• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.209-214
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• 2019

Naturalization centers are hotspots where accidently introduced seeds first germinate and grow. Railways play important roles as corridors for movement, having positive effects on species dispersal and persistence, though they can also be invasion routes for undesirable plants. Geranium purpureum Vill., a new alien species in Korea, was found at the Bumil Railway Station, Busan, Gyeongsangnam-do, Korea. Most native Geranium species in Korea belong to the subgenus Geranium and section Geranium, but G. purpureum belongs to the subgenus Robertium and section Ruberta, with the "carpel-projection" method of seed dispersal. In other countries, G. purpureum is often compared with G. robertianum L., which is an ornamental plant in Korea. We assume that G. purpureum is a casual alien plant and that it is not likely to spread to other provinces, as it scarcely survives when the mean temperature in January is below $4^{\circ}C$. Moreover, it has not been found further north than Busan. We provide a key of allied taxa, information about the habitat, a description of the morphological characters, illustrations, and photographs.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.111 no.2
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• pp.201-223
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• 2022

Currently, species extinctions are increasing due to climate change and continued anthropogenic impact. We selected 300 species for conservation with emphasis on plants co-occurring in the Baekdudaegan area, which is a large ecological axis of Korea. We aimed to investigate the vegetation community and environmental characteristics of Zabelia tyaihyonii in the limestone habitat among the target plant species in the Baekdudaegan region to derive effective conservation strategies. In Danyang-gun, Yeongwol-gun, and Jecheon-si, we selected 36 investigation sites where Z. tyaihyonii was present. We investigated the vegetation, flora, soil and physical environment. We also found notable plants such as Thalictrum petaloideum, Sillaphyton podagraria, and Neillia uekii at the investigation sites. We classified forest vegetation community types into 4 vegetation units and 7 species group types. With canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) of the vegetation community and habitat factors, we determined the overall explanatory power to be 75.2%, and we classified the environmental characteristics of the habitat of Z. tyaihyonii into a grouping of three. Among these, we detected a relationship between the environmental factors elevation, slope, organic matter, rock ratio, pH, potassium, and sodium. We identified numerous rare and endemic plants, including Thalictrum petaloideum, in the investigation site, and determined that these groups needed to be preserved at the habitat level. In the classification of the vegetation units analyzed based on the emerging plants and the CCA, we reaffirmed the uniqueness and specificity of the vegetation community in the habitat of Z. tyaihyonii. We anticipate that our results will be used as scientific evidence for the empirical conservation of the native habitats of Z. tyaihyonii.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.562-581
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• 2018

This study was designed to predict the changes in species richness of plants under the climate change in South Korea. The target species were selected based on the Plants Adaptable to Climate Change in the Korean Peninsula. Altogether, 89 species including 23 native plants, 30 northern plants, and 36 southern plants. We used the Species Distribution Model to predict the potential habitat of individual species under the climate change. We applied ten single-model algorithms and the pre-evaluation weighted ensemble method. And then, species richness was derived from the results of individual species. Two representative concentration pathways (RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5) were used to simulate the species richness of plants in 2050 and 2070. The current species richness was predicted to be high in the national parks located in the Baekdudaegan mountain range in Gangwon Province and islands of the South Sea. The future species richness was predicted to be lower in the national park and the Baekdudaegan mountain range in Gangwon Province and to be higher for southern coastal regions. The average value of the current species richness showed that the national park area was higher than the whole area of South Korea. However, predicted species richness were not the difference between the national park area and the whole area of South Korea. The difference between current and future species richness of plants could be the disappearance of a large number of native and northern plants from South Korea. The additional reason could be the expansion of potential habitat of southern plants under climate change. However, if species dispersal to a suitable habitat was not achieved, the species richness will be reduced drastically. The results were different depending on whether species were dispersed or not. This study will be useful for the conservation planning, establishment of the protected area, restoration of biological species and strategies for adaptation of climate change.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.639-650
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• 2022

Abeliophyllum distichum Nakai, a rare plant with distylous characteristics, is native to certain parts of the Korean Peninsula. It is registered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as a globally endangered plant. This study was conducted to establish an appropriate local conservation management plan suitable for future A. distichum populations by comparing and analyzing the flowering characteristics and population size according to distyly based on the results of quantitative surveys in 14 regions, including 8 areas with native populations of A. distichum and 6 natural monument populations. The number of individuals appearing in each population group was surveyed, and the flowering individuals were identified by style as being either pin or thrum flower types as they were being examined and recorded on the site. In total, 13,130 individuals of A. distichum (7,003 flowering and 6,127 non-flowering individuals) were recorded, but the balance of the number of pin- and thrum-flowered individuals in each population was not significant (p<0.05), indicating an imbalanced state. In particular, the Yeongdong (YD) population was very disproportionate compared to other populations, suggesting that its genetic diversity was low and the possibility of inbreeding was high. The average flowering and fruiting rates by management unit were much higher in the natural monument populations (89.2% and 55.3%, respectively) than in the natural habitat populations (39.0% and 8.5%, respectively). It may be due to a difference in reproductive growth resulting from light inflow into the forest caused by the upper crown closure. The area of occupation (AOO) of A. distichum on the Korean Peninsula covered an area of 23,224.5 m². Although the natural monument population was smaller than the natural habitat population, its density was higher, likely as a result of the periodic management of natural monument populations, where the installation of protective facilities in certain areas restricts population spread. Conservation of A. distichum populations requires removing the natural monument populations suspected of anthropogenic and genetic disturbances and expanding the conservation priority population by designating new protected areas. Although the habitats of natural monument populations are managed by the Cultural Heritage Administration and local governments, there are no agencies that are responsible for managing natural habitat populations. Therefore, institutional improvement in the overall management of A. distichum should be prioritized.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.43 no.5
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• pp.631-636
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• 2010

