• Ecology and Resilient Infrastructure
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.171-183
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• 2023

Estuarine wetlands, which form a distinctive brackish water zone, serve as important habitats for organisms that have adapted to and thrive in this environment. Nonetheless, excessive development and utilization result in artificial disruptions that alter the distinctive functions and attributes of estuarine wetlands. To collect the basic data for the conservation of estuarine wetlands with excellent ecosystems, we investigated the vegetation distribution characteristics and biota status of the Taehwagang River Estuarine Wetland. Data from vegetation surveys have shown that 25 plant communities of six physiognomic vegetation types, including willow vegetation, lotic and lentic herbaceous vegetation, floating/submerged vegetation. In the upper reaches, where topographical diversity was high, various types of wetland vegetation were distributed. In terms of biodiversity, a total of 696 species, including 7 endangered wildlife species, were identified. Due to good ecological connectivity, tidal rivers are formed, brackish water species including various functional groups are distributed around this section. The inhabitation of various water birds, such as diving and dabbler ducks, were confirmed according to the aquatic environment of each river section. The collection of ecological information of the Taehwagang River Estuarine Wetland can be used as a framework for establishing the basis for conservation and management of the estuarine ecosystem and support policy establishment.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2021.04a
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• pp.37-37
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• 2021

Calystegia soldanella L. is a perennial herbaceous halophyte belonging to the convolvulaceae family, which mainly grows in coastal sand dunes in Korea. Shoots and rhizomes are edible, and roots called 'Hyoseon Chogeun' are known to have medicinal effects such as antipyretic, sterilization, and diuretic. In addition, physiological activities of antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antifungal and PTP-1B (protein tyrosine phosphate-1B) inhibition have been reported. In this study, in vitro induction cell lines of C. soldanella L. collected from the coastal sand dunes in Jeju island was redifferentiated into adventitious roots that can be used as medicinal resources. Also the biomass of mass-proliferated adventitious roots using a bioreactor were evaluated. Plants of C. soldanella L. were collected from the crevice of the seashore in the coastal area of Taeheung 2-ri, Namwon-eup, Seogwipo-si. Then, it was separated into leaves, stems, rhizomes, and roots, and surface sterilized with 70% ethyl alcohol and 2% NaOCl (sodium hypochlorite). After washing with sterilized water, each organ section was cultured in Hormone-free MS medium (Murashige & Skoog Medium). As a result, the induction response rates were evaluated at 85% and 55%, respectively, in terms of callus formation and shoot generation in the rhizome segment. In the case of the adventitious roots morphological characteristics induced by single-use treatment of auxin-based plant growth regulators IBA and NAA from redifferentiated shoots were compared. Most efficient adventitious root culture method as a rooting rate, number, length, and biomass proliferation in the bioreactor system was confirmed when treated by culturing in MS salts, Sucrose 30 g·L^-1, and IBA 1mg·L^-1 for 4 weeks. In this study, the medium composition and culture period were confirmed using a bioreactor system to mass-proliferate adventitious roots derived from C. soldanella L. in Jeju island. Also this adventitious root line developed a new medicinal material could increase value of the bio-industry ingredient through quantitative and qualitative screening of phyto-bioactive compounds.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2020.08a
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• pp.67-67
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• 2020

Though there is an on-going need for the diversity of ornamental plants for in-door environment, their growth and stress adaptability in comparatively low light intensity condition require further studies for implementation. Here investigates the growth and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters of Farfugium japonicum (L.) Kitam, Liriope muscari (Decne.) L.H.Bailey and Acorus gramineus Aiton under several light intensities which were based on common in-door environment. The growth measurement of the plants included the quantity, length, width and SPAD value of the leaves. Calculated values of Fm/Fo, Fv/Fm, Pi_Abs, ETo/RC and DIo/RC were used as the parameters of the chlorophyll fluorescence under 10, 50, 100 and 200 PPFD (μmol·m^-2·s^-1) light intensities. In-door plants group was put in a closed room allowing no other light sources for 10 weeks and the control group was put in glass-greenhouse for the same period. The overall in-door growth of L. muscari was not significantly different in all light intensities compared to the control group and even showed the higher SPAD values. Also, an increasing tendency of Pi_Abs value under 10 to 100 PPFD was observed implying that L.muscari could adapt well to in-door environment. Measurement of A. gramineus growth mostly showed the highest values in the control group especially in the number of the leaves. Nevertheless, chlorophyll fluorescence parameters showed no significant value difference between in-door and the control groups and thus, A. gramineus might have possibility of successful adaptation to in-door environment. F. japonicum showed deficient growth in plant height and leaf length compared to the control but, it seemed to be able to sustain ornamental value under in-door light intensities. Furthermore, Pi_Abs and DIo/RC values were increased under in-door light conditions suggesting potential adaptability of F. japonicum.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.31-44
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• 2024

