• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.1-18
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• 2016

This study was carried out to investigate the flora of the western front (Paju-Yencheon Area) of the Civilian Control Zone. Vascular plants collected in these areas were a total of 558 taxa composing of 501 species, 3 subspecies, 48 varieties and 1 forma of 330 genera under 109 families This shows that 11% of the 4,880 vascular plant species that are known to exist in Korea is distributed in the western part of the DMZ. 1 taxa of endangered species designated by the Ministry of Environment was found: the Polygonatum stenophyllum Maxim in the edge of the military operation road from Taepung observatory to Imjin river. For the floristically specific ones of the Korean floristic zones, 3 taxa of the $5^{th}$ grade, 3 taxa of the $4^{th}$ grade, 13 taxa of the $3^{rd}$ grade, 13 taxa of the $2^{nd}$ grade and 22 taxa of the $1^{st}$ grade were found. For the endemic species of Korea, 4 taxa including Cirsium setidens (Dunn) Nakai were confirmed to be distributed mostly on the slope or the cutting area. Among the collected rare plants (11 taxa), there were 1 taxa of endangered species, 4 taxa of vulnerable species and 6 taxa of least concern species. Also, 51 taxa of naturalized plants were identified and 4 taxa of ecosystem disturbance organism designated by the Ministry of Environment were identified. The urbanization index and naturalization index for all species were estimated to be 15.89% and 9.14% respectively. Our survey is expected to be considered as primary data of biological diversity and ecological axis in the DMZ and the western part of the DMZ. According to the results of this study, it is thought to be necessary to establish policies for conservation and protection of the DMZ.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.548-557
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• 2021

Cypripedium japonicum Thunb. is an endemic plant in East Asia, distributed only in Korea, China, and Japan. At the global level, the IUCN Red List evaluates it as "Endangered Species (EN)," and at the national level in Korea, it is evaluated as "Critically Endangered Species (CR)." In this study, we investigated the characteristics of the age structure and the sustainability of the population based on the data obtained by demographic monitoring conducted for seven years in the natural habitat. C. japonicum habitats were observed in 7 regions of Korea (Pochoen, Gapyeong, Hwacheon, Chuncheon, Yeongdong, Muju, Gwangyang), and 4,356 individuals in 15 subpopulations were identified. The population size and structure differed from region to region, and artificial management had a very important effect on the size and structural change of the population. Population viability analysis (PVA) based on changes in the number of individuals of C. japonicum showed a very diverse tendency by region. And the probability of population extinction in the next 100 years was 0.00% for Pocheon, 10.90% for Gwangyang, 24.05% for Chuncheon, and 79.50% for Hwacheon. Since the above monitored study sites were located within the conservation shelters, which restricted access by humans, unauthorized collection of C. japonicum, the biggest threat to the species, was not reflected in the individual viability. So, the risk of extinction in Korea is expected to be significantly higher than that estimated in this study. Therefore, it is necessary to reflect population information in several regions that may represent various threats to determine the extinction risk of the C. japonicum population objectively. In the future, we should expand the demographic monitoring of the C. japonicum population known in Korea.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.154-163
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• 2021

This study was carried out to present the habitat distribution status and the habitat distribution prediction of Sophora koreensis, which is the Korean Endemic Plant included in the EN (Endangered) class of the IUCN Red List. The habit distribution survey of Sophora koreensis confirmed 19 habitats in Gangwon Province, including 13 habitats in Yanggu-gun, 3 habitats in Inje-gun, 2 habitats in Chuncheon-si, and 1 habitat in Hongcheon-gun. The northernmost habitat of Sophora koreensis in Korea was in Imdang-ri, Yanggu-gun; the easternmost habitat in Hangye-ri, Inje-gun; the westernmost habitat in Jinae-ri, Chuncheon-si; and the southernmost habitat in Sungdong-ri, Hongcheon-gun. The altitude of the Sophora koreensis habitats ranged from 169 to 711 m, with an average altitude of 375m. The area of the habitats was 8,000-734,000 m², with an average area of 202,789 m². Most habitats were the managed forests, such as thinning and pruning forests. The MaxEnt program analysis for the potential habitat of Sophora koreensis showed the AUC value of 0.9762. The predictive habitat distribution was Yanggu-gun, Inje-gun, Hwacheon-gun, and Chuncheon-si in Gangwon Province. The variables that influence the prediction of the habitat distribution were the annual precipitation, soil carbon content, and maximum monthly temperature. This study confirmed that habitats of Sophora koreensis were mostly found in the ridge area with rich light intensity. They can be used as basic data for the designation of protected areas of Sophora koreensis habitat.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.100 no.4
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• pp.609-615
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• 2011

