• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.118-126
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• 2019

The taxonomic rank of the tiny-leaved terrestrial orchid Cephalanthera subaphylla Miyabe & $Kud{\hat{o}}$ has been somewhat controversial, as it has been treated as a species or as an infraspecific taxon, under C. erecta (Thunb.) Blume [C. erecta var. subaphylla (Miyabe & $Kud{\hat{o}}$) Ohwi and C. erecta f. subaphylla (Miyabe & $Kud{\hat{o}}$) M. Hiro]. Allozyme markers, traditionally employed for delimiting species boundaries, are used here to gain information for determining the taxonomic status of C. subaphylla. To do this, we sampled three populations of five taxa (a total of 15 populations) of Cephalanthera native to the Korean Peninsula [C. erecta, C. falcata (Thunb.) Blume, C. longibracteata Blume, C. longifolia (L.) Fritsch, and C. subaphylla]. Among 20 putative loci resolved, three were monomorphic (Dia-2, Pgi-1, and Tpi-1) across the five species. Apart from C. longibracteata, there was no allozyme variation within the remaining four species. Of the 51 alleles harbored by these 17 polymorphic loci, each of the 27 alleles at 14 loci was unique to a single species. Accordingly, we found low average values of Nei's genetic identities (I) between ten species pairs (from I = 0.250 for C. erecta versus C. longifolia to I = 0.603 for C. falcata vs. C. longibracteata), with C. subaphylla being genetically clearly differentiated from the other species (from I = 0.349 for C. subaphylla vs. C. longifolia to 0.400 for C. subaphylla vs. C. falcata). These results clearly indicate that C. subaphylla is not genetically related to any of the other taxa of Cephalanthera that are native to the Korean Peninsula, including C. erecta. In a principal coordinate analysis (PCoA), C. subaphylla was positioned distant not only from C. falcata, C. longibracteata, and C. longifolia, but also from C. erecta. Finally, K = 5 was the best clustering scheme using a Bayesian approach, with five clusters precisely corresponding to the five taxa. Thus, our allozyme results strongly suggest that C. subaphylla merits the rank of species.

• Mycobiology
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.121-125
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• 2013

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) have mutualistic relationships with more than 80% of terrestrial plant species. This symbiotic relationship is ancient and would have had important roles in establishment of plants on land. Despite their abundance and wide range of relationship with plant species, AMF have shown low species diversity. However, molecular studies have suggested that diversity of these fungi may be much higher, and genetic variation of AMF is very high within a species and even within a single spore. Despite low diversity and lack of host specificity, various functions have been associated with plant growth responses to arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal colonization. In addition, different community composition of AMF affects plants differently, and plays a potential role in ecosystem variability and productivity. AMF have high functional diversity because different combinations of host plants and AMF have different effects on the various aspects of symbiosis. Consequently, recent studies have focused on the different functions of AMF according to their genetic resource and their roles in ecosystem functioning. This review summarizes taxonomic, genetic, and functional diversities of AMF and their roles in natural ecosystems.

• Journal of Plant Biology
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 1985

To verify the cause of high productivity in Typha stand, leaf area index(LAI), leaf orientation and inclination, specific leaf area (SLA), and radiation interception profiles were determined in a natural Typha$\times$glauca stand. Throughout the growing season, the leaf inclination has been kept at near-right angle and leaf orientation has been random. These chracteristics were responsible for an uniform spatial arrangement of the leaves within the canopy and could be explained by the SLA value, which increased in their higher strata. The extinction coefficient (K) of the canopy, 0.12 to 0.20, was one of the smallest value out of terrestrial plant communities. At least more than 25% of full radiation penetrated into the lowest stratum of the canopy. High productivity of the Typha would be attributed to efficient penetration of the radiation in virtue of the stiff and straight leaves even though rather small LAI.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.117-129
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• 2021

