• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
• /
• v.14 no.1
• /
• pp.11-22
• /
• 2011

This study was established to build and suggest the Ecological Performance Standards for replaced wetlands as the mitigation strategies for the construction projects. The request performance and assessment factors and standards were derived by bibliographic review and verified by the field survey for the reference wetlands. And the weights for each factor were derived by AHP(Analytical Hierarchy Process) method. The results are as follows : 1) Assessment factors were induced by in-depth research of many wetland assessment models and benchmarks evaluated ecological functions. This study proposed final 12 assessment factors through ecological specialist and experts interviews added with literature analysis. 2) 10 natural wetlands were selected as Reference Wetlands as the measure to propose assessment factors and assessment criteria. Those reference wetlands are well-conserved inland natural wetlands classified to the one having worthy to conserve (grade "high") according to RAM(Rapid Assessment Method). Reference wetlands chosen by the study are Parksilji, Jeongyangji, Mulkubi, Bawineupkubi, Jilnalneup, Jinchonneup, Doomoso, Haepyung wetland, Whangjeong wetland, and Whapo wetland. The research developed assessment criteria for the performance assessment factors based on several explorations of the reference wetlands. 3) "Requiring performance" of replaced wetlands is defined as "to carry out similar or same ecological functions provided by natural wetlands", in overall. The detailed requiring performances are as follows; ${\bullet}$ to play a role of wildlife habitats ${\bullet}$ to have biological diversity ${\bullet}$ to connect with other ecosystems ${\bullet}$ to provide water environment to perform good ecological functions 4) The assessment factors for required performance are categorized by wildlife habitat function, biological diversity, connectivity of adjacent ecosystem, and water environment. Wildlife habitat category is consisted of wildlife habitat creation, size of replacement wetland, and site suitability. Biological diversity category contains the number of plant species, the number of wildlife species, and number of protected species as the sub-factors. Connectivity of adjacent ecosystem is comprised of wildlife corridor, green network and distance from other ecosystem. Finally, water environment make up with water quality, depth of water body, and shape of waterfront. 5) Finally, every assessment factors were verified and weighted by the AHP methods and the final standards were proposed. The weights of factors of requiring performance suggested as habitat (0.280), connectivity (0.261), diversity (0.260), hydraulic environment (0.199). And those of detailed sub-factors are site suitability (0.118), protected species (0.096), distance to neighbor ecosystem (0.093), habitat creating (0.091), green corridor (0.090) etc.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.37 no.2 s.107
• /
• pp.227-235
• /
• 2004

Fish fauna and community structure were surveyed in the Nakdong River, Gumi City, Kyeongpook province from April 2001 to July 2002. During the surveyed Period, 39 species, 32 genera belonging to 10 families were collected. Cyprinid fish occupied 64.1% (25 species) and cobitid fish had 7.7% (3 species). Fourteen species(35.9%) of observed species were known as endemic species. The exotic fish was Micropterus salmoides (2.5%) . The dominant species were Zacco platypus (relative abundance: 36.7%) and Opsariichthys uncirorstris amurensis (22.7%). Carassius aurafus and Microphysogobio rapidus were numerous (4.0${\sim}$4.3%). The rare species comprising less than 0.15% were Acheilognathus koreensis, Aphyocypris chinensis, Iksookimia longicorpus, Coreoleuciscus splendidus, Rhinogobius giurinus, Sarcocheilichthys variagatus wakiyae, Silurus asotus astus, and Channa argus. It was found that the population density of carnivorous Opsariichthys uncirostris amurensis increased drastically in the mid-reach of the Nakdong river since it had been introduced from the other native rivers in the middle 1990s. Gobiobotia nakdongensis inhabit riffle (water velocity : 0.43${\sim}$0.67 m $s^{-1}$) of which the river bed is mainly sand. This species is considered to be in need of conservation. As the result of analyzing fish community in the surveyed area, the species diversity, evenness and dominant indices were 1.008, 0.663 and 0.196 respectively. The findings showed that the tributary, which the waterside plants were abundant and had various habitats, had a higher species diversity (1.112) than the main river (0.787). Sand mining had been disturbing the river ecosystem of the study stations 3, 11, 13 & 14, and these stations showed a quite low species diversity (0.421 ${\sim}$0.574).

