• Journal of Environmental Science International
• /
• v.28 no.11
• /
• pp.917-925
• /
• 2019

All of the animals and the plants in ecosystem are intimately connected to one another and the changes of forests and surroundings affect directly wild animals. This study was conducted at Hangyeong-myeon Cheongsu-ri located in the western part of Jeju Island belonging to Hangyeong Andeok Gotjawal Zone and Jocheon-eup Seonheul-ri located in the eastern part of Jeju Island belonging to Jocheon Hamdeok Gotjawal Zone. The survey on advent of birds was carried out twice a month from January 2014 to December 2015. We divided habitat environments into three survey sites such as a forest, a shrub forest and a farmland. A total of 65 species and 4,802 individuals were observed during the survey period. In a forest, 36 species and 1,287 individuals were observed while A shrub forest had 40 species and 1,554 individuals. And in a farmland, 41 species and 1,961 individuals were observed. The only 10 species were observed in forest and the only 7 species in shrub forest and the only 10 species in farmland. The species diversity and the evenness of a farmland were the highest, and the species richness was the highest in a shrub forest, and the dominance of a forest was the highest among the three areas. The similarity index between a shurb forest and a farmland was high while that between a forest and a farmland was low. The similarity index related with breeding appeared that a forest and a farmland was different from each other.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.41 no.8
• /
• pp.223-234
• /
• 2017

Background: Spatial structure of plants in a population reflects complex interactions of ecological and evolutionary processes. For dioecious plants, differences in reproduction cost between sexes and sizes might affect their spatial distribution. Abiotic heterogeneity may also affect adaptation activities, and result in a unique spatial structure of the population. Thus, we examined sex- and size-related spatial distributions of old-growth forest of dioecious tree Torreya nucifera in extremely heterogeneous Gotjawal terrain of Jeju Island, South Korea. Methods: We generated a database of location, sex, and size (DBH) of T. nucifera trees for each quadrat ($160{\times}300m$) in each of the three sites previously defined (quadrat A, B, C in Site I, II, and III, respectively). T. nucifera trees were categorized into eight groups based on sex (males vs. females), size (small vs. large trees), and sex by size (small vs. large males, and small vs. large females) for spatial point pattern analysis. Univariate and bivariate spatial analyses were conducted. Results: Univariate spatial analysis showed that spatial patterns of T. nucifera trees differed among the three quadrats. In quadrat A, individual trees showed random distribution at all scales regardless of sex and size groups. When assessing univariate patterns for sex by size groups in quadrat B, small males and small females were distributed randomly at all scales whereas large males and large females were clumped. All groups in quadrat C were clustered at short distances but the pattern changed as distance was increased. Bivariate spatial analyses testing the association between sex and size groups showed that spatial segregation occurred only in quadrat C. Males and females were spatially independent at all scales. However, after controlling for size, males and females were spatially separated. Conclusions: Diverse spatial patterns of T. nucifera trees across the three sites within the Torreya Forest imply that adaptive explanations are not sufficient for understanding spatial structure in this old-growth forest. If so, the role of Gotjawal terrain in terms of creating extremely diverse microhabitats and subsequently stochastic processes of survival and mortality of trees, both of which ultimately determine spatial patterns, needs to be further examined.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
• /
• v.18 no.10
• /
• pp.471-479
• /
• 2017

The purpose of this study was to investigate changes in salivary cortisol content in 35 subjects before and after visiting Gotjawal Forest in Jeju. Cortisol raw samples were collected before and after visiting Gotjawal Forest and were analyzed by salivary cortisol enzyme immunoassay. The period of the study was from May 1, 2017 to June 30, 2017. There was no significant difference in cortisol content between the control and experimental groups before the visit, but the value of the experimental group significantly decreased afterwards. The mean value of cortisol in male subjects was lower than that of the control group. In the case of women, the value of the experimental group was lower than that of the control group. The post-visit cortisol content of the experimental group was significantly lower than that of the control group. In the post-visit analyses according to gender and group, there were significant differences between genders, groups, and combined effects of gender and group. This study provides basic data to prove the effects of forest bathing.

