• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
• /
• v.17 no.2
• /
• pp.109-123
• /
• 2014

Kaloula borealis is the species of Amphibia which belongs to Kaloula genus and it is the only species inhabiting in Korea. The population size and habitat of Kaloula borealis have been significantly decreased on a national scale due to the diversified developments and the uses of agricultural pesticides. Accordingly, the Ministry of Environment has designated and managed them as the class II of endangered species, in accordance with "Endangered Species Protection and Management Act"; however, a particular study focused on the ecological restoration of Kaloula borealis is desperately needed to prevent their extinction. This study was conducted to propose the HSI (Habit Suitability Index) of Kaloula borealis based on literature survey on ecology and habitats of Kaloula borealis, as well as their HSI. Factors to be investigated in HSI include: space, feed, cover, water(breeding) and threatening factors and the variables of each factor were also proposed. The distance from wetland, grassland, farm, stream and rice paddy, as well as the altitude of spawning pond were proposed as the variables of space, whereas the bed structure of forest and low-rise grassland were proposed as the variables of feeding. The variables of water (breeding) include the area of permanent and temporary wetlands, coverage of emerged pants (ratio of open water), water depth, water temperature, water quality, pH level, etc., whereas the presence of predator, distance from street and pollutants were proposed as the variables of threatening factor. The sub-standards by HSI factor of Kaloula borealis have been drawn from in-depth consultation with experts and based on this, the final HSI of Kaloula borealis was developed.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Geographic Information Studies
• /
• v.11 no.3
• /
• pp.92-106
• /
• 2008

The purpose of this study is to identify land use types and to develop and evaluate biotope maps for Gangseo-Gu (ward) in Busan Metropolitan City, South Korea, using the Degree of Hemeroby. Hemeroby is a measurement concept or tool to assess the magnitude of human impact on ecosystems. Gangseo-Gu is the second largest Gu in Busan and is under strong development pressure. Before the field survey, biotopes were pre-classified based on digital maps, aerial photos and high-resolution satellite images. The method employed in biotope survey and mapping was adopted from the modified method used in Seoul, which carried out the first biotope mapping in Korea in 2000. In the field survey, a comprehensive biotope mapping method was used. The results showed that the total surface area of biotopes in Gangseo-gu was $172,620,207m^2$(42,655 acres) and there were 29 biotope types with 13,631 polygons. The ratio of urban or built-up area 22.6% and the remaining areas were forest and open spaces, of which 22.6% were actual forest areas and 35.6% were paddy fields and other field areas. The Hemeroby Index of Gangseo-gu was 54.7, which suggests that Gangseo-gu has not yet been developed extensively and needs a long-term conservation and coordinated development plan.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
• /
• v.22 no.3
• /
• pp.221-229
• /
• 2008

This study observed and compared phenological changes in the spring for some native woody plants growing at Mt. Jumbong and Mt. Bongeui located at central districts of our country, and also inquired into the phenological difference subsequent to microclimate change by measuring its related environment factors as well. The average air temperature at a survey point of Mt. Jumbong from January to May in 2004 was $4.1^{\circ}C$ lower than that of Mt. Bongeui. As for the soil temperature in April by a survey section within Mt. Jumbong, the soil temperature on the west and northwest slopes was $1.8^{\circ}C$ and $4.4^{\circ}C$ lower than that of the south slope, respectively. It was found that the earliest tree species in a flowering period was Lindera obtusiloba among the sample woody plants and its flowering began in late March at Mt. Bongeui and in early April at Mt. Jumbong. The flowering of the same species began faster on the south slope than the west or north slope; in case of the tree species flowering in early spring, there appeared about two-week interval between the survey sites. Likewise, leafing time of the same species was two weeks earlier at Mt. Bongeui(in mid-April) than at Mt. Jumbong(in early May). Nuttonson's Index and Year Day Index for the flowering and leafing time of the same species showed similar value between the survey sites. It is analyzed that the transition in phenological phases between the sites is mainly caused by temperatures; further, it is implied that the climate changes and rise in temperatures could expedite the changes in phenological phases more than ever.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
• /
• v.29 no.6
• /
• pp.907-916
• /
• 2015

