• Proceedings of the National Institute of Ecology of the Republic of Korea
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.165-171
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• 2022

The Chinese crested tern (Thalasseus bersteini) is one of the most globally endangered species, listed as "Critically Endangered (CE)" on the IUCN Red List, with only approximately 30-49 individuals surviving in the wild. Chinese crested terns were discovered to breed in South Korea for the first time in 2016 while conducting a census on uninhabited islands. The Ministry of Environment has declared the breeding habitat of the Chinese crested terns as "Specified Island" to protect this CE species. However, brown rats (Rattus norvegicus) inhabiting the breeding grounds of the Chinese crested terns and Black-tailed gulls may potentially pose a threat to the breeding of these avian species. Therefore, we conducted a study on the feeding behavior of brown rats involving stable isotope analysis to determine their food sources. Fecal analysis showed that brown rats mainly fed on plants, whereas they scarcely fed on animals, such as insects. In addition, the stable isotope analysis showed that the δ¹³C values of brown rats, insects, and Indian goosegrasses were approximately -16 to -11‰, whereas the δ¹³C value of Chinese crested terns that obtained their food from the marine ecosystem was approximately -22 to -18‰. Hence, we conclude that the source of carbon for brown rats on this island is the terrestrial ecosystem. We ruled out the possibility of any direct prey-predator interaction between the brown rat and the Chinese crested tern or Black-tailed gull.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.252-261
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• 2012

To determine the temporal variations of submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) and SGD-driven nutrients inputs, we measured the seepage rate and the nutrient concentrations of pore water/groundwater in Bangdu Bay of Jeju Island at two and three month intervals from September 2009 to September 2010. The seepage rate of groundwater ranged from 0 to 330 cm/day (average ~170 cm/day) during the five sampling periods, which increased sharply from high tide to low tide due to changes in hydraulic pressure gradient between water table in land and water sea level in the coastal ocean by the tidal cycles. The submarine inputs of groundwater were also relatively higher in summer than in winter. The nutrient fluxes from SGD were about 90~100%, 70~95%, and 65~100% of the total input (except from open ocean waters) for dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN), phosphorus (DIP), and silicate (DSi), respectively, potentially supporting about 0.9~33 g $carbon/m^2/day$ of new primary production in Baugdu Bay. Thus, our study suggests that SGD-driven nutrients may play an important role in the eutrophication and biological production in the coastal ocean of Jeju Island.

• 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.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.759-771
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• 2011

We evaluated the pollution levels of organic matter and metallic element (Fe, Cu, Pb, Zn, Cd, Ni, Cr, Mn, As, and Hg) in the intertidal surface sediments of Aphae Island using several sediment quality guidelines (SQGs) and assessment techniques for sediment pollution. Based on the textural composition of sediment, the surface sediments were classified into two main sedimentary facies: slightly gravelly mud and silt. The concentrations of chemical oxygen demand (COD) and acid volatile sulfide (AVS) in the sediments ranged from 4.6-9.9 (mean $7.4{\pm}1.1$) $mgO_2/g{\cdot}dry$ and from ND-0.53 (mean $0.04{\pm}0.10$) mgS/$g{\cdot}dry$, respectively. These values were considerably lower than those reported from a farming area in a semi-enclosed bay of Korea and for SQGs in Japan. The metallic element concentrations in the sediments varied widely with the mean grain size and organic matter content, implying that the concentrations of metallic elements are influenced mainly by secondary factors, such as bioturbation, the resuspension of sediment, and anthropogenic input. The overall results for the comparison with SQGs, enrichment factor (EF), and geoaccumulation index ($I_{geo}$) indicate that the surface sediments are slightly polluted by Cr and Ni, and moderately polluted by As. Our results suggest that the intertidal surface sediments of Aphae Island are not polluted by organic matter or metallic elements and the benthic conditions are suitable for healthy organisms.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.209-214
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• 2003

