• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.119-136
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• 2014

This work aims to select the potentially vulnerable plant species against climate change at alpine and subalpine belts of Mts. Sorak, Jiri, and Halla, from central, southern, southern insular high mountains of the Korean Peninsula, respectively. The selection of global warming related vulnerable plants were performed by adapting various criteria, such as flora, endemicity, rarity, floristically specific and valuable species, species composition at mountain summits, horizontal and vertical ranges of individual species, and their distributional pattern in the Korean Peninsula. Line and quadrat field surveys along the major trails from all directions at height above 1,500 meters above sea level of Mts, Sorak, Jiri and Halla were conducted each year during spring, summer, and autumn from 2010 to 2011. Based upon above mentioned eight criteria, high level of climate change related potentially vulnerable arboral plants, such as Rhododendron aureum, Taxus caespitosa, Pinus pumila, Oplopanax elatus, Vaccinium uliginosum, and Thuja koraiensis are noticed from at subalpine belt of Mt. Sorak. Species of Abies koreana, Rhododendron tschonoskii, Oplopanax elatus, Taxus cuspidata, Picea jezoensis, and Juniperus chinensis var. sargentii belong to climate change concerned vulnerable species at subalpine belt of Mt. Jiri. High level of climate change related species vulnerability is found at alpine and subalpine belts of Mt. Halla from Diapensia lapponica var. obovata, Salix blinii, Empetrum nigrum var. japonicum, Vaccinium uliginosum, Juniperus chinensis var. sargentii, Taxus cuspidata, Rhamnus taquetii, Abies koreana, Hugeria japonica, Prunus buergeriana, and Berberis amurensis var. quelpartensis. Countermeasures to save the global warming vulnerable plants in situ are required.

• Proceedings of the National Institute of Ecology of the Republic of Korea
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.68-73
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• 2020

Korean fir (Abies koreana) is an evergreen coniferous tree species that is unique to South Korea. A. koreana is found in a limited sub-alpine habitat and is considered particularly vulnerable to climate change. Identification of populations vulnerable to climate change is an important component of conservation programs. In this study, a heat stress-induced transcriptome RNA-seq dataset was used to identify a subset of six genes for assessment as candidate marker genes for ecologically vulnerable populations. Samples of A. koreana were isolated from ecologically stable and vulnerable regions of the Halla and Jiri mountains, and the expression levels of the six candidate markers were assessed using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. All six of the candidate genes exhibited higher expression levels in samples from vulnerable regions compared with stable regions. These results confirm that the six high temperature-induced genes can be used as diagnostic markers for the identification of populations of A. koreana that are experiencing stress due to the effects of climate change.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.125-129
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• 2009

The genetic diversity plays a significant role in determining a species' survival and perseverance. Endangered species often lack genetic variation, which makes them vulnerable to numerous dangers of extinction including selection, genetic drifts and human interference. Knowing an endangered species' genetic background greatly enhances conservation efforts since it reveals why, what and how to conserve that species. Cotoneaster wilsonii is an endangered plant species endemic to Ulleung island, but not enough genetic research has been done on this taxon for its effective conservation plans. In this study, three populations of C. wilsonii in Ulleung island underwent allozyme analysis through starch gel electrophoresis. 10 loci were analyzed and F-statistics was calculated. Overall data indicated that C. wilsonii possessed low genetic diversity with intense inbreeding, heterozygote deficiency and low differentiation among populations. These results implied that C. wilsonii was recently introduced to the Ulleung island from ancestor species, and did not have much time to differentiate. Current status of C. wilsonii habitats is very fragile and vulnerable, with increasing tourism constantly threatening the species' survival. It is very likely that C. wilsonii will become extinct in near future unless organized conservation protects its populations and genetic diversity.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.1-13
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• 2015

This study was conducted to develop an environmental index for assessing the vulnerability of areas with invasive alien plants. To that end, "Regional Vulnerability Numerical Index" (RVNI) was developed with a spatial statistical technique and applied to Seoul and Gyeonggi-do area first. The results are as follows. First, RVNI was high in stream areas. Second, RVNI was lowest in mountain areas. It indicates that stream areas are vulnerable to invasive alien plants. In terms of regions, Guri City is most vulnerable and Gapyeong-gun is the least vulnerable. To expand and manage the invasive alien plants, a control protocol should be developed by considering the physiology and ecology by invasive alien plant. Also, related policies should be pursued based on the results. Thus, the findings of this study can be used as baseline data for setting policies for invasive alien species management.

