• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.8-17
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• 2022

Background: Parthenium hysterophorus L. (Asteraceae; hereafter Parthenium) is an invasive alien species of global significance because of its' negative ecological and socioeconomic impacts. This species is spreading rapidly from lowland Tarai to Middle Mountain regions in Nepal. In the present study, we analyzed the impacts of Parthenium on plant community composition including their soil seedbank in subtropical grasslands located in central Nepal. Data was collected in a 10 m long transects passing through areas of high (> 90% cover), medium (40%-60%) and low (< 10%) levels of Parthenium cover using a plot of 1 m². Altogether, we sampled 90 plots in 30 transects. Seedling emergence method was used to estimate soil seedbank density in the soil samples (0-10 cm depth) collected from the plots with high Parthenium cover. Results: There was no significant difference in the plant species richness at different levels of Parthenium invasion whereas there was a significant change in the species composition of above ground flora due to Parthenium invasion. There was also a significant difference in species composition between soil seedbank and aboveground flora in the highly invaded plots. Parthenium was the most dominant in soil seedbank, contributing 65% to the total soil seedbank. Conclusions: Our study suggests that Parthenium has considerable negative impact on the native grassland flora, and the dominance of Parthenium in the soil seedbank means there is a challenge for its management. It also suggests the need of monitoring the soil seedbank dynamics while managing Parthenium weed.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.31-48
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• 2014

This study is carried out to offer the raw data for conservation and management of tidal flat ecosystem by surveying and analysing the flora distributed in Daesong tidal flat wetland, Ahnsan-si, Gyeonggi-do coast, Korea. The results of surveying the flora were recorded as 186 taxa including 45 families, 121 genera, 170 species, 14 varieties and 2 forms. The halophytes checked around this site were 20 taxa including Atriplex gmelinii, Salicornia europaea, Suaeda glauca, Suaeda japonica, Phragmites communis, Carex scabrifolia and so forth. Polygonum bellardii that species had ecological value was the specific plant by floristic region. The growth locations of halophytes were 11 taxa of upper, 4 taxa of high tide line and 5 taxa of lower. The naturalized plants were 42 taxa including Phytolacca americana, Chenopodium glaucum, Melilotus alba, Veronica persica, Bidens pilosa, Leptochloa fusca and so forth. Because Aster subulatusand Leptochloa fusca grew a upper tidal flat wetland, they had the characteristics of halophytes. The focuses on the management of Daesong wetland were halophytes and naturalized plants. Firstly, to maintain a halophytes communities, we will sow the halophytes seeds and plant the individuals. And In-Situ conservation was applied to Polygonum bellardii habitat. Secondly, to prevent the genesis of naturalized plant, we will don't disturb around the wetland environment. The invasive alien plant, Lactuca scariola, was removed by periodic monitoring and purification activity.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.15-36
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• 2020

The purpose of this study is to provide basic data for the establishment of the management plan of Seoullo 7017 after analyzing the characteristics of immigration plants in addition to those introduced plants. The taxa number of plants appeared as 276 taxa including 82 families, 161 genera, 246 species, 1 subspecies, 22 varieties and 7 forms. Among them, immigration plants appeared 79 classification groups, including 32 families, 65 genera, 77 species and 2 varieties. Invasive alien plants appeared as 22 classification groups in 79 classification groups of immigration plants. The ratio of America origin plants, second period(1932~1960) in introduction time and the wide diffusion species is high. In June, the growth and occurrence time of the immigration plants was the highest by monthly the characteristics of the growth of the immigration plants, the immigration plants appeared mostly. In case of dormancy form among life-form, the therophytes(th), in the propagation form-radicoid form, the R₅(monophyte), in the propagation form-disseminule form, the gravity D₄(having no special modification for dissemination), and in the growth form, the erect form(e) was high. The various immigration plants appeared in green areas covered by Zoysia japonica and low Hedera helix densities. This study is the first flora study since Seoullo 7017 was opened in 2017. And so continuous flora monitoring is required for Seoullo 7017.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.144-154
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• 2019

