• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.66-80
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• 2011

This study investigated the environmental factors and conducted a RAPD analysis for a better understanding of the environmental characteristics and regional genetic variation in samples from 18 different areas of Viola diamantiaca. The habitats are mostly located on the slopes of mountains facing north at an altitude ranging from 614 m to 1,462 m above sea level with angles of inclination ranging from 3 degrees to 30 degrees. A total of 268 vascular plant taxa are identified in 35 quadrates of 18 habitats. The importance value of V. diamantiaca is 11.58%, and four highly ranked species, Sasa borealis (5.61%), Meehania urticifolia (5.21%), Ainsliaea acerifolia (3.62%), Pseudostellaria palibiniana (3.60%) are considered to have an affinity with V. diamantiaca in their habitats. The degree of their average species diversity is 1.36, while this metric for their evenness and dominance are 0.89 and 0.07, respectively. The average field capacity of the soil is 25.99%, with organic matter at 17.47%, and the pH is 5.19. The soil texture was confirmed as sandy loam of eleven and loam of seven. The result of the RAPD analysis, among 78 bands amplified with a primer, 64 (84.6%) showed polymorphism. Eighteen populations could be classified into five groups with similarity coefficient values ranging from 0.53 to 0.86. The Mt. Jiri population, which is geographically segregated, shows basal branching within the 18 populations. Five populations, including two in the southern district in Gangwon-do and three in Chungcheongbuk-do, form a distinct clade. Four populations in the central district of Gangwon-do and Mt. Bohyeon in the Gyeongsangbuk-do clade form a sister to the clade containing two populations in Gyeonggi-do and five populations of the northern district in Gangwon-do. The Mt. Gariwang population is placed between the southern district and the central district in the Gangwon-do clades.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.594-606
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• 2022

This study was conducted to figure out the environment factors including vegetation structure and soil characteristics in natural habitats of Sageretia thea, and offers the basic information for habitats conservation and proliferation. The natural habitats of Sageretia thea were located at altitudes between 0~370 m with inclinations ranged as 3~35°. Through the vegetation research, the dominant species of tree layers were found to be divided into four communities. Cornus macrophylla (Com. I), Pinus thunbergii - Cinnamomum camphora (Com. II), Machilus thunbergii (Com. III), and Pinus thunbergii (Com. IV). The Species diversity (H') was 1.397~1.455, evenness (J') was 0.972~0.986, and dominance (D) was found to be 0.014~0.028. As a result of the physicochemical characteristics of soils, habitats soil mainly consisted of sandy soil and sandy loam soil. The average soil pH was 5.28~5.98, electronic conductivity was 0.22~63 ds/m, soil organic matter was 13.33~19.33 cmol⁺/kg, Exchange cations were appeared in the order of Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, K⁺, and Na⁺. The Ordination result showed that Correlation coefficient between communities and environmental factors were significantly correlated with 4 main factors altitude, electronic conductivity, cation exchange capacity, exchangeable Na⁺. As expected, The result of this study will be helpful information on the preservation and mass production for use.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.386-393
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• 2016

Agricultural ecosystem is recognized as a space for providing a variety of services, in addition to the food production that it originally encompassed, such as water purification, biological habitat, air purification, soil conservation, and landscape development. The construction of greenhouses in agricultural landscapes can cause deterioration of ecosystem services because of the increase of impermeable area and loss of biological habitats. This study aimed to compare insect diversity between different types of constructed greenhouses and paddy ecosystems. The target study area was selected by considering the distribution status of horticultural complexes and was classified as Single Vinyl Greenhouse, Multi Vinyl Greenhouse or Glass Greenhouse and they were compared with four paddies. The study locations were in Gu-Mi, Bu-Yeo, Ginje and Jin-Ju. A total of 2,333 individual insects belonging to 9 orders, 38 families, 76 genus, and 80 species were collected. The composition of orders was Hemiptera (22.37%), Coleoptera (18.42%), Hymenoptera (14.47%), Orthoptera (11.84%), and Diptera (10.53%). The average number of collected species were in the order Paddy (39.38 species) > Single Vinyl Greenhouse (35.50 species) > Multi Vinyl Greenhouse (22.50 species) > Glass Greenhouse (24.00 species). The Diversity Index (H') was Paddy (4.76) > Single Vinyl Greenhouse (4.57) > Multi Vinyl Greenhouse (4.12), and Glass Greenhouse (4.12). The Richness Index (RI) was Paddy (7.72) and Single Vinyl Greenhouse (7.03) > Multi Vinyl Greenhouse (4.99) and Glass Greenhouse (5.32). From our results, it can be seen that the biological diversity features of insects decreased when greenhouses are constructed.However, Single Vinyl Greenhouse is noted to promote insect diversity more than that by Multi Vinyl Greenhouse and Glass Greenhouse. Hence, when constructing greenhouses, it is necessary to consider insect habitat to conserve insect diversity.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.71-85
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• 2018

