• Journal of Plant Biology
• /
• v.30 no.4
• /
• pp.267-276
• /
• 1987

A pollen analytical study was carried out on the accumulated humus samples collected from 27 sites under the different plant communities of Mt. Seolag. These pollen spectra were then compared with the actual vegetation. The aboreal pollen(AP) and non-abnoreal pollen(NAP) were 1 Family 25 Genus and 5 Family 5 Genus, respectively. Among the aboreal pollen identified, the pollen of Pinus, Quercus, Betula and Acer were appeared in abundance and the coniferous pollen of Pinus was occupied at least 20%-65% through all the sites studied. The pollens of Abies, Betula, accer, Quercus, Carpinus, Corylus, Fraxinus, Styrax, Prunus and Ericaceae were in accordance with the present vegetation but the other pollens were inconsistent with the actual vegetaton. It suggests that it was caused by the difference between Wehseolag and Namseolag of subalpine zone in Mt. Seolag was 200 m by pollen spectra. Quercus was distributed at the lower part of Namseolag and the subalpine boreal elements were increased with increasing altitudes. The pollen spectra of each site was put together into 5 groups of pollen assemblage by cluster analysis and the community coefficient (CC) was over 60% between all sites studied.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.29 no.5
• /
• pp.445-452
• /
• 2006

The number of species and forest area has decreased as urbanization is progressed. The landscape degradation was examined by analyzing vegetation map, satellite image and characteristics of actual vegetation. The study was conducted in Mt. Baekja and its surroundings located on Gyeongsan city, southeastern Korea. As the result of landscape analysis, agricultural field was a characteristic attribute of the study area. Lowlands of this study area were occupied by agricultural field and various plantations. For 15 years from 1987 to 2002, forest area decreased from 2,072.9 ha to 1,853.2 ha, and shape index and fractal dimension of vegetation patches increased from 1.32 to 1.65 and from 1.05 to 1.09, respectively. Pinus densiflora Siebold & Zucco. community showed the highest species diversity, whereas Larix kaempferi (Lamb.) Carriere community showed the lowest species abundance. As forest management implications, monitoring of endangered plant species (Jeffersonia dubia (Maxim.) Benth. & Hook.f. ex Baker & S.Moore), and restoration of lowland forest from plantation to natural forest were discussed. Further, establishment of greenways utilizing existing streams, roadside, and public facilities were recommended.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
• /
• v.38 no.2
• /
• pp.90-101
• /
• 2022

The study aims to assess composition, diversity and population indices of natural regeneration of woody species in Jebel El Gerrie forest reserve, Blue Nile State, Sudan. We conducted field work between December 2018 and January 2019. We used random sampling to collect vegetation data in the forest where we made a total of 90 circular sample plots (radius 17.84 m) and distributed them proportionally to the area of each of the four density-based vegetation classes of the forest i.e. high density (C1), medium density (C2), low density (C3) and crop land (C4). In each sample plot we identified all regenerating tree species and counted their regeneration frequencies. We calculated ecological metrics of regeneration frequency, density, abundance, richness, evenness, diversity and importance value index (IVI) and drew abundance rank curve. Results revealed that out of fifteen mature tree species present, natural regeneration of 8 species, which belong to 6 families, was observed. The relatively most frequently naturally regenerating and abundant species were Anogeissus leiocarpa and Combretum hartmannianum. Richness, evenness and diversity of regenerating species were 1.33, 0.82 and 1.7, respectively. One-way ANOVA (α=0.05) of mean regeneration densities disclosed that there were significant differences (F_3,86=16.77, p=0.000) between C2 & C3 (p=0.000) and C2 & C4 (p=0.000). While regeneration of seven tree species were absent, two, two and four species were of good, poor and fair regeneration status, respectively. A comparison of mean density of natural regeneration with that of parent trees reflects a poor regeneration status of the forest. The study provides empirical results on the regeneration status of species and signifies the need for management interventions for species conservation and restoration, maintenance of biodiversity and sustainable production.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
• /
• v.38 no.2
• /
• pp.325-330
• /
• 2011