In this review, we aimed to synthesize the current knowledge on the observed and projected effects of climate change on the ecosystems of Korea (i.e., the Republic of Korea (ROK) or South Korea), as well as the main causes of vulnerability and options for adaptation in these ecosystems based on a range of ecological and biogeographical data. To this end, we compiled a set of peer-reviewed papers published since 2014. We found that publication of climate-related studies on plants has decreased in the field of plant phenology and physiology, whereas such publication has rapidly increased in plant and animal community ecology, reflecting the range shifts and abundance change that are occurring under climate change. Plant phenology studies showed that climate change has increased growing seasons by advancing the timing of flowering and budburst while delaying the timing of leafing out. Community ecology studies indicated that the future ranges of cold-adapted plants and animals could shrink or shift toward northern and high-elevation areas, whereas the ranges of warm-adapted organisms could expand and/or shift toward the areas that the aforementioned cold-adapted biota previously occupied. This review provides useful information and new insights that will improve understanding of climate change effects on the ecosystems of Korea. Moreover, it will serve as a reference for policy-makers seeking to establish future sectoral adaptation options for protection against climate change.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.233-239
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• 2016

The purpose of this study is to investigate the response of the soil mesofauna and ground-dwelling arthropods to vegetation structure and composition in a mountain pasture. The pasture mainly comprised five types of plant communities; Agrostis alba - Phleum pratense community, Poa pratensis community, Festuca ovina community, Rumex acetosella community, and the shrub assemblage comprised Spiraea miyabei-Spiraea salicifolia community. Soil chemical properties including the pH, EC and nutrient levels were influenced by plant communities. Plant-specific responses were observed for bacteria-feeding and plant-feeding soil nematodes. Collembola and Oribatida having the same feeding habit were influenced differently by plants. nMDS showed that the community of ground-dwelling arthropods were separated by vegetation types. Species numbers of arthropods were different among different plant communities. Our results indicate that vegetation structure and composition can influence both abundance of diversity of terrestrial fauna.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.136-163
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• 2014

This study was carried out to investigate flora of Golji stream watershed in Gangwon province. The vascular plants which were collected in 11 times (from May 2012 to Nov. 2013) were identified as 825 taxa in total, including 124 families, 420 genera, 730 species, 8 subspecies, 78 varieties, 6 forms and 3 hybrids. In the flora of this area, Korean endemic species were 34 taxa, red list of vascular plants according to IUCN valuation basis were 34 taxa and 165 taxa of specially designated floristic regional indicator plants by the Ministry of Environment. Among those species investigated in this survey, 101 taxa were identified as specific species bio-geographically as compared to flora of other terrestrial regions; 37 of calcicolous plants, 64 with distribution in the northern part of the Korean peninsula. 34 aquatic taxa and 69 naturalized plants were recorded in the investigated area.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.324-333
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• 2019

Neutral genetic diversity found in plant species usually leaves an indelible footprint of historical events. Korea's main mountain range (referred to as the Baekdudaegan [BDDG]), is known to have served as a glacial refugium primarily for the boreal and temperate flora of northeastern Asia. In addition, life-history traits (life forms, geographic range, and breeding systems) influence the within- and among-population genetic diversity of seed plant species. For example, selfing species harbor significantly less within-population genetic variation than that of predominantly outcrossers. A previous study of two Liparis species (L. makinoana and L. kumokiri) emphasizes the role of the abovementioned factors shaping the levels of genetic diversity. Liparis makinoana, mainly occurring on the BDDG and self-incompatible, harbors high levels of within-population genetic diversity (expected heterozygosity, H_eP = 0.319), whereas there is no allozyme variation (H_eP = 0.000) in L. kumokiri, which is self-compatible and mainly occurs in lowland hilly areas. To determine if this trend is also found in other congeners, we sampled five populations of L. krameri from the southern part of the Korean Peninsula and investigated the allozyme-based genetic diversity at 15 putative loci. The somewhat intermediate levels of within-population genetic variation (H_eP = 0.145) found in L. krameri are most likely due to its occurrence in mountainous areas that, despite being outside of the main ridge of the BDDG, still served as refugia, and a self-incompatible breeding system. Management strategies are suggested for L. krameri and L. makinoana based on the levels and distribution of genetic diversity and inbreeding.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.491-511
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• 2013

