• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.177-201
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• 2022

Following the adoption of the global plant conservation strategies at the Conference of the Parties for Biodiversity Conservation, diligent actions to achieve each targets are actively carried out. In particular, the need for ecological conservation research to achieve targets 2 and 7 of GSPC-2020 has increased. The priority taxa to accomplish the objectives of GSPC-2020 are rare and endemic plants. In particular, endemic plants with limited distribution in specific regions are evaluated to face a high risk of extinction. To address the necessity to preserve endemic plants, we investigated the distribution of Prunus choreiana H. T. Im, a Korean endemic plant. After that, we examined the vegetational environment of the habitat of P. choreiana and evaluated its population structure. The productivity of its fruits and the effects of pollinators on fruit production were evaluated as well. The fruiting ratio was calculated based on the number of flowers produced. Lastly, we observed the annual growth characteristics of P. choreiana. The habitats of P. choreiana did not show a specific type of vegetation. All of them were located in a limestone area of Gangwon-do in the central Korean Peninsula and occupied a site where the coverage of the tree layer and the sub-tree layer was not high or did not exist. The population structure of P. choreiana contained a high proportion of mature plants capable of producing fruits and a low proportion of seedlings and Juvenile plants. We found that the production of fruits required pollinators and was affected by the performance of each plant. Although P. choreiana produces many flowers, only a maximum of 20% and only 2-6% on average bear fruits. These flowering characteristics may be due to pollinators' low abundance and activity during the flowering season (between mid-March and early April), suggesting that many flowers are needed to attract more pollinators. We rarely observed the re-establishment of seedlings in the population of P. choreiana. Despite that, we predict the population to persist owing to its long lifespan and periodic production of numerous fruits. However, if the tree layer and sub-tree layer in competing status with P. choreiana increase their crown density, they are expected to inhibit the growth of P. choreiana and affect the risk of its extinction. Therefore, the current changes in the vegetational environment of the habitats are expected to decrease the number and extent of P. choreiana in the long term. The results of this study may serve as primary and important data necessary for the achievement of GSPC-2020 objectives.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.213-246
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• 2016

Algific talus slopes tend to occur on steep north-facing slopes with bedrock that retains ice and emits cold air throughout the growing season. Algific talus slopes provide a suitable microclimate for disjunct or relict populations of northern plant species at low altitude habitats in temperate zones. The purpose of this study is to suggest a strategy for the comprehensive conservation of the vegetation of algific talus slopes through studies of the floristics and plant species compositions and threat factors at present and in the future of 15 major algific talus slopes in Korea. As a result, the vascular plants surveyed on 15 major algific talus slopes were recorded, with a total of 587 taxa, 109 families, 323 genera, 531 species, 7 subspecies, 47 varieties 1 form and 1 hybrid. Of them, endemic plants numbered 26 taxa, and threatened species according to the IUCN valuation basis numbered 8 taxa. Fourth (IV) and fifth (V) degree indicator species as specified by floristic subregions numbered 31 taxa. Peculiarly, several subalpine-native plant species, in this case Cystopteris fragilis, Gymnocarpium dryopteris, Huperzia selago, Rosa koreana, Vaccinium vitis-idaea and Woodsia hancockii, were distributed on algific talus slopes at 100-600 m above sea level. Numerous and diverse biological resources native to algific talus slopes in Korea have been consistently disturbed or damaged by human activities without some form of protection. An all-taxa biodiversity inventory should be surveyed to provide more information about all biological species living on algific talus slopes. In addition, conservation strategies to ensure biodiversity and effective management of algific talus slopes are discussed in detail.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.169-182
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• 2004

The purpose of this study is carried out accurately to grasp the vascular plants in Mt. Bakdal (825 m of sea level), Goesan-gun, Chungcheongbuk-do. In the results of survey from October, 2000 to August, 2001, the vascular plant species in Mt. Bakdal were summarized as 458 taxa; 91 families, 275 genera, 391 species, 62 varieties and 5 forms. The rare plants designated by Korea Forestry Service were six species; Lilium distichum, Iris uniflora var. carisina, Hylomecon hylomeconoides, Viola albida, Scopolia japonicus and Scrophularia koraiensis. And the endemic plants were seventeen species; Melandryum seoulense, Aconitum pseudo-laeve var. erectum, Hylomecon hylomeconoides, Spiraea prunifolia for. simpliciflora, Rubus hongnoensis, Gleditsia japonica var. koraiensis, Lespedeza ${\times}$ tomentella, Vicia venosa var. cuspidata, Vicia venosissima, Tilia taquetii, Ajuga spectabilis, Paulownia coreana, Scrophularia koraiensis, Weigela subsessilis, Lonicera subsessilis, Cirsium setidens and Saussurea seoulensis. The sixteen species were recorded in the surveyed sites as the naturalized plants; Rumex acetocella, Rumex crispus, Fallopia dumetora, Chenopodium glaucum, Amaranthus retroflexus, Robinia pseudo-acacia, Amorpha fruticosa, Trifolium repens, Abutilon avicennae, Hibiscus trionum, Oenothera odorata, Oenothera lamarckiana, Erigeron annuus, Erigeron canadensis, Bidens frondosa and Carduus crispus.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.121-142
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• 1996

