• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.104 no.2
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• pp.187-192
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• 2015

Individuals in the population under a particular environmental condition influencing recurrently for a long time could locally adapted and local adaptation is of a fundamental importance in a breeding program, conservation activities of genetic resources or evolutionary biology. Plants at northern range limits have higher probability of expressing an adaptative genetic trait. The natural community at the northern range limit of Ilex cornuta (Chinese holly) in Buan, Jeollanam-do in Korea was composed of adults of 744 and seedlings of 211 (hereafter Community) and is designated as the Korean Natural Monument (No. 122) by the law. At two adjacent areas to Community, 85 (hereafter Plantation I) and 27 hollies (hereafter Plantation II) were planted respectively for preparations of the next generation. Eighty-five trees were sampled for genetic analysis in the three groups. Fifty-two (36%) of the total 143 amplicons were polymorphic from four AFLP primer combinations. A total of thirteen genotypes was identified and just one genotype was for 52 trees of Community. Seven and five genotypes were shown for Plantation I and II, respectively. There was no identical genotype between Community and Plantation (I or II) or between two plantation groups. Number of private loci was 2 for Community, 6 for Plantation I and 4 for Plantation II. We presumed their genetic backgrounds were quite different with one another and the plantation groups were made independently because they were different not only the genetic compositions but also their ages. Considering the genetic monomorphism by AFLP markers, observations of only male trees and asexual propagation as layerage or cuttage, the hollies in Community might be a genet by root suckering from a single male tree, not the results of selective removal of female trees for ornamental use in the past.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.317-326
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• 2021

The present study was carried out with a view to understand the distribution and ecology of Clihton retropictus (Martens, 1879), a class II endangered wildlife designated and protected by the Ministry of Environment, Republic of Korea, and to suggest the effective conservation and management measures for this species and its habit. First, the distribution of Clihton retropictus was investigated nationwide, and environmental factors such as salinity and substratum were analyzed in consideration of the ecological characteristics of this species. In addition, the individual size, density, and movement of Clihton retropictus per each district surveyed were analyzed. Due to its nature of inhabiting in the brackish water zone, the analysis showed that the salinity of this species was 0.7 ~ 16.6‰ at low tide and 1.0 ~ 17.3% at high tide. It was learned from the analysis of substratum that its composition in each river under investigation was slightly different, but most of substratum had a higher composition ratio than gravel (pebble, 16 ~ 64 mm). On the other hand, the size of each individual was checked by measuring the length of its diameter, and there was almost no change in the individual when the inhabited range of Clihton retropictus was short. However, there was tendency that the longer the habitat range, the bigger the individual size. From surveying the population density by season, it was made clear that, during the summer (July to August) and fall (September to October), the density was relatively higher while the number of individuals decreased significantly during winter (November to December) when the water temperature was lowered. In an effort to effectively establish conservation and management measures, the moving distance was measured, and it became known that, during the surveys in summer and fall when the individuals were active, the individuals moved in more distances than during the winter survey. The results of this study are expected to be utilized as basic data for establishing effective management plans such as creation of habitats for Clihton retropictus, its migration projects and selection of migration destinations which get unavoidable due to development projects.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.480-489
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• 2021

Climate change poses great threats to wildlife populations by decreasing their number and destroying their habitats, jeopardizing biodiversity conservation. Asiatic salamander (Hynobiidae) species are particularly vulnerable to climate change due to their small home range and limited dispersal ability. Thus, this study used one salamander species, the Korean clawed salamander (Onychodactylus koreanus), as a model species and examined their habitat characteristics and current distribution in South Korea to predict its spatial distribution under climate change. As a result, we found that altitude was the most important environmental factor for their spatial distribution and that they showed a dense distribution in high-altitude forest regions such as Gangwon and Gyeongsanbuk provinces. The spatial distribution range and habitat characteristics predicted in the species distribution models were sufficiently in accordance with previous studies on the species. By modeling their distribution changes under two different climate change scenarios, we predicted that the distribution range of the Korean clawed salamander population would decrease by 62.96% under the RCP4.5 scenario and by 98.52% under the RCP8.5 scenario, indicating a sharp reduction due to climate change. The model's AUC value was the highest in the present (0.837), followed by RCP4.5 (0.832) and RCP8.5 (0.807). Our study provides a basic reference for implementing conservation plans for amphibians under climate change. Additional research using various analysis techniques reflecting habitat characteristics and minute habitat factors for the whole life cycle of Korean-tailed salamanders help identify major environmental factors that affect species reduction.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.109 no.4
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• pp.371-381
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• 2020

