• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.321-337
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• 2018

The characteristics of 124 Phytolacca americana present areas and 88 surrounding absent areas over the country were investigated and compared from July 2016 to Sept 2017. The Phytolacca americana was confirmed as having been nationally distributed and is usually found in roadsides at an altitude of 380 m (26%), forest edges (24%), forests (19%), sunny spots (60%), dry soils (53%), sandy loams (31%) and sand+gravel soils (22%). 321 taxons consisting of 79 families, 209 genera, 289 species, 2 subspecies, 26 varieties and 4 cultivars and 286 taxons consisting of 76 families, 195 genera, 256 species, 2 subspecies, 24 varieties and 4 cultivars were found in the Phytolacca americana present areas and the absent areas, respectively. The relative net contribution degree was found highest in the Phytolacca americana (100) followed by Robinia pseudoacacia (29.4), Humulus japonicus (8.8) and Artemisia princeps (6.0) in the present areas, while it was found highest in Robinia pseudoacacia (100) followed by Humulus japonicus (44.4), Artemisia princeps (35.9), Pueraria lobata (18.6) and Setaria viridis (12.3) in the absent areas. The Raunkier's life form in the present/absent areas was found highest in the therophytes (34%/34%), followed by hemicryptophytes (17%/18%), megaphanerophytes and mesophanerophytes (18%/17%), nanophanerophytes (11%/11%) and geophytes (9%/11%). There was no significant difference in the species diversity between the present (2.141) and the absent (2.124) areas. However, the allelopathic agent and light blocked-out by the Phytolacca americana could possibly inhibit germination and the development of other species; especially, where a difference in species diversity was found high in forests, compared to other habitats (p=0.0605). Accordingly, it is suggested to review possible disturbances of native species habitats in shady spots including forest gaps, although the effect of Phytolacca americana on the ecological system in the suburban open and disturbed areas is not large.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.323-327
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• 2006

DNA barcoding, an inventory of DNA sequences from a standardized genomic region, provides a bio-barcode for identifying and discovering species. Several recent studies suggest that the sequence diversity in a 648 bp region of the mitochondrial gene for cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) might serve as a DNA barcode for identifying animal species such as North American birds, insects and fishes. The present study tested the effectiveness of a COI barcode in discriminating Korean bird species. We determined the 5' terminus of the COI barcode for 92 species of Korean birds and found that species identification was unambiguous; the genetic differences between closely related species were, on average, 25 times higher than the differences within species. We identified only one misidentified species out of 239 specimens in a genetic resource bank, so confirming the accuracy of species identification in the banking system. We also identified two potential composite species, calling for further investigation using more samples. The finding of large COI sequence differences between species confirms the effectiveness of COI barcodes for identifying Korean bird species. To bring greater reliability to the identification of species, increased intra- and interspecies sampling, as well as supplementation of the mitochondrial barcodes with nuclear ones, is needed.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.305-312
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• 2021

Background: Butterflies make an important part for plant-pollinator guild. These are nectar feeder or occasionally pollen feeder and thus proboscis of the butterfly species are considered as one of the most important variable in relation to the collection of food from plants. In butterfly-plant association, nectar source is principally determined by quality of nectar, corolla length, and nectar quantity. For the butterfly, nectar uptake is determined by proboscis length because flowers with long corolla restrict butterfly species containing shorter proboscis. Empirical studies proved that butterfly species with high wing loading visit clustered flowers and species with low wing loading confined their visit to solitary or less nectar rich flowers. The present study tries to investigate the flower preference of butterfly species from Lycaenidae family having very short proboscis, lower body length, lower body weight and wing span than the most species belonging from Nymphalidae, Pieridae, Papilionidae, and Hesperiidae. Results: Butterflies with shorter proboscis cannot access nectar from deeper flower. Although they mainly visit on less deeper flower to sucking nectar, butterflies with high wing loading visits clustered flowers to fulfill their energy requirements. In this study, we demonstrated flower choice of seven butterfly species belonging to Lycanidiae family. The proboscis length maintains a positive relationship with body length and body weight. Body length maintains a positive relationship with body weight and wing span. Wing span indicate a strong positive relationship with body weight. This study proved that these seven butterfly species namely Castalius rosimon (CRN), Taracus nara (TNA), Zizinia otis (ZOT), Zizula hylax (ZHY), Jamides celeno (JCE), Chilades laius (CLA), and Psuedozizeeria maha (PMA) visit frequently in Tridax procumbens (TPR), Ocimum americanum (OAM) and Syndrella nodiflora (SNO). The species do not visit Lantana camara (LCA) and Catharanthus roseus (CRO) plants. Conclusion: The present study proved that butterfly species visits frequently in Tridax procumbens (TPR), Ocimum americanum (OAM) but less frequently in Syndrella nodiflora (SNO). So, that study determined the butterfly species helps in pollination of these herbs that in turn helps the conservation of these butterfly species.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.27-37
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• 2013

