• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.23-36
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• 2010

The Cat Ba Islands in Hai Phong City, northern Vietnam, consist of a large limestone island with a maximum height of 322 m above sea level and 366 small limestone islets with a total area of about $180\;km^2$. The islands are relicts of karst limestone mountains that became submerged during the Holocene transgression 7000 - 8000 year ago. The combination of the longtime karst process and recent marine processes in the monsoonal tropical zone has created a very diversity landscape on the Cat Ba Islands that can be divided into 3 habitat types with 16 forms. The first habitat type is the karst mountains and hills, including karst mountains and hills, karst valleys and dolines, karst lakes, karst caves, and old marine terraces. The second habitat type is the limestone island coast, including beaches, mangrove marshes, tidal flats, rocky coasts, marine notch caves, marine karst lakes, and bights. The third habitat type is karst plains submerged by the sea, including karst cones (fengcong) and towers (fengling), bedrock exposed on the seabed, sandy mud seabed, and submerged channels. Like the landscape, the biodiversity is also high in ecosystems composed of scrub cover - bare hills, rainy tropical forests, paddy fields and gardens, swamps, caves, beaches, mangrove forests, tidal flats, rocky coasts, marine krast lakes, coral reefs, hard bottoms, seagrass beds and soft bottoms. The ecosystems on the Cat Ba Islands that support very high species biodiversity include tropical evergreen rainforests, soft bottoms; coral reefs, mangrove forests, and marine karst lakes. A total of 2,380 species have been recorded in the Cat Ba Islands, included 741 species of terrestrial plants; 282 species of terrestrial animals; 30 species of mangrove plants; 287 species of phytoplankton; 79 species of seaweed; 79 species of zooplankton; 196 species of marine fishes; 154 species of corals; and 538 species of zoobenthos. Many of these species are listed in the Red Book of Vietnam as endangered species, included the white-headed or Cat Ba langur (Trachypithecus poliocephalus), a famous endemic species. Human activities have resulted in significantly changes to the landscape end ecosytems of the Cat Ba islands; however, many natural aspects of the islandsd have been preserved. For this reason, the Cat Ba Islands were recognized as a Biological Reserved Area by UNESCO in 2004.

• Environmental Sciences Bulletin of The Korean Environmental Sciences Society
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.189-196
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• 1999

The community structure, phytomass, and primary productivity in Thuja orientalis stands on a limestone area located in Maepo-up, Chungbuk province in Korea were estimated quantitatively. Seven species including a small proportion of Quercus dentata were identified in the tree layer, 26 species including Ulmus macrocarpa in the shrub layer, and 79 species including Carex lnceolata in the herb layer of the Thuja stands. The vertical distribution of the fine root phytomass exhibited a power functional decrease relative to the soil depth. The seasonal changes in the fine root phytomass at a soil depth of 5 cm were closely related to the pecipitation in the study area. The productivity of the stand of stems, branches, leaves, and roots were 10.72, 0.82, 0.45 and 6.46 ton DM. $ha^{-1}$ .$yr^{-1}$, respectively. The Thuja stand had a high foliage(25%) and low rate of production per unit of foliage. The annual turnover rate of the fine roots int he Thuja stand was 6.71 $yr^{-1}$. The net primary production of the overstory including the understory was estimated at 19.48 ton DM.$ha^{-1}$.$yr^{-1}$ including an underground section of 6.46 ton DM.$ha^{-1}$.$yr^{-1}$(33%). The allocation ratio of net production to root was lower in the limestone Thuja communities than at the nearby non-limestone ones, whereas the production efficiency to leaf weight was higher in the limestone communities. These results would seem to indicate that the limited production capacity is due to the calcium toxicity and low availability of iron and phosphorus in a limestone soil with a high pH, calcium, and bicarbonate content with a strategy for survival in a hostile habitat.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.25 no.3 s.107
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• pp.145-152
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• 2002