The Ministry of Environment (ME) is planning to adopt in 2020 the IUCN regional Red List for "Guidelines for listing and delisting rare & endangered species and management of endangered Species System". The ME designated 377 species of vascular plants on the regional Red List. In a previous study it had been suggested that 103 species from this list are candidates for the regional Red List. With respect to a possible Red List, we assessed 59 species (after excluding 34 additional NA species and ten endemic species). These assessments indicated that 16 species are at the "threatened" level. Of those, one species is Critically Endangered, ten are Endangered, and five are Vulnerable. A further four species are classified as Near Threatened, 30 as Of Least Concern, and nine as Data Deficient. We found that most of the assessments proposed by the Ministry of Environment were not supported by scientific data, including quantitative geographic data (over 70%) in Criteria B. In order to determine the endangered species belonging to the orchid family, it is necessary to obtain records of illegal activities or data on overcollection. The current problem with the Ministry of Environment Red List has been the lack of management of scientific data on species showing a trend in decreasing population in the mid- to long-term; thus, there is a lack of critical resources for policy-makers. The ME legally designated categories and assessment, and the lack of expertise in failing to comply with the legal law by itself. The key to presenting an accurate overview of the state of Korean flora is to fill the information gaps with respect to significant geographical and taxonomical biases in the quality and quantity of data. By regularly updating the qualified data, we will be able to track the changes in the conservation status of the flora and inform the necessary conservation policies.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.21-31
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• 2024

Macromia daimoji Okumura, 1949 was designated as an endangered species and also categorized as Class II Endangered wildlife on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List in Korea. The spatial distribution of this species ranged within a region delimited by northern latitude from Sacheon-si(35.1°) to Yeoncheon-gun(38.0°) and eastern longitude from Yeoncheon-gun(126.8°) to Yangsan-si(128.9°). They generally prefer microhabitats such as slowly flowing littoral zones of streams, alluvial stream islands and temporarily formed puddles in the sand-based lowland streams. The objectives of this study were to analyze the similarity of benthic macroinvertebrate communities in M. daimoji habitats, to predict the current potential distribution patterns as well as the changes of distribution ranges under global climate change circumstances. Data was collected both from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) and by field surveys from April 2009 to September 2022. We adopted MaxEnt model to predict the current and future potential distribution for M. daimoji using downloaded 19 variables from the WorldClim database. The differences of benthic macroinvertebrate assemblages in the mainstream of Nakdonggang were smaller than those in its tributaries and the other streams, based on the surrounding environments and stream sizes. MaxEnt model presented that potential distribution displayed high inhabiting probability in Nakdonggang and its tributaries. Applying to the future scenarios by Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), SSP1 scenario was predicted to expand in a wide area and SSP5 scenario in a narrow area, comparing with current potential distribution. M. daimoji is not only directly threatened by physical disturbances (e.g. river development activities) but also vulnerable to rapidly changing climate circumstances. Therefore, it is necessary to monitor the habitat environments and establish conservation strategies for preserving population of M. daimoji.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.322-332
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• 2012

The objectives of this paper were to investigate home range, habitat selection, and threat factors of leopard cats (Prionailurus bengalensis) living in rural area of Korea. The results based on radio tracking of three leopard cats (two males and one female) can be summarized as follows. First, the average home range of leopard cats were $2.64{\pm}1.99km^2$ (Kernel 95) and $3.69{\pm}1.34km^2$ (MCP 100), and the average size of core areas was $0.64{\pm}0.47km^2$ (Kernel 50). The home range of a male leopard cat that radio-tracked in winter was the largest ($5.19km^2$, MCP 100). Second, the Johnson's habitat selection model based on the Jacobs index showed that leopard cats preferred meadows and paddy fields avoiding forest covers at the second level, whereas they preferred meadows adjacent to streams and avoided paddy fields at the third level. Finally, roadkill could be prime threat factor for the cat population. Therefore, habitats dominated by paddy fields, stream corridors with paved roads, and human settlements with insufficient forest patches could threaten the long-term viability of leopard cat populations. Thus the habitat managements for the leopard cat conservation should focus on the prevention of road-kill and the installation of wildlife passages in rural highways adjacent to stream corridors.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.86 no.2
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• pp.167-176
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• 1997

