• Animal Systematics, Evolution and Diversity
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.176-181
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• 2015

Biodiversity is plummeting worldwide, and the major causes of such decline include habitat degradation and climate change. While cities do contribute to the negative impact to the environment, they can also serve as strategic centres for conservation programs. Sites qualifying as biogeographic islands within metropolitan Seoul were studied for the occurrence of two hylid species: the endangered Hyla suweonensis and the abundant H. japonica. This study demonstrates that neither habitat diversity nor surface area, but solely the occurrence of aggregated rice paddies is a requisite for H. suweonensis, hypothetically due to its strict breeding requirements. On the contrary, H. japonica occurrence was not affected by any of these factors, and all types of habitats studied were adequate for this species. The presence of an endangered species within the boundaries of one of the most populated metropolises suggests a strong natural resilience, which should be enhanced with appropriate actions. We emphasize that the management plans therein can, and should, be used as the first step in the conservation of H. suweonensis in metropolitan Seoul.

• ALGAE
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.91-103
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• 2016

A goal of phylogeography is to relate phylogenetic patterns to potential historic and contemporary geographic isolating events. Genetic breaks found in phylogeographic studies may denote boundaries between more generally applicable biogeographic regions. We investigated the distribution of Lessonia variegata, an important habitat forming alga, found on most rocky shores around New Zealand’s main islands, plus related species from surrounding waters. L. variegata has been shown to consist of four distinct cryptic species. Our aim was to compare the distribution of L. variegata with proposed bioregions; and to develop phylogeographic hypotheses to explain its present day distribution. Both a mitochondrial (atp8-sp) and plastid (RuBisCo spacer) marker, with different mutation rates, were used to gain information of the phylogenetic history of Lessonia. The data revealed high phylogeographic structuring and reciprocal endemism for all L. variegata cryptic species. One species (L. variegata / N) is confined to the northern part of the North Island of New Zealand; L. variegata / W is found at the southeast of the North Island and the northern South Island; L. variegata / K is endemic to the northeast South Island; and L. variegata / S is restricted to the southern part of the South Island. No overlapping areas of L. variegata species distribution were found. The data showed that genetic breaks in Lessonia do mostly correlate to bioregions, and highlight the importance of Cape Campbell at the northeast of the South Island and East Cape in the North Island, well known phylogeographic breaks, as a barrier between adjacent species.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.489-494
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• 2006

For the ecosystem conservation and the effective management of naturalized plant species on 261 uninhabited islands distributed in southern and western sea in Korea, we tested the interrelationship between the pattern of distribution and dispersal of the naturalized plant species and the factors of geographical environment of uninhabited islands such as island area, distance from mainland, latitude, longitude, human impacts and habitat diversity. Out of 261 uninhabited islands surveyed, 106 species of the naturalized plants occurred on 229 (87.7%) islands. The naturalized plant species per island averaged 4.6 (SD=4.07) species, and plant species number were higher in southern group (87 species) than in western group (64 species) of islands. Plant species occurred on more than 100 islands were three species : Rumex crispus L. (153 islands), Erigeron annuus Pers. (130 islands), and Conyza canadensis (L.) Cronquist (121 islands), the highest grade '5' of 'degree of naturalization'. The occurrence frequency of 106 naturalized plant species was significantly correlated with island area, distance to mainland, strength of human impacts, and latitude and longitude. Correlation coefficient (r=-0.330) between occurrence frequency and distance from mainland was higher than between occurrence frequency and island area (r=-0.182). The result of path analysis confirmed that plant species number was significantly affected by island area p=0.336) and distance from mainland (p=-0.490), but in this analysis the effect of human impacts on plant species number was very weak (p=0.003). On the basis of these results, strategies on the conservation of ecosystem and the management of naturalized plant species in the uninhabited islands of Korea were discussed.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.272-289
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• 2017

This study analyzed the status of the naturalized plants in islands in Jeollanamdo from an island biogeographic perspective. As a result of a floristic analysis at 47 inhabited islands and 194 uninhabited islands, 30 families and 134 species naturalized plants are reported. The most commonly occurring naturalized plant from 141 islands was Rumex crispus. The average number of naturalized plants by islands is 20.6 species (${\pm}14.22$) at the inhabited islands and 3.7 species (${\pm}3.89$) at the uninhabited islands. Presence of fifty nine naturalized species at Geumodo in Yeosu-si is the largest in number. The naturalization ratio, which is the ratio of naturalized plants to native plants, is 7.66% (${\pm}3.96$) in the inhabitable islands and 4.97% (${\pm}3.70$) in the uninhabitable islands. The naturalization ratio among islands of the West Sea in Jeollanam-do is 5.92% (${\pm}4.49$), and it is higher than 4.96% (${\pm}2.15$) in islands in the South Sea. Especially, the naturalization ratio at the inhabitable islands, i.e., 8.39% (${\pm}4.37$) at the islands of the West Sea is higher than 5.80% (${\pm}1.41$) at islands in the South Sea. The naturalization ratio of naturalized plants at the islands shows positive correlation with the size of the island (r=0.412, p<0.01), but the correlations with distance from the mainland and altitude above sea level are not significant. Eight ecosystem disturbing species designated by law are reported, and each species shows distinct distributional ranges. The regional differences in the number of naturalized plant species seem to be a result of the complex reflection of natural and human environmental factors, such as the degree of traffic between mainland and islands, degree of cultivation activities, along with the physical environmental differences. Since islands have limited habitats and resources, islands could be more vulnerable to the incoming species from outside, and environmental changes than mainland. Therefore, continuous monitoring and management against the naturalized plants in islands are needed.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.405-412
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• 2016

We investigate the intraspecific morphological variations and geographical distributions from twelve populations (28 samples) of Orobanche coerulescens in Korea. Two main morphological types were detected, i.e., glabrous (G-type) and pilose (P-type), in the external morphology (stem, leaf, bract, calyx, and corolla). The G-type was found on Ulleung-do and Dok-do, and the P-type was observed on the coasts of South Korea, Jeju-do and Ulleung-do. The distinct difference in the morphological types and geographical distribution suggested the existence of two putative lineages with different distribution processes. O. coerulescens, distributed in very limited areas, was only identified as the G-type on Dok-do. Hence, conservation efforts should focus on protecting native habitats to conserve native species and the unique biogeographic significance of this species.