• Ecology and Resilient Infrastructure
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.145-159
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• 2020

Wetlands are vulnerable to biological invasion by alien species, because they function as sinks that accumulate excess water, sediments, nutrients, and other contaminants from the surrounding watersheds by disturbance. In this study, to understand the status and characteristics of the alien plants based on the type of wetlands, we classified 24 ecologically outstanding wetlands and analyzed the status of alien flora. A total of 130 alien plants were found in the wetlands, accounting for 11% of the total plant species. Among them, the Asteraceae species was the most diverse, with 40 species. Erigeron annuus and Oenothera ordorata had the highest frequency of occurrence. The species richness of alien plants in the riverine and lacustrine wetlands (average: 30 species) was higher than that in the mountainous palustrine wetlands (average: 10 species). The same results were found in the naturalization index, urbanization index, and ratio of annuals and biennials, which indicate the degree of artificial interference. In the cluster analysis, the riverine and lacustrine wetlands were combined, and only the mountainous palustrine wetlands were separated. The number of alien plants is remarkably low in the mountainous palustrine wetlands, and it is considered to be the influence of Erigeron strigosus, Symphytum officinale, and Bilderdykia convolvulus, not found in the other types of wetlands. In particular, invasive alien plants such as Aster pilosus, Ambrosia trifida, Sicyos angulatus, Ambrosia artemisiifolia var. elatior were found intensively in the riverine wetlands. Therefore, it is considered that a methodical management is urgently required considering the dispersal of alien plants in the riverine and lacustrine wetlands with high artificial interference.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.54 no.4
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• pp.327-333
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• 2021

The two main hypotheses that explain why invasive alien plants successfully colonize new environments are: 1) invasive alien plants are functionally different from native plants in a community, and 2) the plants can adapt well to new environments because they are functionally similar to native plants. The present study investigated the functional traits of naturalized alien herbaceous plants and their native neighbors in a riparian park area near the Hapcheon-Changyeong weir along the Nakdong River to determine which of the two hypotheses applied to the study area. According to the results, leaf functional traits, such as leaf area, specific leaf area, leaf thickness, leaf dry matter content, leaf nitrogen content, and leaf carbon content differed between naturalized alien and native plants, which could be attributed to the higher leaf nitrogen contents in naturalized alien plants than in native plants. The high leaf nitrogen contents are associated with high photosynthetic rates, which lead to effective resource use and rapid growth; therefore, naturalized alien plants growing in the study area were considered to have such functional traits. The results of the present study support the hypothesis that the successful establishment of invasive alien plants is attributed to the functional trait differences between invasive and native plants.

• Journal of Species Research
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.249-256
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• 2012

Located 60 km from southern tip of Korean peninsula, Jeju is the largest Island in Korea and composed of volcanic habitat. Twenty-eight species of terrestrial mammals are listed from Jeju Island, of which 1 species and 3 subspecies are endemic. Also, 1 endangered species and 4 invasive alien species of land mammals are listed. Current status, brief history, management and conservation of the 28 species are discussed.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.52 no.3
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• pp.184-195
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• 2022

The invasive alien species Brassica tournefortii Gouan (Brassicaceae) is herein reported for the first time in Korea, from Gunsan-si, Gochang-gun, and Jeju-si. Brassica tournefortii can easily be distinguished from B. juncea and B. napus by its dense stiff hairs at the base of the stem and leaves, basally and distally branched stems, partially dehiscent fruits, and seeds that become mucilaginous in the presence of moisture. Although some taxonomists have classified this species as belonging to Coincya Rouy based on its fruit and seed characteristics, the existence of one vein on the fruit valves and our maximum likelihood analysis using internal transcribed spacer sequences placed it in Brassica. Distribution data, photographs, and a description of B. tournefortii are presented herein. Moreover, potential changes in the distribution of B. tournefortii were predicted under different climate scenarios, but our analysis showed that the probability of the spreading of this species is low. Nevertheless, continuous monitoring is necessary for an accurate assessment. The results of the present study can be used to conduct an invasion risk assessment and can assist with the effective management of this invasive alien species.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.41-54
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• 2018

The purpose of this study was to present the fundamental data for conservation and management of wetland ecosystem by surveying and analysing the vascular plants distributed in major wetlands, Gyeongju National Park. The study sites were Tohamsan wetland, Amgok wetland and Namsan wetland. The numbers of vascular plants were summarized as 200 taxa including 70 families, 145 genera, 171 species, 2 subspecies, 23 varieties and 4 forms. The threatened species designated by Ministry of Environment was Utricularia yakusimensis, and the rare plants were 7 taxa including Utricularia yakusimensis, Drosera rotundifolia, Mosla japonica, Utricularia bifida, Pogonia japonica, Utricularia racemosa and Iris ensata var. spontanea. The Korean endemic plants were Lespedeza maritima and Weigela subsessilis. The specific plants by floristic region were 12 taxa including 3 taxa of grade V, 1 taxa of grade IV, 1 taxa of grade III, 2 taxa of grade II and 5 taxa of grade I. The plants with approval for delivering oversea were 9 taxa including Glycine soja, Saussurea pulchella, Habenaria linearifolia and so forth. The naturalized platns were 5 taxa including Rumex obtusifolius, Ambrosia artemisiifolia, Bidens frondosa, Erigeron annuus and Erigeron strigosus, the invasive alien plant was Ambrosia artemisiifolia.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.13-33
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• 2014

