• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.292-303
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• 2022

Background: Climate change significantly influences the geographical distribution of plant species worldwide. Selecting indicator species allows for better-informed and more effective ecosystem management in response to climate change. The Korean Peninsula is the northernmost distribution zone of warm temperate evergreen broad-leaved (WTEB) species in Northeast Asia. Considering the ecological value of these species, we evaluated the current distribution range and future suitable habitat for 13 WTEB tree species designated as climate-sensitive biological indicator species. Results: Up-to-date and accurate WTEB species distribution maps were constructed using herbarium specimens and citizen science data from the Korea Biodiversity Observation Network. Current northern limits for several species have shifted to higher latitudes compared to previous records. For example, the northern latitude limit for Stauntonia hexaphylla is higher (37° 02' N, Deokjeokdo archipelago) than that reported previously (36° 13' N). The minimum temperature of the coldest month (Bio6) is the major factor influencing species distribution. Under future climate change scenarios, suitable habitats are predicted to expand toward higher latitudes inland and along the western coastal areas. Conclusions: Our results support the suitability of WTEB trees as significant biological indicators of species' responses to warming. The findings also suggest the need for consistent monitoring of species distribution shifts. This study provides an important baseline dataset for future monitoring and management of indicator species' responses to changing climate conditions in South Korea.

• 한국균학회소식:학술대회논문집
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• 2015.11a
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• pp.30-30
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• 2015

This study was conducted aiming with the assessment of fungal diversity in soil samples collected from different locations of Jeollabuk-do and Chungcheongbuk-do, Korea. Forty soil samples were collected in 2015 and fungi were isolated through serial dilution technique. Isolated fungi were purified and differentiated according to their morphological and microscopic characteristics. In total, 150 different representative isolates were recovered and the genomic DNA of each isolate was extracted by using QIAGEN$^{(R)}$ Plasmid Mini Kit (QIAGEN Sciences, USA) and the identification of fungi was carried out by sequence analysis of internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of the 18S ribosomal DNA (18S rDNA). Recovered isolates belonged to 37 family, 67 genera and 108 species. Aspergillus spp., Penicillium spp., Trichoderma spp., Chaetomium spp. And Fusarium spp. were the most dominant taxa in this study. Out of total species, 20 species were identified as new records for Korea.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2003

The Master Plan of Natural Environment Conservation in Korea by Ministry of Environment has been carried out since 1986. The 2nd 10-year survey started in 1997, and there are three major parts in the Master Plan : First, the basic natural environment survey, second, sites in special features of ecological characteristics such as uninhabitable islands, wetlands, etc, and third, biological species featuring status of habitat, and population dynamics. However the information in the Master Plan is very fragmented and collected data are not so abundant due to insufficient man-power and unsynchronized survey time/season. In this regard this paper examined the similar National Biological Survey in USA and compared the differences with the Master Plan in Korea. The Master Plan in Korea should separate the management zone based on hydrological characteristics, and in each zone we should set a management goal in the long term basis. Secondly the species list is not so meaningful that we must concentrate more on research activities. In each taxonomical group we set up hypotheses and research goals. Thirdly local residents and communities should be involved in research so that enhanced biological diversity should benefit people in areas. Lastly legislation and laws should be reexamined and rectified to provide information to the managers that deals with natural resources, expecially when conflicting with economic matters.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.288-301
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• 2023

This study aims to identify benthic macroinvertebrate fauna inhabiting at the mountain valley stream (Mt. Cheonggye) in Korea and the relationship between physical environmental factors and biological indices. Benthic macroinvertebrates were collected at five locations on August 24 and October 14, 2020, and were identified as 4 phyla, 7 classes, 16 orders, 42 families, and 72 species. Dominance ranged from 0.38 to 0.59, diversity 2.81 to 3.75, richness 3.25 to 4.63, evenness 0.65 to 0.84, and %EPT (Ephemeroptera-PlecopteraTrichoptera) richness value 42% to 73%, respectively. All sites were evaluated as a very good status by mostly biological indices based on tolerance of indicator organisms in Korea. As a result of principal component analysis, biological indices are classified into species-level indices and higher cartegory-level indices according to the taxonomic level of the indicator organism considered in each index. As a result of canonical correspondence analysis, it was confirmed that current velocity was a major factor that increased species richness and classified biological indices according to taxonomic category level. Water depth was a major factor related to the community indices, and the deeper the water depth, the lower the diversity and the evenness.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.7-24
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• 2023

More than five hundreds of yeast species (including 9 variants) encompassing 142 genera and 48 classes of 2 phyla exist in Korea. However, only 173 species have been cataloged in the National Species List of Korea (NSLK), the backbone reference to claim sovereign rights over biological resources, as of December 2021, due to the lack of taxonomic descriptions, although some of these species are extensively used in industry. The present pilot study investigated the taxonomy of strains belonging to the six most widely used or frequently isolated yeast species (Meyeromyma guilliermondii, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Saccharomycopsis fibuligera, Wickerhamomyces anomalus, Candida tropicalis, and Papiliotrema flavescens) to include these species in the NSLK. Strains with diverse habitats and geographic origins were retrieved from the National Institute of Biological Resources culture collection. These strains clustered in the same clade as the type strains of the designated species according to phylogenetic analysis of the D1/D2 sequences. Moreover, we described the cell morphology and physiological characteristics of representative strains of each species. This study suggests that these six species are indigenous to Korea and can be accordingly listed in the NSLK.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.561-572
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• 2010

