• 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 Wetlands Research
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.45-51
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• 2017

Nepal is a landlocked mountainous country in South Asia, located between China to the north and India to the south, east, and west. As such, wastewater management has become one of the most significant problems in urban area of Nepal. In Nepal, the centralized wastewater treatment systems were dysfunctional due to high cost of operation, discontinuous power supply, lack of proper maintenance and proper technical workforce to address the issues. As such, constructed wetlands (CW) were applied to treat various secondary wastewater as alternative to wastewater treatment facilities. Generally, efficiency and sustainability of CW technology depends on proper operation and maintenance and active community involvement. This study summarizes information about 26 CW in Nepal. Specifically, factors including data banking, removal efficiency, quality of discharged water, compliance to water quality standard of Nepal and operation and maintenance were investigated. Considering removal efficiency per pollutant, Ka-1 achieved the greatest reduction for most pollutant followed by B-1, L-3, Ka-5 and K-1. Nepal has practiced CW technology for more than 2 decades but currently, development of technology was interrupted by the inefficient performance of existing facilities. Public awareness about the technology, natural disaster, unavailability of specified substrate materials, lack of fund for further research and experiments has hindered the expansion of technology. In spite of these concerns, CW was still proven as an alternative solution to the present wastewater problems in urban areas of Nepal.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.111-120
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• 2023

In Korea, wetland policies are currently being pursued through long-term plans such as nationwide wetland surveys and wetland conservation basic plans. However, most policies focus on understanding the status of wetlands, such as their area, distribution, and biodiversity, and there is a lack of awareness regarding the need to conserve and manage wetland ecosystems as a single organism. Therefore, this study aims to identify potential riverine wetland sites that can be ecologically connected by considering functional aspects such as floodplain, biodiversity, habitat provision, and tourism resources. This study attempted to select a candidate site that could potentially provide ecological connectivity with three wetlands in the Nakdonggang River water system : Upo Wetland, Hwapocheon Wetland, and Junam Reservoir. 63 wetlands and 7 candidate sites located in 15 subwatersheds of the Nakdonggang River were analyzed, and the most suitable candidate site for ecological connectivity was selected based on the calculated scores. A suitability analysis was conducted using 9 evaluation factors to evaluate candidate sites, and the scoring method, using quantile, was applied to these factors. As a result, Upo2(Hopo) was selected as the most suitable site for ecological connectivity, receiving the highest score 36. Therefore, it is believed that Upo2(Hopo) can serve as a floodplain, habitat, biodiversity enhancer, and tourism resource while being the most suitable for ecological connectivity.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.251-264
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• 2013

There are some factors affecting the shorebirds in selecting a coastal inland roost site where they have to stay during the high tide when the entire intertidal zone is covered with water. We investigated eight species (Eastern Curlews Numenius madagascariensis, Green Shanks Tringa nebularia, Bar-tailed Godwits Limosa lapponica, Grey Plovers Pluvialis squatarola, Dunlins Calidris alpine, Whimbrels Numenius phaeopus, Eurasian Curlews Numenius arquata and Terek Sandpipers Xenus cinereus) to identify the spatial and temporal variability in coastal inland roost use in the area and the factors influencing the use. We considered the area and length of the standing water in the roost site, temperature, wind speed, the time of migration and the intensity of disturbance. As a result, number of individuals and type of species using the roost site varied across spatial and temporal scales. And the factors affecting the roost use was species-specific. The roost site of the study area was a closed shrimp farm however, it has been converted to a Salicornia herbacea, a salt marsh plant, farm recently. In a situation where coastal inland roost site is needed, we hereby describe a resolution for the juxtaposition of shorebirds and farming.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.57 no.1
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• pp.1-16
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• 2024

Most wetlands worldwide have suffered from extensive human exploitation. Unfortunately they have been less explored compared to river and lake ecosystems despite their ecological importance and economic values. This is the same case in Korea. This study was aimed to estimate the assemblage attributes and distribution characteristics of benthic macroinvertebrates for fifty wetlands distributed throughout subtropical Jeju Island in 2021. A total of 133 taxa were identified during survey periods belonging to 53 families, 19 orders, 5 classes and 3 phyla. Taxa richness ranged from 4 to 31 taxa per wetland with an average of 17.5 taxa. Taxa richness and abundance of predatory insect groups such as Odonata, Hemiptera and Coleoptera respectively accounted for 67.7% and 68.2% of the total. Among them Coleoptera were the most diverse and abundant. Taxa richness and abundance did not significantly differ from each wetland type classified in accordance with the National Wetland Classification System. There were three endangered species (Clithon retropictum, Lethocerus deyrolli and Cybister (Cybister) chinensis) and several restrictively distributed species only in Jeju Island. Cluster analysis based on the similarity in the benthic macroinvertebrate composition largely classified 50 wetlands into two major clusters: small wetlands located in lowland areas and medium-sized wetlands in middle mountainous regions. All cluster groups displayed significant differences in wetland area, long axis, percentage of fine particles and macrophyte composition ratio. Indicator Species Analysis selected 19 important indicators with the highest indicator value of Ceriagrion melanurum at 63%, followed by Noterus japonicus (59%) and Polypylis hemisphaerula (58%). Our results are expected to provide fundamental information on the biodiversity and habitat environments for benthic macroinvertebrates in wetland ecosystems, consequently helping to establish conservation and restoration plans for small wetlands relatively vulnerable to human disturbance.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.371-376
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• 2014

