• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.223-248
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• 2021

We conducted a taxonomic study and agricultural environmental risk assessments of 41 putative invasive alien plants designated by the Ministry of Environment in 2016. In order to achieve the goal, we carried out the field survey four times including the United States, Australia, and Mexico, and investigated specimens, literature, and other information including seed morphology, classification key, and habitat conditions. In this study, we reported the taxonomic characters, ecological risk, and weed risk assessment of 41 putative invasive alien plants, and suggested significant information about 11 species to contribute to establish solutions of regulation management for putative invasive alien plants - Spirodela punctata (G.Mey.) C.H.Thomps. (Araceae), Sagittaria graminea Michx. (Alismataceae), Elodea nuttallii (Planch.) H.St. John, Hydrocharis morsus-ranae L., Stratiotes aloides L. (Hydrocharitaceae), Eichhornia azurea (Swartz) Kunth, Monochoria hastata (L.) Solms (Pontederiaceae), Aegilops tauschii Coss. (Poaceae), Myriophyllum heterophyllum Michx. (Haloragaceae), Bunias orientalis L. (Brassicaceae), and Heracleum sosnowskyi Manden. (Apiaceae).

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.75-84
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• 2023

Background: Knowledge of the spatial trends of plant invasions in different habitats is essential for a better understanding of the process of these invasions. We examined the variation in invasive alien plant species (IAS) richness and composition at two spatial scales defined by elevation and habitat types (roadside, forest, and cultivated lands) in the Makawanpur district of Nepal. Following an elevation gradient ranging from 500 to 2,400 m asl along a mountain road, plant species cover was recorded within sample plots of size 10 m × 5 m. Systematic random sampling was adopted in every 100 m elevation intervals on three habitat types. Results: Altogether 18 invasive alien plants belonging to eight families were recorded within 60 plots, of which 14 species (representing 80%) were from tropical North and South America. The most common plants by their frequency were Ageratina adenophora, Chromolaena odorata, Bidens pilosa, Lantana camara, and Parthenium hysterophorus. We found a significant relationship between species composition and elevation in the study area. Low-elevation regions had a higher number of alien species as compared to high-elevation regions within different habitat types. Conclusions: The species richness and density of IAS were higher in the road site followed by the cultivated land and forest sites. This pattern occurred throughout the elevation range and habitats. IAS were found mostly in the open land with high sunlight availability. Information from such scientific assessment of invasive alien plants will assist in developing appropriate management plans in the Makawanpur district.

• Animal Systematics, Evolution and Diversity
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.232-235
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• 2020

The family Melyridae Leach includes more than 300 genera and 6,000 species consisting of four subfamilies (Dasytinae, Malachiinae, Melyrinae, Rhadalinae). Members of the subfamily Malachiinae is distributed all over the world except for New Zealand and prefer warmer, arid or semi-arid regions. Among the malachiine genera, a genus Kuatunia Evers includes 17 species worldwide, mainly distributed in East Asia. In this study, the genus and its described species, Kuatunia oblongula (Kiesenwetter), is newly added to the Korean fauna. A diagnosis, habitus photographs, and illustrations of diagnostic characters are provided, with a key to species of the genus in East Asia.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.41-53
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• 2022

Background: Due to the rapidly changing climatic conditions, South Korea faces the grand challenge of exotic species. With the increasing human movement, the influx of alien species to novel regions is prevalent across the globe. The latest research suggests that it is easy to prevent the introduction and establishment of alien species rather than controlling their spread and eradication. Like other countries, the Korean Ministry of Environment released a list (in 2018) of 45 potential risky exotic fish species considered likely to be invasive candidate fish species if they ever succeed in entering the Korean aquatic ecosystems. Results: The investigation into the invasion suitability traits showed that potential risky fish species could utilize those features in becoming invasive once they arrive in the Korean aquatic ecosystems. If the novel species establish viable populations, they are likely to incur higher economic costs, damage the native aquatic fauna and flora, and jeopardize the already perilled species. Furthermore, they can damage the installed infrastructure, decline overall abundance and biodiversity, and disturb the ecosystem services. Here we reviewed the list of fish species concerning their family, native origin, preferred aquatic biomes, main food items, current status in Korea, and potential threats to humans and the ecosystems. Data shows that most species are either already designated as invasive in the neighboring counties, including Japan, Vietnam, Thailand, and China, or originate from these countries. Such species have a higher climate match with the Korean territories. Conclusions: Therefore, it is exceptionally essential to study their most critical features and take regulatory measures to restrict their entry. The incoming fish species must be screened before letting them in the country in the future. The regulatory authorities must highlight the threatening traits of such species and strictly monitor their entrance. Detailed research is required to explore the other species, especially targeting the neighboring countries fish biodiversity, having demonstrated invasive features and matching the Korean climate.