Forsythia saxatilis is a Korean endemic plant designated as rare and endangered by the Korea Forest Service (KFS). Growth and physiological characteristics of F. saxatilis were investigated under two different light intensities in order to figure out an appropriate growth environment for conservation and restoration of the species in its natural habitat. Shoot length, leaf size and weight, photosynthetic pigment content and photosynthetic parameters were measured for F. saxatilis grown at two experimental plots under relative light intensities (RLI) of 20% and 60% of the full sun, respectively. Fresh leaf weight of plants grown under high relative light intensities (RLI-60) exceeded that of plants grown at 20% RLI. The ratio of fresh leaf weight to leaf size at RLI-60 was 1.47 times superior comparing to that recorded at RLI-20. The content of photosynthetic pigments such as chlorophyll a, b and carotenoid were higher in plants grown at RLI-60, whereas the ratio of total chlorophyll to carotenoid content was higher in the leaves at RLI-20. Photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance and transpiration rate at RLI-60 were, respectively, 2.5, 2.65 and 1.79 times higher comparing to those recorded at RLI-20. Water use efficiency, however, was higher at RLI-20. The chlorophyll/nitrogen ratio was 1.83 times higher at RLI-20 than at RLI-60. In contrast, the ratio of net photosynthesis to chlorophyll content at RLI-60 was 2.58 times higher than that of RLI-20. In conclusion, light intensity might be the major factor affecting growth and physiological characteristics of F. saxatilis grown under canopy of tall tree species.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2018.04a
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• pp.27-27
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• 2018

본 연구는 강원지역에 분포하는 희귀 특산식물 5종 광릉요강꽃(CR), 개느삼(EN), 모데미풀(EN), 금강봄맞이(EN), 난장이붓꽃(EN)을 대상으로 고정조사구($5{\times}5m$, $2{\times}2m$, $1{\times}1m$)를 설치한 뒤, 2014년부터 2017년까지 4년간의 개화 및 결실 특성을 조사하여 자생지와 식물종의 보전을 위한 기초자료를 제공하기 위해 수행하였다. 그 결과, 광릉요강꽃의 개화율은 2014년 총 개체수 6개 중 100%(6개체), 2015년 6개 중 66.7%(4개체), 2016년 3개 중 33.3%(1개체), 2017년 7개 중 14.3%(1개체)으로 나타났고, 결실율은 2014년 0%(0개체), 2015년 33.3%(2개체), 2016년 0%(0개체), 2017년 0%(0개체)으로 각각 나타났다. 개느삼의 개화율은 2014년 총 개체수 83개 중 0%(0개체), 2015년 83개 중 1.2%(1개체), 2016년 83개 중 7.2%(6개체), 2017년 76개 중 0%(0개체)으로 나타났고, 2014년부터 2017년까지의 결실은 이루어지지 않은 것으로 조사되었다. 모데미풀의 개화율은 2014년 총 개체수 6개 중 33.3%(2개체), 2015년 23개 중 91.3%(21개체), 2016년 30개 중 50%(15개체), 2017년 16개 중 100%(16개체)으로 나타났고, 결실율은 2014년 33.3%(2개체), 2015년 52.2%(12개체), 2016년 36.7%(11개체), 2017년 37.5%(6개체)으로 각각 나타났다. 금강봄맞이의 개화율은 2014년 총 개체수 20개 중 50%(10개체), 2015년 27개 중 59.3%(16개체), 2016년 47개 중 34%(16개체), 2017년 58개 중 31%(18개체)으로 나타났고, 결실율은 2014년 50%(10개체), 2015년 29.6%(8개체), 2016년 4.3%(2개체), 2017년 10.3%(6개체)으로 각각 나타났다. 난장이붓꽃의 개화율은 2014년 총 개체수 28개 중 0%(0개체), 2015년 15개 중 100%(15개체), 2016년 28개 중 21.4%(6개체), 2017년 35개 중 62.9%(22개체)으로 나타났고, 2014년부터 2017년까지의 결실은 이루어지지 않은 것으로 조사되었다.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.18-26
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• 2020

