• Journal of Species Research
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.266-277
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• 2022

The current surveys of Ulva in the subtidal area around Jeju Island give a chance to discover unrecorded green algal species of the Korean macroalgal flora. As a result of this investigation, we found Ulva adhaerens Matusmoto & Shimada, inhabiting the subtidal regions, up to 15 m deep, and conducted the DNA barcoding on plastid rbcL-3P and tufA regions with describing the morphological characteristics. Our specimens of U. adhaerens forms a monophyletic clade with the Japanese type specimen and U. piritoka Ngāti Kuri, Heesch & W.A. Nelson from New Zealand exhibiting each 0.3% sequence divergences, respectively, in the plastid rbcL-3P. The genetic variation of U. adhaerens clade is 1.0-3.9% in rbcL-3P and 4.8-9.8% in tufA to each Ulva species, including the generic type, U. lactuca Linneaus. The morphology of Korean U. adhaerens specimens is identical to the type specimens of U. adhaerens from Japan having the development of rhizoidal filaments from both of the cell layers of the distromatic blade and the extension of rhizoidal clumps with adhesive trait between blades by extended rhizoidal clumps at the basal blades. The thallus attachment to substrate is by numerous minute discoidal plates made up of rhizoids originating from the inner part of distromatic blades in basal. Although there are still some problems to resolve the relationship between U. adhaerens and U. piritoka in the rbcL dataset and the phylogenetic pattern of the Group II intron of rbcL, we propose the new record of U. adhaerens in Korean macroalgal flora based on the morphological characteristics of Korean specimens. Continued study of the genus Ulva by morphological and molecular assessment will delimit the species of Ulva, elucidate the relationships between them, and uncover the species diversity.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.177-189
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• 2022

Nature-based Solutions (NbS) are defined as practical and technical approaches to restoring functioning ecosystems and biodiversity as a means to address socio-environmental challenges and provide human-nature co-benefits. This study reviews NbS-related literature to identify its key characteristics, techniques, and challenges for its application in climate-adaptive water management. The review finds that NbS has been commonly used as an umbrella term incorporating a wide range of existing ecosystem-based approaches such as low-impact development (LID), best management practices (BMP), forest landscape restoration (FLR), and blue-green infrastructure (BGI), rather than being a uniquely-situated practice. Its technical form and operation can vary significantly depending on the spatial scale (small versus large), objective (mitigation, adaptation, naturalization), and problem (water supply, quality, flooding). Commonly cited techniques include green spaces, permeable surfaces, wetlands, infiltration ponds, and riparian buffers in urban sites, while afforestation, floodplain restoration, and reed beds appear common in non- and less-urban settings. There is a greater lack of operational clarity for large-scale NbS than for small-scale NbS in urban areas. NbS can be a powerful tool that enables an integrated and coordinated action embracing not only water management, but also microclimate moderation, ecosystem conservation, and emissions reduction. This study points out the importance of developing decision-making guidelines that can inform practitioners of the selection, operation, and evaluation of NbS for specific sites. The absence of this framework is one of the obstacles to mainstreaming NbS for water management. More case studies are needed for empirical assessment of NbS.

• Proceedings of the National Institute of Ecology of the Republic of Korea
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.104-114
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• 2023

In this study, the distribution, bait preference, hosts, symbionts, habitat status, and cytochrome c oxidase subunit-I sequences of the ant Linepithema humile were analyzed. This species habitat comprised approximately 1.5 km along stone crevices, flower gardens, roadsides, and container yards in the vicinity of Busan station, Korea. Feeding activity of this species was confirmed in 9 species of 7 families of plants. Which was approximately 14% of total flora (63 species of 37 families) in the studied area. Particularly, it was observed that Dendranthema indicum and Camellia japonica were the most frequently visited. Further, we verified that they interacted with four species of aphids. We identified 22 species of ants (17 genera, 4 subfamilies) inhabiting the Busan station area, including L. humile, Tetramorium tsushimae, Nylanderia flavipes and the alien species Paratrechina longicornis. In areas where L. humile was the dominant species, the habitat of local native ants was reduced by approximately 30%. Bait preference was ranked in the following order: jelly, water with glucose (25%), and yogurt, with the highest preference for baits containing sugar and protein. The 630-bp cytochrome c oxidase subunit-I sequences of the local L. humile populations were 99% identical to those of L. humile in the National Center for Biotechnology Information database, and the Argentine ants that invaded Korea had a sequence identical to that of other invasive populations from China, Japan, and New Zealand. As L. humile rapidly increases due to domestic adaptation, continuous monitoring and control strategy for eradication are needed to protect domestic biodiversity.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.114-125
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• 2024

