• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.725-735
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• 2011

This study was carried out to analyze the vegetation properties, soil characteristics, and ordination of Stewartia koreana community of Mt. Jirisan in Korea. The S. koreana community was classified into S. koreana-Quercus mongolica serrata community, S. koreana-Quercus mongolica community, and Typical community. In specific, S. koreana-Q. serrata community was classified into two subgroups such as Carpinus laxiflora subcommunity and typical subcommunity. The S. koreana community was found out to be located at an elevation of 409m to 1,604m. The Results of importance value on the S. koreana community consisted of the following in order: 75.47% of S. koreana, the highest, 21.83% of Q. serrata, 18.65% of Q. mongolica, 18.19% of Acer pseudosieboldianum, 10.56% of Rhododendron schlippenbachii, 10.36% of Styrax japonicus. In the targeted study sites, soil organic matter, total nitrogen, available phosphate, exchangeable potassium, soil moisture and soil pH were 3.15~39.1%, 0.37~11.7%, 0.9~45.4mg/kg, $0.09{\sim}1.48cmol^+/kg$, 19.28~55.47% and 4.08~5.65, respectively. The results of the correlation between communities and soil conditions of S. koreana community by DCCA ordination method are as follows: S. koreana-Q. serrata community was found in the highest elevation and followed in order S. koreana typical community, S. koreana-Q. serrata typical subcommunity, and C. laxiflora subcommunity.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.55 no.2
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• pp.175-183
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• 2022

In this study, 46 reservoirs in South Korea were characterized based on heavy metal concentration in sediments. We analyzed the relationship between heavy metal concentrations, physicochemical water quality and hydromorphological factors in each reservoir. Study reservoirs were classified into five groups of reservoirs, by hierarchical cluster analysis based on the similarities of heavy metal concentration. Group 1 had the most severe sediment heavy metal contamination among the groups, whereas Groups 2 and 3 showed low levels of heavy metal contamination. Group 4 displayed high value of Ni, and Group 5 showed high contamination of Pb, Cu, Cr, Ni, and Hg. Groups 1 and 5, which had high concentration of heavy metals in sediments, showed a high density of mines in the catchment of reservoirs. Heavy metal concentration was high in reservoirs with large capacity or the ones located at higher elevation, and also highly related with number of mines in the catchment of reservoir. This study can contribute to the systematic management of sediment heavy metals in reservoirs.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.34 no.1 s.93
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• pp.1-8
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• 2001

During April 1993 to November 1994, cations, anions, and conductivity were analyzed to examine how summer monsoon influences the ionic content of Taechung Reservoir, Korea. Interannual variability of ionic content reflected hydrological characteristics between the two years(high-flood year in 1993 vs. draught year in 1994). Cations, anions and conductivity were lowest during peak inflow in 1993 and highest during a drought in 1994. Floods in 1993 markedly decreased total salinity as a result of reduced Ca$^{2+}$ and HCO$_{3}\;^{-}$ and produced extreme spatial heterogeneity (i.e., longitudinal, vertical, and horizontal variation) in ionic concentrations. The dominant process modifying the longitudinal (the headwaters-to-downlake) and vertical (top-to-bottom) patterns in salinity was an interflow current during the 1993 monsoon. The interflow water plunged near a 27${\sim}$37 km-location (from the dam) of the mid-lake and passed through the 10${\sim}$30m stratum of the reservoir, resulting in an isolation of epilimnetic high conductivity water (>100 ${\mu}$S/cm) from advected river water with low conductivity (65${\sim}$75 ${\mu}$S/cm), During postmonsoon 1993, the factors regulating salinity differed spatially; salinity of downlake markedly declined as a result of dilution through the mixing of lake water with river water, whereas in the headwaters it increased due to enhanced CaCO$_{3}$ (originated from limestone/metamorphic rock) of groundwaters entering the reservoir. This result suggests an importance of the basin geology on ion compositions with hydrological characteristics. In 1994, salinity was markedly greater (p<0.001) relative to 1993 and ionic dilution did not occur during the monsoon due to reduced inflow. Overall data suggest that the primary factor influencing seasonal ionic concentrations and compositions in this system is the dilution process depending on the intensity of monsoon rainfall.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.548-557
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• 2021

