• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.409-422
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• 2022

Riverine wetlands are an important element of the river ecosystem and account for approximately 38% of the inland wetlands surveyed so far. The Shincheon Wetland located in Mangyeong River is also a channel wetland as the flow rate is slowed by the constructed weirs, leading to sediment accumulation. To identify the conservation value and ecological characteristics of Shincheon Wetland, its vegetation and plant diversity were identified using a phytosociological method, and a total of 45 vegetation-related datasets were collected. Overall, 24 plant communities, comprising a total of 153 taxa (49 families, 117 genera, 146 species, 2 subspecies, 5 varieties) were identified. The plant with the highest appearance rate in the communities was Humulus japonicus Siebold & Zucc. In addition, annual herb species, including Rumex crispus L., Bromusjaponicus Thunb., Erigeron annuus (L.) Pers., and Artemisia indica Willd. were frequently observed to be growing in the secondary grassland. Naturalized plants were surveyed in the 38 taxa; the urbanization index was 10.3% and the naturalized index was 24.8%. Plant communities were largely classified into submerged vegetation, floating and floating-leaved vegetation, annual and biennial vegetation, perennial herb vegetation, and woody vegetation. The distribution of plant communities reflecting various habitats, including the lentic and lotic zone maintaining a constant water depth, littoral zone experiencing intermittent water level fluctuations, and dry floodplain environment was also confirmed. Overall, plant community development plays an important role in the habitat for wild animals; therefore, it is expected to positively impact biodiversity enhancement.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.251-259
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• 2014

Recently, wetland and paddy wetland are being highlighted as the international environmental issues. However, research system which can assess paddy wetland is lacking. Thus, the purpose of this study is to assess the value of paddy wetland by applying RAM to paddy wetland. In addition, we would like to use this study as the data to establish assessment method for paddy wetland. 16 sites were selected as research targets based on altitude and soil. As the results of wetland assessment, 16 research target sites had total score of 212~227 and the average of 2.17~2.50. It was similar to those of Lacustrine Wetlands, Palustrine Wetland and Riverine Wetland which were sites in previous studies. The value could be recognized as the wetland. However, there was no difference in assessment results based on altitude and soil. It was found that all conservation values were the same. The factor the most closely affecting conservation value was the area. However, there was limitation to apply existing wetland assessment system to paddy wetland. In order to assess paddy wetland, factors such as rice farming methods, topography, vegetation, growth environment and biodiversity should be added. It was thought to supplement wetland assessment system through various further studies.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.53 no.2
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• pp.109-137
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• 2020

Upo Wetland is the largest riverine wetland in Korea which has been inscribed on the Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance in 1998. In this study, sedimentological study was carried out in order to understand the environmental changes in Upo Wetland during the Holocene. The drilling work for recovering the Quaternary sediments was conducted on the inner part (UPW17-01, UPW17-02, and UPW17-03) and the outer part (UPL17-01, UPL17-02) of the Upo Wetland. The recovered sediments are commonly characterized by gravel-dominated deposits in the lower part and silty clay-dominated deposits in the middle to upper parts respectively, which are seemed to be changed from fluvial to palustrine/lacustrine environments around 4,000 cal yr BP. In order to establish the Holocene diatoms distribution from Upo Wetland, we identified 63 diatom taxa. Of these, 14 species were new records for Korea: Gomphonema consector, Gomphonema jadwigiae, Hantzschia abundans, Luticola pseudomurrayi, Luticola spauldingiae, Neidium suboblongum, Ninastrelnikovia gibbosa, Oricymba rhynchocephala, Pinnularia borealis var. lanceolata, Pinnularia latarea, Pinnularia paliobducta, Pinnularia saprophila, Sellaphora laevissima, Stauroneis pseudoschimanskii. All identified diatom species are illustrated by high-quality scanning electron microscopic and light microscopic microphotographs. The ecological habitat for all taxa are presented.

