• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.353-366
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• 1995

To study the relationship between the germination response and geographical distribution, the seeds of Rumex acetocella were collected from nine sites (Taegwallyong, Alps lodge, Kans'ong, Sokch'o, Chumunjin, Suwon, Taechon, Sukgok, Mokpo) of different latitudes and altitudes. The populations of Rumex acetocella were subdivided into four groups based on the characteristics of the seed germination. The first group of Rumex acetocella (Taegwallyong, Alps lodge) germinated rapidly in early spring, the second group (Suwon, Teachon) in late summer through early autumn, and the third group(Sukgok, Mokpo) slowly in late autuman with various conditions. The thermal time values needed for the germination rate of 10% to 60% for these three groups indicated that the germination rate was low at the lower latitude, while it was increased as the latitude elevated. The population of the fouth group (Kansong, Sokcho, Chumunjin) showed the narrow optimum temperature range of germination response and the highest thermal time value to germinate 10% to 30% of seeds. The seeds in the high latitude region with relatively mild winter germinated synchronously in early autumn. These different germination responses of Rumex acetocella to geographic variations were thought to be an ecological strategy to survive in different environmental conditions.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.51-57
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• 2009

Corylopsis coreana Uyeki is endemic species in the Korean peninsula and is designated a Category Endangered Plant Species by the Wildlife Protection Act of South Korea. We developed the plan and cooperative model within the local community for the species conservation. In order to carry out this plan we first investigated the ecological characteristics of the species. The species shows patterns of discontinuous distribution and is coupled with the unusual feature of only growing on northern exposed slopes. Although Corylopsis coreana is cut the stem every year, many new sprouts are still grown from the root. Natural germination of the seed occurs only on north-facing slopes, but not on south-facing slopes at spring. That is, the species is highly influenced by soil moisture until the seedling stage has been reached. This factor limits the distribution of the species. When saplings are planted on south-facing slopes, they grow well. The information we gathered greatly helped with efforts to draw up conservation plans. In addition, when the information was shared with the local community, builders and residents showed great interest and displayed a will to help with conservation efforts. Therefore, a cooperative model within the local community was drawn up for the conservation of the species. Accordingly this model could be applied at mitigation measure at environment impact assessment.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.27 no.11
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• pp.1117-1127
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• 2018

This study was carried out to gather basic data for the purpose of proposing a plan to improve the water quality and conserve the aquatic ecosystem of the Singu Agricultural Reservoir in Korea. The water quality, sediment composition, benthic macroinvertebrate distribution, and fish distribution in the Singu Reservoir were analyzed; the reservoir is located close to farmlands, forests, villages, and livestock breeding areas. The results of the water quality analysis are as follows: 5.8~7.8 mg/L for dissolved oxygen, 13.1~20.7 mg/L for chemical oxygen demand, 14.4~18.8 mg/L for suspended solid, 0.96~1.70 mg/L for total nitrogen, 0.07~0.11 mg/L for total phosphorous, and $41.9{\sim}49.8{\mu}g/L$ for $chlorophyll-{\alpha}$. In total, 75 benthic macroinvertebrate specimens belonging to 4 classes, 7 orders, 14 families, and 17 species were recorded. The ecological scores of the benthic macroinvertebrate communities ranged from 11 to 23. Fish specimens recorded belonged to two families and four species. The dominant fish species were Carassius auratus and Pseudorasbora parva, both of which are water-pollutant tolerant species.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.439-446
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• 2021

Environmental damage caused by marine plastic debris occurs and has become a major contributor to marine pollution. This study analyzed the current state of marine plastic debris pollution and proposed essential strategies to reduce damage. To assess the current state of pollution arising from marine plastic debris, this study investigated the properties of plastic debris, reviewed case studies of ecological impacts, and examined the inflow and distribution of marine plastic debris. The results of this study indicate that the major deleterious effects of marine plastics are entanglement and ingestion. In addition, the amount of plastic waste entering the sea was estimated to be 230 Mt in 2015 and may increase to 554 Mt in 2050. In this study, three key strategies were proposed to reduce damage and preserve the ecosystem, including: 1) removing plastic debris in the marine environment, 2) limiting the release of plastic debris to the marine environment, and 3) preventing damage to humans and marine life from plastic debris. To minimize the environmental damage caused by marine plastic debris, the proposed response strategies should be implemented in parallel.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.374-386
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• 2022

