• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
• /
• v.34 no.6
• /
• pp.589-600
• /
• 2020

Effective conservation and management of protected areas require monitoring the settlement of invasive alien species and reducing their dispersion capacity. We simulated the potential distribution of invasive alien plant species (IAPS) using three representative species distribution models (Bioclim, GLM, and MaxEnt) based on the IAPS distribution in the forest genetic resource reserve (2,274ha) in Uljin-gun, Korea. We then selected the realistic and suitable species distribution model that reflects the local region and ecological management characteristics based on the simulation results. The simulation predicted the tendency of the IAPS distributed along the linear landscape elements, such as roads, and including some forest harvested area. The statistical comparison of the prediction and accuracy of each model tested in this study showed that the GLM and MaxEnt models generally had high performance and accuracy compared to the Bioclim model. The Bioclim model calculated the largest potential distribution area, followed by GLM and MaxEnt in that order. The Phenomenological review of the simulation results showed that the sample size more significantly affected the GLM and Bioclim models, while the MaxEnt model was the most consistent regardless of the sample size. The optimal model overall for predicting the distribution of IAPS among the three models was the MaxEnt model. The model selection approach based on detailed flora distribution data presented in this study is expected to be useful for efficiently managing the conservation areas and identifying the realistic and precise species distribution model reflecting local characteristics.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
• /
• v.36 no.1
• /
• pp.1-29
• /
• 2022

This study surveyed the Mt. Teomo·Hyeolgu and surrounding areas in Ganghwa Island, located in Ganghwa-gun, Incheon, to identify vascular flora and alien plants to be used as basic data for systematic management of the remarkable plants and biodiversity conservation. The survey was carried out 13 times from March 2019 to October 2020. The identified vascular flora of Mt.Teomo·Hyeolgu was 101 families, 321 genera, 517 species, 13 subspecies, 38 varieties, 5 forms, and 573 taxa. They accounted for about 12.35% of a total of 4,641 taxa of vascular plants in Korea. The identified Northern lineage plants, endemic plants, and rare plants on the Korean Peninsula as designated by IUCN were 68 taxa, 10 taxa, and 9 taxa, respectively. 69 taxa were classified as floristic target species. Three taxa, including Maui sedge [Carex thunbergii var. appendiculata (Trautv. & C.A.Mey.) Ohwi] were identified s Class IV and 14 taxa, including Violet Stanavoi clematis (Clematis fusca var. violacea Maxim.) were identified as Class III. The naturalized plants that appeared in the study site were 63 taxa, including daisy fleabane [Erigeron annuus(L.) Pers.], common ragweed [Ambrosia artemisiifoliaL.] and Canadian fleabane [Conyza canadensis(L.) Cronquist]. The above three species were found to have spread throughout Ganghwa Island and surrounding areas such as Seokmo Island, Gyodong Island, and Gimpo city. As introduced disturbing plants like prickly lettuce [Lactuca scariola L.], bur cucumber [Sicyos angulatus L.] and field dock [Rumex acetosella L.] have been newly reported in the Mt. Teomo·Hyeolgu area, mid- to long-term conservation measures should be established for native plants, such as remarkable plants, and also management measures like physical removal should be prepared at an early stage.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
• /
• v.110 no.3
• /
• pp.369-392
• /
• 2021

This study aimed to provide basic data for efficient flora management of vascular plants, halophytes, and naturalized plants in the Gwangpo Bay area in Sacheon city, Gyeongsangnam-do. The flora found in this area incorporated 520 taxa, including 93 families, 299 genera, 466 species, 3 subspecies, 41 varieties, and 10 forma, and accounted for approximately 10.6% of total vascular plants (4,884 species) in Korea. According to the survey, 76 species of Gramineae showed the highest frequency (14.6%), followed by 67 species of Compositae (12.8%), 34 species of Leguminosae (6.5%), 27 species of Cyperaceae (5.2%), and 22 species of Rosaceae (4.2%). Rare plant species designated by the Korea Forest Service were categorized into six taxa, including three taxa in the LC grade, one taxon in the CR grade, one taxon in the VU grade, and one taxon in the EN grade. Korea endemic plants belonged to nine taxa consisting of seven families, seven genera, and nine species. The special floristic plants included 44 taxa, including one taxon (Prunus yedoensis) in the V grade, four taxa in the IV grade, ten taxa in the III grade, six taxa in the II grade, and 23 taxa in the I grade. Naturalized plants included 62 taxa consisting of 15 families, 47 genera, 59 species and 3 varieties. Halophytes consisted of 27 taxa, including 13 families, 24 genera, 24 species, 2 varieties, 1 forma, which consisted of Atriplex gmelinii, Suaeda glauca, Suaeda maritima, and Lathyrus japonicus. Invasive alien species in the Gwangpo Bay area included seven taxa. Since Ambrosia artemisiifolia, Sicyos angulatus, andPaspalum distichum var. indutummay have harmful effects on native plants, these plants must be artificially controlled.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
• /
• v.25 no.2
• /
• pp.103-123
• /
• 2016

