• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• 제43권3호
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• pp.314-319
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• 2019

Background: The dramatic worldwide decline in the butterfly species Leptalina unicolor (Bremer & Grey) is largely the result of continuous habitat decline and disturbance by humans. The discovery of a narrow habitat in riverside wetlands utilized by L. unicolor raises the hope that such restricted key areas could be rather easily protected. Results: Here, we explain the environmental variables and habitat characteristics that primarily influence the distribution of L. unicolor discovered at the riverside areas along the Geum River. L. unicolor larvae were found at 9 of 13 study sites, and their abundance was strongly positively correlated with plant biomass. Our investigation showed that among four plant species (Miscanthus sinensis, Spodiopogon cotulifer, Setaria viridis, and Imperata cylindrica), L. unicolor larvae were the most abundant on the leaves of M. sinensis. They were not abundant on the leaves of S. cotulifer, S. viridis, or I. cylindrica. Interestingly, the number of L. unicolor larvae was positively correlated with the coverage area ($m^2$) of M. sinensis (F = 41.7, $r^2=0.74$, P < 0.0001). Conclusions: It appears that water (e.g., wetlands, ponds, and watersides) located along the riverside areas along the Geum River is important for the constant maintenance and conservation of L. unicolor. This is based on the habitat characteristics (water preference) of M. sinensis, which is used as a habitat by L. unicolor larvae. However, the waterside is dry and terrestrialization is in progress owing to the decreased water levels and water supply caused by an opened weir. Hereafter, this area will likely require management to secure a stable habitat for L. unicolor.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• 제45권4호
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• pp.237-254
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• 2021

Background: Some of the introduced alien species introduced settle, multiply, and spread to become invasive alien species (IAS) that threaten biodiversity. To prevent this, Korea and other countries legally designate and manage alien species that pose a risk to the environment. Moreover, 2160 alien species have been introduced in South Korea, of which 1826 animals and 334 plants are designated. The inflow of IAS can have negative effects such as ecosystem disturbance, habitat destruction, economic damage, and health damage to humans. To prevent damage caused by the inflow of IAS in advance, species that could potentially pose a risk to the environment if introduced in South Korea were designated as alert alien species (AAS). Results: The designation criteria were in accordance with the "Act on the Conservation and Use of Biological Diversity" and the "Regulations on the Ecological Risk Assessment of AAS and IAS" by the National Institute of Ecology. The analysis result of risk and damage cases indicated that mammals affect predation, competition, human economic activity, virus infection, and parasite infection. Birds have been demonstrated to affect predation, competition, human economic activity, and health. It was indicated that plants intrude on the ecosystem by competing with native species with their high-population density and capacity to multiply and cause allergic inducement. Interestingly, 300 species, including 25 mammals, 7 birds, 84 fishes, 28 amphibians, 22 reptiles, 1 insect, 32 spiders, 1 mollusk, 1 arthropod, and 99 plants, are included in the list of AAS. Conclusions: AAS designation plays a role in preventing the reduction of biodiversity by IAS in South Korea and preserving native species. Moreover, it is determined to provide considerable economic benefits by preventing socio-economic losses and ecological damage.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• 제41권7호
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• pp.182-190
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• 2017

Background: Baekdudaegan was designated in 2005 as a protected area to prevent destruction and conserve. However, there are many disturbed and destroyed areas. The total disturbed area amounts to $25.9km^2$ (0.94%), including $13.4km^2$ (0.49%) in the core area and $12.5km^2$ (0.45%) in the buffer area. This study aims to classify the vegetation types established in the disturbed areas and diagnose the current conditions for ecological restoration in the forest ecosystem. Methods: We surveyed the vegetation in the disturbed areas of Daegwallyeong and Chupungryeong and the surrounding natural areas. The survey conducted from July to September 2015 targeted a total of 54 quadrats by Braun-Blanquet method (Daegwallyeong, 22; Chupungryeong, 32). We also investigated the height and coverage of each layer. We classified the vegetation types based on the field data and analyzed the ratio of life form and the exotic plants, species richness, and vegetation index (Hcl). The Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) was calculated from rapideye satellite imagery in 2014 and 2015. Results: Vegetation types were classified into 11 groups according to the criteria that included successional sere or plantation at first, followed by developmental stage and origins. As a result of the analysis of the survey data, species richness, vegetation index (Hcl), ratio of tree plants, and the NDVI tended to increase, while the ratio of the exotic plants tended to decrease with the time since disturbance. These indicators had the classified values according to the vegetation types with time since the disturbance. Conclusions: These indicators can be effectively used to diagnose the conditions of the present vegetation in the disturbed area of the Baekdudaegan area. In addition, the NDVI might be effective for the diagnosis of the disturbed status instead of the human efforts based on the higher spatial resolution of satellite imagery. Appropriate diagnosis of the disturbed forests in the Baekdudaegan area considering the established vegetation types is essential for the elaboration of restoration plans. In addition, restoration target and level should be different according to the disturbed status of restoration site.

