• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.303-320
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• 2019

Plants interact with various biotic and abiotic environmental factors. It requires much information to understand the traits of a plant species. A shortage of information would restrict the assessment, especially in the evaluation of what kind of factors influence a plant species to face extinction. Polygonatum stenophyllum Maxim. is one of the northern plants of which Korea is the southern distribution edge. The Korean Ministry of Environment had designated it to be the endangered species until December 2015. Although it is comparatively widespread, and a large population has recently been reported, it is assessed to be vulnerable due to the low population genetic diversity. This study evaluated the current distribution of Polygonatum stenophyllum Maxim. We investigated the vegetational environment, population structures, phenology, soil environment, and self-incompatibility based on the results. Lastly, we evaluated the current threats observed in the habitats. The habitats tended to be located in the areas where the masses at the edge of the stream accumulated except for those that were located on slopes of some mountainous areas. Most of them showed a stable population structure and had re-established or recruited seedlings. Polygonatum stenophyllum Maxim. had the difference in time when the shoots appeared above the ground depending on the depth of the rhizome located in the underground. In particular, the seedlings and juveniles had their rhizome located shallow in the soil. Visits by pollinator insects and success in pollination were crucial factors for bearing of fruits by Polygonatum stenophyllum Maxim. The threats observed in the habitat of Polygonatum stenophyllum Maxim. included the expansion of cultivated land, construction of new buildings, and construction of river banks and roads. Despite such observed risk factors, it is not likely that there would be rapid population reduction or extinction because of its widespread distribution with the total population of more than 2.7 million individuals and the new populations established by the re-colonization.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.422-439
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• 2019

The rear edge population is considered to have low genetic diversity and high risk of extinction according to a highly isolated distribution. However, the rear edge population is observed to have persisted for an extended period despite the low genetic diversity. As such, it is necessary to understand the ecological process involved in the persistence of the population. Viola mirabilis L. in Korea is considered the rear edge population from the perspective of the worldwide distribution. We surveyed the distribution range of V. mirabilis, which shows the isolated distribution in the central area of Korea, to find out the factors of its persistence. Next, we investigated and accessed the vegetational pattern of habitats, soil environment, phenology, self-compatibility, population structure, and extinction risk factors observed in the distribution area. V. mirabilis was distributed in the understory of the deciduous forest, planted forest of the deciduous conifer and deciduous broad-leaved trees, shrubland, and grassland in the limestone area. We also observed the re-establishment of seedlings in the population, and most of them showed a stable population structure. For chasmogamous flowers, the visit by pollinators has a significantly positive relationship with the production of fruits. However, we found that the production of the cleistogamous flowers was more numerous in all studied populations and that only the cleistogamous flowers were produced despite a more substantial plant size in some populations. The plant size was more related to the production of the cleistogamous flowers than that of the chasmogamous flowers. Accordingly, the cleistogamous flowers significantly contributed to seedling recruitment in the population. We found that the production of the chasmogamous flowers and the cleistogamous flowers did not have a correlation with the factors of the soil analysis except for phosphoric acid. V. mirabilis showed the self-incompatibility characteristics most likely due to the production capability of the cleistogamous flowers. Potential extinction risk factors observed in the distribution area was included the development of limestone mine, the expansion of agricultural fields, and the construction of houses. Although V. mirabilis showed an isolated distribution in the limestone area in the Korean peninsula, it showed a diverse distribution in a wide habitat environment ranging from the grassland to the understory of the trees with relatively low canopy closure rate. Moreover, we concluded that the persistence of the population was possible if we can maintain the current state of multiple populations and stable population structure.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.68-80
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• 2021

This study aimed to provide basic data such as the structure of the Carpinus turczaninowii community and characteristics of the habitat environment for ex situ conservation by analyzing the plant community structure of Carpinus turczaninowii, an island plant resource. For the community structure analysis, this study established 29 plots, sized 100㎡ each, in Seokmo, Yeongjong, Yeongheung, and Daebu islands. TWINSPAN was used for the classification of communities. The classification identified six communities. Group I was the C. turczaninowii-Quercus serrata community, group II was the C. turczaninowii-Pinus densiflora community, group III was the C. turczaninowii-Quercus mongolica community, group IV was the C. turczaninowii-Sorbus alnifolia community, group V was the C. turczaninowii typical community, and group VI was the C. turczaninowii-Quercus variabilis community. The species diversity was 0.90008~1.12868, the dominance was 0.17536~0.25665, and the similarity index was 17.1429~38.2979%. The result of correlation analysis of 7 environmental factors for 6 communities by RDA ordination showed a positive correlation between the crown density and litter layer and a negative correlation between the bare rock, soil hardness, and altitude on the 1st axis. On the 2nd axis, the bare rock and crown density showed a positive correlation, and the slope showed a negative correlation. In the C. turczaninowii-Quercus serrata community (I), the crown density and the litter layer were the environmental factors affecting the vegetation distribution. In the C. turczaninowii-Pinus densiflora (II) and C. turczaninowii-Quercus mongolica (III) communities, the slope was the factor affecting vegetation distribution. In the C. turczaninowii-Sorbus alnifolia (IV), C. turczaninowii typical (V), and C. turczaninowii-Quercus variabilis (VI) communities, the bare rock, altitude, and soil hardness were the factors affecting vegetation distribution.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.41-63
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• 2022

