• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.72-105
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• 2011

This study explores the value of the Dicentra spectabilis community as a nature reserve in provincial forests at San 1-2, Daea-ri, Dongsang-myeon, Wanju-gun, Jellabuk-do, also known as Gamakgol, while defining the appropriateness of its living environment and eventually providing basic information to protect this area. For these reasons, we investigated 'morphological and biological features of Dicentra spectabilis' and the 'present situation and problems of designing a herbaceous nature reserve in Korea.' Furthermore, we researched and analyzed the solar, soil and vegetation condition here through a field study in order to comprehend its nature reserve value. The result is as follows. According to the analytic result for information on the domestic wild Dicentra spectabilis community, it is evenly spread throughout mountainous areas, and there is one particularly outstanding in size in Wanju Gamakgol. Upon the findings from literature and the field study about its dispersion, Gamakgol has been discovered as an ideal district for Dicentra spectabilis since it meets all the conditions this plant requires to grow vigorously, such as a quasi-high altitude and rich precipitation during its period of active growth duration in May. Dicentra spectabilis grows in rocky soil ranging from 300~375m above sea level, 344.5m on average, towards the north, northwest and dominantly in the northeast. The mean inclination degree is $19.5^{\circ}$. Also, upon findings from analyzing solar conditions, the average light intensity during its growth duration, from Apr. to Aug., is 30,810lux on average and it tends to increase, as it gets closer to the end. This plant requires around 14,000~18,000lux while growing, but once bloomed, fruits develop regardless of the degree of brightness. The soil pH has shown a slight difference between the topsoil, at 5.2~6.1, and subsoil, at 5.2~6.2. Its mean pH is 5.54 for topsoil and 5.58 for subsoil. These results are very typical for Dicentra spectabilis to grow in, and other comparative areas also present similar conditions. Given the facts, the character of the soil in Gamakgol has been evaluated to have high stability. Analysis of its vegetation environment shows a wide variation of taxa numbering from 13 to 52 depending on area. The total number of taxa is 126 and they are a homogenous group while showing a variety of species as well. The Dicentra spectabilis community in the Daea-ri Arboretum is an herbaceous community consisting of dominantly Dicentra spectabilis, Cardamine leucantha, Boehmeria tricuspi and Impatiens textori while having many differential species such as Impatiens textori, Pueraria thunbergiana, Rubus crataegifolius vs Staphylea bumalda, Securinega suffruticosa, and Actinidia polygama. It suggests that it is a typical subcolony divided by topographic features and soil humidity. Considering the above results on a comprehensive level, this area is an excellent habitat for wild Dicentra spectabilis providing beautiful viewing enjoyment. Additionally, it is the largest wild colony of Dicentra spectabilis in Korea whose climate, topography, soil conditions and vegetation environment can secure sustainability as a wild habitat of Dicentra spectabilis. Therefore, We have determined that the Gamakgol community should be re-examined as natural asset owing to its established habitat conditions and sustainability.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.469-477
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• 2018

Hanabusaya asiatica is an endemic species whose distribution is limited in the mid-eastern part of the Korean peninsula. Due to its narrow range and small population, it is necessary to protect its habitats by identifying it as Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) adopted by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). In this paper, we estimated potential natural habitats for H. asiatica using maximum entropy model (MaxEnt) and identified candidate sites for KBA based on the model results. MaxEnt is a machine learning algorithm that can predict habitats for species of interest unbiasedly with presence-only data. This property is particularly useful for the study area where data collection via a field survey is unavailable. We trained MaxEnt using 38 locations of H. asiatica and 11 environmental variables that measured climate, topography, and vegetation status of the study area which encompassed all locations of the border region between South and North Korea. Results showed that the potential habitats where the occurrence probabilities of H. asiatica exceeded 0.5 were $778km^2$, and the KBA candidate area identified by taking into account existing protected areas was $1,321km^2$. Of 11 environmental variables, elevation, annual average precipitation, average precipitation in growing seasons, and the average temperature in the coldest month had impacts on habitat selection, indicating that H. asiatica prefers cool regions at a relatively high elevation. These results can be used not only for identifying KBAs but also for the reference to a protection plan for H. asiatica in preparation of Korean reunification and climate change.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.70-80
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• 2011

