon brevicaudus, Agkistrodon saxatilis, Amphiesma vibakari ruthveni and Enhydris rufodorsata were Specific wildlife in Korea. Scincella laterale laterale and Takydromus amuriensis were habitated very abundant in Suchung-gol region. Habitat density of Takydromus amureinsis at Suchung-gol region was 36 individuals/ha. Total number of pressed to death individuals caused by press on the road from May to July, 1995 were 404 specimens in 10 Species. The 1,2,3 and 4 Stations where were found the largest number of death individuals caused by press on the road should considered to construct Eco-corridor to reduced the death individuals with small pipes beneath the road as a migration route. Onchodactylus fischeri have around 500m as moving distance and home range for lifelong and it were the climax of broad-leaved tree and highly moisture area that abundantly region of Onchodactylus fischeri.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.61-83
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• 1997

The flora of evergreen broad-leaved forest regions in the islands off the south & east seashore was undertaken three times between August to October, 1995. The total number of vascular plants surveyed in the studied areas were summarized as 434 taxa; 105 families 297 genera 380 species 49 varieties 1 subspecies and 4 formas. The vascular plants were classified as 56 taxa 32 families 53 genera 50 species 6 varieties in Mokdo, 92 taxa 47 families 80 genera 81 species 9 varieties and 2 forms in Mijo-ri, 68 taxa 47 families 65 genera 58 species 9 varieties and 1 forms in Mijodo, 57 taxa 39 families 52 genera 53 species 4 varieties in Kkamakseom, 124 taxa 59 families 105 genera 112 species 11 varieties 1 subspecies in Aedo, 90 taxa 46 families 75 genera 83 species 7 varieties in Sayangdo, 135 taxa 63 families 111 genera 147 species 13 varieties in Kumodo, 78 taxa 40 families 67 genera 69 species 9 varieties in Chudo, 142 taxa 67 families 113 genera 120 species 20 varieties and 2 forms in Mira-ri, 184 taxa 73 families 150 genera 160 species 24 varieties 1 subspecies in Maengseon-ni, and 196 taxa 79 families 156 genera 172 species 24 varieties 1 subspecies and 1 forms in Yesong-ni. Conservation measures of evergreen broad-leaved forests in the areas, at both the habitat and species levels, are urgently needed to mitigate against destructive human activities, such as unreasonable management and trampling.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.436-445
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• 2020

The number of protected areas has been steadily increased in Korea to achieve Aichi Target 11, and there are studies on potential protected areas that required additional designation. However, there has been an insufficient assessment of the complementarity of protected areas to conserve biodiversity effectively. This study identified the potential habitat areas using the species distribution model for plant species from the 3rd National Ecosystem Survey and compared the plant species abundance in the existing protected area and the potential protected areas using the similarity indices, such as the Jaccard index, Sorenson index, and Bray-Curtis index. As a result, we found that the complementarity of the existing protected areas and most potential protected areas were low, leading to the preservation of similar plant species. Only the buffer zone for Korea National Arboretum had high complementarity and thus is important to conserve some species with the other protected areas. This study confirmed that it was necessary to select additional protected areas outside the existing or potential protected areas to protect plant species with a low inclusion ratio of potential habitats within the protected area. This study is significant because it identified the ecological representativeness of each protected area to examine if the individual protected area can conserve unique and various species and proposed a method of finding candidate areas for additional conservation spatially. The findings of this study can be a valuable reference for the qualitative improvement of protected areas through the complementarity assessments, including animals and the effectiveness assessment study of protected areas using the National Ecosystem Survey data in the future.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.434-466
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• 2016

In order to illustrate the flora of vascular plants distributed in the Five West Sea Islands, the authors collected vascular plants intensively in Baengnyeongdo and Socheongdo from May 2015 to August 2015. Also, voucher specimens from the previous investigations (Daecheongdo, Yeonpyeongdo and Soyeonpyeongdo) deposited at the Korean National Arboretum (KH) were re-identified. All of them were comprised of 108 families, 420 genera, 728 species, 6 subspecies, 86 varieties and 14 forms, totally 834 taxa. There were 8 endemic taxa, 19 rare taxa, 27 taxa for floristically specific to Korean floral zone except the species of their 1st and 2nd degree, and 107 naturalized taxa among the collected plants. Owing to their unusual phytogeography and low number of populations, the taxa Rosa maximowicziana Regel, Allium anisopodium Ledeb., Bistorta pacifica (Petrov ex Kom.) Kom., Scorzonera austriaca subsp. glabra (Rupr.) Lipsch. & Krasch. ex Lipsch., Iris dichotoma Pall., Amsonia elliptica (Thunb.) Roem. & Schult. were considered the most important. Based on these results, it is clear that appropriate plants to conserve the natural habitat of the Five West Sea Islands must be made immediately.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.154-165
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• 2020

Coastal regions are experiencing habitat changes due to coastal development and global warming. To estimate the future distribution of coastal plants on the Korean Peninsula due to climate change, the potential distribution of ten species of coastal plants was analyzed using the MaxEnt program. The study covered the eastern, western, and southern coastal areas of the Korean Peninsula. We used the distributional data of coastal plants of the East Asian region and the 19 climate variables of WorldClim 2.0. The future potential distribution was estimated using future climate variables projected from three general circulation models (CCSM4, MIROC-ESM, and MPI-ESM-LR), four representative concentration pathways (2.5, 4.5, 6.0, and 8.5), and two time periods (2050 and 2070). The annual mean temperature influenced the estimation of the potential distribution the most. Under predicted future distribution scenarios, Lathyrus japonicus, Glehnia littoralis, Calystegia soldanella, Vitex rotundifolia, Scutellaria strigillosa, Linaria japonica, and Ixeris repens are expected to show contracted distributions, whereas the distribution of Cnidium japonicum is expected to expand. Two species, Salsola komarovii and Carex kobomugi, are predicted to show similar distributions in the future compared to those in the present. The average potential distribution in the future suggests that the effects of climate change will be greater in the west and the south coastal regions than in the east coastal region. These results will be useful baseline data to establish a conservation strategy for coastal plants.