• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2019.10a
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• pp.32-32
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• 2019

The aim of this study was to provide basic guidelines for conservation and management of endangered plants in the national parks of Korea. Iris dichotoma Pall. (Iridaceae), which is a popular garden plant, is considered a second-class endangered species by Korean government and it is listed as a EN (Endangered) species in Red Data Book of Korea. We analyzed ecological conditions of I. dichotoma habitats based on vegetation properties and soil characteristics. This species which is known to inhabit in grassland adjacent to the ocean of lowlands slope and its population was located at an elevation of 8 m to 11 m. In the study sites, the mean of soil organic matter, total nitrogen and soil pH were 6.16%, 0.234% and 5.39 respectively. Additionally, the genetic variation and structure of three populations were assessed using ISSR (Inter Simple Sequence Repeat) markers. The genetic diversity of I. dichotoma (P = 59.46%, H = 0.206, S = 0.310) at the species level was relatively high. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) showed 82.1% of the total genetic diversity was occurred in within populations and 17.9% variation among populations. Lastly, we developed predicted distribution model based on climate and topographic factors by applying SDMs (Species Distribution Models). Consequently, current status of I. dichotoma habitats is limited with natural factors such as the increase of the coverage rate of the herbs due to ecological succession. Therefore, it is essential to establish in situ and ex situ conservation strategies for protecting natural habitats and to require exploring potential and alternative habitats for reintroduction.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.164-176
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• 2015

Cyathea gigantea is a tree fern distributed throughout humid tropical regions of northeast India and other parts of the country. However, wild populations of this species are largely affected by various natural and anthropogenic activities. Therefore, an attempt was made to study the population structure and regeneration status of C. gigantea in and around greater Itanagar area of Papum Pare district, Arunachal Pradesh. Altogether 45 patches, ranging from 19.63 to $260m^2$ of area, were randomly sampled to study population structure and regeneration status of the species. Population study showed highest number of youngs in the height class of 0.50-0.75 m while, immatures were recorded highest in the height class of 2.0 to 2.5 m. Majority of the matures belonged to 6-9 m height class while it was recorded maximum in the diameter class of 10-15 cm. Average density of C. gigantea was $0.07individuals\;ha^{-1}$ which varied greatly among different patches with a range of 2 to 14. Significant correlations were found between patch size and density of youngs, immatures, matures and total density. Maximum concentration of youngs was observed in patch size $60-140m^2$, while for immatures, it was highest in patch size $20-160m^2$. Similarly, highest concentration of matures was observed in patch size $20-80m^2$ and $80-180m^2$. Population structure of the total population exhibited inverted pyramid shaped distribution. Population structure consisting of youngs, immatures, matures showed that around 60% patches lack of regenerating individuals which depict very poor natural regeneration of the species. Effective conservation strategies are therefore to be formulated to save C. gigantea from the threat of extinction in near future.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.27 no.10
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• pp.1394-1398
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• 2014

Indigenous (native) breeds of livestock have higher disease resistance and adaptation to the environment due to high genetic diversity. Even though their extinction rate is accelerated due to the increase of commercial breeds, natural disaster, and civil war, there is a lack of well-established databases for the native breeds. Thus, we constructed the native pig and chicken breed database (NPCDB) which integrates available information on the breeds from around the world. It is a nonprofit public database aimed to provide information on the genetic resources of indigenous pig and chicken breeds for their conservation. The NPCDB (http://npcdb.snu.ac.kr/) provides the phenotypic information and population size of each breed as well as its specific habitat. In addition, it provides information on the distribution of genetic resources across the country. The database will contribute to understanding of the breed's characteristics such as disease resistance and adaptation to environmental changes as well as the conservation of indigenous genetic resources.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.6-10
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• 2017

Microsatellite markers were isolated for Daphne kiusiana var. kiusiana (Thymelaeaceae), an evergreen broad-leaved shrub endemic to Korea and Japan. Because its populations in Jeju Island are morphologically controversial, and consistently threatened by anthropogenic pressures, taxonomic delimitation and conservation effort are required at the genetic level. We developed 21 polymorphic microsatellite loci from Next Generation Sequencing data. The primer set included di-, tri-, and tetra-nucleotide repeats. Variability in the markers was tested for 80 individuals of D. kiusiana from three natural populations in Jeju Island and Japan. Among the 21 loci, three were unavailable for population JKJU of Japan. The Neighbor-Joining tree based on microsatellite markers described here classified the three populations into two groups according to geographical or morphological traits. These will be a powerful genetics tool for determining the taxonomic boundary and establishing suitable conservation strategies for D. kiusiana in Jeju Island.

• 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.

