• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.314-322
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• 2009

Vegetation, environmental characteristics and soil analysis of Megaleranthis saniculifolia Ohwi habitats were investigated to propose the basal data for conservation and restoration. M. saniculifolia was distributed around an altitude of 770~1,440 m with an inclination of $0{\sim}20^{\circ}$, and mostly formed discontinuous populations in northern part of valley. The vascular plants from 78 quadrates of 11 habitats were identified 111 taxa. Importance value of M. saniculifolia was 27.05%, and highly ranked 5 species such as Veratrum oxysepalum (5.67%), Corydalis turtschaninovii (5.32%), Aruncus dioicus var. kamtschaticus (4.35%), Meehania urticifolia (4.06%) and Anemone koraiensis (3.91%) were considered to be an affinity with M. saniculifolia. Dominant species of woody plants in 78 quadrates were represented as Cornus controversa, Juglans mandshurica, Quercus mongolica, Acer pseudo-sieboldianum and A. mono in tree (B1) layer, A. pseudo-sieboldianum and Carpinus cordata in subtree (B2) layer, Deutzia glabrata and Prunus padus in shrub (S) layer. Average species diversity was 1.16, and dominance and evenness were found to be 0.12 and 0.81, respectively. Average field capacity was 26.41%, and the organic matter and soil pH were 7.83% and 5.83. Correlation coefficients based on environmental factors, vegetation and soil analysis were showed that the positive correlations between slope degrees and pH, slope degrees and organic matter, dominance and importance value, species diversity and richness, whereas between species diversity and dominance, and importance value and dominance were showed negative correlations.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.269-278
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• 2011

Carabid beetle community changes in paddy fields, abandoned paddy fields, and mountains were investigated to understand differences in species diversity and composition of different habitat types in small agricultural landscapes in South Korea. A total of 2,938 individuals from 37 species were identified and classified from the studied habitats. Diversity in the mountains was higher than that in abandoned paddy fields. As the number of years since abandonment increased, the diversity and stability of the carabid beetle community also increased. Abandoned paddy fields in some paddy field areas and adjoining mountainous areas, left with preconditions for management and control, have provided the opportunity to improve the diversity and habitat of small agricultural landscapes. Species composition changed continuously from the paddy fields to the mountains, in accordance with individual species habitat preferences. Abandoned paddy fields in small agricultural landscapes are believed to play an important role as transitional buffer zones between paddy fields and the adjacent mountainous areas.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.249-256
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• 2015

Islands are often habitats to unique species because they have different environmental conditions from the mainland and other islands. Another characteristic of islands is their limited natural resources, which has led island residents to heavily rely on traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) and use resources sustainably. The so-called "Maeul landscape" shows the interrelationship of biological species and people's use of natural resources. Shinan-gun is an administrative district located in the southwestern part of Korea that forms an archipelago with huge tidal flat areas. Since long ago, people's use of these tidal flats shows a high degree of biocultural diversity. Maeul landscapes also show humans' adaptation to the natural environment. For instance, strong winds blowing mainly from the northwest have led people in Shinan-gun to create "Ushil," a windbreak forest with stone blocks to block wind from their villages and agricultural fields. At present, the transfer of TEK to future generations is at stake due to socio-economic changes that cause island populations to shrink and age rapidly. Islands are often regarded as good destinations for tourism, but attention should also be given to sustainable development due to the environmental characteristics of islands. International organizations are making efforts to curb the threats of global environmental problems especially on small islands. Their activities are aimed at seeking solutions that stress the central role of biocultural diversity in establishing the sustainable use of natural resources on islands. Joint efforts oflocal people and government authorities to protect and conserve the Maeul landscape should be encouraged.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.367-382
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• 2024