A Study on zooplankton fauna and phytoplankton flora was carried out three times in June, August and September 2012 at the Hyuncheon wetland in Gangwon-do, Korea. A total of 14 taxa of zooplankton were distributed, which consisted of six rotifers, four cladocerans, two copepods, one nematode and one aquatic insect larvae. Occurrence of Simulium japonicum supports that studied water is the first grade clear water. It was observed that the abundance of zooplankton was never exceeded over $55ind.L^{-1}$. Rotifers dominated in the months of June and August, whereas cladocerans in September, respectively. The phytoplankton flora was consisted of 26 species. The standing crops varied between $4,080{\sim}10,120cell.L^{-1}$. Docidium undulatum is the typical species distributed in muddy wetland and Closterium acerosum is distributed widely from wetlands through lakes. Navicula spp. and Nitzchia spp. were recorded to be distributed in lentic waters of big lakes such as Paldang Lake. Species diversity indices decreased gradually from June to September between 1.3~1.9 in zooplankton but lowest in August between 0.9~1.6 in phytoplankton, respectively. Based on my study observation, I anticipate that the poor distribution of zooplankton, phytoplankton, and low values of species diversity index are likely to be a cause of narrow area with shallowness of waters during the short period.

• 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.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.637-656
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• 2023

River estuaries are dynamic and productive ecosystems with high regional biodiversity. Environmental DNA (eDNA) has become a useful approach to assessing biodiversity in aquatic ecosystems. This study was conducted to investigate fish community characteristics and species diversity in two river estuary ecosystems, the Taehwa River and Changwon Stream. We further compared conventional and eDNA metabarcoding analyses of the fish communities. The conventional survey was performed in May, July, and October 2022, while the eDNA analysis was conducted only in May. We observed various fish species with different life histories, including carp, goby, and marine fish. We also found that migratory fish, such as dace Tribolodon hakonensis, sweetfish Plecoglossus altivelis, and eel Auguilla japonica, occurred in the Taehwa River, suggesting high river connectivity. Marine fish species were predominant in the Changwon Stream, as this river is located close to the sea. The diversity indices showed that the Taehwa River generally had higher species richness, evenness, and diversity values than the Changwon Stream. A total of 9-19 species were detected in the conventional survey for the three sites, whereas 11-18 species were found from eDNA analysis. The findings indicate that the sensitivity of eDNA was similar to or higher than that of the conventional method. Our study findings suggest the efficiency and efficacy of eDNA-based fish community monitoring, although with some shortcomings in applying the genetic marker to Korean fish, including no clear-cut distinction for Korean endemic species and/or genetically closely related species groups.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.25-34
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• 2002

The halophytes were investigated on Gyeonggi Bay from Aug. 1999 to Oct. 2001. The survey was conducted at 38 areas including natural salt marshes, dunes, abandoned salt farms and bank areas. During this study 46 species of halophytes were collected in the areas. Among the halophytes the following 7 species were found at natural salt marshes only; Triglochin maritimum L, Carex scabrifolia Steud., Salicornia herbacea L., Suaedu australis (R. Br.) Moq., S. martima Dum., S. japonica Makino, S. malacosperma Hara, on the other hand 8 species at dunes only; Glehnia littoralis Fr. Schm., Cnidium japonicum Miq., Messerschmidia sibirica L., Ixeris repens A. Gray, Corispermum stauntonii Miq., Vitex rotundifolia L. fil., Ischaemum anthephoroides Miq., Carex kobomugi Ohwi. The distributions of halophytes in each regions are as the followings : Isl. Gyodong-do 21 species, Isl. Seokmo-do 10 species, Isl. Ganghwa-do 28 species, Isl. Jangbong-do 16 species, Isl. Sin & Si-do 10 species, Isl. Daemuui-do 23 species, Isl. Deokjeok-do 23 species, Isl. Ijak-do 10 species, Isl. Yeongheung-do 29 species, Soyra 25 species, Isl. Daebu-do 15 species, Ssangsong-ri 6 species, Hogok-ri 16 species, Maehyang-ri 10 species.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.169-183
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• 2021

This study was carried out to investigate the flora of the Hanbando wetland (Yeongwol-gun, Gangwon-do) from April 2019 to May 2020. Vascular plants were grouped into 508 taxa, comprising 93 families, 309 genera, 456 species, 10 subspecies, 37 varieties, and 5 forms. Among the investigated 508 taxa, 2 endangered species, 8 rare plants, and 8 endemic plants were identified. The specific plants by floristic region were grouped into 71 taxa including, 3 taxa of grade V, 10 taxa of grade IV, 15 taxa of grade III, 17 taxa of grade II, and 26 taxa of grade I. Naturalized and ecosystem disturbing plants were grouped into 57 taxa and 5 taxa, respectively. The percentage of naturalized plants species and urbanization index were estimated to be 11.2% and 17.8%, respectively. This study provides important basic information for the efficient management of Hanbando wetland, which possess a high conservation value since it is forms part of the list of Ramsar wetlands.