• Journal of the Korean Institute of Traditional Landscape Architecture
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.55-66
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• 2018

The cactus habitat in Jeju Island has a phytogeographically specific distribution in the East Asian region, and forms a unique landscape as the only native cactus (Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill.) habitat in Korea. However, there has been no detailed investigation on the distribution of cacti in the habitat and no investigation on the diversity of the mixed composition of plants in the habitats and their correlation with the distribution of cactus populations. This study attempted to investigate the diversity of vascular plants in the Wollyeong-ri cactus habitat and record the actual distribution and trends of cactus distribution. In addition to the distribution characteristics of cacti, we also discuss the characteristics of species reflecting the characteristics of the habitat among the mixed population of plant species, as well as the biological and environmental factors that threaten the maintenance of cactus populations or require management for preservation of cacti. Considering the phenological character, we conducted the field surveys for flora identification six times between June 2015 and September 2017. The Engler classification system was used for the arrangement sequence and names of plants, and the Korean Plant Names Index was adopted for the Korean name of the species. The study results showed that the Wolryung-ri cactus habitat in Jeju Island has the characteristic physiognomy of an area dominated by cactus. For the vascular plants, a total of 125 taxa were identified, including 53 families, 104 genera, 109 species, 15 varieties and 1 forma. Endangered plants specified by the Ministry of Environment were not found. Two species, Cyrtomium falcatum and Asplenium incisum, were identified as the ferns, and no gymnosperms were found. In addition, 123 taxa of angiosperms, 91 taxa of dicotyledones and 32 taxa of monocotyledons were identified. The distributions of cacti were confirmed in 289 meshes corresponding to 59.3% of the total 487 meshes in the cactus protected area, which showed various coverage distributions ranging from 5% to 95%. Most of the meshes where no cacti were found are coastal areas with exposed basalt rocks where the soil depth has not developed or extremely restricted due to repeated waves, or areas where artificial facilities, grasslands, and observation paths have been constructed. On the other hand, there were 71 lattice points in 14.5% of the total area where the cactus showed 70% or higher dominance. Cacti are randomly distributed in these areas. They have adapted to the microhabitat environment and are found to be opportunistically distributed along the growable locations. Considering that the reproduction of cacti in the habitat is mostly dependent on parthenogenesis, the present distribution seems to reflect the potentially distributable regions of cacti in the habitat. Based on the results of field surveys, a management plan for conservation and protection of the protected areas has been proposed.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2017

Cryopreservation of germ cells from genetically proven animals could be a source of restoration tools from the risk of extinction or disappearance of wanted characteristics. Using frozen semen, the genetic gains of Korean native cattle have been increased greatly for 70 years. The preservation of genetic resources as a form of frozen semen straw has limited availability due to the numbers. To circumvent this weakness of frozen semen, we tested two re-freezing methods with different initial thawing temperatures using frozen Korean proven semen and rare breed semen from albino, black and chikso breeders. It has been known that human sperm could resist to cryo-damages by repeated freeze-thaw cycles, but not for Korean proven bulls number (KPN) or for rare breeds. Total 7 frozen semem from brindled(2), black(1), Korean Albino(2) and KPN(1) bulls were used for our research. After thawing straws under $5^{\circ}C/2min$ or $37^{\circ}C/40sec$ with low temperature water bath and thermo jug, spermatozoa were re-diluted with triladyl diluents after first thawing and re-frozen. Sperm motilities were compared between animals and treated groups after re-thawing. Mean values of motility and viability of refrozen/thawed sperm for expansion of the number of straws were significantly higher in $5^{\circ}C$ than in $37^{\circ}C$ (P < 0.05). However, the activity of viable sperm thawed at $5^{\circ}C$ was significantly decreased before refreezing. It is estimated that re-freezing of frozen semen from rare Korean native cattle is possible with resistant properties of survived spermatozoa.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.79-87
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• 2013

