• Proceedings of the National Institute of Ecology of the Republic of Korea
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.42-52
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• 2021

In order to secure basic data on biodiversity for wetland conservation and management used the data from Wetland Protected Area surveys conducted in South Korea (2015-2019) to analyze the distribution of fish from a total of 15 orders, 45 families, 134 species, and 12,972 individuals. The predominant species identified were Zacco platypus (Temminck and Schlegel) (19.47%) and Zacco koreanus (Kim, Oh and Hosoya) (8.16%). Of all emergent species, 52.9% (n=71 species) were freshwater species, 26.9% (n=36) were brackish species, 3.0% (n=4) were migratory species, 27% (n=36) were marine species, and 9.0% (n=12) were riffle benthic species. Overall, 5.2% (n=7 species) were endangered species, 3.0% (n=4) were exotic species, and 23.1% (n=31) were Korean endemic species. The eight identified Wetland Protected Areas (WPA) were classified based on their habitat characteristics and on the analysis of their emergent fish communities, as estuarine (n=2), coastal dune (n=1), marsh (n=2), stream (n=2), and stream-marsh (n=1) types. The environmental factors revealed to have the greatest influence on the species diversity of emergent fish were maintenance and repair, installation of reservoirs, and construction of artificial wetlands around them. The present study offers basic information on the diversity of fish species in different Wetland Protected Area types that can be used to inform conservation and management decisions for WPA.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.61-72
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• 2019

Background: Organic carbon stored in coastal wetlands, which comprises the major part of oceanic "blue carbon," is a subject of growing interest and concern. In this study, organic carbon storage in coastal wetlands and its economic value were estimated using the raw data of 25 studies related to soil carbon storage. Data were collected from three tidal flats (one protected and two developed areas) and two estuarine salt marshes (one protected and one restored area). Bulk density, soil organic matter content, and standing biomass of vegetation were all considered, with Monte Carlo simulation applied to estimate the uncertainty. Results: Mean carbon storage in two salt marshes ranged between 14.6 and $25.5kg\;C\;m^{-2}$. Mean carbon storage in tidal flats ranged from 18.2 to $28.6kg\;C\;m^{-2}$, with variability possibly related to soil texture. The economic value of stored carbon was estimated by comparison with the price of carbon in the emission trading market. The value of US $ $6600\;ha^{-1}$ is ~ 45% of previously estimated ecosystem services from fishery production and water purification functions in coastal areas. Conclusions: Although our study sites do not cover all types of large marine ecosystem, this study highlights the substantial contribution of coastal wetlands as carbon sinks and the importance of conserving these habitats to maximize their ecosystem services.

• Journal of Environmental Policy
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.3-37
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• 2012

In perspective of biodiversity conservation and protected areas (PAs), the aims of the study are to review the mid-long term national plans, which deal with national territory and environment in Korea, and to find out the way to improve this issue. Key issues were drawn by referring "Biodiversity 2011-2020 Strategic Targets" and "Protected Area Decision" in CBD CoP-10 and 7 National comprehensive or basic Plans were reviewed. Quoting Biodiversity 2011-2020 Strategic Target 5, "By 2020, the rate of loss of all natural habitats, including forests, is at least halved and where feasible brought close to zero, and degradation and fragmentation is significantly reduced", most of national plans included various methods such as "No Net Loss of Green", "No Net Loss of Wetlands", and so on. Regarding the target 11, "By 2020, at least 17% of terrestrial and inland water, and 10% of coastal and marine areas, ecologically representative and well connected systems of PAs and other effective area-based conservation measures, and integrated into the wider landscape and seascapes", 15% by 2015 was set up as a target of total PAs in Korea and 13% by 2015 or 2020 was set up as a target of coastal and marine PAs. CBD CoP-10 Decision X/31 (Protected Areas) invites parties to develop a national long-term action plan for the implementation of PoWPA and describes 10 issues that need greater attention. National action plan for the implementation of PoWPA doesn't be mentioned at any national plans even PoWPA. Regarding the 10 issues, most of issues were well reflected within various national plans, however there is still a need to improve the details and corelation between plans. Particularly, in terms of management effectiveness evaluation (MEE), there was no national plan to directly deal with MEE even though CBD invites parties to work towards assessing 60% of the total PAs by 2015. Based on the review results, below 4 items were suggested; (1)"The Comprehensive Plan of the National Territory" needs more attention on the Biodiversity Conservation and PAs, (2)Consider to establish "National PA System Plan" embedded into "the Comprehensive Plan of National Environment", (3)Establish a "National Action Plan for the implementation of PoWPA", (4)Improve the National Plans through linking with Biodiversity 2011-2020 Strategic Targets and relevant PA key issues.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.13-30
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• 2018

