• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.1-13
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• 2023

Background: The positive effects of Arctic plants on the soil environment and plant-species co-occurrence patterns are known to be particularly important in physically harsh environments. Although three dominant plants (Cassiope tetragona, Dryas octopetala, and Silene acaulis) are abundant in the Arctic ecosystem at Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard, few studies have examined their occurrence patterns with other species and their buffering effect on soil-temperature and soil-moisture fluctuation. To quantify the plant-species co-occurrence patterns and their positive effects on soil environments, I surveyed the vegetation cover, analyzed the soil-chemical properties (total carbon, total nitrogen, pH, and soil organic matter) from 101 open plots, and measured the daily soil-temperature and soil-moisture content under three dominant plant patches and bare soil. Results: The Cassiope tetragona and Dryas octopetala communities increased the soil-temperature stability; however, the three dominant plant communities did not significantly affect the soil-moisture stability. Non-metric multidimensional scaling separated the sampling sites into three groups based on the different vegetation compositions. The three dominant plants occurred randomly with other species; however, the vegetation composition of two positive co-occurring species pairs (Oxyria digyna-Cerastium acrticum and Luzula confusa-Salix polaris) was examined. The plant species richness did not significantly differ in the three plant communities. Conclusions: The three plant communities showed distinctive vegetation compositions; however, the three dominant plants were randomly and widely distributed throughout the study sites. Although the facilitative effects of the three Arctic plants on increases in the soil-moisture fluctuation and richness were not quantified, this research enables a deeper understanding of plant co-occurrence patterns in Arctic ecosystems and thereby contributes to predicting the shift in vegetation composition and coexistence in response to climate warming. This research highlights the need to better understand plant-plant interactions within tundra communities.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.13-34
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• 2023

Many ecologists try to understand plant communities and societies' changing processes by interacting with environmental factors. Plant communities formed in the sidings of streams, which are more dynamic than forest vegetation, are closely related to the disturbance regime of streams. U. pumila, which forms communities at the edges of streams, is distributed over the central and northern regions of the Korean Peninsula. In this study, we intended to explain the regeneration of U. pumila communities in the upstream region of the Namhangang River. Heights from the stream surface to the mid-high points of communities increased when the age class of U. pumila communities increased. On the other hand, the height of U. pumila tended to increase and decrease as the age class increased. The richness (S), evenness (J'), diversity (H'), and maximum diversity (H'max) also showed a tendency to increase and then decrease as the age class increased. On the other hand, the number of stems per individual and density (D) decreased as the age class increased. Seedlings of U. pumila failed to regenerate in the communities at the intermediate or higher stage of the age class. Regeneration of seedlings occurred in the spaces formed by the flooding, which occurred periodically in streams. After regeneration, U. pumila communities grew like a single organism. On the other hand, the plant species consisting of U. pumila communities exhibited a process in which the S and H' increased and then decreased as they developed. In other words, we determined that the changes in the species compositions were associated with changes in each species' environment and community. A space where seeds can regenerate seedlings should be provided for the regeneration of U. pumila communities. In the mid/upstream region of the Namhangang River, where the present study focused, newly formed communities were rare because the space required to regenerate U. pumila ceased to exist. Accordingly, we suggest securing an appropriate space for the regeneration of seedlings to maintain the U. pumila communities in the upstream region of the Namhangang River.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.167-174
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• 2004

This study was carried out to investigate the actual vegetation and the DGN(Degree of Green Naturality) from Namdeogyusan of the Deogyusan National Park to Sosagogae in the Baekdudaegan in 2003. The actual vegetation of the surveyed site were classified into 14 plant communities and cropland, etc.; Natural forest were classified into 9 plant communities; Quercus mongolica communities, mixed forest, deciduous broadleaf plant communities, Pinus densiflora communities, etc. And afforested lands were classified into 4 forest types; Larix leptolepis communities, Pinus rigida communities, etc. The DGN 9 was appeared the widest area as 57.97% and the DGN 8 was 26.80%. The DGN 1 and 2 were appeared as 5.18% at Sosagogae and Paejae district in outside of the Deogyusan National Park.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.307-321
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• 1995