Estuarine ecosystem responds sensitively to natural and anthropogenic perturbations. lt is necessary to identify the direction of the change when the perturbation occurs as well as to understand the structure and functioning of estuarine ecosystem for a proper management of the area. In this study, the estuarine habitats were classified into different ecological districts so as to the switch from one district to another district could be related to the environmental change due to the perturbations. Total 16 ecological districts was defined according to the presence of barrage, salinity and vegetation characteristics. The defined ecological districts were applied to small estuaries in Goseong bay, south sea of Korea (Baedun, Guman, Maam, Goseong) to distinguish different regions which might have characteristic bottom topography, inclinations of river bottom, sediment characteristics, salinity structure and area of vegetation. Total 7 out of 16 ecological district was identified in this region; NFB (natural, fresh, bare), NHB (natural, high salinity, bare), NLV (natural, low salinity, vegetated) in natural (without barrage) estuaries and CFB (closed, fresh, bare), CFV( closed, fresh vegetated), CLV (closed, low salinity, vegetated), CHB (closed, high salinity, bare) in closed (with barrage) estuary. A comparison of environmental factors and biota between CHB and CLV demonstrated the effect of barrage on estuarine ecosystem. The height and sediment characteristics of CHB and CLV were similar but the average salinity was lower in CLV than in CHB due to the barrage, which produced favorable condition for the Phragmites australis in CLV. Information regarding the ecological districts in various sizes and location could be useful for predicting the ecosystem change due to natural and anthropogenic perturbations and for preparing management actions.

• Journal of Plant Biology
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.305-317
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• 1995

The bryophyte communities on the forest floor of the mixed coniferous, deciduous broad-leaf forest and the evergreen coniferous forest of cool temperate and subalpine zones in Chiri Mountains with the highest peak (Cheonwangbong 1915 m) in south-central part of the Korean Peninsula were investigated from the phytosociology viewpoint. As a result, five bryophyte communities were recognized, considering the species composition of vascular vegetation; A. Sasamorpha borealis-Abies koreana/Dicranum scoparium-Plagiothecium silvaticum community, B. Bosta minor-Abies koreana/Anomodon rugelii-Plagiomnium cuspidatum community, C. Abies koreana/Hylocomiopsis ovicarpa-Entodon rubicundus community, D. Abies koreana-Picea jezoensis/Hylocomiopsis ovicarpa-Thuidium kanedae community, E. Abies koreana-Pieea jezoensis/Hylocomium splendens-Pleurozium sehreberi community. Among these, the communities A, B, C and D were distributed in the mixed coniferous and deciduous broad-leaf forest of lower altitudes (1200 to 1700 m) and characterized by the elements of the cool temperate zone. They were confimled as synusies belonging to the Fraxino-Abietetum koreanae Song 1988. The community E was distributed in higher altitudes (1700 m to near the summit) and characterized by the species group of the holarctic elements, e.g. Hyloeomium splendens, Pleurozium sehreberi, Dieranum majus, etc. limited in subarctic; subalpine and arctic; alpine zones. The community E was confirmed as a synusie of the Abieti koreanae-Piceetum jezoensis Song 1991 belonging the Vaecinio-Pieeetea Br.-BI. 1939. Up to date many investigator have described the coniferous forest distibuted above 1200 m in Chiri mountauns as the forest vegetation of subalpine zone. However, from the results of the present study, the boundary of the mixed forest and the true subalpine coniferous forest was elucidated to be ca. 1700 m phytosociologically. Species richness was highest in the community E, and the other four communities showed a similar species richness. Among the species diversity indices, H' and D were high in the communities Band E, low in the communities A and C, and medium in the community D. The values of J' decreased with the increase in altitudes and the community E showed the lowest value. The result of Bray-Curtis ordination revealed that the diversity analysis and the division of the above two forest zones are justifiable. The taxa of the bryophyte communities were composed of 25 families, 46 genera, 73 species, 1 subspecies and 2 varieties.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.90-97
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• 2012

Environmental characteristics and vegetation of the natural habitats of Eranthis byunsanensis B.Y. Sun were investigated in order to provide the basic data for conservation, restoration, and utilization of this Korean endemic plant. This study was conducted in Anyang, Byeonsan, Geoje, Gyeongju, Jeju, Ulsan and Yeosu. E. byunsanensis was distributed around the altitudes of 84~585 m with a slope degree of $10{\sim}20^{\circ}$, and mostly formed discontinuous populations in north-east part of valleys. Soil analysis showed the mean organic matter of 9.6% and a slightly acidic pH (mean pH of 4.9). The mean gravimetric water content was 16.5%. Correlation coefficients between environmental factors and community characteristics suggested that there was a positive correlation between slope degree and soil water content, between slope degree and soil pH, between soil organic matter and importance value, and between species richness or evenness and species diversity. The vascular plants from 59 quadrats of 7 habitats were identified into 144 taxa. A few species were dominants and similarly distributed in Byeonsan, Jeju, Ulsan and Yeosu. The highest species diversity was found in Geoje (1.43), while Anyang showed the lowest (0.87). Species evenness of Gyeongju and Jeju was bigger than 0.8, but that of Geoje was the lowest (0.59). Dominant species of woody plants in and around the 59 plots were represented by high frequency of Acer pictum subsp. mono, Carpinus cordata, Lindera obtusiloba, and Carpinus laxiflora. The results of this study can provide useful data for conservation and restoration of natural habitats of Korean endemic Eranthis byunsanensis and for the development and growth of this species for ornamental purposes.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.31-41
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• 2016

