• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2018.10a
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• pp.32-32
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• 2018

Flora investigations in Korea have been conducted by many researchers for diverse purposes. Accumulated flora investigation data has not been utilized efficiently because there is no accessible database for comparison. To overcome this shortcoming, we constructed web-based database of flora investigation, named as the Integrated Korean Flora Database (IKFD; http://www.floradb.net/intro.php). Until now, 284 flora references (263 papers, 14 reports and books, and 7 unpublished papers written in between 1962 and 2017) were digitalized into the database. From 134,711 records, 4,301 species belonging to 228 families and 1,079 genera were identified via mapping with two major Korean plant species lists. Polygon areas originated from references were used for distribution of plant species, identifying precise distribution area. It will be a better index to show plant ecological characteristics. Collected micro-climate data provided by Korea Meteorology Administration were also integrated in IFKD for understanding correlation between distribution of plants and micro-climate. Cold hardiness zone which has been utilized for classifying climate zones. 12 out of 26 zones identified based on micro-climate data in Korea were mapped with distribution of plants. More than half species were appeared in zone 6a, 6b, 7a, and 7b. Taken together with these results, IKFD will be a fundamental platform for understanding plants in Korea flora investigation as well as a new standard for classifying distribution of plants. Moreover, Biodiversity Observation Database (BODB; http://www.biodiversitydb.info/intro.php) which integrates plant distribution data was also integrated for further studies.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2018.04a
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• pp.16-16
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• 2018

Flora investigations have been conducted by many researchers for a long time in Korea. Even though large amount of investigation data has been accumulated, there is no accurate statistics or database because most of data were published in a printed form. We developed a web-based database of flora investigation, named as the Integrated Korean Flora Database (http://www.floradb.net/) to understand distribution patterns and habitats of plants in Korea. Till now, 480 published paper, 356 thesis, 76 reports and books, and 8 unpublished papers written in between 1962 and 2017 were collected and their species lists from 280 papers were parsed into the database. From 124,105 records, 3,100 species belonging to 206 families and 965 genera were identified via comparing with two major Korean plant species lists. 55 endangered species, 159 endemic species, and 367 rare species were identified. The most frequently surveyed species were Commelina communis in herbaceous and Rosa multiflora in woody plants. Microclimate data provided by Korea Meteorological Administration were also integrated and analyzed to assign cold hardness zones for each species. By comparing minimum temperature (<2%) acquired from automated weather stations (AWS) near by plant species, 6a to 10b zones (7b is the most frequent zone) were identified. Integrated Korean Flora Database will be a fundamental platform of korea flora investigation as well as a new standard for classifying distribution of plants based on accurate microclimate data. Moreover, it can also provide evidences of investigated plant species, such as specimen and/or pictures with connecting to the InfoBoss Cyber Herbarium (http://herbarium.infoboss. co.kr/) and Biodiversity Observation Datbase (BODB; http://www.biodiversitydb.org/).

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.259-272
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• 2022

Background: The Korean Peninsula exhibits a characteristic graded floral distribution, with northern (Manchurian flora) and southern (China-Japan-Korea flora) lineage species coexisting according to climatic and topographical characteristics. However, this distribution has been altered by climate change. To identify ecosystem changes caused by climate change and develop appropriate measures, the current ecological status of the entire Korean Peninsula should first be determined; however, analysis of the current floral distribution in North Korea has been hampered for political reasons. To overcome these limitations, this study constructed a database of floral distributions in both South and North Korea by integrating spatial information from the previously established National Ecological Survey in South Korea and geocoding data from the literature on biological distributions published in North Korea. It was then applied to analyze the current status and distribution characteristics of Manchurian and China-Japan-Korea plant species on the Korean Peninsula. Results: In total, 45,877 cases were included in the Manchurian and China-Japan-Korea floral distribution database. China-Japan-Korea species were densely distributed on Jeju-do and along the southern coast of the Korean Peninsula. The distribution density decreased as the latitude increased, and the distributions reached higher-latitude regions in the coastal areas compared with the inland regions. Manchurian species were distributed throughout North Korea, while they were densely distributed in the refugia formed in the high-elevation mountain regions and the Baekdudaegan in South Korea. In the current distribution of biomes classified according to the Whittaker method, subtropical and endemic species were densely distributed in temperate seasonal forest and woodland/shrubland biomes, whereas boreal species were densely distributed in the boreal forest biome Korean Peninsula, with a characteristic gradation of certain species distributed in the temperate seasonal forest biome. Factor analysis showed that temperature and latitude were the main factors influencing the distribution of flora on the Korean Peninsula. Conclusions: The findings reported herein on the current floral distribution trends across the entire Korean Peninsula will prove valuable got mitigating the ecological disturbances caused by ongoing climate change. Additionally, the gathered flora data will serve as a basis for various follow-up studies on climate change.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.27-39
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• 2019

