• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• v.26 no.12
• /
• pp.738-751
• /
• 2023

The Sembilan Archipelago is famous for its great biodiversity, in which the humphead wrasse (Cheilinus undulatus) (locally named Napoleon fish) is the primary commodity (economically important), and currently, the environmental degradation occurs due to anthropogenic activities. This study aimed to examine the eco-environmental parameters and assess their influence on the abundance of humphead wrasse and other coral reef fish compositions in the Sembilan Archipelago. Direct field monitoring was performed using a visual census throughout an approximately one km transect. Coral cover data collection and assessment were also carried out. A coastal water quality index (CWQI) was used to assess the water quality status. Furthermore, statistical-based analyses [hierarchical clustering, Pearson's correlation, principal component analysis (PCA), and canonical correspondence analysis (CCA)] were performed to examine the correlation between eco-environmental parameters. The Napoleon fish was only found at stations 1 and 2, with a density of about 3.8 Ind/ha, aligning with the dominant composition of the family Serranidae (covering more than 15% of the total community) and coinciding with the higher coral mortality and lower reef fish abundance. The coral reef conditions were generally ideal for supporting marine life, with a living coral percentage of about > 50% in all stations. Based on CWQI, the study area is categorized as good and excellent water quality. Of the 60 parameter values examined, the phytoplankton abundance, Napoleon fish, and temperature are highly correlated, with a correlation coefficient value greater than 0.7, and statistically significant (F < 0.05). Although the adaptation of reef fish to water quality parameters varies greatly, the most influential parameters in shaping their composition in the study area are living corals, nitrites, ammonia, larval abundance, and temperature.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
• /
• v.21 no.1
• /
• pp.55-71
• /
• 2018

To improve the ecological function of urban areas, the guideline for applying the Biotope Area Ratio to the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) was developed in 2005 and modified in the July, 2017. This study investigates whether the guideline has been actually practiced in the real world by searching reports including 648 cases of the Strategic Environmental Impact Assessment (SEIA) and 471 cases of the EIA. The results show that the 38% of SEIA and the 43% of EIA include sections about Biotope Area Ratio, and the 15% of SEIA and the 25 % of EIA are satisfied the threshold of the Biotope Area Ratio suggested by the guideline. The statistical analysis results show that this low level of practice was not improved through the modification of the guideline in 2017. This is because the guideline is forcibleness, its explanation is unclear, and stockholders' understanding of it lacks. In addition, lack of tracking management on SEIA and EIA also contributes to the low level of practice of the guideline. To promote the practice, the efforts to legislate and publicize the guideline are required.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.45 no.4
• /
• pp.237-254
• /
• 2021

Background: Some of the introduced alien species introduced settle, multiply, and spread to become invasive alien species (IAS) that threaten biodiversity. To prevent this, Korea and other countries legally designate and manage alien species that pose a risk to the environment. Moreover, 2160 alien species have been introduced in South Korea, of which 1826 animals and 334 plants are designated. The inflow of IAS can have negative effects such as ecosystem disturbance, habitat destruction, economic damage, and health damage to humans. To prevent damage caused by the inflow of IAS in advance, species that could potentially pose a risk to the environment if introduced in South Korea were designated as alert alien species (AAS). Results: The designation criteria were in accordance with the "Act on the Conservation and Use of Biological Diversity" and the "Regulations on the Ecological Risk Assessment of AAS and IAS" by the National Institute of Ecology. The analysis result of risk and damage cases indicated that mammals affect predation, competition, human economic activity, virus infection, and parasite infection. Birds have been demonstrated to affect predation, competition, human economic activity, and health. It was indicated that plants intrude on the ecosystem by competing with native species with their high-population density and capacity to multiply and cause allergic inducement. Interestingly, 300 species, including 25 mammals, 7 birds, 84 fishes, 28 amphibians, 22 reptiles, 1 insect, 32 spiders, 1 mollusk, 1 arthropod, and 99 plants, are included in the list of AAS. Conclusions: AAS designation plays a role in preventing the reduction of biodiversity by IAS in South Korea and preserving native species. Moreover, it is determined to provide considerable economic benefits by preventing socio-economic losses and ecological damage.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
• /
• v.28 no.1
• /
• pp.71-81
• /
• 2019

