• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.18-26
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• 2020

Echinosophora koreensis (Nakai) Nakai an endemic plant with limited distribution in some parts of the Korean Peninsula, is designated as "Endangered" species on the IUCN Red List. The species is under the threat of deterioration in nature due to various environmental changes causing loss of natural habitats. We investigated the distribution pattern and population structure of E. koreensis to serve as a basic reference for identifying the dynamics and persistence of natural populations of this species in the future. To determine the characteristics of the E. koreensis population, we laid two to three large plots sized 20m×30m on the ridgeline as the reference in Yanggu, Chuncheon, and Hongcheon and laid four to seven small quadrats sized 1m×1m on the transect. A total of 530 plots were laid, 10 each at 2m interval, to measure the number of the stems, the number of fruiting, height, and other factors. The collected distribution information was compared with the existing IUCN assessed categories by applying IUCN Red List ver 3.1 Criteria B. The average population density of the three surveyed areas was 3.47 stem/㎡; the density of each area was 3.95 stems/㎡ in Yanggu, 3.37 stems/㎡ in Chuncheon, and 2.87 stems/㎡ in Hongcheon. The number of fruiting per stem was 0.0038, indicating only 7 fruits out of 1,837 stems and that vegetative reproduction is likely to be more dominant than sexual reproduction. The distribution tendency of population density in the small plots in three surveyed areas showed that the density of E. koreensis tended to decrease toward the center of the forest with low crown openness and around the mountain ridge with high crown openness. It indicated that the quantity of light could be a very important factor for the growth of individuals of this species. The analysis of the heights of individuals present in the surveyed plots showed a range of 2.3 ~ 68.5cm and an average of 20.1cm. An analysis on the stage-structure of the E. koreensis population based on the sieve height found that the appearance frequency decreased with increasing height above 15 ~ 20cm and that the percentage of individuals lower than 10cm, which were presumed to be seedlings, was severely low, indicating a necessity of study on the population sustainability based on the monitored data. The occupied area calculated with the collected species distribution information was 200㎢, indicating the EN category according to the IUCN Red List Reference B.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.259-267
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• 2018

This study was conducted to confirm phenological response of main deciduous woody species in Korea according to elevated temperature. Based on seeds collected from the same place, 39 woody species were cultivated in field (control) and in greenhouse (treatment) that was maintained above base temperature ($4.8^{\circ}C$). And then, we observed phenotype change of leaves focused on phenological response and explained relation with their current distribution area. As a result, initiation period of leaves unfolding was 1st~3rd, May in control. It was 13, December~7, January in treatment. Period of leaves yellowing was 11~26, October in control. It was 30, October~13, November in treatment. Consequently, initiation period of leaves unfolding was faster by 119~140 days and period of leaves yellowing was slower by 3~32 days since elevated temperature. Period of leaves growth increased in treatment by 148 days than control. Quercus mongolica and Quercus serrata that cultivated in treatment was changed as evergreen trees which have grown up continuely during one year. Also, initiation period of leaves unfolding of Sorbus alnifolia in treatment was faster than in control. However, difference of the period between control and treatment was smallest. Because period of yellowing leaves was moved ahead. Phenological response of leaves according to elevated temperature had no relation of type of their current distribution area. This is the result of acclimation due to elevated temperature during the winter and suggests that the phenotype of leaves of 39 deciduous woody species is more sensitive to the current growth condition than to the past growth condition.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.210-218
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• 2012