Wetlands in the living area are important ecological resources that are the basis for the daily life or farming activities of local residents, and have high ecological value such as ecosystem services and green infrastructure. This study was carried out to develop a functional evaluation methodology optimized for small-scale wetlands(RAMS). Based on on-site evaluation by experts, surveys and in-depth interviews, four functional items, including biodiversity, health, hydrophilic culture and ecology, water circulation, and carbon absorption, and 15 detailed indicators, and the evaluation grade for each detailed indicator, were developed on a 5-point scale. The evaluation methodology optimized for small-scale living areas wetlands (RAMS) proposed as a result of this study can be used as basic data for conservation and restoration and management of small-scale living areas wetlands at home and abroad.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.302-314
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• 2023

This study aims to explore the direction for Korea's effective response to Target 3 (30by30), which can be said to be the core of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (K-M GBF) of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), to find the direction of systematic OECM (Other Effective area-based Conservation Measures) discovery at the national level through a survey of global conceptual review and expert perception of OECM. This study examined ① the use of Korean terms related to OECM, ② derivation of determining criteria reflecting global standards, ③ deriving types of potential OECM candidates in Korea, and ④ considerations for OECM identification and reporting to explore the direction for identifying systematic, national-level OECM that complies with global standards and reflects the Korean context. First, there was consensus for using Korean terminology that reflects the concept of OECM rather than simple translations, and it was determined that "nature coexistence area" was the most preferred term (12 people) and had the same context as CBD 2050 Vision of "a world of living in harmony with nature." This study suggests utilizing four criteria (1. No protected areas, 2. Geographic boundaries, 3. Governance/management, and 4. Biodiversity value) that reflect OECM's core characteristics in the first-stage selection process, carrying out the consensus-building process (stage 2) with the relevant agencies, and adding two criteria (3-1 Effectiveness and sustainability of governance and management and 4-1 Long-term conservation) and performing the in-depth diagnosis in stage 3 (full assessment for reporting). The 28 types examined in this study were generally compatible with OECMs (4.45-6.21/7 points, mean 5.24). In particular, the "Conservation Properties (6.21 points)" and "Conservation Agreements (6.07 points)", which are controlled by National Nature Trust, are shown to be the most in line with the OECM concept. They were followed by "Buffer zone of World Natural Heritage (5.77 points)", "Temple Forest (5.73 points)", "Green-belt (Restricted development zones, 5.63 points)", "DMZ (5.60 points)", and "Buffer zone of biosphere reserve (5.50 point)" to have high potential. In the case of "Uninhabited Islands under Absolute Conservation", the response that they conformed to the protected areas (5.83/7 points) was higher than the OECM compatibility (5.52/7 points), it is determined that in the future, it would be preferable to promote the listing of absolute unprotected islands in the Korea Database on Protected Areas (KDPA) along with their surrounding waters (1 km). Based on the results of a global OECM standard review and expert perception survey, 10 items were suggested as considerations when identifying OECM in the Korean context. In the future, continuous research is needed to identify the potential OECMs through site-level assessment regarding these considerations and establish an effective in-situ conservation system at the national level by linking existing protected area systems and identified OECMs.

• Journal of Agricultural Extension & Community Development
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.1125-1147
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• 2014

This study was conducted to develop the health evaluation indicator of pond wetland in order to enhance the quality of eco-experience in rural area. The methods for development of evaluation indicator were consisted of 3 stages; 1st, the precedent assessment protocol was applied to 10 pond wetlands in farm villages, and eco-experience expert survey was conducted to selection the evaluation item and criteria at 2nd and 3rd stages. In the results of applying the precedent assessment protocol, we found out two problems; 1) the evaluation result of value determination and conservation value were too simple, and 2) the score by evaluation items were nearly the same, because evaluation criteria in not precisely for application in rural area. These results were reflected to expert survey. According to the 1st survey results, they suggested that 4 items should be maintained, and 3 items should be deleted, and 2 items should be modified among a total of 9 times. Therefore, it was modified into the evaluation protocol having a total of 8 items. According to the 2nd survey results, the selected evaluation items were generally proper. With regard to items for assessing the health condition of pond wetland, we selected a total of 8 items; (1) Connectivity to forest, (2) Connectivity between water body and wetland connection, (3) Number of Vegetation, (4) Surround land use, (5) Interspersion of Vegetation, (6) Crossing Structure, (7) Wetland size, and (8) Outlet structure. In addition, it was suggested that accessibility, visibility, and trash were need for utilization of pond wetland as a place for eco-experience. It is expected that the selected evaluation indicator can help to utilize the pond wetland as an eco-experience space in rural area, and maintain the pond wetland as a space for conservation of biodiversity.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.79-92
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• 2020

