• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.138-147
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• 2022

Paddy fields are important habitats for maintaining the biodiversity of agricultural ecosystems. Recently, as the need for safe food and biodiversity conservation has increased, the rice cultivation methods have undergone changes. This study was conducted to investigate the fish fauna in Environmentally Friendly Paddy fields (EFP) and Conventional Paddy fields (CP), and compare the characteristics of Misgurnus anguillicaudatus and Aphyocypris chinensis populations in EFP and CP. A total of 2,703 fish were collected and classified into six families and 13 species. Our results showed that there was a difference in the proportion of fish populations in the two paddy fields, and the number of individuals in EFP was higher than in CP. The weight values of M. anguillicaudatus were higher in EFP than in CP, and the total length, body length, and weight values of A. chinensis were higher in EFP than in CP. Conditional factor(K) values also showed similar trends in EFP and CP. Our results indicate that the farming practices in paddy fields have a significant effect on the characteristics of M. anguillicaudatus and A. chinensis populations, and the results of this study can be used as basic data for securing biodiversity in future agricultural ecosystems.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.137-148
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• 2024

The purpose of this study is to investigate the weather, soil characteristics, and location environment of Pimpinella brachycarpa natural habitats in order to gather the essential information for the conservation of these habitats. P. brachycarpa are distributed throughout Korea and are mainly found to grow in shady and humid areas between 500 and 1,200 m above sea level. The average annual temperature in Mt. Duta was 13.1℃, and the average annual precipitation in Mt. Jungwon was 1,509 mm, which was higher than in other regions. The pH ranged from 4.42 to 4.97, indicating slight acidity. The total N content ranged from 0.18% to 0.68%, and the available P ranged from 13.43 to 531.56 mg/kg, demonstrating notable regional variations. The species diversity index (H') was highest at Mt. Ilwol, measuring 1.713. The evenness (J') ranged from 0.983 to 0.993, and the dominance (D') ranged from 0.007 to 0.017. The similarity index was very low, averaging 24.86%, and it was divided into communities of Wilson's elm (Ulmus davidiana var. japonica) and communities of Korean maple (Acer pseudo-siebodianum).

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.350-359
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• 2007

The egg development and morphological change of larvae and juveniles of the starry flounder, Platichthys stellatus were observed in laboratory. Fertilized eggs of the species, 1.09~1.19 mm (mean $1.13{\pm}0.03mm$, n=50) in diameter, were floating, colorless, transparent in shape and lacked in oil globules. The eggs hatched out 121 hours after fertilization at water temperature $8.2{\sim}11.2^{\circ}C$. The size of the hatched larvae were 2.58~2.89 mm (mean $2.67{\pm}0.09mm$) in total length, their mouth and anus were not open yet and myotome number was 14+27=41. Melanophore and xanthophore appeared on the notochord and digestive organ and the margin of membrane fin, on the yolk sac and eyes were lacking in pigment cells. 5 days after hatching the larvae attained 4.30~4.97 mm (mean$4.74{\pm}0.21mm$) in TL, and their mouth and anus were open. 10 days after hatching the larvae transformed to postlarval stage and they were 4.67~5.75 mm in TL (mean $5.30{\pm}0.31mm$), and absorbing the yolk completely. Feeding activity increased as the mouth became larger. At 23 days, the larvae attained 6.69~8.82 mm in TL (mean $7.85{\pm}0.75mm$), and the right eye was started moving to the left side of the head. At 52 days, the juveniles attained 10.99~17.06 mm in TL (mean $13.50{\pm}1.67mm$). The right eye was moved completely onto the left side. All of the fins had completed set of the fin rays (D. 64~67: A. 45~51: P. 11: V. 6: C. 19).

