• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.453-465
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• 2014

Hotspots are top sites in terms of species diversity as the most threatened and most diverse sites which have been used to select priority areas for reserves. The purpose of this paper is to identify biodiversity hotspots through analyzing nationwide spatial patterns of species richness and rarity of Korean mammals. Four endangered mammals and eleven common mammals were selected as target species. Environmental variables as model input data were consisted of topography, distance, and vegetation structure etc. and Maxent was used to develop species distribution models for target species. Species richness and rarity were used as index of biodiversity. The results of this study were as follows. Firstly, hotspots of species richness for endangered mammals were in high elevation and steep mountain areas. However, species richness for whole mammals were high in low elevation of mountains. Secondly, distribution pattern of species rarity for endangered mammals were similar as richness. However, hotspots of species rarity for whole mammals were a little different from species richness. Species rarity was high in both low and high elevation of mountain areas. This study will provide the useful information for a biodiversity assessment, a habitat conservation, a national ecological network plan, and the management of protected areas.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.52 no.4
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• pp.378-384
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• 2019

Red-eared slider, Trachemys scripta elegans, is one of the most famous species to disturb native ecosystems in the world. In South Korea, the species was imported as pet, and now it is found whole of the country. Recent, natural breeding and spreading of the turtle has been reported. In this paper, we investigated the environmental factors to affect the reproduction of T. s. elegans. We surveyed the distribution of the turtle in Jeju island, South Korea, between 2012 to 2017. We compared the land covers and climate of habitats from breeding sites and non-breeding sites. The species was found from 38 sites in Jeju island; 21 of breeding sites and 17 of non-breeding sites. The number of total and only adult turtles was significantly higher in breeding sites than non-breeding sites (P<0.05). In breeding site, the reproduction rate from the farmland was significantly higher than others(P<0.05). However, the rate of land covers was not significant in non-breeding site (P>0.05). The difference on the climate between breeding and non-breeding was not significant(P>0.05). Moreover, none of climate factors affected to reproduction of T. s. elegans(P>0.05). Our study showed that the land covers surrounding the habitats are more important than climate for reproduction of T. s. elegans in Jeju island. This result indicates investigating the habitat and surrounding is necessary for the control of reproduction and spreading of the introduced species.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.52 no.4
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• pp.333-339
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• 2019

The Red swamp crawfish Procambarus clarkii is native to the southern United States and inhibits all over the world including the United States, Asia, Africa and Europe. In Europe, it is known to disrupt ecosystems such as competition with native crayfish. In this study, habitats of red swamp crawfish were identified in Jiseok stream (15.5 km section) and Daecho stream (6.1 km section) of Youngsan river. A total 33 red swamp crawfish were captured. A female captured in Jiseok stream carried 215 newly hatched red swamp crawfish in her the burrow. As a result of the analysis of the habitat environment, the water temperature was ranged of 2.4~32.8℃, conductivity was 53.4~502.3 μS cm^-1 and DO was 0.74~22.64 mg L^-1. As a result of measuring HOBO, the temperature ranged from -9~48.1℃, showing a change of 57.1℃ throughout the year. The variation of the water temperature throughout the year from 2.9~33.9℃ was found to be 31℃. Red swamp crawfish have a high adaptability and a wide range of environmental resistance, and report a sharp increase in newly invaded areas, negatively affecting indigenous organisms. In addition, it can be used as a medium for the spread of diseases and parasites, so prompt investigation and research should be carried out.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.307-316
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• 2003