The purpose of this study is to offer the raw data for establishing the management and restoration plan by objective surveying and analysing the flora distributed in Seoak District, Gyeongju National Park, Korea. The flora summarized as 411 taxa including 92 families, 285 genera, 363 species, 2 subspecies, 41 varieties and 5 forms. The rare plants designated by Korea Forest Service were 2 taxa including Exochorda serratifolia and Potentilla discolor. The Korean endemic plants were 3 taxa including Philadelphus schrenkii, Lespedeza maritima and Weigela subsessilis. The specific plants by floristic region were 16 taxa including Asplenium sarelii, Pyrrosia petiolosa, Vitex negundo var. incisa and so forth. The target plants adaptable to climate change were 2 taxa including Lespedeza maritima and Carpesium macrocephalum, and the plants with approval for delivering oversea were 4 taxa including Exochorda serratifolia, Glycine soja, Lespedeza maritima and Weigela subsessilis. The naturalized plants were 51 taxa including Phytolacca americana, Viola papilionacea, Lamium purpureum and so forth. The invasive alien plants were 3 taxa including Ambrosia artemisiifolia, Aster pilosus and Lactuca scariola. NI(Naturalized Index) was 12.4% of all 411 taxa of surveyed flora in this study and UI(Urbanized Index) was 15.9% of all 321 taxa of naturalized plants in Korea. Potentilla discolor in rare plant, Philadelphus schrenkii in endemic plant and Dictamnus dasycarpus in specific plant were established the conservation plan. Whereas, invasive alien plants such as Ambrosia artemisiifolia, Aster pilosus and Lactuca scariola should be removed as soon as possible. The damaged sites in Seoak District were divided between wildfire area and farmland. To restore a forest fire site, we will have to apply a natural renewal and community planting. In case of farmland, we will have to do ecological planting using native species and constrcut a forest wetland.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.27 no.11
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• pp.1105-1115
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• 2018

The aim of this study was to collect crucial data for the improvement of water quality and ecosystem conservation by analyzing water samples, sediments, benthic macroinvertebrates, and fish in the Seosan reservoir. The average values of water quality parameters from 2001 to 2016 were a chemical oxygen demand of 10 mg/L, total nitrogen of 1.22 mg/L, and total phosphorus of 0.074 mg/L. Cadmium was detected in the range of 0.531-0.748 mg/kg in the reservoir sediment. Fish belonging to 6 families and 9 species were identified in the reservoir. The dominant species were Carassius auratus and Micropterus salmoides. Benthic macroinvertebrates belonging to 22 families and 28 species were identified. The ecological score of the benthic macroinvertebrate community was 15 inside the reservoir (St. 2). Micropterus salmoides, an invasive alien species, was determined to be the subdominant fish species based on the number of captures, and the presence of the invasive species, Sicyos angulatus L. and Paspalum distichum L. was confirmed among the land flora.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.220-225
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• 2020

Bowlesia incana Ruiz & Pav., a new invasive alien plant in Korea, was found in Ulju-gun, Ulsan Metropolitan City. This species is characterized as being similar to the genera Hydrocotyle Tourn. ex L. and Centella L. However, it differs morphologically from these two genera in leaves, flowers, and fruits, as well as stellate pubescence growing on the whole plant. In Korea, Bowlesia incana Ruiz & Pav. is recorded for the first time in this study. A morphological description, distribution map, and illustrations based on the Korean materials collected are presented.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.237-242
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• 2006

Non-native flora of the Ulleung island, located in the eastern part of South Korea, was surveyed as 54 taxa with 16 families, 35 genera, 53 species and 1 variety. Considering the geographical distribution aspects of the island, the flora of the island showed more closely related with Korean Peninsular than Japan. Poaceace (28%) and Asteraceae (24%) represents more than 50% of the non-native flora in Ulleung island, meaning that they have an advantage of seed dispersal and adaptation to new environments. Ulleung island is comparatively small island of vulnerable to the attack of invasive alien plants but presently, it has the least number of non-native plants than other areas in South Korea. Therefore, we need to take much interest in prevention and mitigation of non-native plant in the future.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2020.08a
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• pp.15-15
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• 2020

Commelina caroliniana Water, was founded in Jongdal-ri (Gujwa-eup, Jeju Island) for the first time, is widely distributed arable land near the coast and roads. C. caroliniana belongs to Commelinaceae and native to Bangladesh, India. This species can be distinguished from its allied species in Korea by several characters as followings: apex acuminate and obovate shape spathes, flowers have blue 3 petals, maroon spot on the antherode, fruit with 5 seeds in 3 ovaries. C. caroliniana is well known for its strong fertility, which can outcompate native grasses and further negatively effect on the grassland ecosystem. The species has already introduced and widely distributed across much of southeastern US and some of Asian countries. Considering the case of C. caroliniana's diffusion capacity and influence on the ecosystem, management system for prevent their spreading are required through monitoring. Given the great potential of spread found in C. caroliniana, continuous monitoring may be required.