• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.172-182
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• 2022

Background: The coronavirus problem is an ecological problem stemming from a sudden change in the relationship between parasites and hosts. Ecologists judge organisms that are established out of their original territory as exotic species. Unlike in their original habitat, these exotic species become very aggressive in their newly settled habitat. Coronavirus infection damage was bigger in Europe or the United States than that in the country of its origin, China, and its neighboring countries. Therefore, coronavirus infection damage resembles the damage due to the invasive species. Results: Exotic species are found in places with similar environmental conditions to those of their origin when introduced to other ecological regions. However, there are few ecological ill effects in their place of origin, while the damage is usually severe in the ecological regions in which it is introduced. According to historical records, exotic infectious diseases, such as European smallpox and measles, also showed a similar trend and caused great damage in newly established places. Therefore, it is expected that measures to manage exotic species could be used for the prevention of exotic infectious diseases such as the coronavirus. Conclusions: Prevention comes first in the management of exotic species, and in order to come up with preventive measures, it is important to collect information on the characteristics of related organisms and their preferred environment. In this respect, ecosystem management measures such as exotic species management measures could be used as a reference to prevent and suppress the spread. To put these measures into practice, it is urgently required to establish an international integrated information network for collecting and exchanging information between regions and countries. Furthermore, a systematic ecosystem-management strategy in which natural and human environments could continue sustainable lives in their respective locations may serve as a countermeasure to prevent infectious diseases.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.85-95
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• 2024

Background: In Korea, riparian zones and some floodplains have been converted into agricultural fields and urban areas. However, there are essential for maintaining biodiversity, as they are important ecological spaces. There are also very important spaces for humanity, as they perform various ecosystem services in a changing environment including climate change. Due to the importance of rivers, river restoration projects have been promoted for a long time, but their achievement has been insignificant. Development should be pursued by thoroughly evaluating the success of the restoration project. Ecological restoration is to accelerate succession, a process that a disturbed ecosystem recovers itself, with human assistance. Ecological restoration can be a test bed for testing ecological theories in the field. In this respect, ecological restoration should go beyond a 'simple landscaping exercise' and apply ecological models and theories in restoration practice. Results: The cross-section of the restored stream is far from natural rivers due to its steep slope and artificial material. The vegetation profiles of the restored streams did not reflect the flooding regime of the river. The species composition of the vegetation in the restored stream showed a significant difference from that of the reference stream, and was also different from that of an unrestored urban stream. Although species richness was high and the proportion of exotic species was low in the restored stream, the effect was offset by the high proportion of gardening and landscaping plants or obligate terrestrial plants. Conclusions: Based on both the morphological and ecological characteristics of the river, the restoration effect in the restored stream was evaluated to be very low. In order to solve the problems, a systematic adaptive management plan is urgently required. Furthermore, it is necessary to institutionalize the evaluation of restoration effects for the development of river restoration projects in the future.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.145-153
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• 2013

It is a global trend that the water management policy is shifting from a water quality-oriented assessment to the aquatic ecosystem-based assessment. The majority of aquatic ecosystem assessment systems were developed solely based on physicochemical factors (e.g., water quality and bed structure) and a limited number of organisms (e.g., plankton and benthic organisms). Only a few systems use plants for a health assessment, although plants are sensitive indicators reflecting long-term disturbances and alterations in water regimes. The development of an assessment system is underway to evaluate and manage lakes as ecosystem units in the Korean Ministry of Environment. We reviewed the existing multivariate health assessment methods of other leading countries, and discussed their applicability to Korean lakes. The application of multivariate assessment methods is costly and time consuming, in addition to the correlation problem among variables. However, a single variable is not available at this moment, and the multivariate method is an appropriate system due to its multidimensional evaluation and cumulative data generation. We, therefore, discussed multivariate assessment methods in three steps: selecting metrics, scoring metrics and assessing indices. In the step of selecting metrics, the best available metrics are species-related variables, such as composition and abundance, as well as richness and diversity. Indicator species, such as sensitive species, are the most frequently used in other countries, but their system of classification in Korea is not yet complete. In terms of scoring metrics, the lack of reference lakes with little anthropogenic impact make this step difficult, and therefore, the use of relative scores among the investigated lakes is a suitable alternative. Overall, in spite of several limitations, the development of a plant-based multivariate assessment method in Korea is possible using mostly field research data. Later, it could be improved based on qualitative metrics on plant species, and with the emergence of further survey data.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.51-60
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• 2003