Deutzia paniculata is an endemic species to the Korean Peninsula. Despite of importance for conservation, the population structure and habitat characteristics of D. paniculata have not been determined yet. We analyzed the ecological characteristics of the species based on the literature review and field survey. Field survey was conducted on May to October 2014 during which 11 quadrats of size $15{\times}15m$ were studied in six regions. Each of the quadrats were further divided into $5{\times}5m$ small quadrats and population characteristics were recorded. The population and habitat characteristics were analyzed, including species abundance (density and coverage), demographic attributes (flowering rates and fruiting plants), vegetation (structure, species composition), light availability (transmitted light and canopy openness) and soil characteristics (temperature and humidity). We found that D. paniculata mainly distributed in Gyeongsangdo (including Taebaek in Gangwondo) along a broad elevational range of 290~959 m (mean: 493 m) above sea level. In preferred habitat the species grows within the slope range of $7^{\circ}$ and $35^{\circ}$ with the average of $16^{\circ}$. D. paniculata was generally distributed on talus deposits and low adjacent slopes. The average number of individual plants per small quadrat was 12.5 with the mean density $0.5stems\;m^{-2}$. The vegetative reproduction was frequent in D. paniculata and mean flowering rate was as low as 15%. Altogether 138 taxa were found in whole observation area with the dominant tree species mainly spring ephemerals, such as Cornus controversa (importance value: 25.5%) and Fraxinus rhynchophylla (importance value: 15.8%). Although, C. controversa usually grows on steep slopes and F. rhynchophylla mostly distributed at high-altitudes, however, both species distributed in disturbed environments and among talus deposits. Thus based on our results, we concluded that D. paniculata is a disturbance-prone species, primarily existing in habitats subjected to natural disturbances, such as floods. The species occurs less at anthropogenically disturbed sites, thus there is no apparent threat to the populations and habitat of D. paniculata.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.51-61
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• 2016

This study was carried out to assess the carbon budget of two urban parks and one natural park and to prepare the plan for improving the ecological functions of the park including carbon sink. Net Ecosystem Production (NEP) of those study sites was calculated from the relationship between Net Primary Production (NPP) and soil respiration of each study site. To understand carbon budget of the whole area designated as the park, carbon budget of the urban park was analyzed by classifying the vegetated and the non-vegetated zones. NEP of the Nohae and the Sanggye parks calculated by reflecting areal size that the non-vegetated zones occupy were shown in -1.0 and $0.6\;ton\;C\;ha^{-1}yr^{-1}$, respectively. On the other hand, NEP of Mt. Bulam natural park as a reference site was in $2.3\;ton\;C\;ha^{-1}yr^{-1}$. Based on the result, the Nohae park was assessed as carbon source rather than carbon sink. On the other hand, the Sanggye park was classified as carbon sink but the role was poor compared with natural park. The result is, first of all, due to lower NPP of the vegetation introduced for the parks compared with natural vegetation. The other reason is due to wide arrangement of non-vegetated zone. To solve those problems and thereby to create the urban park with high ecological quality, selection of plant species suitable for the ecological characteristic of the park, their arrangement imitated natural vegetation, and ecological zoning were recommended.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.209-221
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• 2010

