• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.123-141
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• 2022

Wetland also known as "Jheelon" in Hindi language is one of the most important natural resources, contributing various economic and ecological benefits. The study gave a short review of the current status of Ramsar wetlands in India. The wildlife species, conservation measures, and their significance in Indian wetlands were also explored in this review paper. As of 2022, there are 49 Ramsar sites in India covering approximately 1,09363.6 km² of land. The largest Ramsar wetland is Sundarbans, while the smallest is Chandertal. It was found that preventing wetland loss is important even though studies about wetland degradation in various nations including India, caused directly by human activities is still limited. Since Monitoring and protecting natural wetlands, supporting scientific studies on preservation and restoration of wetlands, demand on imposing regulations for limiting pollutant discharges were recommended allowing researchers, policymakers, and practitioners to better maintain wetland and its ecosystem services.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.232-239
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• 2018

Our study aims to provide a guideline of deer-proof fence heights to prevent roadkill of water deer (Hydropotes inermis), the most frequently killed by a vehicle collision, in South Korea. With 27 water deer in deer ecology center of the National Institute of Ecology, we measured the ability of water deer to jump gradually higher fences from 0.5cm by 10cm until the deterrence rate reached 100%. Ourresultrevealed that the deterrence rate became 96.7% at the fence height of 1.5m and the rate reached 100% at the 1.8m. We believe that our result provides the fundamental information to prepare a standard of deer-proof fence height. This evidence-based standard will contribute to improving the guideline for wildlife crossing construction and management, established by Ministry of Environment Korea.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.35 no.12
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• pp.943-952
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• 2013

Algae blooms have soared recently in the lakes across the nation due to eutrophication. Blue-green algae cause unpleasant scene, produce taste and odor problem, and hinder processes in drinking water treatment. Algae toxicity monitoring has been strengthened, because the damages of wild lives and livestocks by algal toxins have been reported. Investigation on the characteristics of cyanobacterial occurrence and concentration distribution of Cyanotoxins in Hoeya reservoir have been conducted. Physical and chemical influences of water environment on cyanobacterial occurrences have also been studied. Movements of four species of Microcystin and five species of Anatoxin-a among Cyanotoxins were observed by LC-MS/MS analysis. Microcystis spp. among the cyanobacteria have mainly dominated in the Hoeya reservoir during the investigating period. The density of cyanobacteria were positively correlated with temperature and pH of water. Highest concentrations of Microcystin-LR and Microcystin-RR were $0.424{\mu}g/L$ and $0.117{\mu}g/L$ at the sampling points. Total concentration of Cyanotoxins in water coming into the water treatment plant was $0.182{\mu}g/L$, and they were not detected in treated water.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.105-111
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• 2015

In late December 2013, the Ebola virus emerged from West Africa. The outbreak started in Guinea and rapidly spread to Liberia and Sierra Leone. Initially, the virus is spread to the human population after contact with infected wildlife and then spread person-to-person through direct contact with body fluids such as blood, sweat, urine, semen, and breast milk. The Ebola virus infects endothelial cells, mononuclear phagocytes and hepatocytes. It causes massive damage to internal tissues and organs, such as blood vessels and the liver, and ultimately death. Most tests for the virus RNA rely on a technology called reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). While this method is highly sensitive, it is also expensive, requiring skilled scientists, and delicate power supplies. The strip analytical technique (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay or ELISA) detects antigens or antibodies to the Ebola virus. This test is cheap and does not require electricity or refrigeration. Despite ongoing efforts directed at experimental treatments and vaccine development, current medical work on the Ebola viral disease is largely limited to supportive therapy. Thus, rapid and reliable diagnoses of the Ebola virus are critically important for patient management, infections, prevention, and control measures.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.61-72
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• 2014

