• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.41 no.4
• /
• pp.499-511
• /
• 2008

The major focus of this study is to evaluate a newly developed stream naturalness index system 'Habitat-riparian Indexing System (HIS).' There have been many studies that have assessed stream naturalness in order to provide information required for restoration. The results of these studies were enough for the purpose of the studies; however, the methodologies were limited especially with respect to rapid measurement and the representation of ecological habitats. Therefore, we derived crucial variables from a popularly utilized method and merged them with other criteria obtained from overseas approaches, resulting in the development of the HIS method. The stability of HIS was evaluated by comparing the results with the Stream Naturalness Index (SNI) of Cho (1997). We monitored 100 stream sites in the Nakdong River system using the two different methods for two sampling periods (spring and autumn), and the results were compared using statistical analyses. The determination coefficients between the index values from two methods were c.a. 0.6 for both seasons, and statistics revealed that HIS had a relatively higher stability, providing index values for stream environments. The results of this work suggest a possibility of the utility of HIS for other stream habitats.

• Ecology and Resilient Infrastructure
• /
• v.5 no.3
• /
• pp.145-155
• /
• 2018

In a monsoonal climate, the soil seed bank can play an important role in plant regeneration after the severe annual floods that disturb above-ground vegetation within the riparian zone. To investigate the relationship between the soil seed bank and vegetation, we measured the species composition of the soil seed bank and the extant above-ground vegetation in six major plant communities (Artemisia selengensis, Miscanthus sacchariflorus, Persicaria nodosa, Phalaris arundinacea, Phragmites japonica, and Rorippa palustris) in the Cheongmicheon Stream, Korea. A total of 21 species germinated from the floodplain soil seed banks. The most diverse seed bank (21 species) was found in the A. selengensis community, wheres the lowest number of species was found in the R. palustris community (2 species). Most soil seed banks were composed of annuals (90%), exceptions being Rumex crispus and Artemisia princeps, which are perennial ruderals. The similarity of species composition between the soil seed bank and above-ground vegetation was low with Sorensen's similarity indices averaging 29% (range 12 - 42%). Crucially, existing dominant perennials of the extant vegetation including A. selengensis, M. sacchariflorus, P. japonica and P. arundinacea were absent from the soil seed bank. In conclusion, the soil seed banks of the floodplains of the Cheongmicheon Stream were mainly composed of viable seeds of ruderal plants, which could germinate rapidly after severe flood disturbance. The soil seed bank may, therefore, be useful for the restoration of the early succession stages of riparian vegetation after flood disturbances.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
• /
• v.25 no.12
• /
• pp.1689-1699
• /
• 2016

The growth conditions of planted trees, invasion of nuisance herbaceous species, competition between species, and effects of erosion control were monitored over five years in a riparian greenspace in Gapyeong County that was established through multilayered and grouped ecological planting. Of 156 trees planted in the upper and middle layers, 5.8% died. This tree death was attributed to poor drainage or aeration in the rooting zone from the clay-added root ball and too deep planting as well as a small-sized root ball and scanty fine roots. Of all the trees, 21.6% grew poorly due to transplant stress in the first year after planting, but they started to grow vigorously in the third year. This good growth was largely associated with soil improvement before planting, selection of appropriate tree species based on growth ground, and control of dryness and invasive climbing plants through surface mulching and multilayered/grouped planting. Mixed planting of fast-growing species as temporary trees was desirable for accelerating planting effect and increasing planting density. Thinning of fast-growing trees was required in the fifth year after planting to avoid considerable competition with target species. To reduce the invasion of herbaceous and climbing plants that oppress normal growth of planted trees, higher density planting of trees (crown opening of about 15%), woodchip mulching to a 10-cm depth, and edge planting 2 m wide were more effective than lower density planting (crown opening of 70%), no surface mulching, and no edge planting, respectively. This reduction effect was especially great during the first three years after planting. Nuisance herbaceous plants rarely invaded higher density planting with woodchip mulching over the five years. Higher density planting or woodchip mulching also showed much greater erosion control through rainfall interception and buffering than lower density planting with no mulching did. Based on these results, desirable planting and management strategies are suggested to improve the functions of riparian greenspaces.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
• /
• v.36 no.1
• /
• pp.36-47
• /
• 2020