Division of ecoregions having respective functions was attempted through quantitative and qualitative analysis on vegetation diversity, and heterogeneity and on soil environment of the study sites. Field research was carried out in a square of 81 ㎢ around Andongpo (126°38'E, 37°30'N), Kimpo-gun, Kyonggi provice. Conventional methods applied are as follows: classical syntaxonomy by the Zurich-Montpellier School, interpolation method to determine the degree of diversity, heterogeneity and distribution pattern of vegetation, and correlation analysis between soil properties and plant communities. 41 plant communities were identified and composed of 6 forests, 4 mantle and 31 herb communities including 6 saltmarsh plant communities. In a mesh, number of plant communities was highly correlated to the number of species. The highest number of plant community and species was 25 communities·km-2·mesh-1 and 381 species· km-2·mesh-1 ,and the highest value of vegetation heterogeneity was 28.1 species· community-1·mesh-1. Their lowest numbers were 4 communities·km-2·mesh-1. and 28 species·km-2·mesh-1. and 7 species·community-1·mesh-1, respectively. Contour map on vegetation diversity and heterogeneity enabled us to establish two regions; coastal and inland vegetation. Isoline 〔150〕,〔10〕and〔10〕and〔15〕on the species diversity, the community diversity and the vegetation heterogeneity, respectively, were regarded as ecolines in the study area. Cl- content was recognized as the most important factor from correlation analysis between soil properties. Ordination of sites indicated that the study area be divided into two edaphic types: inland and coastal habitats. It was considered that the extent of desalinization in soil played a major role in determining the species composition in the reclamed area. By matching edaphic division of habitats with division of vegetation structures, designation of ecoregion was endorsed. The approach of current study was suggested as an effective tool to implement an assessment of the vegetation dynamics by the disparity of natural environment and anthropogenic interferences.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.271-281
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• 2019

Background: The plant communities within reservoir drawdown zones are ecologically important as they provide a range of ecosystem services such as stabilizing the shoreline, improving water quality, enhancing biodiversity, and mitigating climate change. The aim of the study was therefore to identify the major environmental factors affecting these plant communities within the drawdown zone of the Soyangho Reservoir in South Korea, which experiences a monsoonal climate, and thereafter to (1) elucidate the plant species responses and (2) compare the soil seedbank composition along main environmental gradients. Results: Two main environmental gradients affecting the plant community structure were identified within the drawdown zone; these were a vertical and longitudinal gradient. On the vertical dimension, a hydrological gradient of flood/exposure, the annual-dominated plant community near the water edge changed to a perennial-dominated community at the highest elevation. On the longitudinal dimension from the dam to the upstream, plant species composition changed from an upland forest-edge community to a lowland riverine community, and this was correlated with slope degree, soil particle size, and soil moisture content. Simultaneously, the composition of the soil seedbank was separated along the vertical gradient of the drawdown zone, with mainly annuals near the water edge and some perennials at higher elevations. The species composition similarity between the seedbank and extant vegetation was greater in the annual communities at low elevation than in the perennial communities at higher elevation. Conclusions: The structures of plant community and soil seedbank in the drawdown zone of a monsoonal riverine reservoir were changed first along the vertical and secondly along the longitudinal gradients. The soil seedbank could play an important role on the vegetation regeneration after the disturbances of flood/exposure in the drawdown zone. These results indicate that it is important to understand the vertical and longitudinal environmental gradients affecting shoreline plant community structure and the role of soil seedbanks on the rapid vegetation regeneration for conserving and restoring the drawdown zone of a monsoonal reservoir.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.153-167
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• 2009

Riparian vegetation gives basic habitats for animal and other biological organisms. It is one of essential landscapes in river ecosystem. This floral study was conducted to give basic information for management of the Geum river ecosystem. We discovered total 69 plant communities out of 40 sites studied and mean 8 plant communities were analysed per study site. Salix koreensis and Salix subfragilis community were dominant of all communities at tree layer and Salix gracilistyla and Rubus parvifolius were dominant communities at shrub layer. Phalaris arundinacea, Phragmites japonica, Miscanthus sacchariflorus and Artemisia princeps var. orientalis appeared most as perennial grasses and Humulus japonicus, Persicaria thunbergii and Persicaria hydropiper appeared most as annual grasses. Robinia pseudoacacia, Amorpha fruticosa and Bidens frondosa were frequently present as exotic species. Grass communities were higher than tree communities because of human disturbance by artificial banks. The number of species was 182 appeared as 53 families 144 species, 34 varieties and 4 forma and mean species number was 25.5 per site. The most abundant site was Yanggang bridge site (14 vegetation association, 49 species) and the least abundant site was Namdaechon, Muju site (3 vegetation association, 12 species). We suggest that continuous riparian vegetation monitoring should be carried out to manage water environment ecologically.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.113-127
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• 2009