Phytoplankton communities, with emphasis on picoplankton and nanoplankton, were investigated in Gamak Bay, South Korea, where freshwater input and coastal water intrusion shape ecosystem functions. Shellfish farms and fish farms are located in the inner bay and outer bay, respectively, and tides translocate uneaten food and urine production from aquaculture farms toward the inner bay. Water masses were distinctly different based on a significantly different density between the surface and bottom layer and among three water masses, including the inner bay, outer bay, and Yeosu Harbor. Phytoplankton communities were quantified using flow cytometry and size-fractionated chlorophyll-a (chl-a) was measured. Salinity was a principal variable separating phytoplankton communities between the surface and bottom layer, whereas Si(OH)₄ controlled the communities in the inner bay, and NH₄⁺ and PO₄^3- governed the outer bay communities. While phycocyanin-containing (PC) cyanobacteria dominated in the outer bay, phycoerythrin-containing (PE) cyanobacteria dominance occurred with cryptophyte dominance, indicating that nutrients affected the distribution of pico- and nanoplankton and that cryptophytes potentially relied on a mixotrophic mode by feeding on PE cyanobacteria. Interestingly, picoeukaryotes and eukaryotes larger than 10 ㎛ were mostly responsible for the ecological niche in the western region of the bay. Given that chl-a levels have historically declined, our study highlights the potential importance of increased small phytoplankton in Gamak Bay. Particularly, we urge an examination of the ecological role of small phytoplankton in the food supply of cultivated marine organisms.

• Journal of Climate Change Research
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.269-282
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• 2016

Watershed area can be submerged due to constructions and management of dams, and these change can impact not only on ecosystem and environment of river basin area but also on local climate. This study is conducted to construct and classify climate zones of Andong Dam watershed where the area is submerged due to the construction of the dam. By applying Principal Components Analysis (PCA) and Getis-Ord $Gi^*$ statistics, three climate zones were classified for the result. Each zone was then analyzed and validated with climatic and geological features including topography, land cover, and forest type map. As a result of the analysis, there was a difference in temperature, elevation, precipitation and tree species distribution among the zones. Also, an analysis of land cover map showed that there were more agricultural land near Andong Reservoir. This study on the climatic classification is considered to be useful as the basis for decision-making or policy enforcement regarding ecosystem, environmental management or climate change response.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.15-27
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• 2022

Climate change is considered a severe global problem closely related to carbon storage. However, recent urbanization and land-use changes reduce carbon stocks in terrestrial ecosystems. Recently, the role of protected areas has been emphasized as a countermeasure to the climate change, and protected areas allow the area to continue to serve as a carbon sink due to legal restrictions. This study attempted to expand the scope of these protected areas to an evaluation-based environmental spatial information theme map. In this study, the area of each grade was compared, and the distribution of land cover for each grade was analyzed using the Ecological and Nature Map, Environmental Conservation Value Assessment Map and Urban Ecological Map of Sejong Special Self-Governing City. Based on this, the average carbon storage for each grade was derived using the InVEST Carbon model. As a result of the analysis, the high-grade area of the environmental spatial information generally showed a wide area of the natural area represented by the forest area, and accordingly, the carbon storage amount was evaluated to be high. However, there are differences in the purpose of production, evaluation items, and evaluation methods between each environmental spatial information, there are differences in area, land cover, and carbon storage. Through this study, environmental spatial information based on the evaluation map can be used for land use management in the carbon aspect, and it is expected that a management plan for each grade suitable for the characteristics of each environmental spatial information is required.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.38 no.2 s.149
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• pp.157-163
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• 2007