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.16-24
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• 2015

This study quantified storage and annual uptake of carbon for riparian greenspaces established in watersheds of four major rivers in South Korea and explored desirable strategies to improve carbon reduction effects of riparian greenspaces. Greenspace structure and planting technique in the 40 study sites sampled were represented by single-layered planting of small trees in low density, with stem diameter at breast height of $6.9{\pm}0.2cm$ and planting density of $10.4{\pm}0.8trees/100m^2$ on average. Storage and annual uptake of carbon per unit area by planted trees averaged $8.2{\pm}0.5t/ha$ and $1.7{\pm}0.1t/ha/yr$, respectively, increasing as planting density got higher. Mean organic matter and carbon storage in soils were $1.4{\pm}0.1%$ and $26.4{\pm}1.5t/ha$, respectively. Planted trees and soils per ha stored the amount of carbon emitted from gasoline consumption of about 61 kL, and the trees per ha annually offset carbon emissions from gasoline use of about 3 kL. These carbon reduction effects are associated with tree growth over five years to fewer than 10 years after planting, and predicted to become much greater as the planted trees grow. This study simulated changes in annual carbon uptake by tree growth over future 30 years for typical planting models selected as different from the planting technique in the study sites. The simulation revealed that cumulative annual carbon uptake for a multilayered and grouped ecological planting model with both larger tree size and higher planting density was approximately 1.9 times greater 10 years after planting and 1.5 times greater 30 years after than that in the study sites. Strategies to improve carbon reduction effects of riparian greenspaces suggest multilayered and grouped planting mixed with relatively large trees, middle/high density planting of native species mixed with fast-growing trees, and securing the soil environment favorable for normal growth of planting tree species. The research findings are expected to be useful as practical guidelines to improve the role of a carbon uptake source, in addition to water quality conservation and wildlife inhabitation, in implementing riparian greenspace projects under the beginning stage.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.183-201
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• 2018

The tolerance of Korean benthic macroinvertebrates to organic pollution has been analyzed since the early 1990s. However, considering the fact that there have been related studies carried out in some European countries since the early 20th century, the history of the research in Korea is very short and there is still much knowledge to supplement. We revised the saprobic valency, the saprobic value and the indicator weight value of 190 benthic macroinvertebrates taxa through the data of water quality and individual abundance collected from 7,086 sampling units in Korea from 2008 to 2014. The individual abundance of Uracanthella (Ephemeroptera) as a representative, one of the most common and abundant taxa in Korea, showed a typical lognormal distribution to 5-day biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5) concentration, and a normal distribution to the class interval of BOD5 concentration according to saprobic series. The value combining the mean individual abundance and the relative frequency of occurrence was a more efficient indicator value than that of each property alone. Benthic Macroinertebrates Index (BMI) was newly proposed as a modification of the saprobic index of Zelinka and Marvan (1961). BMI showed extremely significant correlation (determination coefficient $r^2$ > 0.6, n = 569 sites) with the concentration of BOD5, and the coefficient was a little higher than those of the previous indices. Until now, there has been very little research on the assessment of biological integrity of benthic macroinvertebrates community in Korea. While continuing researches into improve the reliability of BMI, it is necessary to develop multimetric indices for evaluating the integrity, including the composition of species and functional guilds, and the richness and diversity of the community.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.334-344
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• 2020

A total of 24 families, 44 species, and 658 benthic macroinvertebrates were identified, and Ecdyonurus dracon Kluge (13%) was the dominant species in forested streams within the Yeonyeopsan (Mt.). A total of four habit categories (i.e., clingers (56%), burrowers (19%), swimmers (14%), and sprawlers (56%)) were identified, and clingers were the dominant habit at all survey points except point one (UP1). Habitat characteristics were depended on the hydraulic factors (e.g., flow velocity, depth, and substrates), water quality (e.g., DO and water temperature), and the habitat characteristics were differed in the riffle, which has a faster the flow velocity, compared by in the stagnant pool. In other words, in riffles, the clingers dominated in high flow velocity with the large maximum and median grain size for substrates in the habitats regardless of depth, but the burrowers and sprawlers were dominant in low flow velocity with the small maximum and median grain size for substrates in the habitats. Moreover, DO and flow velocity were in positive correlation (y = 0.6666x - 0.659, R² = 0.0851), and the habitat for burrowers was wider than that for sprawlers or clingers. The water depth was negatively correlated with water temperature (y = -26.397x + 283.87, R² = 0.1802) since the water temperature is more sensitive to insolation in shallow depth. pH was positively correlated with water temperature. The investigation of the habitat characteristics by separating the relations between pH and DO in upstream and downstream showed the low pH and high DO in the upstream with a high crown density of 68%, regardless of community composition. On the other hand, high pH and low DO in the downstream with a relatively low crown density of 51%. It was considered that the riparian forest played a role in suppressing the growth of attached algae and the controlling water temperature in headwater streams. Our findings identified the habitat characteristics of benthic macroinvertebrates in a headwater stream. We expected that the finding can provide reference data for suggesting conservation and management plans in a headwater stream and increasing academic value.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.210-218
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• 2012