In order to clarify the successional trend and its characteristics of plant community in abandoned field in Cheju Island, we investigated the seral changes of vegetation height, coverage, growth form, species richness, diversity and dominance index along with the time lapse, and then compared with those of mainland researches. And in order to seek the overall trend of vegetation changes, we used cluster, TWINSPAN and PCA ordination techniques. The succession was characterized by the lower species number, lower vegetation height, longer period of herb dominant and later invasion of tree species. These results may come from that ecological traits of Cheju Island itself, and ecosystem fragmented influences that block a seed (propagule) transport. Sere of the dominant species was shown as follows: Mazus japonicus(0.5∼1 years)→Conyza sumatrensis (2 years)→Artemisia princeps var. orientalis(4 years)→Artemisia princeps var. orientalis, indigofera pseudotinctoria(5 years)→Rosa multiflora, Miscanthus sinensis, etc.(8 years)→Miscanthus sinensis(12 years)→Boehmeria nivea, Pueraria thunbergiana etc.(15 years)→Mallotus japonicus(20 years)→Litsea japonica, Machilus thunbergii (20 years<). Abandoned fields were classified into three groups according to time lapse; earlier stage(0∼1 years), middle stage(2∼8 years) and later stage(8∼20 years).

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.615-625
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• 2021

The coastal areas around Palau Island and Tonga Island, near the Pacific equator, consist of coral reefs, mangrove and seaweed. In particular, understanding the optical properties of sea surface water in coral reef habitats helps improve the accuracy of remote sensing based habitat mapping and identify tropical ecosystem characteristics. Here, we collected spectral characteristics of sea surface water of Palau Island and Tonga Island and analyzed the concentration of suspended matters, absorption coefficient, and remote sensing reflectance to understand the seawater characteristics of the coral reef habitats. Based on the results of the suspended matter concentration analysis, we developed and verified an empirical algorithm to derive the concentration from satellite data using remote sensing reflectance of three bands, 555, 625, 660 nm, showed a high determinant coefficient, 0.98. In conclusion, coral reef habitats in tropical regions are characterized by CASE-I water in terms of the marine optics with oligotrophic properties, and require monitoring using continuous collection and analysis of field data.

• Journal of The Geomorphological Association of Korea
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.45-57
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• 2021

In this study, the changes in morphology of Dokdo's gravel beach and its responses due to a storm event were analyzed using the aerial photos and 3D LiDAR data obtained during an ecosystem survey of the Dokdo in 2020. Dongdo Island's gravel beach, shown by aerial photo analysis, increased in area due to sedimentation after the construction of a dock, but there was no more significant changes in area after having grown to Sutdolbawi inside the dock. The changes in volume of the gravel beach were indicated based on 3D data acquired in May and November 2020. A strong typhoon that passed in September, 2002, caused erosion on the backshore and sedimentation on the foreshore and formed the berm by about 1.5 to 2 m high. The analysis showed that the sedimentation was 94.76 m³ in volume and 329 m² in area and the erosion was 250.75 m³ in volume and 603m² in area, which suggested that the overall change of the gravel beach was erosion. The changes in the morphology of the gravel beach on Seodo Island occurred with the seasons along with the changes in area. In addition, berms of different altitudes appeared on the southern and northern sides of the spit, which was also estimated to have formed by the seasonal current direction and wave energy.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.179-192
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• 2023

