• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.207-215
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• 2009

Greenbelts were designated by the Korean government in 1971 in 14 large cities to prevent uncontrolled urban expansion. Recently, deregulation of the greenbelt system has resulted in further development, but the ecological role of greenbelts has not been fully considered when decisions about urban management are being made. We examined the ecological roles of the greenbelt system in the Seoul metropolitan area and prepared sustainable management and improvement plans based on our analysis of landscape characteristics using satellite images covering a ${\sim}30$-year period. The loss of forest cover during this period in the greenbelt areas was lower than that in the areas outside and inside of the greenbelt. Fragmentation of forest cover was correlated with the pattern of loss of forest cover. The NDVI of the greenbelt remained steady at 90% of that in outside of the GB for three decades. This suggests that the greenbelt system has performed its primary roles well. However, the remaining green space was not adequate to provide a sink for air pollutants even when the greenbelt area was included. We discuss how the negative effects of urbanization can be reduced through sustainable management and restoration to promote ecological functioning in greenbelts and urban landscapes.

• BMB Reports
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• v.52 no.10
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• pp.601-606
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• 2019

Arginine methylation plays crucial roles in many cellular functions including signal transduction, RNA transcription, and regulation of gene expression. Protein arginine methyltransferase 8 (PRMT8), a unique brain-specific protein, is localized to the plasma membrane. However, the detailed molecular mechanisms underlying PRMT8 plasma membrane targeting remain unclear. Here, we demonstrate that the N-terminal 20 amino acids of PRMT8 are sufficient for plasma membrane localization and that oligomerization enhances membrane localization. The basic amino acids, combined with myristoylation within the N-terminal 20 amino acids of PRMT8, are critical for plasma membrane targeting. We also found that substituting Gly-2 with Ala [PRMT8(G2A)] or Cys-9 with Ser [PRMT8(C9S)] induces the formation of punctate structures in the cytosol or patch-like plasma membrane localization, respectively. Impairment of PRMT8 oligomerization/dimerization by C-terminal deletion induces PRMT8 mis-localization to the mitochondria, prevents the formation of punctate structures by PRMT8(G2A), and inhibits PRMT8(C9S) patch-like plasma membrane localization. Overall, these results suggest that oligomerization/dimerization plays several roles in inducing the efficient and specific plasma membrane localization of PRMT8.

• BMB Reports
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• v.52 no.12
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• pp.700-705
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• 2019

The bacterial effector protein RavZ is secreted by the intracellular pathogen Legionella pneumophila and inhibits host autophagy through an irreversible deconjugation of mammalian ATG8 (mATG8) proteins from autophagosome membranes. However, the roles of the LC3 interacting region (LIR) motifs in RavZ function remain unclear. In this study, we show that a membrane-targeting (MT) domain or the LIR motifs of RavZ play major or minor roles in RavZ function. A RavZ mutant that does not bind to mATG8 delipidated all forms of mATG8-phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) as efficiently as did wild-type RavZ. However, a RavZ mutant with a deletion of the MT domain selectively delipidated mATG8-PE less efficiently than did wild-type RavZ. Taken together, our results suggest that the effects of LIR motifs and the MT domain on RavZ activity are complementary and work through independent pathways.

• 한국균학회소식:학술대회논문집
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• 2016.05a
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• pp.11-11
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• 2016

Penicillium species are commonly isolated from various outdoor and indoor environments, including marine environments such as sponges, algae and sand. Penicillium is especially important because numerous bioactive compounds have been isolated. Penicillium was the most common species in intertidal zone in Korea, however the diversity and ecological roles of Penicillium in intertidal zone are not clarified. We explored diversity and ecological roles of marine-derived Penicillium from tidal flat and sea sand in Korea. The diversity of marine-derived Penicillium from Korea was investigated using both culture-dependent and culture-independent approach by ${\beta}$-tubulin sequence. In addition, we evaluated optimal temperature, halo-tolerance, and enzyme activity of Penicillium strains, such as extracellular alginase, endoglucanase, ${\beta}$-glucosidase, and protease. For culture-dependent approach, a total of 182 strains of 62 Penicillium species were isolated, with 53 species being identified. The most common species was Penicillium oxalicum, followed by P. crustosum, P. brasilianum, P. koreense, and P. griseofulvum. Species richness and composition were not significantly different by season, substrates, and seaside. For culture-independent approach using Illumina sequencing, 73 OTUSs were detected. The most frequently observed species was P. antarcticum, followed by P. koreense, P. crustosum, and P. brevicompactum. Diversity of Penicillium was higher during winter season than during summer season and in western sea than in southern sea, respectively. Community structure was significantly different by season and sea side. 52 species were detected by both methods. Unique species were isolated from each of methods - 10 from culture methods and 21 from Illumina sequencing. Furthermore, salinity adaption of the Penicillium varied depending on species. Many Penicillium species showed endoglucanase, ${\beta}$-glucosidase, and protease activity. Some species including P. paneum and P. javanicum degraded the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Thus, our results demonstrate that intertidal zone in Korea harbors diverse Penicillium community and marine-derived Penicillium play important ecological roles as decomposers of organic material in marine environments.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.217-227
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• 1997

Landscape ecology is an emerging interdisciplinary ecology field to understand the holistic human and natural systems on the basis of concept and database obtained from pure ecology. Landscape ecology is an integrated ecology widely available for environmental science such as nature conservation and sustainable land-use planning. It is also a practical study as an applied ecology to restore and to manage local environment. Landscape ecological study is realized by embodiment of human disturbance system which is rigorously extending on natural system. Considering Korean status without landscape ecological studies, we briefly reviewed establishing process, study goal and methodology of landscape ecology as well as the related several concepts through current landscape ecological studies in the world. We hope that this paper will be helpful to ecologists having interest in landscape ecology.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.212-220
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• 2018

