• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.30-40
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• 2022

Wildfires, which occur sporadically and irregularly worldwide, are distinct natural disturbances in combustible vegetation areas, important parts of the global carbon cycle, and natural disasters that cause severe public emergencies. While many previous studies have investigated the variability and changes in wildfires globally based on fire emissions, burned areas, and fire weather indices, studies on East Asia are still limited. Here, we explore the characteristics of variability and changes in wildfire danger over East Asia by analyzing the fire weather index for the 40 years-1981-2020. The first empirical orthogonal function (EOF) mode of fire weather index variability represents an increasing trend in wildfire danger over most parts of East Asia over the last 40 years, accounting for 29% of the total variance. The major contributor is an increase in the surface temperature in East Asia associated with global warming and multidecadal ocean variations. The effect of temperature was slightly offset by the increase in soil moisture. The second EOF mode exhibits considerable interannual variability associated with the El Nino-Southern Oscillation, accounting for 17% of the total variance. The increase (decrease) in precipitation in East Asia during El Nino (La Nina) increases (decreases) soil moisture, which in turn reduces (increases) wildfire danger. This dominant soil moisture effect was slightly offset by the temperature increase (decrease) during El Nino (La Nina). Improving the understanding of variability and changes in wildfire danger will have important implications for reducing social, economic, and ecological losses associated with wildfire occurrences.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.767-786
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• 2011

This study analyzed and compared characteristic of vegetation structure in Bonghwa mountain, the base Mt. outside urban area, and Hakseoung neighborhood park, Ilsan neighborhood park and Musil neighborhood park, disconnected residual Mt. inside urban area of Wonju. Regarding vegetation of urban forest in Wonju, Quercus mongolica forest and Robinia pseudo-acacia forest were widely distributed in the base Mt. outside urban area. Quercus acutissima forest and Robinia pseudo-acacia forest were widely distributed in the disconnected residual Mt. inside urban area. Forests in both areas were managed as part of forest management campaign. Analysis on importance value of a community classified by DCA and DBH class categorized communities into three groups according to the expected ecological succession. Community B was the one to be maintained as Pinus densiflora community. Community A, D and d were expected to be maintained as Quercus spp. Community. Community C, E, F, e, f and g were classified as exotic plant community. Ecological succession was suspended in both base Mt. outside urban area and disconnected residual Mt. inside urban area. However, importance value of Quercus spp. which appeared in the understory layer and shrub layer and their DBH class showed that the potential for ecological succession of exotic plant community was higher in base Mt. outside urban area than disconnected residual Mt. inside urban area. According to the analysis on number of species and individuals and species diversity, understory and shrub layer were reduced due to Forest Management campaign and plant species which appear at an earlier stage of succession varied as time went by since the campaign began. Species diversity comparison between natural and artificial forest showed no clear difference in both base Mt. outside urban area and disconnected residual Mt. inside urban area due to man-made disruption such as thinning and brush cutting. Six communities in base Mt. outside urban area had 17.76~52.22% of similarity index. Four communities in disconnected residual Mt. inside urban area showed 13.34~37.01% of similarity index, which was lower than base Mt. outside urban area. Among naturalized plants, Tupatorium rugosum and Phytolacca americana appeared more in disconnected residual Mt. inside urban area.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.11-28
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• 2021