• Journal of the Speleological Society of Korea
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• no.61
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• pp.17-46
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• 2000

Mt. Jabyeong(872.5m), limestone region in the Taebaek mountains, located in 37° 32'N, 129° 25'E and in Sangye-ri, Okgye-myeon, Gangreung-si and Samok-ri, Imgye-myeon, Jeongseon-gun, Gangwon-do. The purposes of this study were to investigate the floristic composition from 1997 to 1998 in Mt. Jabyeong and report the distribution of Korean endemic plants, rare and vulnerable plants, calcicoles and calci fuges, The vascular plants in this area were composed of 93 families, 313 genera, 3 subspecies, 57 varieties, 13 forms, 495 species, totaling 568 taxa. Among the vascular plants, 21 taxa were Korean endemic plants and 7 taxa were rare and vulnerable plants. Calcicole and calcifuge plants in this study area were composed of 21 families, 30 genera, 36 species and 14 families, 15 genera, 17 species. The soil pH values of study site in Mt. chabyoung were ranging 7.4∼8, which showed that this site was a mostly limestone area with alkaline soil. And soil depth was formed to a relative thin layer, mostly 2～4cm thickness. This site showed high content of moisture and organic matter which were ranging 40-45% and 15-25%, respectively.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.77-87
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• 2020

National parks and other protected areas often do not adequately protect national biodiversity because they were originally created for socio-economic and/or aesthetic values. The Korean government has committed to expanding the extent of protected areas to fulfill its commitments to the Aichi Biodiversity Convention. To do so, it is necessary to quantify the current levels of biodiversity representation within existing protected areas and to identify additional conservation needs for vulnerable species and ecological systems. In this study, we assess the proportion of species ranges found in South Korea's protected areas, for the species documented in the 3^rd National Ecosystem Survey. We modeled the range distribution of 3,645 species in the following taxonomic groups; plants (1,545 species), mammals (35), birds (132), herptiles (35), and insects (1,898) using the MaxEnt species distribution model and calculated how much of each species' range is within protected areas. On average, 17.4% of plant species' ranges are represented in protected areas, while for mammals and insects an average 12.0% is currently conserved. Conservation representation for herptiles averages 9.3%, while it is 8.6% for birds. Although large proportions of species that have restricted distributions should be represented in protected areas, 17 plant species, two insects (Parnassius bremeri and Lasioglossum occidens), and one bird species (Phylloscopus inornatus) with ranges smaller than 1,000 ㎢ have less than 10% of their ranges within protected areas. Establishing specific conservation goals such as the protection of endangered species or vulnerable taxonomic groups will increase the efficiency of the biodiversity conservation strategies. In addition, lowland coastal areas are critical for biodiversity conservation because the protected areas in South Korea are mainly composed of high mountainous areas.

• Journal of Climate Change Research
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.235-243
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• 2018

Loss of favorable habitats for species due to temperature increase is one of the main concerns of climate change on the ecosystem, and endangered species might be much more sensitive to such unfavorable changes. This study aimed to analyze the impact of future climate change on endangered wild animals in South Korea by investigating thermal sensitivity and vulnerability to temperature increase. We determined thermal sensitivity by testing normality in species distribution according to temperature. Then, we defined the vulnerability when the future temperature range of South Korea completely deviate from the current temperature range of species distribution. We identified 13 species with higher thermal sensitivity. Based on IPCC future scenarios RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5, the number of species vulnerable to future warming doubled from 3 under RCP4.5 to 7 under the RCP8.5 scenario. The species anticipated to be at risk under RCP 8.5 are flying squirrel (Pteromys volans aluco), ural owl (Pteromys volans aluco), black woodpecker (Dryocopus martius), tawny owl (Strix aluco), watercock (Gallicrex cinerea), schrenck?s bittern (Ixobrychus eurhythmus), and fairy pitta (Pitta nympha). The other 10 species showing very narrow temperature ranges even without normal distributions and out of the future temperature range may also need to be treated as vulnerable species, considering the inevitable observation scarcity of such endangered species.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.167-175
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• 2017