Saussurea chabyoungsanica was recorded in new species by Lim Hyoung Tak in 1997. In order to understand the entity of new species, we investigated the new distribution sites, vegetation structure and soil environmental factors. Additionally discovered distribution sites of S. chabyoungsanica were Manduckbong, Mt. Sukbyoung, Mt. Duckhang, and Sukgaejae, which were located on ridge of the Taebaek Mountains. Those sites are typical limestone zones of Korea and among them Sukgaejae belongs to lower great limestone area and Manduckbong, Mt. Sukbyoung and Mt. Duckhang belong to upper great limestone area. According to the result of phytosociological study, plant communities of S. chabyoungsanica were classified by 1 Community group, 4 Communities and 2 Subcommunities; Carex humilis var. nana-Saussurea chabyoungsanica Community group in wide sense Quercus mongolica Community group, Lespedeza maximowiczii-Saussurea chabyounsanica Community, Galium kinuta-Saussurea chabyoungsanica Community, Salvia chanryonica-Saussurea chabyoungsanica Community, Zabelia coreana-Saussurea chabyoungsanica Community. Environmental factor analysis of habitat showed that the distribution site of S. chabyoungsanica was ridge of North aspect and displayed pH $7{\sim}8$ typical of limestone. Soil moisture content was high, whereas organic matter content was low. Considering its high occurrence in sites of $1{\sim}10cm$ in soil depth, and of $30{\sim}45%$ in relative light intensity, major distribution sites were outcrops and boundaries between shrubland and forest. After community division by vegetation structure in habitat of S. chabyoungsanica, we investigated characters of soil environment by community. As a result of PCA analysis of soil sample by community, it was possible to divide community by characters of soil environmental factor. The cumulative value of contribution rate represented in second dimension space was 73% and the major factors for that value were soil texture, organic matter content and field capacity.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.75-82
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• 2002

Saussurea chabyoungsanica was recorded in new species by Lim Hyoung Tak in 1997. In order to understand the entity of new species, we investigated the new distribution sites, vegetation structure and soil environmental factors. Additionally discovered distribution sites of S. chabyoungsanica were Manduckbong, Mt. Sukbyoung, Mt. Duckhang, and Sukgaejae, which were located on ridge of the Taebaek mountains. Those sites are typical limestone zones of Korea and among them Sukgaejae belongs to lower great limestone area and Manduckbong, Mt. Sukbyoung and Mt. Duckhang belong to uper great limestone area. According to the result of phytosociological study, plant communities of S. chabyoungsanica were classified by 1 Community group, 4 Communities and 2 Subcommunities; Carex humilis var. nana - Saussurea chabyoungsanica Community group in wide sense Quercus mongolica Community group, Lespedeza maximowiczii- Saussurea chabyoungsanica Community, Galium kinuta - Saussurea chabyongsanica Community, Saliva chanryonica - Saussurea chabyoungsanica Community, Zabelia coreana - Saussurea chabyoungsanica Community. Environmental factor analysis of habitat showed that the distribution site of S. chabyoungsanica was ridge of North aspect and displayed pH 7∼8 typical of limestone. Soil moisture content was high, whereas organic matter content was low. Considering its high occurrence in sites of 1∼10cm in soil depth, and of 30∼45% in relative light intensity, major distribution sites were outcrops and boundaries between shrubland and forest. After community division by vegetation structure in habitat of S. chabyoungsanica, we investigated characters of soil environment by community. As a result of PCA analysis of soil sample by community, it was possible to divide community by characters of soil environmental factor. The cumulative value of contribution rate represented in second dimension space was 73% and the major factors for that value were soil texture, organic matter content and field capacity.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.388-404
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• 2024