The flora of naturalized plants in historic sites, urban parks and stream of Gyeongju-si, South Korea were summarized as 84 taxa including 21 families, 59 genera, 78 species, 1 subspecies, and 5 varieties. Direct investigation was conducted in a historic site with 68 taxa, a neighborhood park with 43 taxa, a stream with 59 taxa and a small park with 42 taxa at 86 sites. Among them, 31.0% (Naturalized Degree (ND) 3) was common but not abundant, 29.8% (ND 5) was common and an abundant plant, 20.2% (ND 2) was local and not an abundant plant. 7 taxa such as Lactuca scariola, Symphyotrichum pilosum, Rumex acetosella were invasive alien species. Lactuca scariola was the most abundant with 41.9%, Symphyotrichum pilosum was more abundant around stream with 34.9%, and Rumex acetosella was abundant on historic sites or small park with 25.6% in all the surveyed sites. To prevent spread of invasive alien species, monitoring may be required, especially, in early settlement stage. A proper management plan needs to be incorporated through physical removal of those plants, substitution of soil and so on.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.720-761
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• 2022

This study surveyed the vascular flora present in abandoned paddy field type of 237 forest wetlands in Korea to provide baseline data for conservation, management, and monitoring and to support preparation for damage and climate change. The study period was from April 2015 to November 2021. The vascular flora of 237 forest wetlands by abandoned paddy field type were identified to consist of 128 families, 510 genera, 1,022 species, 27 subspecies, 87 varieties, 10 forma, and 1,146 taxa. 4 taxa were identified as grade II endangered wild plants, 185 taxa were identified as northern lineage plants of the Korean Peninsula, 43 taxa were endemic to the Korean Peninsula, and 58 taxa were rare plants as designated by the Korea Forest Service. Further, 296 taxa were floristic target plants and there were 86 taxa of invasive alien plants. According to wetland preference, 79 taxa (6.9%) were obligate wetland plants, 103 taxa (9.0%) were facultative wetland plants, and 61 (5.3%) taxa were facultative plants. Additionally, 66 taxa (5.8%) were facultative upland plants, and 837 taxa (73.0%) were obligate upland plants.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.25 no.12
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• pp.1689-1699
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• 2016

The growth conditions of planted trees, invasion of nuisance herbaceous species, competition between species, and effects of erosion control were monitored over five years in a riparian greenspace in Gapyeong County that was established through multilayered and grouped ecological planting. Of 156 trees planted in the upper and middle layers, 5.8% died. This tree death was attributed to poor drainage or aeration in the rooting zone from the clay-added root ball and too deep planting as well as a small-sized root ball and scanty fine roots. Of all the trees, 21.6% grew poorly due to transplant stress in the first year after planting, but they started to grow vigorously in the third year. This good growth was largely associated with soil improvement before planting, selection of appropriate tree species based on growth ground, and control of dryness and invasive climbing plants through surface mulching and multilayered/grouped planting. Mixed planting of fast-growing species as temporary trees was desirable for accelerating planting effect and increasing planting density. Thinning of fast-growing trees was required in the fifth year after planting to avoid considerable competition with target species. To reduce the invasion of herbaceous and climbing plants that oppress normal growth of planted trees, higher density planting of trees (crown opening of about 15%), woodchip mulching to a 10-cm depth, and edge planting 2 m wide were more effective than lower density planting (crown opening of 70%), no surface mulching, and no edge planting, respectively. This reduction effect was especially great during the first three years after planting. Nuisance herbaceous plants rarely invaded higher density planting with woodchip mulching over the five years. Higher density planting or woodchip mulching also showed much greater erosion control through rainfall interception and buffering than lower density planting with no mulching did. Based on these results, desirable planting and management strategies are suggested to improve the functions of riparian greenspaces.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.589-600
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• 2020

Effective conservation and management of protected areas require monitoring the settlement of invasive alien species and reducing their dispersion capacity. We simulated the potential distribution of invasive alien plant species (IAPS) using three representative species distribution models (Bioclim, GLM, and MaxEnt) based on the IAPS distribution in the forest genetic resource reserve (2,274ha) in Uljin-gun, Korea. We then selected the realistic and suitable species distribution model that reflects the local region and ecological management characteristics based on the simulation results. The simulation predicted the tendency of the IAPS distributed along the linear landscape elements, such as roads, and including some forest harvested area. The statistical comparison of the prediction and accuracy of each model tested in this study showed that the GLM and MaxEnt models generally had high performance and accuracy compared to the Bioclim model. The Bioclim model calculated the largest potential distribution area, followed by GLM and MaxEnt in that order. The Phenomenological review of the simulation results showed that the sample size more significantly affected the GLM and Bioclim models, while the MaxEnt model was the most consistent regardless of the sample size. The optimal model overall for predicting the distribution of IAPS among the three models was the MaxEnt model. The model selection approach based on detailed flora distribution data presented in this study is expected to be useful for efficiently managing the conservation areas and identifying the realistic and precise species distribution model reflecting local characteristics.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.135-151
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• 2015