The object of this research is to compare zoology and botany name caused by language and science differences of South and North Korea since division. Biological data are collected North Korea biological information (flora and fauna, an illustrated flora and fauna book of North Korea, Etc.) and compared both side data based on national species list of korea, National Institute of Biological Resources. We could built 3,903 species of flora and 1,487 species flora on biological database. The criteria for comparative method is 5 types (korean name difference, scientific name difference, same species, similar species, North Korea endemic species). As a results, plants were identified korean name difference (911 species), scientific name difference (614 species), same species (880 species), North Korea endemic species (1,037 species) of 3,903 species, and animals were korean name difference (685 species), scientific name difference (104 species), same species (199 species), North Korea endemic species (226 species) of the 1,492 species. This results are expected to be in application with cooperation study for recovering bioinformatics differences of South and North Korea.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.256-260
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• 2010

We performed the floristic study of Carpathian mountains in Ukraine from April 2008 till October 2009. We designated eight important areas to investigate in Ukraine Carpathians including Svydovets, Chornohora, Kuziy-Trybushany, Maramorosh, Uholka-Shyrokyi Luh, Narcissi Valley, Chorna Hora, and Yulivska Hora. The total numbers of vascular plants in investigated area were 1,349 speices from 502 genera and 112 families. The endemic species to Carpathians numbered to 65 from 49 genera belonging to 24 families, and it was corresponded to 4.8% of the 1,349 vascular species. We prepared the list of vascular plants with compiling database on useful plants. Ukraine Carpathians endemic species could be applied as high value products in research and practice. Moreover, the flora of Carpathian mountains which is distributed in five nations in eastern Europe and famous for Primeval Beech Forests (Fagus sylvatica), is useful to compare the floristic study with Korean flora.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.1-4
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• 2013

Background: The age-adjusted incidence rate of prostate cancer (PCa) has been reported to be lower among Asians than Western populations. A traditional Japanese meal, high in soybean products or isoflavones, may be associated with a decreased risk of PCa. Equol, which is converted from daidzein by human intestinal flora, is biologically more active than any other isoflavone aglycone. Materials and Methods: We reviewed not only recent epidemiological studies on association of isoflavones with PCa risk, but also recent research on human intestinal bacteria responsible for converting daidzein into equol. Studies were systematically searched from the database published within the last 5 years of from 2008-2012. Results: Five out of 6 articles showed significant association of isoflavones with a decreased risk of PCa, and two of them consistently showed that equol-producers carry a significantly reduced risk of PCa. Furthermore, 5 human intestinal bacteria that can convert daidzein into equol were identified in the last 5 years. Conclusions: If equol can reduce risk of PCa, a possible strategy for reducing the risk of PCa may be to increase the proportion of equol-producers by changing the intestinal flora to carrying an equol-producing bacterium with dietary alteration or probiotic technology.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.455-466
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• 2013

The aim of this study is to seek application plans of National Ecosystem Survey database based on comparison and examination of feasible analysis methods for distribution characteristics of alien plants. In order to set up a correlation analysis method between alien plants and environmental factors, we had reviewed the 3rd National Ecosystem Survey guide book and consequently, two kinds of analysis method were tested. One was 1/25,000 scale map boundary based analysis and the other was representative mountain area based analysis. In this study we restricted the research area to select reliable surveyed database from whole "2011 National Ecosystem Survey flora database" according to two major criteria. First, an area defined by 1/25,000 scale map boundary and representative mountain area where the number of surveyed flora records should be within top 20%. Second, land cover map should also be built up inside that area. As a result, 25 map boundaries and 25 representative mountain areas were extracted to be analyzed. To limit a boundary for every representative mountain area we had analyzed distribution of environmental factors around that area by manual inspection with SPOT-5 remote sensed satellite image then designated 3km buffer zone from each alien plant location in that area. After then, naturalized index (NI) and urbanized index (UI) was calculated and correlations analysis was carried out. With the result of correlation analysis by map boundary only agricultural land area showed significant value of r (0.4~0.6, correlated) and the rest of factors did not. In the case of representative mountain area, the result showed that agricultural land, road and forest area showed significant value of r (0.6~0.8, highly correlated) which was corresponding to existing researches. Therefore, representative mountain area based method is preferable when using the alien plants database of National Ecosystem Survey for species distribution analysis. And also, considering the way of database utilization is strongly suggested at the first stage of survey planning for promoting active use of national ecosystem survey database.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.44-56
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• 2007

