• Ecology and Resilient Infrastructure
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.237-246
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• 2022

Owing to their high bioproductivity and unique physical environment, estuarine wetlands are gaining importance in national biodiversity management and habitat conservation. With regard to conservation and management of estuarine wetlands, this study analyzed the ecological characteristics of Gahwacheon Estuarine Wetland, an open estuary with various habitat types. Data from vegetation and biotic surveys have shown that 12 plant communities of five physiognomic vegetation types, including lentic herbaceous vegetation, halophytic herbaceous vegetation, and chasmophytic herbaceous vegetation. Due to the discharge of Namgang Dam and the effect of the tide, vegetation are distributed along the narrow waterside area. In terms of biodiversity, a total of 715 species, including 12 endangered wildlife species, were identified. Species diversity was relatively high in sections I and III where various riverbed structures and microhabitats were distributed. Due to the effect of the brackish water area following the inflow of seawater, endangered wildlife of various functional groups were also found to be distributed, indicating the high conservation value of that area. The collection of ecological information of the Gahwacheon Estuarine Wetland can be used as a framework for establishing the basis for conservation and management of the estuarine ecosystem and support policy establishment.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.70-78
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• 2017

The Hwasan wetland vegetation is observed at mountain basin (644~780 m a.s.l.) where had become a potential land for indigenous people since prehistoric period. We phytosociologically investigated old-growth alder (Alnus japonica) forests using the $Z\ddot{u}rich$-Montpellier School's method and analyzed their spatial distribution pattern by actual vegetation map. Species performance was determined by using coverage and r-NCD. Viburnum opulus var. calvescens-Alnus japonica community syntaxonomically belonging to the Alnetea japonicae was first described and composed of three subunits: Salix koreensis subcommunity, typical subcommunity, and Pyrus ussuriensis subcommunity. Present plant community was compared with vicariant syntaxa such as Molinia japonica-Alnus japonica community, Rhamno nipponicae-Alnetum japonicae, and Aceri-Salicetum koreensis. Hwasan's alder forest, an alluvial terrace vegetation type on valley fan in the montane zone, is evaluated as vegetation class [I], which is a sort of benchmark plant community potentially on mountain wetlands in southeastern part of the Korean Peninsula. Simultaneously we suggested an establishment of the national strategy for habitat conservation free from hydrologically radical transform due to military utilization.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Environment and Ecology Conference
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• 2007.04a
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• pp.34-36
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• 2007

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.157-168
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• 2017

Backswamp is the section of a floodplain where deposits of fine silts and clays settle after a flood. In general, the wetland is composed of diverse ecosystems, and is characterized by ecotone. The purpose of this study was to analyze vegetation naturalness and to assess vegetation value by syntaxonomy and synecology of Useupje backswamp at Yeongsan river. As a result, the vegetation was divided into four physyiognomy types and 14 vegetation units depending on the species composition and habitats. The vegetation units confirmed in the study were as follow: Spirodela polyrhiza community as floating plant; Trapa bispinosa var. inuma community and Trapa bispinosa var. inumai-Nelumbo nucifera community as floating-leaved plant; Paspalum distichum community, Persicaria thunbergii community and Phalaridetum arundinaceae as lentic vegetation in the eulittoral zone; Scirpo fluviarilis-Zizanietum latifoliae and Typha angustata community in the emerged zone; Scirpetum tabernaemontani and Phragmitetum australis in the littoral zone; Carex dimorpholepis-Salix subfragilis community ecotone region of upland. According to the study, the vegetation distribution was highly affected by water level and artificial interference. Moreover, the development of vegetation units showed a significant relationship between species composition and habitats. Although vegetation value of Useupje resulted by vegetation naturalness was identified as the grade [III], the ecological value is expected to upward evaluation because of unique vegetation and geographical location.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.90-102
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• 2018

Background: We sought to understand the relationship between the seed bank and vegetation in abandoned rice paddies in South Korea, in order to guide management of these sites. We investigated the floristic composition and species richness of the soil seed bank and ground vegetation in former paddies along three seral gradients (wet meadow, young forest, and mature forest) in Gwangneung Forest Biosphere Reserve. Results: Seed bank samples contained 59 species, of which the dominant families were Cyperaceae, Gramineae, and Polygonaceae. Species richness and seedling density (59 taxa and 19,121 germinants from all samples) were high. Carex spp. (11, 921 germinants) were the dominant taxa. The species composition in the seed bank changed gradually as the land transitioned from wet meadow to mature forest. Sørensen's index of similarity between above- and below-ground vegetation was 29.3% for wet meadow, 10.8% for young forest, and 2.1% for mature forest. Germinant density also declined, with 10, 256 germinants for wet meadow, 6445 germinants for young forest, and 2420 germinants for mature forest. Conclusions: Changes in aboveground environment and life history traits such as amphicarpic plants, likely affect the composition of soil seed bank species. Abandoned paddy fields may be good sites for restoration of wetland forest and conservation of wetland habitat. Some intervention may be required to promote the recovery of a natural species assemblage.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.43-56
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• 2014

