• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.1-18
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• 2016

This study was carried out to investigate the flora of the western front (Paju-Yencheon Area) of the Civilian Control Zone. Vascular plants collected in these areas were a total of 558 taxa composing of 501 species, 3 subspecies, 48 varieties and 1 forma of 330 genera under 109 families This shows that 11% of the 4,880 vascular plant species that are known to exist in Korea is distributed in the western part of the DMZ. 1 taxa of endangered species designated by the Ministry of Environment was found: the Polygonatum stenophyllum Maxim in the edge of the military operation road from Taepung observatory to Imjin river. For the floristically specific ones of the Korean floristic zones, 3 taxa of the $5^{th}$ grade, 3 taxa of the $4^{th}$ grade, 13 taxa of the $3^{rd}$ grade, 13 taxa of the $2^{nd}$ grade and 22 taxa of the $1^{st}$ grade were found. For the endemic species of Korea, 4 taxa including Cirsium setidens (Dunn) Nakai were confirmed to be distributed mostly on the slope or the cutting area. Among the collected rare plants (11 taxa), there were 1 taxa of endangered species, 4 taxa of vulnerable species and 6 taxa of least concern species. Also, 51 taxa of naturalized plants were identified and 4 taxa of ecosystem disturbance organism designated by the Ministry of Environment were identified. The urbanization index and naturalization index for all species were estimated to be 15.89% and 9.14% respectively. Our survey is expected to be considered as primary data of biological diversity and ecological axis in the DMZ and the western part of the DMZ. According to the results of this study, it is thought to be necessary to establish policies for conservation and protection of the DMZ.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.272-289
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• 2017

This study analyzed the status of the naturalized plants in islands in Jeollanamdo from an island biogeographic perspective. As a result of a floristic analysis at 47 inhabited islands and 194 uninhabited islands, 30 families and 134 species naturalized plants are reported. The most commonly occurring naturalized plant from 141 islands was Rumex crispus. The average number of naturalized plants by islands is 20.6 species (${\pm}14.22$) at the inhabited islands and 3.7 species (${\pm}3.89$) at the uninhabited islands. Presence of fifty nine naturalized species at Geumodo in Yeosu-si is the largest in number. The naturalization ratio, which is the ratio of naturalized plants to native plants, is 7.66% (${\pm}3.96$) in the inhabitable islands and 4.97% (${\pm}3.70$) in the uninhabitable islands. The naturalization ratio among islands of the West Sea in Jeollanam-do is 5.92% (${\pm}4.49$), and it is higher than 4.96% (${\pm}2.15$) in islands in the South Sea. Especially, the naturalization ratio at the inhabitable islands, i.e., 8.39% (${\pm}4.37$) at the islands of the West Sea is higher than 5.80% (${\pm}1.41$) at islands in the South Sea. The naturalization ratio of naturalized plants at the islands shows positive correlation with the size of the island (r=0.412, p<0.01), but the correlations with distance from the mainland and altitude above sea level are not significant. Eight ecosystem disturbing species designated by law are reported, and each species shows distinct distributional ranges. The regional differences in the number of naturalized plant species seem to be a result of the complex reflection of natural and human environmental factors, such as the degree of traffic between mainland and islands, degree of cultivation activities, along with the physical environmental differences. Since islands have limited habitats and resources, islands could be more vulnerable to the incoming species from outside, and environmental changes than mainland. Therefore, continuous monitoring and management against the naturalized plants in islands are needed.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.480-489
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• 2021

Climate change poses great threats to wildlife populations by decreasing their number and destroying their habitats, jeopardizing biodiversity conservation. Asiatic salamander (Hynobiidae) species are particularly vulnerable to climate change due to their small home range and limited dispersal ability. Thus, this study used one salamander species, the Korean clawed salamander (Onychodactylus koreanus), as a model species and examined their habitat characteristics and current distribution in South Korea to predict its spatial distribution under climate change. As a result, we found that altitude was the most important environmental factor for their spatial distribution and that they showed a dense distribution in high-altitude forest regions such as Gangwon and Gyeongsanbuk provinces. The spatial distribution range and habitat characteristics predicted in the species distribution models were sufficiently in accordance with previous studies on the species. By modeling their distribution changes under two different climate change scenarios, we predicted that the distribution range of the Korean clawed salamander population would decrease by 62.96% under the RCP4.5 scenario and by 98.52% under the RCP8.5 scenario, indicating a sharp reduction due to climate change. The model's AUC value was the highest in the present (0.837), followed by RCP4.5 (0.832) and RCP8.5 (0.807). Our study provides a basic reference for implementing conservation plans for amphibians under climate change. Additional research using various analysis techniques reflecting habitat characteristics and minute habitat factors for the whole life cycle of Korean-tailed salamanders help identify major environmental factors that affect species reduction.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.59 no.3
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• pp.233-241
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• 2020

