• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• 제41권8호
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• pp.223-234
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• 2017

Background: Spatial structure of plants in a population reflects complex interactions of ecological and evolutionary processes. For dioecious plants, differences in reproduction cost between sexes and sizes might affect their spatial distribution. Abiotic heterogeneity may also affect adaptation activities, and result in a unique spatial structure of the population. Thus, we examined sex- and size-related spatial distributions of old-growth forest of dioecious tree Torreya nucifera in extremely heterogeneous Gotjawal terrain of Jeju Island, South Korea. Methods: We generated a database of location, sex, and size (DBH) of T. nucifera trees for each quadrat ($160{\times}300m$) in each of the three sites previously defined (quadrat A, B, C in Site I, II, and III, respectively). T. nucifera trees were categorized into eight groups based on sex (males vs. females), size (small vs. large trees), and sex by size (small vs. large males, and small vs. large females) for spatial point pattern analysis. Univariate and bivariate spatial analyses were conducted. Results: Univariate spatial analysis showed that spatial patterns of T. nucifera trees differed among the three quadrats. In quadrat A, individual trees showed random distribution at all scales regardless of sex and size groups. When assessing univariate patterns for sex by size groups in quadrat B, small males and small females were distributed randomly at all scales whereas large males and large females were clumped. All groups in quadrat C were clustered at short distances but the pattern changed as distance was increased. Bivariate spatial analyses testing the association between sex and size groups showed that spatial segregation occurred only in quadrat C. Males and females were spatially independent at all scales. However, after controlling for size, males and females were spatially separated. Conclusions: Diverse spatial patterns of T. nucifera trees across the three sites within the Torreya Forest imply that adaptive explanations are not sufficient for understanding spatial structure in this old-growth forest. If so, the role of Gotjawal terrain in terms of creating extremely diverse microhabitats and subsequently stochastic processes of survival and mortality of trees, both of which ultimately determine spatial patterns, needs to be further examined.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• 제43권3호
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• pp.320-331
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• 2019

Background: Dioecious plant species having both male and female plants have been investigated regarding sex-related characteristics such as sex ratio, sex-differential resource requirements, and spatial segregation of the sexes. Habitat loss and fragmentation are major threats to the survival of plant populations, but dioecious species are particularly more prone to such habitat degradation than non-dioecious species because of their dimorphic sexual system. We examined the sex-related demographics of two Ilex cornuta populations being different regarding land use history. Methods: During 2016-2017, we examined I. cornuta trees with a basal diameter ${\geq}1.5cm$ in the Yongsu-ri population (YS population) and the Gotjawal Provincial Park population (GP population). Plant sex (male, female, or unsexed) was identified. The tree size (basal diameter and height of the main stem), clonal production (the ramet numbers per genet), and vitality for each clone were measured. The associations between population, sex, tree size, clonal production, and vitality were examined using ANOVAs and contingency table analyses. Finally, point pattern analyses using O-ring statistics were conducted to assess spatial patterns. Results: Upon excluding unsexed trees, the YS population with 74 trees was significantly male-biased (0.66), while the GP population with only 26 trees had a 1:1 sex ratio. In both populations, males and females did not differ in tree size. Although the mean number of ramets differed significantly between populations, females tended to produce more ramets than males. The proportion of weak trees was significantly higher in the YS than in the GP population. Neither population showed evidence of spatial segregation of the sexes. Conclusions: The two populations of dioecious I. cornuta are characterized by the small number of trees and relatively high frequencies of non-reproductive trees. Both indicate that these populations are quite susceptible to environmental and genetic stochasticity. On the other hand, the differences between populations in sex ratio, clonal production, and vitality suggest that conservation efforts for I. cornuta need to be population-specific. In order to help recover and enable this vulnerable species to persist, it is necessary to find ways to enhance their sexual reproduction and simultaneously reduce habitat disturbances due to anthropogenic activities.

• 한국지역지리학회지
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• 제3권1호
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• pp.35-50
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• 1997

경기지역의 성별 연령구조의 공간적 분포양상은 서울과 인접한 서울주변지역과 경수축, 경인축, 경춘축, 고양-파주축, 의정부-동두천축, 하남 방향 등 각종 교통노선에 의해 서울과의 접근성이 양호한 지역에 상대적으로 젊은 연령층이 다수 거주하고 있음이 확인된다. 이들 지역은 기동성이 큰 젊은 연령층이 거주교외 화를 주도하여 집중적으로 살고 있는 거주교외지역과 중복된다. 이 지역에서는 교통체계가 개선되어 대중교통 및 자가용에 의해 기동성이 크게 증가되었고, 주택신도시 건설 등 정책적 변수가 작용하여 인구유입이 가속화되고 있으며, 경기지역으로의 공장이전, 본사 및 지사설립, 연구단지조성 등으로 취업기회가 확대되고 있을 뿐만 아니라, 서울주변지역의 쾌적성과 발전성이 예견되고 있기 때문에 사람들이 주거지를 선택하고 있다고 판단된다. 그리고 서울에서 멀어질수록 농촌적 기능이 많을수록 상대적으로 노년층의 연령구조물 보여준다. 경기지역의 성별 연령구조의 공간적 분포에서는 여성의 연령구조가 남성에 비해 현저하게 노령화구조률 나타내고 있음이 확인된다. 이것은 남성 연령구조지수의 평균치가 1592인데 비해 여성연령구조지수가 1386로 집계되어 상대적으로 노령화되어 있는 점에서도 드러난다.

• 대한소아치과학회지
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• 제51권1호
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• pp.40-54
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• 2024

This study aims to identify the regional distribution in the prevalence of dental caries and related multidimensional factors among 12-year-old children in Korea. Data from the 2018 Child Oral Health Survey were used to calculate the average DMFT index of 12-year-old children in metropolitan cities, and a multi-level regression model was applied to explain the regional distribution of dental caries prevalence and related factors. Factors were divided into two levels by administrative structure. This study finds a significant regional difference in the prevalence of dental caries in 12-year-old Korean children across metropolitan cities. Multilevel analysis showed that district-level factors (average number of pit and fissure-sealed permanent teeth, dental treatment demand rate, preventive treatment rate, sex ratio, and number of dentists per 100,000 people) and metropolitan-level factors (intakes of cariogenic beverages and number of pediatric dental hospitals and clinics per 100,000 people) had a significant effect on dental caries prevalence (p < 0.05). Individual characteristics and local socio-environmental factors influence the prevalence of dental caries. Especially considering the strong dependence on preventive treatment and accessibility to dental care services, it is necessary to provide adequate preventive treatment and expand health care resources in high-risk areas of dental caries.