Alpine and subalpine plants are isolated and distributed in mountaintop areas at high altitudes and, are among the species most vulnerable to global warming. If the rate of warming continues at its current rate, it is highly likely that this species will be unable to find new refugia and will be the last to go extinct in their current habitats. Therefore, research on the distribution and diversity of alpine and subalpine plants is urgently needed and is important from the perspective of biodiversity conservation. Therefore, this study focused on the distribution of alpine and subalpine plants native to national parks. Alpine and subalpine plants distributed across the 12 national parks accounted for approximately half (47.78%) of all alpine plants in Korea. The average relative frequency of occurrence was 0.23, plant similarity between national parks was 37.19%, and beta diversity was 0.63. The number of species was positively correlated with the latitude, elevation, and area of the national park. Thus the geographical distributions of alpine and subalpine plants haves distinct spatial specificities and physical environmental differences.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.261-273
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• 2010

This study intended to investigate the environmental factors including soil and vegetation in order to understand the environmental and ecological characteristics of seven different habitats of Viola websteri. These habitats, according to investigations, are mostly located on the slope of mountains facing north at an altitude of 343 m to 991 m above sea level with angle of inclination from 1 degree to 33 degrees. The type of soil is mostly sandy loam and the average field capacity of soil is 28.97%. Their average organic matter is 16.63%, soil pH 5.62, and available phosphorus is 14.75%. A total of 133 vascular plants are identified in 18 quadrates of seven habitats. Dominant species of woody plants in seven habitats are represented as Acer pictum subsp. mono and Quercus mongolica in tree layer, and Acer pictum subsp. mono in subtree layer. Importance value of Viola websteri is 9.66%, as regards the herbaceous layer, and five highly ranked species such as Meehania urticifolia(8.53%), Pseudostellaria heterophylla(6.51%), Hylomecon vernalis(5.15%), Oxalis obtriangulata (4.52%), and Pseudostellaria davidii(4.15%) are considered to be an affinity with Viola websteri in their habitats. The degree of their average species diversity is 1.32, and that of dominance and evenness are 0.08 and 0.89, respectively. Correlation coefficients analysis based on environmental factors, vegetation and soil analysis shows that the coverage of Viola websteri is correlated with silt and sand ratio, and coverage of tree layers are correlated with species richness and altitude. Cluster analysis based on vegetation structure of each habitats are forms a three groups.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.96-106
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• 2002

Five major naturally populated habitats around the Mt. Daeduk, Gangwon province for wild Chuiangne (Pyrus ussuriensis var. acidula) are mostly located on the southeast side of the mountains at 1,216-1,306ｍ in altitude at sea level and are in very good sunney areas. The total of 96 taxa dividing into 40 families, 79 genera 84 species and 12 varieties have in these areas. Most of these plants are heliophytes, which love sunshine, Compositaes such as Artemisia stolonifera, Synurus deltoides, or Rosaceaes like Potentilla fragarioides var. major are also shown. These areas have been unknown destroyed, so it is possibly thought the second transition has been progressed. The index of species diversity of plant groups in these areas is 4.715-5.270 based on the Shannon-Wiener's method. The wild Chuiangne with 34.15％, which are 5-10㎝ DBH, have been found in habitats. The vegetation around the habitats must be managed by the man in order to keep sound growth of the wild Chuiangne.

• Journal of agriculture & life science
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.69-80
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• 2016

The present study was to survey the site environment, vegetation structure and soil characteristics in the wild habitats of Acer tegmentosum Maxim. and offers basic information for habitats conservation and restoration. Most of the wild habitats were located at altitudes between 605~1,413m with inclinations ranged as 8~30°. The bare rock rate were 8~50%. The vegetation structure by the PC-ORD based on the Two Way Cluster Analysis were divided into three groups Community I(Acer tegmentosum - Quercus mongolica), Community II(Acer tegmentosum - Carpinus cordata), Community III(Quercus mongolica - Tilia amurensis). The species diversity(H') was highest in Community II as 1.474, Community I was 1.471, Community III was 1.219. The soil textures were Clay loam, The average soil pH was 4.8, Soil organic matter was 15.15% and available phosphorus was 2.33ppm. Ordination analysis result by soil characteristics, community, characteristic species showed that the greatest effect factors were slope, altitude, tree and shrub's cover rate, organic matter, total-nitrogen, calcium, magnesium. Correlation analysis between environment factor result showed that O.M. - (T.N., K+, Mg2+, CEC, EC), T.N. - (K+, Mg2+, CEC, EC) were positive correlations.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.145-158
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• 2024