In terms of environmental friendly land use and objective environmental assessment, legislative assessment items of Environmental Conservation Value Assessment Map (ECVAM) consists of designated areas related to conservation and protection, and areas that are planned to be designated in the future. However, the gap with the reality due to omission of several protection areas and land use regulations, and assessment grades according to 3 division land use map of forest, agricultural land, and urbanized area, results in low application and utilization of ECVAM. Therefore in this study, the legislative assessment of the ECVAM was performed with new assessment items and its new ratings, to suggest an improvement in legislative assessment items of the ECVAM. As a result, legally protected areas of inhabited islands under absolute conservation, special wildlife protection districts, protected marine areas, environmental preservation sea areas, scenic spots, forest protection zone, traditional temple preservation zone, and 45 zone or district related to regulation of land use were additionally designated as new legislative assessment items. New grade ratings were given to each additional assessment items in consideration of the restrictions on acts. As a result of the legislative assessment based on the new assessment items and new grades, the 1st grade area increased by 3.47%, and the 2nd grade area increased by 19.35%. The 3rd grade area decreased by 8.54%, the 4th grade area increased by 2.95%, and 5th grade increased by 2.91%. In addition, the out-of-grade area decreased by 20.14%, considered to be a realistic assessment based on land use. With the improved legislative assessment, it is possible to provide a more accurate environmental assessment map. Increase usage of ECVAM is expected in providing regulations of land use and base data for integrated land management of land environmental planning.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.122-132
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• 2021

We reviewed the methods employed in Korean tidal flat surveys to measure the local abundance of the endangered wildlife and marine protected species, the fiddler crab, Austruca lactea. A complete census for infinite population is impossible even in a limited habitat within a tidal flat, and density estimates from samples strongly vary due to diverse biological and ecological factors. The habitat boundaries and areas shift with periodicities or rhythmic activities of organisms as well as measurement errors. Hence the local abundance calculated from density and habitat areas should be regarded as transient. This conjecture was valid based on the spatio-temporal variations of the density averages, standard error ranges, and spatial distribution of the crab, A. lactea observed for 3 years (2015-2017) in Songdo tidal flat in Incheon. We proposed the potential habitat areas using the occurrence probability of 50% from logistic regression model, reflecting the importance of habitat conservation value as an alternative to local abundance. The spatial shape of potential habitat predicted from a generalized model would remain constant over time unless the species' critical environmental conditions change rapidly. The species-specific model is expected to be used for the introduction of desired species in future habitat restoration/creation projects.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.106-116
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• 2020

To examine distribution of the Zostera species growing naturally in Ulleungdo, scuba diving surveys using ships were conducted along the coast and inside the harbors of the island at the end of September 2019. In areas of seagrass occurrence, environmental factors such as nutrient concentrations in water column and sediment pore water, salinity, and sediment organic content were also analyzed. Zostera caulescens meadows appeared in the relatively deep waters (14-24 m MSL) of Cheonbu-ri, Jeodong-ri, Sadong-ri, and Namyang-ri in Ulleungdo, and the total seagrass coverage was approximately 4.9 ha. Approximately 0.9 ha of Zostera marina meadow was found at the depths of 3-5 m MSL within Hyeonpo-hang in Hyeonpo-ri. The average shoot density and biomass of Z. caulescens were 121.9±9.7 shoot m^-2 and 99.0±13.2 gDW m^-2, respectively, with no significant differences by location. The average shoot density and biomass of Z. marina were 193.8±18.8 shoot m^-2 and 102.6±6.8 gDW m^-2, respectively. The nutrient concentrations in the sediment pore water and sediment organic content in the seagrass meadows in Ulleungdo were lower than those in eelgrass meadows on the southern and eastern coasts of Korea. These results will provide useful basic information for the marine protected species, Z. caulescens and Z. marina, and for the conservation of the waters of Ulleungdo, which has been designated as a marine protected area.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Fisheries and Ocean Technology
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.240-258
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• 2006