This study aimed at analyzing the current status and further needs of ecological information which is provided with the civil servants in the process of climate change adaptation planning in ecosystem sector and at providing suggestions for future development of ecological knowledge on climate change. Therefore, we conducted a questionary survey titled as "the knowledge-base and information needs for climate change adaptation in ecosystem sector" with the civil servants who are engaged with adaptation practices in the ecology related divisions in 17 regional local governments (RLG) and the affiliated basic local governments (BLG) in Korea. As a result, the characteristics of ecological information which is applied in public practices was analyzed and strategies for improved utilization was suggested. 75% of the respondents (RLG 85% and BLG 72%) were aware of the relativeness between the existence and utilization of ecological information and the execution of climate adaptation practices in ecosystem sector. They were agreed with the necessity of ecological information not only in adaptation practices but also overall affairs in the ecological related division in the local government (RLG 82% and BLG 72%). The current situation of utilizing ecological information which is produced from central orlocal government to civil affairs were only represented as 64 persons (28%) in RLG and 42 persons (18%) in BLG. One of the major obstacles that the respondents confront with when applying ecological information to public practices was deficit of prior knowledge on the ecological information itself, such as awareness of the characteristics of ecological information and the link with public affairs for adaptation plans. Therefore, delivering current knowledge and ecological information on climate change by educational and promotional method is an urgent priority to the civil servant. The future needs on ecological information for local government servants were deduced as basic information on local ecosystem and applied knowledge on local development to meet the biodiversity conservation and ecosystem services at the same time. The respondents expected not only the specific guidelines for using ecological information to apply on the adaptation plans in the relevant divisions of the local governments but also the institution where the usage activation of ecological information would be operated and managed to enhance the information utilizing structure in the local government. In the nation-wide, the capacity of local governments should be enhanced with adaptation knowledge and the application of appropriate information to the public practices by central government's aiding with the better quality of information, its public promotion, and the applicability to civil affairs.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.227-241
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• 2017

A human in urban areas has depended on ecosystem for well-being, so it is important to evaluate urban ecosystem services which contribute significantly to human well-being. In this study we classified ecosystem functions and set indicators used for evaluating ecosystem services of urban park by Delphi method. As a result, it derived 12 items and 14 indicators of ecosystem services to evaluate them such as vegetable garden, canopy cover, biodiversity, and educational programs. Based on the derived evaluation indicators, the feasibility of the indicators was examined by applying to two urban parks, Maetan park and Seoho-Ggotme park, in Suwon City. We also suggested strategies to improve each ecosystem services based on the results of evaluation. It is significant to recognize unknown services in urban parks. The results can be used for improving urban ecosystem services consistently in response to current rapid urbanization. In the future, the city should make a master plan on ecosystem service on urban area, beyond urban park, considering both of quality and quantity.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.315-330
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• 2017

The aim of this study is to examine the damage of plants in the islands due to the habitat and feeding of European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) and to suggest future management plan. The survey area Beomseom Island is found to be a vegetation distribution type that was formed secondary by the exposure of artificial interference except for evergreen vegetation distribution and European rabbit showed high habitat track density mainly in the lumbering area. Kkamakseom Island was identified as a severe vegetation distribution area due to interference, and European rabbit showed high habitat track density around deciduous broad leaved forests. Feeding plants of European rabbit was identified as a total of 12 families 17 breeds. Total 9 families 11 breeds were found in Beomseom Island while 5 families 6 breeds were found in Kkamakseom where most available food resources were loss to European rabbit. As for vegetation index of Beomseom Island, about 6.6% of total island area was declined and the vegetation index of Kkamakseom Island was reduced at most area of the island. In Kkamakseom Island, the area where EVI decreased to less than -0.008 unit/yr was reduced to 5.2%, and the area where it was reduced to -0.008 to -0.006 unit/yr in total was 13.32% of the total area. Thus, it was estimated to be seriously damaged by vegetation. Therefore, immediate management is required.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.711-716
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• 2012

Due to the climate change in South Korea the annual total precipitation will increase by 17 percent by 2100. Rainfall is concentrated during the summer in South Korea and the landslide of farmland by heavy rain is expected to increase. Because regional torrential rains accompanied by a storm continue to cause the damage in farmland urgent establishment of adaptation plant for minimizing the damage is in need. In this study we assessed vulnerability of landslide of farmland by heavy rain for local governments. Temporal resolution is 2000 year and the future 2020 year, 2050 year, 2100 year via A1B scenario. Vulnerability of local government were evaluated by three indices such as climate exposure, sensitivity, adaptive capacity and each index is calculated by selected alternative variable. Collected data was normalized and then multiplied by weight value that was elicited in delphi investigation. Current vulnerability is concentrated in Jeju island and Gyeongsangnam-do, however, it is postulated that Kangwon-do will be vulnerable in the future. Through this study, local governments can use the data to establish adaptation plans for farmland landslide by climate change.