To present a guideline on the construction and management of artificial wetlands for high biomass production, three emergent macrophytes (Phragmites australis, PA; Typha angustifolia, TA; and Zizania latifolia, ZL) were planted under two substrates conditions (general soil with and without moss peat) and two water levels (5 cm and 20 cm) and monitored for three years. ZL showed greater growth performance rather than the others not only at early growth phase in the first year [shoot height, 200 cm; above-ground dry weight (AGDW), 500 $g/m^2$] but also in the last year (ZL, 1,100 $g/m^2$; TA, 770 $g/m^2$; and PA, 450 $g/m^2$ of AGDW). ZL with rapid growth at the early growth phase was not affected by naturally introduced weeds, whereas slower and poorer growth of PA and TA at the early growth phase resulted in relatively higher introduction and establishment of natural weeds. In turn, such introduced weeds negatively contributed to the growth of PA and TA particularly under shallow water (5 cm) with the substrate condition including moss peat. We suggest a plant material with rapid and great growth at the early phase such as ZL for reducing possible negative influences by the natural weeds and wild animals for high biomass production in constructed wetlands. A pre-growing process in greenhouse prior to planting might be an useful option to raise the competitiveness of those species when planting PA and/or TA. In addition, we recommend that integrated weed management system with utilizing various options at the most appropriate timing must be applied for maintaining sustainable high biomass production at the artificial wetlands.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.111 no.3
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• pp.357-364
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• 2022

We investigated the early growth characteristics of Quercus rubra planted in six regions (Hwaseong, Yangpyeong, Pyeongchang, Samcheok, Chungju, and Gimje) in South Korea in relation to soil physicochemical properties and meteorological factors. Q. rubra (1-0) were planted at a density of 3,000 trees ha^-1. The average height, root collar diameter (RCD), and volume of 8-year-old Q. rubra planted in 2014 were 3.52 m, 3.84 cm, and 0.0023 m³, respectively. The growth parameters of Q. rubra were the highest and lowest in Hwaseong and Pyeongchang, respectively. Correlation analysis among the soil physicochemical properties, meteorological factors, and plantation growth characteristics found that pH was the only soil factor negatively correlated with RCD, and the other soil factors were not significantly correlated with the growth characteristics. However, growth characteristics were positively correlated to average temperature from March to October and daily maximum temperature; and they were negatively correlated to altitude, topology, and the number of rainy days from March to October. In particular, the trees planted in Hwaseong area showed the best early growth characteristics because this area had the highest daily maximum temperature, the x average temperature from March to October, the low altitude, and it is located close to the foot of a mountain. In Pyeongchang, the early growth characteristics were negatively affected by winter cold damage because of the high altitude, low daily minimum temperature, and damage by wild animals. In Hwaseong, meteorological factors such as temperature and altitude were more highly correlated to growth characteristics of Q. rubra than the physicochemical soil properties. These results will provide useful information for determining suitable sites for Q. rubra plantations and for predicting early growth characteristics in response to environmental factors.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.42-53
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• 2017

One of the negative ecological effects following road construction is roadkill; animals die on the roads after being struck by vehicles. Roadkills have been a major concern in South Korea due to the large mountain areas in the country and have been mentioned as a causal factor for the decline in wildlife. Although snake roadkills frequently occur, as with mammals, birds, and amphibians, there are not many related studies done on snake roadkills. In this study, we determined snake roadkill patterns in the northeast part of South Korea including most of the Gangwon-do areas and parts of Gyeonggi-do, Chungcheongbuk-do, and Gyeongsangbuk-do by analyzing the snake roadkills found between May 2007 and Aug 2012. We identified a total of 155 roadkilled snakes from 10 different species. Red-sided water snake (Rhabdophis tigrinus), Red-tongue viper snake (Gloydius ussuriensis), Cat snake (Elaphe dione), Red-banded snake (Dinodon rufozonatus), and Viper snake (Gloydius brevicaudus) accounted for more than 90% of the total cases. It was found that more active forager snakes were killed than sit-and-wait foragers, more male snakes were killed than female snakes, and more adult snakes were killed than subadult snakes. The snake roadkill frequency was the highest in September between the altitudes of 200 and 400 m, and on roads between either a mountain and a body of water or between a mountain and a crop field. Our results are expected to enhance the understanding of snake roadkills in general and to determine the areas, specific sites and species for planning projects for snake roadkill reduction in the northeast of South Korea.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.103 no.3
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• pp.510-518
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• 2014