Ecological and ecosystem database is becoming very necessary to understand origins and relationship between human and nature and also to minimize disturbance caused by human activities. An ecological information portal can play important roles as a computing system to collect knowledge, distributed research findings and separated data from researchers. In this study, we designed and developed ecological information portal service (EcoBank 1.0) for collecting and providing ecological information for diverse classes of stakeholders. To reach the goal, we had reviewed related and comparable ecological database portals to design conceptual structure of EcoBank system including database management framework. Then, we developed some functions of ecosystem analysis for each stake-holders (researchers, general public and policy makers). As a result of this study, we successfully designed of EcoBank system covering the functions of Digital Object Identifier(DOI) publishing and data quality management process. Also, we (1) applied ecological indices for calculating biodiversity by administrative boundary for policy makers, (2) provided statistical information of econature map for general public and distribution characteristics of species for researchers. To make a successful establishment of EcoBank, we have to collect and build up related database and offer various and reliable ecological data consistently. We expect that the successful construction of EcoBank will help not only to accomplish sustainable development goals but also to raise the welfare of ecosystem in Korea.

• Hwankyungkyoyuk
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• v.18 no.1 s.26
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• pp.31-43
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• 2005

Despite of increasing concern over environmental protection and the so-called earth crisis, the situation regarding environment keeps deteriorating and is not getting well. Human-centered ways of thinking and scientific technologies proved not to be so effective in overcoming the crisis. The situation has brought about renewed interests in ecology. The purpose of this study is to develop and provide an exemplarity that could effectively deliver the environmental education throughout the middle school Korean language courses. To do this, the study begins with establishing a set of objectives that can be pursued in Korean language courses. Having the objectives in mind as a framework of reference, the study compares and analyzes Korean language textbooks that are made out of the 6th and 7th Curricular Revision. The study takes ecological viewpoints both in analyzing texts and in establishing the exemplarity. Environmental contents can play important roles in middle and high school Korean language courses. While training language skills, the instructors with textbooks written in ecological viewpoints can deliver messages emphasizing concerns over environments. This study also provides an exemplarity of textbooks reflecting ecological concerns.

• KIEAE Journal
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.171-178
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• 2004

In recent years, the objective information for the environmental effect of architecture will be furnished to the designer and inhabitant in order to minimize an excessive energy consumption and environmental loads by buildings. In addition, an environmental friendly architectural certification program for a residence, office, and school facilities have been operated to spread and supply environmental friendly architecture. Most of the environmental friendly architectural certification programs proposed in the country are focused on the aspect of the physical environments of architecture in its certification ranges. In the case of a foreign country, however, the certification ranges of an environmental friendly architectural certification program for the school facilities among the programs will be extended not only to the standards for architectural design, environmental aspect, and maintaining and management basis by considering the characteristics of educational effects for students but also to the curriculum, policy of environment, and roles of local community facilities by reflecting a social aspect. Therefore, this study proposes a design and evaluation method by considering an ecological element that will satisfy the requirement for educational well-being that includes not only the requirement for school facilities according to the development of a new curriculum like a space for teaching and learning but also the improvement of the quality of educational environments and the objective of an ecological school.

• Journal of Species Research
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.111-126
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• 2024

Korean bamboo forests encompass 22,067 hectares and are dominated by Phyllostachys species. These forests serve as vital ecosystems, providing nourishment and habitat for diverse flora, fauna, and microorganisms. Among these inhabitants, various fungal species have been documented worldwide, displaying ecological roles as saprobes, parasites, and symbionts within or outside the bamboo host. However, a comprehensive study of bambusicolous fungi within the Korean bamboo ecosystem remains a critical gap in our knowledge. In this study, we conducted an extensive survey of bamboo materials collected from various bamboo forests and subsequently undertook fungal isolation. Primary identification of bambusicolous fungi was achieved through analysis of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region. As a result, we identified seven previously unrecorded bambusicolous fungal species (Fusarium bambusarum, Fusicolla violacea, Macroconia gigas, Neopestalotiopsis camelliae-oleiferae, Neopestalotiopsis iberica, Neopestalotiopsis longiappendiculata, and Thyridium punctulatum). Phylogenetic analysis using protein-coding genes appropriate for each taxon and morphological observation were conducted to ensure accurate identification. This study contributes to our understanding of fungal diversity within bamboo forests in Korea.

• Journal of Practical Agriculture & Fisheries Research
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.63-77
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• 2009

The decrease in the farming rates of agricultural produce importing countries has led to concerns over stable food supply and food safety and this situation demands a change in awareness on agricultural problems arising from the depletion of natural resources and environmental destruction. To preserve agriculture, importing countries are emphasizing the various roles of agriculture in order to revive its multi-functional aspects. It is obvious that differentiated strategies are needed to create values from agricultural production, and a liberal arts education can play an important role in making these strategies. However, training programs for future agricultural CEOs of the Korea National Agricultural College(KNAC) attaches too much importance on production skill and management rather than focusing on a liberal arts education. On the other hand, Poolmoo Ecological Agriculture Course carried out by Poolmoo Agriculture Technical High School located in Hongseong-Gun, Chungnam Province (which puts a high value on ecological fanning) gives more weight on a liberal arts education, taking up more than 50% of the curriculum. Also, the National Farmers Academy in Japan which reformed its whole system in 2008, has started various liberal arts educational programs. The Academy fosters creative agricultural management, attractive rural development enhancing a comfortable rural life and educates on the future of Japanese food and international environment. It is expected that the ecological and cultural roles of farming will grow in the future. So, what the KNAC needs is to increase its liberal arts educational programs and various cultural experiences in its educational curriculum to promote agricultural marketing with cultural knowledge and sensitivity.