• Title/Summary/Keyword: Species Conservation

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Current status of alert alien species management for the establishment of proactive management systems in Korea

  • Son, Seung Hun;Jo, A-Ram;Kim, Dong Eon
    • Journal of Ecology and Environment
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    • v.45 no.4
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    • pp.237-254
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    • 2021
  • Background: Some of the introduced alien species introduced settle, multiply, and spread to become invasive alien species (IAS) that threaten biodiversity. To prevent this, Korea and other countries legally designate and manage alien species that pose a risk to the environment. Moreover, 2160 alien species have been introduced in South Korea, of which 1826 animals and 334 plants are designated. The inflow of IAS can have negative effects such as ecosystem disturbance, habitat destruction, economic damage, and health damage to humans. To prevent damage caused by the inflow of IAS in advance, species that could potentially pose a risk to the environment if introduced in South Korea were designated as alert alien species (AAS). Results: The designation criteria were in accordance with the "Act on the Conservation and Use of Biological Diversity" and the "Regulations on the Ecological Risk Assessment of AAS and IAS" by the National Institute of Ecology. The analysis result of risk and damage cases indicated that mammals affect predation, competition, human economic activity, virus infection, and parasite infection. Birds have been demonstrated to affect predation, competition, human economic activity, and health. It was indicated that plants intrude on the ecosystem by competing with native species with their high-population density and capacity to multiply and cause allergic inducement. Interestingly, 300 species, including 25 mammals, 7 birds, 84 fishes, 28 amphibians, 22 reptiles, 1 insect, 32 spiders, 1 mollusk, 1 arthropod, and 99 plants, are included in the list of AAS. Conclusions: AAS designation plays a role in preventing the reduction of biodiversity by IAS in South Korea and preserving native species. Moreover, it is determined to provide considerable economic benefits by preventing socio-economic losses and ecological damage.

An Assessment and Review of IUCN Red List for Vascular Plants in Korean Peninsula (한반도 관속식물 IUCN 적색목록 평가와 문제점)

  • Chang, Chin-Sung;Kim, Hye Won;Kim, Hui
    • Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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    • v.106 no.2
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    • pp.111-120
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    • 2017
  • The best source of information on the conservation status of species at a global scale is the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Until now, 236 vascular plants from Korean peninsula have been evaluated using the IUCN red list categories and criteria. It indicated that five taxa were considered as critically endangered, 20 as endangered and nine as vulnerable species as a threatened status. On the other hand, the rest (189 taxa) were assessed as a least concern, which did not qualify for threatened species categories. Korea Ministry of Environment published a revised version of 57 species list by re-classifying endangered species with idiosyncratic qualitative criteria for two levels (I and II) followed by status reviews in 2011. However, two thirds species proposed by Ministry of Environment do not qualify as threatened. The major difficulties found in applying IUCN Red List criteria at the global scale was a lack of knowledge on the status of species at broader geographic scales and the perceived difficulty the causes. The lack of consistency between two lists constrains the prioritization of species-based conservation work at the national level. Due to a lack of centralized monitoring data for most species, this status is largely qualitatively and so it carries a high level of uncertainty. This is reflected in the high number of species with an unknown population trend. The current list of endangered species of flora and fauna by the Ministry of Environment should be recognized as the national list (local and population extinction), which is different from the IUCN Red list due to the different geographical contexts. Also, it is necessary to improve the quality of evaluation and conservation management system rather than presenting massive number of endangered species list.

The Role of Urban Green Areas in the Conservation of Biological Diversity

  • Zhao, Shiwei;Zhang, Zuoshuang;Deng, Qisheng
    • Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture International Edition
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    • no.1
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    • pp.26-27
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    • 2001
  • The materials that are involved in urban landscaping include plants and the associated animals, soil, water, and other environmental elements. And biodiversity is the substantial base for human beings. The conservation of biodiversity is of great importance in the sustainable development of the society and should not be neglected in the development of sustainable urban landscape. The conservation of biodiversity should be included in the urban landscape planning. The conservation of biodiversity should be emphasized in the construction of urban green space. Every possible opportunity should be used to conserve the species diversity, genetic diversity and ecological diversity. The assessment of biodiversity conservation should be introduced into modern landscape planning.