Echinosophora koreensis (Nakai) Nakai an endemic plant with limited distribution in some parts of the Korean Peninsula, is designated as "Endangered" species on the IUCN Red List. The species is under the threat of deterioration in nature due to various environmental changes causing loss of natural habitats. We investigated the distribution pattern and population structure of E. koreensis to serve as a basic reference for identifying the dynamics and persistence of natural populations of this species in the future. To determine the characteristics of the E. koreensis population, we laid two to three large plots sized 20m×30m on the ridgeline as the reference in Yanggu, Chuncheon, and Hongcheon and laid four to seven small quadrats sized 1m×1m on the transect. A total of 530 plots were laid, 10 each at 2m interval, to measure the number of the stems, the number of fruiting, height, and other factors. The collected distribution information was compared with the existing IUCN assessed categories by applying IUCN Red List ver 3.1 Criteria B. The average population density of the three surveyed areas was 3.47 stem/㎡; the density of each area was 3.95 stems/㎡ in Yanggu, 3.37 stems/㎡ in Chuncheon, and 2.87 stems/㎡ in Hongcheon. The number of fruiting per stem was 0.0038, indicating only 7 fruits out of 1,837 stems and that vegetative reproduction is likely to be more dominant than sexual reproduction. The distribution tendency of population density in the small plots in three surveyed areas showed that the density of E. koreensis tended to decrease toward the center of the forest with low crown openness and around the mountain ridge with high crown openness. It indicated that the quantity of light could be a very important factor for the growth of individuals of this species. The analysis of the heights of individuals present in the surveyed plots showed a range of 2.3 ~ 68.5cm and an average of 20.1cm. An analysis on the stage-structure of the E. koreensis population based on the sieve height found that the appearance frequency decreased with increasing height above 15 ~ 20cm and that the percentage of individuals lower than 10cm, which were presumed to be seedlings, was severely low, indicating a necessity of study on the population sustainability based on the monitored data. The occupied area calculated with the collected species distribution information was 200㎢, indicating the EN category according to the IUCN Red List Reference B.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.233-247
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• 2016

The purpose of this study is to offer the basic data for management of National Park by surveying and analysing the change of flora of damaged lands in Juwangsan National Park, Korea. In cause of occurring the damaged lands, site-1 was the vegetation damage by stamping, the removing Gwangamsa of site-2, 3, 4 and the removing Naewon village of site-5, 6, 7. Whole sites are caused by the artificial disturbance and interference. The numbers of flora were summarized as 135 taxa including 52 families, 109 genera, 116 species, 2 subspecies and 17 varieties in whole sites. The status of flora by sites, site-6 is the largest number of 52 taxa, site-1 is the lowest of 23 taxa. The rare plant is 1 taxa, 4 taxa of endemic plants, 10 taxa of specific plants by floristic region, 9 taxa of naturalized plants and 1 taxa of invasive alien plant. In the results of analysis about the change of coverage ratio, for this shrub layer, site-7 was changed to the most $0%{\rightarrow}50%$, and the herb layer, site-5 was changed to the most $75%{\rightarrow}95%$. In case of the change of species numbers, most sites tended to increase in the sites introduced different species or generated by the growth. It is contemplated that is similar to the restoration with the surrounding natural vegetation that is in progress is a transition occurs with the passage of time. In the dominant species, the shrub layer is Fraxinus sieboldiana, Lespedeza bicolor, Rhus javanica, Lespedezamaximowiczii, Salix koreensis and Zelkova serrata, and Miscanthus sinensis var. purpurascens, Oplismenus undulatifolius, Artemisia princeps, Bothriochloa ischaemum and Erigeron annuus of herb layer. In the results of analysing Naturalized Index(NI) and Urbanized Index(UI), NI was increased or decreased this phenomenon with the lapse of time, UI was the most increase. In particular, the increase in UI is due to the transition process, the pioneering plant, naturalized plant was imported to continue.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.287-296
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• 2017