Conflicts between humans and wild boars (Sus scrofa) have increased because of causing crop damage and appearing in downtown. Management to reduce population size has mostly been implemented on pests, but knowledges about ecological values are very rare. Rubbing trees by wild boar was investigated to figure out characteristics and for management ecologically from July to October 2013 in a mixed forest, Geochang, Gyeongnam Province, Korea. Pinus rigida was most frequently founded, and rubbing trees, both conifers and deciduous, were mainly located in 200~600 m above sea level. DBH was no significant difference between rubbing and control trees. The use intensity of conifers was higher than that of deciduous. The coverage of foliage layers and the number of woody plants within a radius of 2.5 m of trees (rubbing and control) were also investigated and compared to determine ecological characteristics. There were 1,332 individuals founded from 25 families. In the coverage of foliage layers, the understory and midstory showed statistically significant, but not in the subover and overstory. The number of Shrubs and saplings are higher in rubbing trees than those of control, but no difference in stems. Total individuals, the number of species, species diversity index(H') within a radius 2.5 m is considerably higher in rubbing trees with high intensity than those of low intensity and control. Our results show that wild boar mainly selected and used conifers more frequently as rubbing trees. Wild boar also modified the physical environments around rubbing trees. Consequently, the positive effects such as species diversity is increase. Thus the conservation policies is required after the intensive population reduction every 3-4 years for forest ecological management rather than annual sustainable hunting.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.73-82
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• 2008

The resource plants of the Mt. Geonji was listed 354 taxa; 92 families, 242 genera, 303 species, 48 varieties and 3 forms. 354 taxa listed consists of 205 taxa of edible plants(57.1%),234 taxa of medicinal plants(65.2%), 167 taxa of ornamental plants(46.5%) and 218 taxa of the others(60.7%). Specific plant species by floral region were total 22 taxa; Trapella sinensis var. antennifera in class IV, Iris ensata var. spontanea in Class II, 16 taxa(Salix glandulosa, Alnus hirsuta, Chrysosplenium flagelliferum, Mallotus japonicus, Ilex macropoda, Grewia biloba var. parviflora, Vaccinium oldhami, Lysimachia barystachys, Fraxinus mandshurica, etc.) in class I. The naturalized plants in this site were 12 families, 23 genera, 28 species, 2 varieties, 30 taxa(Bromus unioloides, Phytolacca americana, Oenothera erythrosepala, Ipomoea hederacea var. hederacea, Aster pilosus, Erechtites hieracifolia) and naturalization rate was 8.5% of all 354 taxa vascular plants. Wild plants disturbing ecosystem like Solanum carolinense and Ambrosia artemisiifolia var. elatior have been increasing. So, it needs continuing control and conservation measures on the plant ecosystem.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Marine Environment & Energy
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.335-340
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• 2010

The paper describes the objectives of Yellow Sea Large Marine Ecosystem (YSLME) project, focusing on procedural and practical aspects. YSLME is a highly productive sea yet possibly one of the most impacted large marine ecosystems, in terms of anthropogenic stressors, due the enormous coastal population. The aim of the YSLME project is the reduction of ecosystem stress through identification of the environmental problems in the Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis (TDA) that are then addressed in the Strategic Action Programme (SAP). One of the major problems found to be affecting biological diversity is habitat modification through wetland reclamation, conversion and degradation. Since the early 1900's more than 40% of intertidal wetlands have been reclaimed in Korea, and 60% of Chinese coastal wetlands have been converted or reclaimed. Damaging fishing practices, pollution and coastal eutrophication have further degraded the coastal environment reducing the biological diversity. To combat this loss, the YSLME project has mounted a public awareness campaign to raise environmental consciousness targeted at all different levels of society, from politicians at parliamentary workshops, local government officer training events, scientific conferences and involvement of scientists in the project research and reporting, to university and high school students in our visiting internship programmes and environmental camps. We have also built networks through the Yellow Sea Partnership and by liaising and working with other environmental organizations and NGOs. NGO's are recognised as important partners in the environmental conservation as they already have extensive local networks that can be lacking in international organisations. Effective links have been built with many of these NGOs through the small grants programme. Working with WWF's YSESP project and other academic and research institutions we have conducted our own biodiversity assessments that have contributed to the science-based development of the SAP for the YSLME. Our regional targets for biodiversity outlined in the SAP include: Improvements in the densities, distributions and genetic diversity of current populations of all living organisms including endangered and endemic species; Maintenance of habitats according to standards and regulations of 2007; and a reduction in the risk of introduced species. Endorsement of the SAP and its successful implementation, during the proposed second phase of the YSLEM project, will ensure that biological diversity is here to benefit future generations.