• Animal cells and systems
• /
• v.12 no.4
• /
• pp.269-277
• /
• 2008

Siberian flying squirrel, an endangered species in South Korea, is distributed through major mountain regions of South Korea. The number of Siberian flying squirrel(Pteromys volans) in South Korea has decreased and their habitats are fragmented and isolated because of anthropogenic activities. So far no molecular genetic data has, however, been available for their conservation and management. To obtain better information concerning genetic diversity and phylogenetic relationships of the Siberian flying squirrel in South Korea, we examined 14 individuals from South Korea, 7 individuals from Russia, and 5 individuals from northeastern China along with previously published 29 haplotypes for 1,140 bp of the mtDNA cytochrome b gene. The 14 new individuals from South Korea had 7 haplotypes which were not observed in the regions of Russia and Hokkaido. The level of genetic diversity(0.616%) in the South Korean population was lower than that in eastern Russia(0.950%). The geographical distribution of mtDNA haplotypes and reduced median network confirmed that there are three major lineages of Siberian flying squirrel, occupying; Far Eastern, northern Eurasia, and the island of Hokkaido. The South Korean population only slightly distinct from the Eurasia, and eastern Russian population, and is part of the lineage Far Eastern. Based on these, we suggest that the South Korean population could be considered to belong to one partial ESU(Far Eastern) of three partial ESUs but a different management unit. However, the conservation priorities should be reconfirmed by nuclear genetic marker and ecological data.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
• /
• v.25 no.4
• /
• pp.237-247
• /
• 2023

Paddy fields not only provide a variety of ecosystem services but also serve as crucial habitats for biodiversity conservation. Recently, their ecological value and significance have been increasingly emphasized. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the characteristics of soil seed banks and analyze their correlation with soil environmental factors in Conventional Paddy field (CP) and Organic Paddy field (OP) with different farming practices. Our results revealed that the vegetation in CP was simple, resulting in low plant diversity in the soil seed banks. On the other hand, the vegetation in OP was relatively diverse, leading to higher plant diversity in the soil seed banks. Additionally, distinct differences in soil environmental characteristics were observed between OP (K, Ca, Mg, Na, Fe, Mn, B↓) and CP (K, Ca, Mg, Na, Fe, Mn, B↑). These results suggest that variations in agricultural practices for rice cultivation have influenced the structure and diversity of vegetation and soil seed banks. Furthermore, these agricultural practices have had both direct and indirect effects on soil environmental factors. Our findings can serve as fundamental data for evaluating biodiversity conservation in agricultural ecosystems, ecosystem restoration, and ecological value assessment.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.37 no.3
• /
• pp.147-153
• /
• 2014

Structural heterogeneity results in different spatial distributions of microcrustaceans. Thus, in ecosystems with excessive macrophyte development, it may be difficult to determine the microcrustacean species composition. Given the importance of microcrustaceans in the food web, the elucidation of microcrustacean diversity is essential. In vegetated habitats, bluegill sunfish can prey on microcrustaceans, and therefore have a potential role as microcrustacean monitoring agents. In the present study, we compared microcrustacean species compositions in the field with those in the guts of bluegill, in Jangcheok Lake, South Korea. Our results showed that the number of microcrustacean species was higher in bluegill guts than in the field. Further, microcrustacean species, such as Daphnia galeata, Graptoleveris testudinaria, Leydigia leydigii, Rhynchotalona sp., and Simocephalus exponisus, were found only in bluegill guts. Our findings verify the validity of the fish gut analysis to monitor microcrustacean species compositions and to clarify spatial distributions of microcrustacean species in structurally heterogeneous ecosystems with excessive macrophyte development.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
• /
• v.18 no.6
• /
• pp.85-95
• /
• 2015

Recent years, nationwide projects for ecological restoration are implemented with emerging issues on the stream ecosystem. In order to enhance effectiveness of the ecosystem restoration and reduce negative impact, the appraisal of effectiveness through the follow-up monitoring and the adaptive management process are executed in consecutive phase. In this study, planning phase, monitoring and adaptive management in Hakui stream which is part of An Yang stream restoration project is introduced as representative ongoing case of effective adaptive management. The aim of this study is to verify the adaptive management process and suggest direction of effective restoration. Restoration project of Hakui stream resulted in increasing number and diversity of species (vegetation, fish, bird, invertbrates, amphibian and reptilia) according to monitoring from 2004 to 2013, and enhancing natural river landscape by evaluation of river naturalness among 2001(before restoration), 2007 (after), 2015 (recent). However, excessive vegetation expansion or sediment deposition on channel over time caused unexpected results such as terrestrialization or degradation of habitats. Adaptive management action such as removing disturbance species (Humulus japonicus)(2007), coppicing willow (2007), release of march snail (2007), creation of wetland (2014) were implemented based on monitoring results. And then appraisal of management action was discussed.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.30 no.4
• /
• pp.347-356
• /
• 2007