• Proceedings of the National Institute of Ecology of the Republic of Korea
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.86-93
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• 2024

Unintentional dispersal of organisms has explosively increased due to expansion of human activities. Among introduced organisms, some organisms are categorized as invasive species because of their effects on environmental risk, economic loss, and human health. In 2023, a leopard slug (Limax maximus) was reported in Suwon, Republic of Korea. This slug was designated as a potential invasive species because a wide range of plant species were identified as food sources for this slug in its original habitats. However, it is difficult to investigate the ecological risk of this newly introduced slug in Republic of Korea. Therefore, the potential ecological risk from this newly introduced slug was estimated by meta-genome analyses of its feces. Through meta-genome analyses, 22 Families, 28 Genera, and 26 Species of land plants were identified. Among these 26 identified plant species, six economically important crops - squash (Cucurbita maxima), tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), potato (Solanum tuberosum), cowpea (Vigna unguiculata), rice (Oryza sativa), and oriental melon (Cucumis melo) - were identified. Therefore, leopard slugs potentially could cause economic losses in Republic of Korea. Further study is required to build a control strategy against leopard slugs.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.408-416
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• 2017

This research aimed to identify the diversity and the distribution of invasive alien plant species in the metropolitan city of Busan, South Korea. According to our results, we discovered 10 species of invasive alien plants distributed in Busan, demonstrating that this urban area has a high domestic plant diversity. A cluster analysis identified that the dominant communities of Aster pilosus, Lactuca serriola, Ambrosia artemisiifolia, Rumex acetosella and Solanum carolinense were highly similar in species composition. Different species of invasive alien plants tended to occur together in dominant communities, indicating their preference for shared habitats. The most extensively distributed species in Busan were Lactuca serriola (16 districts), followed by Ambrosia artemisiifolia (11 districts), Aster pilosus (11 districts) and Rumex acetosella (10 districts). The administrative districts with the most diverse invasive alien plants were Gangseo-gu (8 species) and Buk-gu (8 species), which are both areas with high human interference and diverse habitats. Additional environmental information was collected for these species' habitats in Busan. The results of this research can be used to assess the current status of invasive alien plants in Busan and can provide basic data useful for effectively controlling and preventing the spread of invasive plants.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.33-55
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• 2018

It has been noted that the main cause of biodiversity loss is influx of alien species. Specifically, habitats destruction, economic loss, and human injury are increasing due to invasive alien species. There were 2,167 alien species in Korea. 21 alien species of extraterrestrials including Lycorma delicatula, Solenopsis invicta, Myocastor coypus, and Spartina alterniflora at high risk through ecological risk assessment, are designated as invasive alien species. Alert species, which may have negative impact on ecosystems when they are introduced into the country, are assigned to 127 species through the ecosystem risk evaluation. To list such alien species to prevent invasion of alien species in advance, and to minimize damage caused by imported alien species, a national level management system called the Conservation and Use of Biological deversity Act was established, but there is a lack of a systematic management system in accordance with degree of risk. There is also a risk assessment chart should be developed thatreflects ecological characteristics of each taxon and evaluation criteria in predicting the risk.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.1-13
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• 2015