In order to check host plant diversity and to confirm the potential risk to be invaded, we documented host plant flora and plant part of C. pentagona, an invasive parasitic plant in field survey and induced parasitic infection by them in the laboratory experiment. Parasitic interaction(12% of total tree species) was found in twig and leaf of tree such as Quercus mongolica and Abies holophylla that was not developed into ligninfication. There were most host plant species belong to Compositae, but the species parasitic rate of family was higher in Cyperaceae, Polygonaceae and Leguminoceae. Through the inducible infection experiment with C. pentagona, all species except one species show parasitic interaction between host plan and C. pentagona. These result means that the limiting stage for invading area is dispersion process for invading other area in Korea. Infection plant part by C. pentagona was dominantly both shoot and leaf, rather than only leaf or only shoot. We found newly 12 families and 45 host plant species including 33 herbacious one and 12 woody one. Crop plant such as Setaria italica and 6 endangerd one such as Scrophularia takesimensis, especially the later rare endemic plant was to death by parasitic infection of C. pentagona. These results indicate that C. pentagona is potential risk to both wild and cultivated plant in Korea.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.169-180
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• 2012

Aster altaicus var. uchiyamae, endangered plants to grade II designated by the Ministry of Environment Korea, is only distributed in Gyeongsangbukdo, Chungcheongnamdo in Korea. In order to know the effects of elevated $CO_2$ concentration and temperature on ecological responses of A. altaicus var. uchiyamae, this study was carried out in the control(ambient $CO_2$ + ambient temperature) and treatment(elevated $CO_2$ + elevated temperature) at glasshouse. As a result, germination rate of A. altaicus var. uchiyamae was higher in control than in treatment. Period of alive leaf was longer in control than in treatment. Period of blooming and seed maturity was faster in control than in treatment. Shoot and root weight were heavier in control than in treatment. No. of inflorescence per plant and seed per inflorescence was higher in control than in treatment. Weight of inflorescence per plant, seed per inflorescence and one seed was heavier in control than in treatment. These results indicate that ecological responses of A. altaicus var. uchiyamae may be more negatively affected by elevated $CO_2$ and temperature except for phenological responses of that may be delayed under future global warming situation.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.274-284
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• 2013

This study presents a survey on the bryophytes in Dongbaek-dongsan located at Seonheul Gotjawal on the north-eastern face of Mt. Halla in Jeju Island, Korea. A total of 85 taxa belonging to the Bryophyta (22 families 44 genera 62 species), Marchantiophyta (12 families 16 genera 23 species) were found. Among them, 3 moss species, Diphyscium perminutum Takaki, Racomitrium japonicum Dozy & Molk., and Isopterygium minutirameum (M$\ddot{u}$. Hal.) A. Jaeger. were new additions to the bryophyte flora of Korea. The liverwort index was 27.0%. Predominant life-form was weft. The rates for the bryophytes dominating in mesic to hygric sites were higher than for the bryophytes mainly observed in xeric habitats. We considered that the composition and distribution of species are affected by the different environmental factors according to the evergreen broad-leaved forests, wetlands and exposed spaces. Moreover, the rocks were the substrate type that play a major role in providing the micro-habitats for bryophytes in this area. Particularly, the bryophytes of swamps in this area were very unique and various for its limited space and showed plant communities with mosaic spatial pattern, along with vascular plants. We suggest more detailed and comprehensive studies on the swamps where endemic fern Mankyua chejuense B. -Y. Sun, M. H. Kim & C. H. Kim inhabits to provide valuable information for the conservation and restoration of the species and habitats.