• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.241-255
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• 2020

Background: The stem exclusion stage is a stage of forest development that is important for understanding the subsequent understory reinitiation stage and maturation stage during which horizontal heterogeneity is formed. Over the past 11 years (2009-2019), we observed a deciduous broad-leaved forest in the Albongbunji Basin in Ulleungdo, South Korea in its stem exclusion stage, where Fagus engleriana (Engler's beech) is the dominant species, thereby analyzing the changes in the structure (density and size distributions), function (biomass and species richness), and demographics. Results: The mean stem density data presented a bell-shaped curve with initially increasing, peaking, and subsequently decreasing trends in stem density over time, and the mean biomass data showed a sigmoidal pattern indicating that the rate of biomass accumulation slowed over time. Changes in the density and biomass of Fagus engleriana showed a similar trend to the changes in density and biomass at the community level, which is indicative of the strong influence of this species on the changing patterns of forest structure and function. Around 2015, a shift between recruitment and mortality rates was observed. Deterministic processes were the predominant cause of tree mortality in our study; however, soil deposition that began in 2017 in some of the quadrats resulted in an increase in the contribution of stochastic processes (15% in 2019) to tree mortality. The development of horizontal heterogeneity was observed in forest gaps. Conclusions: Our observations showed a dramatic shift between the recruitment and mortality rates in the stem exclusion stage, and that disturbance increases the uncertainty in forest development increases. The minor changes in species composition are likely linked to regional species pool and the limited role of the life-history strategy of species such as shade tolerance and habitat affinity. Our midterm records of ecological succession exhibited detailed demographic dynamics and contributed to the improvement of an ecological perspective in the stem exclusion stage.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.273-280
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• 2001

We investigated the flora and vegetation structure of exotic plants along stream geomorphology and disturbance factors in the riparian zone of Seunggi stream, Incheon. Total 53 exotic plant species were found in the riparian corridors of Seunggi stream. The percentage of exotics ranged from 25% to 33% of total species richness, and its mean value was 24% in the whole riparian area. The percentage of exotics reflected the vulnerability of riparian zones to plant invasions by disturbances, and it could be used as an indicator of riparian system dysfunction. The distinct distribution patterns of exotic plants did not found in the lateral topographic features of the stream. Invasion and proliferation of the exotic plants were somewhat remarkable at terraces and bank slopes of the stream. Among various disturbance factors, plowing and trampling were important on the invasion of exotic plant species of Seunggi stream.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.63-74
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• 2023

Background: Comparing with the several types of infrastructures, linear infrastructures are known to facilitate the spread of undesirable species in ecosystems. Recently, some new man-made habitats (e.g., gravel pads of the high-voltage towers, solid wastes and sewage habitats) were established along the Deltaic Mediterranean coast of Egypt as a result of the construction of the E-W coastal international highway. The current study evaluates the floristic composition associated with the pads of high-voltage towers that had been constructed for stabilizing the power line towers in the North Nile Delta. Plant cover was measured for 22 randomly stand. Results: Eighty-four species were recorded, of which 35 are perennials (41.6%), 2 biennials (2.3%) and 47 annuals (56.0%) belonging to 23 families. The largest families were Asteraceae (16 species), Poaceae (15 species), Chenopodiaceae (12 species), and Fabaceae (7 species). Ten aliens (10.7%) out of the 84 species were recorded. Therophytes have the highest percentage (58%), followed by hemicryptophytes (14%), chamaephytes (11%). Six vegetation groups were recognized in the study area after the application of two way indicator species analysis (TWINSPAN), Arthrocnemum macrostachyum, Phragmites australis, and Mesembryanthemum nodiflorum have the highest presence percentage. Both of Salsola cyclophylla and Solanum villosum were recorded for the first time in North Nile Delta. Natural habitat had the highest α-diversity, but the lowest β-diversity (4.9, 15.4), while gravel pads had the reverse (2.7, 30.8). Some species which are native to the desert habitats (e.g., Rumex pictus, Salsola kali, and Carthamus tenuis) were able to invade the North Nile Delta. Conclusions: Habitat of gravel pads is an expressing form about the intense of disturbance in Deltaic Mediterranean coast of Egypt. More of efforts should be carried out to avoid more human disturbances that creating as ruderal habitats which open the gate to invasive species in the flora of North Nile Delta.

• 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 the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.73-85
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• 2005

Natural disturbance and environmental pressure on natural ecosystems are gradually increasing, and the cause is significantly related to large-scale environmental pollution, global warming, decreasing biodiversity and habitat fragmentation. Environmental impact assessment(EIA) in Korea has been focused on distribution and composition of fauna and flora as major evaluation aspects in ecosystem assessment. It is well known that those characteristics of flora and fauna strongly depend on characteristics and quality of habitat and ecosystem. However, there is no items to assess habitat and ecosystems of spatial ecological system in EIA. Many countries are trying to develop the EIA items to consider the spatial characteristics of habitat and ecosystem and those ecological dynamics as well as species level. In this stream, landscape ecology is emerging discipline to examine spatial pattern and ecological process within/between habitats and ecosystems. Landscape ecological analysis, as a special tool for ecosystem evaluation, has been appropriately adopted to the EIA system in the advanced countries. This review paper tries to introducing the possibilities of landscape ecological concept into the Korean EIA system.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.347-356
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• 2007