The aim of this study was to establish plant regeneration from leaf explants of Sedum tosaense Makino, which is globally rare and endangered species. The leaf explants of S. tosaense were cultured on the MS medium supplemented with different concentration of BA and NAA for callus induction. Callus induction was showed the highest (100%) on MS medium containing $2.0mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ BA and $1.0mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ NAA. The highest number of shoots were regenerated when callus were cultured on MS medium containing $2.0mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ BA and $1.0mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ NAA for 5 weeks. The axillary bud were cultured on the MS media supplemented with combination of BA and NAA for in vitro propagation. The highest number of adventitious shoot (7.9 per explants) formed at $1.0mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ NAA and $2.0mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ BA. For rooting, MS medium supplemented with or without $2.0g{\cdot}L^{-1}$ activated charcoal was tested. The optimal results were observed using MS medium supplemented with $2.0g{\cdot}L^{-1}$ activated charcoal, on which 85.7 (No. of root), 4.6 cm (length of root). 1,200 ppm $CO_2$ and 350 ppm $CO_2$ were supplied for make certain the effects of $CO_2$ on pre-acclimatization by photoautotrophic culture. 1,200 ppm $CO_2$ treatment was established higher than 350 ppm $CO_2$ treatment. Soil acclimatization of in vitro plantlets was the best in mixture soil consisted of peat moss and perlite with 100% survival rate and they showed the maximum growth.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.260-269
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• 2009

Hwabuk Dam has been under construction to reduce flood damage in Nakdong River watershed and to supply stable water for middle area of Gyeongbuk Province. Therefore, fish investigation in up and downstream of the dam was conducted from 2004 to 2008 in order to determine any negative effect on fish community due to dam construction and to use as fundamental data for conserving species diversity and maintaining stream health. According to data analysis on water quality, temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, suspended solids, and total E-coli had seasonal variation, but they did not significantly differ in sites. However, biological and chemical oxygen demand, chlorophyll-a, nitrogen, and phosphorus representing organic matter and nutrient concentration were higher in upper site and decreased to lower site so that they differed by site. Concentration of arsenic among the heavy metals was less than 0.05 mg $L^{-1}$, which is regulated for protection of human health in water quality standard, except for 0.092 mg $L^{-1}$ in June 2005. During the study period, the total number of fish caught from the 6 sites was 10,263 representing 7 families 19 species. Among them, dominant and subdominant species were Korean chub (Zacco koreanus, 62.5%) and Chinese minnow (Rhynchocypris oxycephalus, 10.6%) which inhabit mostly in mid and upper streams, Korea. Among the 19 species, Korean endemic species were 9 species (47.4%) including Korean slender gudgeon (Squalidus gracilis majimae), Korean dark sleeper (Odontobutis platycephala), and Korean shiner (Coreoleuciscus splendidus). There was several individuals of the $1^{st}$-class endangered species, Naktong nose loach (Koreocobitis nahtongensis), caught in 2005${\sim}$2007, and no introduced species of fish was found in entire sampling period. According to result of community analysis, dominance index decreased toward lower site, but diversity and richness indices increased toward lower site. The equation of length-weight relationship on the dominant species was TW=0.000003$(TL)^{3.2603}$. The parameter b in the equation was greater than 3.0 indicating good nutritional condition in the populations. Compared to populations of Korean chub in other streams, the population in Hwabuk Dam watershed had higher mean of condition factor by size indicating better growth rate. With fish fauna and multi-metric health assessment model in each sampling attempt, index of biotic integrity (IBI) was evaluated and it resulted mostly in good (26${\sim}$35) and excellent (36${\sim}$40) condition in all sites, and the mean of IBI was the highest in site 5. The results indicate that it is very important to study not only environmental impact assessment with fish composition but also stream health assessment in order to conserve healthy aquatic ecosystem.

• FLOWER RESEARCH JOURNAL
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.266-270
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• 2010

Corylopsis coreana is an endangered Korean native plants. This is one of the genus that have high ornamental value for flowering plants available for garden shrub, bonsai, and pot plants. In this study, the methods to encourage seed germination rate were investigated for its ornamental uses. The germination rate of Corylopsis coreana seeds stored under dry-cold condition was very low, 12%, 12%, 8%, and 10%after 40, 70, 85, and 100 days storage respectively. But the germination rate of Corylopsis coreana seeds stored under wet-cold condition was higher than these, 20%, 54%, 78%, and 96% after 40, 70, 85, and 100 days storage respectively. Dry seeds sowed directly without $GA_3$ treatment showed no germination regardless of storage type(cold or room temp.) or storage periods. On the other hand, the soaking treatment with $GA_3$ 50~500 ppm for 24 hours was very effective to increase the germination rate. The most effective $GA_3$ levels was different by storage type(cold or room temp.) and storage periods. But the effect of $GA_3$ was decreased by prolonging of the storage period. Soaking treatment with $Ca(NO_3)_2$ 5, 10, 20 mM, $KNO_3$ 5, 10, 20 mM for 24 hours showed no effect.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.317-326
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• 2021