The potential of ecosystem-based fisheries management is recently recognized to be very important to improve the sustainability of fisheries resources. Under the depressed condition of many fisheries resources, this recognition has been expanded and more effort has been taken to improve this approach. Taking ecosystem concept includes the use of other tools of management in addition to fisheries regulation, such as stock and productivity enhancement, provision of physical structure, or marine protected areas. In the ecosystem-based fisheries management approach, it would require to holistically consider ecological interactions of target species with predators, competitors, and prey species, the effects of climate on fisheries ecology, the complex interactions between fishes and their habitat, and the effects of fishing on fish stocks and their ecosystem. Fisheries management based upon the understanding of these factors can prevent significant and potentially irreversible changes in marine ecosystems caused by fishing. A useful approach for analyzing tropho-dynamic interactions and mass-balance in marine ecosystems is introduced to demonstrate the complexity and usefulness of the ecosystem approach, which was applied to a small ecosystem in Korea. Korea should seriously consider to take the ecosystem-based approach to fisheries management, since most major fish stocks are currently depleted due to many reasons such as overfishing, land reclamation and coastal pollution.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.1-13
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• 2012

We diagnosed on status and problems of environmental assessment regarding development of offshore wind power, and also on reasonable core assessment items. Most of the coastal wind power are located on the western coastline of Korea and Jeju Island. In the selections of the site for the offshore wind farms, a previous investigations should be conducted with regard to distances from the land, stabilities from external forces (tide, wave, etc.) and topographical changes, and characteristics of the surroundings (distributions of protected area, fishing ground, artificial seagrasses, and shipping traffic). It is needed to assess dispersion of suspended solids, changes of the sea bottom, and impacts on fisheries resources and fishing activities under construction of offshore wind power. Furthermore, the responses of marine organisms to noise and vibration, impacts by electromagnetic fields, impacts on sea birds, hindrances to sea lane routes, and damaged scenery and marine protection areas are thoroughly assessed during operation processes. The consultation criteria in case of development of offshore wind farm is adjusted by focusing marine environmental impact assessment.

• The Korean Journal of Malacology
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.227-234
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• 2010

A comparative analysis of size and age structures of coastal subfossil shell assemblages of the shortnecked clam Ruditapes philippinarum from open and protected bays of Cheju Island (Korea) was carried out. On the whole, taking into account the damage of small fragile shells, size and age structures of the shell assemblages corresponded to the classical curve of bivalve population distribution when its mortality diminishes with age increase up to a certain threshold. It was found that shell samples from open bays of the western, southern and eastern coasts included shells of smaller and younger individuals (L ${\leq}$ 40 mm, ${\leq}$ 4 years) than samples from the eastern protected bay (L ${\leq}$ 54.5 mm, ${\leq}$ 6 years). Evidently, strong wave activity was the reason for a short life-span of the clams from the open areas. Growth was investigated retrospectively by annual growth rings on the shells. Growth rates of the clams from the various coasts of Cheju Island differed. However, growth rates of the clams from different biotopes at the same (eastern) side of the Island were similar. Shell height/length and width/length ratios statistically significantly increased with the clam age increase. Most likely, the reason for such shell shape alteration is that more conglobated individuals more survive being more energy-optimal than oblong specimens.

• Journal of Ocean Engineering and Technology
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.85-91
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• 2011

Many protection methods such as surface coating, electric protection, or other methods have been applied to the numerous steel structures widely used in continental and marine areas to control their corrosion, which is done from an economic point of view. Most of these steel structures are primarily protected by coating methods. However, some steel piles under seawater are protected by the electric protection method, that is, either using an impressed current or a sacrificial anode method. Furthermore, environmental contamination may cause a severely corrosive environment, which, in turn, causes the accelerated corrosion of steel structures. Subsequently, coated steel structures could deteriorate more rapidly than the designed lifetime because of the acid rain caused by air pollution, etc. Therefore, a coating of marine paint exposed to seawater, that is, underwater hardening painting, is increasingly required to be fast drying as well as highly corrosion resistant. In this study, five types of underwater hardening paints were prepared with different resin series and additives. Their corrosion and water resistances were investigated using electrochemical methods such as corrosion potential, polarization curves, impedance and cyclic voltammogram measurements, etc. Even though it is generally accepted that the corrosion resistance of bare steel tends to increase with a shift of the corrosion potential in the noble direction, the corrosion resistance of a sample with a coating exhibited a relatively better tendency when it had a lower corrosion potential in this study. The corrosion current density was also decreased with a decrease in the diffusion limiting current density, which may mean that there is some relationship between corrosion and water resistance. The S sample of the ceramic resin series showed the relatively best corrosion and water resistance among those of samples, while the worst corrosion and water resistance were observed for the R sample of the epoxy resin series. The corrosion and water resistance of those samples tended to deteriorate with an increase in the immersion days, and their corrosion and water resistances were considered to be apparently improved by the types of resin and additives.