This study was carried out to analyze the vegetation properties, soil characteristics and ordination of Bletilla striata population in South Korea. The $Bletilla$ $striata$ population was classified into $Juniperus$ $rigida$ dominant population, $Rhododendron$ $yedoense$ var. $poukhanense$ dominant population, $Rhus$ $javanica$ dominant population, $Bletilla$ $striata$ typical population. $Bletilla$ $striata$ were mainly distributed along the coast of south-western regions of the Korean penninsula and it's population was located at an elevation of 4m to 40m. In the study sites, soil organic matter, total nitrogen, available phosphate, exchangeable potassium, exchangeable calcium, exchangeable magnesium, cation exchange capacity and soil pH were 2.38-6.70%, 0.09-0.27%, 1.81-6.85mg/kg, 1.08-1.72$cmol^+/kg$, 3.56-7.71$cmol^+/kg$, 1.52-3.21$cmol^+/kg$, 5.28-16.95$cmol^+/kg$ and 4.60-6.01 respectively. $Rhododendron$ $yedoense$ var. $poukhanense$ dominant population was found in the steep sloped area that has high percentage of organic matter, total nitrogen, cation exchange capacity and pH than other populations. $Rhus$ $javanica$ dominant population was found in the gentle sloped area that has less percentage of organic matter, total nitrogen, cation exchange capacity and pH. $Juniperus$ $rigida$ dominant population and $Bletilla$ $striata$ typical population were found in the medium sloped area that has medium percentage of organic matter, total nitrogen, cation exchange capacity and pH. Current status of $Bletilla$ $striata$ habitats is very vulnerable with local development constantly threatening the species' survival. Thus, concrete conservation plans to protect natural habitats should be set up as soon as possible.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.33 no.4 s.92
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• pp.336-341
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• 2000

This study was conducted to clarify the habitat characteristics and distribution of seagrass. Zostera marina L. (Zosteraceae) in the brackish Hwajinpo Lake, Korea in June 1998 and July 2000. Z. marina beds were distributed along the sea-side cost of the lower lake mouth at 0.8 to 1.5m in death, and the seagrass bed area was about 3,200 m$^{2}$. Salinity, water temperature and pH were in the range of 8.0${\sim}$23.0$%_{o}$, 22.0${\sim}$23.7$^{\circ}C$ and 8.34${\sim}$8.62, respectively. Nutrient concentrations were generally now (TN: 24.34 ${\mu}$M, NH$_{4}$-N: 2.57 ${\mu}$M, NO$_{3}$-N: 0.56 ${\mu}$M, NO$_{2}$-N: 0.27 ${\mu}$M, TP: 2.08 ${\mu}$M, PO$_{4}$-P: 0.34 ${\mu}$M). Suspended particulate matters (SPM) concentration averaged 62.8 mg/l and particulate organic matter (POM) averaged 21.3 mg/l. Organic content of SPM averaged 33.9%. The beds substratum was composed of well-sorted, fine sand and its mean brain size was 3.13${\Phi}$. The Z. marina vegetation was almost submerged, and the morphological characteristics can be classified as steno-leaf phenotype by the shoot length, leaf width, and number of leaf vein. Shoot length and leaf width were 70.0${\sim}$126.5 cm and 5${\sim}$7 mm, respectively. Shoot densities ranged from 264 to 296/m$^{2}$, and the plants biomass was estimated at 332.6 to 373.0 g dw/m$^{2}$. Therefore, the habitats of Z. marina in Korea were recognized in a brackish lake, and morphological characteristics appeared to be variable.

• Conservation Science in Museum
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• v.31
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• pp.21-37
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• 2024

This paper sought to garner an understanding of Daegaya glass culture by observing the micro-structure and analyzing the chemical composition of 43 glass beads excavated from the No.73 and 74 ancient tombs in Jisan-dong, Goryeong, which are estimated to have a central age of 5th century CE. The visible characteristics and micro-structure of these artifacts were observed with a optical microscope and an scanning electron microscope, while their chemical composition was analyzed with an energy-dispersing spectrometer attached to the scanning electron microscope. As a result, the glass beads of Jisan-dong, Goryeong were identified to have been formed using various methods such as drawing, casting, and folding techniques, with the majority molded by the drawing technique. In terms of chemical composition, 32.6% were in the potash glass group and 67.4% in the soda glass group, with the latter divided into various fluxes such as high alumina glass, netron glass, and plant ash glass. Compared to Baekje's cultural region in the same age, the composition of these ancient glass artifacts demonstrates a high share of the potash glass group. This shows that, despite the shift from the potash glass group to the soda glass group in ancient Korean glass culture, glass composition differs from region to region or depending on the cultural sphere of influence. In the soda glass group, high-alumina glass comprised 23.3%, natron glass 43.0%, and plant ash glass was 1.2%. Among them, the main type of Korean soda glass is high-alumina glass, as natron glass and plant ash glass are known to have appeared later, but the results of scientific analysis of the glass beads excavated in Jisan-dong can be expected to provide important clues about the inflow and transformation of ancient glass on the Korean Peninsula. In the No. 73, 74, and 74-1 ancient tombs, which were found to have been built in chronological order by the excavation survey, the glass beads showed only slight variations depending on their production period. Nonetheless, the chemical composition of glass is deemed to have a close correlation to color.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.34-45
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• 2013