In this study, three survey areas in Changnyeong, Miryang and Jinju of the confirmed the habitation of nutria and carried out the performance on the plant diet resource. From the habitat trace survey in the nutria habitat, a total of 336 trace points was shown. There were 181 trace points (54%) confirmed from St. 1 as the highest showing, followed by 52 trace points (15.4%) from St. 2, and 103 trace points (30.6)% from St. 3. The vascular plants distributed in the habitat area were a total of 182 taxonomic group with 57 families, 99 genus, 16 hybrids, and 1 race. The vascular plant living types in the habitat area are 1-year plant (Th, Th(w)) for 63class groups (34.6%), hemicryptophyte (H) for 42class groups(23.1%). plants, trees, crop plants were included. As a result of analyzing the overseas research cases on the diet plants of nutria, there are 195 taxonomic groups in a total of 39 families, 126 genus, 183 breeds, and 12 hybrids. In the study areas, feeding the plants was confirmed by the 7 taxonomic groups, aquatic plant, terrestrial From the total of 182 taxonomic groups discovered in the habitat area, 20 class groups, in 3 habitation region, 10 class groups of commonly appearing 49 class groups were shown to be the breed confirmed for diet in existing case studies, and assuming from it basis, the nutria habitating in the survey area is considered to have the supply of diverse diet resource to have flawless habitation. This is implication of having potential breeding possibility.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.105-115
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• 2019

Saline or alkaline condition in soil inhibits growth of most crop plants and limits crop yields in many parts of the world. Augmenting an alkaline soil with alkali-tolerant bacteria capable of promoting plant growth can be a promising approach in expanding fertile agricultural land. Near-shore environments of Dokdo Island, a remote island located in the middle of the East Sea, appear to have patches of seawater-influenced haloalkaline soil that is unsupportive for growth of conventional plants. To exploit metabolic capacities of alkali-tolerant bacteria for promoting plant growth in saline or alkaline soils, we isolated of alkali-tolerant bacteria from near-shore soil samples in Dokdo and investigated properties of the isolates. Alkali-tolerant bacteria were selectively cultivated by inoculating suspended and diluted soil samples on a plate medium adjusted to pH 10. Fifty colonies were identified based on their $GTG_5$-PCR genomic fingerprints and 16S rRNA gene sequences. Most isolates were affiliated to alkali-tolerant and/or halotolerant genera or species of the phyla Firmicutes (68%), Proteobacteria (30%) and Actinobacteria (2%). Unlike the typical soil bacterial flora in the island, alkali-tolerant isolates belonged to only certain taxa of terrestrial origin under the three phyla, which have traits of plant growth promoting activities including detoxification, phytohormone production, disease/pest control, nitrogen-fixation, phosphate solubilization or siderophore production. However, Firmicutes of marine origin generally dominated the alkali-tolerant community. Results of this study suggest that haloalkaline environments like Dokdo shore soils are important sources for plant growth promoting bacteria that can be employed in bio-augmentation of vegetation-poor alkaline soils.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.443-452
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• 2014

Feces contain nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphate, potassium and research of the impact on the environment from feces is very diverse. However, despite the importance of mammals to environment, studies of mammals into the terrestrial ecosystems are rare. Korean water deer (Hydropotes inermis) is an endemic species of Korea and China, and we conducted on factor of plant growth in relation to feces of Korean water deer depending on land use patterns. The analysis of growth, biomass and C/N ratio of Zea mays, amount of feces and land use patterns are strongly affecting the C/N ratio and growth of the Zea mays. The quantity of the feces also influences the growth of plants instead of the land use patterns. Furthermore, the feces of Korean water deer have a lower C/N ratio than that of other animals' feces. Being the process of composting, it is able to serve a suitable fertilizer for a crop growth. In this study, we investigated the impact of feces into the environment in the terrestrial ecosystems and we were able to provide the basic data to the resources of an efficient scheme of animal feces. Further research is needed to quantify the materials amongst the plant, soil and animal, and to understand the relationship ecosystem.