• Ecology and Resilient Infrastructure
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• 제6권4호
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• pp.267-276
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• 2019

상주 공검지는 8세기에 축조된 고대 유적 저수지로서 습지보호지역으로 지정되어 있다. 이곳에서 지속가능한 보전 전략을 수립하는데 필요한 기초자료를 수집하기 위하여, 현존 식생을 분류하고 식생도를 작도하며 식생의 구조적 특징을 파악하고 환경과의 관계를 규명하였다. 공검지 습지보호지역에서는 저습지, 하천, 산림, 초지, 농경지, 과수원 식생에 속하는 총 26개 식물군집이 분류되었다. 탈경향대응분석 (detrended correspondence analysis) 결과에 따르면 습지 식생의 구조는 주로 수심과 인간 교란에 따라서 영향을 받았다. 저수지 습지에서는 통발, 마름과 같은 부수식물과 연꽃, 부들류와 같은 정수식물이 수면을 완전히 피복하고 있었다. 2014년 이후에 점차 정수식물과 습생식물의 분포 면적이 늘어나는 육역화가 빠르게 진행되고 있었다. 습지보호지역의 지속가능한 보전과 복원을 위하여, 지형과 식생을 복원하고, 수문 체계를 회복시키며, 습지로부터 산지까지의 생태계 연결성을 회복한 것이 필요하다고 생각된다.

• 한국습지학회지
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• 제23권3호
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• pp.201-212
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• 2021

내륙습지에서 생태적, 환경적으로 중요한 역할을 하고 생태복원의 주요 재료가 되는 버드나무림에 대한 식물사회학적 연구가 수행되었다. 습지보호지역에 발달하는 버드나무림을 대상으로 Z.-M.(Zürich-Montpellier)학파의 방법에 따라 총 61개의 식생자료가 수집되었고 식물군락과 종조성적 특성이 밝혀졌다. 총 237분류군을 포함한 9개의 식물군락이 구분되었다. 높은 상대기여도(r-NCD) 값을 나타내는 버드나무류는 키버들, 왕버들, 선버들, 갯버들, 버드나무로 확인되었다. 종조성 분석결과, 벼과, 국화과, 미나리과, 마디풀과, 콩과 순으로 출현빈도가 높게 나타났으며, 생활형은 일년생식물(휴면형), 단립식물(지하기관형), 중력산포형(산포방법), 직립형(생육형)을 가지는 식물종의 출현율이 높아 Th-R₅-D₄-e로 특징지어졌다. 귀화식물은 12과 24종, 생태계교란 생물은 3과 4종이 관찰되었으며, 귀화율은 10.1%, 교란지수는 41.4%로 분석되었다. NMDS 서열법(non-metric multidimensional scaling)에 의한 식물종과 조사지점 간의 경향성 분석 결과, 조사지점의 해발고도와 습지의 유형이 식물군락의 공간적 분포를 결정하는 주요한 요소인 것으로 밝혀졌다. 비교적 해발고도가 높은 산지형 습지에서 다양성 지수와 균등도 지수가 높게 나타났으며, 해발고도가 낮은 하천형과 호수형 습지에서는 교란지수, 귀화율, 일년생식물 출현비율이 높았다.

• 한국환경생태학회지
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• 제20권3호
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• pp.281-288
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• 2006

본 논문은 2004년 3월부터 10월까지 가야산국립공원 지역에서 선택한 총 15개 조사 지역에서 외래식물과 귀화식물의 도시화지수를 분석하였다. 가야산국립공원의 외래식물은 총 88종류로 39과 72속 82종 5변종 및 1품종이 확인되었으며,그 중 귀화식물은 47종류로 확인되었다. 가야산국립공원 지역에서 귀화율은 4.06%,도시화지수는 17.74%로 나타났다. 귀화식물은 인위적 간섭을 받은 지역을 중심으로 분포하며 비교적 보전이 잘된 지역과 인위적 간섭이 없는 자연식생에서는 귀화식물의 분포를 확인하기 어려웠다. 원산지별로는 유럽과 북아메리카원산지인 귀화식물이 37종류, 72%로 가장 많게 나타났다. 국가 차원에서 외래종의 통합관리방안이 필요하지만 가야산국립공원의 외래종분포를 확인하여 지속적인 관리를 하는 것이 자생종의 보전과 보호에 있어서 매우 중요한 역할을 하게 될 것이다.

• 한국환경생태학회지
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• 제3권1호
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• pp.81-94
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• 1989

가야산국립공원 등산로 및 야영장의 훼손과 주변 자연환경에 대한 이용영향을 파악하기 위해 1989년에 조사를 실시하였다. 등산로폭, 나지노출폭 및 최대 깊이는 이용강도에 따른 차이가 인정되었고, 전체 51개 조사지 점에서 관찰된 훼손형태는 매우 다양하였으며, 훼손된 지점의 등간로 상태중 최대깊이와 등산로물매는 건전한 지점의 상태와 유의한 차이를 보였다. 등산로주변 토양 및 식생인자의 변화경향을 이용영향의 형태에 따라 구분하여 파악할 수 있었고 등산로주변부에 미치는 이용영향은 약 15m에 이르는 것으로 생각된다. 야영장의 훼손은 심각하여 피해도 5등급의 비율이 약 36%이었고 3등급이상인 지역도 약 69%에 달하였다. 야영장에서의 이용활동이 수목의 직경생장을 크게 저해하는 것으로 나타났으며. 종구성의 이질화를 극심하게 진행시키고 있었다. 야영장의 이용강도의 차이나 이용영향의 범위를 파악하는데 적합한 토양 및 식생인자들을 확인할 수 있었으며, 이용간섭의 영향범위는 약 50m이었다. 야영행위에 대한 내성수종은 물푸레나무, 개옻나무, 노린재나무, 국수나무 등이었다.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• 제43권1호
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• pp.43-60
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• 2019