A recent topic of interest within ecology is ecosystem services that are importantly connected with biodiversity. Biodiversity is a fundamental component of ecological studies and has been the subject of many studies worldwide. However, studies on the diversity and distribution of freshwater fish were not undertaken in earnest until 2000, and the number of internationally available studies is therefore still limited. In this study, we used data from "The Survey and Evaluation of Aquatic Ecosystem Health (hereafter SEAEH)" within the framework of which whole water systems on the Korean peninsula are annually monitored to investigate and determine the current status of the diversity and distribution of freshwater fish, as well as to elucidate major factors impacting freshwater fish. A total of 130 species from 28 families were identified at around 953 sites in the SEAEH investigation of 2014. The species Zacco platypus (relative abundance: 28.2%) and Z. koreanus (19.3%) were identified as the most abundant species on the Korean peninsula, and besides these 20 endangered species, 51 endemic species and 4 exotic species were also collected. Highest (96 species) and lowest (72 species) diversity were identified in the Han River Watershed and the Yeongsan/Seomjin River Watershed, respectively. The mean endemic rate was 32.7%, which is higher than the previous rate determined in 1995. The exotic species Micropterus salmoides, Lepomis macrochirus and Carassius cuvieri were found in the whole river system except north Yeongdong, whereas Oreochromis niloticus occurred only at three sites due to the cold water temperatures in winter. Totally, 28 species were found to be translocated to different water systems not connected with known original habitats, most translocations occurring in the Nakdong River and the Yeongdong region. Among the translocated species, Opsariichthys uncirostris amurensis, and Erythroculter erythropterus were dominantly distributed in the mid- to lower reaches of Nakdong River where they may be harmful to the native fish assemblages due to their strong predation. The construction of weirs in connection with the "4 River Project" generated changes in fish assemblages before, during and after the project, resulting in altered habitat condition. Especially, a decrease in the number of endemic species and an increase in the abundance of lentic species were seen. Human-induced global warming will allow exotic species requiring high water temperatures to adapt to the environmental conditions of the Korean peninsula, which may enhance the diversity of native fishes and create changes in distribution. For the establishment of realistic and efficient management and protection strategies for Korean freshwater fish, SEAEH, which produces fundamental and quantitative data for Korean streams, is an important and necessary tool.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.109 no.2
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• pp.124-135
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• 2020

Alder (Alnus japonica) forests are representative of the wetland in East Asia, including Korea. In the past, alder forests were relatively common in various habitats such as mountains, riversides, back marshes, and alluvial plains. However, this plant community has recently become rare due to increasingly arid habitats and the influence of various land uses. In this study, we identify the synecological characteristics of alder (A. japonica) forests distributed naturally in the mountainous wetlands of Korea and provide basic data for their systematic conservation and management in the future. Based on vegetation survey data collected from 66 alder forests, community types were classified using the methods of the Zürich-Montpellier School of Phytosociology and two-way indicator species analysis. There were eight community types: Styrax obassia, Weigela subsessilis-Fraxinus mandschurica, Spiraea fritschiana, Viola verecunda, Impatiens textori-Spiraea salicifolia, Glyceria leptolepis, Molinia japonica, and Lindera obtusiloba-Quercus acutissima. These community types constituted a vegetation unit hierarchy of two communities, four subcommunities, and eight variants. In addition, the ecological characteristics of each community type were compared (including total coverage per 100 square meter, importance value index, constancy class, life-form composition, diversity indices, community similarity coefficient, and indicator species).

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.52 no.4
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• pp.366-377
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• 2019

Paddy wetlands are a critical habitat for a variety of wild animals, and their rapid development and environmental changes pose a threat to the conservation of agrobiodiversity. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the habitat characteristics of anuran inhabiting paddy wetlands and identify major environmental variables affecting their distributions. The study was conducted in the Daeho reclaimed area in Dangjin, from March to October 2018. In this study, we found three anuran species (Pelophylax nigromaculatus, Hyla japonica and Pelophylax chosenicus). The environmental factors affecting the three species were identified as air temperature, humidity, water-depth, and micro-habitats. H. japonica were affected by water temperature, and P. chosenicus were affected by rice height and types of farming practices. All the three species richness was correlated with air temperature, humidity, and water-depth positively, and the three species used rice transplanted paddy fields the most. It was also found that paddy is the most preferred of the micro-habitats during the breeding season, so the survey area is considered to be used as the major breeding sites for the three species. P. chosenicus were more observed on environmental-friendly paddy fields than conventional paddy fields, which appears to be differences in their surroundings environment caused by predators and weeding. It will be needed to identify their relationship with predators, their preferred food resources and the richness and diversity of wild vegetation around paddy wetlands.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.109-126
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• 2015