Due to its size and complex characteristics, it is not often to newly create a large park within an existing urban area. Also, there has been a lack of research on the planting design methodologies for a large park. This study aims to elucidate how ecological ideas can be applied to planting practice from a designer's perspective, and eventually suggest a planting design framework in the actual case, the Central Park in the City of Gwangju. This framework consists of spatial structure of planting area in order to connect and unite the separated green patches, to adapt to the changes of existing vegetation patterns, to maintain the visual continuity of landscape, and to organize the whole open space system. The framework can be provided for the spatial planning and planting design phase in which the landscape designer flexibly uses it with the design intentions as well as with an understanding of the physical, social, and aesthetic characteristics of the site. The significance of this approach is, first that it can maintain ecological and visual consistency of the both existing and introduced landscapes as a whole in spite of its intrinsic complexity and largeness, and second that it can help efficiently respond to the unexpected changes in the landscape. In the case study, comprehensive site analysis is conducted before developing the framework. In particular, wetlands and grasslands have been identified as potential wildlife habitat which critically determines the vegetation patterns of the green area. Accordingly, the lists of plant communities are presented along with the planting scheme for their shape, layout, and relations. The model of the plant community is developed responding to the structure of surrounding natural landscape. However, it is not designed to evolve to a specific plant community, but is rather a conceptual model of ecological potentials. Therefore, the application of the model has great flexibility by using other plant communities as an alternative as long as the characteristics of the communities are appropriate to the physical conditions. Even though this research provides valuable implications for landscape planning and design in the similar circumstances, there are several limitations to be overcome in the further research. First, there needs to be more sufficient field surveys on the wildlife habitats, which would help generate a more concrete planting model. Second, a landscape management plan should be included considering the condition of existing forest, in particular the afforested landscapes. Last, there is a lack of quantitative data for the models of some plant communities.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.143-150
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• 2003

Korea has plentiful precipitation but rainfall events concentrate on several months of rainy season in her weather condition. Korea, therefore, experiences drought for a given period every year. Moreover the soil has usually low water holding capacity, as it is composed coarse particles originated from the granite. Response of several oaks and the Korean red pine (Pinus densiflora) on water stress showed that water budget was significant factor determining vegetation distribution. In addition, dehydration level due to cold resistance mechanism of several evergreen plants during the winter season was closely related to their distribution in natural condition. Experimental result under water stress showed that the Korean red pine was very tolerant to desiccation but the seedlings showed high mortality during the dry season. The mortality tended to proportionate to soil moisture content of each site. A comparison between soil moisture content during June when it is severe dry season and moisture content of the culture soil when the pine seedlings reached the permanent wilting point due to water withheld proved that high mortality during the dry season was due to water deficit. Water potential of sample plants measured during the exposure experiment to the air pollutant showed a probability that water related factors would dominate the occurrence of visible damage and the tolerance level of sample plants. In both field survey and laboratory experiment, plants exposed to air pollution showed more rapid transpiration than those grown in the unpolluted condition. The result would due to injury of leaf surface by air pollutants. Aluminum (Al/sup 3+/) increased in the acid soil not only inhibits root growth but also leads to abnormal distribution of root system and thereby caused water stress. The water stresses due to air pollution and soil acidification showed a possibility that they play dominating roles in inducing forest decline additionally to the existing water deficit due to weather and soil conditions in Korea. Sludge, which can contribute to improve field capacity, as it is almost composed of organic matter, showed an effect ameliorating the retarded growth of plant in the acidified soil. The effect was not less than that of dolomite known in widely as such a soil ameliorator. Litter extract contributed also to mitigate the water stress due to toxic Al/sup 3+/. We prepared a model showing the potential interaction of multiple stresses, which can cause forest decline in Korea by synthesizing those results. Furthermore, we suggested restoration plans, which can mitigate such forest decline in terms of soil amelioration and vegetation restoration.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.81 no.4
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• pp.325-336
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• 1992

The successional status and potential natural vegetation were examined in a mixed broadleaved-Abies forest located at Mt, Odae National Park. The examination was based on the subsequent process of generation replacement by understory saplings for the dominant canopy trees within 88 $5m{\times}50m$ belt transects. The transition matrix model, which was modified from mathematical theory of Markov chain, was employed to analyze the successional status of the study forest. The model suggests that the study forest is still seral, and it is considered to be more than 700 years away from the steady state or climax in terms of species composition. The simulations predict a remarkable decrease in the proportion of species composition of the present dominant Quercus mongolica and Tilia amurensi.s from current 28% and 13% to less than 3% and 5%, respectively, at the steady state. On the contrary, the proportions of Abies holophylla, Acer pseudo-sieboldianum, Carpinus cordata, and Pinus koraiensis will increase at the steady state. The ratio of mixture between deciduous and coniferous trees will be gradually changed from current 6.5 : 3.5 to 5.0 : 5.0 at equilibrium. Discussion for the problems of Quercus mongolica in successional status noted that the species behaved as a mid-successional dominant, not a climax species in the study forest. The hypothesis and sensitivity of the transition matrix model were also discussed to evaluate the applicability to the real situation. The overall results indicated that the present dynamics of the forest must reflect the seral state due to previous disturbance mainly by hyman related interference.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.18 no.3 s.39
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• pp.171-190
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• 1990