In this study, ecological investigation was performed on Yong-neup, Daeam-san for 5 times. This area is considered DMZ zone located between Yanggu-gun and Inje-gun, Gangwon-do, where has been recognized highly valuable for ecological preservation. As a result, Sphagnum and hydrophobic vegetation were found in Little Yong-neup, revealing its characteristics of high moor, where as no Sphagnum were found in Baby Yong-neup. Thereby, the carnification has been investigated in both Little Yong-neup and Baby Yong-neup. A main cause of damage was associated with the creation of stating rink and increases of visitors. The damages of vegetation in Little Yong-neup and Baby Yong-neup have been intensified by road construction or uses of groundwater while relocating military troops to upper stream of Little Yong-neup and Baby Yong-neup, further causing the damages of water circulation system and soil erosion. These artificial factors have caused the carnification of wetland protection areas including Little Yong-neup. The terrestrial vegetations, such as Plantago asiatica, Geranium Koreanum and Artemisia feddei have increased compared to current survey conducted by the Ministry of Environment. 5 endangered species, such as Lychnis wilfordii and Trientalis europaea and 5 other introduced species, such as Aster pilosus and Taraxacum officinale were found. 10 different species of mammal and 2 species of amphibian were investigated; and in addition to this, a original form of Sphagnum fens, the remaining wetland was found. Therefore, this study is to identify the causes of damages in Little Yong-neup and Baby Yong-neup through their ecological survey and accordingly proposing a direction for ecological restoration through the improvement of water circulation system, creation of habitats for plant and animal, restoration of vegetation through eco-friendly materials and indigeneity, relocation of the current military troops, securing of structural stability.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.145-153
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• 2010

An-yang stream is a branch stream connecting to Han river and regarded as a national stream. This study chose the representative stream of An-yang and identified vegetation and flora. The ecological survey aimed at identifying indicator of urban streams for measuring to protect urban areas and to promote wetland conservation. A total of 266 species were identified into 35 Orders, 78 Families. The introduced species of Sicyo angulatus need a special treatment to reduce the population. The wetland vegetation is quite various and we suggested 11 different vegetation zones depending on introduced species and amenity between human and nature, This will lead to blue-network to crease favorable environment and manage important species for this region.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Geographic Information Studies
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.50-61
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• 2010

This study was carried out to find out the way to build a comprehensive wetland ecosystem database using the technique of remote sensing and Geographic Information System. A Landsat TM image (taken in Oct. 30, 2002), Kompsat-2 images (Jan. 17, 2008 & Nov. 20, 2008), LiDAR(Mar. 1, 2009) were used for the primary source for the image analysis. Field surveys were conducted March to August of 2009 to help image analysis and examine the results. An actual wetland vegetation map was created based on the field survey. Satellite images were analyzed by unsupervised and supervised classification methods and finally categorized into such classes as Phragmites australis community, mixed community, sand beach, Scirpus planiculmis community and non-vegetation intertidal area. The map of wetland productivity was developed based on the productivity of Phragmites australis and the relationship to the proximity of adjacent water bodies. The developed 3 dimensional wetland map showed such several potential applications as flood inundation, birds flyway viewsheds and benthos distribution. Considering these results, we concluded that it is possible to use the remote sensing and GIS techniques for producing wetland ecosystem spatial database and these techniques are very effective for the development of the national wetland inventory in Korea.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.432-445
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• 2018

Vegetation and water characteristics of an eco-technological water purifying biotope were investigated at five years after the wetland construction. A total of 91 vascular plant species in 36 families were recorded. Initially planted emergent macrophytes such as Phragmites australis, P. japonicus, Zizania latifolia, Typha latifolia, and T. angustifolia mainly comprised the vegetational components of the wetland. The effect of water purification was observed markedly in most indicators such as electric conductivity (P < 0.01), $NO_3-N$ (P < 0.05), $NH_4-N$ (P < 0.001), $K^+$ (P < 0.05), $Na^+$ (P < 0.01), and $Mg^{2+}$ (P < 0.01). In particular, $NO_3-N$ and $NH_4-N$ concentrations decreased to about 60% and 30%, respectively, via the purification process of the wetland. Separativeness and curvature from the meandering structure of 15 units (multi-cell wetland system) seemed likely to make the wetland continuously play a role as an eco-technological water purifying biotope. We recommend that eco-technological design factors should be included in wetland constructions for efficient and continuous functioning, thus enhancing ecological values of wetlands.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.39-49
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• 1999

Urban streams have, recently, been straightened and widened to alleviate flooding problem. As a result, the stream have been modified inadvertently for ecological functions and microtopography. In this study, we investigated riparian vegetation and microtopography of the tributaries of Han River before and after the monsoon rain in summer. The purpose of this study was to relate the stream microtopography to the distribution of riparian vegetation. The stream microtopography was investigated for its scale and pattern. Vegetation was investigated from 131 plots by Braun-Blanquet method. The distribution of riparian vegetation was significantly correlated with the stream microtopography. Various herbaceous species occurred at stream bank slop, high terrace and channel side. However, at channel side and concave part of terrace where soils were in high moisture level, only a few wetland species were dominated. The complexity of the microtopography in the stream corridors led to heterogeneous riparian vegetation. The vegetation showed more stability against flooding at the stream corridors with natural and complex microtopography than at the urban-type stream corridors with simple topographical features. The results showed that the development of riparian vegetation was influenced by the changes in microtopography, which was primarily determined by the shape and characteristics of channel. It seemed that a close-to-nature river system would be restored more readily with an understanding of microtopographical features affecting the distribution of riparian vegetation.