• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
• /
• v.40 no.4
• /
• pp.615-630
• /
• 2022

This study was conducted to investigate the flora of Mt. Seongdeok (Ganghwa-gun) in Korea. From the results of nine field surveys from March 2020 to July 2022, a total of 445 total taxa, representing 397 species, nine subspecies, 35 varieties, two forms and two hybrids were identified, which were placed in 273 genera and 93 families. The plant formation of Mt. Seongdeok is a deciduous broad-leaved and conifer mixed forest, which is common in the middle part of the Korean Peninsula. Most of the mountain is covered by a young secondary forest, which is mainly composed of Quercus ssp. and Pinus ssp. Among them, five taxa were endemic to Korea, one taxon were endangered plant and two taxa were red list plants. The floristic target plants amounted to 27 taxa, specifically one taxon of grade V, four taxa of grade III, seven taxa of grade II, and 15 taxa of grade I. And 43 taxa were northern lineage plants. A total of 46 species of alien plants were identified, with a Naturalized Index of 10.3%, an Urbanization Index of 11.7%, and six plants that disturbed the ecosystem. Our results provide basic data on vascular plants flora, and plant diversity and distributional changes.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
• /
• v.111 no.1
• /
• pp.1-18
• /
• 2022

In this study, the vascular plants of the Mt. Deokhangsan protected area were surveyed for the purpose of forest genetic resources conservation in Gangwon-do, South Korea. The flora on Mt. Deokhangsan were classified as follows 537 taxa, 90 families, 302 genera, 479 species, 4 subspecies, 51 varieties, and 3 forms. Among the taxa, 19 were Korean endemic plants and 17 were rare and endangered plants. Plants as indicators of limestone areas were found in 33 taxa. Naturalized plants were found in 27 taxa and species threatened by climate change were found in 33 taxa, including 11 endemic plant taxa and 22 northern plant taxa. Plants endemic to Korea and northern plants were mainly found at the study site, whereas southern plants were not found. Thus, Mt. Deokhangsan apparently has an environment suitable for the growth of northern plants.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
• /
• v.36 no.4
• /
• pp.341-368
• /
• 2023

Distribution of plant resources in Mt. Baekseok located at Pyeongchang-gun, Gangwon-do, were surveyed for a total 17 times from April 2021 to September 2022. The result of this survey revealed 628 taxa, consisting of 99 families, 346 genera, 552 species, 20 subspecies, 49 varieties, 6 forms, and one hybrid. Among them, 21 taxa were endemic plants to Korea, 12 taxa were red list plants by the Ministry of Environment and 560 taxa were red list plants by the Korea Forest Service. The floristic target species amounted to 164 taxa, specifically one taxon of grade V, 20 taxa of grade IV, 52 taxa of grade III, 53 taxa of grade II, and 38 taxa of grade I. In addition, 34 taxa were classified as plants adaptable to climate change. 42 taxa of alien plants and 3 taxa of ecosystem disturbance species were also found in this area. Useful plants listed consists of 246 taxa (39.2%) of edible plants, 215 taxa (34.2%) of pasture plants, 187 taxa (29.8%) of medicinal plants, 75 taxa (11.9%) of ornamental plants and 22 taxa (3.5%) of timber plants, respectively.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
• /
• v.36 no.4
• /
• pp.314-340
• /
• 2023

Vascular plants of Yeonhwasan Mt., located in Taebaek-si, Gangwon-do, were investigated. Field surveys were conducted fourteen times between April and September of 2022. A total of 505 taxa were found consisting of 87 families, 282 genera, 441 species, 15 subspecies, 41 varieties, and 8 forma. Among them, the endemic plants of Korea were 22 taxa. The number of threatened and near threatened Red List plants designated by the Korean National Arboretum was four, comprising each one of critically endangered (CN), endangered (EN), vulnerable (VU), and near threatened (NT) species. The number of floristic target plants designated by the Ministry of Environment was 102, including one taxon of level V, 9 taxa of level IV, and 34 taxa of level III. Invasive alien plants were 34 taxa, and three taxa were ecosystem disturbance plants. The urbanization index of investigated site was 12.8%, and the naturalization index was 6.7%. To wisely manage Yeonhwasan, measures for preserving biodiversity and preventing invasive plants are needed.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
• /
• v.36 no.5
• /
• pp.469-489
• /
• 2023

Six field surveys were conducted at 29 locations from April 2020 to April 2022 to identify the freshwater flora of the Taean Peninsula. Based on the collected specimens, the vascular plants of the Taean Peninsula were summarized as 391 taxa: 94 families, 248 genera, 362 species, 5 subspecies, and 24 varieties. Freshwater plants in the Taean Peninsula consisted of 104 taxa, 45 taxa for aquatic plants, and 59 taxa for wetland plants. When classified by life history, annuals accounted for 33 taxa, winter annuals 5 taxa, biennial 6 taxa, and perennials accounted for most of the 60 taxa. Among the 391 identified taxa, 2 taxa of Endangered plants, 3 taxa of Korean endemic plants, 5 taxa of IUCN red list plants, 49 taxa of Korean floristic target plants, 38 taxa of biological resources subject to the approval of outbound transfer, 55 taxa alien plants and 7 taxa of ecosystem disturbing plant. The results of this study are intended to be used as basic data on the freshwater environment and distribution of aquatic plants in the Taean Peninsula.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
• /
• v.38 no.1
• /
• pp.1-21
• /
• 2024