The efficiency of biological hydrolysis at $80^{\circ}C$ on municipal solid waste mixed with anaerobic digestion sludge was investigated in 100L batch reactors. The hydrolysis effect was observed within a day, when the hydrolysis reactor used for a pre-treatment reactor for methanogenesis, and the effect was observed during two days, When the reactor used for post-treatment reactor. For both configurations, methane production rate decreased, when hydrolysis was carried out more than a day. Gaseous ammonia in the hydrolysis reactors was successtully removed by the ammonia stripping system. Microbial diversity analysis on the hydrolysis reactors indicated dependency of microbial diversity on the configuration of the hydrolysis reactors. Carbohydrate and lactate degrading microbes dominated in the hydrolysis reactor, when the hydrolysis reactor used for a pre-treatment reactor for methanogenesis, while protein degrading microbes dominated in the post-treatment reactor.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.205-211
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• 2004

A 16S rDNA clone library was generated to investigate the bacterial diversity in tidal flat sediment in Ganghwa Island, Republic of Korea. A total of 103 clones were sequenced and analyzed by comprehensive phylogenetic analyses. No clones were identical to any of known 16S rRNA sequences in public databases. Sequenced clones fell into thirteen lineages of the domain Bacteria: the alpha, beta, gamma, delta, and epsilon Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, CFB group, Chloroflexi, Acidobacteria, Planctomycetes, Verrucomicrobia, and known uncultured candidate divisions (OP11, BRC1, KSB1, and WS1). Two clones were not associated with any known bacterial divisions. The majority of clones belonged to the gamma and delta Proteobacteria (46.7%). Clones of Actinobacteria were distantly related to known taxa. It is evident from 16S rDNA-based community analysis that the bacterial community in tidal flat sediment is remarkably diverse and unique among other marine environments examined so far.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.43-53
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• 2007

Recently, controversy over intellectual property rights for protecting genetic resources and traditional knowledge has been emerging. Very active debates and global discussions are being carried out in various international organizations for possible approaches to be taken for these properties, and for the fair and equal sharing of the benefits from these intellectual properties. There is a need to evaluate adopting a sui generis system which is being pushed by developing nations, or adopting a policy which will guaranteee benefit sharing such as sharing royalties from marketing final products, technical transfers, capacity building, and participating in research activities. Also, it is very important to examine the legal issues concerning genetic resources based on Convention on Biological Diversity for the fair and equal sharing of the benefits with developing nations, at the same time assuring developed nations of access to genetic resources.

• Mycobiology
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.237-247
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• 2016

Aspergillus (Trichocomaceae, Eurotiales, and Ascomycota) is a genus of well-defined asexual spore-forming fungi that produce valuable compounds such as secondary metabolites and enzymes; however, some species are also responsible for diseases in plants and animals, including humans. To date, 26 Aspergillus species have been reported in Korea, with most species located in terrestrial environments. In our study, Aspergillus species were isolated from mudflats and sea sand along the western and southern coasts of Korea. A total of 84 strains were isolated and identified as 17 Aspergillus species in 11 sections on the basis of both morphological characteristics and sequence analysis of the calmodulin gene (CaM) locus. Commonly isolated species were A. fumigatus (26 strains), A. sydowii (14 strains), and A. terreus (10 strains). The diversity of Aspergillus species isolated from mudflats (13 species) was higher than the diversity of those from sea sand (five species). Four identified species-A. caesiellus, A. montenegroi, A. rhizopodus, and A. tabacinus-are in the first records in Korea. Here, we provide detailed descriptions of the morphological characteristics of these four species.

• ALGAE
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.99-109
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• 2019

Habitat-forming species increase spatial complexity and alter local environmental conditions, often facilitating the assembly of plants and animals. We conducted a trait-based approach to algal assemblages associated with the freshwater bryozoan, Pectinatella magnifica. Association with algae leads to the inner bodies of the bryozoans being colored green; this is frequently observed in the large rivers of South Korea. We collected the green-colored gelatinous matrices and phytoplankton from waterbodies of the two main rivers in South Korea. Algal assemblages within the colonies and in the waterbodies were compared using the three diversity indices (richness, diversity, and dominance), and the composition of functional groups (FGs) and morphologically based functional groups (MBFGs) between the colonies within and outside of P. magnifica colonies. The most dominant and common species within the colonies were Oscillatoria kawamurae and Pseudanabaena catenata, both of which were assigned to the same FG (codon S1). Of the algal assemblages within the colonies, the dominance was higher, while the richness and diversity were lower, than those in the waterbodies. There was variation in the compositions of FGs and MBFGs in the waterbodies outside the colonies. Total nitrogen and orthophosphate led to dominance, and were significant factors for the variation in FGs in the waterbodies, whereas there were no such significant factors within the colonies. This trait-based approach to the community structure of associated algae provides the status and habitat gradient of these communities, which are stable, isolated, and consistent with the overgrowth of shade-adapted tychoplanktonic cyanobacteria.