Fish assemblage structure in a sheltered shallow water in the Southern Coast of Korea was examined monthly. Sampling was conducted in Doam Bay using a beam trawl between March 2001 and February 2001. A total of 53 fish species from 33 families were caught. Pinkgray goby (Chaeturichthys hexanema), ponyfish (Leiognathus nuchalis) and yellowfin goby (Acanthogobius favimanus) were the most frequent species, comprised 67.4％ of the total numbers captured. Snailfish (Liparis tanakai), yellowfin goby (Acanthogobius flavimanus) and pinkgray goby (Chaeturichthys hexanema) represented 50.8％ of the total biomass. While total abundance (number of individuals) and biomass were high in autumn and winter, species richness (number of species) and diversity were high in spring. Cluster analysis, based on monthly abundance data of the 14 most frequent species, showed that the species were separated into three different groups. Group A composed of pinkgray goby, yellowfin goby, robust tonguefish (Cynoglossus robustus) and scaly hairfin anchovy (Setipinna taty), which were year-round residents, and devil flathead (Onigocia spinosa), Red dragonet (Repomucenus lunatus) and ponyfish, which were abundant in autumn, group B surmullet (Upeneus japonicus), hairtail (Trichiurus lepturus) and gaff-topsail goby (Cryptocentrus filifer), which were abundant in summer, and group C grassfish (Liparis tanakai), spotted velvefish (Erisphex pottii), chameleon goby (Tridentiger trigonocephalus) and Richardson dragonet (Repomucenus richardsonii), which were abundant in winter and spring. A seasonal homogeneity of fish assemblage indicates that overall fish assemblage in Dom Bay is largely controlled by year-round residents.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.356-364
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• 2009

In 2006 and 2007, there was a big outbreak of the Ussur Brown Katydid, Paratlanticus ussurriensis in the central part of Korea attacking some orchard trees. Until 2000, the katydid had not been regarded as an agricultural pest because they were distributed widely in Korea with low population density and their habitats were confined mainly to hillsides of forested areas. The fact that katydid attacked orchard trees with a higher population density seemed to be related to a change in feeding environment. And the shift of their habitats from oak woodlands to commercial orchards was thought to be related to the nutritional contents of their feed. In an attempt to understand these relationships, we conducted an ecological study of the affected areas. When the katydids changed their habitats in early May of 2008 and 2009, they shifted their host plants from oak trees to peach trees. The habitat shift was closely related to the nitrogen (N) content of the host plant leaves. When katydid moved to the hillside adjacent to orchard farm, N content of oak tree leaves decreased dramatically from 5.3% to 2.2%. At that time N content of peach tree leaves were higher than the 2.2% of oak leaves, showing 3.5~5.0%. This range of N content of peach tree leaves has been consistent until late June. And feed preference analysis carried out in the laboratory showed that katydid prefered peach tree leaves to peach fruit to oak tree leaves.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.553-563
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• 2009

This study was conducted to analyze the changes in the echolocation of Pipistrellus abramus according to environmental characteristics. The survey was conducted in the day-roosting site of P. abramus located in Gyeongju City (North Gyeongsang Province) from April to August, 2009. The environmental characteristics during the research were classified in six categories: the emergence time after sunset moving time from day roost to feeding areas; rice fields; forest edges; open spaces; and residential areas. Analysis results showed that there are differences in environmental characteristics and also differences between the moving time to the habitat and the moving time to capture preys. At the emergence time from day roost, Pipistrellus abramus used a FM signal with a short pulse-duration. In open spaces, however, they used a CF signal with a long pulse-duration. In different environmental situations, they used both FM and CF signals, although the types of pulse which they used were different. Except pulse-duration, there were significant differences in pulse-interval, peak-frequency, starting-frequency and ending-frequency between the movement among habitats and the movement to capture preys. Except the emergence time from day-roost, they showed a narrow band FM signal and a long pulse-duration that are suitable to search for insects by sensing echoes of insects when they moved among their habitats. When they were out to capture their preys, they showed a broad band FM signal and a short pulse-duration which enabled them to widely search and accurately locate their preys.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.103 no.2
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• pp.264-269
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• 2014