• Journal of Naturopathy
• /
• v.7 no.1
• /
• pp.1-9
• /
• 2018

The purpose of this study is to statistically investigate the changes in mean differences of the vascular age types and index, heart beating, vessel elasticity, diastolic reserves contents measured by the fingertip plethysmogram before and after the subjects (49 people) visit the Gotjawal forest for two hours. While there is no significant change in the mean differences of vascular age types and index, heart beating, diastolic reserves contents in the control group before and after the visit, the differences in the test groups gets higher than the control group and shows a significant difference. Moreover, the variance analyses of the mean values of the contents shows a significant change after the visit. There is no significant change in the values of vessel elasticity changes between the groups after the visit, but the change of values is significant in the within group, and it is not significant between group by variance analysis. The differences of the heart beating was insignificant in the within group, but significant between group after the visit. In conclusion this study proves the effects of forest bathing, because the HRV index significantly improved after the bathing. Therefore the b-c-d-e/a ratio may be useful for evaluation of HRV.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.42 no.2
• /
• pp.60-69
• /
• 2018

Background: This study was conducted from March 2011 to February 2013 in order to evaluate the ecosystem value by examining the organic carbon distribution and cycling in the Quercus glauca forest, evergreen oak community at Seonheul-Gotjawal, Jeju Island. Results: The amount of organic carbon distribution was $124.5ton\;C\;ha^{-1}$ in 2011 and $132.63ton\;C\;ha^{-1}$ in 2012 for aboveground biomass. And it was $31.13ton\;C\;ha^{-1}$ in 2011 and $33.16ton\;C\;ha^{-1}$ in 2012 for belowground biomass. In total, the amount of organic carbon distribution in plants was 155.63 and $165.79ton\;C\;ha^{-1}$ in 2011 and 2012, respectively. In 2011 and 2012 respectively, the amount of organic carbon distribution was 3.61 and $6.39ton\;C\;ha^{-1}$ in the forest floor and it was 78.89 and $100.71ton\;C\;ha^{-1}$ in the soil. As shown, most carbon was distributed in plants. Overall, the amount of organic carbon distribution of the Q. glauca forest was $238.13ton\;C\;ha^{-1}$ in 2011 and $272.89ton\;C\;ha^{-1}$ in 2012. In 2011, the amount of organic carbon fixed in plants through photosynthesis (NPP) was $14.22ton\;C\;ha^{-1}\;year^{-1}$ and the amount of carbon emission of soil respiration was $16.77ton\;C\;ha^{-1}\;year^{-1}$. The net ecosystem production (NEP) absorbed by the Q. glauca forest from the atmosphere was $5ton\;C\;ha^{-1}\;year^{-1}$. Conclusions: The carbon storage value based on such organic carbon distribution was estimated about $23.81mil\;won\;ha^{-1}$ in 2011 and $27.29mil\;won\;ha^{-1}$ in 2012, showing an annual increment of carbon storage value by $3.48mil\;won\;ha^{-1}$. The carbon absorption value based on such NEP was estimated about $500,000won\;ha^{-1}\;year^{-1}$.

• Journal of Naturopathy
• /
• v.7 no.2
• /
• pp.39-46
• /
• 2018

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of the subjects after visiting the Gyorae forest on the activity of the autonomic nervous system. Methods: Before and after the forest bath, it was measured using a ubiquitous machine. Results: After the bath there was no significant difference in the sympathetic nerve activity (LF) of the control group, but the difference was significant in the experimental group by increasing (p<.038), and in the variance analysis, there was a significant difference between the groups (p<.014), between pre-and post-bath (p<.026), and also between the groups and pre-and post-bath (p<.018). The changes in parasympathetic activity (HF) were not significant in both the control and experimental. In the LF/HF ratio, the experimental group was significantly increased, and in the analysis of variance, there was also significant difference between group and before and after bath (p<.04). Mean pulse rate in the experimental group was a significant increase after bath (p<.026). In the change of pulse standard deviation, the value of the control and the experimental groups by variance analysis was a significant difference between the groups (p<.014). There was no difference between the mean values of the control and the experimental groups in the change of mean heart rate deviation. Conclusions: The autonomic nervous systems were activated after Gyorae forest bathing, where may be useful place for healing.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.38 no.4
• /
• pp.485-491
• /
• 2015

