• Ecology and Resilient Infrastructure
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.191-197
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• 2015

Invasive alien species are considered to be one of the main factors that cause biodiversity loss. Establishment of management strategies through continuous monitoring and risk assessment is a key element for invasive alien species management policy. In the present study, we introduce examples of ecological risk assessment tools developed in Japan, Germany-Austria and Belgium. Invasive alien species have been designated in Japan based on the assessment of risks to ecosystems, human health and primary industry. German-Austrian Black List Information System categorized alien species into Black List, White List and Grey List according to their risks to biodiversity. In the Harmonia Information System developed in Belgium, invasiveness, adverse impacts on native species and ecosystem functions and invasion stages were assessed and alien species were categorized into Black List, Watch List and Alert List. These international risk assessment tools may be helpful to improve our national risk assessment protocol for the prioritization of invasive alien species management.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.33-55
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• 2018

It has been noted that the main cause of biodiversity loss is influx of alien species. Specifically, habitats destruction, economic loss, and human injury are increasing due to invasive alien species. There were 2,167 alien species in Korea. 21 alien species of extraterrestrials including Lycorma delicatula, Solenopsis invicta, Myocastor coypus, and Spartina alterniflora at high risk through ecological risk assessment, are designated as invasive alien species. Alert species, which may have negative impact on ecosystems when they are introduced into the country, are assigned to 127 species through the ecosystem risk evaluation. To list such alien species to prevent invasion of alien species in advance, and to minimize damage caused by imported alien species, a national level management system called the Conservation and Use of Biological deversity Act was established, but there is a lack of a systematic management system in accordance with degree of risk. There is also a risk assessment chart should be developed thatreflects ecological characteristics of each taxon and evaluation criteria in predicting the risk.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.396-401
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• 2020

As the world becomes more globalized, the non-native species issue has emerged as a problem that is growing internationally. In particular, the number of non-native turtles found in the wild has been increasing sharply in South Korea. At least 15 species of non-native turtles, including the red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta elegans) first imported in the 1970s, have been found in Korea. On October 15, 2019, an alligator snapping turtle (AST, Macrochelys temminckii) was found in a stream located in Gwangju city, South Korea. The discovery of AST became a big issue in South Korea as the animal is known for its large body size and aggressiveness and was featured widely in the mass media. In this study, to learn the public's perception of non-native species, we examined comments (opinions) to the online news articles about the AST. We collected 1,100 comments from the Internet news articles on the AST. Out of the 1,100 comments, 342 (31.1%) comments were related to non-native species' issues. Most of the respondents (97.7%, n=334) stated that the non-native species are a problem. Forty two comments mentioned potential threats posed by non-native species: non-native species' aggressive nature (n=11, 26.2%) and ecological disturbance (n=31, 73.8%). Lack of responsibility (n=122, 51.7%) was the major causative factor for the introduction of non-native species, and followed by indiscriminate pet trade (n=99, 42.0%), absence of relevant legislation (n=13, 5.5%), and absence of treatment (n=2, 0.8%). Animal registration (n=59, 45.7%) was the most commonly mentioned as the way to deal with the issue of the non-native species' invasion. Our results show that the public is aware of the seriousness of the invasion of non-native species, including AST. This study highlights that researchers and government officials need to consider the public's perception and opinions. We believe that our study can serve as an essential reference for the policy direction and the management of non-native species.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2005.11a
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• pp.325-326
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• 2005

