• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.581-590
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• 2018

Objectives: We aimed to investigate the species composition of fish and benthic macroinvertebrates in the Namgang Dam reservoir and assess the reservoir's ecological quality. Methods: Fish and benthic macroinvertebrates were seasonally sampled around the Namgang Dam reservoir from October 2013 to September 2014. Results: A total of 970 fish specimens were collected for this survey, including 4 orders, 14 families, and 25 species. Fourteen endemic species were observed, including Coreoleuciscus splendidus. The most observed among the endemic species caught was Zacco koreanus (14.4%). A total of 9,093 benthic macroinvertebrates, including 51 families and 92 species, were also found. The predominant species in the study area was Chironomidae sp. 1. Diplonychus esakii, whose habitat is distribution-specific as designated by the Korean National Institute of Environmental Research (NIER), were also observed. A total of 386 specimens were collected of the invasive alien species Lepomis macrochirus, and the percentage of Lepomis macrochirus and Micropterus salmoides made up 42.0% of all specimens collected in the area. Conclusion: The mean ecological score of the benthic macroinvertebrate community (ESB) ranged between 24 and 40, which indicates that the environmental condition of the target sites is somewhat poor. Based on the results of this research, building habitats for benthic macroinvertebrates should be considered, and extermination plans for invasive alien fish species should be prepared.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.67-90
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• 2024

The purpose of this study is to present the ecological data for conservation and management of three wetlands by surveying the vascular plants in Ganam reservoir, Ahnshim wetland and Jeomsae swamp. The whole taxa of vascular plants were 376 taxa including 90 families, 252 genera, 341 species, 7 subspecies, 24 varieties, 2 forms, 1 hybrid and 1 cultivar, and the planted species were 66 taxa including Ginkgo biloba and so on. The rare plants were 7 taxa including Euryale ferox(VU), Aristolochia contorta(LC), Koelreuteria paniculata(VU), Sagittaria trifolia(DD), Hydrocharis dubia(LC), Ottelia alismoides(LC) and Sparganium stoloniferum(VU). The Korean endemic plant was 1 taxon of Lespedeza maritima. In total, there were 21 taxa of floristic target species including 1 taxon of garde V, 2 taxa of grade IV, 6 taxa of grade III, 5 taxa of grade II and 7 taxa of grade I . The hydrophytes were 51 taxa including 36 taxa of emergent species, each 6 taxa of floating-leaved and submerged species and 3 taxa of free-floating species. The invasive alien plants were 79 taxa including 75 taxa of naturalized plants and 4 taxa of casual alien plant. The ecosystem disturbing species 6 taxa including Sicyos angulatus, Ambrosia artemisiifolia, Lactuca seriola, Symphyotrichum pilosum, Paspalum distichum and Humulus scandens.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.53 no.1
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• pp.47-53
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• 2023

We have determined the complete chloroplast genome of Erigeron Canadensis isolated in Korea. The circular chloroplast genome of E. canadensis is 152,767 bp long and has four subregions: 84,317 bp of large single-copy and 18,446 bp of small single-copy regions are separated by 25,004 bp of inverted repeat regions including 133 genes (88 protein-coding genes, eight rRNAs, and 37 tRNAs). The chloroplast genome isolated in Korea differs from the Chinese isolate by 103 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and 47 insertions and deletion (INDEL) regions, suggesting different invasion sources of E. canadensis in Korea and China. A nucleotide diversity analysis revealed that the trend of the nucleotide diversity of E. canadensis followed that of 11 Erigeron chloroplasts, except for three peaks. The phylogenetic tree showed that our E. canadensis chloroplast is clustered with E. canadensis reported from China. Erigeron canadensis can be a good target when attempting to understand genetic diversity of invasive species.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.57 no.4
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• pp.323-328
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• 2018

Despite rising global concerns over the potential impacts of invasive alien species on indigenous species, the consequences of such introductions are lacking. The cabbage seedpod weevil (CSPW, Ceutorhynchus obstrictus) was found invaded into Korea in the early of 1990s. A large-scale survey in Korea reveals that, in about 20 years post-arrival, the invasive CSPW has become the most abundant on rape flowers and spread almost parts of South Korea including Is. Jeju and Is. Ulleung. Its spread is concurrent with the habitat retraction to cruciferous weeds of the native rapseed weevil (RSW, C. albosuturalis). However, Is. Yeoseo located between the mainland and Is. Jeju, showed their ratio with about 1:1. It suggests that the population of CSPW recently entered this island. Although underlying mechanisms of the decline of native species and increase of invaded species remain unknown, the potential roles of exploitative competition cannot be ruled out. Given that invasive weevil can rapidly replace native congeners, increased level of surveillances is demanding to discourage further invasion of othe alien pests.