One experiment was carried out to investigate the soil chemical properties of bracken growth and the inorganic element contents of plant. To the results of soil analysis in native bracken (Pteridium aquilinum L.) growth, soil pH was 5.2, organic matter was 19 g $kg^{-1}$ and available phosphate was 20 mg $kg^{-1}$, and exchangeable potassium, calcium, magnesium were 0.32, 2.0 and 1.3 $cmol_c\;kg^{-1}$, respectively. In the bracken cultivation soil, pH was 5.7, organic matter was 13 g $kg^{-1}$ and available phosphate 367 mg $kg^{-1}$, and exchangeable potassium, calcium and magnesium were 0.81, 4.0 and 1.4 $cmol_c\;kg^{-1}$, respectively. The soil pH, available phosphate and exchangeable calcium were much lower in bracken native soil than those of cultivation soil, while organic matter was a little higher in native soil than that of cultivation soil. In native bracken plants, three major elements of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, were 4.40, 0.55 and 3.40%, calcium and magnesium were 0.22 and 0.32%, and microelements of iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn) and boron were 126, 210, 23, 75 and 11 mg $kg^{-1}$, respectively. In cultivation bracken, three major elements of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, were 5.50, 0.73 and 3.55%, calcium and magnesium were 0.17 and 0.28%, and microelement contents of iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn) and boron (B) were 120, 252, 19, 72 and 20 mg $kg^{-1}$, respectively.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.73-85
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• 1991

Rhododendron mucronulatum for. albiflorum, native species is a shrub that has white flowers on May to June, and rare species endangered by people's rash digging or cutting. But its physiological ecological characteristics and propagation method are not being known at all. Therefore, this study was executed to utilize this species as the planting material for landscaping by analysing its habitat environment and growth form, and also experimenting its seed and vegetative propagation, and it field culture and utilization. The results are as follows; 1. The elevation, gradient and direction of this species were 295-1,350m, 10-36$^{\circ}$, northwest respectively. It was found that the species is shade-liking plant that grows under forest cover of average 51.33%. 2. The soil pH and water content of its habitat were 5.4, 25.41% respectively. The organic matter content was 6.29% that was higher than 3.2%, the average organic matter content of forest soil in Korea. 3. Representative plant community within which this species was living was Quercus mongolica community, and its main neighboring species were Lindea obtusiloba, Fraxinus sieboldiana, Rhus trichocarpa, Rhododendron Schlippenbachii, Rododendron mucronulatum. 4. The leaf length and width of this species were 39.18mm, 12.60mm respectively. This result showed that generally its leaf size was larger than that of R. micranthum, R. yedoense var. poukhanense and R. mucronulatum var. ciliatum and smaller than that of R. mucronulatum and R. schlippenbachii. 5. The whole size of its pollen was, as 59${\times}$61$\mu\textrm{m}$, the largest of plants of Rhododendron family including R. mucronulatum and R. mucronulatum var. ciliatum. 6. The result of seed germination experiment at intervals of 5$^{\circ}C$ from 15$^{\circ}C$ to 30$^{\circ}C$ presented the highest germination rate of 94.7% at 20$^{\circ}C$ numerically, but high percent germination at all temperature levels without significant difference. And the seed of this plant proved to be sun-liking seed at requiring dormancy in germination. 7. Through seed germination experiment by treatment of growth regulators such as GA. Thiourea and Kinetin under dark condition, it was found that the effect of GA treatment on germination increase and acceleration was the highest. 8. In greenwood cutting, rooted rate by treatment of various concentration of IBA and NAA on clay and vermiculite bed was not wholly high, but 100ppm plots of both IBA and NAA of clay bed showed relatively good rooted rate. 9. As result of field culture experiment for finding out optimum growth temperature and light intensity, growth conditions such as height, number of leaves, fresh weight and chlorophyll contents were the best at night/day temperature of 20/25$^{\circ}C$ and under 1/2sun. Also, the photosynthetic rate was the highest at 25$^{\circ}C$. Accordingly, it was found that optimum temperature and light intensity for growth of this plant are 25$^{\circ}C$ (day temperature), 50% of natural light respectively.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.321-337
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• 2018