The fish fauna and disturbance of geographical distributions in the eastern Civilian Control Line of Korea were investigated from May to September 2012. Total 35 species sampled during the period were belonged to 13 families. There were 9 Korean endemic species (25.71%) that distributed in the flows into West and South Sea. Distributions of invasion fishes in the studied streams based on geographical distributions of freshwater fish were total 13 species that classified 1 species, C. cuvieri from foreign country and 12 species from other water systems. Hence there have been anthropogenically introduced from too many years ago. Also groups according to the similarities of each studied stations was divided into 4 groups by similarity 50% because difference in them was considered to effect of domestic invasion species. In conclusion, three streams in the eastern Civilian Control Line of Korea were invaded by many alien fishes. Therefore, we are considered to require precise investigation and monitoring for the preparations to management measure.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.315-322
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• 2010

We studied and compared the age structure, body size, and growth rates of field populations of two Korean salamander species (Hynobius yangi and Hynobius quelpaertensis) to elucidate important aspects of basic population dynamics of these two endemic Hynobius species. In both populations, females were sexually mature at three years of age, while H. yangi and H. quelpaertensis males matured at two and three years of age, respectively. Both males and females of H. yangi and H. quelpaertensis attained a maximum age of 11 years and 10 years, respectively. In both species, the snout-vent length (SVL) and body weight (BW) of the females were greater than those of the males. The SVL, BW, and asymptotic SVL of both male and female H. yangi were smaller than those of H. quelpaertensis. The adult growth rates after sexual maturation of male and female H. yangi were lower than those of H. quelpaertensis, possibly resulting in the smaller body size of the former, although overall growth coefficients were not significantly different between the two species. We also compared the age structure and growth rates of three Korean and three Japanese species of Hynobius.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.241-255
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• 2020

Background: The stem exclusion stage is a stage of forest development that is important for understanding the subsequent understory reinitiation stage and maturation stage during which horizontal heterogeneity is formed. Over the past 11 years (2009-2019), we observed a deciduous broad-leaved forest in the Albongbunji Basin in Ulleungdo, South Korea in its stem exclusion stage, where Fagus engleriana (Engler's beech) is the dominant species, thereby analyzing the changes in the structure (density and size distributions), function (biomass and species richness), and demographics. Results: The mean stem density data presented a bell-shaped curve with initially increasing, peaking, and subsequently decreasing trends in stem density over time, and the mean biomass data showed a sigmoidal pattern indicating that the rate of biomass accumulation slowed over time. Changes in the density and biomass of Fagus engleriana showed a similar trend to the changes in density and biomass at the community level, which is indicative of the strong influence of this species on the changing patterns of forest structure and function. Around 2015, a shift between recruitment and mortality rates was observed. Deterministic processes were the predominant cause of tree mortality in our study; however, soil deposition that began in 2017 in some of the quadrats resulted in an increase in the contribution of stochastic processes (15% in 2019) to tree mortality. The development of horizontal heterogeneity was observed in forest gaps. Conclusions: Our observations showed a dramatic shift between the recruitment and mortality rates in the stem exclusion stage, and that disturbance increases the uncertainty in forest development increases. The minor changes in species composition are likely linked to regional species pool and the limited role of the life-history strategy of species such as shade tolerance and habitat affinity. Our midterm records of ecological succession exhibited detailed demographic dynamics and contributed to the improvement of an ecological perspective in the stem exclusion stage.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.331-341
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• 2014