Rice, which occupies about 60% of the farmland in Korea, is a staple crop in Asia. It not only absorbs $CO_2$ from the atmosphere, but also emits carbon in a form of CH$_4$. It has a potential role in the global budget of greenhouse gases because of its relative contributions of carbon absorption and emission associated with changing hydrologic cycle. To better understand its current and future role, seasonal variations of energy and $CO_2$ exchange in this critical ecosystem need to be quantified. The purpose of this study was to measure, document and understand the exchange of energy and $CO_2$ in a typical rice paddy in Korea throughout the whole growing season. Since late April of 2002, we have conducted measurements of energy and $CO_2$ exchange in a rural rice paddy at Hari site, one of the Korea regional network of tower flux measurement (KoFlux). After the quality control and gap-filling, the observed fluxes were analyzed in the context of micrometeorology and biophysics. $CO_2$ and energy exchanges varied significantly with land cover changes (e.g., plant growth stages), in addition to changes in weather and climate conditions. This study, reporting first direct measurement of energy and $CO_2$ exchange over a rice paddy in Korea, would serve as a useful database as one of the reference sites in AsiaFlux and FLUXNET.

• Journal of Venture Innovation
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.61-72
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• 2023

In December 2020, the Fair Trade Act related to South Korea's separation of industrial capital was amended, and it was announced that the amendments would come into effect one year later, on December 30, 2021. The amendment's content involved breaking the previous principle of separating industrial capital from financial market penetration, allowing for the ownership of shares in general holding companies, small business startup investment companies, and technology business finance specialist companies. While the previous law was based on total issued shares' ownership, there were fluctuations in the subsequent trends of annual establishment and investment counts, as well as strategic investment counts of CVC (Corporate Venture Capital) before and after the law's amendment. CVC and IVC (Independent Venture Capital) are characterized differently based on their investment purposes, fund management types, and investment types. In this regard, the relaxation of the separation of industrial capital law is expected to have a positive impact on the future of the venture investment ecosystem and innovation ecosystem. In this study, we analyze the trends in the establishment count, investment count, and strategic investment count of domestic CVC from 2018, before the law amendment, to May 2023. Using 2021, the year the amended separation of industrial capital law was implemented, as a reference point, we examine changes in the trend. The analysis results indicate a significant increase in domestic CVC in 2021 compared to the previous year, along with an increase in investment counts, strategic investment counts, and the amount of investment in strategic investments. Based on these findings, this study suggests directions for further research related to future domestic CVC investment, strategic investment, and the activation of the venture investment market.

• Proceedings of the Korea Society of Environmental Toocicology Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.27-27
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• 2003

Lake Texoma is located on the border of southern Oklahoma and northern Texas. It has 93,000 surface acres, and is a focus of the recreation, and farming industries in the region. There are potential stressors around the Lake Texoma watershed that may cause adverse ecological effects in the lake. System assimilative capacity (SAC) is the ability of abiotic and biotic processes to atteuniate the stressors. SAC Exceeded indicates potential of occuring adverse eco-effects. A number of representative chemical release sites and stressor sources in the surrounding watershed were characterized, and several impact sites having stressors sources, such as being near agriculture, landfills, housing areas, oil production fields and heavy use recreational activity, were selected for surface water, sediment, and groundwater monitoring. A paired reference site, having similar physical characteristics as its impact site, was also chosen based on its proximity to the impact site. Lake water samples were collected at locations identified as marina entrance, gasoline filling station, and boat dock at five marinas selected on Lake Texoma from September 1999 to December 2001. Paired water and sediment samples were also collected. Groundwater samples were collected at about 70 producing monitoring wells. Water quality parameters measured were inorganics (nitrate, nitrite, orthophosphate, ammonia, sulfate, and chloride), dissolved methane, total organic carbon (TOC) (or DOC), volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) and BTEX, and a suite of metals. Biotic communities were evaluated at impact and reference sites. Five basic components were measured; two terrestirial components (plants and bird comminitires) and three aquatic components (benthic inverbrates, litteral-zone fishes, ecosystem attribures). Potential impacts to these comminites were evaluated.