해양에 적조가 발생하면 해수의 산소결핍 현상을 유발하고 동식물의 성장과 생존에 필수적인 태양광을 차단하여 해양 동물뿐 아니라 식물에게까지 치명적 피해를 준다. 또한, 대형 선박의 안정수(ballast water) 유입시 안정수 내에 포함되어 그들의 생활공간을 이동하면서 선박으로부터 다시 유출될 때 신생활공간에 외래 생물체로 침입하여 그곳의 기존 생태계를 파괴시키거나 교란하는 외래침입생물체는 해양생태계 환경파괴의 주범이다. 따라서 이들 두 종류의 해양생물은 부분적으로 상관성을 지니는 해양수산업계의 천적이며, 해양생태환경 파괴의 원인 제공자로써 마땅히 과학적 방법으로 제거되거나 방지되어야 한다. 이 논문은 해양수산업 계에 막대한 피해를 끼치며 해양생태환경 파괴의 주범으로 등장한 적조생물과 외래침입생물체들이 해수로부터 제조한 플라즈마 반응생성물에 처리된 결과를 분석하여 그 응용성을 조사하였다.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.106-114
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• 2020

The development of transportation and the expansion of the pet market has become the main causes of the increase in the cross-border migration of non-native species. Moreover, recent sales over the Internet were a factor that has promoted pet trades. While the import of non-native species has been steadily increasing in the Republic of Korea, it is not clear how these imported species are traded and how large the trade is. Considering that most of the non-native species found in the wild are the results of release by humans understanding the present situation of pet trades can identify potential non-native species that can enter the wild. This study surveyed the number of species, frequency, and prices of non-native amphibians and reptiles sold in 25 online pet shops from January 22 to February 10, 2019. The results of the survey showed that a total of 677 species of non-native amphibians and reptiles were sold, and the Squamata group accounted for the largest part of them at 65.4% (443 species). The number of non-native amphibians and reptiles sold in online pet shops in 2019 was 2.1 times larger than the 325 species officially imported in 2015. The non-native amphibians and reptiles sold in most pet shops were Litoria caerulea (21 shops) and Correlophus ciliatus (24 shops). The lowest price for non-native amphibians and reptiles was 3,000 won, and the highest price was 100 million won for Rhacodactylus leachianus of Squamata. Among the non-native amphibians and reptiles sold in online pet shops, 11 species were found in the wild and were sold at relatively low prices. We confirmed that Mauremys reevesii, an endangered species class II and natural monument no. 453, and American bullfrogs (albino), an ecosystem disturbing species, were being sold in online pet shops. Moreover, 21.6% of the 677 non-native amphibians and reptiles sold in online pet shops were species designated as CITES. The results of this study can be the important reference data for understanding the status of non-native amphibians and reptiles that are imported and sold in Korea and evaluating and predicting the potential for them to enter the wild.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.94-111
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• 2023

In order to establish an effective management strategy for invasive species early detection and regular monitoring are required to assess their introduction or dispersal. Environmental DNA (eDNA) is actively applied to evaluate the fauna including the presence of invasive species as it has high detection sensitivity and can detect multiple species simultaneously. In Korea, the applicability evaluation of metabarcoding is being conducted mainly on fish, and research on other taxa is insufficient. Therefore, this study identified the feasibility of detecting invasive species in Korea using eDNA metabarcoding. In addition, to confirm the possibility of detection by taxa, the detection of target species was evaluated using four universal primers (MiFish, MiMammal, Mibird, Amp16S) designed for fish, mammals, birds, and amphibians. As a result, target species (Trachemys scripta, 3 sites; Cervus nippon, 3 sites; Micropterus salmoides, 7 sites; Rana catesbeiana, 4 sites) were detected in 17 of the total 55 sites. Even in the selection of dense sampling sites within the study area, there was a difference in the detection result by reflecting the ecological characteristics of the target species. A comparison of community structures (species richness, abundance and diversity) based on the presence of invasive species focused on M.salmoides and T.scripta, showed higher diversity at the point where invasive species were detected. Also, 1 to 4 more species were detected and abundance was also up to 1.7 times higher. The results of invasive species detection through metabarcoding and the comparison of community structures indicate that the accumulation of large amounts of monitoring data through eDNA can be efficiently utilized for multidimensional ecosystem evaluation. In addition, it suggested that eDNA can be used as major data for evaluation and prediction, such as tracking biological changes caused by artificial and natural factors and environmental impact assessment.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Information and Commucation Sciences Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.356-359
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• 2003

