• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.752-757
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• 2019

The establishment of invasive alien species management is widely recognized as a pivotal issue in the preservation of biodiversity. Ranunculus sardous Crantz, a species native to Europe, has been widely introduced in many other areas of the world, including the coasts of the United States, Australia, China, India, and Japan. In Korea, the first population of this plant was found growing adjacent to a wetland in Hanon, Seogwipo-si, Jeju Province, on 22 May 2018. Field observations confirmed the presences of at least two populations of this species in Jeju Province, Korea. This species is similar to Ranunculus sceleratus L., but can be readily distinguished by its presence of the trichomes in the whole plant, longer petioles of radical leaves, ovate-shaped leaf segments, globose to subglobose-shaped fruits and flat achenes with narrowly winged and papillae. The Invasive Alien Plant Risk Assessment (IAPRA), a system for recognizing and categorizing alien plants in Korea forests, was used to assess the invasiveness status of the species. Based on this system, R. sardous received a low score of 6, suggesting its potential invasion to natural forests. Although the current distribution of R. sardous is restricted to Jeju Province and thus far has had limited impact on local environments, local and regulatory authorities should pay close attention to this plant and take measures to prevent its further expansion.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.89-96
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• 2019

This study was carried out for management of the invasive alien plants in Mt. Inwang located in central Seoul. The invasive alien plants are 11 families, 34 genera, 30 taxa, and they are 10.8% of the total vascular plants(314 taxa). The ecosystem disturbed plants designated by the Korea environment ministry are 6 taxa : Rumex acetosella, Lactuca scariola, Ambrosia trifida var. trifida, Ambrosia artemisiifolia, Aster pilosus and Eupatorium rugosum. In the life-form, herbaceous perennials are 13 taxa(35.3%). In the continent of origin, the species from America are 20 taxa(58.8%). In the introduction time, the species of third period are 14 taxa(41.2%). In the diffusion grade, 5 grade species are 14 taxa(41.2%) and they are wide spread species. Mt. Inwang was designated as ecological scenery conservation area of Seoul in 2007. But Mt. Inwang is in high danger by the spread of invasive alien plants and ecosystem disturbed plants, due to artificial factors such as development pressure and the occurrence of byway trail. Therefore, Mt. Inwang needs systematic management of invasive alien plants and monitoring of long-term changes.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.197-205
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• 2003

White snakeroot (Ageratina altissima (L.) R. King & H. Robinson) as an invasive alien plant appeared more abundantly at lower elevations where frequent artificial interferences prevailed than at higher elevations where such impacts were less. They appeared abundantly in introduced forests such as black locust plantation but they did not appear or were rare in natural forests such as oak forest. But an exceptional phenomenon where white snakeroot did not appear was found in a Korean pine stand with dense cover afforested recently. Appearance status of white snakeroot in each section of trampling path depended on breadth of the path and relative light intensity. Growth of white snakeroot measured as the number of ramet per genet, height, and biomass was better near the trampling path and was reduced toward the forest interior. The growth was proportionate to the relative light intensity measured according to distance from the trampling path. Such results support the fact generally known in relation invasion and expansion of the invasive alien plants. From this viewpoint, we suggest a management plan that applies ecological restoration principles to address ecosystems infected with white snakeroot by restoring the integral feature of the degraded nature and more thoroughly conserving the remaining nature.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.89-119
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• 2020

Species invasions have rapidly increased due to the substantial growth of global trade in the recent past. As the awareness of the negative effects on natural ecosystems derived from alien species has grown, many countries and lawmakers have enacted rules and policies on the conservation of indigenous plants. Unfortunately, in Korea, research on species invasion is seriously lacking despite the growing number of alien species. In the current study, we report alien plants that have intentionally and/or unintentionally been introduced in Korea and also presented a checklist of invasive plants found both in the literature and in field surveys. We reviewed all documented records of alien plants, i.e., scientific papers, illustrated books, and annual reports. We also categorized alien plants by origin, time of introduction, naturalization, and the rate of their spread. The results revealed that there are 619 alien plant taxa (96 families, 353 genera, 595 species, 6 subspecies, 11 varieties, 1 forma, and 6 hybrids) occurring in Korea. Among these, 30 taxa are archaeophytes (Arc.), 214 are potentially invasive plants (PIPs), and 375 are invasive alien plants (IAPs). In addition, IAP taxa consist of grades 5 (widespread, WS) to 1 (potential spread, PS) of alien plants according to the rate of spread in Korea. Our results suggested that the number of alien plants is likely to keep growing; thus, the distribution should be regularly monitored and the list of alien plants must be updated.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.607-613
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• 2022

Vulpia octoflora (Walter) Rydb., a newly identified invasive alien species, was found in Gangcheon-ri, Yeoju-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea. It is native to North America and has been reported to be an invasive alien plant in Japan, Australia, and Ukraine. Vulpia octoflora is a weed that grows mainly in dry sandy or rocky soil and is frequently found along the roadside in open areas or in artificially disturbed sites. This species is similar to the recently confirmed alert alien species, V. bromoides (L.) Gray, but is readily distinguishable due to more florets per spikelet and a short awn of the lemma. A detailed species description, the geographical distribution, illustrations, photographs, and an identification key for all species of Vulpia that occur in Korea are provided.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Traditional Landscape Architecture
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.44-58
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• 2022

