• Animal Systematics, Evolution and Diversity
• /
• v.28 no.1
• /
• pp.48-53
• /
• 2012

The tiger population that once inhabited the Korean peninsula was initially considered a unique subspecies (Panthera tigris coreensis), distinct from the Amur tiger of the Russian Far East (P. t. altaica). However, in the following decades, the population of P. t. coreensis was classified as P. t. altaica and hence forth the two populations have been considered the same subspecies. From an ecological point of view, the classification of the Korean tiger population as P. t. altaica is a plausible conclusion. Historically, there were no major dispersal barriers between the Korean peninsula and the habitat of Amur tigers in Far Eastern Russia and northeastern China that might prevent gene flow, especially for a large carnivore with long-distance dispersal abilities. However, there has yet to be a genetic study to confirm the subspecific status of the Korean tiger. Bone samples from four tigers originally caught in the Korean peninsula were collected from two museums in Japan and the United States. Eight mitochondrial gene fragments were sequenced and compared to previously published tiger subspecies' mtDNA sequences to assess the phylogenetic relationship of the Korean tiger. Three individuals shared an identical haplotype with the Amur tigers. One specimen grouped with Malayan tigers, perhaps due to misidentification or mislabeling of the sample. Our results support the conclusion that the Korean tiger should be classified as P. t. altaica, which has important implications for the conservation and reintroduction of Korean tigers.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
• /
• v.60 no.2
• /
• pp.125-131
• /
• 2017

Nine strains of high concentrations of salt-tolerant bacteria were isolated from the rhizosphere and rhizoplane of the halophyte plant Suaeda japonica grown in Gochang Buan tidal flat. The isolated bacteria were classified as genera Vibrio (strains JRS-1, -2, -3, -4, and -5, and JRL-1 and -4) and Bacillus (strains JRL-2 and -3) based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity. The optical growth condition for salt concentration was examined on the selected, representative strains. Strain JRS-1 with the closest relative of Vibrio neocaledonicus showed the highest growth rate at the total salt concentration of 6% among the incubation conditions of 3-8% salt concentrations. Strain JRL-2 with the closest relative of Bacillus thuringiensis showed the tendency that growth rate increased with increasing salt concentrations and the maximum growth rate at 7% of the total salt concentration. The isolated bacteria showed salt-resistances to higher salt concentrations than their habitat soils with 3%. In addition, we identified evidences of potentially plant interaction-relevant enzymatic activities, from utilization of some substrates rich in plants, such as triglyceride, ${\rho}$-nitrophenyl-${\alpha}$,$\text\tiny{D}$-glucoside, and ${\rho}$-nitrophenyl-${\beta}$,$\text\tiny{D}$-glucoside.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
• /
• v.17 no.4
• /
• pp.348-357
• /
• 2015

The main purpose of this study is to understand the potential geographic distribution of P. koraiensis, which is known to be one of major economic tree species, based on the RCP (Representative Concentration Pathway) 8.5 scenarios and current geographic distribution from National Forest Inventory(NFI) data using ecological niche modeling. P. koraiensis abundance data extracted from NFI were utilized to estimate current geographic distribution. Also, GARP (Genetic Algorithm for Rule-set Production) model, one of the ecological niche models, was applied to estimate potential geographic distribution and to project future changes. Environmental explanatory variables showing Area Under Curve (AUC) value bigger than 0.6 were selected and constructed into the final model by running the model for each of the 27 variables. The results of the model validation which was performed based on confusion matrix statistics, showed quite high suitability. Currently P. koraiensis is distributed widely from 300m to 1,200m in altitude and from south to north as a result of national greening project in 1970s although major populations are found in elevated and northern area. The results of this study were successful in showing the current distribution of P. koraiensis and projecting their future changes. Future model for P. koraiensis suggest large areas predicted under current climate conditions may be contracted by 2090s showing dramatic habitat loss. Considering the increasing status of atmospheric $CO_2$ and air temperature in Korea, P. koraiensis seems to experience the significant decrease of potential distribution range in the future. The final model in this study may be used to identify climate change impacts on distribution of P. koraiensis in Korea, and a deeper understanding of its correlation may be helpful when planning afforestation strategies.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
• /
• v.5 no.2
• /
• pp.113-118
• /
• 1986