The coastal dune ecosystem is one of the ecosystems under the most development pressure in Korea. Therefore, it is necessary to study the ecological location and related ecological phenomena of coastal dune plants, but related studies are lacking. Through this study, we intend to conduct research on the structure and restoration of dune plants, focusing on the coastal dunes in Jeju Island, which are affected by artificial development pressure and the continuous increase in tourists among many coastal dunes in Korea. Ecosystems of coastal sand dunes for vegetation survey in Jeju Island are selected based on naturalness and preservation. In this study, 23 major coastal dunes on Jeju Island including Udo were selected. In the coastal dunes of Jeju Island, a whole species survey and quadrat survey were carried out. The vegetation survey at study sites were conducted on May to September 2022, when the vegetation is clearly visible. At the survey site, the dune area was identified at the beginning and the plant species were recorded until no more new species appeared. Vegetation survey in the field was performed by 103 quadrat establishments and was conducted using Braun-Blanquet method. A total of 277 species appeared, and the most common species were Vitex rotundifolia and Calystegia soldanella. The frequency of both Vitex rotundifolia and Calystegia soldanella was approximately over 90%. The proportion of woody and herbaceous in all emerging species was 7.2% and 92.8%, respectively. The total number of species found in the quadrat survey was 98. As a result of classifying plant communities based on species dominance in the quadrats, it was analyzed into 30 plant communities. The plant communities that appeared with a frequency of 2 or more on the main island of Jeju were Vitex rotundifolia, Imperata cylindrica var. koenigii, Ischaemum antephoroides, Wedelia prostrata, Elymus mollis, Calystegia soldanella, Artemisia scoparia, and Tetragonia tetragonoides. The DCCA(detrended canonical correspondence analysis) based on the vegetation and environment factor matrix showed that the height and covers of the dominant plant species explain significantly the variation and distribution of coastal sand dune species on Jeju island. Thus, we may propose a plan to restore the coastal dunes of Jeju island as helping colonization and establishment of mainly sand dune native perennials and trees, preserving native plant communities that are declining and preserving present tree strips of Pinus thunbergii, Litsea japonica, Pittosporum tobira and Vitex rotundifolia.

• The Korean Journal of Quaternary Research
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.41-51
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• 2024

The Sincheon wetland shows a remarkable diversity of fluvial landforms, such as river islands, anastomosing channels, braided channels, and sand-gravel bars, which contribute to its rich ecological habitat. The wetland area is characterized by a ecological diversity of herbaceous and woody plants. Significant changes in land cover within the wetlands were observed from 2008 to 2020. Notably, there was a rapid decrease in agricultural area from 18% to 0.04%, while the vegetation area expanded from 45% to 54%. Concurrently, the water area also experienced a notable increase from 34% to 41%. The surface sediment composition in the studied area displays sandy loam characteristics and exhibits acidic soil properties. Sediment acidity tends to increase downstream and in the central part of channels. Variations in acidity are also observed at nearby collection sites due to the tributaries and local discharge. The presence of dense vegetation in river islands and bars has led to a significant transformation of sediments into soil, with this change being more pronounced downstream, particularly near the weirs. The installation of a weir in Sincheon wetland is believed to have a significant impact on altering flow velocities between upstream and downstream sections, as well as influencing erosion and sediment deposition patterns. However, given the formation of landforms in response to weirs, effective administration and management are essential to address potential risks of catastrophic environmental disruptions, such as the removal of weirs and/or the maintenance of river channels.

• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
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• v.57 no.5
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• pp.321-332
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• 2024

Understanding the status of surface cover in riparian zones is essential for river management and flood disaster prevention. Traditional survey methods rely on expert interpretation of vegetation through vegetation mapping or indices. However, these methods are limited by their ability to accurately reflect dynamically changing river environments. Against this backdrop, this study utilized satellite imagery to apply the Random Forest method to assess the distribution of vegetation in rivers over multiple years, focusing on the Naeseong Stream as a case study. Remote sensing data from Sentinel-2 imagery were combined with ground truth data from the Naeseong Stream surface cover in 2016. The Random Forest machine learning algorithm was used to extract and train 1,000 samples per surface cover from ten predetermined sampling areas, followed by validation. A sensitivity analysis, annual surface cover analysis, and accuracy assessment were conducted to evaluate their applicability. The results showed an accuracy of 85.1% based on the validation data. Sensitivity analysis indicated the highest efficiency in 30 trees, 800 samples, and the downstream river section. Surface cover analysis accurately reflects the actual river environment. The accuracy analysis identified 14.9% boundary and internal errors, with high accuracy observed in six categories, excluding scattered and herbaceous vegetation. Although this study focused on a single river, applying the surface cover classification method to multiple rivers is necessary to obtain more accurate and comprehensive data.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.282-289
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• 2023

Background: As wildlife habitats are being destroyed and growth environments are changing, the survival of animals and plants is under threat. Epilobium hirsutum L., a species that inhabits wetlands, has held legally protected status since 2012. However, no specific measures are currently in place to protect its habitat, leading to a decline in remaining populations as a result of land use change and human activities. Results: The growth environment (including location, climate, land use, soil, and vegetation) of the five habitat sites (Samcheok, Taebaek1, Taebaek2, Cheongsong, Ulleung) of E. hirsutum L. was investigated and analyzed. These habitats were predominantly situated in flat areas with gentle south-facing slopes, at an average altitude of 452.7 m (8-726 m) above sea level in Gangwon-do and Gyeongsangbuk-do. The average annual temperature ranged 11.5℃ (9.2℃-12.9℃), whereas the average annual precipitation ranged 1,304.5 mm (1,062.7-1,590.7 mm). The surrounding land use status was mainly characterized by mountainous areas, and human interference, such as agricultural land and roads, was commonly found in proximity to these natural habitats. Soil physicochemical analysis revealed that the soil was predominantly sandy loam with a slightly high sand content. The average pH measured 7.64, indicating an alkaline environment, and electrical conductivity (EC) averaged 0.33 dS/m. Organic matter (OM) content averaged 66.44 g/kg, available phosphoric acid (P₂O₅) content averaged 115.73 mg/kg, and cation exchange capacity (CEC) averaged 23.43 cmolc/kg. The exchangeable cations ranged 0.09-0.43 cmol⁺/kg for potassium (K), 10.23-16.21 cmol⁺/kg for calcium (Ca), 0.67-4.94 cmol⁺/kg for magnesium (Mg), and 0.05-0.74 cmol⁺/kg for sodium (Na). The vegetation type was categorized as E. hirsutum community with high numbers of E. hirsutum L., Persicaria thunbergii (Siebold & Zucc.) H. Gross, Phragmites japonica Steud., Humulus japonicus (Siebold & Zucc.), and Bidens frondosa L.. An ecological flora analysis, including the proportion of lianas, naturalized plants, and annual herbaceous plants, revealed that the native habitat of E. hirsutum L. was ecologically unstable. Conclusions: Analysis of the habitat of E. hirsutum L., a class II endangered wildlife species, provided essential data for local conservation and restoration efforts.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.9
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• pp.1109-1117
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• 2013