The purpose of this study is to secure objective and precise data through ecosystem monitoring, to reveal ecological characteristics through comparison and analysis with past survey data, and to accumulate basic data for diagnosing the current situation and predicting changes in the ecosystem. The target site is the 'Quercus mongolica forest on the Buksa-myeon of Namsan', which was designated as an Ecological Landscape Conservation Area (ELCA) of Seoul in July 2006. The research contents are analysis of soil environment change (1986~2016), change of actual vegetation (1978~2016), and change of plant community structure (1994~2016). A total of 8 fixed surveys (400~1,200m²) were established in 1994 and 2000. Analysis items are importance value, species and population, and Shannon's species diversity. The soil environment of Namsan is acidic (pH 4.40 in 2016), which is expected to have a negative impact on tree growth and vegetation structure due to its low capacity for exchangeable cations. Quercus mongolica forest in Namsan is mainly distributed on the northern slopes. The actual vegetation area changed from 49.4% in 1978 → 80.7% in 1986 → 82.4% in 2000 → 88.3% in 2005 → 88.3% in 2009 → 70.3% in 2016. In 2016, the forest decreased by 18% compared to 2009. While there was increased growth of Quercus mongolica in the tree layer from 2009 to 2016, the overall decline in vegetation area was due to logging and fumigation management following the spread of oak wilt in 2012. As for the changes in the plant community structure, Quercus mongolica of the tree layer was damaged by oak wilt, and the potential vegetation that can form the next generation was ambiguous. In the subtree layer, the force of urbanization tree species such as Styrax japonicus, Sorbus alnifolia, and Acer palmatum. was maintained or increased. In the shrub layer, the number of trees and species increased significantly due to the open tree crown, and accordingly, the species diversity of Shannon for woody plants also increased. In Quercus mongolica forest of Namsan, various ecological changes are occurring due to the effects of urban environments such as air pollution and acid rain, the limitation of Quercus mongolica pure forest due to oak wilt, and the introduction of exotic species, thus, it is necessary to establish a management plan through continuous monitoring.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.327-337
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• 2022

Ecological restoration is considered a good means to prevent biodiversity loss in terms of the ecosystem's health and sustainability. However, there are difficulties in putting it into practice as there is no comprehensive and objective standard for the selection of plant species, such as environmental, ecological factors, and restoration goal setting. Therefore, this study developed an evaluation index necessary for selecting plant species for restoration using the Delphi method that synthesizes the opinions of the expert group. A survey with 38 questionnaires was conducted twice for experts in ecological restoration, etc., and the importance and priority of evaluation indicators were analyzed by dividing the restoration targets into inland and island regions. The result of the importance analysis showed that "native plants" had the highest average of 4.9 among the evaluation indices in both inland and island regions, followed by "seed security", "propagation", and "root growth rate". In the inland region, the index priority was analyzed in the order of "native plants", "appearance frequency", "root growth rate", "distribution range", and "seed security" in the island region, it was analyzed in the order of "native plants", "root growth rate", "appearance frequency", "distribution range", and "tolerance", showing slight differences between the two indicators. As a result of the importance and priority indicator analysis, we set the mean importance and priority of 4.1 and 2.9, respectively, in the inland region and 4.2 and 2.9, respectively, in the island region. As for the criteria of selecting plant species for ecological restoration, the "native plants" had the highest importance and priority. "Seed securing", 'viability", "topography", "proliferation", "tolerance", "soil conditions", "growth characteristics", "early succession", "distribution range", "appearance frequency", and "germination rate" were classified into subgroups of low importance and priority. The lowest indicators were "final stage of succession", "transition period", 'transition stage", "root", "reproduction", "soil", "appearance", "technology", "landscape", "climate", and "germination rate". We expected that the findings through objective verification in this study would be used as evaluation indicators for selecting native plant species for ecological restoration.