Cypripedium japonicum Thunb. is an endemic plant in East Asia, distributed only in Korea, China, and Japan. At the global level, the IUCN Red List evaluates it as "Endangered Species (EN)," and at the national level in Korea, it is evaluated as "Critically Endangered Species (CR)." In this study, we investigated the characteristics of the age structure and the sustainability of the population based on the data obtained by demographic monitoring conducted for seven years in the natural habitat. C. japonicum habitats were observed in 7 regions of Korea (Pochoen, Gapyeong, Hwacheon, Chuncheon, Yeongdong, Muju, Gwangyang), and 4,356 individuals in 15 subpopulations were identified. The population size and structure differed from region to region, and artificial management had a very important effect on the size and structural change of the population. Population viability analysis (PVA) based on changes in the number of individuals of C. japonicum showed a very diverse tendency by region. And the probability of population extinction in the next 100 years was 0.00% for Pocheon, 10.90% for Gwangyang, 24.05% for Chuncheon, and 79.50% for Hwacheon. Since the above monitored study sites were located within the conservation shelters, which restricted access by humans, unauthorized collection of C. japonicum, the biggest threat to the species, was not reflected in the individual viability. So, the risk of extinction in Korea is expected to be significantly higher than that estimated in this study. Therefore, it is necessary to reflect population information in several regions that may represent various threats to determine the extinction risk of the C. japonicum population objectively. In the future, we should expand the demographic monitoring of the C. japonicum population known in Korea.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.71-81
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• 2014

A survey was carried out to understand the influence of hydrology on the composition, abundance and adaptive strategies of phytoplankton in artificial Lake Hwaseong, an estuarine reservoir with seawater exchange through a sluice. Samples were collected seven times from May to October 2012. Hydrological events (seawater exchange, rainfall) resulted in a wide variation in salinity along with nutrients and turbidity. Shifts in the dominant phytoplankton composition occurred on every survey. Chlorophyll-a ranged from 9.7 to $104.1{\mu}g\;L^{-1}$. Multivariate analysis allowed us to identify the four phases on phytoplankton community change. Phase I (May~June) was characterized by small-sized Gymnodinium sp. and Heterosigma akashiwo dominated in warm temperature and high salinity derived from seawater exchange, and followed by Cylindrotheca closterium blooms due to rainfall and winds during phase II (July and September). During phase III (August), the dominance of Oscillatoria spp. was correlated with high temperature and low salinity. Abundant cryptomonads were associated with lower temperature during phase IV (October). Adaptive strategies were identified in the phytoplankton as morphological and physiological characteristics. These strategies identified small-sized flagellates as CR-strategists, fast-growing opportunistic species, which might favor the weak stratification of lake due to the seawater exchange during phase I and IV. Dominant species during phase II and III were characterized with R-strategists, medium-sized stress-tolerant species, which might favor turbulence by river flow. The results indicate that stronger stratification following the termination of seawater exchange for the freshening might intensify the predominance of smaller flagellates. In conclusion, this study suggests that hydrology may drive phytoplankton community change and blooms through the controls of salinity, turbulence and nutrients.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.407-421
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• 2000

The forest vegetation surrounding Taegu area was investigated by the methodology of the ZM school of phytosociology, from September, 1994 to August, 1997. The forest vegetation was classified into 7 communities, 8 subcommunities and 5 afforestations as follows : Quercus mongolica community (Typical subcommunity, Carex siderosticta subcommunity), Quercus variabilis community, Quercus acutissima community, Quercus dentate community, Carpinus cordata-Acer mono community (Typical subcommunity, Quercus serrata subcommunity, Cornus controversa subcommunity), Pinus densiflora community (Typical subcommunity, Sanguisorba officinalis subcommunity, Rhododendron schlippenbachii subcommunity), Lespedeza maximowiczii-Rhododendron mucronulatum community , Robinia pseudo-acacia afforestation, Pinus rigida afforestation, Larix leptolepis afforestation, Pinus thunbergii afforestation, Pinus koraiensis afforestation. The differential species of the Quercus mongolica community were Quercus mongolica, Athyrium yokoscense, Rhododendron schlippenbachii, Fraxinus sieboldiana, Acer pseudo-sieboldianum, Symplocos chinensis for. pilosa, Astilbe chinensis var. davidii, Weigela subsessilis, and Melampyrum roseum, those of the Carpinus cordata-Acer mono community were Acer mono, Carpinus cordata, Carpinus laxiflora, and Staphylea bumalda, those of the Pinus densiflora community were Pinus densiflora, Quercus serrata, Cocculus trilobus, and Juniperus rigida. Constance degree of the Quercus serrate was especially high in shrub and herb layers of the Pinus densiflora community. The results of factor analysis by DCA showed that distribution pattern of the communities were similar to that by Z-M method and that communities were arranged according to soil moisture gradient. Rhododendron schlippenbachii subcommunity of the P. densiflora community and the Typical subcommunity of the Q. mongolica community were distributed in similar environments.