This study is a comparison of the flora and case studies distributed in Gulup-do Ongjingun, Incheon. The numbers of vascular plants were summarized as 282 taxa including 81 families, 201 genera, 252 species, 3 subspecies, 22 varieties and 5 forms. The Raunkiaer life forms are analyzed in hemicryptophytes were 66 taxa (23.4%) in dormancy form, non-clonal growth ($R_5$) were 160 taxa (56.7%) in propagation form of radicoid form, having no special modification for dissemination ($D_4$) were 197 taxa (48.6%) in propagation form of disseminule form, erect form (e) were 117 taxa (41.5%) in growth form. The halophytes were 23 taxa including Salsola collina, Asparagus oligoclonos and so on. The rare plants were 7 taxa including Pyrrosia hastata (VU), Senecio nemorensis (VU) and so on. The Korean endemic plants were 5 taxa including Hepatica insularis, Lespedeza maritima and so on. In the specific plants by floristic region were 38 taxa, a degree I were 23 taxa (Dictamnus dasycarpus, Vitex rotundifolia and so on), 6 taxa of a degree II (Morus cathayana, Euphorbia esula and so on), 8 taxa of a degree III (Pyrrosia hastata, Rhodotypos scandens and so on), Senecio nemorensis of a degree V and degree IV were not found. The naturalized plants were 17 taxa including Robinia pseudoacacia, Bromus tectorumand so on. Of those Ambrosia artemisiifolia is a invasive alien plants. Naturalization rate (NR) was 6.0% of all 282 taxa of vascular plants and urbanization index (UI) was 5.3% of all 321 taxa of naturalized plants. Gulup-do and adjacent Baega-do were locally investigated field work and it summarizes the results of a total of 41 islands literature in Ongjin-gun and Ganghwa-gun, Incheon including uninhabited islands, Baengnyeong-do, Daecheong-do and so on. The average number of species were each analyzed in about 89 taxa, rare plants are about 2 taxa, endemic plants are about 1 taxa, naturalized plants are about 4 taxa. This study was the comparison of the flora and literature distribution case that the Gulup-do maintain the naturalness and continuously conducted to explore the future conservation measures the adjacent islands.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
• /
• v.25 no.2
• /
• pp.89-102
• /
• 2016

Damyang riverine wetland was designated as a wetland protected area in 2004; that is located in the Yeongsan river mainstream. Total 30 phytosociological releves at field studies were classified with 22 vegetation types including of 101 species (unidentified 1 species). Legends of actual vegetation map were separated by 6 types; riparian forest, substitute vegetation, synanthropic vegetation, wet meadow vegetation, open water, an area of wetland vegetation is about 35 % ($386,841.86m^2$). Results of this study area as follows. The plant society of Damyang riverine wetland was conjectured that it was formed by rapidly water environment change with installed weir on the upstream of protected area and operating of Damyang dam on top of the basin. Until recently, the terrace land on the river was used to cultivate, but that would be formed fallow vegetation scenery on riverfront caused by no cultivation after designated protected area. Paspalum distichum var. indutum community designated as invasive alien plant by Korea Ministry of Environment was widely developed and Myriophyllum spicatumunrecorded in the country as newly alien species was discovered in the study zone. The plants as lapped over developing environment for Leersia japonica must be occupied habitat of native plant species having similar niche. The various plant society in Damyang riverine wetland should be developed because of environmental changes, disturbances and damages of stream.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
• /
• v.37 no.1
• /
• pp.22-34
• /
• 2024

Recently, in several regions of Korea, we discovered the occurrence of Sagina micropetala Rauschert and S. procumbens L. All the plants of the genus Sagina growing in Korea are 5-merous and belong to the sect. Spergella. However, the two taxa we discovered belong to the sect. Saginella and are 4-merous. In addition, morphological characteristics such as sepals during the fruiting season and seeds were significantly different from those of species of the genus Sagina that occur in Korea. To clearly identify these species, we compared and observed their primary morphological characteristics using illustrated books and literature. Morphologically, S. micropetala exhibits the following traits: pubescence along the leaf margin, horizontally spreading sepals with red margins, and convex protrusions on the seed surface. In contrast, S. procumbens can be distinguished by its pedicels, which are curved during the flowering season and erect during the fruiting season. This plant also has broadly ovate sepals with white or yellowish-green margins, and flat seed surface protrusions. In terms of molecular analyses, 19 samples of Sagina were divided into two clades (S. micropetala and S. procumbens), confirming the taxonomic identity of the Sagina spp.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
• /
• v.51 no.3
• /
• pp.250-293
• /
• 2021