The Polygonum amphibium complex (Poygonaceae) is a highly polymorphic taxon that can grow in aquatic environments as well as in moist terrestrial habitats. Aquatic and terrestrial plants of the P. amphibium complex vary significantly in morphology and exhibit very complicated patterns of morphological variation, resulting in the description of numerous infra-specific taxa. Principal components analysis of 107 individuals of the P. amphibium complex from Asia and North America using 11 morphological characters showed that the aquatic plants can be discerned from the terrestrial plants by leaf size, shape, and petiole length. In contrast, both aquatic and terrestrial plants collected from the same population or locality shared identical sequences in the matK, psbA-trnH IGS, rbcL-accD IGS and trnL-trnF regions of the chloroplast DNA (cpDNA), suggesting that aquatic and terrestrial forms of the P. amphibium complex are not genetically diverged; morphological differences between the two forms are probably due to the differences in environmental conditions of the habitats. In addition, results from the morphological analysis and the maximum parsimony analysis of the cpDNA data set revealed that the plants from Asia including Korea, Japan, China, Mongolia and Russia Far East are diverged from those in North America and Europe, suggesting that the Asian populations should be recognized as a distinct variety, P. amphibium var. amurense Korsh.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.7
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• pp.1060-1066
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• 2011

In order to investigate the variations on the ratio of mannose to galactose in the seeds of Phaseolus angularis, 17 local strains (Yangyang, Pyeongchang, Ganghwa, Pocheon, Geumsan, Seocheon, Jincheon, Danyang, Tongyeong, Sancheong, Gumneung, Wolseong, Wando, Gokseong, Okgu, Jangsu, Bukjeju), which are located from $33^{\circ}15'N$ to $38^{\circ}11'N$, were selected according to their latitudes and geographical distances. The seeds of these strains were collected and their contents of mannose and galactose were analyzed. Mannose contents in the seeds were variable, ranging from 17.071 mg/g at its highest (Jangsu) and 6.488 mg/g at its lowest (Geumsan). The contents of galactose also showed remarkable differences, ranging from 9.477 mg/g (Wolseong) to 19.877 mg/g (Jangsu). The local strains were classified into 3 variation types - coastal type I (Wando, Okgu, Bukjeju), the inland type (Jangsu, Weolseong, Danyang, Geumneung, Pyeongchang, Sancheong) and coastal type II (Ganghwa, Seocheon, Tongyeong, Jincheon), as well as 4 strange strains (Gokseong, Yangyang, Pocheon, Geumsan) according to the geographical climatic type and the ratio of mannose to galactose, which indicate the hardness of seeds in Leguminosae and ranged from 0.64 to 1.22. The variation types are very significant genecologically as evidence for microevolution related to natural and artificial selection in cultivated plants.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.295-301
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• 2011

In order to investigate the geographical variation of Glycine max distributed in southern area of Korean peninsula, 19 local strains(Goseng, Pyeongchang, Ganghwa, Pocheon, Geumsan, Seocheon, Jincheon, Danyang, Tongyeong, Sancheong, Gumneung, Wolseong, Woolneung, Wando, Naju, Gochang, Jangsu, Jeju, Bukjeju), which located from $33^{\circ}15'N$ to $38^{\circ}11'N$, were selected according to their latitudes and geographical distances. The seeds of these strains were collected and their contents of mannose and galactose were investigated. Mannose contents in the seeds were variable in the range between the highest 12.207mg/g(Gochang) and the lowest 6.648mg/g(Geumsan). The contents of galactose were represented remarkable differences from 9.967mg/g(Danyang) to 16.949mg/g(Bukjeju) also. The local strains were classified into 4 variation types such as the inland type I(Wolseong, Jangsu, Danyang), the coastal type I(Gochang, Naju, Jeju, Goseng, Woolneung, Bukjeju, Ganghwa, Seocheon, Tongyeong), the inland type II(Geumsan, Pocheon, Pyeongchang) and the coastal type II(Wando, Jincheon) and 2 strange strains(Gumneung, Sancheong) according to the geographical climatic type and the ratio of mannose/galactose, which indicate the hardness of seeds in Leguminosae, ranged from 0.63 to 0.78. The variation types are very significant genecologically as an evidence for microevolution related to speciation in cultivated plants.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.290-298
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• 2007