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Variation of Medicinal Plants Species Richness along Vertical Gradient in Makawanpur District, Nepal

  • Gaire, Damodar;Jiang, Lichun;Yadav, Vijay Kumar;Shah, Jit Narayan;Dhungana, Sunita;Upadhyaya, Anju;Manjan, Shiv Kumar;Heyojoo, Binod Kumar
    • Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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    • v.37 no.2
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    • pp.104-115
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    • 2021
  • The research attempted to analyze the medicinal plant species richness in the vertical gradient from lower to the highest elevation of Makawanpur, focusing on the relationship between species richness and elevation which is very important for conservation and management of species diversity. Inventory was carried out in the study area by taking sampling intensity of 0.5% in the effective area. Altogether, 42 sample plots were laid in the field with the help of GIS software maintaining 50 m altitude difference. High species diversity was found in the herbs species whereas shrubs have comparatively low species diversity. The maximum species richness is found in herbs and poles whereas shrubs and trees have relatively low species richness. Research showed that species richness of medicinal plants increased with altitudinal gradient. While analyzing the species richness from 350 to 2,550 m (msl), the highest species richness was received with the elevation ranges from 1,800 m to 2,300 m. There was a positive relationship between species richness and altitudinal gradient in the study area. In addition, we have recorded the high value medicinal plants after 1,800 m altitude and rarely within 1,000 m. Medicinal plants correlated both positive and negative relationships with the increased altitude. The altitudinal response has positively seen except density (n/ha) of Shrubs. Domestication and cultivation of high value medicinal plants should be promoted in community forest including private lands. Training, workshops and awareness programs should be conducted to make people aware about medicinal plants resource utilization, conservation and commercialization of available medicinal plants.

The Ecological Management and Characteristics of Bird Communities at the World Cup Park in Seoul (서울시 월드컵공원 야생조류 군집 특성 및 생태적 관리방안)

  • Han Bong-Ho;Kim Jeong-Ho;Son Byong-Dof;Lee Kyong-Jae
    • Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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    • v.33 no.5 s.112
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    • pp.43-56
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    • 2005
  • This study was conducted to examine the inhabitation of wild birds at the World Cup Park and to offer the Park ecological management data. Land use md actual vegetation were examined to analyze the inhabitation of wild birds. Characteristics of bird communities were analyzed by dominance, density, diversity index and guild concept. You compare inhabitation before and after the Park was built. We classified the land use and actual vegetation into twenty-six types. Robinia pseudoacacia dominated the study area. Pyeonghwa Park and Nanji-cheon Park were simple-layer structures composed of alien woody species. The observed birds after the World Cup Park included 33 families 77 species, and 9,751 individuals. Among Wild Life types, the shrub and bush type was dominant. There were 26 species of resident birds, 20 species of summer visitors, 18 species of winter visitors, and 12 species of passage migrants. The following numbers of species and individuals were observed: in Hanul park, 38 species, 3,151 individuals; in Noul park, 45 species, 2,061 individuals; in Nanji-cheon park, 42 species, 2,742 individuals; in Pyeonghwa park, 29 species, 875 individuals; and in Maebongsan(Mt.) area, 35 species, 922 individuals. Species diversities for each area were as follows: Noul park, 2.613; Hanul park, 2,301; Nanji-cheon, 2.228; and Pyeonghwa park, 2,019; and each season: summer, 2.652; spring, 2.650: winter, 2.561; and autumn 2.176. The diversity of species increased from 1.135 in 1994 to 2.324 in 2001. We recommended that the park be differented into different ecological areas in order to encourage the appearance of wild birds at the World Cup Park. The management area was divided into three districts(conservation area, preservation and restoration area, use area). The conservation area was established to the west of a waste landfill and in the downstream area of NanJi-cheon, the preservation and restoration area was established in the midstream area of Nanji-cheon, and the use area was established in the buffer zone of Pyeonghwa Park and the Nanji pond greenspace.