The aim of this study was to determine the current distribution area of Robinia pseudoacacia habitat and to estimate its stand yield as well as its carbon stocks. In order to do so, the area of R. pseudoacacia distribution is obtained based on the large-scaled forest type map (1:5,000). Also, Weibull diameter distribution model is used to predict the yield of R. pseudoacacia stands. In addition, carbon emission factor is applied to calculate carbon stocks and removals. To obtain the stand yield of R. pseudoacacia, we developed estimation equation considering growth factors of the stand, e.g. mean diameter, the basal area, maximum and minimun diameter and etc. and tested it to ensure accuracy. Consequently, estimation equation derived from all growth factors have shown significance that could also be used for analysis. Site index was also established to determine the productivity of the forestland that later turned out to be ranging from 16 to 22. Based on these results, stand yield tables were drawn up. R. pseudoacacia is widely distributed in inland areas of Gyeongsang, Chungcheong and Gyeonggi provinces which covers total area of 26,770 ha. And when it is converted into carbon stocks, it amounts to 2,517,598tC with annual carbon uptake of 3.76tC/ha which is comparable to Querqus species that is known to storer large amounts of carbon. Therefore, R. pseudoacacia is also expected to serve as a viable carbon pool that would contribute to the mitigation of climate change. Furthermore, stand yield tables, an outcome of this survey would assist not only in proper management but also in sustainable management policy of R. pseudoacacia.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.1136-1142
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• 2012

The roles of paddy fields are re-evaluated as an artificial wetland. Although 44% of total aquatic invertebrates in South Korea are observed in a rice paddy, information of their distribution and characteristics of habitat use is limited yet. This study was carried out to provide information and characterizing distribution of community of aquatic invertebrates using a rice paddy through the South Korea. Aquatic invertebrates were collected at 284 sites of a rice paddy in South Korea from June to August, 2005, 2006 and 2007. We grouped sampling sites according to its species and population of aquatic invertebrates using a non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS). Total 21 orders 60 families 114 species were collected from a rice paddy. Coleoptera (25%), Heteroptera (17%), Diptera (17%) and Odonata (12%) were observed. Aquatic invertebrates were classified into three groups (Group 1: Gangwon, Gyeonggi and Chungbuk; Group 2: Chungnam, Jeonbuk, Jeonnam and Jeju; Group 3: Gyeongbuk and Kyeongnam). In Group 1, Muljarus japonicas distributed mainly Gangwondo and Chungbuk. In Group 2, Sigara nigroventralis and S. substriata were mainly observed. In Group 3, higher density of Daphnia sp. and Chironomidae gen. spp. was found in the southern part of Korea.

• Animal Systematics, Evolution and Diversity
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.48-53
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• 2012

The tiger population that once inhabited the Korean peninsula was initially considered a unique subspecies (Panthera tigris coreensis), distinct from the Amur tiger of the Russian Far East (P. t. altaica). However, in the following decades, the population of P. t. coreensis was classified as P. t. altaica and hence forth the two populations have been considered the same subspecies. From an ecological point of view, the classification of the Korean tiger population as P. t. altaica is a plausible conclusion. Historically, there were no major dispersal barriers between the Korean peninsula and the habitat of Amur tigers in Far Eastern Russia and northeastern China that might prevent gene flow, especially for a large carnivore with long-distance dispersal abilities. However, there has yet to be a genetic study to confirm the subspecific status of the Korean tiger. Bone samples from four tigers originally caught in the Korean peninsula were collected from two museums in Japan and the United States. Eight mitochondrial gene fragments were sequenced and compared to previously published tiger subspecies' mtDNA sequences to assess the phylogenetic relationship of the Korean tiger. Three individuals shared an identical haplotype with the Amur tigers. One specimen grouped with Malayan tigers, perhaps due to misidentification or mislabeling of the sample. Our results support the conclusion that the Korean tiger should be classified as P. t. altaica, which has important implications for the conservation and reintroduction of Korean tigers.

• Ecology and Resilient Infrastructure
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.291-295
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• 2015

The insect community structures between a plantation of Pinus rigida and a secondary forest of Quercus monglica were compared to find out one of the ecological roles of a forest planted in 1960s in a suburban area of Seoul, Korea. We collected the insect samples biweekly from September to November in 2014 by using 5 pitfall traps in both forests. The results of analyzing the community structure index of insects in both forests of P. rigida and Q. Mongolica showed that the species richness was a little higher and species evenness was a little lower in P. rigida plantation, and species diversity and dominance were similar in the two forests. The analysis results of insect community structure at the two forests did not show any significant difference. We conclude that the plantation of P. rigida over 40-50 years could sufficiently perform an ecological function as an insect habitat.