• Journal of People, Plants, and Environment
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.389-401
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• 2021

Background and objective: The purpose of this study is to investigate the ecological status of six areas around Geumgang River that used to be farmlands before they were restored as a riverine ecobelt. This study aims to analyze the correlation between the location environment and ecological status of the sites to identify the environmental factors affecting them. Methods: The sites are classified into four types according to restoration: terraced paddy fields, flat paddy fields, artificial wetland, and landscape forest. The survey items were divided into land use status, plant ecology, and animal ecology. Results: In terms of plant ecology, terraced paddy fields showed favorable naturality with the rate of native species above 90% and the naturalization index below 10%. In terms of animal ecology, the total number of species found in these areas was biggest in terraced paddy fields, followed by flat paddy fields, artificial wetland, and landscape forest. Regarding species diversity, terraced paddy fields also showed abundant species with an average of 1.05 to 1.09. The results of the correlation analysis showed that the forest area around the sites had the most significant effect on species diversity. The grassland and open water area showed a positive correlation with the total number of animal species and the number of dragonflies, confirming that the marshy grassland had a positive effect. As the cultivated land and urbanized area around the sites increased, it had a negative effect on the distribution of native species and the number of animal species that appeared, and a positive effect on the naturalization index. Conclusion: It is necessary to establish preemption and restoration plans for sites such as grasslands adjacent to the forest and terraced paddy fields in order to promote resilience of the diverse species returning to the purchased lands.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.9 no.6
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• pp.152-161
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• 2006

This study is the primary study for analyzing the classifying characteristics of river wetlands in Korea and China. It is the first step for constructing the wetlands inventories and establishing the wetland conservation strategies in North-Eastern Asia. The case study sites are Han-river which is the representative river of Korea and Tu-men river which is flowing on the borderline of 3 nations, China, North Korea and Russia. The results are as follows : 1. The types of wetlands of Han-river in Korea and Tumen-river in China were classified by the methods of Koo(2002) which is focused on the topography and hydrology and Zhu(2002) which is emphasized the vegetation and habitats. 2. There are three features which are hydrology, topography and soil cover, and vegetation to classify the wetlands into each types. 3. According to the two wetland types by Koo and Zhu, classification system, wetlands in the case study area(Han river and Duman river) were classified by types. 4. In Koo's classifying system(2002), lots of Riverine, Lacustrins and Flat wetlands are found because the topographical and hydrological features are emphasized. On the contrary in Zhu's system(2002), there are lots of Palustrine wetlands because of emphasizing the vegetation. 5. By the topographic and geological characteristics of each sites, there are more wetland types in the lower Tumen river.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.1-11
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• 2002

The morphology, seed germination, and life history of Salix nipponica were investigated in the wetland of the Nam-River, Jinju, Gyeongsangnam-do, Korea from 2000 to 2001 to provide the basic data necessary for riverine ecosystem restoration through understanding the growth characteristics of Salix nipponica. Salix nipponica had stomata on only lower side and stomata type was paracytic. Salix nipponica produced many small and light seeds. The seed number per mature ament was 1599.4, seed mass of 0.04 mg, and fertilization rate of 66.1%. Seed germination was little affected by light. Germination rate was high and mean germination time was short Under flooding condition, seeds were germinated normally and were viable after as much as 14 days of flooding. But there were no differences under various water depths on germination rates. Tree age was closely correlated with more stem diameter than tree height and there was no difference of growth rate between male and female tree. Growth rate was most rapid for 2 to 3 years after germination, and length growth was almost stopped for more than 11 years even though mass growth was done. Besides even a second-year indivisual was flowered.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.201-212
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• 2021

In wetland protection areas, a phytosociological research was conducted on willow forests, which plays an important ecological and environmental role and is the main material for ecological restoration. A total of 61 relevés were collected according to the Z-M(Zürich-Montpellier) school's method and the characteristics of plant communities and the composition of the species were identified. A total of 9 plant communities including 237 taxa were differentiated. Willow species showing the high r-NCD(relative net contribution degree) value in study areas were Salix koriyanagi, Salix chaenomeloides, Salix triandra subsp. nipponica, Salix gracilistyla and Salix pierotii. Poaceae was the most diverse in species, followed by Asteraceae, Apiaceae, Polygonaceae and Fabaceae. Life form type of willow forests in wetland protection areas was determined to be Th(therophytes)-R₅(non-clonal form)-D₄(clitochores)-e(erect form) type. The naturalized plants and invasive alien species were identified as 24 taxa and 4 taxa, respectively. Naturalized and disturbance indices were 10.1% and 41.4%, respectively. The results of the site-species ordination by Non-Metric Multidimensional Scaling(NMDS), wetland types and altitude gradient were the main ecological factors determining the spatial distribution of plant communities. Diversity index and evenness index were high in mountainous palustrine wetlands with relatively high altitude, and the disturbance index, naturalized index and appearance rate of annual plant were high in riverine and lacustrine wetlands with low altitude.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.343-352
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• 2015