• Proceedings of the National Institute of Ecology of the Republic of Korea
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2022

Among the 13 species of otters in the world, only one Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) is found in South Korea. In the Korean Peninsula, otter pelts were historically valuable and expensive commodities used for international trade, and otters have long been poached as hunting animals. Recent rapid economic development in South Korea has increased habitat fragmentation and loss, creating a continuing threat to the natural environment. Otters live only in the area of rivers and streams as a family group and are territorial (linear habitat). Due to these limited conditions of otter habitat, the population size of otter is lower than that of onshore mammals. According to recent research, DNA analyses using microsatellite markers have shown that only approximately 7-21 otter individuals inhabit river systems for a length of 50-230 km. Korea's urban streams are associated with many threats that hinder otters from inhabiting them. Many areas around the urban streams are surrounded by high concrete riverbanks, and the risk of roadkill is also high. Nevertheless, ecological restoration projects in the urban rivers will contribute greatly to the stable inhabitation of otters. Detailed otter conservation strategies, such as the elimination of threat factors, improvement of habitat environment, and restoration of food resources and shelter, will provide a positive restoration effect on otter and river ecosystems as well.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.341-348
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• 2001

Population dynamics of the oldest relic stand of Pinus densiflora for. erecta which remains as a status of patch in Sokwang-Ri area, Uljin-Gun, was studied to provide the basic data for conservation of the oldest pine stand in Korea. The upper slope site and ridge site including total 12 plots mainly represented Pinus densiflora for. erecta and Quercus mongolica. These two tree species showed reverse J-shaped distribution. From this information, it was concluded that intensive interspecific competition between two species could be occurring. Age distribution of P. densiflora for. erecta on the sites above middle slope area was indicated bi-modal type or tri-modal type which was known as an age structure of climax forest. Therefore, it was estimated that Pinus densiflora for. erecta population could be continuously maintained in the each patch above middle slope area. In the valley sites, hardwood species such as Q. mongolica, Q. variabilis, Styrax obassia and Acer pseudosieboldianum occupied most part of the under crown-cover area and their seedlings and saplings were developing into the closed upper layer crown because the height of upper layer crown reached about 35 meters and such a high crown height was more suitable for light utilization by plants of under layer. The growth patterns were mainly fluctuated for the entire life time of the oldest tree caused by frequent disturbance. And the initial growth curves of the mature trees and suppressed juvenile trees showed different tendencies along the sites.

• Journal of computational fluids engineering
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.7-13
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• 2011

A comparative analysis of thermal models in the lattice Boltzmann method(LBM) for the simulation of laminar natural convection in a square cavity is presented. A HYBRID method, in which the thermal equation is solved by the Navier-Stokes equation method while the mass and momentum conservation are resolved by the lattice Boltzmann method, is introduced and its merits are explained. All the governing equations are discretized on a cell-centered, non-uniform grid using the finite-volume method. The convection terms are treated by a second-order central-difference scheme with a deferred correction method to ensure stability of the solutions. The HYBRID method and the double-population method are applied to the simulation of natural convection in a square cavity and the predicted results are compared with the benchmark solutions given in the literatures. The predicted results are also compared with those by the conventional Navier-Stokes equation method. In general, the present HYBRID method is as accurate as the Navier-Stokes equation method and the double-population method. The HYBRID method shows better convergence and stability than the double-population method. These observations indicate that this HYBRID method is an efficient and economic method for the simulation of incompressible fluid flow and heat transfer problem with the LBM.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.71-76
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• 2018

The long-tailed goral (Naemorhedus caudatus) has slowly recolonized habitats in South Korea. Because it is necessary to know the status of groups in recolonized areas, we determined detection frequencies and group sizes using camera trapping, a non-invasive monitoring method. In Uljin, a far southern goral habitat in South Korea, we used a Moultrie 5.0 camera and mineral block as bait during the breeding season in BaekAm Mountain (148 days, 18 May to 11 October) and Geumjong Mountain (63 days, 18 May to 18 July) in 2010. Totally, 155 images were captured in BaekAm Mountain, whereas four images were captured in Geumjong Mountain. The species was most frequently detected at sunrise (05:00-08:00) and sunset (18:00-20:00). Through population structure evaluation, we identified at least 11 individuals, including one solitary mature male, four females, four kids, and two solitary subadults in BaekAm Mountain. However, in Geumjong Mountain, we identified only two individuals (female with kid). Monitoring efficiency in the recolonized area differed depending on population density and habitat conditions. Because we could evaluate the population structure, and behavioral patterns in the study sites, monitoring using camera traps could be applied for the recolonized habitats in South Korea.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.454-461
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• 2019

Background: Ikonnikov's whiskered bat (Myotis ikonnikovi) is found throughout the Korean Peninsula, as well as in Kazakhstan, Russia, Mongolia, China, and Japan. It is small-sized and primarily inhabits old-growth forests. The decrease and fragmentation of habitats due to increased human activity may influence the genetic structure of bat populations. This study was designed to elucidate the population genetic structure of M. ikonnikovi using mitochondrial genes (cytochrome oxidase I and cytochrome b). Results: The results showed that M. ikonnikovi populations from Korea have high genetic diversity. Although genetic differentiation was not detected for the COI gene, strong genetic differentiation of the Cytb gene between Mt. Jeombong and Mt. Jiri populations was observed. Moreover, the results indicated that the gene flow of the maternal lineage may be limited. Conclusions: This study is the first to identify the genetic population structure of M. ikonnikovi. We suggest that conservation of local populations is important for sustaining the genetic diversity of the bat, and comprehensive studies on factors causing habitat fragmentation are required.