Several hard tick species in Ixodidae are medically important pests that transmit infectious disease including severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS). In Korea, the number of SFTS patients continues to steadily increase since its first report in 2013, and Gyeongsangbuk-do (province) is the second most frequent area of SFTS patient occurrence. In order to investigate the distribution of ticks in Sangju city, we collected ticks using the flagging method from 26 sites comprising urban green area, vulnerable area of management, and rural area, and examined SFTS virus from the collected ticks in 2019. Based on Collection Index (CI = tick number / 1 h / 2 people), CI 143 ticks, including Haemaphysalis longicornis, Haemaphysalis flava, and Ixodes nipponensis, were collected; the most abundant species among the three tick species was H. longicornis (CI 138, 96.5%). Ninety two percent (CI 131) of ticks were collected in vulnerable area of management, where people cannot easily enter and are not managed by city hall, whereas only 8.4% (CI 12) were collected in the urban green area and rural area. Regarding SFTS virus detection, virus was not investigated from 26 pools containing CI 143 ticks. The results of this study are expected to be used as a recommendation for ensuring the safety of local residents from tick-borne diseases.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.220-256
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• 2022

The most important thing for conserving plant diversity in an area is to make an overall inventory of the plant species inhabiting the area. In particular, limestone areas are known for their high plant diversity and distribution of specific plants. Despite that, only a few have been designated as protected areas. This study investigated the vascular plants distributed in Goyangsan Mtn. and Munraesan Mtn., located in limestone areas of the central part of the Korean Peninsula. A field survey was conducted eight times from April to October 2021. As a result, we identified a total of 654 taxa comprising 113 families, 357 genera, 592 species, 15 subspecies, 44 varieties, and 3 formulas. They included four endangered wild plant species: Astilboides tabularis, Eleutherococcus senticosus, Cypripedium macranthos, and Epilobium hirsutum. Endemic plants in Korea were identified as 32 taxa. Floristic target plants were identified as 168 taxa, specifically 5 taxa of grade V, 41 taxa of grade IV, and 36 taxa of grade III. The red data plants included 2 taxa as "Endangered (EN)", 7 taxa as "Vulnerable (VU)", and 7 taxa as "Near threatened (NT)". A total of 41 taxa of naturalized plants were identified, and 4 of them were invasive alien plants. The surveyed vicinity of Goyangsan Mtn. and Munraesan Mtn. showed high plant diversity and contained core habitats for distribution of an endangered wild plant, Astilboides tabularis,in the limestone area. Moreover, both mountains contained a small population of Cotoneaster integerrimus. These findings confirm that the area has conservation values. Therefore, we propose to identify areas with high plant diversity and designate them as special protected areas.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.69-79
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• 2013

We investigated the flora of Mt. Namdeogyu, southern regions of Deogyusan National Park, from April of 2011 to September of 2012. The number of vascular plants in this area were summarized as 507 taxa, including 102 families, 296 genera, 444 species, 8 subspecies, 49 varieties, 6 forms. Among the recorded taxa, Korean endemic plants were 9 species and the floristic regional indicator plants were 80 taxa including 3 taxa in grade V, 3 taxa in grade IV, 19 taxa in grade III category. The rare and endangered plants which was designated by Korea Forest Service were 15 taxa comprising 1 endangered species (EN) of Rhododendron tschonoskii, 5 taxa of vulnerable (VU) such as Cynanchum inamoenum, Lilium cernuum, Gastrodia elata, Bupleurum euphorbioides, Paeonia japonica, and 9 least concerned (LC). In addition, the subalpine plants of the region were summarized as 24 taxa, and Mt. Deogyu area inclunding the Mt. Namdeogyu was suggested as the north most limits line of the distribution for 2 taxa, Abies koreana and Rhododendron tschonoskii, and as the south most limit of the distribution for Bupleurum euphorbioides.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2020