The structure and dynamics of Korean red pine stands established in the riparian zone were studied in the Tsang stream in Mt. Seorak National Park, in east-central Korea. Pine stands were classified into four successional stages, the initial, establishing, competitive, and stabilizing stages, based on the age distribution of a dominant tree, Pinus densiflora, the vegetation stratification, and the microtopography of the riverine environment. The stages usually corresponded to disturbance frequencies, depending on the horizontal and vertical distances from the watercourse. Stands of the initial and establishing stages lacked tree or subtree layers, or both. As stands progressed through the developmental stages, soil particle size became finer and moisture retention capacity was improved. The stand ordination reflected the developmental stage, and the species ordination differentiated species specializing in relatively dry and wet habitats. The results of the analysis of vegetation dynamics provided ecological information which will be useful for understanding the developmental processes of vegetation established in riparian zones. Species diversity indices usually increased across developmental stages, following the typical pattern for successional processes. We discuss the importance and necessity of riparian vegetation in Korea, where most riparian forests have disappeared due to excessive human land use.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
• /
• v.41 no.3
• /
• pp.182-193
• /
• 2011

As a part of the on-going effort to conserve endangered Scrophularia takesimensis Nakai in Korea, its genetic structure and diversity from 3 population, consisted of 14 subpopulations in Ulleung Island were analyzed using RAPD band patterns. Out of 60 primers tested, 33 generated amplified bands with its genome, including 149 polymorphic and 67 monomorphic bands. The highest number (146) was found in northern population, especially, 64 in HY subpopulation; the smallest (40) in eastern population. An examination of its genetic structure with AMOVA revealed that about 60% of all variations could be assigned to among subpopulations within populations. Population differentiation among populations and subpopulations is seriously going now because of habitat fragmentation due to human activities, such as road and small port construction. Although the habitats of S. takesimensis in Ulleung Island, Korea are disappeared at an alarming rate, significant levels of genetic variation still exist at species level, and population level, especially northern population. Therefore, three conservation strategies should be needed urgently; 1) preservation of populations as it stands, 2) establishment of recovery plan to connect population and subpopulations genetically, and 3) long-term monitoring.

• Animal Systematics, Evolution and Diversity
• /
• v.32 no.1
• /
• pp.44-48
• /
• 2016

The Korean peninsula has diverse habitats and so would be expected to have a rich millipede fauna because of its location between the Paleoarctic and Oriental regions. To facilitate studies on millipedes, this work provides an updated list and discussion of Korean millipedes. A total of 69 species had been recorded up to 2010, but since then no new species have been reported. Among 69 species, 49 are endemic to the Korean peninsula. From 1950 to the present, an average of only seven new species from the Korean peninsula has been described per decade. This number does not reflect the biodiversity of millipedes in Korea, especially when compared to Taiwan, which has only one-third the area of the Korean peninsula, but from which a greater number of millipede species have been recorded (75 vs. 69 species). Japan has twofold the land area of the Korean peninsula, and an almost threefold higher number of millipede species. Further, more-intensive surveys will likely result in identification of more millipede species in the Korean peninsula.

• Animal Systematics, Evolution and Diversity
• /
• v.28 no.3
• /
• pp.149-160
• /
• 2012

Heterotrichous ciliates were isolated from marine and brackish habitats in Korea, and their morphology, infraciliature and morphometrical characters were investigated using silver impregnated methods. These three Condylostoma species were identified as Condylostoma curva Burkovsky, 1970, C. minutum Bullington, 1940 and C. spatiosum Ozaki and Yagiu in Yagiu, 1944. The species of Condylostoma based on morphology are highly variable in most of characters and distinguished as following. Condylostoma curva is oval to elongate ellipsoidal, size about $245{\times}100{\mu}m$ in vivo, and conspicuously dark greenish brown with cortical granules on their surface, buccal cavity relatively large about 40% of body length, 5-11 macronuclear nodules, 4-8 frontal cirri serially arranged and 22-38 somatic kineties. Condylostoma minutum is elongate ellipsoidal and the size about $310{\times}55{\mu}m$ in vivo, buccal field about 35% of body length, 12-20 macronuclear nodules, adoral zone consisted of 82-107 membranelles, large and long one frontal cirrus and 38-44 somatic kineties. Condylostoma spatiosum is large elongate ellipsoidal, size about $670{\times}105{\mu}m$ in vivo, buccal cavity about 25% of body length, 11-25 macronuclear nodules, 111-144 adoral membranelles, membrane-like 2 frontal cirri, 49-74 somatic kineties. These three Condylostoma species are described here for the first time in Korea.