This study aims to provide basic data for the decision-making process in selecting sites for wetland restoration projects. To this end, the current list of demaged wetlands was identified based on the findings from the nationwide monitoring project in 2016 targeted at wetlands in inland areas. Then, to determine the necessity of restoration for these demaged sites, the cause of demage was investigated, and their conservation value was examined from an ecological and legal perspective. The 2016 monitoring project identified a total of 20 demaged wetlands, of which one site was deemed to have high conservation value through analysis of its ecological and legal values and on-site reviews. The results of this study are expected to support policymakers' decision-making in selecting wetlands for restoration projects since it identifies priority sites among demaged wetlands that require immediate restoration efforts. It should also be pointed out that wetlands in South Korea cannot benefit from legal protection despite their high conservation value unless they have a designated status as protected areas.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
• /
• v.19 no.4
• /
• pp.381-396
• /
• 2010

It is essential to consider strategies, spatial planning, and reflection of sustainability for the creation of sound urban spaces. To this end, there is a need for plans that can secure better sustainability through strategic environmental assessment (SEA) of plans. This study examined the literature and available precedent to develop a SEA model for administrative plans for urban development including metropolitan plans, urban master plans and urban management plans. In the course of development of the model, environmental issues associated with the urban plans were analyzed by classifying them into ten categories, including "spatial planning," "conservation planning," "greenbelt systems," "habitats." and etc. according to their rank. Furthermore, those issues were reflected on the development of environmental evaluation indices for the plans. Overall and detailed environmental indices that can be applied to the administrative plans for urban development including metropolitan plans, urban master plans and urban management plans were devised for five stages: (1) Establishment of development goals and strategy, (2) Analysis of current status and characteristics, (3) Conceptualization of spatial structure, (4) Planning for each department, and (5) Execution and management. Sub plans are more detailed and concrete. Criteria based on the evaluation indices, when performing evaluations on plans based on each environmental assessment index in reference to experts and the literature, were used to forecast their effects, i.e. whether they had a positive, negative, or no effect or relationship, or whether their effects was uncertain. Based on the forecasts, this study then presents means to establish more improvable plans. Furthermore, by synthesis of the effects according to each index and integration of the process, plans were analyzed overall. This study reflects the characteristics of the present time period based on issues in the SEA process and techniques in upper level administrative plans being newly established, and presents them according to the stage of each plan. Furthermore, by forecasting the effect of plans by stage, this study presents proposals for improvement, and in this aspect, can be meaningful in promoting plan improvements through SEA.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
• /
• v.29 no.5
• /
• pp.307-322
• /
• 2020

This study was conducted to obtain information relevant to resolving problems related to artificially introduced plants in ecological restoration projects. We investigated artificially introduced plants and plants growing naturally from its surroundings in the active restoration sites of the Ecosystem Conservation Fund Return Project (ECFRP) of the Ministry of Environment and the Civilian Control Zone Forest Restoration Project (CCZFRP) of the Korea Forest Service. We also analyzed the characteristics of native, exotic, and cultivated plants in addition to their Raunkiaer's life forms. Furthermore, we compared the planted areas and inhabited areas, as well as the characteristics of the habitats of native plants among the planted plants. We found that among the plants planted in the ECFRP, 50.4% were native, 6.8% were exotic, and 42.9% were cultivated. Meanwhile, in the CCZFRP, 78.6% were native, 21.4% were exotic. We also noted that many native plants were found in the planted areas that were far from their habitats. In addition, we identified many native plants that were planted in areas judged to have characteristics different from that of their natural habitat. In the case of Raunkiaer's life forms, the planted plants showed high ratios of megaphanerophytes (MM) and microphanerophytes (N), while the invasive plants showed high ratios of therophytes (Th) and hemicryptophytes (H). When restoring the ecosystem, the ratio of planting native plants should be higher than that of exotic or cultivated plants. Moreover, the habitats and ecological characteristics should be considered when selecting native plants to enhance the effect of ecological restoration.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
• /
• v.19 no.6
• /
• pp.547-552
• /
• 2010