Three large scale weirs were constructed 2010 - 2011 in the Namhan river, Korea. The purpose of this study was to investigate the spatial distribution of benthic macroinvertebrates and the influence of environmental factors at the weirs 2014 - 2015. The number of species was higher in the riparian zone than in the transition or the limnetic zone. This seems to be because of the diversification of microhabitats and food sources according to the development of littoral zones. From the riparian zone to the limnetic zone, the individual abundance proportion of gathering collectors among functional feeding groups decreased, and that of filtering collectors increased. In the limnetic zone, sprawlers and climbers among habitat orientation groups decreased, and burrowers increased. This means that coarse particulate organic matter originated from land or riparian zone was transformed to fine particulate organic matter in the limnetic zone. Asian clam (Corbicula fluminea) and chironomids were dominant species based on individual abundance. Asian clam, a major taxon considering biomass, was abundant toward the limnetic zone. This is becasue of the shallow depth, suitable water current, slightly coarse substrate, and good water quality. There was no significant relationship between the water quality and the characteristics of the benthic macroinvertebrate community because the water quality was spatially not heterogenous. The more influential factors for benthic community were physical factors, especially water depth. Water depth showed a markedly significant correlation with Shannon-Weaver's species diversity (r=-0.90), Margalef's species richness (r=-0.82), and McNaughton's dominance (r=0.86). Water depth showed a positive correlation (r=0.68) with the Kong and Kim BMSI (Bentic Macroinverebrates Streambed Index), and this may be related to the coarse substrate of the limnetic zone.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
• /
• v.18 no.3
• /
• pp.218-225
• /
• 2016

Various strategies and management plans have been established in order to conserve water quality as well as ecosystem, prevent deterioration of scenic area, and more importantly, retain drinking water securely. However, due to the introduction of numerous small-scale development projects on the waterside area outside protection area of source water and reparian area, river water quality and landscape are severely deteriorated. In this study, We analyzed the expected environmental impacts on the ecosystem, topograph, geology, landscape, water quality according to development type, and assigned different environmental points to each development type depend on environmental impacts, which is able to divide small-scale development project into three categories such as projects with rigorous review, projects with general review and projects with simple review. Finally, we suggested the appraisal basement is to avoid or minimize the expected environment impacts of the small-scale development projects in riparian areas so that make them sustainable development by reasonable restriction.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.42 no.4
• /
• pp.502-509
• /
• 2009

In this study a total of 27 stream sites, at 1 km intervals, were monitored for simple physicochemical water characteristics, land coverage patterns, and stream environment characteristics using the Habitat-riparian Indexing System (HIS), in the Yangsan Stream. The HIS has been tested in previous research, resulting in some identification of advantages in the application to the stream ecosystems data. Even though reliable stream environment characterization was possible using HIS, there was no information about the application of this tool to present continuity of environmental changes in stream systems. Also the necessity was raised to compare the results of HIS application with land coverage information in order to provide useful information in management strategy development. The monitoring results of this study showed that changes of environmental degradation were well represented by HIS. Especially, stream environment degradation due to construction was relatively well reflected in the HIS monitoring results, and the main causality of Yangsan Stream degradation was expansion of the urbanized area. In addition, there were significant relationships between the HIS scores and land coverage information. Therefore, it is necessary to prepare appropriate options in controlling or managing the expansion of the industrialized areas in this stream basin in order to improve the stream environment. For this purpose, ensemble utilization of HIS results, water quality, and geographical information, resulting in integration with remote sensing processes can be possible.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
• /
• v.32 no.5
• /
• pp.475-491
• /
• 2016

The Changwon and Nam streams that run through the Changwon city were evaluated based on longitudinal and horizontal configurations and vegetation state in order to prepare a restoration plan. Riparian vegetation of the Changwon and Nam streams are normally dominated by herbaceous plants. However, the woody plants, Salix pseudolasiogyne, Rubus parvifolius, Salix koreensis, Robinia pseudoacacia, and Amorpha fruticosa have appeared. Planting to introduce various types of plants for landscape architecture has also been observed. Evaluation of naturalness based on the vegetation state of both Changwon and Nam streams showed very low naturalness of degree 1 or 2, with the exception of a few reaches of the upstream sector. In these few reaches of the upstream sector, Salix koreensis and Salix chaenomeloides showed heights at the subtree level, however, they were located at the position of shrubland close to the waterway. These reaches were, therefore, evaluated as degree 3 rather than degree 4 in naturalness. The result of diagnostic evaluation classified by reach indicated the requirement for active restoration, such as transformation of the channelized stream into a meandering one and a step-type cross section into a pool-type one, introduction of vegetation suitable to the region and site, and creation of an ecological network between the stream and the surrounding terrestrial ecosystems.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
• /
• v.34 no.5
• /
• pp.447-461
• /
• 2018