In order to revive the ecological function of degraded rivers, a total restoration plan for riverbeds and riparians needs to be developed. Previous evaluations for rivers were mainly focused on the river's physical structures. Therefore, this research has developed indicators to evaluate a riparian restoration considering biodiversity. Through literature and previous cases review, 4 fields and 13 indicators are selected for the evaluation. Four fields are biodiversity, habitat diversity, connectivity and habitat functionality. In the biodiversity field, 4 indicators of the exuberant extent of herbaceous vegetation and their diversity, the exuberant extent of shrub and woody plants and their diversity, the number of plant communities and naturalized plants are included. Habitat diversity are comprised of 4 indicators of the longitudinal continuity of vegetation, the mixture of plant communities, the extent of plant type color fruit abundance and the distribution of vegetation. Connectivity includes 3 indicators of target distribution, the shore slope of low water channels and the extent of artificial embankment materials. Habitat functionality has 2 indicators of the status of food supply plants and the habitat functionality. The value weighting for the fields and indicators has been calculated based on the AHP(Analytic Hierarchy Process) method. 50 experts were surveyed with quantifiable questionnaire, among them 43 experts have more than 10 yesrs experiences in the nature restoration field. The selected and weighted indicators have been tested to the 12 sections in Gap stream located in Daejeon. In conclusion, the indicators are feasible and the selected indicators could be used to establish the direction and objectives of riparian restoration.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
• /
• v.26 no.8
• /
• pp.993-998
• /
• 2017

De-icing salts applied to roads during winter enable safe driving conditions. However, these salts are eventually displaced to roadside areas at which they can negatively impact soil, vegetation, and water resources. This purpose of this study is to determine the relationship between foliar damage ratio (NY = 0-25%, SY = 26-50%, CY = 51-75%) on roadside trees (Ginko biloba) and seasonal impact of de-icing salts on soil and vegetation. Thirty roadside trees were selected at 8 m intervals between the Konkuk and Judeok intersections in Chung-ju city. The results reveal that seasonal soil acidity is relatively alkaline for foliar damage ratio of Ginko biloba was CY compared to NY. Also, electronic conductivity of each seasonal sampling was recorded as high in winter and spring, whereas the opposite trend is observed in summer. Various plants species were identified in abundance under roadside trees within NY roadside sections. These same species were observed in reduced numbers within CY sections. Strong negative correlations were identified between foliar damage ratio on roadside trees and vegetation. This relationship may be a method to use in predicting the accumulation of de-icing salt and visible injuries on roadside trees.

• Ocean and Polar Research
• /
• v.38 no.2
• /
• pp.115-128
• /
• 2016

This study examined the relationship between macrobenthic distribution patterns and environmental factors in salt marsh vegetation in Donggeomdo, Ganghwa on the west coast of Korea. Nine stations were fixed on a transect across the salt marsh vegetation, and field sampling was carried out monthly from July 1997 to June 1998. A total of 38 species of macrobenthos were recorded: each of faunal groups, 13 (34.2%) Arthropoda, 12 (31.6%) Polychaeta, 8 (21.1%) Mollusca, and 5 (13.2%) others. The mean density was $2,659individuals/m^2$, with a mean biomass of $178.6gWWt/m^2$. Mollusca dominated in terms of abundance and biomass, with a mean density of $2,172individuals/m^2$ (81.7%) and a mean biomass of $131.9gWWt/m^2$ (73.9%). The number of species decreased in winter (January-February), while mean density increased in the spring (May-June). The biomass was relatively in Summer and Fall (July-November), than any other season. The number of species was high in pure stands of Suaeda japonica in the lower salt marsh vegetation, and the mean density and biomass were high in mixed halophyte communities in the middle salt marsh vegetation. Two Mollusca, the bivalve Glauconome chinensis and gastropod Assiminea lutea, were dominant. The densities of these two species were high in mixed halophyte communities in the middle salt marsh vegetation. Non-metric multi-dimensional scaling (nMDS) showed that the study area could be divided into four groups corresponding to the vertical distribution of tidal levels and halophytes. Spearman's rank correlation revealed that the distribution patterns and community structure of macrobenthos were related to environment variables such as salinity of the substrates, exposure time, and grain size compositions of the sediment in the salt marsh vegetation. Particularly, the distribution and density of some dominant species showed differences along the vertical distributions of halophytes.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.33 no.3
• /
• pp.237-244
• /
• 2010