In this study, changes in the microbial ecosystem of the Yeongheungdo island coastal waters were investigated for five years to collect basic data. To evaluate the influence of distance from the coast on the microbial ecosystem, four sites, coastal Site (S1) and 0.75, 1.5, and 3 km away from the coast, were set up and the changes in physicochemical and biological factors were monitored. The results showed seasonal changes in water temperature, dissolved oxygen, salinity, and pH but with no significant differences between sites. For nutrients, the concentration of dissolved inorganic nitrogen increased from 6.4 μM in April-June to 16.4 μM in July-November, while that of phosphorus and silicon phosphate increased from 0.4 μM and 2.5 μM in April-June to 1.1 μM and 12.0 μM in July-November, respectively. Notably, phosphorus phosphate concentrations were lower in 2014-2015 (up to 0.2 μM) compared to 2016-2018 (up to 2.2 μM), indicating phosphorus limitation during this period. However, there were no differences in nutrients with distance from the coast, indicating that there was no effect of distance on nutrients. Phytoplankton (average 511 cells mL^-1) showed relatively high biomass (up to 3,370 cells mL^-1) in 2014-2015 when phosphorus phosphate was limited. Notably, at that time, the concentration of dissolved organic carbon was not high, with concentrations ranging from 1.1-2.3 mg L^-1. However, no significant differences in biological factors were observed between the sites. Although this study revealed that there was no disturbance of the ecosystem, further research and more basic data on the microecosystem are necessary to understand the ecosystem of the Incheon.

• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
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• v.56 no.9
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• pp.575-586
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• 2023

River vegetation has important functions such as providing a habitat for the river ecosystem and physical stability of the river bank. It also has adverse effects such as aggravating flood damages due to the increase in roughness coefficient and drag forces. River vegetation management is very important in finding a balance between flood and ecological management. There are still many uncertainties about the effect of vegetation on rivers. In this study, in order to analyze the effect of vegetated flow, the flow patterns according to the vegetation roughness are analyzed through a two-dimensional unsteady flow model for Chopyeong island of the Imjin River. According to the results of the 2D flow analysis using the HEC-RAS 2D model, the velocity distribution in the bend of the Imjin River was greatly affected by the vegetation roughness of Chopyeong Island. The formation of the main flow outside the bend of Chopyeong Island during flooding is presumed due to the influence of tree and grass on Chopyeong Island. If tree are distributed throughout Chopyeong Island, the velocity outside the bend is expected to be higher. River vegetation causes the effect of raising the water level, and could cause a change in the velocity distribution.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.31-44
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• 2024

The coastal dune ecosystem is one of the ecosystems under the most development pressure in Korea. Therefore, it is necessary to study the ecological location and related ecological phenomena of coastal dune plants, but related studies are lacking. Through this study, we intend to conduct research on the structure and restoration of dune plants, focusing on the coastal dunes in Jeju Island, which are affected by artificial development pressure and the continuous increase in tourists among many coastal dunes in Korea. Ecosystems of coastal sand dunes for vegetation survey in Jeju Island are selected based on naturalness and preservation. In this study, 23 major coastal dunes on Jeju Island including Udo were selected. In the coastal dunes of Jeju Island, a whole species survey and quadrat survey were carried out. The vegetation survey at study sites were conducted on May to September 2022, when the vegetation is clearly visible. At the survey site, the dune area was identified at the beginning and the plant species were recorded until no more new species appeared. Vegetation survey in the field was performed by 103 quadrat establishments and was conducted using Braun-Blanquet method. A total of 277 species appeared, and the most common species were Vitex rotundifolia and Calystegia soldanella. The frequency of both Vitex rotundifolia and Calystegia soldanella was approximately over 90%. The proportion of woody and herbaceous in all emerging species was 7.2% and 92.8%, respectively. The total number of species found in the quadrat survey was 98. As a result of classifying plant communities based on species dominance in the quadrats, it was analyzed into 30 plant communities. The plant communities that appeared with a frequency of 2 or more on the main island of Jeju were Vitex rotundifolia, Imperata cylindrica var. koenigii, Ischaemum antephoroides, Wedelia prostrata, Elymus mollis, Calystegia soldanella, Artemisia scoparia, and Tetragonia tetragonoides. The DCCA(detrended canonical correspondence analysis) based on the vegetation and environment factor matrix showed that the height and covers of the dominant plant species explain significantly the variation and distribution of coastal sand dune species on Jeju island. Thus, we may propose a plan to restore the coastal dunes of Jeju island as helping colonization and establishment of mainly sand dune native perennials and trees, preserving native plant communities that are declining and preserving present tree strips of Pinus thunbergii, Litsea japonica, Pittosporum tobira and Vitex rotundifolia.