We conducted a total of 28 surveys from March to October 2016 in Gayasan National Park, to identify threatened plants for climate change, as well as for the effective management of biological organisms and resources against climate changes in Korea. Regarding threatened plants for climate change, we identified a total of 39 taxa, with 11 northern, 2 southern, and 26 taxa of concern. Among these taxa, 33 were identified as wild species. The species threatened by climate change located in the subalpine regions of Gayasan National Park were Abies holophylla Maxim., Abies koreana Wilson, Pinus koraiensis Siebold & Zucc., Betula ermanii Cham., Berberis amurensis Rupr., Rhododendron tschonoskii Maxim., Vaccinium hirtum var. koreanum (Nakai) Kitam., Primula modesta var. hannasanensis T.Yamaz., Trientalis europaea var. arctica (Fisch.) Ledeb., Thymus quinquecostatus Celak., Parasenecio firmus (Kom.) Y.L.Chen, and Lilium cernuum Kom. These species are expected to be particularly vulnerable to the effects of global warming, since they were confirmed to have a very narrow vertical distribution range. Moreover, although the following species are not included in the list of plants threatened by climate change, it is assumed that the endemic species that grow at the summit, and Grade V floristics special plants, such as Pedicularis hallaisanensis Hurus., Allium thunbergii var. deltoides (S.O.Yu, S.Lee & W.Lee) H.J.Choi & B.U.Oh, Heloniopsis tubiflora Fuse, N.S.Lee & M.N. Tamura, Aletris glabra Bureau & Franch, and Gymnadenia cucullata (L.) Rich., will also be extremely vulnerable to climate change. Therefore, we believe that measures for the conservation of these species are urgently needed, and also that the definition of species threatened by climate change should be broadened to include more objective and valid taxa through the long-term monitoring of species distributed around the summit area.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2019.04a
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• pp.23-23
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• 2019

There are many island areas in Jeonnam Province and various plants are naturally grown due to their regional characteristics. Among them 217species were found to be Rare-Specialty plants in Jonnam Province. There are growing 35 species of Critically Endangered(CR), 37 species of Endangered Species(EN), 54 species of Vulnerable(VU) and 36 species of Least Concern(LC), many of which are native to islands far south or western of the sea. This report briefly describes the geographical distribution location and the state of reproduction among Rare-Specialty woody plants grown in the Warm-temperature Zone of Jeonnam Province. There are growing Michella compressa(Shinan-gun), Actinidia rufa(Wando-gun), Glochidion chodoense(Jindo-gun), Rhus ambigua(Yeosu), Wikstroemia ganpi (Goheung-gun, Yeosu) among of the 35 Critically Endangered species. Woody plants of Endangered Species(EN) are growing Albizia kalkora(Mokpo, Muan-gun), Daphne kiusiana(Shinan-gun), Marsdenia tomentosa(Wando-gun), Osmanthus insuralis(Yeosu, Shinan-gun). Woody plants of Vulnerable(VU) are growing Ardisia crenata(Wando-gun, Shinan-gun), Hibiscus hamabo(Wando-gun), Illicium anisatum (Jindo-gun), Koelreuteria paniculata(Wando-gun), Wikstroemia ganpi(Youngam-gun). Woody plants of Least Concern(LC) are Celtis choseniana(Yeosu), Chionanthus retusus(Wando-gun, Goheung-gun), Cinnamomum camphora(Wando-gun, Jindo-gun), Linder sericea(Boseong-gun).

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.107 no.2
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• pp.113-125
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• 2018

Subalpine zone is geographically vulnerable to climate change. Forest vegetation in this zone is one of the important basic indicator to observe the influence of climate change. This study was conducting phytosociological community classification and endemic-rare plants investigation based on vulnerable species to climate change at the subalpine zone, Mt. Jiri. Vegetation data were collected by 37 quadrate plots from March to October, 2015. In order to understand the species composition of plant sociological vegetation types and the ecological impacts of species, we analyzed the layer structure of vegetation type using important values. Vegetation type was classified into eight species groups and five vegetation units. The vegetation types can be suggested as an indicator on the change of species composition according to the future climate change. There were 9 taxa endemic plants and 17 taxa rare plants designated by KFS(Korea Forest Service) where 41.2% of them were the northern plant. Endemic-rare plants increased as the altitude of vegetation unit increase. Importance value analysis showed that the mean importance value of Abies koreana was highest of all vegetation units. Based on analysis of each layer, all units except vegetation unit 1 were considered to be in competition with the species such as Quercus mongolica and Acer pseudosieboldianum. The results of this study can be a basic data to understand the new patterns caused by climate change. In addition, it can be a basic indicator of long-term monitoring through vegetation science approach.