Background: Tropical montane forests played an important role in the provision of ecosystem services. The intense degradation and deforestation for the need of agricultural land expansion result in a significant decline of forest cover. However, the expansion of agricultural land did not completely destruct natural forests. There remain forests inaccessible for agricultural and grazing purpose. Studies on these forests remained scant, motivating to investigate biomass and soil carbon stocks. Data of biomass and soils were collected in 80 quadrats ($400m^2$) systematically in 5 forests. Biomass and disturbance gradients were determined using allometric equation and disturbance index, respectively. The regression modeling is employed to explore the spatial distribution of carbon stock along disturbance and environmental gradients. Correlation analysis is also employed to identify the relation between site factors and carbon stocks. Results: The result revealed that a total of 1655 individuals with a diameter of ${\geq}5cm$, representing 38 species, were measured in 5 forests. The mean aboveground biomass carbon stocks (AGB CS) and soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks at 5 forests were $191.6{\pm}19.7$ and $149.32{\pm}6.8Mg\;C\;ha^{-1}$, respectively. The AGB CS exhibited significant (P < 0.05) positive correlation with SOC and total nitrogen (TN) stocks, reflecting that biomass seems to be a general predictor of SOCs. AGB CS between highly and least-disturbed forests was significantly different (P < 0.05). This disturbance level equates to a decrease in AGB CS of 36.8% in the highly disturbed compared with the least-disturbed forest. In all forests, dominant species sequestrated more than 58% of carbon. The AGB CS in response to elevation and disturbance index and SOC stocks in response to soil pH attained unimodal pattern. The stand structures, such as canopy cover and basal area, had significant positive relation with AGB CS. Conclusions: Study results confirmed that carbon stocks of studied forests were comparable to carbon stocks of protected forests. The biotic, edaphic, topographic, and disturbance factors played a significant variation in carbon stocks of forests. Further study should be conducted to quantify carbon stocks of herbaceous, litter, and soil microbes to account the role of the whole forest ecosystem.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• 제19권6호
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• pp.507-517
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• 1996

To explain the horizontal expansion of a rhizomatous perennial, Convallaria keiskei(lily-of-the-valley), in a study site of Chunchon, Kangwon Province, Korea, ramet growth and clonal structure were studied. Remarkable growth stategies were clarified. First, the timing for the successive phenological events such as sprouting. flowering and rhizome growth for lily-of-the-valley was fitted to exploit early spring when the canopy of overstory was opened. Second, these events were supported by effective matter allocation pattern: for example, two-year investment for new rhizomes enabled the first year ramets to mature in six weeks after sprouting and to grow up to 85% of the leaf area of perennial ramets. Finally, the ramet population was increased by local disturbances such as freezing, herbivory and collection by human. The rule that a clone was supposed to produce one new thizome per year was broken by occasional disturbances. Then, up to 5rhizomes from latent bur could be redeveloped. Based on clonal structure, 80% or total clones have from 1 to 4 ramets. this means there have occurred minor disturbances. Therefore, in conclusion, the successful flourishing of lily-of-the-valley came from its effective frowth strategy to take advantage of site disturbance.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제23권6호
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• pp.739-749
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• 2013

The seasonal and spatial diversity of picocyanobacteria (Pcy) in lakes of the Great Mazurian Lakes (GLM) system was examined by DGGE analysis of molecular markers derived from the 16S-23S internal transcribed spacer (ITS) of the ribosomal operon and the phycocyanin operon (cpcBA-IGS). The study of nine lakes, ranging from mesotrophy to hypereutrophy, demonstrated seasonal variance of Pcy. The richness and Shannon diversity index calculated on the basis of both markers were higher in spring and lower in early and late summer. No statistically significant relationships were found between the markers and trophic status of the studied lakes or Pcy abundance. There were, however, statistically significant relationships between the diversity indices and sampling time. The analysis pointed to a different distribution of the two markers. The ITS marker exhibited more unique sequences in time and space, whereas a greater role for common and ubiquitous sequences was indicated by the cpcBA-IGS data. Examination of the Pcy community structure demonstrated that communities were grouped in highly similar clusters according to sampling season/time rather than to the trophic status of the lake. Our results suggest that time is more important than trophic status in shaping the diversity and structure of Pcy communities. The seasonal changes in picocyanobacteria and differences in diversity and community structures are discussed in the context of well-established ecological hypotheses: the PEG model, intermediate disturbance hypothesis (IDH), and horizontal gene transfer (HGT).