The theory of island biogeography has influenced strongly on the conservation and management issues of species diversity in the islands. The theory has not limited to islands in the ocean, but expanded to isolated and fragmented areas in the forests and urban. This study has a rare opportunity to explore the species diversity and abundance of birds in the islands of Korea. A total of 151 islands in the west and south areas in the Korean peninsula were examined. The number of species and the area of islands were highly significant (P<0.000) and the number of species and the distance from the mainland showed not so strong relationship. This indicated that bird species diversity has more influenced by the size of the islands not the distance. This can be from the study species of birds that can fly long distance, and also natural characteristics of migratory and resident status. Species-area curve showed that the z-value was 0.21 indicating the area and the bird species are strongly correlated. The long-term monitoring of bird species presence in the islands should be followed for a proper management plan.

• BMB Reports
• /
• v.50 no.1
• /
• pp.3-4
• /
• 2017

Recent advances in genome sequencing technologies have enabled humans to generate and investigate the genomes of wild species. This includes the big cat family, such as tigers, lions, and leopards. Adding the first high quality leopard genome, we have performed an in-depth comparative analysis to identify the genomic signatures in the evolution of felid to become the top predators on land. Our study focused on how the carnivore genomes, as compared to the omnivore or herbivore genomes, shared evolutionary adaptations in genes associated with nutrient metabolism, muscle strength, agility, and other traits responsible for hunting and meat digestion. We found genetic evidence that genomes represent what animals eat through modifying genes. Highly conserved genetically relevant regions were discovered in genomes at the family level. Also, the Felidae family genomes exhibited low levels of genetic diversity associated with decreased population sizes, presumably because of their strict diet, suggesting their vulnerability and critical conservation status. Our findings can be used for human health enhancement, since we share the same genes as cats with some variation. This is an example how wildlife genomes can be a critical resource for human evolution, providing key genetic marker information for disease treatment.

• The Transactions of the Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers A
• /
• v.48 no.8
• /
• pp.941-950
• /
• 1999

This paper presents a DSM monitoring methodology that is able to evaluate the impact of DSM programs especially focused on the strategic conservation i.e. the enhancement of end-use energy efficiency. For an effective assessment of DSM programs, it is foremost necessary to examine the market characteristics on the specific end-use appliance according to the customer's adoption of DSM programs. The proposed monitoring methodology contains a diffusion process of high efficient end-uses considering major factors of DSM impact such as, price, reference capacity, forecasted capacity and lifetime of end-use appliances. Case studies show the projection of power reductions and energy savings resulted from DSM monitoring in order to diagnose the current status properly and provide a baseline of DSM policy and analysis.

• Journal of the korean society of oceanography
• /
• v.34 no.1
• /
• pp.36-42
• /
• 1999

To assess present status of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) contamination in Kyeonggi Bay, Namyang Bay, and Lake Shihwa, 63 sediment samples were analyzed and applied to equilibrium partitioning approach. Sediment quality criteria (SQC) for exposure to Kanechlor mixture (KC-mix) was calculated as a value of 16 ${\mu}$g/g-organic carbon (OC). Two sites (Sites Kl8 and Kl9) within Incheon North Harbor (INH) with total PCBs concentrations 48 and 38 ${\mu}$g/g-OC, respectively, exceeded SQC, indicating a potential of adverse biological effects. The advantage and disadvantage of equilibrium partitioning approach has been discussed.