Induction of G1 Arrest by Methanol Extract of Lycopus lucidus in Human Lung Adenocarcinoma A549 Cells Lycopus lucidus, a herbaceous perennial, is used as a traditional remedy in East Asia, including China and Korea. It has been reported that L. lucidus has anti-allergic effects, inhibitory effects on cholesterol acyltransferase in high glucose-induced vascular inflammation, and anti-proliferative effects in human breast cancer cells. However, the molecular mechanisms of the anti-cancer effects of L. lucidus have not yet been fully determined. In this study, we evaluated the anti-cancer effect and the mechanism of action of L. lucidus in human lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells using methanol extracts of L. lucidus (MELL). MELL treatment showed cytotoxic activity in a dose-dependent manner and induced G1 arrest in A549 cells. The induction of G1 arrest by MELL was associated with the up-regulation of phospho-CHK2 and the down-regulation of Cdc25A phosphatase. In addition, MELL treatment induced decreased expression of G1/S transition-related proteins, including CDK2, CDK4, CDK6, cyclin D1 and cyclin E. MELL also regulated the mRNA expression of CDK2 and cyclin E. On the other hand, the expression of p53 and the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21 was not induced by MELL. Collectively, these results suggest that MELL may exert an anti-cancer effect by cell cycle arrest at G1 phase through the ATM/CHK2/Cdc25A/CDK2 pathway in A549 cells.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.357-364
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• 2014

This study aimed to determine effects of the use of water-retention additive, hydrophilic polymer, for extensive green roofs on growth of Juniperus chinensis var. sargentii and Euonymus fortunei 'Emerald and Gold' for woody plants, and Carex kobomugi and Carex pumila for herbaceous plants. Five different contents of hydrophilic polymer including 0% (Control), 1.0%, 2.5%, 5.0%, and 10% (polymer: medium (w/w), dry weight basis) were added to each of the container filed with a 100 kg of growth medium. Ten of plants were transplanted in each of square container ($1m(L){\times}1m(W){\times}0.3m$ (H)) built on the roof platforms in randomized complete block design in the $20^{th}$ of May, 2013. In results, excessively high volumetric soil water content, about 97-98%, was found in the substrate under elevated hydrophilic polymer concentration of at least 2.5%, during the entire growing period. The moisture content of the substrate containing 1.0% of hydrophilic polymer was higher about 20% in the range between 70% and 80%, compared tho that of Control substrate in the range between 50% and 60%, for 27 days after transplanting prior to abundant rainfall, indicating that the application of hydrophilic polymer to the extensive green roof substrate is effective to eliminate drought condition by retaining water in the substrate. Euonymus fortunei 'Emerald and Gold' and Carex kobomugi resulting in higher plant growth with 2.5% than those of the other treatment plants. Juniperus chinensis var. sargentii was observed the highest growth under 1.0% hydrophilic polymer treatement, and Carex pumila was founded the best growth with Control respectively. Plants that grown in both the 1.0% and 2.5% hydrophilic polymer survived all, while the plants that grown in the 5.0% and 10% hydrophilic polymer died after 3 months. These results suggest that advantage of the addition of hydrophilic polymer may be greater in drought-tolerant plants, but the mixture proportion of hydrophilic polymer should be determined according to the different features of the plant species being grown.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.77-90
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• 2015

BACKGROUND: The field margins, which are uncultivated area of permanent vegetation located adjacent to field, play an important role in enhancing biodiversity in the agricultural ecosystem. This study focused on floristic characteristics on dry field margins in Korea Peninsula. METHODS AND RESULTS: This study was conducted at margins of 196 dry fields in 32 areas in 8 provinces in May and September 2013. The vascular plants of the dry field margins were listed 347 taxa which contain 73 families, 219 genera, 311 species, 1 subspecies, 30 varieties and 5 forms. Of these 347 taxa, 48 taxa were woody plants and 299 taxa were herbaceous plants. Among total 73 families, Compositae (17.6%) was the most dominant family, and followed Gramineae (15.9%), Polygonaceae (5.8%), Leguminosae (4.9%) and Cyperaceae (3.8%). Based on relative frequency values of survey fields, the appearance frequency of Digitaria ciliaris (89.8%) was the highest, and followed Acalypha australis (86.2%), Artemisia princeps (82.1%), Commelina communis (80.6%) and Portulaca oleracea (80.6%). Disturbance index of dry field margins was 55.0% at national level, and Gangwon region was the highest among the 8 regions at regional level. Life form spectrum was determined to be $Th-R_5-D_4-etype$. CONCLUSION: These results will be used fundamental data for studies to improve or even stabilize the current state of plant biodiversity in agricultural environments.