This study is for constructing detailed data to secure biological diversity and maintain a healthy ecosystem in Backsasil Valley Ecological and Scenery Conservation Area, and for preparing an ecological management plan fit for the protected area. The period for this study was from April 2010 to May 2013. Recently, the increase of visitors to Baeksasil Valley, as well as the plantation and dissemination of introduced vegetable species, become factors accelerating ecological disturbance. Major research contents included the reviews of the management system of the protected areas, the necessity of ecological management at the basin level, establishing the system of a management plan, research and analysis of environment ecology, analysis of threatening factors, goal-setting, management strategies, and a plan through SWOT analysis. Survey items were the natural environment, major components of ecosystem, and human-use. The goals of ecological management were basin zone management for amphibians, conservation and restoration of forest vegetation for conservation habitat of Dryocopus martius, conservation habitat of Zelkova serrta for nature landscape, and management of users for environment protection. The conservation management plan at a basin zone level contains the management of point and non-point pollution sources in the upstream, securing growing conditions for native plants, securing safe habitats for amphibians, and securing of habitats for major wild birds. Also, restoration of natural forests, management of native plants and introduced vegetable species, and restoration of degraded forest paths are suggested for the restoration plans.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.80-89
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• 2001

The objective of this study was to introduce the current status and development strategy for the environmental restoration of stream side in Japan, and to consider the methodology which could be effectively applied to the environmental restoration of stream side in Korea. 1. We should establish a new paradigm of forest conservation and erosion control which can emphasize the restoration of the stream side ecosystem and reduce soil movement in the areas. Also, in the past, the objective of forest conservation and erosion control was to fix soil by constructing permanent structures. The direction of future forest conservation and erosion control needs to be new forest conservation and erosion control technology to prevent large scale soil movement but allow small scale soil movement to conserve sound ecosystem and biotic habitats. 2. In the past, the goal of forest conservation and erosion control planning was to fix the amount of soil movement by constructing permanent facilities. Forest conservation and erosion control planning in the future needs to change the techniques which could prevent soil movement from large scale of soil disasters, but allow soil movement effectively to a small and middle scale's soil movement. Also, it is considered to change erosion control dams from non passing type to passing type. 3. In the point of ecological conservation aspects, we should evaluate the effects of new forest conservation and erosion control methods which are emphasized on the restoration of the stream side ecosystem. Also, forest conservation and erosion control construction projects for restoring stream and river ecosystem should be planned for perfectly restorating their ecosystems by the way of sustainable maintenance and management. 4. The restoration direction of stream and river ecosystems needs to be restoring the diversity of small geographies such as waterway, shoal and puddles rather than flattening stream bed. And the restoration of the stream side ecosystem should provide continuity of the stream side environment which allows desirable biological habitats, and environmentally sound facilities to harmonize with the environment.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.146-159
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• 2020

The objective of our study was to analyze the distribution and composition of fish species and their community characteristics in agricultural waterways in the six water systems-Mankyung River, Seomjin River, Namhae Region, Tamjin River, Yeongsan River, and Dongjin River-during 2017-2018. Little is known about the distributions and community characteristics of the aquatic biota of agricultural waterways in Korea, even if the water bodies have important roles as spawning areas or habitats for fish. In this study, we identified 3,633 fish individuals in the waterways, belonging to 53 species, eleven families, and six orders (dominant species: Tanakia koreensis, T. lanceolate) and 7,108 fish individuals in the main rivers, belonging to 57 species, fifteen families, and nine orders. Moreover, three endangered wildlife (designated by the Ministry of Environment, Korea)-T. somjinensis, Acheilognathus majusculus and Coreoperca kawamebari-were found in the waterways. By fish guild analysis, we found that many waterways had a lower proportion of sensitive species and a higher proportion of omnivore species than those of the main rivers, which indicates a feature of a disturbed environment. In addition, by grouping with environmental variables, we found the group of waterways with high substrate complexity had a higher diversity index (Shannon index) and a lower dominance index (Simpson index) than that of simple substrate complexity. Overall, our study represents the characteristics of fish habitats in agricultural waterways and suggests the need to manage them and study further.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.157-168
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• 2017

Backswamp is the section of a floodplain where deposits of fine silts and clays settle after a flood. In general, the wetland is composed of diverse ecosystems, and is characterized by ecotone. The purpose of this study was to analyze vegetation naturalness and to assess vegetation value by syntaxonomy and synecology of Useupje backswamp at Yeongsan river. As a result, the vegetation was divided into four physyiognomy types and 14 vegetation units depending on the species composition and habitats. The vegetation units confirmed in the study were as follow: Spirodela polyrhiza community as floating plant; Trapa bispinosa var. inuma community and Trapa bispinosa var. inumai-Nelumbo nucifera community as floating-leaved plant; Paspalum distichum community, Persicaria thunbergii community and Phalaridetum arundinaceae as lentic vegetation in the eulittoral zone; Scirpo fluviarilis-Zizanietum latifoliae and Typha angustata community in the emerged zone; Scirpetum tabernaemontani and Phragmitetum australis in the littoral zone; Carex dimorpholepis-Salix subfragilis community ecotone region of upland. According to the study, the vegetation distribution was highly affected by water level and artificial interference. Moreover, the development of vegetation units showed a significant relationship between species composition and habitats. Although vegetation value of Useupje resulted by vegetation naturalness was identified as the grade [III], the ecological value is expected to upward evaluation because of unique vegetation and geographical location.