It is the purpose of this study to address how to manage the urban vegitation using the concept of Urban Forestry which is relatively new to Korea. When we consider the Urban Forestry as a science, We should understand it interdisciplinary subject which includes Forestry, Horticulture, Urban Planning, Landscape Design, Landuse Planning, Business and Humanities. It may say that people and tree are the fundermental components of Urban Forestry. So there are two ways of Urban Forestry Applications-How people care for trees and How trees care for People-. For the application, this study places the focus on the monetary valuation, tree inventory system and traditional forestry application to urban forest management. Pubic Relation, Communication, Ordinances and Budget are also mentioned as a part of Urban Forestry Policy. Monetary valuation of trees and forests is very important for the proper cognition of their real value. So that, they may be equated and weighed against conflicting uses which would cause to be removed or severely mutilated. A tree inventory system which is the essential part of urban tree management can provide the pertinent information about the present condition of urban tree resource. It may aid in reducing the subjectivity of tree management decisions and stimulate them to be made rapidly and can help reduce potential municipal liability by identifying serious problems in time for corrective maintenance practices to be applied for the maximize community benefits and minimimize public nuisances or hazards. Managers can derive the information from the inventory and use it for the various management plan. When we see the structure of tree inventory system as one of the data base management system, Computer is the best equipment for the efficient management plan. Public relation and communication is also important factors to care the people for urban vegetation management. Volunteer management system is a good example for the public relation and communication. Those skills are need to develop for using the priceless, valuable human resources. Budget holds the key to the execution of Urban Forestry. Good inventory can provide for efficient budgeting stratiges through it's scientific analysis for the way of maximum benefits and minimum costs. Forest can be play a vital role for the aesthetic improvement and recreation in the city. This study suggests that the traditional sivicultural application not only improve the quality of scenic beauty and recreation but also the products of timber. So it is more needed to study for strong and scientific application to urban forest management.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.1-15
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• 2020

This study was conducted to determine whether invasive muskrats settle in the natural ecosystem of Korea. The study also aimed to provide information on the selection of target areas, basic behavioral characteristics, and habitat use-related data, all of which are essential for effective management strategy establishment and site management. To this end, a trend in international muskrat management was identified to examine the management direction according to the settlement stage. We also secured the location of 72 domestic farmers and classified five regions in Gyeonggi-do, Chungcheongnam-do, Gyeongsangbuk-do, and Sejong Special Self-governing City into regions with high potential for natural leakage to raise the need for a quick survey. We determined that muskrats successfully settled in the natural ecosystem of Korea, based on the fact that we consistently identified a muskrat habitat at the same point for three years, from 2016 to 2018, the age of the captured population was estimated to be 1.2 years, and there had been no additional make-up factors near the habitat since 2012. The muskrats that settled in Korea showed a small home range of 0.0027 ㎢ (MCP 95%) and were estimated to show regular mobility before Spring and Autumn. Also, the areas where the muskrat habitat was observed had a high level of habitat environment disturbance and their ecological and food intake characteristics reflected that disturbance. Muskrat traces were high in hydrophyte vegetation, which can be used as a hideout in open waters and where the growth of both floating leaved plants and floating plants are prevalent. Since international invasive muskrats have already settled in the domestic ecosystem and there is concern about their proliferation in the future, the government must consider a preemptive response and scientific management.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.229-237
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• 2015

