• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.1-11
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• 1993

Most developing countries are experiencing rapid urbanization and the associated growth of industry and services. Cities are currently absorbing two-thirds of the total population in the developing world. Korea has about 85 percent of urban dwellers. World population will shift from being predominantly rural to predominantly urban around the turn of the century. Although cities play a key role in development process and make more than a proportionate contribution to national economic growth, especially cities are also the main catalysts of economic growth in developing countries, they can also be unhealthy, inefficient, and inequitable places to live. Most developing countries are increasingly unable to provide basic environmental infrastructure and services, whether in the megacities or in secondary urban centers. Of particular concern is the strain on natural resources brought by the increasing number of people, cars, and factories. They are generating ever greater amounts of urban wastes and emissions. They also exceed the capacity of regulatory authorities to control them and of nature to assimilate them. The environmental consequences are translated into direct negative impacts on human health, the quality of life, the productivity of the city, and the surrounding ecosystems. Environmental degradation threatens the long tenn availability and quality of natural resources critical to economic growth. Cities, with their higher and growing per capita energy use for domestic, industrial, and transport purpose also contribute a disproportionate share of the emission leading to global warming and acid rain. An important priority is to develop strategic approaches for managing the urban environment. The design of appropriate and lasting strategic responses requires first an understanding of the underlying causes of urban environmental deterioration, it is necessary that longer tenn objectives should be set for urban area to avoid irreversible ecological damage and to ensure lasting economic development. As a means to the preventive policies against the adverse effect, environmental impact assessment (EIA) serve to identify a project's possible environmental consequences early enough to allow their being taken into consideration in the decision making process for urban planning. This paper describes some considerations of EIA for urban planning-scoping, assessment process, measurement and prediction of impacts, pollution controls and supervision, and system planning for environmental preservation.

• ALGAE
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.379-388
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• 2005

Seagrass bed is an important component in coastal and estuarine ecosystems, providing food and shelter to a wide variety of fauna. Recently, seagrass coverage has declined significantly due to anthropogenic influences such as reclamation, dredging, and eutrophication and consequently, necessity of seagrass habitat restoration is rising. Transplantation experiments with Zostera marina using TERFS, staple method, and shell method have been conducted at Dadae Bay, Kosung Bay and Jindong Bay on the south coast of Korea to select an optimal transplanting method for restoration of Z. marina habitat. Three experimental sites located at the vicinity of natural Z. marina beds with an average water depth of about 4m. Z. marina plants, which were collected from donor bed in Koje Bay were also transplanted at 7 different time from October 2003 to July 2004 to find appropriate transplanting time. Density of Z. marina was monitored monthly at both transplanted areas and natural beds. Transplantation using the staple method showed the highest survival rate of transplant. Shell method was also an effective transplanting method at muddy areas in Kosung Bay and Jindong Bay, but not suitable at sandy areas in Dadae Bay. These results suggest that sediment composition of transplanting areas should be considered for the selection of the optimal transplanting method. Z. marina transplanted during fall usually showed the highest survival rate, while most Z. marina plants transplanted in summer died due to high lethal temperature during this period.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.169-172
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• 2018

National parks are designated and managed for the purpose of preserving natural ecosystems, nature and cultural scenery, and promoting sustainable utilization in Korea. Since we designated Jirisan as the first Korean national park in 1967, we have now designated and managed 22 national parks. Because these national parks are the core protected areas of the nation and the ecological recreation center for the people, the interests of researchers related to national parks and citizens have steadily increased over the last 50 years. Especially, various natural science researches and social studies on national parks have been conducted with the launch of the Korea National Park Service in 1987, which is dedicated to national park management. However, we still lack research on national park research trends in Korea in spite of the increase in scientific research and public interest. It is important to know who and what institutes are leading national parks research, what research topics have been conducted, what kinds of researches are important in each national park, and how these researches relate to national park management policies. We propose a study to review the national parks related studies that have been carried out so far and identify the research trends. In the pilot study, we collected about 700 research papers on national parks published between 2002 and 2016 through the Korea Citation Index of Korean journals. We are analyzing the number of papers published, research institutes and research topics related to national parks. Analysis of these national park research trends will be necessary for efficient national park management and policy making for future generations.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.107-112
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• 2000

