• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.29-43
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• 2021

This study analyzed the status of climate-change indicator plants native to the main islands of the Korean peninsula, while elucidating their distribution characteristics. Information on flora from over 129 island locations, comprising more than 100 species of native plants, was collected, compiled into a database, and utilized as raw data. The distribution of 193 climate-change indicator plants was confirmed. The distribution area of broadleaf evergreen trees and ferns, including Mallotus japonicus and Cyrtomium falcatum, was relatively wide. In contrast, the distribution of common northern plants such as Corydalis turtschaninovii and Malus baccata was limited. If global warming persists, northern plant distribution is expected to decrease rapidly in the Korean Peninsula island region, while the northern limit line of the southern plants is expected to migrate further northward. During this process, it is likely that the plant congregation structure and species diversity within the island region will change dynamically. In this study, comparative analyses between species and regions were conducted by assessing the relative frequency of their occurrence, and six types of botanical geographic distribution patterns were noted.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.145-152
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• 1988

Correlations between various morphological characteristics of Panax quinquefolium plants grown in Lytton, British Columbia, Canada were assessed for 1-through 4-year old plants. Root dry weight, the dependent variable, was found to be strongly related to leaf dry weight, leaf length and root length for 1-and 2-year old plants during the middle of the growing season. For 1- and 2-year old plants at the end of the growing season, root dry weight was found to be related to leaf dry weight, leaf length and stem dry weight. For 3 and 4-year old plants, root dry weight was found to be related to leaf dry weight, leaf length and stem dry weight. For 3- and 4-year old plants, root dry weight was found to be related to leaf dry weight. For practical considerations, this latter relationship provides a simple method for selecting superior plants from which seed can be harvested.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.451-459
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• 2015

We investigated the pattern of floral diversity including naturalized plant species and three ecological factors (area, elevation and distance from mainland) of plant species on 53 uninhabited islands in Gyungsangnam-do, southeastern South Korea. A total of 206 taxa in 67 families were observed, and the species of Compositae was most common. Thirteen taxa in eight families of the naturalized plants were observed on 33 islands. The numbers of total plant species, area and elevation were significantly correlated, but no relationship with distance from the mainland was observed. In addition, no relationship was found among the numbers of naturalized plants, area and elevation. However, the average rate of naturalization on islands with different elevations differed significantly, indicating the smallest proportion of naturalized plant species was on high islands. Multiple regression of total species richness identified elevation as a significant factor, while no significant variables were correlated with naturalized plant species. Nonmetric multidimensional scaling (NMS) ordination identified three major variables, distance from mainland, number of naturalized plant species and elevation. These findings indicate that the geography of islands such as area and elevation affected the species richness of plants on uninhabited islands, while human disturbance had a greater effect than geography on the species richness of naturalized plants on islands in southeastern South Korea.

• 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.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.119-136
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• 2014

This work aims to select the potentially vulnerable plant species against climate change at alpine and subalpine belts of Mts. Sorak, Jiri, and Halla, from central, southern, southern insular high mountains of the Korean Peninsula, respectively. The selection of global warming related vulnerable plants were performed by adapting various criteria, such as flora, endemicity, rarity, floristically specific and valuable species, species composition at mountain summits, horizontal and vertical ranges of individual species, and their distributional pattern in the Korean Peninsula. Line and quadrat field surveys along the major trails from all directions at height above 1,500 meters above sea level of Mts, Sorak, Jiri and Halla were conducted each year during spring, summer, and autumn from 2010 to 2011. Based upon above mentioned eight criteria, high level of climate change related potentially vulnerable arboral plants, such as Rhododendron aureum, Taxus caespitosa, Pinus pumila, Oplopanax elatus, Vaccinium uliginosum, and Thuja koraiensis are noticed from at subalpine belt of Mt. Sorak. Species of Abies koreana, Rhododendron tschonoskii, Oplopanax elatus, Taxus cuspidata, Picea jezoensis, and Juniperus chinensis var. sargentii belong to climate change concerned vulnerable species at subalpine belt of Mt. Jiri. High level of climate change related species vulnerability is found at alpine and subalpine belts of Mt. Halla from Diapensia lapponica var. obovata, Salix blinii, Empetrum nigrum var. japonicum, Vaccinium uliginosum, Juniperus chinensis var. sargentii, Taxus cuspidata, Rhamnus taquetii, Abies koreana, Hugeria japonica, Prunus buergeriana, and Berberis amurensis var. quelpartensis. Countermeasures to save the global warming vulnerable plants in situ are required.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.540-543
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• 2007