Life history characteristics, habitat landscape, and historical events are believed to have shaped the patterns of genetic variation in many taxa. The bony lip barb, Osteohilus vittatus, represent a potamodromous fish that complete all life cycle in freshwater and is widely distributed in Southeast Asia. It usually lives in small rivers and other freshwater habitats, and movement between habitats for either food or reproduction has been typical. These life history characteristics may promote gene flow, leading to less structured populations. However, many freshwater habitats are fragmented, which restricts gene flow. We investigate how this interplay has shaped patterns of genetic variation and phylogeographic structure within this species in the Sundaland, a biodiversity hotspot with a complex geological history, using mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I (mtCOI) as a genetic marker. Forty-six mtCOI sequences of 506 bp long were collected from ten localities, eight geographically isolated and two connected. The sequences were used for population genetic and phylogeographic analyses. Our results showed a low genetic diversity within populations but high between populations. There was a deep phylogeographic structure among geographically isolated populations but a lack of such structure in the connected habitats. Among geographically isolated populations, sequence divergence was revealed, ranging from 1.8% between Java and Sumatra populations to 12.2% between Malaysia and Vietnam. An indication of structuring was also observed among localities that are geographically closer but without connectivity. We conclude that despite high dispersal capacity, the joint effects of historical events, long-term geographic isolation associated with sea level oscillation during the Pleistocene, and restricted gene flow related to lack of habitat connectivity have shaped the phylogeographic structure within the O. vittatus over the Sundaland.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.285-297
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• 2024

This study, conducted in Geolpo-dong and Gamjeong-dong near Gimpo-Hangang New Town, examines an area adjacent to the Han River estuary, a major wintering ground for migratory birds. Over 59 surveys from October 2015 to March 2022 in four representative rice fields (sites A-D) recorded 44,942 individuals from 32 genera and 72 species. Site D, a large area near the Han River, exhibited high species diversity. Despite lower diversity in areas under development (sites A, B, C), ongoing species influx and utilization persist. The study focuses on Anser fabalis, a species predominantly utilizing rice fields, and identified their distribution characteristics. The analysis revealed 162 instances of population influx, with over a 30-fold increase observed across 39 surveys conducted over a 30-month period (October to March, '15~'22). The area, a key wintering site for migratory birds of Janghang Wetland, about 5 km from feeding sites, is heavily utilized by migratory geese, indicating the region's high value considering migration distance and anticipated continuous bird influx despite urban expansion. Therefore, future developments should preserve ecological corridors and connected stepping stone habitats to not only preserve existing habitats but to secure alternative feeding sites, ensuring smooth movements and mitigating habitat loss.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.65-77
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• 2015

The urban park has important functions as a habitat for wildlife as well as open space of rest and community for people. This study was carried out to find what factors of structure and vegetation of urban parks could affect forest bird species diversity in Cheonan city. The study surveyed bird and vegetation species in 26 urban parks, Cheonan city. A correlation analysis and multiple linear regressions were performed to test whether habitat structure and vegetation were the major correlate with species diversity. The results showed the Dujeong park was the most high bird species diversity (H' = 2.13), and the Dujeong-8 park (H' = 2.02) and the Cheongsa park (H' = 1.73) were considerably higher than the other urban parks. The variables that were strongly correlated with bird species diversity were park area, number of subtree species, canopy of shrub, number of shrub species, shape index, canopy of subtree, canopy of tree, and impervious surface ratio. The regression of bird species diversity against the environmental variables showed that 3 variables of park area, canopy of subtree, and canopy of tree were included in the best model. Model variable selection was broadly similar for the 5 optimal models. It means park area and multi-layer vegetation were the most consistent and significant predictor of bird species diversity, because urban parks were isolated by built-up areas. Especially the subtree coverage that provides shelter and food for forest birds was an important variable. Therefore, to make parks circular-shaped and abundant multi-layer vegetation, which could be a buffer to external disturbances and improve the quality of habitats, may be used to enhance species diversity in creation and management of urban parks.