Comparison of oribatid mite community structures among Namsan, Kwangreung, and Mt, Jumbong, which receive different levels of environmental stress from severe to almost none, was made in coniferous and deciduous forests, respectively. The number of species of oribatid mites was significantly lower in Namsan and Mt. Jumbong than in Kwangreung in the coniferous forest (p<0.05). In the deciduous forests, the number of species of oribatid mites was significantly lower in Namsan than in Kwangreung and Mt. Jumbong. Dominant species in 3 regions were remarkably different. Similarity of the oribatid community between Namsan and Kwangreung was much higher (ca. 2 times) than similarities between Namsan and Mt. Jumbong. and Kwangreung and Mt Jumbong. Diversity index (H$^{\prime}$) value of oribatid communities in deciduous forests in Namsan, Kwangreung and Mt. Jumbong was 2.74, 2.78, and 2.87, respectively. Diversity (H$^{\prime}$) value of oribatid communities in coniferous forests in Namsan, Kwangreung and Mt. Jumbong was 2.83, 2.62, and 2.38, respectively. Namsan and Kwangreung were characterized as O-type in both coniferous and deciduous forests On the contrary, Mt. Jumbong was characterized as MG-type in MGP-I analysis.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.569-575
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• 2007

This study was carried out to determine bioaccumulation levels of total mercury on various fish tissues in two streams (Banseok and Hasin Stream) and one lake (Yeongsan Lake) during April-May 2007. We also determined natural background levels of total mercury bioaccumulation to evaluate relative individual impacts of fish and compared the levels with reference sites as a preliminary study to evaluate heavy metal stressor using fish. For the study, we collected fishes in the sampling sites and analyzed the concentrations of total mercury in the liver, kidney, gill, vertebral column, and muscle tissues using Direct Mercury Analyzer (DMA-80, US EPA Method 7473). The levels varied depending on the types of waterbody and tissues used. Concentrations of total mercury ranged between 5.1${\mu}g$ $kg^{-1}$ and 108.6 ${\mu}g$ $kg^{-1}$ in the streams and between 5.3${\mu}g$ $kg^{-1}$ and 87.3 ${\mu}g$ $kg^{-1}$ in the reservoir, and the values were highest in the muscle tissues. Levels of natural background levels of total mercury, even though the sampling number was few, averaged 23.6 ${\mu}g$ $kg^{-1}$ in the study sites. The individual and mean values in each system was not so high in terms of US EPA criteria of fish health and human health, indicating that the impact was minor in the study site. Further studies should be done for the determination of mercury levels in the systems.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.281-291
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• 2016

Bloom of small centric diatom Stephanodiscus is quite occasional in winter season in temperate freshwater ecosystems. It often leads to degradation of water quality and affects the quality of supplied drinking water. In a previous study, we have found that naphthoquinone (NQ) 4-6 derivate is an effective tool for efficient mitigation of natural S. hantzschii blooms. In the present research, polylactide (PLA) and agar foam were used as immobilized agent for NQ 4-6 to improve the efficiency of NQ 4-6 compound releasing process for its application under various field conditions. Mesocosm experiments at 10 ton scale suggested that the abundance of S. hantzschii was continuously increased in the control and upon treatment of the mesocosm with immobilized NQ 4-6 from PLA and agar foam. Their algicidal activities were 78.8% and 77.1%, respectively, on S. hantzschii after 10 days. In the mesocosm experiments, the dynamics of biotic (bacteria, HNFs, ciliates, zooplankton) and abiotic (water temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, conductivity, nutrients) factors remained unaffected. They exhibited similar trends in the control and treatment groups. Therefore, the immobilized NQ 4-6 from PLA and agar foam has potential to be used as an alternative algicidal substance to effectively mitigate natural S. hantzschii blooms under various field conditions. In addition, it not only can be used to control S. hantzschii, but also is an effective technique. The immobilized NQ 4-6 showed stable controlled release in desired system.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.95-105
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• 2009

Land Use Changes (LUCs) have effects on greenhouse gas emissions and carbon stocks in soil and vegetation. Therefore, predictions for LUC are very important for achieving quantitative targets of $CO_2$ reduction rates. Some research exists on carbon fluxes and carbon cycles to estimate carbon stocks in terrestrial ecosystems in Korea. However, these researches have limitations in terms of helping us understand future potential reductions of $CO_2$ that reflect the influence of LUC. The aim of this study is to analyze the reduction levels of $CO_2$ emissions while considering LUC scenarios that effect carbon fluxes for LCS basic study in the year 2030. In this study, a common approach to model the effects of LUC on carbon stocks is the use of CA-Markov technical process with LUC patterns in the past. Potential reduction of $CO_2$ is calculated by change of land use that contains different soil organic carbon, each land use type, and biomass in vegetation. An IPCC analytical method of natural carbon sink and coefficient results from previous study in Korea is used as a calculation method for potential reduction of $CO_2$. As a result, 12,419 KtC will be reduced annually, which is 8.3% percent of 2005 $CO_2$ emissions in Korea. This will result in 3,226 hundred million won of economic efficiency. In conclusion, conservation of natural carbon sinks is necessary even if the amount of potential reduction change is little.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.115-120
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• 2004