• Journal of the Korean housing association
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.15-23
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• 2007

It was undeniable that rapid development of scientific technology gave us not only convenience and efficiency but troubles for existence of human due to destruction of ecosystem. Especially, rapid and massive expansion of the city deteriorated those phenomenons. Constructing Ecovillage was important and could be an alternative dwelling model in that it was sustainable so that we could cope with the troubles. But now, meaning and purpose of it was being hazy while thoughtless Ecovillage and notions of it were diffused. This study began to derive planning and evaluation index of Ecovillage on the basis of reference studies and suggestion for the notion and purpose of Ecovillage. This study began to suggest more clear notion of Ecovillage with reference study and derive planning and evaluation index of Ecovillage on the basis of the prior study. After Interviewing research and Field study, the derived index was applied to Ansolgi village and an evaluation for the application was made to suggest a direction and ways to develop and activate Ecovillage. The result of evaluation with the indices showed that Ansolgi village had those declined to visible and easy to make planning factors. Therefore, to activate and sustain Ecovillage in KOREA, even, simultaneous and well linked planning and evaluation indices should be developed. At this moment, since ten years have passed from the beginning of Ecovillage in KOREA, a study reflecting dwellers' evaluation is needed. And it is the most important the dwellers' cognition for the problems and will to resolve them and continuous interest and investment of government and others who are interested in sustainable development.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.537-547
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• 2010

The importance of vegetation in studies of global climate and biogeochemical cycles is well recognized. Especially. the FPAR (fraction of photosynthetically active radiation) is one of the important parameters in ecosystem productivity and carbon budget models. Therefore, accurate estimates of vegetation parameters are increasingly important in environmental impact assessment studies. In this study, optical FPAR using the Terra MODIS (MODerate resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer), SPOT VEGETATION and ECOCLIMAP data reproduced on the Korean peninsula. We applied the empirical method which is usually estimated as a linear or nonlinear function of vegetation indices. As results, we estimated the accurate expression which is 0.9039 of $R^2$ in cropland and 0.7901 of $R^2$ in forest. Finally, this study could be demonstrated to calibrate that produced FPAR while the overall pattern and random noise through the comparative analysis of FPAR on the reference data. Optimal use of input parameter on the Korean peninsula should be helping the accuracy of output as well as the improved quality of research.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.30 no.1B
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• pp.53-60
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• 2010

A wetland is an ecosystem which has high species diversity, rich nutritional substances and high productivity. In this study we used the HGM(Hydrogeomorphic) approach among various evaluation models for the assessment of the Hwapo riverine wetland function. HGM is a method which estimates the functional index of a study wetland by comparing it with a reference wetland. In this study the Woopo wetland which is registered in the Ramsar Convention was selected as a reference wetland to assess the functional index of the Hwapo wetland. As the results, we obtained the functional index values over 0.6 for most indices of the Hwapo riverine wetland. Therefore we found that the Hwapo riverine wetland shows relatively high functional index values comparing with the Woopo wetland and it has valuable hydrological, biochemical, plant habitat, and animal habitat functions.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.181-193
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• 2018

The present study was conducted to analyze the quality of the habitats of Abies koreana WILS. by using the InVEST model based on the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) technique and to evaluate the economic value by estimating the carbon fixation. Abies koreana WILS., an original biological species of South Korea, may be an essential element in establishing the national biological sovereignty in the future. The subjects of the present study were the national parks in Mt. Halla, Mt. Jiri, and Mt. Sobaek, which are the habitats of Abies koreana WILS. As suggested by previous studies as a limitation of the InVEST model, the utilization of the data from relevant international publications as the input data, due to the lack of the domestic input data, may decrease the accuracy of the modeling. Therefore, the AHP technique was applied for the input data. The modeling was performed with reference to the years of 1980, 1990, and 2000 for the scenario analysis. The result of the modeling showed that the habitat quality was changed most in the national park in Mt. Halla, as the habitat quality score was decreased from 0.96 in 1980 to 0.97 in 1990 and 0.94 in 2000. In the national part of Mt. Sobeak, the habitat quality was changed most in the sub-alpine zone, as the habitat quality score was decreased from 0.98 in 1980 and 0.98 in 1990 to 0.97 in 2000. The habitat quality was best conserved in the national part in Mt. Jiri, as the habitat quality score was 0.98 in 1980, 0.99 in 1990, and 0.99 in 2000. The estimated economic loss by the change of the habitat quality was 19,280,000 USD for Mt. Halla and 8,030,000 USD for Mt. Sobeak. In the present study, the habitat quality of the Abies koreana WILS, the original species of South Korea, was evaluated and the economic value of the ecological services provided by the habitats was estimated quantitatively. The result showed that the ecosystem service model may be used to qualitatively analyze the quality of a habitat located in a specific region and to estimate the economic value quantitatively. The objective evaluation of ecosystem services demonstrated in the present study may be applied to promote sustainable utilization of natural resources and conservation of the ecosystem by predicting the changes that may be caused by external factors including the development of preservation areas.