Limestone areas are sedimentary rock outcrops consisting of calcium carbonate created several hundreds of millions of years ago by calcium-secreting marine organisms and subsequently lifted above sea level by tectonic movement. Limestone areas support very high levels of endemic species of plants and are recognized as biodiversity areas with much biological information. The purpose of this study is to devise a strategy for the comprehensive conservation of the vegetation of limestone areas through analyses of the floristics and plant species compositions in ten limestone areas on the Korean Peninsula. The results of 153 field surveys from April of 2010 to October of 2016 identified 1,202 taxa in total, representing 1,096 species, 18 subspecies, 84 varieties, 2 forms, and 2 hybrids in 530 genera and 133 families. Among them, 55 taxa were endemic plants to Korea, and 38 taxa were red data plants. The floristic target plants amounted to 102 taxa, specifically 27 taxa of grade V and 75 taxa of grade IV. In all, 121 alien plants were recorded in the investigated area. Calciphilous plants amounted to 102 taxa, specifically 14 taxa of calciphilous indicator plants, 30 taxa of superlative most calciphilous plants, and 58 taxa of comparative more calciphilous plants. A cluster analysis showed a high degree of similarity between sites that are geographically adjacent with similar habitat environments. Limestone areas also supported groups distinct from those in non-limestone areas, demonstrating the specificity of limestone flora. Plant geography approaches therefore appear to be crucial to gain a better understanding of the level of biodiversity in limestone areas, not only at the interspecific but also at the intraspecific level. These results highlight the importance of protecting limestone habitats to preserve not only their interspecific but also the intraspecific diversity, which is highly threatened.

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

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
• /
• v.32 no.6
• /
• pp.450-462
• /
• 2023

This study suggested methodology of Citizen Science as a tool of ecosystem conservation and management to achieve Wetland Protected Area (WPA) Conservation Plan and examined whose applicability in 3 WPAs (Jangrok of Gwangju metropolitan city, Madongho of Goseong in South Gyeongsang Province, and Incheongang estuary of Gochang in North Jeolla Province). It consists of a) figuring out main interests and stakeholder or beneficiaries of WPA and their information demand based on conservation, utilization, and management target in the WPA Conservation Plan, b) conducting research activities to gain outcome to address stakeholder's demand, and c) returning the research outcome to citizen scientists and making diffusion to the society. Based on the suggested method and process, citizen scientists conducted ecosystem monitoring (plants including Invasive Alien Plants, terrestrial insects, traces of mammals, discovering unknown wetland). As a result, citizen scientists contributed to collecting species information of 16 plans, 43 species of terrestrial insects, 5 mammals including Lutra lutra (Endangered Species I) and Prionailurus bengalensis (Endangered Species II). The authors constructed and provided distribution map of Invasive Alien Plants, which included information of location and density which citizen scientists registered, for Environment Agencies and local governments who manage 3 WPAs to aid data-based ecosystem policy, In further studies, not only accumulating research data and outcomes acquired from citizen science to suffice the policy demands but also deliberate reviewing policy applicability and social·economic ripple effect should be processed for the suggested Citizen Science in WPA to be settled down as a tool of ecosystem conservation and management.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
• /
• v.31 no.4
• /
• pp.396-418
• /
• 2018

This study was carried out to investigate the flora and the vegetation of Samusan mountain on Jecheon-si, located in the middle part of the Korean peninsula. The vascular plants which were collected in 9 times from June 2014 to October 2015 were identified as 502 taxa in total, including 102 families, 314 genera, 445 species, 6 subspecies, 49 varieties, 1 form and 1 hybrid. The largest families were as follows; Asteraceae (70 taxa), Poaceae (52 taxa), Rosaceae (30 taxa), Fabaceae (28 taxa), and Cyperaceae (20 taxa). Of them, Korean endemic plants numbered 10 taxa, and vascular plants listed in the red data according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) numbered 14 taxa. The floristic regional indicator plants found in this area were 61 taxa in total. Among them, 5 taxa revealed the floristic grade V, 11 for floristic grade IV, 14 for floristic grade III, 10 for floristic grade II, and 21 for floristic grade I. The alien plants were identified as 43 taxa and the percentage of naturalized index (NI) was 8.6%, and urbanization index (UI) was 13.4%, respectively. Samples of the forest vegetation on the Samusan Mt. were mainly classified as Pinus densiflora, Quercus variabilis, Q. acutissima, Q. mongolica, Zelkova serrata and Robinia pseudoacacia forest. The vertical structures of the forest were stable and the DBH-Class analyses showed that the dominant tree species would be maintained. In the surveyed areas, high plant diversity was shown, and a number of endemic, rare, calcicole plants and phytogeographically important plants were found. Nonetheless, numerous and diverse biological resources native have been consistently disturbed or damaged by human activities without some form of protection. Therefore, it is needed to set up strategies for conservation forest vegetation in this study area.