Bunhwangsa Temple, Baekryulsa Temple and Sambulsa Temple are not famous cultural heritage area, but they are visited by many tourists and are located in Gyeongju National Park and Gyeongju Historic Areas, so environmental and cultural preservations are required. The purpose of this study is to manage the unique environment and landscape of cultural assets by analysing the invasive alien plant of traditional temple of Gyeongju. The whole flora were summarized as 188 taxa including 73 families, 136 genera, 154 species, 3 subspecies, 11 varieties, 4 forms, 5 hybrids and 12 cultivars., and the landscape plants were 163 taxa and 38 taxa of the invasive alien plants. The 13 taxa of invasive alien plants were planted in three temples. The ecosystem disturbance species were 3 taxa including Rumex acetosella, Lactuca seriola and Symphyotrichum pilosum. Invasive alien plants have artificial causes such as landscape planting, but there are also those that are introduced naturally from outside. The parking lot of the temple is expected to be a major propagation path for invasive alien plants due to the large amount of interference and disturbance. Based on the results of this study, the management plans are suggested as follows. First, it is necessary to use native species suitable for the natural environment and traditional landscape of Korea for landscape planting of traditional temples, and development of planting guidelines centered on cultural properties is required. Second, it is necessary to refrain from planting invasive alien plants because traditional temples are located in an important environment and historically. Third, for the preservation of the temple environment, it is necessary to promptly remove the ecosystem disturbance species. Fourth, in order to express the landscape characteristics of traditional temples, a unique planting plan should be established in consideration of the location environment and historicity.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.27-40
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• 2006

Tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima Swingle) as an invasive alien plant, appeared usually in the disturbed locations such as road-side, incised slope, and trampling path-side. They appeared abundantly in the trampling pathside but they did not appear or were rare in the interior of forest. Density and importance value of tree of heaven were proportionate to the relative light intensity measured according to distance from the trampling path toward forest interior and closely related to the breadth of trampling path as well. They were associated with annual, other exotic species or ruderal plants well. Distributional pattern of mature trees of them in the study area and its surrounding environments implied that they were introduced intentionally. Size class distribution of them showed that they are in expansion and artificial interferences such as, installing physical training space and developing hiking course functioned as trigger factors in their invasion and expansion. The results support the facts known generally in relation to invasion and expansion of the invasive alien plants. In this viewpoint, we suggest a management plan that applies ecological restoration principles to address ecosystems infected with tree of heaven by restoring the integral feature of the degraded nature and conserving the remained nature more thoroughly.

• Journal of Species Research
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.136-159
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• 2019

This study was carried out to investigate the flora of six islands belonging to the Gogunsan Archipelago (i.e., Sinsi-do, Seonyu-do, Munyeo-do, Yami-do, Bian-do, and Duri-do) in the Korean Peninsula. As results of five field surveys from March to October of 2016, we have identified 575 total taxa, representing 527 species, five subspecies, 42 varieties, and one hybrid, placed in 358 genera and 118 families. Of these 575 taxa, four are endemic to Korea, six taxa are listed on the Korean Red List of threatened species, 67 are floristic regional indicator plants, and 74 are invasive alien species. In this study, we compared species richness among the islands, and find that the larger the islands, the higher the species richness. In the case of habitat affinity types, forest species were most common, followed by farmland, seacoast, bare ground and wetland species. From similarity analyses based on the composition of vascular plants, each island did not exhibit either local specificity or unique diversity. On the contrary, the proportion of invasive alien and ruderal species may increase by human activities. Investigations and analyses of island flora such as this are important to assess the current status of the flora, predict future vegetation patterns and the spread of the alien species, and establish managment plans of plant diversity.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.392-403
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• 2020

This study analyzed the distribution characteristics of invasive alien plants on the islands of the Korean Peninsula. Ten species, Rumex acetosella, Sicyos angulatus, Solanum carolinense, Ambrosia artemisiaefolia var. elatior, Ambrosia trifida, Aster pilosus, Eupatorium rugosum, Hypochaeris radicata, Lactuca scariola, and Paspalum distichum were present on 68 islands. These ecosystem-disturbing invasive alien plants appeared extensively on the islands of Gyeonggi province and Jeollanam province. The proportion of the plants on the inhabited islands (41 places, 2.15 species on average) was higher than that on the uninhabited islands (27 places, 1.07 species on average). This means that the distribution of invasive alien plants was closely related to human activity. The distribution of Ambrosia artemisiaefolia var. elatior(32 islands) and Rumex acetosella (31 islands) was the widest, and there were distinct distribution differences according to species. In the island area, the physical environment is poor compared to the mainland, and the native space is limited. Therefore, when invasive alien species enter and settle on the island, the native island plants can be damaged more than those on the mainland. In this regard, the discussion of the distribution of invasive alien plants in the island region can contribute to the conservation of biodiversity in the region.

• 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.