This study was to establish the floristic composition and vegetation of resources vascular plants of Mt. Hansuk(1,119.1m; $128^{\circ}15';31'E,\;38^{\circ}02'55'N$). This work was conducted during the period of 1995. Resources vascular plants were composed of 85 families, 229 genera, 370 species, 72 varieties and 10 formae, totaling 452 taxa. Among the investigated resources plants, 15 taxa(2.6%) were Korean endemic species. The forest were comparatively well conserved by Pteridophyta calculation(Pte-Q), 1.34 Useful resources plants were edible source(43.8%), pasture source(38.1%), medicinal source(33.2%), ornamental source(11.9%) and timber source(4.9%) respectively. The forest vegetion was classified into 1 order, 1 alliances and 2 communities; Rhododendro - Quercetalia mongolicae Kim 1990 Lindero - Quercion mongolicae Kim 1990 A. Lespedeza maximowiczii - Quercus mongolica Community B. Carex humilis v. nana - Pinus densiflora Community

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.64-85
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• 1997

This study was to establish the floristic composition and vegetation of resources vascular plants of Mt. Mandukbong(1,035.3 m; $128^{\circ}$54'24'E, $37^{\circ}$36'53'N). This work were investigated during the period of 1996. Resources vascular plants were composed of 97 families, 298 genera, 406 species, 70 varieties and 8 formae, Totaling 484 taxa. Among the investigated resources plants. 15 taxa(2.6%) were Korean endemic species. The forest were comparatively well conservated by Pteridophyta calculation(Pte-Q), 1.1 Useful of resources plants were Edible source(46.7%), Pasture source(37.2%), Medicinal source(35.5%), Ornamental source(12.1%)and Timber source(5.9%) respectively. The forest vegetion was classified into 1 order, 1 alliances, 1 suballiances and 4 communities; Rhododendro - Quercetalia mongolicae Kim 1990 Lindero - Quercion mongolicae Kim 1990 A. Typical community B. Quercus variablilis - Quercus mongolica Community Callicarpo - Quercenion serratae Kim 1990 C. Carex humilis v. nana - Pinus densiflora Community D. Juglans mandshurica - Urtica angustifloia community

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.106 no.2
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• pp.111-120
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• 2017

The best source of information on the conservation status of species at a global scale is the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Until now, 236 vascular plants from Korean peninsula have been evaluated using the IUCN red list categories and criteria. It indicated that five taxa were considered as critically endangered, 20 as endangered and nine as vulnerable species as a threatened status. On the other hand, the rest (189 taxa) were assessed as a least concern, which did not qualify for threatened species categories. Korea Ministry of Environment published a revised version of 57 species list by re-classifying endangered species with idiosyncratic qualitative criteria for two levels (I and II) followed by status reviews in 2011. However, two thirds species proposed by Ministry of Environment do not qualify as threatened. The major difficulties found in applying IUCN Red List criteria at the global scale was a lack of knowledge on the status of species at broader geographic scales and the perceived difficulty the causes. The lack of consistency between two lists constrains the prioritization of species-based conservation work at the national level. Due to a lack of centralized monitoring data for most species, this status is largely qualitatively and so it carries a high level of uncertainty. This is reflected in the high number of species with an unknown population trend. The current list of endangered species of flora and fauna by the Ministry of Environment should be recognized as the national list (local and population extinction), which is different from the IUCN Red list due to the different geographical contexts. Also, it is necessary to improve the quality of evaluation and conservation management system rather than presenting massive number of endangered species list.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.72-80
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• 2017