After selecting four places in the main shellfish habitat, 118 items of the sample were collected in the mud flat from August to October in 1983, in order to analyze organochlorine pesticide residues by a gas chromatograph equipped with an electron capture detector. The results obtained were summarized as follows; ${\alpha}-BHC,\;{\gamma}-BHC\;&\;PCNB,\;heptachlor,\;{\gamma}-endosulfan,\;{\beta}-endosulfan,$ p, p'-DDE, dieldrin, o, p'-DDT and p, p'-DDT were detected in the range from 2 to 98 percent and their levels of mean residues ranged from trace to 0.041ppm, in the order of ${\gamma}-BHC\;&\;PCNB,\;{\alpha}-BHC,\;heptachlor{\approx}{\alpha}-endosulfan{\approx}p, p`-DDE{\approx}dieldrin{\approx}{\beta}-endosulfan{\approx}$o, p'-DDT, and p, p'-DDT. The mean of total residues in regions was Kangjin(0.058ppm), Kwangyang(0.080ppm), Yoch'on (0.016ppm), and Yonggwang(0.75ppm). ${\gamma}-BHC\;&\;PCNB$ peak were separated by column packed with DC-200. PCNB was identified by making a PCA(pentachloroaniline), the reduced derivative of PCNB, and this confirmed that PCNB residues were detected in the soil sample.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
• /
• v.32 no.2
• /
• pp.155-165
• /
• 2013

BACKGROUND: Rice paddies not only produce food but also provides wildlife habitats. Although more than half agricultural land of South Korea is rice paddy, a few studies have been conducted in rice paddy ecosystem. We investigated a status of bird using a rice paddy in South Korea using published data. METHODS AND RESULTS: Birds using a rice paddy have been defined as birds which breed, rest or forage on rice paddy, bank, reservoirs or irrigation ditches. According to the publication from 1980s, birds using a rice paddy were total 47 families 279 species. Scolopacidae and Charadriidae (18%), Falconidae, Accipitridae and Strigidae (12%) and Anatidae (11%) used a rice paddy. Half of bird species using a rice paddy visited a dried rice paddy during the winter and 39.4% of them used a flooded rice paddy in spring, autumn or summer. Dependency on a rice paddy was high in ducks, egrets, cranes, and shorebirds. Population of dabbling ducks has decreased for last 12 years while cranes have increased. CONCLUSION(S): Rice paddies provide both migratory and terrestrial birds including endangered species for habitate all through the year in Korea.

• Ecology and Resilient Infrastructure
• /
• v.2 no.4
• /
• pp.291-295
• /
• 2015

The insect community structures between a plantation of Pinus rigida and a secondary forest of Quercus monglica were compared to find out one of the ecological roles of a forest planted in 1960s in a suburban area of Seoul, Korea. We collected the insect samples biweekly from September to November in 2014 by using 5 pitfall traps in both forests. The results of analyzing the community structure index of insects in both forests of P. rigida and Q. Mongolica showed that the species richness was a little higher and species evenness was a little lower in P. rigida plantation, and species diversity and dominance were similar in the two forests. The analysis results of insect community structure at the two forests did not show any significant difference. We conclude that the plantation of P. rigida over 40-50 years could sufficiently perform an ecological function as an insect habitat.

• Ecology and Resilient Infrastructure
• /
• v.4 no.3
• /
• pp.130-141
• /
• 2017

We evaluated the field application feasibility that biologically derived substances (Naphthoquinone derivate: NQ 2-0) can be used for the eco-friendly mitigation of natural harmful cyanobacterial blooms in freshwater. We conducted a 30 ton scale mesocosm experiment to investigate the effects of NQ 2-0 on biotic and abiotic factors in water collected from Gi-heung reservoir. In the mesocosm experiments, the abundance of Microcystis sp. was continuously increased in the control. However, the Microcystis sp. cell density was sharply decreased on the $10^{th}$ day. In the treatment, NQ 2-0 showed the strong and selective algicidal activity toward the target cyanobacteria (Microcystis sp.). Accordingly, the algicidal activity of NQ 2-0 compound increased gradually until $10^{th}$, $15^{th}$ days and algal biomass was decreased to 99.4 and 100 %, respectively. NQ 2-0 compound was not only selective algicidal activity but also the growth of other phytoplankton and increased the Shannon-Wiener diversity index of phytoplankton. In the mesocosm experiments, the dynamics of biotic (bacteria, heterotrophic nanoflagellate, ciliates, zooplankton) and abiotic (water temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, conductivity, nutrients) factors remained unaffected. These results suggest that NQ 2-0 could be a selective and ecologically safe algicide to mitigate harmful cyanobacterial blooms. In addition, it is believed that NQ 2-0 will play a major role in forming a healthy aquatic ecosystem by facilitating habitat and food supply of aquatic organisms.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Marine Environment & Energy
• /
• v.19 no.4
• /
• pp.297-309
• /
• 2016

