• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.424-431
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• 2014

Analysis of the fish community in Yeongwol Hanbando wetland in Korea was investigated from April to October 2012. During the survey period, total 33 species belonged to 10 families and 7,107 individuals. There were 18 Korean endemic species (52.94 %), including to Acheilognathus signifer. Also, the dominant species were Zacco koreanus at St. 1, 2, 3 & 5, as well Acheilognathus signifer at St. 6, and Pseudopungtungia tenuicorpus at St. 7, respectively, and these species were inhabited in the midstream. But at St. 4, Carassius auratus was dominance, so there appeared to characteristics of downstream or lentic habitat. Also, according to the similarity analysis on fish species and their individuals in each sites, they were divided into three major groups (A,B and C). Among them, group C (St. 4) showed the special inverse characteristics as a stagnant pond. unlike the river branch (group A) and anthropogenic disturbances receiving stream point (group B), Therefore, the ecosystem of Yeongwol Hanbando wetland is considered to very unique and these characteristics are not found in other stream ecosystems and it is confidently believed that the ecological value is very high.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.16-26
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• 2019

Wetlands that provide diverse ecosystem services, such as habitat provision and hydrological control of flora and fauna, constitute ecosystems through interaction between wetlands existing in a wetlandscape. Therefore, to evaluate the wetland functions such as resilience, it is necessary to analyze the ecological connectivity that is formed between wetlands which also show hydrologically dynamic behaviors. In this study, by defining wetlands as ecological nodes, we generated ecological networks through the connection of wetlands according to the dispersal model of wetland species. The characteristics of these networks were then analyzed using various network metrics. In the case of the dispersal based on a threshold distance, while a high local clustering is observed compared to the exponential dispersal kernel and heavy-tailed dispersal model, it showed a low efficiency in the movement between wetlands. On the other hand, in the case of the stochastic dispersion model, a low local clustering with high efficiency in the movement was observed. Our results confirmed that the ecological network characteristics are completely different depending on which dispersal model is chosen, and one should be careful on selecting the appropriate model for identifying network properties which highly affect the interpretation of network structure and function.

• Ecology and Resilient Infrastructure
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.171-183
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• 2023

Estuarine wetlands, which form a distinctive brackish water zone, serve as important habitats for organisms that have adapted to and thrive in this environment. Nonetheless, excessive development and utilization result in artificial disruptions that alter the distinctive functions and attributes of estuarine wetlands. To collect the basic data for the conservation of estuarine wetlands with excellent ecosystems, we investigated the vegetation distribution characteristics and biota status of the Taehwagang River Estuarine Wetland. Data from vegetation surveys have shown that 25 plant communities of six physiognomic vegetation types, including willow vegetation, lotic and lentic herbaceous vegetation, floating/submerged vegetation. In the upper reaches, where topographical diversity was high, various types of wetland vegetation were distributed. In terms of biodiversity, a total of 696 species, including 7 endangered wildlife species, were identified. Due to good ecological connectivity, tidal rivers are formed, brackish water species including various functional groups are distributed around this section. The inhabitation of various water birds, such as diving and dabbler ducks, were confirmed according to the aquatic environment of each river section. The collection of ecological information of the Taehwagang River Estuarine Wetland can be used as a framework for establishing the basis for conservation and management of the estuarine ecosystem and support policy establishment.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.385-403
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• 2017

This study showed the national ecosystem classification for the spatial standards of ecosystems-based approaches to the risk assessments and adaptation plan. The characteristics of climate change risk assessment, implement national adaptation plans, and ecosystem/habitat classification status was evaluated. Focusing on the land cover classification widely utilized as spatial data for the assessments of biodiversity and ecosystem services in the UK and other countries in Europe, the applicability of the national land cover classification for climate change risk assessments was reviewed. Considering the ecosystem classification for climate change risk assessment and establishing adaptation measures, it is difficult to apply rough classification method to the land cover system because of lack of information on habitat trend by categorization. The results indicated that forest ecosystems and agro-ecosystem occupied 62.3% and 25.0% of land cover, respectively, of the entire country. Although the area is small compared with the land area, wetland ecosystem (2.9%), marine ecosystem (0.4%), coastal ecosystem (0.6%), and urban ecosystem (6.1%) can be included in the risk assessments. Therefore, it is necessary to subdivide below the medium classification for the forest and agricultural land, as well as Inland wetland, which has a higher proportion of habitat preference of taxa than land area, marine/coastal habitat, and transition areas such as urban and natural ecosystem.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.33-42
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• 2005