The structure and dynamics of Korean red pine stands established in the riparian zone were studied in the Tsang stream in Mt. Seorak National Park, in east-central Korea. Pine stands were classified into four successional stages, the initial, establishing, competitive, and stabilizing stages, based on the age distribution of a dominant tree, Pinus densiflora, the vegetation stratification, and the microtopography of the riverine environment. The stages usually corresponded to disturbance frequencies, depending on the horizontal and vertical distances from the watercourse. Stands of the initial and establishing stages lacked tree or subtree layers, or both. As stands progressed through the developmental stages, soil particle size became finer and moisture retention capacity was improved. The stand ordination reflected the developmental stage, and the species ordination differentiated species specializing in relatively dry and wet habitats. The results of the analysis of vegetation dynamics provided ecological information which will be useful for understanding the developmental processes of vegetation established in riparian zones. Species diversity indices usually increased across developmental stages, following the typical pattern for successional processes. We discuss the importance and necessity of riparian vegetation in Korea, where most riparian forests have disappeared due to excessive human land use.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.255-261
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• 2003

To analyze ecological characteristics of the Ulmus pumila community, an on-the-spot survey was conducted in August, 1998 in the Dong River, Gangwon-do, South Korea. The Ulmus pumila community is partially distributed in Dong River's midstream and upper stream. Topographical characteristics of this community are significant in the point bar or sandbank of the river. The community is classified into two types, disturbed and non-disturbed types, by the effect of flooding. The Ulmus pumila community (bush forests of Siberian elms) is a representative community which forms riparian forests, but its distribution is rare in South Korea. Only in Dong River is the Ulmus pumila distributed enough to form a community, and none is known that is lager than this community in South Korea. The non-disturbance type progresses more homogeneously than the disturbance type because it is formed on riverside banks where it is affected less by flooding. We concluded that the Ulmus pumila community in this study area has characteristics of riparian forests. In South Korea, Ulmus pumila community can be regarded as important element of vegetation landscape constituting riparian forests. Specifically, these riparian forests are evaluated as high in conservation value due to their being formed spontaneously. Moreover, Dong River is regarded as the southern limit of Ulmus pumila, which has a northern origin. The species or community needs continuous interests and conservation countermeasures because there are limitations in its spread of distribution by natural or artificial efforts.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.399-409
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• 2017

The rapid increase of naturalized plants causes disturbance of the ecosystem. The purpose of this study is to identify the reality of naturalized flora in Jeolla-do. A total of 830 sites were studied in 2016. These naturalized plants consisted of 189 taxa in total, belonging to 38 families, 116 genera, 181 species, 2 forms and 6 varieties. According to the results of the analysis based on place of origin, 75 taxa were from Europe, and 59 taxa were from North America. According to the analysis of the ecological characteristics, compositae had the highest diversity among 31 families, with 44 taxa, followed by Gramineae, with 24 taxa, and Leguminosae, with 10 taxa. Naju-si had the highest diversity among 36 counties, with 77 taxa. This study identified 37 (Jeollanam-do) and 30 taxa (Jeollabuk-do) not listed in the preceding literature in Jeolla-do. We found a lots of differences between flora's databases of previous studies resulting from the naturalized plant definition.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.143-153
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• 1982

Distributional pattern of vascular plant species in terms of species-area relationship and distances from their species pool on the 53 islands selected in the South Korea were studied. From the relationship between vascular plant species and area the equation of species-area was established as the follow: S=cA2 c=135.52 z=0.226 S; number of species A; area of island In the equation the Z value 0.226 is lower than those of any other localities reported in the world. Z value increased with the increasing distance from the species pool while C value decreased. The relationships of Z and/or C and distance from species pool, D, were established; Z=0.002D+0.176 C=-39.5logD+178.5 The tendency of common species decrease of them with the increasing islands was fifted to the Fisher's logarithm series. Common species 50% above was 39 species, including the most common species, Pinus thunbergii. Quotient of Similarity value by Sorensen (1948) on common species was relatively low i.e. 0.27∼0.47. It is noticeable for their vegetation conditions that the naturalized plant as a indicator of disturbance, for example Erigeron canadensis, was widely distributed.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.201-212
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• 2021

In wetland protection areas, a phytosociological research was conducted on willow forests, which plays an important ecological and environmental role and is the main material for ecological restoration. A total of 61 relevés were collected according to the Z-M(Zürich-Montpellier) school's method and the characteristics of plant communities and the composition of the species were identified. A total of 9 plant communities including 237 taxa were differentiated. Willow species showing the high r-NCD(relative net contribution degree) value in study areas were Salix koriyanagi, Salix chaenomeloides, Salix triandra subsp. nipponica, Salix gracilistyla and Salix pierotii. Poaceae was the most diverse in species, followed by Asteraceae, Apiaceae, Polygonaceae and Fabaceae. Life form type of willow forests in wetland protection areas was determined to be Th(therophytes)-R₅(non-clonal form)-D₄(clitochores)-e(erect form) type. The naturalized plants and invasive alien species were identified as 24 taxa and 4 taxa, respectively. Naturalized and disturbance indices were 10.1% and 41.4%, respectively. The results of the site-species ordination by Non-Metric Multidimensional Scaling(NMDS), wetland types and altitude gradient were the main ecological factors determining the spatial distribution of plant communities. Diversity index and evenness index were high in mountainous palustrine wetlands with relatively high altitude, and the disturbance index, naturalized index and appearance rate of annual plant were high in riverine and lacustrine wetlands with low altitude.