The present study was carried out with a view to understand the distribution and ecology of Clihton retropictus (Martens, 1879), a class II endangered wildlife designated and protected by the Ministry of Environment, Republic of Korea, and to suggest the effective conservation and management measures for this species and its habit. First, the distribution of Clihton retropictus was investigated nationwide, and environmental factors such as salinity and substratum were analyzed in consideration of the ecological characteristics of this species. In addition, the individual size, density, and movement of Clihton retropictus per each district surveyed were analyzed. Due to its nature of inhabiting in the brackish water zone, the analysis showed that the salinity of this species was 0.7 ~ 16.6‰ at low tide and 1.0 ~ 17.3% at high tide. It was learned from the analysis of substratum that its composition in each river under investigation was slightly different, but most of substratum had a higher composition ratio than gravel (pebble, 16 ~ 64 mm). On the other hand, the size of each individual was checked by measuring the length of its diameter, and there was almost no change in the individual when the inhabited range of Clihton retropictus was short. However, there was tendency that the longer the habitat range, the bigger the individual size. From surveying the population density by season, it was made clear that, during the summer (July to August) and fall (September to October), the density was relatively higher while the number of individuals decreased significantly during winter (November to December) when the water temperature was lowered. In an effort to effectively establish conservation and management measures, the moving distance was measured, and it became known that, during the surveys in summer and fall when the individuals were active, the individuals moved in more distances than during the winter survey. The results of this study are expected to be utilized as basic data for establishing effective management plans such as creation of habitats for Clihton retropictus, its migration projects and selection of migration destinations which get unavoidable due to development projects.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.422-439
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• 2019

The rear edge population is considered to have low genetic diversity and high risk of extinction according to a highly isolated distribution. However, the rear edge population is observed to have persisted for an extended period despite the low genetic diversity. As such, it is necessary to understand the ecological process involved in the persistence of the population. Viola mirabilis L. in Korea is considered the rear edge population from the perspective of the worldwide distribution. We surveyed the distribution range of V. mirabilis, which shows the isolated distribution in the central area of Korea, to find out the factors of its persistence. Next, we investigated and accessed the vegetational pattern of habitats, soil environment, phenology, self-compatibility, population structure, and extinction risk factors observed in the distribution area. V. mirabilis was distributed in the understory of the deciduous forest, planted forest of the deciduous conifer and deciduous broad-leaved trees, shrubland, and grassland in the limestone area. We also observed the re-establishment of seedlings in the population, and most of them showed a stable population structure. For chasmogamous flowers, the visit by pollinators has a significantly positive relationship with the production of fruits. However, we found that the production of the cleistogamous flowers was more numerous in all studied populations and that only the cleistogamous flowers were produced despite a more substantial plant size in some populations. The plant size was more related to the production of the cleistogamous flowers than that of the chasmogamous flowers. Accordingly, the cleistogamous flowers significantly contributed to seedling recruitment in the population. We found that the production of the chasmogamous flowers and the cleistogamous flowers did not have a correlation with the factors of the soil analysis except for phosphoric acid. V. mirabilis showed the self-incompatibility characteristics most likely due to the production capability of the cleistogamous flowers. Potential extinction risk factors observed in the distribution area was included the development of limestone mine, the expansion of agricultural fields, and the construction of houses. Although V. mirabilis showed an isolated distribution in the limestone area in the Korean peninsula, it showed a diverse distribution in a wide habitat environment ranging from the grassland to the understory of the trees with relatively low canopy closure rate. Moreover, we concluded that the persistence of the population was possible if we can maintain the current state of multiple populations and stable population structure.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.108-118
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• 2021

