• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.1-11
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• 2023

The phenomenon of sediment resuspension in rivers and lakes causes contaminants (heavy metals and nutrients) accumulated in the sediment to leach into the overlying water. As a result, it can lead to changes in toxic effects and eutrophication in the aquatic ecosystem. In this regard, it is important to quantitatively determine the amount of contaminants leached during sediment resuspension. In this study, methods for assessing the amount of released contaminants and the types of contaminants potentially released due to sediment resuspension were studied and summarized. Methods for assessing leaching can be divided into three groups based on the principle of causing resuspension: (i) the oscillating grid chamber method, (ii) the mechanical stirrer method, and (iii) the shaker method. It was confirmed that the types of contaminants that can potentially be released include heavy metals bound to sulfides, as well as exchangeable and labile forms of heavy metals and nutrients. To effectively manage stable aquatic ecosystems in the future, a simplified leaching test method is needed to assess in advance the risks (i.e., changes in toxic effects and eutrophication) that sediment resuspension may pose to aquatic ecosystems.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.17-29
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• 2024

This study was conducted to select the restoration priority of forest damage sites in Gangwon Province. We first identified the status of damaged areas. We then selected restoration evaluation indicators through a literature review. We then set weights for these indicators through expert surveys. We next acquired data that can represent these indicators and spatially mapped them. Finally, we prioritized the restoration target sites by taking the weights. The results of the study showed that disaster sensitivity and ecologicality are important criteria for selecting the restoration priority of damage sites. The analysis showed that damage sites in Doam, Jeongseon, Samcheok and Inje are in urgent need of restoration. The results of this study are significant in that they selected the restoration priority of damage sites in Gangwon Province based on the restoration priority evaluation criteria selected based on expert surveys. However, the priority restoration areas derived from the results of this study are not actually implementing restoration projects at present. Therefore, it is judged that it would be efficient in various aspects to establish the restoration priority area based on scientific analysis techniques and carry out the project for efficient implementation of the restoration project. In this study, it can be pointed out that the priority of restoration of damage sites was derived based on data from the past due to the limitation of data acquisition. However, the fact that the priority restoration area inferred based on past data has been restored over time has improved the reliability of the study by verifying the usefulness of the priority extraction technique. In the future, if the priority of damage sites is extracted by extracting the restoration target area boundary through the latest data based on the methodology applied in this study, it is considered that it will be available as a result that can be applied to the field.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.258-266
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• 2023

This study analyzed methodologies for estimating carbon stocks of perennial woody crops and the research cases in overseas countries. As a result, we found that Australia, Bulgaria, Canada, and Japan are using the stock-difference method, while Austria, Denmark, and Germany are estimating the change in the carbon stock based on the gain-loss method. In some overseas countries, the researches were conducted on estimating the carbon stock change using image data as tier 3 phase beyond the research developing country-specific factors as tier 2 phase. In South Korea, convergence studies as the third stage were conducted in forestry field, but advanced research in the agricultural field is at the beginning stage. Based on these results, we suggest directions for the following four future researches: 1) securing national-specific factors related to emissions and removals in the agricultural field through the development of allometric equation and carbon conversion factors for perennial woody crops to improve the completeness of emission and removals statistics, 2) implementing policy studies on the cultivation area calculation refinement with fruit tree-biomass-based maturity, 3) developing a more advanced estimation technique for perennial woody crops in the agricultural sector using allometric equation and remote sensing techniques based on the agricultural and forestry satellite scheduled to be launched in 2025, and to establish a matrix and monitoring system for perennial woody crop cultivation areas in the agricultural sector, Lastly, 4) estimating soil carbon stocks change, which is currently estimated by treating all agricultural areas as one, by sub-land classification to implement a dynamic carbon cycle model. This study suggests a detailed guideline and advanced methods of carbon stock change calculation for perennial woody crops, which supports 2050 Carbon Neutral Strategy of Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs and activate related research in agricultural sector.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.9-17
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• 2002

Human activities greatly affect the environment causing its degradation. Urban development and road networks construction cause main impacts on ecosystems and particularly on vegetation cover: road constructions induce complete degradation of the vegetation cover and often leaves a hare land, sometimes without even a soil cover. Reconstitution of vegetation cover is necessary to limit superficial erosion and land slipping on the road, towards a reintegration of the site in the neighbouring landscape. Many approaches have been studied over the last 30 years aiming at this reconstitution of vegetation cover. At frost, the main purpose of land reclamation was to create a new ecosystem. At this time, the environment created was rather a "garden" with a new soil adapted to the plantation of "decorative" species. Then, in early 90′s many studies on the restoration ecology concept rather focused on adapting the vegetation to the existing conditions on the site, as in a side road embankment for example. Nowadays, we notice a large tendency towards the use of such adapted native species instead of industrially produced seeds. In southern France, our team have led research on the potentials of those local species for their use in revegetation processes with hydro-seeding. We therefore developed an approach combining the use of different types of species: Industrially produced, native and wild cultivated species. This method integrates the benefits of using available low costing seeds that are already used on large scale projects with better adapted species, issued form the cultivation of native species and seed production for their use on smaller scale and more costly but more effective results. The use of wild cultivated species seeds was developed in order to limit the cost and reduce harsh natural seed withdrawal in the natural environment In the case of the use of native species. Besides, the use of such seeds allowed a larger geographical scale of use than with local native seeds. In addition, our team began two years ago a research project in Lebanon aiming at the Introduction and development of the revegetation techniques in Lebanon. In fact, this country bared since 20 years the consequences of urban pressure on its environment especially by the development of quarries and road networks. Therefore, pioneer work is necessary to aim at the adaptation of these techniques to the local environment.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.483-492
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• 2019

