• Journal of the Korean Association of Geographic Information Studies
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.10-20
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• 2019

Irregular rainfall caused by climate change, in combination with non-point pollution, can cause water systems worldwide to suffer from frequent eutrophication and algal blooms. This type of water pollution is more common in agricultural prone to water system inflow of non-point pollution. Therefore, in this study, the correlation between Unmanned Aerial Vehicle(UAV) multi-spectral images and total phosphorus, total nitrogen, and chlorophyll-a with indirect association of algal blooms, was analyzed to identify the usability of UAV image to identify water quality characteristics in agricultural streams. The analysis the vegetation index Normalized Differences Index (NDVI), the Normalized Differences Red Edge(NDRE), and the Chlorophyll Index Red Edge(CIRE) for the detection of multi-spectral images and algal blooms collected from the target regions Yang cheon and Hamyang Wicheon. The analysis of the correlation between image values and water quality analysis values for the water sampling points, total phosphorus at a significance level of 0.05 was correlated with the CIRE(0.66), and chlorophyll-a showed correlation with Blue(-0.67), Green(-0.66), NDVI(0.75), NDRE (0.67), CIRE(0.74). Total nitrogen was correlated with the Red(-0.64), Red edge (-0.64) and Near-Infrared Ray(NIR)(-0.72) wavelength at the significance level of 0.05. The results of this study confirmed a significant correlations between multi-spectral images collected through UAV and the factors responsible for water pollution, In the case of the vegetation index used for the detection of algal bloom, the possibility of identification of not only chlorophyll-a but also total phosphorus was confirmed. This data will be used as a meaningful data for counterplan such as selecting non-point pollution apprehensive area in agricultural area.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Marine Environment & Energy
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.150-159
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• 2008

The marine litter generated as by-products of human activities and economic development enters to the sea through rivers or stream Indirectly, and through sea-based activities directly. It is commonly comprised of materials that degrade very slowly, such as various plastic products, polystyrene, glass, rubber, metal, wood, derelict fishing nets, wire, rope and so on. Such litter is found in the water column and on the seafloor as well as coastal areas In the Northwest Pacific region. It causes injury or death of human and other living organisms and also accident or damage of the vessel. It is not only a problem of country but also regional and/or global problem because it is transported by currents and winds from one country to another. In this regard, Northwest Pacific Action Plan (NOWPAP) Marine Litter Activity (MALITA) project had been carried out during 2006-2007 biennium and NOWPAP Regional Action Plan on Marine Litter (RAP MALI) has been also continuously implemented in the 2008-2009 biennium as next phase step of MALITA. MERRAC, one of four Regional Activity Centres (RACs) of NOWPAP, has developed monitoring guidelines, sectoral guidelines, and brochures related to sea-based marine litter and port reception facilities and services through MALITA project. Based upon these output, MERRAC will continuously implement relevant activities of RAP MALI in order to help to establish and improve a regional mechanism to deal with the sea-based marine litter problem. This paper aims to introduce MERRAC activities under MALITA and RAP MALI, and to suggest several recommendations to reduce marine litter in the NOWPAP region.

• 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 Ecology and Environment
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• v.36 no.4 s.105
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• pp.391-402
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• 2003

Last 20 years have witnessed many studies dealing with effects of elevated $CO_2$ on terrestrial ecosystems. However, fewer efforts have been made to elucidate effects on wetland ecosystems, although they play a key role in global biogeochemical cycles. This review synthesizes published data to reveal effects of elevated $CO_2$ on wetland plants. In particular, we focused on the changes in primary production, community structures, evapotranspiration, and nutrients in plants. Many studies have reported increases in primary production in individual plants, but we could not conclude that this will lead to increases in carbon sequestration in wetland ecosystems. The reasons include transport of photosynthates into belowground parts, speciesspecific responses, interaction among different species, and limitation of other nutrients. However, elevated $CO_2$ increased transpiration rates in many wetland plants, suggesting substantial influences on water budgets of wetlands. In addition, similar to terrestrial ecosystems, elevated $CO_2$ increased C/N ratio of many plants, which may impede organic matter decomposition in the long term. However, further information on dynamics of belowground carbon supplied from wetland plants is warranted to assess effects of elevated $CO_2$ on wetland carbon cycle accurately.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.228-235
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• 2016

Aquatic ecosystems are receiving various harmful effects due to anthropogenic chemical pollutions. To protect wildlife, risk assessments of the chemicals are conducted using reference indexes of toxicity estimated by species-level laboratory tests and/or micro-/mesocosm community-level studies. However, the existing micro-/mesocosm communities are structurally too complicated, and it is also difficult to compare the experimental results directly with those from species-level tests. Here, we developed a procedure of a simple bi-trophic microcosm experiment which contains the common species (a green algae, Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata and a cladoceran, Daphnia magna) for testing chemical toxicities. For the proper operation of bitrophic microcosm experiment, the minimum required concentration of primary producer (P. subcapitata) is $5{\times}10^5cells\;mL^{-1}$. The microcosm system showed higher stability when the initially introduced D. magna population was composed of neonates (<24-h old) than adults and those mixture. This simple microcosm system would be an applicable tool to estimate the disturbing impacts of pollutants on plant-herbivore interactions, and linking the species- and population-/community level risk assessments in the future studies.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.419-428
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• 2013

We identified the diversity, geographical distribution, ecological characteristics of birds, trees, and flowers species designated as local government symbols as a means for understanding public awareness on biodiversity. A total of 114 species including 48 birds, 40 flowers, 36 tree species belonging to 40 orders 59 families 90 genus were designated as natural symbols. Pica pica (L.) in birds, Rhododendron schlippenbachii Maxim. among flowers, have also been designated as symbols. The tree Ginkgo biloba L. was designated with the highest frequency. Local governments located coastal area were selected bird species of the Laridae family and the tree species Camellia japonica L., of Pinaceae as their natural symbols. In contrast, local governments located inland have designated resident bird species such as P. pica and Columba rupestris (Pallas) and flower species from the Ericaceae as natural symbols widely distributed and easily observed throughout South Korea. However, many local governments have designated the same species as a natural symbol based on their size color and public appeal and popularity. The information about the popular species and their ecological traits are useful for establishing the criteria as flagship or iconic species selection and their roles in habitat conservation.

• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
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• v.43 no.11
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• pp.995-1009
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• 2010

Accelerated soil erosion due to extreme climate change, such as increased rainfall intensity, and human-induced environmental changes, is a widely recognized problem. Existing soil erosion models are generally based on the gross erosion concept to compute annual upland soil loss in tons per acre per year. However, such models are not suitable for event-based simulations of erosion and deposition in time and space. Recent advances in computer geographic information system (GIS) technologies have allowed hydrologists to develop physically based models, and the trend in erosion prediction is towards process-based models, instead of conceptually lumped models. This study aims to propose an effective and robust distributed rainfall-sediment yield-runoff model consisting of basic element modules: a rainfall-runoff module based on the kinematic wave method for subsurface and surface flow, and a runoff-sediment yield-runoff model based on the unit stream power method. The model was tested on the Cheoncheon catchment, upstream of the Yongdam dam using hydrological data for three extreme flood events due to typhoons. The model provided acceptable simulation results with respect to both discharge and sediment discharge even though the simulated sedigraphs were underestimated, compared to observations. The spatial distribution of erosion and deposition demonstrated that eroded sediment loads were deposited in the cells along the channel network, which have a short overland flow length and a gentle local slope while the erosion rate increased as rainfall became larger. Additionally, spatially heterogeneous rainfall intensity, dependant on Thiessen polygons, led to spatially-distinct erosion and deposition patterns.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.286-294
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• 2017

Development of transportation is rapidly reducing the barriers between countries, but this is causing the easier migration of species than the past. Typically, exotic species are imported for the purpose of food, leather, and pets. However, it has been introduced into the wild through artificially or naturally paths, and recently they are become a main cause of ecosystem disturbance. In this study, we investigated exotic turtle species introduced into the wild and analyzed their distribution characteristics. As a result of filed surveys, totally 4 genus 8 species 62 individuals of exotic turtles were found from 126 reservoirs in Gangwon-do and Gyeongsangnam-do, South Korea. In particular, Trachemys scripta elegans showed relatively high frequency than other turtle species and the natural reproduction of T. s. elegans was confirmed in some areas. On the other hand, the frequency of discovery of exotic turtles except T. s. elegans was relatively low, and the range of the areas was limited. Especially, exotic turtles except T. s. elegans were mainly found in public places such as reservoirs in the park. As a result of analyzing the distribution characteristics of exotic turtles using geographic information system, the turtles' distribution showed a high correlation with the artificial factor such as "urban". In this study, we identified the distribution characteristics of exotic turtles in the Korean wild, and these results will be important data for understanding status the and establishing effective management methods for exotic species.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.194-201
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• 2014

To elucidate which climate factors and what periods affect the time of breeding migration of Gori salamanders (Hynobius yangi), we have investigated relationships between the 5-years breeding monitoring data from 2006 to 2010 which had obtained in both natural and translocated breeding sites at Bongdae mountain, Gijang-gun, Busan-si and the matched climate data obtained from the weather station, approximately 25 km apart from the sites. Mean average and mean lowest temperatures during one month before the first breeding migration were related with the time of first female migration in the translocated site. Mean temperature variation and mean precipitation during 60~120 days before the first breeding migration affected the time of 30% male appearance at the natural site and the time of 30% female appearance at both natural and translocated sites. Climate factors were more closely related with female appearance than male and at the translocated site than at the natural site. Our results show that changes in mean temperature variation and mean precipitation rather than mean average temperature might more significantly affect the breeding migration of salamanders, female breeding migration is more closely related with climate factors, and the salamanders translocated could be more affected by climate changes than those in natural populations.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.83-92
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• 2005

The aim of this study was to investigate damage conditions of cut slope structures due to acid rock drainage (ARB) and to assess the acid production potential of various rocks. Acid rock drainage is produced by the oxidation of sulfide minerals contained in coal mine zone and mineralization belt of Pyeongan supergroup and Ogcheon group, pyrite-bearing andesite, and Tertiary acid sulfate soils in Korea. Most of cut slopes producing ARB have been treated with shotcrete to reduce ARD. According to the field observations, ARD had an adverse effect on slope structures. The corrosion of shotcrete, anchors and rock bolts and the bad germination and growth diseases of covering plants due to ARD were observed in the field. The concentration of heavy metals and pH of ARD from cut slope exceeded the environmental standard, indicating a high potential of environmental pollution of surrounding soil, surface water and ground water by the ARD. According to acid base accounting (ABA) of the studied samples, hydrothermally altered volcanic rocks, tuffs, coaly shales, tailings of metallic mine had a relatively high potential of acid production but gneiss and granite had no or less acid production potential. It is expected that the number of cut slopes will increase hereafter considering the present construction trend. In order to reduce the adverse effect of ARD in construction sites, we need to secure the data base for potential ARD producing area and to develop the ARD reduction technologies suitable.