• Ecology and Resilient Infrastructure
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.259-268
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• 2022

In this study, seeds of Festuca ovina var. coreana growing in waste coal landfills exposed to heavy metal contamination for a long time were collected, and growth characteristics and heavy metal accumulation capacity were evaluated through greenhouse cultivation experiments with germinated seedlings, and was conducted for the applicability of phytoremediation technology. Concentration gradients of arsenic-treated artificial soil were 25, 62.5, 125, and 250 mg/kg, respectively, lead concentrations were 200, 500, 1000, and 2000 mg/kg, and cadmium concentrations were 15, 30, 60, and 100 mg/kg, respectively In the arsenic, lead, and cadmium-treated experimental groups, the number of leaves of F. ovina var. coreana decreased in all compared to the control group except for the lead-treated groups (200, 500, and 1000 mg/kg). Length growth of the shoot part was increased in all of the arsenic treatment groups compared to the control group, but decreased in all of the root parts. In the 1000 and 2000 mg/kg lead treatment groups, lengths increased compared to the control group, but in the other treatments, they were shorter than the control group. In the case of the cadmium treatment group, all of the shoot parts were increased compared to the control group, and all of the root parts were decreased. In the case of arsenic treatment, the biomass was decreased at all parts and all concentrations compared to the control group. The 200, 500, and 1000 mg/kg lead treatments showed larger biomass than the control group in both shoot and root parts. In the cadmium treatment group, the biomass of both shoot and root parts decreased compared to the control group. As the concentration of heavy metal treatment increased, both the number of leaves and the biomass by plant parts tended to decrease, and the length growth of the shoot part tended to increase slightly, but the root part tended to decrease slightly. The arsenic accumulation concentrations of the shoot and root parts of the 62.5 mg/kg arsenic treatment area were 9.4 mg/kg and 253.3 mg/kg, respectively. While the shoot part of the 250 mg/kg arsenic treatment area withered away, the arsenic accumulation concentration in the root part was analyzed to be 859.1 mg/kg, In the 2,000 mg/kg lead treatment area, the shoot and root parts accumulated 10,308.1 and 11,012.0 mg/kg, which were 1.1 times higher than the root parts. At 100 mg/kg cadmium treatment, the shoot and root parts were 176.0 and 287.2 mg/kg, and the root part accumulated 1.6 times higher than the shoot part. As a result of tolerance evaluation of F. ovina var. coreana, multi-tolerance to three heavy metals was confirmed by maintaining growth without dying in all treatment groups of arsenic, lead, and cadmium. Plant extraction (phytoextraction) of F. ovina var. coreana was verified as a species that can be applied up to 2,000 mg/kg of soil lead contamination.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.241-252
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• 2013

This study investigated plant community structure of Dongbaekdongsan(Mt.) in Jeju-do to identify character as evergreen broad-leaved forest. 20 plots(size is $20m{\times}20m$) were set up and plant communities were divided into 5 communities of Quercus glauca-Castanopsis cuspidata var. sievoldii-Ilex integra(Camellia japonica), Quercus glauca-Castanopsis cuspidata var. sievoldii-Camellia japonica, Quercus glauca-Camellia japonica, Quercus glauca-Camellia japonica-Pinus thunbergii and Pinus thunbergii-Quercus glauca by using TWINSPAN, DCA ordination, mean importance value and environmental condition. Area of Evergreen broad-leaved forest with stonny ground is covered with Quercus glauca and Castanopsis cuspidata var. sievoldii in canopy layer and Camellia japonica in the subordinate layer. Area of remaining soil's depth is covered with Pinus thunbergii. It has been alleged that Pinus thunbergii planted by human when Dongbaekdongsan(Mt.) is not selected local monuments. All of communities is predicted success to community of Quercus glauca-Camellia japonica. Shannon's diversity ranged from 1.0268 to 1.0717 in area of Evergreen broad-leaved forest and 1.2102 in area of Pinus thunbergii. 10 species of broad-leaved tree's constancy ratio is over the 80%. In future, Castanopsis cuspidata var. sievoldii and Cinnamomum japonicum can cover canopy layer, but it has low importance value. Specially high aged Camellia japonica is appeared everywhere. It has been alleged that it was touched by divinity since past. Dongbaekdongsan(Mt.) has different plant structure with another evergreen broad-leaved forest. It is hard that knowing its successional sere because it was damaged when it isn't degignate local monument. Accordingly continuous monitoring was required, successional direction and community's character is identified after forest become steady.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.219-232
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to find characteristics of $Pinus$ $densiflora$ forests in previous records and cultural landscape regions and to establish a management method for recovery of $P.$ $densiflora$ landscape. A total of 16 landscape paintings were analyzed to study $P.$ $densiflora$ forests in Inwangsan(Mt.) shown in figure data. As a result of analyzing figure data, $P.$ $densiflora$ $forests$ were found to be distributed mainly in the ridge line of east slope side of Inwangsan(Mt.) from landscape paintings of Jung Seon, Jang Si Heung and Gang Hee Un. In order to analyze the landscape of $P.$ $densiflora$ forests shown in photograph data on Inwangsan(Mt.), photographs of Inwangsan(Mt.) since late 1800s were searched and a total of 24 photographs were used for analysis. As a result of photographic analysis, $P.$ $densiflora$ forests were found to be distributed mainly in the low area and ridge line of western slope side of Inwangsan(Mt.). As a result of analyzing the distribution status of 10 cultural heritages of Inwangsan(Mt.), cultural heritages in the mountain were mainly established with rocks and $P.$ $densiflora$ forests as the background and are establishing their landscape not only as a form of cultural heritage but also including the natural landscape in the background. A method of restoring cultural landscape of P. densiflora forests was necessary. As a result of analyzing 26 rock beds of Inwangsan(Mt.), most of $P.$ $densiflora$ forests were distributed nearby rock beds since the past. Among such regions, restoration and management of introduced species in the accumulated soil regions to $P.$ $densiflora$ forests were deemed necessary. As a result of analyzing current vegetation of $P.$ $densiflora$ forest areas of the past, 51.87% of areas maintained $P.$ $densiflora$ forest and 25.80% were changed to artificial forests. Most of low areas of the mountain were turned into urban area (10.16%). Management type for restoration of $P.$ $densiflora$ landscape of Inwangsan(Mt.) was classified into preservation, $P.$ $densiflora$ restoration and maintenance. Preservation management was configured as $P.$ $densiflora$ distribution and rocky area distribution. The targets of $P.$ $densiflora$ restoration were indigenous broad-leaf trees, vegetation areas with introduced species and damaged regions within the mountain. The targets of maintenance were urban area in the low area of Inwangsan(Mt.) and military base at the top of the mountain.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.63-72
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• 2016