During the breeding season, both adults and immature Eurasian Oystercatchers (Haematopus ostralegus osculans) were observed to feed on prey, such as gastropods (Umbonium thomasi) and bivalves, at the tide water line around Yubu island in Korea. To determine differences in the foraging efficiency between the adult and immature birds, we recorded the feeding behavior using digiscoping with a telescope and a smartphone. We compared the pace, the prey search rate, the proportion of prey search techniques, the feeding success rate, the handling time, and the heads-up rate between the adult and immature birds. There were significant differences in the proportion of prey search techniques when gastropods were consumed and in the prey search rate and heads-up rate when bivalves were consumed but there were no significant differences in feeding success rates. Therefore, although the immature birds on Yubu Island were inferior to adults during the breeding season and they lacked the proficiency to locate prey, their overall foraging efficiency was similar to adults. This was considered to be due to the continuous eating of bivalves during the wintering season, which requires a high level of foraging efficiency.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.28 no.10
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• pp.1244-1253
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• 2018

Rumen microbiome consists of a wide variety of microorganisms, such as bacteria, archaea, protozoa, fungi, and viruses, that are in a symbiotic relationship in a strict anaerobic environment in the rumen. These rumen microbiome, a vital maker, play a significant role in feed fermentation within the rumen and produce different volatile fatty acids (VFAs). VFAs are essential for energy metabolism and protein synthesis of the host animal, even though emission of methane gas after feed fermentation is considered a negative indicator of loss of dietary energy of the host animal. To improve rumen microbial efficiency, a variety of approaches, such as feed formulation, the addition of natural feed additives, dietary feed-microbes, etc., have taken to increase ruminant performance. Recently with the application of high-throughput sequencing or next-generation sequencing technologies, especially for metagenomics and metatranscriptomics of rumen microbiomes, our understanding of rumen microbial diversity and function has significantly increased. The metaproteome and metabolome provide deeper insights into the complicated microbial network of the rumen ecosystem and its response to different ruminant diets to improve efficiency in animal production. This review summarized some recent advances of rumen microbiome techniques, especially "meta-omics," viz. metagenomic, metatranscriptomic, metaproteomic, and metabolomic techniques to increase feed fermentation and utilization in ruminants.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.67-84
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• 2023

In some areas of the Republic of Korea, the designation and management of conservation areas do not adequately reflect regional characteristics and often impose behavioral regulations without considering the local context. One prominent example is the Busan EDC area. As a result, conflicts may arise, including large-scale civil complaints, regarding the conservation and utilization of these areas. Therefore, for the efficient designation and management of protected areas, it is necessary to consider various ecosystem factors, changes in land use, and regional characteristics. In this study, we specifically focused on the Busan EDC area and applied machine learning techniques to analyze the habitat of regional species. Additionally, we employed Explainable Artificial Intelligence techniques to interpret the results of our analysis. To analyze the regional characteristics of the waterfront area in the Busan EDC district and the habitat of migratory birds, we used bird observations as dependent variables, distinguishing between presence and absence. The independent variables were constructed using land cover, elevation, slope, bridges, and river depth data. We utilized the XGBoost (eXtreme Gradient Boosting) model, known for its excellent performance in various fields, to predict the habitat probabilities of 11 bird species. Furthermore, we employed the SHapley Additive exPlanations technique, one of the representative methodologies of XAI, to analyze the relative importance and impact of the variables used in the model. The analysis results showed that in the EDC business district, as one moves closer to the river from the waterfront, the likelihood of bird habitat increases based on the overlapping habitat probabilities of the analyzed bird species. By synthesizing the major variables influencing the habitat of each species, key variables such as rivers, rice fields, fields, pastures, inland wetlands, tidal flats, orchards, cultivated lands, cliffs & rocks, elevation, lakes, and deciduous forests were identified as areas that can serve as habitats, shelters, resting places, and feeding grounds for birds. On the other hand, artificial structures such as bridges, railways, and other public facilities were found to have a negative impact on bird habitat. The development of a management plan for conservation areas based on the objective analysis presented in this study is expected to be extensively utilized in the future. It will provide diverse evidential materials for establishing effective conservation area management strategies.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.16-34
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• 2015