This study conducted surveys to identify the distribution of communities and flora according to vegetation in the coastal sand dunes of Sagye in Jeju Special Self-Governing Province, located at the southernmost tip of Korea. The survey was conducted over 20 sessions from April 2020 to October 2021. As a result of the study, physiognomy was classified into six correlated vegetation types: plant communities on the salt marsh, annual communities on a coastal drift-line, herb communities on a dune, shrub communities on a coastal dune, forest-edge communities on a dune, and artificial afforestation vegetation. The survey identified 43 communities, and a total of 212 taxa were found to be distributed among 62 families, 166 genera, 191 species, 15 varieties, 3 subspecies, and 3 forma. It was found that there were five rare plant taxa distributed in the area, including the Cymbidium macrorrhizum which was classified as an endangered Class II plant by the Ministry of Environment. Floristic target species identified by the surveys included 2 taxa for grade V, 5 taxa for grade IV, 15 taxa for grade III, 14 taxa for grade II, and 19 taxa for grade I. Climate-sensitive biological indicator species included 11 indicator and 2 candidate species, representing a high ratio of 33.3% of all indicator species and 15.4% of candidate species. Naturalized plants included 16 families, 43 genera, and 52 taxa, with a naturalization rate of 21.1% and an urbanization index of 24.5%. It is expected that these results will be widely used as data needed to prepare conservation and management measures for biodiversity in response to climate change in coastal dunes in the future.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
• /
• v.38 no.1
• /
• pp.22-47
• /
• 2024

This study aims to reveal the distribution of native plants, rare plants, and specialty plants and provides basic data for efficient ecosystem management through a survey of the flora in Mt. Chijae (Gamagol) and its adjacent areas in Damyang-gun, Jeonnam-do, while also identifying useful plants in the eco-city Damyang-gun for distinctive garden plants. A total of 21 field surveys were conducted from March 2022 to June 2023 to collect and identify 492 taxa consisting of 101 families, 304 genera, 444 species, 10 subspecies, 35 varieties, and 3 formas. The analysis of the prepared sample list showed 14 taxa designated as specialty plants, 9 taxa designated as rare plants by the Korea Forest Service, 7 taxa designated as the national red (i.e., endangered) plants by the Ministry of Environment, and 68 taxa with phylogenetic specific species, of which 45 taxa for Grade I, 5 taxa for Grade II, 16 taxa for Grade III, and 2 taxa for Grade IV were confirmed. The list included 155 taxa of biological resources subject to export approval by the Ministry of Environment and 38 taxa of alien plants of which 7.7 percent were naturalized, and the urbanization index was 6.1 percent. Four taxa were ecosystem-disturbing invasive alien plants designated by the Ministry of Environment introduced artificially or naturally from abroad. This study is expected to contribute to creating unique and attractive landscapes in Damyang if the specific plants found in Mt. Chijae are grown and planted in city gardens.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
• /
• v.37 no.2
• /
• pp.171-202
• /
• 2024

If the plant genetic resources and information-sharing systems held by arboretums worldwide are effectively utilized, it is believed that a conservation system for plant diversity in the currently inaccessible North Korean region could be established. This study was conducted to review the scientific names of plants native to North Korea but not to South Korea and to assess the status of genetic resources held in domestic and international arboretums. To compile a list and status of North Korean plant's genetic resources, updated checklists of vascular plants in Korean Peninsula and online plant information databases were consulted to compile synonym, distribution range, and other related information. A total of 486 taxa (449 species, 13 subspecies, 21 varieties, 1 forma and 2 hybrids) from 236 genera and 64 families, representing 12.34% of the total native flora of the Korean Peninsular were presented in the North Korea plant list, and the presence of rare, endemic and northern lineage species was confirmed. It was found that 384 taxa from 190 genera, 53 families of North Korean plants are held as genetic resources in 333 arboretums and plant research institutions across 46 countries and 5 continents worldwide. This study is expected to contribute to the construction and application of a species list for plants native to the Korean Peninsula.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
• /
• v.57 no.1
• /
• pp.38-51
• /
• 2024

Although the bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria) is a crop with a cultivation history of about 10,000 years in the Old and New Worlds, archaeological considerations on the cultivation and use of bottle gourds on the Korean Peninsula are extremely rare. Accordingly, we reviewed previous reports on bottle gourds and examined the morphological characteristics of seeds and rind fragments from the Korean Peninsula. The investigation yielded several conclusions. First, bottle gourd cultivation likely began during the Bronze Age alongside the introduction of so-called southern crops. Evidence suggests that bottle gourd remains were more prevalent during the Three-Kingdoms period, indicating its significance as a crop during the historical era. Second, bottle gourd seeds from the Three-Kingdoms period exhibit characteristics of both African and Asian subspecies, showcasing a high level of morphological diversity. Third, rind thickness indicates that bottle gourds found at the Bongseon-ri site were of varieties with large fruits. Taken together, it is concluded that the bottle gourd was introduced to the Korean Peninsula during the Bronze Age, and people cultivated a range of bottle gourd varieties during the Three-Kingdoms period.

• Journal of Integrative Natural Science
• /
• v.16 no.4
• /
• pp.103-110
• /
• 2023

Invasive species are organisms that are introduced into places outside of their natural distribution range. The global pet trade is facilitating the introduction of invasive species into new countries and areas. Among the introduced alien species, turtles are one of the most common animal groups whether lives in wetland ecosystems, such as wetlands or reservoirs. Like other countries around the world, exotic turtles is becoming a growing concern for the wetland ecosystem in South Korea. In this study, we report new reports of subspecies of Painted turtle (Chrysemysspp.): Chrysemys picta marginata, C. p. bellii and C. dorsalis, from the reservoirs in downtown Cheongju and Gwangju, South Korea. We used morphological features, such as the characteristics of the legs, plastron, and carapace, to identify the turtles. It is assumed that all turtles were artificially released into nature. Considering the increasing number of reports on the introduction of alien invasive turtles in Korean wetlands, we recommend the formulation of an immediate and systematic management plan for pet trades and organized continuous monitoring programs.