Marker-Assisted Mating Applied in In-Situ Conservation of Indigenous Animals in Small Populations : (1) Choosing Mating Schemes for Maximum Heterozygosity

  • Wu, X.L.;Liu, R.Z.;Shi, Q.S.;Liu, X.C.;Li, X.;Wu, M.S.
    • Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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    • v.13 no.4
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    • pp.431-434
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    • 2000
  • Maintaining maximum genetic variability is of critical importance with in-situ conservation of animal species in small populations. Marker-assisted mating (MAM) was suggested to achieve maximum heterozygosity in offspring populations. The aims of this research was to investigate and decide the effectiveness and promising types of MAM to achieve this goal. Analysis of variance with simulation data revealed that the heterozygosity in offspring populations was significantly determined by sire heterozygosity from mating of non-inbred parent animals, and significantly by sire heterozygosity and percent parental difference in offspring reproduced by inbred parents. Seven types of marker-assisted mating schemes were examined, in which offspring exhibited heterozygosity that was -0.01 to 7.37% below or above that from random mating of non-inbred parent animals, and 0.00 to 16.39% above that from random mating of inbred parent animals. The great increase in offspring heterozygosity was observed with mating by tandem maximizing sire heterozygosity, percent parental difference, and dam heterozygosity. Random mating resulted in fluctuation of offspring heterozygosity. These results suggested that MAM was a promising method for maintaining maximum offspring variability in in-situ conservation of animal species in small populations.

Conservation of Biodiversity and Its Ecological Importance of Korean Paddy Field

  • Cho, Young-Son;Lee, Dong-Kyu;Choe, Zhin-Ryong;Han, Min-Soo;Pellerin, Kristie
    • KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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    • v.51 no.6
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    • pp.497-504
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    • 2006
  • Biodiversity is closely related to the conservation of ecosystems. Ecosystems provide more subtle, but equally essential, services. Microorganisms decompose human's waste and renew the soils that produce our food crops. Biodiversity in Korean paddies encompass 54 families and 107 species of freshwater invertebrates. In terms of the number of aquatic insects affected by different sources, the order starting with the highest population was swine slurry > chemical fertilizer > fresh straw with reduced fertilizers > control. The number of freshwater invertebrate and aquatic macro-invertebrate in surface water of the plots without insecticidal application were 2 and 2.1 times greater than in fields receiving insecticide applications, respectively. The soil microfungal flora of the 85 isolates paddy fields in Korea was 30 species in 13 genera and 11 isolates were unidentified yet. Agricultural policy should be changed to assist the conservation of biodiversity because until now the agricultural ecosystems have been negatively affected from the development of high-yield varieties to enhance food production, and the expansion of fertilizer and chemical use. For the conservation of agricultural ecosystems, agricultural practices with less investment and more resource saving, as well as enhancing the safety of agricultural and livestock products are essential. Finally, this paper was written for the contribution for the development of environmentally friendly farming systems with neighboring or whole ecosystems.

Cryopreservation of Forest Tree Seeds: A Mini-Review

  • Gantait, Saikat;Kundu, Suprabuddha;Wani, Shabir Hussain;Das, Prakash Kanti
    • Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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    • v.32 no.3
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    • pp.311-322
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    • 2016
  • Since forest trees form the basis of forest ecosystem, their prolong subsistence is crucial for various flora and fauna. The foremost challenges to sustain the forest ecosystem comprise of the declining forest tree population accompanied with structural changes due to afforestation and exploitation of forest area, environment changes, pests, pollution, and introgressive hybridization. For ex situ conservation approach, in vitro techniques encompass basic role for conserving tree genetic resources, predominantly where natural propagules like recalcitrant seed might not be appropriate for long-term conservation. The practice includes restricted growth techniques, conventional micropropagation, production and storage of synthetic seeds, and cryopreservation. Even though these practices have been applied chiefly to herbaceous species, but recently, woody species were also focused upon. Key conceptions, challenges and techniques for forest tree seed conservation are discussed briefly in this review with special emphasis on some successful cryopreservation approaches for long-term storage.