We have investigated the vegetation in the peninsula located in Ongjeong-Li Seomyeon in Youngweol-gun. Since this is a limestone area, boxtrees, Abelia mosanensis T. H. Chung ex Nakai, and Selaginella stauntoniana Spring were abundant, as these are types of vegetation characteristic of limestone areas. Pinus densiflora S. et Z. was the most dominant woody plant, but vegetational changes, such as the dominance of Quercus variabilis Blume, Quercus dentata Thunb, and Quercus mongolica Fischer, were observed in spots. In particular, the growth of nursery plants of pinus densiflora S. et Z. was not observed, and young trees like Quercus mongolica Fischer grow as low vegetation of Pinus densiflora S. et Z.. Thus, the ecological succession of Quercus mongolica Fischer is predicted. Outside the investigation area, as herbaceous plants, various vegetations were observed, including Selaginella stauntoniana Spring, Thalictrum coreanum H. Lev., Mukdenia rossii(Oliv.) Koidz., Platanthera freynii Kraenzl., Cephalanthera longibracteata Blume, Potentilla dickinsii Franch., Patrinia rupestris(Pall.) Juss., Swertia pseudochinensis H. Hara, Vicia venosa(Willd.) Maxim., Pyrola japonica Klenze ex Alef., Disporum smilacinum A. Gray, Artemisia stolonifera(Maxim.) Kom. for. Stolonifera, Smilax nipponica Miq., Adenophora triphylla var. japonica(Regel) H. Hara, Isodon inflexus(Thunb.) Kudo, Gentiana scabra Bunge for. Scabra, Polygonatum odoratum var. pluriflorum(Miq.) Ohwi, Dioscorea quinqueloba Thunb., Syneilesis palmata(Thunb.) Maxim., Asparagus schoberioides Kunth, Eupatorium japonicum Thunb. ex Murray, Galium kinuta Nakai & Hara, Saxifraga fortunei var. incisolobata, Lilium amabile Palib., Siberian iris, Dictamnus dasycarpus Turcz., Atractylodes ovata(Thunb.) DC., and Lysimachia clethroides Duby.

• Journal of Climate Change Research
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.401-414
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• 2017

Vegetation and landscape characteristics at the three highest summits of Republic of Korea, i.e. Seoraksan, Jirisan and Hallasan, are analyzed on the basis of species composition, physiognomy, vegetation distribution and structure of alpine plants, along with landform, geology, soil and habitat conditions. Dominant high mountain plants at three alpine and subalpine belts contain deciduous broadleaved shrub, Rhododendron mucronulatum var. ciliatum (31.6%), and evergreen coniferous small tree, Pinus pumila (26.3%) at Seoraksan, deciduous broadleaved tree, Betula ermanii (35.3%), evergreen coniferous tree, Picea jezoensis (23.5%) at Jirisan, and evergreen coniferous tree, Abies koreana (22.6%), deciduous broadleaved shrub, Rhododendron mucronulatum var. ciliatum, and Juniperus chinensis var. sargentii (19.4%) at Hallasan, respectively. Presence of diverse landscapes at the peak of Seoraksan, such as shrubland, grassland, dry land along with rocky areas, and open land may be the result of hostile local climate and geology. High proportion of grassland and wetland at the top of Jirisan may related to gneiss-based gentle topography and well developed soil deposits, which are beneficial to keep the moisture content high. Occurrence of grassland, shrubland, dry land, conifer vegetation, and rocky area at the summit of Hallasan may due to higher elevation, unique local climate, as well as volcanic origin geology and soil substrates. Presences of diverse boreal plant species with various physiognomy at alpine and subalpine belts, and wide range of landscapes, including rocky, grassland, shrubland, wetland, and conifer woodland, provide decisive clues to understand the natural history of Korea, and can be employed as an relevant environmental indicator of biodiversity and ecosystem stability.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.77-85
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• 2019

Background: Glomus intraradices is a species of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi that, as an obligate endomycorrhiza, can form mutually beneficial associations with plants. Panax ginseng is a popular traditional Chinese medicine; however, problems associated with ginseng planting, such as pesticide residues, reduce the ginseng quality. Methods: In this experiment, we studied the effect of inoculating G. intraradices on several physiological properties and microbial communities of ginseng. UV-Visible Spectrum method was used to detect physical properties. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis method was used to analyze microbial communities. Results: The results indicated that inoculation with G. intraradices can improve the colonization rate of lateral ginseng roots, increase the levels of monomeric and total ginsenosides, and improve root activity as well as polyphenol oxidase and catalase activities. We also studied the bacterial and fungal communities in ginseng rhizospheric soil. In our study, G. intraradices inoculation improved the abundance and Shannon diversity of bacteria, whereas fungi showed a reciprocal effect. Furthermore, we found that G. intraradices inoculation might increase some beneficial bacterial species and decreased pathogenic fungi in rhizospheric soil of ginseng. Conclusion: Our results showed that G. intraradices can benefit ginseng planting which may have some instructive and practical significance for planting ginseng in farmland.

• Plant Resources
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.57-75
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• 2003

This study was performed to investigate the flora and plant resources of Mt. Woosanbong (537.8 m) from April to October 2002. The collected vascular plants were composed of all 389 taxa including cultivated species, and classified into 329 species, 2 subspecies, 53 varieties, and 5 forms of 248 genera under 81 families. Six taxa of the Korean endemic plants and 4 taxa of the rare and endangered plants were also distributed in this mount. Resource plants were categorized into edible 181, pasturing 160, medicinal 136, stainable 94, ornamental 77, timber 22, fiber 5 and industrial 4 taxa, respectively. Floristic geography of the investigated area was regarded as the boundary between middle and southern parts in floristic pattern of the Korean Peninsula.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.248-265
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• 2009

This study was performed to investigate the flora and plant resources of Mt. Gamak (537.8 m) from April to October 2007. The collected vascular plants were composed of all 478 taxa including cultivated species, and classified into 410 species, 3 subspecies, 61 varieties, and 4 forms of 284 genera under 94 families. Six taxa of the Korean endemic plants and 4 taxa of the rare and endangered plants were also distributed in this mount. Resource plants were categorized into edible 222, pasturing 208, medicinal 183, stainable 134, ornamental 96, timber 20, fiber 6 and industrial 4 taxa, respectively. Floristic geography of the investigated area was regarded as the boundary between middle parts in floristic pattern of the Korean Peninsula.