This study was carried out to analyze the vegetation properties, soil characteristics and ordination of Bletilla striata population in South Korea. The $Bletilla$ $striata$ population was classified into $Juniperus$ $rigida$ dominant population, $Rhododendron$ $yedoense$ var. $poukhanense$ dominant population, $Rhus$ $javanica$ dominant population, $Bletilla$ $striata$ typical population. $Bletilla$ $striata$ were mainly distributed along the coast of south-western regions of the Korean penninsula and it's population was located at an elevation of 4m to 40m. In the study sites, soil organic matter, total nitrogen, available phosphate, exchangeable potassium, exchangeable calcium, exchangeable magnesium, cation exchange capacity and soil pH were 2.38-6.70%, 0.09-0.27%, 1.81-6.85mg/kg, 1.08-1.72$cmol^+/kg$, 3.56-7.71$cmol^+/kg$, 1.52-3.21$cmol^+/kg$, 5.28-16.95$cmol^+/kg$ and 4.60-6.01 respectively. $Rhododendron$ $yedoense$ var. $poukhanense$ dominant population was found in the steep sloped area that has high percentage of organic matter, total nitrogen, cation exchange capacity and pH than other populations. $Rhus$ $javanica$ dominant population was found in the gentle sloped area that has less percentage of organic matter, total nitrogen, cation exchange capacity and pH. $Juniperus$ $rigida$ dominant population and $Bletilla$ $striata$ typical population were found in the medium sloped area that has medium percentage of organic matter, total nitrogen, cation exchange capacity and pH. Current status of $Bletilla$ $striata$ habitats is very vulnerable with local development constantly threatening the species' survival. Thus, concrete conservation plans to protect natural habitats should be set up as soon as possible.

• Journal of Environmental Policy
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.31-55
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• 2005

Dangsan forests and Rural Community Forests(RCF) have been historical assets for the rural communities of more than 40,000 in Korea and they have provided an identity through the cultural heritage. The Dangsan forests and the RCF are parts of a unique cultural landscape in the rural areas as components of stream landscape. In many cases, the Dangsan forests and the RCF are located close to stream corridors. The objective of this study was to understand the function of the Dangsan forests and the RCF on stream water quality and to evaluate its ecological landscape values. Through the consideration of international concensus and domestic government policy for close-to-nature stream, we could find out that Dangsan forests and RCF's have close relationship with the close-to-nature streams. The water quality of the streams close to the Dangsan forests and the RCF are maintained with local culture. It is also compared to the streams located where Dangsan forests and the RCF are absent. Eight study sites were selected. Water samples were collected at three different locations at each study site. Water samples were analyzed for temperature, pH, total P, total N, dissolved oxygen, EC, BOD, COD and SS. Aquatic invertebrates were observed as water quality indicator species. The results showed that the number of aquatic invertebrate species, GPI, DO, EC, BOD, and SS were significantly improved in stream water due to the presence of the Dangsan forests and the RCF. The role of Dangsan forests and the RCF was evident in the conservation of stream landscape and rural culture as well as in maintaining stream water quality. The management schemes of the streams with Dangsan forests and the RCF's are also suggested.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.107-118
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• 2004