Wetlands often function as a nutrient sink. It is well known that increased input of nutrient increases the primary productivity but it is not well understood what is the fate of produced biomass in wetland ecosystem. Water and sediment quality, decomposition rate of cellulose, and sediment accumulation rate in 11 montane marshes in northern Sierra Nevada, California were analyzed to trace the effect of nitrogen and phosphorus content in water on nutrient dynamics. Concentrations of ammonium, nitrate, soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) in water were in the range of 27 to 607, 8 to 73, and 6 to 109 ppb, respectively. Concentrations of ammonium, calcium, magnesium, sodium, and potassium in water were the highest in Markleeville, which has been impacted by animal farming. Nitrate and SRP concentrations in water were the highest in Snow Creek, which has been impacted by human residence and a golf course. Cellulose decomposition rates ranged from 4 to 75 % per 90 days and the highest values were measured in Snow Creek. Concentrations of total carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus in sediment ranged from 8.0 to 42.8, 0.5 to 3.0, and 0.076 to 0.162 %, respectively. Accumulation rates of carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus fluctuated between 32.7 to 97.1, 2.4 to 9.0, and 0.08 to $1.14gm^{-2}yr{-1}$, respectively. Accumulation rates of carbon and nitrogen were highest in Markleeville and that of phosphorus was highest in Lake Van Norden. Correlation analysis showed that decay rate is correlated with ammonium, nitrate, and SRP in water. There was no correlation between element content in sediment and water quality. Nitrogen accumulation rate was correlated with ammonium in water. These results showed that element accumulation rates in montane wetland ecosystems are determined by decomposition rate rather than nutrient input. This study stresses a need for eco-physiological researches on the response of microbial community to increased nutrient input and environmental change because the microbial community is responsible for the decomposition process.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.39-47
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• 2010

Annually, the scale of agricultural areas in Korea were being reduced as the lands were converted to other land uses. While the rate of productivity were either being maintained or increased, the pollution load from these areas were still greater in magnitude. Although the levels of pollutant concentration released in the agricultural watersheds were minimal, the combined quantities mostly from diffuse sources were high. As a consequence, the Ministry of Environment (MOE) in Korea adopted the use of free water surface (FWS) flow constructed wetlands to reduce the pollutant loadings emitted from agricultural watersheds for the improvement of water quality and protection of aquatic ecosystems. In this study, a constructed wetland treating stream water in an agricultural watershed was monitored since April 2009 subsequent to its completion in December 2008. Satisfactory performance was achieved for TSS, BOD and TP with 26%, 28% and 39% pollutant removal rates, respectively. In addition, the effluent water quality was improved and achieved compliance the national water quality criteria. Results of this study can be useful to establish design parameters and employ proper removal techniques of similar natural treatment systems for future implementation in the country.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.11-27
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• 2016