Coarse woody debris (CWD, $\ge$ 5 cm in maximum diameter) is an important functional component, especially to nutrient cycling in forest ecosystems. To compare mass and nutrient dynamics of CWD in natural oak forests, a two-year study was conducted at Quercus serrata and Q. variabilis stands in Yangpyeong, Kyonggi Province. Total CWD (snag, stump, log and large branch) and annual decomposition mass (Mg/ha) were 1.9 and 0.4 for the Q. serrata stand and 7.5 and 0.5 for the Q. variabilis stand, respectively. Snags covered 72% of total CWD mass for the Q. variabilis stand and 42% for the Q. serrata stand. Most of CWD was classified into decay class 1 for both stands. CWD N and P concentrations for the Q. variabilis stand significantly increased along decay class and sampling time, except for P concentration in 2002. There were no differences in CWD N concentration for the Q. serrata stand along decay class and sampling time. However, CWD P concentration decreased along sampling time. CWD N and P contents (kg/ha) ranged from 3.5∼4.7 and 0.8∼1.3 for the Q. serrata stand to 22.8∼23.6 and 3.7∼4.7 for the Q. variabilis stand. Nitrogen and P inputs (kg/ha/yr) into mineral soil through the CWD decomposition were 0.7 and 0.3 for the Q. serrata stand and 1.6 and 0.3 for the Q. variabilis stand, respectively. The number of CWD and decay rate were main factors influencing the difference in CWD mass and nutrient dynamics between both stands.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.94-100
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• 2003

Soil $CO_2$ emission is one of the primary components in carbon balance of terrestrial ecosystems. To accurately assess their net ecosystem exchange of $CO_2$ and net primary production, measurement of soil $CO_2$ efflux is required along with that of canopy $CO_2$ flux. In this paper, soil $CO_2$ flux measurement technique using closed dynamic chamber systems is briefly reviewed. Preliminary results on soil $CO_2$ exchange and inter-comparison of different measurement systems currently used in Korean regional network of tower flux measurement sites (KoFlux) are also reported.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.147-156
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• 1995

Restoration of ecosystems degraded by heavy metal pollution can be accomplished by soil amendment and selection and utilization of plants tolerant to heavy metals. Two former zinc mine sites, Sambo Mine in Hwasung, Kyonggi-do and the Second Yonhwa Mine in Samchuk, Kangwon-do, were selected for collection of plant samples and for determination of heavy metal tolerant species. Dominant species on mine waste deposits in Hwasung site were Panicum bisulcatum and Echinoch/oa crus-galli, while those in Samchuk site were Aster yomena, Setaria viridis, Artemisia lavandulaefolia and Oenothera odorata. Mean contents of zinc, lead and cadmium in Hwasung soil were 103, 117 and 1 ppm, respectively, while those in Samchuk soil were 23, 6 and 4 ppm, respectively, Zinc contents were higher in Echinochloa crus-galli from Hwasung and in Artemisia lavandulaefolia from Samchuk, while lead contents were higher in Panicum bisulcatum and Echinochloa crus-galli from Hwasung and Lactuca sonchiJolia and Pinus densiJolia from Samchuk. Plant species with higher cadmium contents were Panicum bisulcatum and Lactuca sonchiJolia. Comparison of metal contents between roots and shoots showed that Echinochloa crus-galli was a zinc accumulator, while Panicum bisulcatum, Persicaria hydroPiPer, Pinus densiJlora and Lactuca sonchiJolia were zinc excluders. In addition, Panicum bisulcatum and Persicaria hydroPiPer were proved to be lead excluders. When both heavy metal contents in plant tissues and biomass of individual plants are considered, it can be concluded that Echinochloa crus-galli and Panicum bisulcatum from Hwasung and Artemisia lavandulaefolia and Aster yomena are heavy metal absorbing plants. The effect of heavy metals on seed germination showed that Artemisia princeps var. orientalis had higher germination rates, but no significant difference in concomitant decrease of germination rates among the species investigated were found by increasing heavy metal contents.