• Ecology and Resilient Infrastructure
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.302-306
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• 2016

There are various methods to evaluate tree vigor. Cambial electrical resistance represents tree vigor using the method of electrophysiological diagnosis. This study investigated the vigor of several tree species using Shigometer, and compared the differences among the species. The factors, such as foliation, trunk orientation and bark temperature, which affect electrical resistance were also investigated. The needle penetration into cambium was controlled to keep the depth consistent in order to minimize measurement error. Each of three trees were selected from Zelkova serrata, Ginkgo biloba, Metasequoia glyptostroboides, Pinus koraiensis, and Liriodendron tulipifera. The electrical resistances were measured at 60 and 120 cm height of the stem in 4 directions from March until May 2011. The soil conditions in surrounding areas and tree stress responses were also measured. The results were analyzed for the relationship between electrical resistance and the affecting factors. The electrical resistance showed a relatively higher level before foliation until mid-March. The values started to decline from April and recorded a minimal level on May 11. The changes of soil moisture, soil electric conductivity, and tree stress responses during the measurement period showed a similar trend to that of electrical resistance. The Pinus koraiensis, an evergreen conifer, showed few changes on the electrical resistance values during the measurement period. Zelkova serrata, Ginkgo biloba, and Metasequoia glyptostroboides showed the highest bark temperatures and lowest electrical resistances at their south-facing stem. Shigometer can provide measures simple to assess tree vigor in the fields, and to the management of trees.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.33 no.1 s.89
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• pp.23-30
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• 2000

n situ sediment oxygen demand (SOD), which takes place with the uptake of dissolved oxygen for biological metabolism and chemical oxidation in sediments, ranged from 1.57 to $12.55\;mg\;O_2\;m^{-2}\;h^{-1}$ in onshore of Lake Paldang from April to November 1999. SOD was influenced by the amount of organics and oxygen diffusion. Comparing the oxygen demands partitioning between overlying water and sediment during initial phase, SOD accounted for $63.8{\sim}94%$ of total oxygen demand in Lake Paldang. The chemical SOD and nitrogenous oxygen demand ranged $1.2{\sim}18.3%$ and $8.3{\sim}51.7%$ of total SOD, respectively. This result indicated that SOD in Lake Paldang occurred mainly by aerobic respiration and nitrification. Although the flow velocity could increase SOD within a certain limit, the effect of sediment depth on SOD was dependent on physicochemical properties of the sediment. This study showed that SOD can represent a significant portion of the total oxygen up-take in Lake Paldang. Therefore, the assessment of SOD might be necessary for the control of water quality.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.37 no.2 s.107
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• pp.213-226
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• 2004

The present study was conducted to analyze the pattern of eutrophication of Korean reservoir with Chl. a concentration and morpho-physical parameters, and to valuate water quality characteristics of the classified types. The collected data from 486 reservoirs were classified as four types, with the Chl- a concentration (25 ${\mu}g\;L^{-1}$) and the ratio of water storage/surface area (mean depth, 7.5 m). According to OECD criteria and trophic state index based on Chl-a concentration, 34.3 and 72.8% of selected reservoirs appeared to be eutrophic, respectively. Characteristics of TYPE ll reservoirs generally showed high Chl-a concentration, relatively old age, small DA/LA ratio, short Hydraulic retention time, large paddy field and field to watershed ratio, and high pollutant loading compared to other types of reservoirs. The difference of TP concentration was greater than that of TN concentration in reservoir water among classified four types. Based on TN/TP ratio (by weight), phosphorus was limiting nutrient in all types and more closely related with Chl- a concentration than nitrogen. Significant decrease of Chl- a concentration with increase of TN/TP ratio observed only in reservoirs with Chl-a concentration > 25${\mu}g\;L^{-1}$. Although drainage area is believed to be a factor that is related to the generation load of pollutants in the watershed, it did not show any significant relationship with water quality parameters. Morphometric characteristics such as depth and age of reservoir as well as type of land use patterns in the watershed was among important parameters for the assessment of water quality characteristics in Korean reservoirs.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.35 no.4 s.100
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• pp.295-305
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• 2002

Benthic macro- invertebrates were collected in a 200 m reach located in the $3^{rd}$ order Yangjae Stream, a tributary of the Han River, Seoul, from April 1996 to March 1998. Although species richness was relatively low due to organic pollution, community abundance patterns appeared to be different depending upon location of the sampling sites. At the sample sites in the straight zone with high water velocity and large substrates, species richness was high and species relatively less-tolerant to organic pollution was additionally present. At the sample sites in the pool zone with lower velocity and high sedimentation, species richness was low and a few tolerant species to organic pollution were abundantly collected. The principle component analysis indicated that some sample sites in the straight zone appeared to be related to water velocity and shear velocity, and associated with diverse taxa less tolerant to organic pollution. Additionally the sample site transplanted with large substrates was associated wit]h hydraulic characters such as substrate diversity and roughness, and was related to species indicating partial recovery of water. The sample sites located at the pool zone tended to be associated with organic matter that had sedimented on to the substrates and the taxa tolerant to organic pollution, including Oligochaeta and Chironomus.