Impervious covers(IC) are artificial structures, such as driveways, sidewalks, building's roofs, and parking lots, through which water cannot infiltrate into the soil. IC is an environmental concern because the pavement materials seal the soil surface, decreasing rainwater infiltration and natural groundwater recharge, and consequently disturb the hydrological cycle in a watershed. Increase of IC in a watershed can cause more frequent flooding, higher flood peaks, groundwater drawdown, dry river, and decline of water quality and ecosystem health. There has been an increased public interest in the institutional adoption of LID(Low Impact Development) and GI(Green Infrastructure) techniques to address the adverse impact of IC. The objectives of this study were to construct the modeling site for a samll urban watershed with the Storm Water Management Model(SWMM), and to evaluate the effect of various LID techniques on the control of rainfall runoff processes and non-point pollutant load. The model was calibrated and validated using the field data collected during two flood events on July 17 and August 11, 2009, respectively, and applied to a complex area, where is consist of apartments, school, roads, park, etc. The LID techniques applied to the impervious area were decentralized rainwater management measures such as pervious cover and green roof. The results showed that the increase of perviousness land cover through LID applications decreases the runoff volume and pollutants loading during flood events. In particular, applications of pervious pavement for parking lots and sidewalk, green roof, and their combinations reduced the total volume of runoff by 15~61 % and non-point pollutant loads by TSS 22~72 %, BOD 23~71 %, COD 22~71 %, TN 15~79 %, TP 9~64 % in the study site.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.49 no.5
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• pp.381-388
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• 2016

The purpose of this study is to integrate and visualize using mapping techniques based on precise seabed geomorphology, seafloor backscattering images and high-resolution underwater images of the nearshore area around the Dokdo, in the East Sea. We have been obtained the precise topography map using multibeam echosounder system around the nearshore area(~50 m) of the southern part of the Seodo. Side scan sonar survey for analysis seafloor backscattering images was carried out in the same area of topography data. High-resolution underwater images(zone(a), zone(b), zone(c)) were taken in significant habitat scope of the nearshore area of the southern part of the Seodo. Using the results of bathymetry, seafloor backscattering images, high-resolution underwater images, we performed an integrated visualization about the nearshore area of the Dokdo. The integrated visualizing techniques are possible to make the seabed characteristic mapping results of the nearshore area of the Dokdo. The integrated visualization results present more complex and reliable information than separate geological products for seabed environmental mapping study and it is useful to understand the relation between seafloor characteristics and topographic environments of the study area. The integrated visualizing techniques and mapping analysis need to study sustainably and periodically, for effective monitoring of the nearshore ecosystem of the Dokdo.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.764-776
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• 2015

This study aims to identify the structure of the plant community, and the ecological succession sere and the change in the forest ecosystem in Jungdaesa-Birobong area, Odaesan National Park_(i._e., located at high altitudes(over 1,000m)). It seeks to offer the basic data for the planning of vegetation management. In order to verify the status of the forest vegetation between Jungdaesa-Birobong, seventeen plots(size is $20m{\times}20m$) were set up as research sites at high altitudes. Importance value, distribution by diameter at breast height(DBH), the growth volume and age of the sample trees, similarity index and species diversity index of each survey plot were analysed. According to the results of DCA(Detrended Correspondence Analysis), one of the multivariate statistical techniques. It was found that the plant communities were classified into five groups: community I_(Quercus mongolica-Tilia amurensis community), community II_(Q. mongolica-Deciduous broad-leaved community), community III_(Q. mongolica-Pinus koraiensis community), community IV_(Abies holophylla-Q. mongolica community) and community V_(A. holophylla-Deciduous broad-leaved community). Community I which is dominated by Quercus mongolica and Deciduous broad-leaved communities is located at an altitude of over 1,300 meters(ranging from 1,335m to 1,495m), the community IV and V which are dominated by Abies holophylla are located at an altitude of under 1,200 meters(ranging from 1,115m to 1,175m) and the community II and III which include the main species of Quercus mongolica, Pinus koraiensis and Abies holophylla are located at an altitude of between 1,160 meters and 1,300 meters. The results showed that Quercus mongolica tends to have a higher importance value of woody species at a higher altitude while Abies holophylla tends to have higher importance value at a lower altitude. For the importance value woody species and -DBH class distribution, the communites I, II and III are expected to continuously maintain the present status. Whereas, for the influence of communities IV and V, Q. mongolica is predicted to be weakened. The age of sample trees was between 85 and 161; the average age was 123. The index of Shannon's Species diversity (H') showed heterogeneity was found among community I_(i._e., located at high altitude) and communities IV and V_(i._e., located at low altitude). As a results of analysing the index of Shannon's Species diversity (H': unit: $400m^2$), community III showed the highest diversity intex with 1.1109 followed by community II with 1.0475, community I with 1.0125, community IV with 0.9918 and community V with 0.8686. This study verified that the index of Shannon's species was significantly different by plant communities. For instance, when comparing the index of Shannon's species diversity in Quercus mongolica communities of this study and that of past relevant research, the value of index is very similar. However, the diversity index for the community which is dominated by Abies holophylla showed lower value when compared to the results from past relevant research.