The present study is an attempt to give an account of the inventory of plant species, phytosociological characteristics of vegetation and pedological characteristics of Rambi Beat Forest under Senchal East Forest Zone, Darjeeling, West Bengal, India. Its plant community were analyzed quantitatively and synthetically. The results reflect dominancy of dicotyledons over monocotyledons in the four studied sites The plant community comprising of 50 plant species belonging to 40 genera of 27 families. Ramhi beat reflected higher diversity of species. Maximum IVI value was recorded by Viola surpense (47.17) in Rambhi forest beat. The Berger parker index and evenness index were found to be highest for Viola surpense, Fragaria nubicola, Pilea umbrosa in Rambhi beat. The soil characteristics of the different pedons revealed alkaline nature of soil in Rambhi beat. Higher levels of soil organic carbon content reflect higher fertility of the soil of Rambhi beat. The response towards soil available nitrogen and phosphate were different among the ten pedons of Rambhi beat. Therefore, proper management and conservative measures needs to be implemented for conservation of bioresources in Senchel wildlife Sanctuary of West Bengal, India.

• Conservation Science in Museum
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• v.3
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• pp.51-63
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• 2001

Totally 588 specimens, which were excavated from well sites(I or II site) of near the new Kyungju National Museum building, were identified 32 species. Diospyros spp. and Fraxinus spp. were the most common and occupied 14.8%(I-site) or 20.9%(II-site), 14.1%(I-site) or 12.8%(II-site) of the total specimen number respectively. And then other common species were follows ; Pinus densiflora, Quercus spp., Castanea crenata, Prunus spp., Pourthiaea spp.. Because the I-site were adjacent to the II-site, the 13 out of 25(I-site) or 20(II-site) identified species were common. Most of identified species had fruits, beautiful crowns and good qualities of lumber.

• Proceedings of the National Institute of Ecology of the Republic of Korea
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.247-258
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• 2021

To understand restoration and conservation projects conducted in Korea for endangered freshwater fishes and amphibians/reptiles, information about Request for Protocols-related studies on restoration, breeding, and release were collected. Trends of studies were visualized via word clouds and VOSviewer program using a text mining technique. Analysis of restoration projects for endangered freshwater fishes elucidated that most research studies conducted to date were focused on genetics and release through captive breeding that could be classified into captive breeding and habitat environments. As for research projects related to amphibians/reptiles, monitoring projects had the highest number, followed by genetic, translocation, and monitoring studies. In addition, restoration projects for amphibians/reptiles included a large number of post-capture translocation projects. Thus, many projects were confirmed by public institutions rather than by the Ministry of Environment. Network analysis revealed that it was largely classified into capture, translocation, and Kaloula borealis. Based on these results, limitations, achievements, and challenges associated with projects conducted thus far are highlighted. Research directions for future restoration and conservation of endangered freshwater fishes and amphibians/reptiles in South Korea are also suggested.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.97 no.5
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• pp.525-529
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• 2008

The purpose of this paper is to examine willingness to pay (WTP) for endangered species, the Korean goral, of Woraksan National Park in South Korea. The median of the WTP is adopted to estimate the value because it will not be affected by the extreme values. The estimated household median WTP using a logit model for Korean goral conservation in Woraksan National Park was 15,221 won. The estimated value of the WTP in relation to the Korean goral has some policy implications. especially in terms of implementing policy to protect the Korean goral. The result shows that the public conservation program does have a positive WTP for the conservation of the Korean goral. This implies that the Korean goral is an important species that needs to be maintained, the government has been expended a large sum of money in an attempt to protect it.