• Korean journal of applied entomology
• /
• v.55 no.4
• /
• pp.459-464
• /
• 2016

An outbreak of the migratory locust, Locusta migratoria, in the environment-friendly reclaimed plantations of forage crops in Sanyimyeon, Haenam-gun, Jellanam-do, Korea in August 2014 caused severe damages to various crops. Owing to its first occurrence in the Korean history, the causes underlying the outbreak and phase-transition of the migratory locust were not known. It is critical to establish the genetic relationship of the migratory locust in Sanyimyeon, Haenam-gun with the other previously reported strains in the world in order to understand the mechanisms responsible for its outbreak. The gene sequences of the 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) and displacement-loop (D-loop) of the mitochondria of various regional species of the migratory locust were used to perform the phylogenetic analysis. Our results suggested that the migratory locusts in Sanyimyeon, Haenam-gun are closely related with the Eurasian strains of the northern lineage. In future, these two mitochondrial genes can be used for elucidating the genetic population structures in migratory locusts in various regions. In addition, the sequence information of these genes can be used to enhance our understanding of the genetic basis of the outbreak of migratory locusts.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.46 no.3
• /
• pp.259-272
• /
• 2022

Background: The Korean Peninsula exhibits a characteristic graded floral distribution, with northern (Manchurian flora) and southern (China-Japan-Korea flora) lineage species coexisting according to climatic and topographical characteristics. However, this distribution has been altered by climate change. To identify ecosystem changes caused by climate change and develop appropriate measures, the current ecological status of the entire Korean Peninsula should first be determined; however, analysis of the current floral distribution in North Korea has been hampered for political reasons. To overcome these limitations, this study constructed a database of floral distributions in both South and North Korea by integrating spatial information from the previously established National Ecological Survey in South Korea and geocoding data from the literature on biological distributions published in North Korea. It was then applied to analyze the current status and distribution characteristics of Manchurian and China-Japan-Korea plant species on the Korean Peninsula. Results: In total, 45,877 cases were included in the Manchurian and China-Japan-Korea floral distribution database. China-Japan-Korea species were densely distributed on Jeju-do and along the southern coast of the Korean Peninsula. The distribution density decreased as the latitude increased, and the distributions reached higher-latitude regions in the coastal areas compared with the inland regions. Manchurian species were distributed throughout North Korea, while they were densely distributed in the refugia formed in the high-elevation mountain regions and the Baekdudaegan in South Korea. In the current distribution of biomes classified according to the Whittaker method, subtropical and endemic species were densely distributed in temperate seasonal forest and woodland/shrubland biomes, whereas boreal species were densely distributed in the boreal forest biome Korean Peninsula, with a characteristic gradation of certain species distributed in the temperate seasonal forest biome. Factor analysis showed that temperature and latitude were the main factors influencing the distribution of flora on the Korean Peninsula. Conclusions: The findings reported herein on the current floral distribution trends across the entire Korean Peninsula will prove valuable got mitigating the ecological disturbances caused by ongoing climate change. Additionally, the gathered flora data will serve as a basis for various follow-up studies on climate change.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
• /
• v.31 no.1
• /
• pp.11-46
• /
• 2022

This study was carried out to examine vascular plants and invasive alien plants in Gyodong Island, located at the northwestern Civilian Control Line (CCL) of Ganghwa-gun, Incheon, and to use them as basic data for systematic management of identified plants and establishing biodiversity conservation measures. The survey was conducted 13 times from April 2019 to August 2021. The vascularflora in Gyodong Island was identified as 109 families, 378 genera, 641 species, 15 subspecies, 49 variants, 8 forma, a total of 713 taxa. This was found to be about 15.36% of the total 4,641 taxa of vascular plants in Korea. The northern linage plants on the Korean Peninsula appearing in the Gyodong Island area were identified in 83 classification groups, including Red-based leaf edge (Carex erythrobasis H.Lev. & Vaniot). Korea endemic plants were identified as 16 taxa such as Seoul wild-ginger [Asarum heterotropoides var. seoulense (Nakai) Kitag.], and a total of 20 taxa of rare plants designated by IUCN were observed, including the endangered grade Beardless iris (Iris ruthenica Ker Gawl.). Floristic target species were classified with a total of 99 taxa. For V grade, Beardless iris 1 taxon was found. and also IV grade and III grade were identified in 8 taxa and 20 taxa respectively. The invasive alien plants identified as 75 taxa, such as Verbesina alternifolia (L.) Britton ex Kearney. The naturalization rate was 10.51%, and the urbanization index was calculated as 23.29%. Since large-scale construction has been currently underway on Hwagae Mt. in Gyodong Island as the target of survey area, the influx of invasive plants will be expected to promote. Therefore, it is urgent to establish in-situ protection and conservation measures for notable plants such as Beardless iris and Water smartweed [Persicaria amphibia (L.) S.F.Gray].

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
• /
• v.34 no.4
• /
• pp.311-338
• /
• 2021

This study was investigated to find out the distribution of vascular flora and remarkable plants and its factors and management plan in the forest genetic resource reserve of Mt. Munsu, located in the DMZ and DMZ border area in Gimpo, Gyeonggi-do province. The survey was carried out 17 times from April 2019 to October 2020. First of all, in the forest genetic resource reserve of the Mt. Munsu, a total of 444 taxa in 95 families, 276 genera, 395 species, 13 subspecies, 33 varieties and 3 forms. This result was found to be about 9.09% of the total 4,881 taxa of vascular plants in Korea. In addition, endemic plants were classified as 6 taxa. Floristic special and rare plants were identified as 39 taxa and 3 taxa, respectively. Lastly, the invasive alien plants that appeared in Mt. Munsu of the forest genetic resource reserve were observed in 58 taxa. Moreover, the naturalization rate was 13.1% and the urbanization index was calculated to be 18.0%. As a result of comparing the vascular flora at the forest genetic resource reserve on Mt. Munsu identified in this study with previous studies, it was found the number of taxa was decreased compared to the previous studies, despite the fact that the recent survey section was wider and more varies routes were investigated. In particular, it was confirmed that the number of rare and endemic plants decreased significantly, and the number of invasive plants greatly spread to forest roads and hiking trails. Therefore, it is considered that the forest rest year system should be introduced for the conservation and management of native plants in the forest genetic resource reserve.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
• /
• v.35 no.2
• /
• pp.201-241
• /
• 2022

This study was investigated distributed the vascular flora of around Haemyeong Mt., located in Seokmodo, Incheon, and compared invasive alien plants in the surrounding forest 14 areas. This study carried out to be established a monitoring system for the remarkable plants etc. and used as basic data for biodiversity enhancement and conservation. The survey was conducted 19 times from April 2019 to October 2020. A total of 107 families, 382 genera, 616 species, 15 sub-species, 55 varieties, 8 formas, and 694 taxa were classified in the flora around Haemyeong Mt. areas. 17 taxa for Korea endemic plants. 12 taxa were classified for rare plants, and a total of 79 taxa were identified for floristic target species I~V. Halophytes consisted of 37 taxa. The invasive alien plants were classified as 66 taxa, and also there has been 126 taxa of them in Seokmodo and surrounding 14 forests. Plants that appeared in all 14 areas out of 126 taxa were classified as 7 taxa, such as Erigeron annuus. However, 48 taxa appeared only once in some areas, but it seems inevitable that they will spread in the future. Therefore, it is necessary to prepare a long-term conservation plan for native plants.