To realize river restoration that ecological characteristics of the river are reflected, we classified the river into four reaches of valley stream, upstream, midstream, and downstream based on substrate as well as riverbed gradient obtained from the relationship between distance from the river mouth, and above sea level. Considering that the rivers of Korea have been dominated by various and intense artificial interferences over a lengthy period, we determined cross sectional range of the river based on the geological map and clarified transformation degree by reach. Vegetation profile diagram was prepared by depicting horizontal range and vertical stratification of major vegetation appearing in a belt transect of 10 m breadth installed between weirs constructed in both sides of the river. Restoration models by river reach were prepared based on breadth of waterway, bare ground, herb, shrub, and tree dominated vegetation zones on vegetation profiles wherein a flooding regime was reflected. Species composition information collected from vegetation established in each zone was systematized to use for restoring each reach ecologically. Further, background that longitudinal reaches and horizontal zones were divided, was discussed by comparing with case studies in foreign countries. In addition, necessity of ecological restoration of the river was discussed based on degree of integrity of Korean rivers, ecological significance of riparian vegetation, and importance of reference information for ecological restoration of the river.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
• /
• v.32 no.2
• /
• pp.135-141
• /
• 2016

This study investigated changes of hydrology, soil characteristics, riparian vegetation communities, and geomorphology in sandbars before and after sand-mining to determine the effect of sand-mining at upstream of Guemgang and Bochungcheon streams in Korea. Sand-mining events affected the mining area. They supplied organic matters and nutrients during flood. Sediment deposition caused soil texture change and expansion of vegetation area. However, riverbeds were stabilized after the disturbance. According to the analyses of aerial photographs, the vegetation area was significantly expanded in both dam-regulated streams and dam-unregulated streams after sand-mining. Willow shrubs advanced in disturbed area at an average of 10 years after sand-mining. It took willows trees 10.6 years to become dominant communities. Therefore, it took a total of 20.6 years for new riparian forest to form in sandbar after sand-mining. Our results confirmed that stream flow condition were dependent on vegetation recruitment in dam-regulated streams and dam-unregulated streams. For willow recruitment in unregulated streams, calculation of water level below dimensionless bed shear stress is important because low water level variation is a limiting factor of vegetation recruitment.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
• /
• v.40 no.2
• /
• pp.67-78
• /
• 2024

The introduction of a significant amount of phosphorous into aquatic environments can lead to eutrophication, which can in turn result in algal blooms. For the effective management of watersheds and the prevention of water quality problems related to nonpoint organic matter (OM) sources, it is essential to pinpoint the predominant OM sources. Several potential OM sources were sampled from upper agricultural watersheds, such as fallen leaves, riparian reeds, riparian plants, paddy soil, field soil, riparian soil, cow manure, and swine manure. Stream samples were collected during two storm events, and the concentrations of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and phosphorous (DOP) from these OM sources and stream samples were assessed. DOM indicators using fluorescence spectroscopy, including HIX, FI, BIX, and EEM-PARAFAC, were evaluated in terms of their relevance in discerning DOM sources during storm events. Representative DOM descriptors were chosen based on specific criteria, such as value ranges and pronounced differences between low and high-flow periods. Consequently, the spectral slope ratio (S_R) paired with fluorescence index (FI) using end-member mixing analysis (EMMA) proved to be suitable for estimating the contribution of organic carbon (OC). The contribution of each organic phosphorous (OP) in stream samples was determined using the phosphorous-to-carbon (P/C) ratio in conjunction with the OC contribution. Notably, OP derived from swine manure in stream samples was found to make the most dominant contribution, ranging from 61.3% to 94.2% (average 78.1% ± 12.7%). The results of this research offer valuable insights into the selection of suitable indicators to recognize various OM sources and highlight the main sources of OP in forested-agricultural watersheds.