This study was conducted to develop stem volume models for the volume estimation of Quercus glauca Thunb. in Jeju Island, Republic of Korea. Furthermore, this study validated the developed stem volume models using an independent dataset. A total of 167 trees were measured for their diameter at breast height (DBH), total height and stem volume using non-destructive sampling methods. Eighty percent of the dataset was used for the initial model development while the remaining 20% was used for model validation. The performance of the different models was evaluated using the following fit statistics: standard error of estimate (SEE), mean bias absolute mean deviation (AMD), coefficient of determination (R²), and root mean square error (RMSE). The AMD of the five models from the different DBH classes were determined using the validation dataset. Model 5 (V = aD^bH^c), which estimates volume using DBH and total height as predicting variables, had the best SEE (0.02745), AMD (0.01538), R² (0.97603) and RMSE (0.02746). Overall, volume models with two independent variables (DBH and total height) performed better than those with only one (DBH) based on the model evaluation and validation. The models developed in this study can provide forest managers with accurate estimations for the stem volumes of Quercus glauca in the subtropical forests of Jeju Island, Korea.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.27 no.9
• /
• pp.1670-1680
• /
• 2017

Lignocellulose, composed mostly of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin generated through secondary growth of woody plant, is considered as promising resources for biofuel. In order to use lignocellulose as a biofuel, biodegradation besides high-cost chemical treatments were applied, but knowledge on the decomposition of lignocellulose occurring in a natural environment is insufficient. We analyzed the 16S rRNA gene and metagenome to understand how the lignocellulose is decomposed naturally in decayed Torreya nucifera (L) of Bija forest (Bijarim) in Gotjawal, an ecologically distinct environment. A total of 464,360 reads were obtained from 16S rRNA gene sequencing, representing diverse phyla; Proteobacteria (51%), Bacteroidetes (11%) and Actinobacteria (10%). The metagenome analysis using single molecules real-time sequencing revealed that the assembled contigs determined originated from Proteobacteria (58%) and Actinobacteria (10.3%). Carbohydrate Active enZYmes (CAZy)- and Protein families (Pfam)-based analysis showed that Proteobacteria was involved in degrading whole lignocellulose, and Actinobacteria played a role only in a part of hemicellulose degradation. Combining these results, it suggested that Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria had selective biodegradation potential for different lignocellulose substrates. Thus, it is considered that understanding of the systemic microbial degradation pathways may be a useful strategy for recycle of lignocellulosic biomass, and the microbial enzymes in Bija forest can be useful natural resources in industrial processes.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
• /
• v.34 no.5
• /
• pp.462-469
• /
• 2021

Maesa japonica (Thunb.) Moritzi & Zoll. is a rare evergreen shrub that occurs in west Gotjawal, Jeju island, Korea. This study was conducted to investigate effects of an artificial shading on flowering and growth characteristics of M. japonica seedlings. The level of shading had been set to be 35%, 55% and 75% using shading net. The stage of flowering and flowering ratio, seedling height, the number of leaves and stems, leaf area were measured. Flowering timings were delayed by shading. The number of flowering seedlings per plot and inflorescences per seedling were the most in 55% shading level. Tendency of decreased seedling height with increased shading level was shown. The number of leaves and stems were the fewest values in 75% shading level. The increased biomass with decreased shading level was statistically significant. Aboveground and underground biomass were 2.1 and 1.7 times higher in shading 35% than in shading 75%, respectively. Meanwhile, all seedlings in non-shading plots were dead in winter. Such might be speculated as results of the light stress. As a result, we conclude that M. japonica vitally demands the shading for growth and the optimal shading levels for growth and flowering are 35% and 55%, respectively.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
• /
• v.14 no.1
• /
• pp.35-45
• /
• 2012

In order to characterize the habitat trait and vegetation structure of M. chejuense(Ophioglssaceae), endangered plant in Korea, we set 12 permanent quadrats in Jocheon-Sunhyul Gotzawal Wetland Region of Jeju Island, and surveyed the temporal pools, vegetation structure and counted the population size of the endemic rare plant. M. chejuense distributed in the vernal pools with a variety of shape, area of 150-$400m^2$, depth of 0.4-2.0m and slope of 3-$10^{\circ}$, at altitude of 88-165m in lowland area in Gotjawal Wetland Region, Jeju Island. The soil has a thin layer and high water content all the seasons. The population appeared with a density range of 1-423/pool in the boundary area of the wetlands under higher tree coverages(80-100%) in the deciduous forest communities. Vegetation wsa classified into five plant communities such as Ulmus parvifolia community, Cudrania tricuspidata community, Rosa multiflora community, Ardisia japonica community, Ophiopogon japonicus community. These results means that M. chejuense potentially has a shortage to evergreen plant succession, litter accumulation and water drainage, thus it is need to sustainable wetland environmental condition in the deciduous forest community for its sounded conservation.