The purpose of this study was to identify characteristics of vegetation structure, vegetation succession, and species diversity of artificially planted Chamaecyparis obtusa (CO) stands. The study was carried out by performing vegetation survey for eight CO stands located in Jeollanam-do Province, Korea. Analysis on vegetation classification and ordinations of the stands was conducted using the data from the vegetation survey, and as a result, the stands were classified into five types of communities. Community I showed a considerably lower index of species diversity when compared to other communities because the canopy of the dominant CO was so highly dense that the low-height vegetation was not able to develop or the low-height vegetation almost disappeared due to elimination of weed trees. Meanwhile, the Community II - IV had relatively higher indices of species diversity because various native tree species mixed with the low-height vegetation and competed with each other in the understory and shrub layers to some degree of stability or in their early stage of vegetation development. Community V, lastly, showed higher use intensity as a recreational forest, thus developing simpler vegetation structure on account of artificial intervention. There was positive correlation between photosynthetically active radiation entering the forest floor, number of observed species and index of species diversity. Such characteristics of vegetation structure in CO stands are closely associated with forest management and prescription for planting reforestation, thinning, and brush cutting in the past. There was a slight difference in vegetation structure and species diversity by communities, based on rotation time of the vegetational succession, process of disturbance frequency and disturbance, development, and maturity by planting CO stands. However, when compared to natural forests, the CO stands showed simpler vegetation structure. Because artificial forests are vulnerable in ecosystem service with lower species diversity, a drive for ecological management is needed for such forests to change into healthy ecosystems that can display functions of public benefit.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
• /
• v.22 no.2
• /
• pp.159-172
• /
• 2008

This study was carried out to obtain ecological information necessary for a conservation plan based on the distributional patterns, wetland types, and hydrophytic characteristics of urban wetlands in Seongnam City, Kyunggi Province where representing the various patterns of land use made by rapid urbanization since 1970s. Total 162 sites of four wetland types were identified as urban wetlands during the first survey. The sites were classified into 55 forested swamps, 4 riverine wetlands, 62 abandoned paddy fields, 37 small ponds, and 4 reservoirs, etc. The second survey targeted 107 sites which were identified as good wetlands. It showed that 42 sites(about 39%) were already degraded due to drainage, landfill, and crop cultivation at 6 months intervals. Both hydrologic conditions and hydrophytic characteristics of 27 good wetlands help maintain current ecological status, but most wetlands have been degraded by artificial impacts. Among 184 species identified, only 75 species(about 40.7%) were hydrophytes. Prevalence Index of hydrophyte based on three categories of OBL(obligatory wetland plant), FAC(facultitative plant), UPL(obligatory upland plant) was 3.7, indicating that vegetation data alone is inadequate to designate as wetlands. This study revealed that as critical habitats for wildlife they playa vital role in ecotone between both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystem with its proper distributional pattern in spite of their small areas compared to the entire geographic region of the City.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
• /
• v.25 no.5
• /
• pp.625-633
• /
• 2016

This study was conducted to investigate the influence of hydrophilic polymer (HP) mixture ratio (Control, 1.0%, 2.5%, 5.0%, and 10.0%) on growth of eggplant (Solanum melongena) for lower maintenance urban agriculture via green roofs. Although it was not statistically significant (p > 0.05), substrate temperature was decreased as hydrophilic polymer mixture ratio were increased. High substrate water content (95%) was found consistently in growing media under elevated hydrophilic polymer mixture ratio at over 5% during the entire growing period. Substrate electronic conductivity was increased as hydrophilic polymer mixture ratio were increased. Growth index was decreased as hydrophilic polymer mixture ratio was increased. It was reduced about 1/3 and 1/5 compared to that of Control in HP5.0 and HP10.0 treatment plants, respectively. Number of leaves, leaf length, and leaf width were decreased in following order: Control> HP1.0> HP2.5> HP5.0> HP10.0 treatments. There numbers were significantly lower in HP5.0 and HP10.0 treatment plants. Dry weight of shoot and root were decreased as hydrophilic polymer mixture ratio was increased. They were reduced by 1/4 compared to those of Control treatment plants. In addition, visual value was decreased as hydrophilic polymer mixture ratio was increased. Plants grown in HP1.0, HP2.5, and HP5.0 treatments all survived. However, plants grown in the HP10.0 treatment had the lowest survival rate (56%) after 3 months of growing. These results indicate that the advantage of adding hydrophilic polymer to green roof growing media may greater during dry periods. However, the proper mixture proportion of hydrophilic polymer should be determined according to different characteristics of growing media and plant species.

• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
• /
• v.52 no.spc2
• /
• pp.765-776
• /
• 2019

The purpose of this study is to provide the legal and institutional guidelines and standards that can be used in the whole river restoration project and to analyze and evaluate the performance of the river project. We constructed an assessment system of four biological taxa that can represent the river environments, namely, evaluation indexes and standards of vegetation and birds, benthic invertebrates and fishes. Specifically, the assessment indicator and criteria of biological characteristics are summarized, so that in case of vegetation community, vegetation diversity, vegetation complexity, and vegetation naturalness can be quantitatively assessed through the combination of three indices. Based on the scientific basis of the advanced techniques, benthic invertebrates, fishes, and birds were proposed to quantitatively evaluate assessment grades according to the classification of biological data. In order to evaluate biological characteristics, which are a part of river environmental naturalness, we proposed a comprehensive biological index and evaluation grade applying the weight of these four biological taxa, and it clearly reflects the characteristics of river environment in test bed.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
• /
• v.33 no.1
• /
• pp.64-74
• /
• 2019

The purpose of this study is to assess the degree of vegetation recovery such as the vegetation change and the effect of artificial restoration measures according to the number of years since the restoration works at the damaged Jungbong and Nuebong area in Mudeungsan National Park. We set up a total of 21 survey areas including 11 monitoring areas to analyze the flora, relative dominance, species diversity, and similarity in the restored site after relocation of Zungbong army base in 1996 and the restored site after the demolition of Neeebong telecommunication facility in 1999 and 10 control areas in the adjacent natural forest to assess the vegetation recovery in the restored sites and the nearby natural forest. The Mean Similarity Index of seed composition was relatively low at 3.5% in the Jungbong restoration site 17 years after the restoration, and the height of shrub layer, in which azaleas and furred azaleas appeared, recovered to the level of 82.6%. We concluded that it is necessary to continue monitoring the restored sites to develop the recovery assessment method and recovery work technology for sub-alpine areas in Mudeungsan National Park and other national park areas.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
• /
• v.27 no.1
• /
• pp.30-37
• /
• 2019

Background: This study was conducted to investigate the changes in the photosynthetic parameters, chlorophyll content, chlorophyll fluorescence, and growth characteristics of Aruncus dioicus var. kamtschaticus seedlings under different shading treatments. Methods and Results: The shading treatment was regulated with the shading level (non-shaded, 35%, 55%, and 75% shading). Photosynthetic activities, such as net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, stomatal transpiration rate, and performance index on absorption basis ($PI_{ABS}$)were the highest under 35% shading ($4.36{\mu}mol\;CO_2{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}s^{-1}$, $54.2mmol\;H_2O{\cdot}m^2{\cdot}s^{-1}$, $0.66mmol\;H_2O{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}s^{-1}$, and 1.3, respectively), and the lowest under 75% shading. This implies that the decrease in net photosynthetic rate may be due to an inability to regulate water and $CO_2$ exchanged through the stomata. Thechlorophylla, b, and a + b contents were increased with elevating shading level and the chlorophyll a/b ratio showed non-significant differences. It was found that the dry weight (leaf, shoot, and whole) was the highest (1.14 g, 0.49 g, and 2.31 g, respectively) under 35% shading and the t/R ratio was the highest under 75% shading. Conclusions: It is concluded that 75% shading exhibited a strong reduction of photosynthetic activity, and 35% shading showed the best conditions for the early growth and cultivation of A. dioicus var. kamtschaticus.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
• /
• v.29 no.6
• /
• pp.430-440
• /
• 2020

The application contents, process, and its limitations are discussed for the setting of Korean legal guides & criteria for water cycle and ecological condition in development project of land use by thorough comparison and examination of prerequisites and credits of water cycle and soil+vegetation by USA's SITES (Sustainable Sites Initiative). In the case of SITES, due to the implementation procedure operated as a non-governmental independent assessment system by Green Business Certification, Inc, the natural condition of water cycle and soil-vegetation items-the key element of ecosystem services can be quantitatively assessed, well along with its legal and institutional guidelines and regulations. On the other hand, in the case of Korea, as a part of the national certification procedure for green building, the ecological area ratio system still have very limited role as an only amenity resource in the creation of artificial green spaces and insufficiency of management system for rain water. In conclusion, it was understood as an urgent situation in necessary for prompt establishment of site's sustainability certification system at the national level, based on management of water circulation and natural soil & vegetation in developed area with consideration of various land uses and types of development projects.