The objective of this study was to identify the life form characteristics, naturalized degree and introduction period of naturalized plants on upland fields in South Korea. The survey sites were selected in 222 upland fields over 9 provinces where are relatively dry soil conditions and are disturbed continuously by farming practices. It seemed that these uplands maintain good condition for the invasion and settlement of alien plants. Field surveys were carried out twice from May to June and from August to September in 2013. The vascular plants of the upland fields were listed into 539 taxa which contain 103 families, 320 genera, 448 species, 2 subspecies, 74 varieties and 15 forms. Ninety nine taxa were naturalized plants composed of 23 families, 64 genera, 91 species and 8 varieties. The urbanization index and naturalized index is 30.65% and 18.37%, respectively. Among total 99 naturalized plants, Compositae (30 taxa) was the most dominant family, and followed by Gramineae (14 taxa). On the basis of dormancy form, 78 taxa were belong to Th (Therophyte). In radicoid form, $R_5$ plants (86 taxa) and $R_3$ plants (14 taxa) were dominantly distributed. In disseminule form, $D_4$ including 63 taxa and $D_2$ containing 26 taxa were dominant. On the basis of growth form, erect form (e) containing 26 taxa was dominant. In conclusion, life form spectrum was $Th-R_5-D_4-e$ type. According to life form analysis, naturalized degree and introduction period, alien plants with unique characteristics may have high ability to settle and spread nationwide after inflow into South Korea. It needs further to observe some plant species with or without ecological features such as widely disseminated seeds by wind or water, high seed productivity, long life-span seeds, high germination rate of seeds, or non-dormant germinable seed.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.513-527
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• 2011

There have been studies about conceptual ecology making a profound study of conceptual changes in learners' cognitive structure. Because learners' cognitive structure have been compared to ecology, it is natural to think that conception in learner's cognitive structure have a niche as species in ecology have niches. Therefore, it is necessary to study niche approach about conception that learners recognize in their cognitive structure. The purposes of this study were to identify relationships among conceptions that 5th grade elementary school students recognize about photosynthesis and to identify how these relationships among conceptions about photosynthesis change before and after a class of photosynthesis in curriculum in terms of an approach of ecological niche which are composed of 3 domains - diversity of conceptions, relevance and frequency rate of conceptions, and competition among conceptions. Open ended questionnaire was developed by 4 fields: photosynthetic place, photosynthetic products, photosynthetic materials needed and environment factors of photosynthesis. The subjects sampled in this study were 310 5th grade elementary students in 5 cites. Before and after classes in photosynthesis in science curriculum, students were asked to write down conceptions that they knew about the 4 fields of photosynthesis of questionnaire and to write down scales of relevance from 1 to 30 about how they think the conceptions are related to the field of photosynthesis. The results of this study showed the following: First, most students have had a variety of conceptions and commonly recognized 'light' and 'water' as concepts in photosynthesis. Second, students still recognized their preconceptions like 'soil' and 'root,' etc. that were far from scientific conceptions of photosynthesis although they took classes in photosynthesis. Third, students needed to take the various strategies of teachers because they did not recognized scientific conceptions appropriately about photosynthetic fields. Fourth, it appeared that photosynthetic conceptions recognized by students had status in terms of relevance and frequency rate of conceptions, and competition among conceptions, and that they looked like the niche of conceptions in their conceptual ecologies.