Fish fauna and community structures in freshwater were analyzed in the streams (12 stations) of the Bogil Island from May to September 2015. Total numbers of the sampled species and genus (9 families) were 21 and 17, respectively. Gobiidae was the most dominant taxa, which accounted for 47.6% (10 species) of the total species, and the relative abundance, based on the number of individuals, was 60.4% (1,157 individuals). Subdominant families were three taxa of Cyprinidae (3 species; 500 ind.), Mugilidae (2 species; 168 ind.) and Mugilidae (2 species; 128 ind.). The dominant species, based on the relative abundance, was Rhynchocypris oxycephalus (20.7%) and the subdominant species were Gymnogobius urotaenia (19.5%), Leucopsarion petersii (17.2%) and Chelon haematocheilus (8.5%). These species were composed of upstream-resident fish as well as migratory fishes, so the streams of the Bogil Island had unique characteristics in the fish compositions. Based on all the species sampled, 9 species (42.9%) were primary freshwater fishes, 11 species (52.4%) were peripheral fishes and 1 species (4.8%) was amphidromous fish. Korean endemic species and exotic species were not found in the streams of Bogil Island. According to the analysis of fish community structure, species richness index and species diversity index were highest (1.831, 1.957) in the Site 8 and lowest in the Site 4. In the meantime, the dominance index was highestin the Site 4 (1.00) and lowest in theSite 8 (0.17).

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.181-192
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• 2009

Sambucus pendula Nakai, which is an endemic on Ulleung Island of Korea, is characterized by a large pendulous inflorescence and small fruit. A set of 256 individuals were used to investigate the patterns of intraspecific variation of S. racemosa subsp. kamtchatica, S. racemosa subsp. sieboldiana, and S. williamsii including S. pendula using PCA (principal components analysis). This analysis showed that S. pendula was distinct based on its large inflorescence and long peduncle. Our data showed a morphological distinction between subsp. kamtchatica from northeastern areas and subsp. sieboldiana from Jeju Island, but the two taxa overlap in the southern and eastern parts of Korea in terms of chromosome number, color of style, and allozyme data. Our study agrees that S. pendula on Ulleung Island may be the result of genetic drift that occurred during isolation since the Quarternary period. This has been suggested as a reason for the genetic differences observed between two taxa and would explain the unique variation patterns of S. pendula. However, the morphological differentiation between the S. racemosa complex and S. pendula is not considered sufficient to warrant recognition of specific status. Therefore, we recommend that only one polymorphic species of S. racemosa in Eurasia be recognized and that S. pendula be considered a subspecies of S. racemosa.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.179-186
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• 2010

This study was conducted to provide basic information for conservation and restoration through investigation of vegetation and soil condition of Megaleranthis saniculifolia Ohwi, Korean endemic species, in Mt. Halla, Jeju Island. Very few individuals were discontinuously distributed and restricted at 1,075 m above sea level, very steep slope ($60-70^{\circ}C$), rocky area of north face of Eorimok Valley. For investigation of environmental condition, we established two $10\;{\times}\;10\;m$ quadrats in the habitats and one control quadrat. Twenty-four species were found at site 1 under 10-12 m Carpinus laxiflora tree layer (35%) and soil conditions are pH 5.9, moisture content (field capacity) 9.39%, organic carbon 8.22% and organic matter 14.17%, respectively. Site2, 15 taxa were found under 8-12 m Platycarya strobilacea tree layer (40%) and soil conditions are pH 5.07, moisture content 4.99%, organic carbon 5.34% and 9.21 percentage of organic matter. In the control quadrat, 14 taxa were found under 10 m Carpinus laxiflora tree layer (10%) and soil conditions are pH 5.27, moisture content 6.23%, organic carbon 4.74% and organic matter 8.17%, respectively. The principal causes of threat which were investigated in this study are competition among company, very steep slopes, artificial management of valley. For restoration and conservation of habitats, it is needed to suitable plans.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.222-246
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• 2012

Present paper is an outcome of a four-year floristic survey work carried out in Upper Siang district of eastern Himalayan region in India which is also recognized as one of the 39 known 'Biodiversity Hot-Spots' of the world. We present here with a vegetation analysis of this area along with a checklist of 1,003 taxa belonging to 110 families, 529 genera, 994 species, 1 subspecies and 8 varieties of the angiosperms. Besides, one new species, 3 new records to India and 82 endemic species were also recorded. The diversity of herbs and shrubs were found higher than the tree species. Orchidaceae was found the most dominant family followed by Poaceae and Fabaceae. Many threatened plants have also been reported from the area. However, rapid urbanization and Jhum cultivation are imposing direct threat to the natural vegetation. We suggest some conservation measures that could help protecting this natural heritage.