The purpose of this study was to provide baseline ecological data for the conservation of the Manchurian trout habitat through the investigation of the growth status of Brachymystax lenok tsinlingensis, and Pearson's correlation analysis (PCA) between the B. lenok tsinlingensis population and the use of the land around Gyebangcheon stream. Sampling was conducted twice in July, September, and October 2018. During the July and September surveys, 882 individuals belonging to 13 species from six families were collected. The dominant species was Rhynchocypris kumgangensis and the subdominant species was Zacco koreanus. The total number of B. lenok tsinlingensis collected was 99. The results of the length-weight relationship in the B. lenok tsinlingensis population were analyzed with a regression coefficient b value of 3.1272 and a condition factor (k) value of 0.0006. Therefore, the growth condition of B. lenok tsinlingensis was regarded as fairly good. The QHEI(Qualitative habitat evaluation index) value in the B. lenok tsinlingensis habitat was 119.5(±0.5)-153.5(±0.5), indicating optimal-suboptimal conditions. As a result of the HIS (Habitat suitability index) analysis, it was confirmed that the optimal habitat for B. lenok tsinlingensis was 0.45-0.55m and >1 m in water depth, 0.55-0.65 m s^-1 in water velocity, and boulder in the substrate. The ratio of the land use in this study site was analyzed as 66.26-96.31% for forest and grassland areas, 0.00-23.79% for agricultural areas, 0.00-4.19% for urbanized areas, and 3.69-8.87% for others. Correlation analysis of the number of B. lenok tsinlingensis and various factors revealed statistically significant correlations between QHEI and forest and grassland areas, agricultural areas, and urbanized areas.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.733-743
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• 2020

We estimated the carbon storage of coal mines reclaimed using Betula platyphylla (BP), Pinus koraiensis (PK), and Pinus spp. (PS, Pinus densiflora, Pinus rigida, and Pinus thunbergii). The carbon storage of tree biomass (TB), forest floor(FF), mineral soil (MS), and the total forest were quantified. Reclaimed sites were located in Gangwon-do, Gyeongsangbuk-do, and Jeollanam-do; reclamation was conducted at various times in each region. The carbon storage (ton C ha^-1) in FF (BP: 3.31±0.59, PK: 3.60±0.93, PS: 4.65±0.92), MS (BP: 28.62±2.86, PK: 22.26±5.72, PS: 19.95±3.90), and the total forest(BP: 54.81±7.22, PK: 47.29±8.97, PS: 45.50±6.31) were lower than that of natural forests (NF). The carbon storage in TB was lower in BP (22.57±6.18) compared to NF, while those in PK(21.17±8.76) and PS (20.80±6.40) were higher than in NF. While there were no significant differences in the carbon storage of TB, FF, and the total forest among tree species, results from MS showed a significant difference among species. TB and the total forest carbon storages in all sites increased after reclamation. Soil pH and cation exchange capacity values in BP and PS were lower than in NF. Amounts of labile carbon, available phosphate, and microbial biomass carbon in reclaimed sites were less than half of NF. There are a number of methods that could increase the reclamation efficiency. Applications of lime or organic fertilizers, as well as tillage operations, may improve soil properties in reclaimed coal mines. Additionally, pruning and thinning would increase tree growth thereby increasing carbon storage.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.81-91
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• 2021

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea did not have direct legislation on natural environmental conservation until the early 1970s when the regime was still in the early stage. The Law on Land was enacted in 1977 to provide the legal basis for protecting the natural environment, including land protection, protection zones, and forest formation and protection. The enactment of the Law on Environmental Protection in 1986 made progress on environmental conservation in the DPRK. The constitutional amendment in 1992 stipulated "the preservation and creation of the natural environment as the responsibility of the state." Based on the Framework Law on Environmental Protection, subordinate statutes in various fields were enacted after the1990s. While the committee designated and managed the protected zones in the early days, the Framework Law on Environmental Protection established the ground for the designation of legally protected areas, and the Law on Protection of Scenic Spots and Natural Monuments enacted in 1995, and the Law on Environmental Protection enacted in 2009 provided the details. Furthermore, the types of nature reserves include biosphere reserves, primeval forest reserves, animal reserves, plant reserves, and scenic reserves. The 2nd National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan established in 2007 based on the Convention on Biological Diversity(CBD) stated 326 protected zones in the DPRK. However, the 2018 United Nations list of Protected Areas shows only 31 registered zones, indicating the need to establish basic information on protected areas in DPRK. This study can provide basic information for a better understanding of the nature conservation system in the DPRK. Considering that environmental protection activities such as protection of endangered species and recovery of environmental pollution are subject to exceptions under the current sanctions against North Korea (UN Security Council, the United States), it will be possible to contribute to identifying possible inter-Korean cooperation projects in the field of the natural environment.