In this study, we evaluated the distribution, habitat characteristics, and diet of two Korean freshwater turtle species (Chinemys reevesii, Pelodiscus sinensis) and an invasive turtle species (Trachemys scripta elegans) in the area surrounding the Seomjin River and the Nam River. We surveyed basking turtles in multiple locations along a 48-km stretch of the Seomjin River and in 99 reservoirs distributed along the Seomjin and Nam rivers from June to September, 2009. We observed 8 and 6 red-eared turtles in 3 reservoirs and at 3 sites in the Seomjin River, respectively, and 33 Reeve's turtles in 9 reservoirs. There were also 28 and 16 mud turtles detected at 15 sites along the Seomjin River and in 8 reservoirs, respectively. Among the 14 biotic and abiotic habitat characteristics that might influence the abundance of freshwater turtles in reservoirs, only the distance between a reservoir and the nearest residential areas was correlated negatively with abundance. With regard to the diet, all Reeve's and red-eared turtles investigated were determined to forage on water snails. Some turtles also foraged on vegetation and aquatic invertebrates. Additionally, we found fish in the stomach of one of the Reeve's turtles, and dragonflies in the stomachs of two red-eared turtles.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.44 no.4
• /
• pp.256-263
• /
• 2020

Background: Ambrosia trifida is a highly invasive annual plant, but effective control methods have not been proposed. Among various eradication methods, cutting is a simple measure to control invasive plants, and sowing seeds of native plants may effectively increase biotic resistance to invasion. In this study, we conducted a field experiment with two treatments: cutting and sowing seeds of six native or naturalized plants. Results: We found a significantly lower A. trifida abundance after cutting than in the control (77% decrease). Sowing seeds of native species did not provide any additional benefit for the control of A. trifida, but increased the importance values and diversity of other native vegetation. The abundance of A. trifida was negatively correlated with that of other plant taxa based on plant cover, biomass, and density. However, biotic resistance of sown plants was not effective to control invasion because A. trifida was so competitive. Conclusions: We concluded that cutting is an effective measure to control Ambrosia trifida while sowing seeds of native plants can increase native plant diversity.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• v.60 no.1
• /
• pp.57-63
• /
• 2022

When free-ranging birds are accidentally killed or die, there may be greater potential for their associated ticks to detach, seek alternate hosts, and become established. We examined 711 carcasses of 95 avian species for ticks at a stopover island of migratory birds in the Republic of Korea where only Ixodes nipponensis and I. persulcatus were previously reported from local mammals and vegetation. A total of 16 ticks, I. turdus and Haemaphysalis flava, were collected from 8 fresh carcasses belonging to 5 avian species. Despite their known abundance on migratory birds and mainland Korea, these species had not colonized the isolated insular ecosystem possibly due to the low abundance and diversity of local hosts. The results imply that increasing human impact, such as the anthropogenic mortality of migratory birds and the introduction of non-native mammalian hosts, will increase the potential invasion and colonization risk of ticks. This finding also suggests that tick surveillance consisting of fresh carcasses of dead migratory birds may provide additional information, often ignored in surveillance of ticks on live birds, for the potential introduction of non-native ticks and associated pathogens affecting animal and human health.

• ALGAE
• /
• v.30 no.2
• /
• pp.139-146
• /
• 2015

Urchin barrens have been a major issue of rocky coastal ecosystems in temperate regions. In South Korea, the east coast and Jeju Island have especially been a focus because the area of barren ground increases in spite of continual efforts to install artificial reefs. This study approached the urchin barrens issue in South Korea, by focusing on a correlational analysis of urchin and macroalgal abundance. Urchin density and algal species coverage were obtained using a quadrat image analysis. Subtidal sites were then classified into three groups according to the average densities of urchins to evaluate the characterization of the macroalgal community: no urchin (NU) zone; transition (TR) zone, $4inds.\;m^{-2};$ and urchin (UR) zone, ${\geq}8inds.\;m^{-2}$. The average urchin density in the study site was $4.7inds.\;m^{-2}$ and 57 macroalgal species were found in the study site. From the NU zone to UR zone, total species number, species diversity index and evenness gradually decreased, whereas the dominance index increased. The algae species with negative correlations were Grateloupia divaricata, Polysiphonia morrowii, Chondracanthus intermedius, Delesseria violacea, Desmarestia viridis; and those with positive correlations were the crustose corallines, Sargassum horneri. Other species were not significantly correlated with urchin density. The significant correlations indicate that the abundance of some macroalgal species is proportionally regulated by sea urchin density. This study also shows how macroalgal vegetation changes in response to an urchin's density gradient in a natural condition; and there is a TR zone that existed with respect to an intermediate level of algal abundance.