Characteristics of leaf morphology and vegetation were examined in 6 populations of rare endemic tree species, Koelreuteria paniculata Laxm. Additionally we studied genetic variation employing isozyme marker. Nested anova showed that there were statistically significant differences among populations as well as among individuals within populations in all 8 leaf morphological traits. In 7 of 8 traits, variance components among populations were larger than those among individuals within populations. Only a few tree species were found within each population and all the populations seemed to have been disturbed by man. Level of genetic diversity for this rare endemic species was very low, especially compared with those of geographically widespread tree species(A/L=1.1, P=9.5%, $H_o=0.021$, $H_e=0.035$) and degree of genetic differentiation was high($F_{ST}=0.114$). Factors contributing to the low level of genetic diversity and high level of genetic differentiation might include genetic drift, inbreeding and limited gene flow. Finally, implications for the conservation of genetic diversity of Koelreuteria paniculata were discussed.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.84-99
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• 1997

Amphibian and Reptilian specimens which were surveyed in Gyebangsan during both from Apr. 26, 1995 to Oct. 15, 1995 and from Apr. 13, 1996 to July 28, 1996 were observed 9 Species in 5 Families on 2 Orders and 10 Species in 3 Families, 5 Fimilies, 9 Species and Reptiles were 2 Suborders, 3 Families on 2 Suborders, respectively. Bombina orientalis was revealed dominant species and Bufo stejnegeri was distributed abundant on this investigation area than other survey studies. Relatively large number of larvae of Rana dybowskii were found among the stream and small ponds at the Suchung-gol valley. There were 5 species of Specific wildlife species in Korea as Hynobius leechii, Rana dybowskii, Onchodactylus fischeri, Bufo stejnegeri and Bufo bufo gargarizans. Meanwhile Bufo stejnegeri were endemic species in Korea. 6 Species among 10 Species which were observed Reptiles in this survey Scincella laterale laterale, Dinodon rufozonatus rufozonatus, Agkistrodon brevicaudus, Agkistrodon saxatilis, Amphiesma vibakari ruthveni and Enhydris rufodorsata were Specific wildlife in Korea. Scincella laterale laterale and Takydromus amuriensis were habitated very abundant in Suchung-gol region. Habitat density of Takydromus amureinsis at Suchung-gol region was 36 individuals/ha. Total number of pressed to death individuals caused by press on the road from May to July, 1995 were 404 specimens in 10 Species. The 1,2,3 and 4 Stations where were found the largest number of death individuals caused by press on the road should considered to construct Eco-corridor to reduced the death individuals with small pipes beneath the road as a migration route. Onchodactylus fischeri have around 500m as moving distance and home range for lifelong and it were the climax of broad-leaved tree and highly moisture area that abundantly region of Onchodactylus fischeri.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.196-203
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• 2013

Butterfly communities were monitored to investigate the emergence pattern with line transect method at Wolchulsan National Park through May to October in 2012. Totally 1,151 individuals belong to 49 species were monitored through the study period. Libythea celtis was a dominant species with showing 357 individuals(31%) followed by Pseudozizeeria maha 96 individuals(8.3%), Mycalesis gotama 75 individuals(6.5%) and Ninois dryas 72 individuals(6.2%) respectively. Among the monitoring periods, highest individuals and species(516 individuals belong to 30 species) were found at June and showed a high abundance near reservoir region. Highest diversity was shown at August with a Shannon index of 2.75 while lowest at October(Shanon index 1.78) and total diversity index was 1.71. Dominance values(Simpson index) showed highest at June with a value of 0.40 while lowest at September with a value of 0.07 and averaged 0.12. Kungol and Seongjeon compose a high similarity habitats with a similarity value of 0.52 and it was 0.17 at Kungol and Youngsan, lowest cases. Reservoir banks played a important role for habitats of specific species. It can be considered that they provide an open space of glass land for butterfly population, which was deficient at mountain area.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.10-15
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• 2015

Giant grouper (Epinephelus lanceolatus) is a endangered species considered as a vulnerable grade-organism in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list. As a fundamental baseline study for establishing a giant grouper broodstock management system, the efficiency for parentage analysis was evaluated by using microsatellite makers previously available in this species. The eight microsatellites generated a total 52 alleles from 32 individuals, the mean expected heterozygosity was 0.663, and mean inbreeding coefficient was 0.011, consequently suggesting that the present broodstock has retained the high level of genetic diversity. However, our analysis also recommended the collection of more broodfish for more stable brood line, since the estimated value of the effective population size was proven to be 35. The average probability of identity was $6.85{\times}10^{-11}$. NE-2P and NE-PP of paternity non-exclusion probabilities were 0.00835 and 0.00027, respectively. As the result of principle coordinate analysis, the genotype of broodstock was not overlapped, suggesting that the management system of giant grouper based on eight selected microsatellite markers might be effective, although further validation with extended number of broodfish might also be needed in future. Data of present study could be a useful basis to avoid the unwanted selection of broodfish that possess close genetic relationship with current broodstock, and consequently to establish effective broodstock management system allowing the production of progeny with high genetic diversity.