The characteristics of 124 Phytolacca americana present areas and 88 surrounding absent areas over the country were investigated and compared from July 2016 to Sept 2017. The Phytolacca americana was confirmed as having been nationally distributed and is usually found in roadsides at an altitude of 380 m (26%), forest edges (24%), forests (19%), sunny spots (60%), dry soils (53%), sandy loams (31%) and sand+gravel soils (22%). 321 taxons consisting of 79 families, 209 genera, 289 species, 2 subspecies, 26 varieties and 4 cultivars and 286 taxons consisting of 76 families, 195 genera, 256 species, 2 subspecies, 24 varieties and 4 cultivars were found in the Phytolacca americana present areas and the absent areas, respectively. The relative net contribution degree was found highest in the Phytolacca americana (100) followed by Robinia pseudoacacia (29.4), Humulus japonicus (8.8) and Artemisia princeps (6.0) in the present areas, while it was found highest in Robinia pseudoacacia (100) followed by Humulus japonicus (44.4), Artemisia princeps (35.9), Pueraria lobata (18.6) and Setaria viridis (12.3) in the absent areas. The Raunkier's life form in the present/absent areas was found highest in the therophytes (34%/34%), followed by hemicryptophytes (17%/18%), megaphanerophytes and mesophanerophytes (18%/17%), nanophanerophytes (11%/11%) and geophytes (9%/11%). There was no significant difference in the species diversity between the present (2.141) and the absent (2.124) areas. However, the allelopathic agent and light blocked-out by the Phytolacca americana could possibly inhibit germination and the development of other species; especially, where a difference in species diversity was found high in forests, compared to other habitats (p=0.0605). Accordingly, it is suggested to review possible disturbances of native species habitats in shady spots including forest gaps, although the effect of Phytolacca americana on the ecological system in the suburban open and disturbed areas is not large.

• Journal of Environmental Policy
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.3-19
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• 2014

Large-scale unband development resulted from the rapid economic growth in the Republic of Korea has brought about the habitat destruction for the native animals and plants living in forest and farmland. In order to resolve this problem, it is necessary to consider the natural ecosystem as an organism and to preserve the natural ecosystem by managing ecologically significant habitat consistently. Especially, the local governments should be able to establish regional ecologic networks in consideration of the ecological connectivity and the environmental and ecological excellence, and to reflect them into the local development plans. In regard to this, the methods of the regional ecological network establishment was presented, making use of the results including the national ecological network which assessed the ecological connectivity of the nation and the environmental and ecological assessment results of the Environmental Conservation Value Assessment Map which was designed to analyze and assess the national environmental and ecological values quantitatively. Making use of the case of Gyeongsangnam-do; the results presented that the existing national ecological network in the core region has expanded from $2,986km^2$ to $4,049km^2$ and the existing national ecological network in the buffer region has expanded from $2,940km^2$ to $3,006km^2$. Referring to the regional ecological network in the process of the local development plans could contribute to the increase in biodiversity and the integrated local environmental management including the ecosystem preservation.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2022

Global warming has a major impact on the Earth's precipitation and temperature fluctuations, and significantly affects the habitats and biodiversity of many species. Although the number of alien plants newly introduced in South Korea has recently increased due to the increasing frequency of international exchanges and climate change, studies on how climate change affects the distribution of these alien plants are lacking. This study predicts changes in the distribution of suitable habitats according to RCPs climate change scenarios using the current distribution of the invasive alien plant Conyza sumatrensis and bioclimatic variables. C. sumatrensis has a limited distribution in the southern part of South Korea. Isothermality (bio03), the max temperature of the warmest month (bio05), and the mean temperature of the driest quarter (bio09) were found to influence the distribution of C. sumatrensis. In the future, the suitable habitat for C. sumatrensis is projected to increase under RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5 climate change scenarios. Changes in the distribution of alien plants can have a significant impact on the survival of native plants and cause ecosystem disturbance. Therefore, studies on changing distribution of invasive species according to climate change scenarios can provide useful information required to plan conservation strategies and restoration plans for various ecosystems.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.52 no.4
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• pp.333-339
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• 2019

The Red swamp crawfish Procambarus clarkii is native to the southern United States and inhibits all over the world including the United States, Asia, Africa and Europe. In Europe, it is known to disrupt ecosystems such as competition with native crayfish. In this study, habitats of red swamp crawfish were identified in Jiseok stream (15.5 km section) and Daecho stream (6.1 km section) of Youngsan river. A total 33 red swamp crawfish were captured. A female captured in Jiseok stream carried 215 newly hatched red swamp crawfish in her the burrow. As a result of the analysis of the habitat environment, the water temperature was ranged of 2.4~32.8℃, conductivity was 53.4~502.3 μS cm^-1 and DO was 0.74~22.64 mg L^-1. As a result of measuring HOBO, the temperature ranged from -9~48.1℃, showing a change of 57.1℃ throughout the year. The variation of the water temperature throughout the year from 2.9~33.9℃ was found to be 31℃. Red swamp crawfish have a high adaptability and a wide range of environmental resistance, and report a sharp increase in newly invaded areas, negatively affecting indigenous organisms. In addition, it can be used as a medium for the spread of diseases and parasites, so prompt investigation and research should be carried out.