This study was carried out to apply basic data of the native trees for planting in the salinity area by the vegetation ecological selection. Which focused on native woody species to the tolerances of saline soil and salt spray drift on the coastal forests in the West-Sea, Korea. The soil salinity($EC_{1:5}$) was 0.11dS$m^{-1}$, ranging of 0.00dS$m^{-1}$~0.68dS$m^{-1}$. The soil salinity was gradually decreasing from Belt I to Belt Ⅳ except the Belt I in some coastal windbreaks. The order of decreasing soil salinity was Belt I>Belt II>Belt III>Belt Ⅳ and the soil salinity was $EC_{1:5}$ 0.14dS$m^{-1}$, 0.11dS$m^{-1}$, 0.10dS$m^{-1}$, and 0.08dS$m^{-1}$, respectively. The total 181 taxa consisted of 52 families, 104 genus, 157 species, and 24 varieties were recorded as the trees tolerating to both soil salinity and salt spray drift. The trees emerged in the highest degree of salinity($EC_{1:5}$ 0.51dS$m^{-1}$) was nothing but appearanced Pinus thunbergii Parl., Smilax china L., Quercus dentata Thunb. ex Murray, Quercus serrata Thunb. ex Murray and so on at the level of singular and ideal value. The emerged trees in the high salinity of $EC_{1:5}$0.41dS$m^{-1}$~0.50dS$m^{-1}$ were Albizia kalkora Prain, Melia azedarach L., Paederia scandens (Lour.) Merr. var. scandens These species were trees of tolerance to saline soil. The emerged woody species in all belts were Pinus rigida Mill., Pinus densiflora Siebold & Zucc., Pinus thunbergii Parl., Juniperus rigida Siebold & Zucc. and so on. The woody species with high important value(I.V.) were Pinus densiflora Siebold & Zucc., Pinus thunbergii Parl., Pseudosasa japonica (Siebold & Zucc. ex Steud.) Makino, Smilax china L., Platycarya strobilacea Siebold & Zucc. var. strobilacea for. strobilacea and so on, which can be classified as highly tolerant native trees to salt spray drift.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.243-256
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• 2007

The purpose of this paper is aimed at identifying the planting condition of greenbelt axis covering forests located at Sinhyeon-eup, Geoje-si and also establishing improvement plans for the ecological organization. The study was executed with buffer green space designed to mitigate noise, which is located at a halfway point linking Mt. Yukkyo(altitude of 50m) and Mt. Jungmae(altitude of 131m). The number of the biotope patterns was classified into 17 in total: the two are urbanized districts such as a townified district and streets and another 15 are greenbelts and open space such as forest biotope, inland water biotope, and landscaping tree plantations biotope. According to the analysis of biotope types, it was estimated that the making use of already established buffer greens as a linking medium with a foothold of Mt. Yukkyo and Jungmae, whose natural eco-system is well suited for habitation of living organism, is the one and only way to the influx of living organism into the downtown area. The green coverage rate of the base green area, sub-base green area and linkage green area was 160.29%, 128.37% and 44.37% respectively; the green capacity coefficient(i.e. GVZ[$Gr{\ddot{u}}nvolumezahl$]) for base green area, sub-base green area and linkage green area was $4.04m^3/m^2,\;3.95m^3/m^2\;and\;0.65m^3/m^2$ respectively. The base green area has constituted multi-layered vegetation structure and thus played a role as habitats for living organism and supply centre of species, whereas the sub-base green area has destroyed lower layer vegetation, and the linkage green area was in bad shape due to the lack of planting volume and damage of the shrub layer. Accordingly, this research paper intended to suggest detailed implementation plans for the improvement in landscape for city dwellers' use and relaxation; in other words, this paper focused on ecological build-up for the Influx of wild birds into the downtown area for the promotion of bio-diversity of species through the linkage of base green areas and the fostering of nature observing trails for citizens as well as the connecting of green areas through the build-up of roadside greens to make these green areas to be efficiently used as corridors for the influx of wild birds and bio-organism habitation and for citizens' using space.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.173-183
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• 2008

This research was aimed at looking into the vegetation structure of Abies holophylla forest distributed between Iljumun of Woljeong Temple and Keumgang bridge in Odaesan National Park. It was found that existed a total of 977 tree of Abies holophylla which are more than 20cm in DBH within the target site, and in 2006 when the survey was made, the number of fallen trees and poor growth trees was about 96, accounting for 9.8% of all. The age of Abies holophylla ranged from 41 years to 135 years($11\sim82cm$ in DBH). The number of Abies holophylla over 100cm in DBH was 8 and the largest Abies holophylla was 175cm in DBH and 31m in height. Its density was 5.9 individuals per $400m^2$. As a result of the analysis of the plant community structure using the TWINSP AN classification, Abies holophylla was divided into four community types. Firstly, Pinus densiflora-Abies holophylla community was predicted to vary into Abies holophylla community. In case of other three other communities, Abies holophylla communities were predicted to compete with deciduous broadleaf trees, such as Tilia amurensis and Acer pictum subsp. mono. Abies holophylla forest adjacent to Woljeong Temple of Odaesan National Park has a high value as sustainable resources for culture, landscape and tourism. Thus, it is necessary to clarify the reason for the incidence of poor growth trees and fallen trees among all trees of Abies holophylla and take counter-measures against it for the preservation and management of Abies holophylla forest. In addition, a more aggressive managrment like getting rid of the deciduous broadleaf trees, such as Tilia amurensis and Acer pictum subsp. mono, which appear mostly on understory layer or shrub layer within Abies holophylla, and continuous management is also needed for the young trees of Abies holophylla which are feared to be pressurized outside from their neighboring trees because their initial growth after germination is very slow.