This study was carried out to investigate the differences in sedimentary environments and benthic polychaete communities between farming grounds and natural habitats (non-farming ground) in Gamak Bay. Sampling stations of natural habitats were evenly distributed in the entire bay. And mussel farm, oyster farm and ark-shell farm were selected as farming grounds. Dominant sedimentary facies was mud in most sampling stations of farming grounds and natural habitats. However organic contents were higher in the farming grounds than natural habitats of the bay. The species number and mean density of polychaetous community in the natural habitats were greater than those from the farming grounds. Lumbrineris longifolia, known as potential organic enrichment indicator species, was first dominant species both in farming grounds and natural habitats of the bay. However, the next dominant species consisted of different species between two benthic habitats. As a result of community analysis using cluster analysis and nMDS, the natural habitats were divided into several station groups, but most of stations in farming grounds were clustered into one group. Pearson' correlation analysis and PCA showed high relationships between sedimentary environmental factors and benthic polychaetous community in natural habitats, but low or no relationships in farming grounds. That means benthic polychaetous community established in farming ground was under unusual condition such as high input of organic matter. Thus it is necessary to improve the benthic environmental quality of the farming grounds as well as the north-western inner part in Gamak Bay through long-term monitoring efforts.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
• /
• v.19 no.6
• /
• pp.87-100
• /
• 2016

This research was performed for the purpose of providing useful and base data and preservation strategy of growth characteristics of Rhododendron micranthum. From the result of research, wild growth area of Rhododendron micranthum was discovered near steep forest road on 695~901m in altitude above sea level of Baekdu-daegan National Arboretum. Vegetation colony structure of Site I was resulted in Pinus densiflora(tree stratum M.I.P.=45.3%) is dominants, Betula schmidtii(arborescent M.I.P.=9.8%) is second dominant, and Site III resulted in Pinus densiflora(tree stratum M.I.P.=30.5%) is dominants, Betula schmidtii(arborescent M.I.P.=10.3%) is second dominant. Site II resulted in Betula schmidtii(arborescent M.I.P.=30.4%) is dominants and Pinus densiflora tree(tree stratum M.I.P.=8.3%) is second dominants. For herbs, it was researched that the rate of one year herb of chrysanthemum family(10), rice family(3), sedge(2) was higher than near forest area. Among Species diversity index, that of Shannon was in range of 0.7348~1.1090. After comparing this with similar area, this value was relatively low. Dominance analysis result was analyzed that various groups are evenly distributed. Monthly highest average temperature is $23.9^{\circ}$ in Site A and Site B, and monthly lowest average temperature is $-4.5^{\circ}C$ in Site I and $-4.7^{\circ}C$ in Site II. Monthly maximum average humidity is 85.6% in Site I and 83.2% in Site II. Monthly minimum average humidity is 60.9% in Site I and 60.8% in Site II and it showed that these 2 area are located far away but have similar temperature and humidity characteristic and climate environment is similar. It was analyzed that humidity is high with the result of annual average humidity is over 60%. In growth characteristic, it showed that doubt damage of Stephanitis pyrioides, exposure of roots, peeled bark was discovered and supplement on this is urgent.

• Ocean and Polar Research
• /
• v.24 no.4
• /
• pp.345-357
• /
• 2002

Ecological characteristics on habitats and morphological features of the seagrass Zostera caulescens Miki in Korea were examined. The biogeographical distribution of Z. caulescens was confirmed in the south coast of the Korea. Zostera caulescens usually inhabits at the inner bay, where is sheltered from wave action and 3.0 to 6.5 m deep. The sediment in habitats is composed of very fine muddy sand or sandy mud. In morphology, Z. caulescens is easily distinguished from other species of the genus by the formation of vegetative canopy on the top of reproductive stems. The number of longitudinal ribs in testa was 24 revealed by scanning electron microscope (SEM) while the number of ribs in Z. marina has been often reported to be 16-20. Purplish anthocyanin spots were displayed on the surface when the testa was removed. We found that the size and shape of leaf epidermal cells in Z. caulescens were very different from those of Z. marina when the leaf cuticles were removed by maceration which could be useful characters for identifying Zostera species. The leaf of Z. caulescens displays two different casts of color when the fresh plant is closely observed. The margins of leaves appear brighter than the center of leaves due to the thickening by the development of paralleled venation in the middle of leaves. The comparison of two populations of Z. caulescens in Korea showed that they were considerably different in their shoot density and biomass. The shoot density and biomass at Gabae population was $367.3 m^{-2}\;and\;725.7g$ dry wt $m^P{-2}$ respectively, while those at Jukrim population were $112.5m^{-2}\;and\;392.0g\;dry\;wt\;m^{-2}$, respectively.