The flora of the vascular hydrophytes and hygrophytes and the change of flora according to the fluctuation of the water level before and after flooding were investigated from September 2002 to October 2003 in Woopo Wetland and Topyeong Stream, Changnyeong-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do, Korea. The flora of the Woopo, Mokpo, Sajipo, Jokjibyeol, Topyeongcheon Upstream, and Topyeongcheon Downstream were composed of 256, 242, 265, 177, 201, and 180 taxa, respectively. The flora of total study area was 86 families, 232 genera, 302 species, 42 varieties, 6 form, or total 350 taxa. Among them, hydrophytes, hygrophytes, and others were 36, 96, and 218 taxa, respectively. The life form of the vascular hydrophytes was classified as 19 taxa of emergent plants, 6 taxa of floating-leaved plants, 4 taxa of free-floating plants, and 7 taxa of submersed plants. The specified wild plants designated by the Korean Association for Conservation of Nature, Ministry of Forest, and Ministry of Environment were Euryale ferox, Hydrocharis dubia, Persicaria amphibia, Acorus calamus var. angustatus. And Aristolochia contorta was distributed in the study area. The floras of the naturalized plants of the Woopo, Mokpo, Sajipo, Jokjibyeol, Topyeongcheon Upstream, and Topyeongcheon Downstream were composed of 27, 25, 35, 21, 26 and 24 taxa, respectively. The flora of the naturalized plants of total study area was 43 taxa, this equalled 12.3% of total vascular plants in the study area. And 165~244 taxa were surveyed in the each study area before flooding, total 299 taxa, and 86~212 taxa after flooding, total 299 taxa. Among them, hydrophytes, hygrophytes, and others were 33 and 29, 93 and 83, 183 and 187 taxa before and after flooding, respectively. Before and after flooding, the species number of emergent plants, floating-leaved plants, free-floating plants, and submersed plants was nearly the same. It was guessed that vascular hydrophytes and hygrophytes adapted to fluctuation of the water level in the study area.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.103-123
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• 2016

This study is a comparison of the flora and case studies distributed in Gulup-do Ongjingun, Incheon. The numbers of vascular plants were summarized as 282 taxa including 81 families, 201 genera, 252 species, 3 subspecies, 22 varieties and 5 forms. The Raunkiaer life forms are analyzed in hemicryptophytes were 66 taxa (23.4%) in dormancy form, non-clonal growth ($R_5$) were 160 taxa (56.7%) in propagation form of radicoid form, having no special modification for dissemination ($D_4$) were 197 taxa (48.6%) in propagation form of disseminule form, erect form (e) were 117 taxa (41.5%) in growth form. The halophytes were 23 taxa including Salsola collina, Asparagus oligoclonos and so on. The rare plants were 7 taxa including Pyrrosia hastata (VU), Senecio nemorensis (VU) and so on. The Korean endemic plants were 5 taxa including Hepatica insularis, Lespedeza maritima and so on. In the specific plants by floristic region were 38 taxa, a degree I were 23 taxa (Dictamnus dasycarpus, Vitex rotundifolia and so on), 6 taxa of a degree II (Morus cathayana, Euphorbia esula and so on), 8 taxa of a degree III (Pyrrosia hastata, Rhodotypos scandens and so on), Senecio nemorensis of a degree V and degree IV were not found. The naturalized plants were 17 taxa including Robinia pseudoacacia, Bromus tectorumand so on. Of those Ambrosia artemisiifolia is a invasive alien plants. Naturalization rate (NR) was 6.0% of all 282 taxa of vascular plants and urbanization index (UI) was 5.3% of all 321 taxa of naturalized plants. Gulup-do and adjacent Baega-do were locally investigated field work and it summarizes the results of a total of 41 islands literature in Ongjin-gun and Ganghwa-gun, Incheon including uninhabited islands, Baengnyeong-do, Daecheong-do and so on. The average number of species were each analyzed in about 89 taxa, rare plants are about 2 taxa, endemic plants are about 1 taxa, naturalized plants are about 4 taxa. This study was the comparison of the flora and literature distribution case that the Gulup-do maintain the naturalness and continuously conducted to explore the future conservation measures the adjacent islands.