This study was conducted to develop an environmental index for assessing the vulnerability of areas with invasive alien plants. To that end, "Regional Vulnerability Numerical Index" (RVNI) was developed with a spatial statistical technique and applied to Seoul and Gyeonggi-do area first. The results are as follows. First, RVNI was high in stream areas. Second, RVNI was lowest in mountain areas. It indicates that stream areas are vulnerable to invasive alien plants. In terms of regions, Guri City is most vulnerable and Gapyeong-gun is the least vulnerable. To expand and manage the invasive alien plants, a control protocol should be developed by considering the physiology and ecology by invasive alien plant. Also, related policies should be pursued based on the results. Thus, the findings of this study can be used as baseline data for setting policies for invasive alien species management.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.277-286
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• 2021

Background: As trade increases, the influx of various alien species and their spread to new regions are prevalent and no longer a special problem. Anthropogenic activities and climate changes have made the distribution of alien species out of their native range common. As a result, alien species can be easily found anywhere, and they have nothing but only a few differences in intensity. The prevalent distribution of alien species adversely affects the ecosystem, and a strategic management plan must be established to control them effectively. To this end, hot spots and cold spots were analyzed according to the degree of distribution of invasive alien plants, and major environmental factors related to hot spots were found. We analyzed the 10,287 distribution points of 126 species of alien plants collected through the national survey of alien species by the hierarchical model of species communities (HMSC) framework. Results: The explanatory and fourfold cross-validation predictive power of the model were 0.91 and 0.75 as AUC values, respectively. The hot spots of invasive plants were found in the Seoul metropolitan area, Daegu metropolitan city, Chungcheongbuk-do Province, southwest shore, and Jeju island. Generally, the hot spots were found where the higher maximum temperature of summer, precipitation of winter, and road density are observed, but temperature seasonality, annual temperature range, precipitation of the summer, and distance to river and sea were negatively related to the hot spots. According to the model, the functional traits accounted for 55% of the variance explained by the environmental factors. The species with higher specific leaf areas were more found where temperature seasonality was low. Taller species preferred the bigger annual temperature range. The heavier seed mass was only preferred when the max temperature of summer exceeded 29 ℃. Conclusions: In this study, hot spots were places where 2.1 times more alien plants were distributed on average than non-hot spots (33.5 vs 15.7 species). The hot spots of invasive plants were expected to appear in less stressful climate conditions, such as low fluctuation of temperature and precipitation. Also, the disturbance by anthropogenic factors or water flow had positive influences on the hot spots. These results were consistent with the previous reports about the ruderal or competitive strategies of invasive plants instead of the stress-tolerant strategy. The functional traits are closely related to the ecological strategies of plants by shaping the response of species to various environmental filters, and our result confirmed this. Therefore, in order to effectively control alien plants, it is judged that the occurrence of disturbed sites in which alien plants can grow in large quantities is minimized, and the river management of waterfronts is required.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.392-403
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• 2020

This study analyzed the distribution characteristics of invasive alien plants on the islands of the Korean Peninsula. Ten species, Rumex acetosella, Sicyos angulatus, Solanum carolinense, Ambrosia artemisiaefolia var. elatior, Ambrosia trifida, Aster pilosus, Eupatorium rugosum, Hypochaeris radicata, Lactuca scariola, and Paspalum distichum were present on 68 islands. These ecosystem-disturbing invasive alien plants appeared extensively on the islands of Gyeonggi province and Jeollanam province. The proportion of the plants on the inhabited islands (41 places, 2.15 species on average) was higher than that on the uninhabited islands (27 places, 1.07 species on average). This means that the distribution of invasive alien plants was closely related to human activity. The distribution of Ambrosia artemisiaefolia var. elatior(32 islands) and Rumex acetosella (31 islands) was the widest, and there were distinct distribution differences according to species. In the island area, the physical environment is poor compared to the mainland, and the native space is limited. Therefore, when invasive alien species enter and settle on the island, the native island plants can be damaged more than those on the mainland. In this regard, the discussion of the distribution of invasive alien plants in the island region can contribute to the conservation of biodiversity in the region.