Investigations of distribution status and extinction threat evaluation of the Korean endemic species, Iksookimia yongdokensis were undertaken from 2017 to 2018. Among the 22 streams and 97 sampling sites investigated during the study period, samples of I. yongdokensis were collected from 9 streams at 37 sites (from Daejongcheon Stream of Gyeongju-si to Songcheon Stream of Yeongdeok-gun). The appearance of I. yongdokensis was relatively common in streams such as Hyeongsangang River (15 stations), Yeongdeok Oshipcheon Stream (4 stations), Gokgangcheon Stream (4 stations), Chuksancheon Stream (3 stations) and Daejongcheon Stream (3 stations). The main habitat of I. yongdokensis was in pools on flat-land in streams of clean water with slow velocity, and with pebble, gravel and sand bottoms. Previous records of the appearance of I. yongdokensis, indicate they were first seen at seven stations including Jangsacheon Stream, but they were not present in Songcheon Stream. Compared to our results there is evidence as noted for a 38.9% reduction in occupancy within 3 generations (10.5 years), and a decline inhabitat quality. Therefore, I. yongdokensis is now considered vulnerable (VU A2ace) based on the IUCN Red List categories and criteria. The main reasons for the decline were assumed to be dry weathering in the river, the introduction and diffusion of exotic fish species Micropterus salmoides, and river refurbishment project.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.301-316
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• 2015

The endangered species, The Red-crowned Crane and the White-naped Crane are vulnerable species to the disturbance for human beings. We examined the importance of CCZ for the cranes by comparing the crane's density in some CCZ-released areas, which are cranes' wintering site in Cheorwon. We also assessed influence of disturbance such as construction and greenhouses on core habitats of cranes. Our study results suggested that the construction and reclamation in the CCZ shrunk core habitat area while increasing core area of far from the construction and reclamation area. The CCZ has been set since March, 2011 and the number of greenhouse has rapidly increased after 2012. As the number and size of greenhouse in the area where designation of CCZ was cancelled increased, foraging area of cranes diminished. Although the area where designation of CCZ was cancelled seemed to have more human disturbance than CCZ, the foraging density of cranes did not decline and even that of white-naped cranes increased. This could be the influence of artificial food supply at their roosting site. In conclusion, if the area of CCZ decline continuously in the future, density of cranes would decrease.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.189-199
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• 2013

The distribution status and habitat characteristics of the endangered species, Lethenteron reissneri were investigated in 2011~2012 in Korea. During the study period, L. reissneri were collected 60 stations among 755 sampling stations investigated. The total numbers of ammocoetes and adults were 208 and 435, respectively from eight stations of the Han River drainage system, four stations of Geum River drainage system, 32 stations of Seomjin and Yeongsan River drainage systems, and 16 stations of Nakdong River drainage system. The Han and Geum river drainage systems, the Sapkyo Stream and independent streams running toward the East Sea were estimated to have suffered sudden reductions of population density, whereas the Seomjin River drainage system showed increased population density compared with historic occurrence records. L. reissneri inhabited the middle-upper stream of clean water with well-developed rapids and lots of aquatic organisms. According to IUCN Red List categories and criteria L. reissneri was assessed to be vulnerable (VU) [B2ab (ii,iii,iv,v);D1] because of the rapid reduction of the occupying areas and the small number of mature individuals. Besides the distribution status and habitat characteristics we discussed the conservation strategies of L. reissneri.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.99-114
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• 2010

This study was carried out to clarify the distribution of vascular plants and their usefulness at Gallasan of Andong-si in Gyeongbuk (596.2 m, N $36^{\circ}29'396"{\sim}36^{\circ}29'356"$, E $128^{\circ}43'841"{\sim}128^{\circ}45'799"$). The vascular plants collected 13 times (April 2006 to August 2009) were consisted of total 424 taxa; 92 families, 273 genera, 365 species, 2 subspecies, 47 varieties and 10 forms. Among them, edible, medicinal, industrial, ornamental and unknown of usefulness plants were 239 taxa, 291 taxa, 109 taxa, 135 taxa, 24 taxa, respectively. Korean endemic plants of this area were 9 taxa, and Law-protected plants by Ministry of Environment were 2 taxa, and the special plants species based on floral region by Ministry of Environment were 7 taxa in grade III category, 1 taxa in grade IV category, 5 taxa in grade V category, rare plants were 1 taxon in critically endangered (CR), 3 taxa endangered species (EN), 2 taxa vulnerable (VU), the naturalized plants were 23 taxa.