• Journal of Integrative Natural Science
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.103-110
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• 2023

Invasive species are organisms that are introduced into places outside of their natural distribution range. The global pet trade is facilitating the introduction of invasive species into new countries and areas. Among the introduced alien species, turtles are one of the most common animal groups whether lives in wetland ecosystems, such as wetlands or reservoirs. Like other countries around the world, exotic turtles is becoming a growing concern for the wetland ecosystem in South Korea. In this study, we report new reports of subspecies of Painted turtle (Chrysemysspp.): Chrysemys picta marginata, C. p. bellii and C. dorsalis, from the reservoirs in downtown Cheongju and Gwangju, South Korea. We used morphological features, such as the characteristics of the legs, plastron, and carapace, to identify the turtles. It is assumed that all turtles were artificially released into nature. Considering the increasing number of reports on the introduction of alien invasive turtles in Korean wetlands, we recommend the formulation of an immediate and systematic management plan for pet trades and organized continuous monitoring programs.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2018.10a
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• pp.64-64
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• 2018

The genus Cenchrus (Poaceae), containing ca. 97 species, is distributed throughout Australia, Africa and Indian sub-continent and which was introduced to the United States and Mexico for use in improved pasture. In Korea, especially Daecheong Island, it is one of the most hazardous invasive plant, which causes serious environmental threats, biodiversity damages and physically negative impact on humans and animals. It can cause serious damage to farms, fields and white sand beaches. However, the chloroplast (cp) genome sequences and information of Cenchrus longispinus have been not addressed, so we provide the complete cp genome of Cenchrus longispinus using next-generation sequencing technology. The size of cp genomes of this Daecheong Island species (Cenchrus longispinus) is 137,144 bp, and it shows a typical quadripartite structure. Consisting of the large single copy (LSC; 80,223 bp), small single copy (SSC; 12,449 bp), separated by a pair of inverted repeats (IRs; 22,236 bp). This cp genome contains 75 unique genes, 4 rRNA coding genes, 33 tRNA coding genes and 21 duplicated in the IR regions, with the gene content and organization are similar to other Poaceae cp genomes. Our comparative analysis identified four cpDNA regions (rpl16, rbcL, ndhH and ndhF) from three Cenchrus species, two Setaria species and one Pennisetum species which may be useful for molecular identification.

• Entomological Research
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• v.48 no.6
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• pp.505-513
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• 2018

The red imported fire ant is considered one of the most notorious invasive species because of its adverse impact on both humans and ecosystems. Public concern regarding red imported fire ants has been increasing, as they have been found seven times in South Korea. Even if red imported fire ants are not yet colonized in South Korea, a proper quarantine plan is necessary to prevent their widespread distribution. As a basis for quarantine planning, we modeled the potential distribution of the red imported fire ant under current climate conditions using six different species distribution models (SDMs) and then selected the random forest (RF) model for modeling the potential distribution under climate change. We acquired occurrence data from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) and bioclimatic data from WorldClim. We modeled at the global scale to project the potential distribution under the current climate and then applied models at the local scale to project the potential distribution of the red imported fire ant under climate change. Modeled results successfully represent the current distribution of red imported fire ants. The potential distribution area for red imported fire ants increased to include major harbors and airports in South Korea under the climate change scenario (RCP 8.5). Thus, we are able to provide a potential distribution of red imported fire ant that is necessary to establish a proper quarantine plan for their management to minimize adverse impacts of climate change.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.199-205
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• 2022

Two tree frogs, Dryophytes suweonensis and Dryophytes japonicus, inhabiting Korea, are morphologically similar and share the same habitats. Therefore, they are identified mainly through their calls, especially for males. Dryophytes suweonensis is registered as an endangered (IUCN: EN grade) and protected species in South Korea. Thus, it is necessary to develop a method to rapidly identify and discriminate the two species and establish efficient protection and restoration plans. We identified significant genetic variation between them by sequencing a maternally-inherited mitochondrial 12S ribosomal DNA region. Based on the sequence data, we designed a pair of primers containing 7bp differences for high resolution melting(HRM) analysis to rapidly and accurately characterize their genotypes. The HRM analysis using genomic DNA showed that the melting peak for D. suweonensis was 76.4±0.06℃, whereas that of D. japonicus was 75.0±0.05℃. The differential melt curve plot further showed a distinct difference between them. We also carried out a pilot test for the application of HRM analysis based on immersing D. suweonensis in distilled water for 30 min to generate artificial environmental DNA(eDNA). The results showed 1.10-1.31℃ differences in the melting peaks between the two tree frog samples. Therefore, this HRM analysis is rapid and accurate in identifying two tree frogs not only using their genomic DNA but also using highly non-invasive eDNA.

• 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.

• Animal Systematics, Evolution and Diversity
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.9-14
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• 2021

Invasive species threaten global biodiversity as well as human livelihood and much of the global lands are vulnerable to these threats. Numerous freshwater turtles from the northern hemisphere have been introduced in East Asian countries, including the Republic of Korea. Knowing turtle's behavioral ecology is valuable to manage introduced populations and a distinctive behavior is basking for behavioral thermoregulation. To understand the possibility of using basking to enhance trapping, we tested thermotaxis in the river cooter (Pseudemys concinna). Turtles were placed in an aquarium containing heated and non-heated mats under controlled water and air temperature, air humidity and light. We found that P. concinna stayed significantly longer on heated mats than on unheated control mats in 11 out of 18 trials, demonstrating that heat source is a potential attractant for P. concinna. We recommend the use of heat source to bait traps used for population control of invasive freshwater turtles.