The results of this research on the diversity, zonation of vegetation and micro-topography by TWINSPAN classification and DECORANA ordination, executed with Sinduri coastal dunes of Korea, are as follows: The vegetation and micro-topography of coastal dunes formed a noticeably clear zonation structure. The beach in the direction of the coastline saw a lot of appearance of Salsola komarovi and the primary dune was dominated by Elymus mollis. Imperata cylindrica var. koenigii and Carex pumila formed a colony at flat area of the sand hills and Calamagrostis epigeios was widely distributed at the wet slack. The secondary dune was dominated mostly by Ischaemum anthephoroides and Imperata cylindrica var. koenigii, and it showed an aspect of the distribution of Vitex rotundifolia and Rosa rugosa. while the hinterland hillside in the direction of inland was dominated by Robinia pseudo-acacia and Pinus thunbergii. However, Carex kobomugi, known as the pioneer species of the coastline-bound areas at the coastal dune, dominantly occupied the secondary dune of the rear side and continentally-inclined Miscanthus sinensi and Oenothera biennis of naturalized plant were irregularly spread over the whole of the coastal dune, so the stabilization of micro-topography seemed to be uncertain. Particularly, Miscanthus sinensis was predicted to be changed into dominant species of the primary dune, and secondary dune and slack having a commonly high species gathering inclination with the more progress of stabilization of the coastal dune. The expansion of sand hill wetlands and roads located between the primary dune and secondary dune was judged to have an effect on the zonation structure of plant distribution.

• The Journal of the Petrological Society of Korea
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.107-124
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• 2015

The 'Imjin System' (or Rimjin System) was established in 1962 as a new stratigraphic unit separated from the Upper Paleozoic Pyeongan System based on the discovery of brachiopods and echinoderms of possible Devonian age. Subsequent discoveries of the Middle Devonian charophytes confirmed the Devonian age of the system. The Imjin System is distributed in the Imjingang Belt between the Pyongnam Basin and the Gyeonggi Massif, spans from the eastern areas including Cholwon-gun of the Gangwon Province, Gumchon-gun, Phanmun-gun, and Tosan-gun of the Hwanghaebuk Province, to the western areas of Gangryong-gun and Ongjin-gun of the Hwanghaenam Province, and includes the Yeoncheon Group (metamorphic complex) to the south. Unlike the lower Paleozoic strata in the Pyongnam Basin which solely produce marine invertebrate fossils, the Imjin System yields diverse non-marine plant and algal fossils. Brachiopods of the system are similar to those from the Devonian of the South China Block and include taxa endemic to the platform, implying a close paleogeographic affinity to the South China Block. The Imjin System is generally considered as of Middle to Late Devonian in age, although there have been suggestions that the system is of the Middle Devonian to Carboniferous in age. North Korean workers postulated that the Imjin System was deposited in the current geographic position, where the "Imjin Sea" (an extension of the South China Platform) was located during the Devonian. The Imjin System displays strong local variations in stratigraphy and its thickness. It has recently been reported that the strata are repeated and overturned by thrust faults in many exposures. The Yeoncheon Group a southward extension of the Imjin System, also experienced intense tight folding and contractional deformation. Northward decrease in metamorphic grade within the system suggests that the northern part of the Gyeonggi Massif and the Imjingang Belt are probably an extension of the Dabie-Sulu Belt between the South China and Sino-Korean blocks, and the Imjin System is an remnant of accretion resulted from the collision between the two blocks. In order to understand tectonic evolution and Paleozoic paleogeography of eastern Asia, further studies on stratigraphic, sedimentologic and tectonic evolution of the Imjin System involving scientists from the two Koreas are urgently needed.