This study is a survey of the flora distributed in Seocheon tidal flat wetland protected area of nearby island (Daejuk-do, Tokki-deung, Muk-do) and Yubo-do Seocheon-gun Chuncheongnam-do, Korea. The numbers of vascular plants were summarized as 231 taxa including 65 families, 167 genera, 204 species, 2 subspecies, 23 varieties and 2 forms. The halophytes were 33 taxa including 15 families, 29 genera, 29 species, 3 varieties and 1 form (Chenopodium album var. stenophyllum, Cnidium japonicum, Juncus haenkei and so on). The rare plants were 4 taxa including Pseudoraphis ukishiba (VU), Belamcanda chinensis (VU), Phacelurus latifolius (LC) and Polygonum bellardii (DD). The Korean endemic plants were 2 taxa including Salix pseudolasiogyne and Forsythia koreana. In the specific plants by floristic region were 24 taxa, a degree I were 19 taxa (Rhodotypos scandens, Zanthoxylum planispinum, Cynodon dactylon and so on), 2 taxa of a degree III (Elymus mollis and Asparagus oligoclonos), 3 taxa of a degree IV (Polygonum bellardii, Wisteria floribunda and Pseudoraphis ukishiba) and degree II, V were not found. The naturalized plants were 40 taxa including Phytolacca americana, Sicyos angulatus, Lactuca scariola and so on. Naturalization rate (NR) was 17.3% of all 231 taxa of vascular plants and urbanization index (UI) was 12.5% of all 321 taxa of naturalized plants. This study was performed to used as a basic data to identify the protected from plant ecosystems of type classify into analyze the vegetation characteristic of based on flora distributed in Yubu-do and nearby islands.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.17-23
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• 2021

Background: Montane wetlands are unique wetland ecosystems with distinct physicochemical characteristics, and Molinia japonica often makes dominant communities in montane wetlands in South Korea. In order to figure out the environmental characteristics of M. japonica habitats and the major factors for the growth of M. japonica, field surveys were conducted in five wetlands from September to October 2019. Also, soil was collected at every quadrats installed in surveyed wetlands to analyze the physicochemical features. Results: The relative coverage of M. japonica was higher in low latitude wetlands than in high latitude. Redundancy analysis showed that soil water content had the strongest effect on the growth of M. japonica (F = 23.0, p < 0.001). Soil water content, loss on ignition, and relative light intensity showed a high correlation with the density (R = 0.568, 0.550, 0.547, respectively, p < 0.01) and the coverage of M. japonica (R = 0.495, 0.385, 0.514, respectively, p < 0.01). Soil water content, loss on ignition, and pH were highly correlated with each other. Conclusions: Molinia japonica lives in acidic wetlands at high altitude in temperate zone of low latitude, with peat layer placed on the floor. Also, M. japonica prefers open spaces to secure enough light for photosynthesis. High shoot production of M. japonica resulted in adding new peat material in every year, and this layer enforces the environmental characteristics of M. japonica habitats. This study may provide insights for further understanding of the method how wetlands maintain acidic condition by itself in montane wetlands in temperate zone.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.1-16
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• 2011

This study was intended to develop and suggest 'residents-driven and citizen-participatory restoration procedures' for degraded ecosystems in BaigDooDaeGahn. With some concerns of current engineering-focused restoration approach for damaged ecosystem, the proposed procedures were designed based on the analysis of several case studies on citizen participatory projects such as the Habitat Movement, the Taean tidal wetland restoration effort in Korea, and some historical and innovative cases in Japan and the United States. The suggested procedures were considered to be a dialectical spiral model which was consisted of two goal axis, six system elements, four developmental stages, and five restoration steps. The new system and procedures were applied to damaged farmland areas (about 0.3 ha) on the top of BaigDooDaeGahn, Kangneung city with participation of more than 100 local residents and a dozen of citizen from Seoul. Both high level of possibilities and some barriers for future extended application were identified and adopted for the final version of the proposed procedures for ecological restoration.

• Journal of Environmental Policy
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.57-89
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• 2007

The Korean government has put mamy efforts into the protection of ecological values of coastal and marine ecosystems since the mid 1990s, recognizing ecological values and economic contributions of coastal and marine ecosystems. Rapid increase of coastal and marine protected areas in terms of number and size implies the innovative change of national policy regarding ecosystem protection. As of the end of 2006, the total number and size of the protected areas account for 425 and $10,666.8km^2$ respectively. Despite of this achievement, the current policy regime on the protected areas has not been quite successful dealing with in managerial issues. The ambiguity and the lacking objectivity of designation criteria have, been causes of pending issues such as conflict outbreaks, 'paper parks', duplicated designation, etc. This paper aims at improving current designation criteria based on AHP(Analytic Hierarchy Process). The suggestion of the study covers both the new designation criteria and the weighing factor on each criterion considering different ecological and socio-economic characteristics of 'wetland protected area' and 'marine protected area'.