The flora was summarized as 195 taxa; 73 families, 138 genera, 168 species, 23 varieties and 4 forms in Jangsoo-ri windbreak forest and 151 taxa; 63 families, 118 genera, 131 species, 18 varieties and 2 forms in Pyeongsa-ri windbreak forest. Based on the list of the rare plants by the Forest Research Institute, 3 taxa and based on the list of Korean endemic plant 4 taxa were recorded in the studied areas; Puccinellia coreensis (Gramineae), Asarum maculatum (Aristolochiaceae), Prunus yedoensis (Rosaceae), Koelreuteria paniculata (Sapindaceae), Adenophora triphylla var. hirsuta (Campanulaceae). The Specific Plant Species which is categorized by the Ministry of Environment, Korea, was summarized as 23 taxa for the 1 degree of 17 taxa, 3 degree of 5 taxa, 5 degree of 1 taxa in Jangsoo-ri windbreak forest and 22 taxa for the 1 degree of 18 taxa, 3 degree of 3 taxa, 5 degree of 1 taxa in Pyeongsa-ri windbreak forest. From the enlisted the flora surveyed, the naturalized plants were 17 taxa in Jangsoo-ri windbreak forest and 19 taxa in Pyeongsa-ri windbreak forests with the Naturalization rate was 8.7 percent and 12.6 percent, respectively. In Jangsoo-ri windbreak forest, there has been occurred many man-made impair and development without legal institution and control. So, it needs in haste institutional conservation measures and systemic database construction about function and necessity of windbreak forest. In Pyeongsa-ri windbreak forest, recently many people visited here. So, if we make eco-tour place connecting nearby coast and windbreak forest, it will contribute resident's economic profit and opportunity, concerns about windbreak forest, and necessity of conservation measures. Recently, the windbreak forests in Jangsoo-ri and Pyeongsa-ri should be bereaved windbreak forest of function by the human activities.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.205-249
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• 2021

This study was carried out to survey the flora of Hongdo Island in Sinan-gun, Jeollanam-do, South Korea. Specimens collected from previous Hongdo flora studies were reexamined using a relevant biodiversity database, and field surveys were carried out 22 times from April of 2003 to October of 2020. Based on the specimens collected during both previous studies and this study, the identified vascular plants of Hongdo consisted of 472 taxa comprising 102 families, 296 genera, 425 species, 6 subspecies, and 41 varieties. Among them, 111 taxa are newly recorded in this study, and 6 taxa are described in detail in terms of their morphological characteristics and habitat. Also, 29 taxa were reviewed or re-identified with corresponding taxonomic annotations. In Korea, Hongdo represents the northern distributional limit of the 4 taxa of Goodyera biflora, Damnacanthus major, Calanthe aristulifera, and Hemerocallis hongdoensis. Moreover, Hosta yingeri and Saussurea polylepis are endemic to Hongdo and nearby islands in Korea. Distribution maps of these species were prepared. Protected species designated by the Ministry of Environment were 7 taxa consisting of 2 taxa of level I, specifically Sedirea japonica and Neofinetia falcata, and 5 taxa of level II, which were Cymbidium macrorhizon, Woodwardia japonica, Dendrobium moniliforme, Calanthe aristulifera, and Bulbophyllum inconspicuum. Red list plants as designated by the National Institute of Biological Resources numbered 11 taxa. Naturalized plants numbered 40 taxa.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.65-82
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• 2016

Korean Peninsula Flora Database (KPF database), developed by T.B. Lee Herbarium of Seoul National University comprises ca. 65,000 accessions of vascular plants collected from Korean peninsula from 1850 to 1945. Among these, material from North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) is represented with ca. 33,000 accessions. The largest part of this material [ca. 4287 accessions (13%) from North Korea] originates from five Japanese and one American collectors, such as Imai, Hanjiro, Mills, Ralph Garfield, Furumi, Masatomi, Nomura, Naohiko, Saito, Tatsumoto, and Okuyama, Shunki from 1909 to 1942. These data are the third largest holding (13%) of North Korean collections after Komarov, V.L and Nakai, T. A part of scientific report about the results of these expeditions had been published before, but the present publication set it sights on giving a first overview of the itineraries and the materials collected by five collectors in North Korea. Among these, Saito has by far the largest collection with 1,730 specimens, followed by five collectors in order with 1,067, 532, 510, 368 and 370 accessions by Mills, Nomura, Okuyama, Furumi, and Imai respectively.