This study was designed to present a river model with an aim at restoring the ecosystem and improving the landscape along the urban rivers on the basin of the Namhan river, a core life channel for the National Capital region. The revelation of botanical status, transition trend and correlation of plants might lead to providing the urban river restoration projects and ecological river formation projects with basic data for a model of ideal aquatic ecology and landscape. The outcomes of this study could be summed up as follows: 1. Communities of Juglans mandshurica, Cornus controversa and Fraxinus mandshurica constitute the main portion of flora at or around uppermost branch streams of the River Namhanis harbored mainly in and around small brooks 2. Typical terrestrial forest communities formed around the River Namhan are composed mainly of Larix leptolepis, Pinus rigida, planned forestation of Pinus koraiensis, Quercus acutissima, Quercus variabilis and Pinus densiflora. 3. The analysis into terrestrial environment of plant communities showed a high content of $P_2O_5$, typical communities found in the artificially disturbed land Finally, it seems also desirable to continue to make every exertion to explore the relationship between fluvial and terrestrial ecologies with a purport of building up a model of natural streams in urban area based on the surveyed factors for plant life, forest communities, soil and landscape and, moreover, on the forecasting for overall influences derived from the relation upon the ecosystem.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.405-413
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• 2015

We classified the streamside plant community by phyto-sociological method and analyzed the relationship between environment factors and vegetation structure by using the classification and ordination method. We found that twenty one plant communities were classified according to dominant species at the natural streamside valley forest with surveying the 65 quadrats (10 m × 10 m). From the survey results, the hardwood plant communities were classified as streamside valley forest and the softwood plant communities as riparian forest according to the degree of flooding. The valley forest had a distribution of 17 plant communities which was 65% (42 quadrats) of 65 quadrats: Maackia amurensis community, Betula davurica community, Quercus variabilis community, Pinus densiflora community, Q. serrata community, Prunus sargentii community, and Meliosma oldhamii community etc. The riparian forest had a distribution of four plant communities which was 35% (23 quadrats) of 65 quadrats: Salix koreensis community, S. rorida community, S. purpurea var. japonica community, and S. glandulosa community, etc. From the two-way indicator species analysis (TWINSPAN) analysis, we found indicator species Oplismenus undulatifolius and Lindera obtusiloba for the streamside valley forest and Humulus japonicus, Phragmites japonica, and S. koreensis for the riparian forest. From the results of the canonical correspondence analysis (CCA), coordinates, altitude, and stream structure showed low correlation to the distribution of the plant community. Therefore, it seemed that valley forest and riparian forest were distinguished by the stream gradient and waterway width which determined by the stream water level.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.312-319
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• 2022

The species diversity of plant communities is quantitatively measured, and can be affected by plant monitoring methods. This study experimentally compared the structure and diversity of plant communities living in five waterfront park areas in Nak-dong River using three plant survey methods (modified Whittaker, modified Daubenmire, and modified point-line intercept method). According to the diversity profile, the modified Whittaker method produced the highest species richness regardless of the location, but which method makes the highest diversity of dominant species varies depending on the location. The Beta diversity of the communites calculated from the modified Whittaker and the modified Daubenmire suggested that structures of plant communities in five locations were similar, while the Point-line interception method suggested that a small number of dominant species were shared between communities.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.133-143
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• 2021

This study aims to classify the plant communities of the Gudam wetland, a riparian wetland in Nakdong River basin, and to identify the characteristics of the communities according to the veritical structure to prepare management plan. In the Gudam wetland, a total of 19 plant communities were found through physiognomical vegetation, and were analyzed by dividing into tree dominant community, shrub dominant community, and herbaceous dominant community according to the vertical structure. When examining the results of the community characteristics analysis, the species diversity index was the highest in the tree dominant communities but there was concern about a decrease in species diversity due to the influx of exotic plants such as Sicyos angulatus. The shrub dominant community tended to have a biased species diversity index on shrub plants. The herbaceous dominant communities ware divided into wetland herbaceous communities and dryland herbaceous communities according to the species diversity index, and measures were needed to reduce the species diversity index due to artificial disturbances. The importance value was the highest in the arboreal Salix genus in the tree dominant communities, and the exotic plants such as Amorpha fruticosa were the highest in the shrub dominant communities. In the herbaceous dominant communities, wetland herbaceous plants such as Phragmites japonicus were high. As a result of the analysis according to ordination the tree dominant communities and shrub dominant communities were differentiated by exotic plant factors, and the herbaceous dominant communities were differentiated by hierarchy number and slope.