The landscape setting of a habitat strongly influences the distribution, abundance, and species composition of waterfowl. Thus, habitat assessment is very important to understand the habitat characteristics that sustain waterfowl assemblages. In this study, we hypothesized that the excessive use of artificial materials when new wetlands are constructed negatively influences wintering waterfowl. To test this hypothesis, we measured environmental factors, assessed habitat, and investigated waterfowl at 13 artificial wetlands in the Nakdong River Basin. There were greater numbers of waterfowl species and individuals in artificial wetlands with high habitat assessment scores. In contrast, environmental factors did not affect waterfowl distribution. In particular, features of natural habitats, such as macrophytes and sandbars, and the surrounding land-use patterns were important factors for sustaining waterfowl assemblages in each created wetland. Our results show that promoting naturalness in wetlands and surrounding areas would increase the species diversity and abundance of waterfowl. Further, complex habitats, such as wetlands and some terrestrial habitats, support both aquatic and terrestrial species because mixed habitats feature a larger array of food sources than more limited habitats do.

• Animal Systematics, Evolution and Diversity
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.41-47
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• 2009

Two ciliate species of Blepharisma were collected from the riverine wetland and mountain peak soil in Korea, Blepharisma undulans Stein, 1867 and B. steini Kahl, 1932, which are reported for the first time from Korea. The description was based on the observations of live and protargol impregnation specimens. Diagnostics of these species (Blepharisma undulans vs. B. steini) are as follows. Body length/width ratio in vivo about 6/1 vs. 2/1, shaped in spindle vs. pyriform to ellipsoid and colored in pinkish vs. reddish. Macronuclei 2 vs. 1, with 4-9 vs. 4-7 spherical micronuclei. Adoral zone of membranelles extends from anterior end to 1/3 vs. 1/2-2/3 of body length, with 47-56 vs. 33-45 adoral membranelles. The numbers of somatic kineties are 22-27 vs. 18-22.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.318-326
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• 2017

Riverine wetlands were reduced and damaged by dredging of rivers and constructing parks in wetlands by Four Rivers Project from 2008 to 2013. Therefore, replacement wetlands were constructed for the compensation of wetland loss by the government. However, It is not enough to manage replacement wetlands. In order to manage the wetlands efficiently, it is necessaty to assess the functions of the wetlands and to manage them according to their functions. Here we performed functional assessments for a replacement wetland called Gangcheon wetland using the modified HGM approach. Hydrological, biogeochemical, animal habitat, and plant habitat functions for the wetland were assessed. To assess the functions, we collected informations for modified HGM approach from the monitored hydrologic data, field survey, published reports and documents for before and after the project, and hydraulic & hydrologic modeling. As the results of the assessment, the hydrological function for the replacement wetland showed 65.5% of the reference wetland, biogeochemical function showed 66.6%, plant habitat function showed 75%, and animal habitat function showed 108.3%. Overall, Gangcheon wetland function after the project was reduced to 78.9% of the function before the project. The decrease in hydrological function is due to the decrease of subsurface storage of water. And the decrease in biogeochemical & pland habitat functions is due to the removal of sandbank around the Gangcheon wetland. To compensate for the reduced function, it is necessary to expand the wetland area and to plant the various vegetation. The modified HGM used in this study can take into account the degree of improvement for replacement wetlands, so it can be used to efficiently manage the replacement wetlands. Also when the wetland is newly constructed, it will be very useful to assess the change of function of the wetland over time.