Trillium tschonoskii Maxim. is a kind of 64 endangered plant species designated by the Ministry of Environment in Korea. It is very a rare native plant throughout the country. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate the native T. tschonoskii in Ulleung Island for their distribution and ecological characteristics. They were mostly distributed valley, mid-slope of the mountain from 186 to 458 m altitude. They had a little low light conditions as they faced west, north west, south west, south-south west, north-north east and east-east north. They were provided with slightly humid condition. Aerial humidities of these quadrates were variable as 21.5-71%. They were located on the variable slopes of 5 to 43 degrees. Soil humidity was slightly dry. Native sites were semi-shaded because tree layer such as Tilia insularis, Zelkova serrata, okamotoanum etc.and sub-tall tree layer such as Ligustrum foliosum, Comellia japonica, Tilia insularis, Callicarpa japonica and so on were grown near by. Woody plants such as A. Okamotoanum, Sorbus commixta, Fagus japonica var. multinervis etc. were frequently observed. These environmental conditions were suitable that T. tschonoskii grows up naturally because of high Percentage as 52.78% of blooming individuals in this study. These native sites were classified with three communities, T. tschonoskii-Majanthemum dilatatum community, T. tschonoskii-Anthriscus sylvestris community and T. tschonoskii-Hepatica maxima community in accordance with altitude and aerial humidity. The best way ffr the preservation of T. tschonoskii habitats and maintainance of its recent population is maintained in recent environmental condition and ecological condition without any management by human-being.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.527-540
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• 2011

The investigation was made about distribution and ecological characteristics of Rhododendron mucronulatum var. mucronulatum, R. dauricum and R. schlippenbachii on Mt. Changbai in China. The Ericaceae plants are known to be highly ornamental and easy to cultivate. The results of investigations are like followings. The plant species diversity was the highest in habitats of R. mucronulatum var. mucronulatum, followed by those of R. schlippenbachii and R. dauricum. R. mucronulatum var. mucronulatum community was found in the northwest exposure areas of 300m in altitude. Corylus heterophylla, Carex humilis var. nana, Atractylodes japonica species also grew in the R. mucronulatum var. mucronulatum community. R. dauricum communities were widely distributed in the west exposure areas of 1226-1860m above sea level. R. schlippenbachii populations were found in areas of under 300m above sea level, which has dry soil. But humidity of air was relatively high in the place. Artemisia japonica, Lespedeza bicolor and Dactylis glomerata were found around the habitats of R. schlippenbachii. Phalanx type of plants were dominant near the habitats of Ericaceae plants as 61%. Further, there appeared higher plant life totalling to 72 taxa comprising 54 species, 16 varieties and 2 forma with 31 families and 59 genuses at the whole survey area. Among these, Compositae plants excellent in resistance to environment was surveyed the most, accounting for 30.0%.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.133-146
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• 2017

This study aimed to develop strategies to re-establish the Park Nature Conservation Area in Bukhansan National Park, reflecting landscape ecological value by using the zonation program Marxan with Zones. Planning unit was set by watershed, and the basic data were mapped, considering topographical and ecological values. Mapped indicators were analyzed with the application framework of Marxan with Zones by indexing some indicators. The zones divided into Park Nature Conservation Area (Zone A), Park Nature Environment Area I(Zone B) which is reflected on the concept of Potential Park Nature Conservation Area and Park Nature Environment Area II(Zone C). The best solution for each of the scenarios was fixed through the sensitiveness analysis. From these, the final solution was selected considering five criteria including area ratio of conservation area and grouping. Lastly, the final solution was verified in the overlapped analysis with recent zonation. According to the results, the number of watersheds was 77, with an average area of $1,007,481m^2$. In terms of basic mapping and indexation, the slope index and number of landscape resources for topographical property were average 0.22 and 38 places, respectively. Biotope index was average 0.69 and legally protected species was 14 species, reflecting ecological values. As the social and economic indicators, trail index was average 0.04, and the number of tour and management facilities was 43 places. Through the framework of Marxan with Zones, the best solution for scenario 1 which was set by the highest conservation criteria was selected as the final solution, and the area ratio of Park Nature Conservation Area and grouping was excellent. As the result of overlapped analysis, suggested zonation of the Park Nature Conservation was better than the recent zonation in the area raito (28.3%), biotope grade I(15.4%) and the distribution points (10 places) of legally protected species with verification of proper distribution of conservation features according to the zone.