선박이 배출하는 안정수(ballast water)는 외부로부터 유해 생물들이 유입되어 전파해 오는 주요경로로써, 해양환경 변화를 초래하는 매우 중요하고 위험한 일중의 하나이다. 그러나 이에 대한 효과적인 처리방법은 아직까지도 미흡한 상태이다. 선박 안정수에 포함되어 타 지역으로부터 옮겨지는 외래침입생물 처리 방안의 하나로, 강 전리방전 기술을 적용하여 고 밀집 산소와 물분자로부터 고농도 수산자유기(OH: hydroxyl radical)를 전리, 발생시켜서 활성입자를 신속히 확산시켜 비교적 낮은 수산기농도 하에서 유해성침입생물을 소멸 처리하는 환경 친화적 녹색 청정처리방법을 제안하였다. 제안된 기술은 대상물의 처리 후 부수적으로 발생할 수 있는 처리잔류물이 전혀 발생하지 않으며, 인공적 화학성분의 약제를 사용하지 않는 저렴한 처리방법이므로 대ㆍ소형 원양선박의 안정수에 들어있는 외래침입생물의 타 지역 해양확산을 안전하게 처리할 수 있는 자연치유적 신기술이다.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.251-258
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• 2023

Invasive species are introduced for various purposes, such as pets and food, and the trade of reptiles among them has continuously increased due to their unusual or rare external character traits. As their imports increase, the number of exotic reptiles in the wild is also increasing, and most of the recently discovered exotic turtles have been found near urban areas. Therefore, this study aims to report the current status of exotic turtles inhabiting the Jungnang Stream in downtown Seoul, Republic of Korea. As a result of the survey, seven species of exotic turtles were identified: Chrysemys picta picta, Pseudemys concinna, P. nelsoni, Trachemys scripta elegans, T. s. scripta, T. s. troostii, and Mauremys sinensis. One native turtle species was found: Pelodiscus maackii. Six species are designated as "ecosystem disturbance species" in the Republic of Korea. The dominant species was P. concinna, and C. p. picta, which is still traded in pet shops, was also found. The results have confirmed the current status of exotic turtles in urban rivers, and it was determined that the results show that they are continuously entering the wild.

• Journal of the Speleological Society of Korea
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• no.67
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• pp.11-20
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• 2005

The envirronment of Gosu cave and distribution of inhabitant were surveyed every month from 2002, April to 2003, march. in Gosu Cave, average temperature in summer was $16^{circ}C$ and in winter $14^{circ}C$. Average humidity in summer was $85\%$ and in winter $90\%$. At the entranceof cave in the site 1, trogloxenes:4 species were observed. Troglophiles: Diestrammena japanica was a large population. inside of cave in the site 2 and in the middle Part of the site 3, troglobites:4 species, troglophiles:2 species, trogoxenes: Rhinoiophus ferrumeqinum korai, skleroprotopus laticoxalis longus were observed. Galloisiana sp. were observed on the ground of the Sindong in the site 4, Pseudocrangonyx asiaticus were obserued in the water of yongsu valley. Troglobites have to be preserve as cave animals living in the darkness for a long time.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.239-246
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• 2014

To cope with the potential risks associated with invasive alien species, the Korean Government implemented the Biodiversity Act in 2014. Among the alien species not yet introduced into that country, 24 have been designated as alert species. These include mammals, birds, fish, mollusks, insects, and plants that may invade and cause serious harm to the ecosystem. Approval from the Ministry of Environment is required to import or carry any of them. Although these measures are more advanced than those from the previous legal framework, several terms still need to be improved. First, the category of alert species should cover not only those not yet introduced but also those that are being raised or cultivated at aquariums, botanical gardens, and zoos. Second, for applicants who intend to import or carry alert species, the government must provide them with detailed standards for the ecological risk assessment of alert species as well as guidelines for their safe use in Korea to prevent their unregulated release from confinement facilities into natural environments. Third, tools and protocols should be developed for early detection and rapid responses to those escapes.