This study aims to offer basic data to effectively preserve and manage pine forests using more precise pine forests' distribution status. In this regard, this study predicts the geographical distribution change of pine forests growing in South Korea, due to climate change, and evaluates the spatial distribution characteristics of pine forests by age. To this end, this study predicts the potential distribution change of pine forests by applying the MaxEnt model useful for species distribution change to the present and future climate change scenarios, and analyzes the effects of bioclimatic variables on the distribution area and change by age. Concerning the potential distribution regions of pine forests, the pine forests, aged 10 to 30 years in South Korea, relatively decreased more. As the area of the region suitable for pine forest by age was bigger, the decreased regions tend to become bigger, and the expanded regions tend to become smaller. Such phenomena is conjectured to be derived from changing of the interaction of pine forests by age from mutual promotional relations to competitive relations in the similar climate environment, while the regions suitable for pine forests' growth are mostly overlap regions. This study has found that precipitation affects more on the distribution of pine forests, compared to temperature change, and that pine trees' geographical distribution change is more affected by climate's extremities including precipitation of driest season and temperature of the coldest season than average climate characteristics. Especially, the effects of precipitation during the driest season on the distribution change of pine forests are irrelevant of pine forest's age class. Such results are expected to result in a reduction of the pine forest as the regions with the increase of moisture deficiency, where climate environment influencing growth and physiological responses related with drought is shaped, gradually increase according to future temperature rise. The findings in this study can be applied as a useful method for the prediction of geographical change according to climate change by using various biological resources information already accumulated. In addition, those findings are expected to be utilized as basic data for the establishment of climate change adaptation policies related to forest vegetation preservation in the natural ecosystem field.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.160-166
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• 2014

This study was aimed at looking into the distribution status and age structure of Abies holophylla population in Sudo-Am temple forest. It was found that a total of 302 individuals of Abies holophylla existed which were more than 2m in height within the study area. Furthermore the population size is one of the largest in the southern region of Korea. The CBH of Abies holophylla ranged from 1.5 cm to 500.8 cm. Age structure of Abies holophylla looks like a gourd-shaped bottle. This means that they have an unstable structure status and do not survive very long. This status results from a variety of factors including, vegetation succession, anthropogenic activities, and global warming. The environmental characteristics of Abies holophylla population was $931{\pm}64.5m$ in mean altitude, $19.2{\pm}8.7^{\circ}$ in mean slope in the northeastern and southeastern area of the slope direction, and $1,324,323{\pm}174,459wh\;m^{-2}$ in average of direct normal irradiation. Among the site environmental factors, the significant ones which influence the potential habitat for Abies holophylla distribution were chosen using the MaxEnt model. According to the results of this study, altitude and slope were found as the important factors. The average value of environmental conditions by ROC analysis were altitude 903.2 m, slope $20.04^{\circ}$, irradiation $1,352.248wh\;m^{-2}$, and the southeastern aspect.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.686-697
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• 2018

Due to the advance in remote sensing technology, it has become easier to more frequently obtain high resolution imagery to detect delicate changes in an extensive area, particularly including forest which is not readily sub-classified. Time-series analysis on high resolution images requires to collect extensive amount of ground truth data. In this study, the potential of land coverage mapas ground truth data was tested in classifying high-resolution imagery. The study site was Wonju-si at Gangwon-do, South Korea, having a mix of urban and natural areas. KOMPSAT-3A imagery taken on March 2015 and land coverage map published in 2017 were used as source data. Two pixel-based classification algorithms, Support Vector Machine (SVM) and Random Forest (RF), were selected for the analysis. Forest only classification was compared with that of the whole study area except wetland. Confusion matrixes from the classification presented that overall accuracies for both the targets were higher in RF algorithm than in SVM. While the overall accuracy in the forest only analysis by RF algorithm was higher by 18.3% than SVM, in the case of the whole region analysis, the difference was relatively smaller by 5.5%. For the SVM algorithm, adding the Majority analysis process indicated a marginal improvement of about 1% than the normal SVM analysis. It was found that the RF algorithm was more effective to identify the broad-leaved forest within the forest, but for the other classes the SVM algorithm was more effective. As the two pixel-based classification algorithms were tested here, it is expected that future classification will improve the overall accuracy and the reliability by introducing a time-series analysis and an object-based algorithm. It is considered that this approach will contribute to improving a large-scale land planning by providing an effective land classification method on higher spatial and temporal scales.