DMZ is considered as an ecologically sensitive landscape and one of the highest biodiversity regions in the Republic of Korea. There have been, albeit the significant value, increased interests in developing this region for a variety of purposes including tourism and commemorative events. As this region has been already facing a range of problems derived from previous development, natural disaster and invasive species, the necessity for active management of ecological health within this region has been increased, which weighs the importance of executing ecological restoration. The objective of this study was to develop evaluation indices as an effective management means of properly evaluating ecological restoration and sustainably maintaining the restored conditions on a long-term scale. Through literature review existing evaluation indices related to restoration were collected, and then the most suitable indices were selected based upon two interviews and one questionnaire survey targeting experts in the relevant field to ecological restoration. They were categorized by two major division and their subclasses (Ecological base - vegetation structure & composition, habitat characteristics, soil environment; landscape ecology - connectivity, landscape patch, boundary & surrounding) and 40 indices. These indices were considered helpful to comprehensively evaluate ecological restoration on degraded environments within ecologically sensitive areas, and sustainably manage target areas by employing a long-term monitoring approach. As this result played a meaningful role in providing the fundamentals of evaluating ecological restoration, it should develop a suitable evaluation system through further research.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.450-462
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• 2023

This study suggested methodology of Citizen Science as a tool of ecosystem conservation and management to achieve Wetland Protected Area (WPA) Conservation Plan and examined whose applicability in 3 WPAs (Jangrok of Gwangju metropolitan city, Madongho of Goseong in South Gyeongsang Province, and Incheongang estuary of Gochang in North Jeolla Province). It consists of a) figuring out main interests and stakeholder or beneficiaries of WPA and their information demand based on conservation, utilization, and management target in the WPA Conservation Plan, b) conducting research activities to gain outcome to address stakeholder's demand, and c) returning the research outcome to citizen scientists and making diffusion to the society. Based on the suggested method and process, citizen scientists conducted ecosystem monitoring (plants including Invasive Alien Plants, terrestrial insects, traces of mammals, discovering unknown wetland). As a result, citizen scientists contributed to collecting species information of 16 plans, 43 species of terrestrial insects, 5 mammals including Lutra lutra (Endangered Species I) and Prionailurus bengalensis (Endangered Species II). The authors constructed and provided distribution map of Invasive Alien Plants, which included information of location and density which citizen scientists registered, for Environment Agencies and local governments who manage 3 WPAs to aid data-based ecosystem policy, In further studies, not only accumulating research data and outcomes acquired from citizen science to suffice the policy demands but also deliberate reviewing policy applicability and social·economic ripple effect should be processed for the suggested Citizen Science in WPA to be settled down as a tool of ecosystem conservation and management.

• Weed & Turfgrass Science
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2015

Many irrigated and drainage canals, reservoirs, lakes, and rivers are choked by the explosive growth of aquatic weeds, resulting in enormous direct loss in Korea. Distribution of aquatic weeds and exotic invasive plant species in irrigation and drainage waterways, and riparian wetlands was reviewed to provide basic information for management of aquatic weeds and invasive plant species in wetlands. Dominant emergent weeds in canals, reservoirs and lakes were Phragmites communis, Leersia japonica, Zizania latifolia, Conyza canadensis, C. annuus, Rumex crispus, Panicum dichotomiflorum, Bidens frondosa, and Oenothera odorata. Dominant emergent weeds in wetlands of rivers include Digitaria sanguinalis, P. communis, R. crispus, Artemisia princeps, Humulus japonicus, Echinochloa crusgalli, B. frondosa, and Persicaria thunbergii. In irrigation and drainage canals and lakes, dominant submersed weeds were Hydrilla verticillata, Najas minor, Potamogeton malaianus, P. crispus, Ceratophyllum demersum, Myriophyllum verticillatum, Salvinia natans, and Trapa natans. Dominant exotic weeds in wetlands include Trifolium repens, O. odorata, C. annuus, B. frondosa, Avena fatua, Ambrosia artemisiifolia, X. strumarium, and P. dichotomiflorum. Approaches to aquatic weed control were mechanical, chemical and biological control techniques. Periodic monitoring of aquatic weeds and exotic weeds, and their integrated management studies are needed in waterways and riparian wetlands in Korea.