The focus of conserving plant diversity at the national level includes endemic species restricted to specific regions. This study thus aimed to investigate and evaluate the current distribution status of the Pulsatilla tongkangensis Y.N. Lee & T.C. Lee, one of Korea's endemic plants. The study also examined the vegetation environment of its habitat and assessed the structure of each population. Furthermore, the performance variable of each population was comparatively evaluated, and its annual growth characteristics were also observed. The distribution area of the P. tongkangensis is largely divided into limestone cliffs, ridge rocks, mountain peaks in limestone regions, and sandy soil areas resulting from weathering. Plants in the same distribution area were categorized based on their geographical location, which reflected their respective habitats. According to the population structure evaluated using the number of measured leaves numbers, the plants were categorized into stable and relatively unstable populations. A relatively young population was observed at the top of mountains and rocky ridges of limestone areas and sandy soil areas resulting from weathering. The number of mature individuals was the highest in the population observed around limestone cliffs. In contrast, the population near the top of the limestone mountain range had more leaves , but the plants were of short stature and had the fewest inflorescences. The individuals distributed in limestone cliffs grew, produced, and dispersed seeds for an extended period following establishment. The growth of individuals was limited due to environmental factors in the habitat of distribution areas, including ridges, mountain tops in limestone regions, and sandy soil areas resulting from weathering. It was assessed to have a comparatively brief life cycle compared to that of the plants found on limestone cliffs. P. tongkangensis began flowering in early spring, and both fruit maturation and seed dispersal were completed before the onset of summer. The habitats were determined to receive around seven hours of sunlight per day during the summer, which was considered suitable for establishing a life cycle for the P. tongkangensis, a species requiring strong sunlight for growth to establish and success in a dry environment. Considering the status data gathered from this study, the P. tongkangensis was classified as an endangered species (EN). In addition, the collected data are expected to provide important information for the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Therefore, we proposed that the P. tongkangensis holds significant value as a core distribution site, given the observation of species with diverse characteristics on limestone cliffs in Pyeongchang-gun and Jeongseon-gun, Gangwon-do.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.47 no.spc
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• pp.74-82
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• 2014

A perennial plant species of Ranunculaceae, Pulsatilla tongkangensis is a very rare species only found in limestone vegetation of South Korea. It is not only rare but also has great value as a horticultural resource, thus resulting in serious problems of overexploitation and habitat disturbance. For the conservation of the rare species and its development as a resource, the study was conducted with the following three aims: first, to investigate any new geographical distribution of the species; second, to identify the site condition and vegetation structure of its habitat; and third, to compare the ecology of P. tongkangensis in other microhabitats such as rock, slope and ridge area. A new distribution was found in limestone vegetation at Danyang-gun, Chungcheongbuk-do. It was, therefore, confirmed that the distribution of P. tongkangensis exactly coincides with the area of distribution of limestone, indicating a possibility that the species might be a calcicole. 87% of the microhabitats found in rocks. Compared to P. tongkangensis, at ridges or slopes, number of P. tongkangensis plants were few in rocks. It is possibly due to the lack of microhabitats that could settle in rocky areas. Once established on rocks, however, plants grew large enough to flower with higher number of leaves and flowers per plant, resulting in higher flowering rate on rocky areas. Cracks in/between rocks are likely to be safe places for the plants with favorable light conditions, abundant fine particles to root down and reduced competition for resources. Yet, further research is necessary in terms of determining whether the species is indeed a calcicole, whether other limiting factors work in its establishment stage, and genetic diversity exists in the population.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.250-293
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• 2021

Limestone areas are sedimentary rock outcrops consisting of calcium carbonate created several hundreds of millions of years ago by calcium-secreting marine organisms and subsequently lifted above sea level by tectonic movement. Limestone areas support very high levels of endemic species of plants and are recognized as biodiversity areas with much biological information. The purpose of this study is to devise a strategy for the comprehensive conservation of the vegetation of limestone areas through analyses of the floristics and plant species compositions in ten limestone areas on the Korean Peninsula. The results of 153 field surveys from April of 2010 to October of 2016 identified 1,202 taxa in total, representing 1,096 species, 18 subspecies, 84 varieties, 2 forms, and 2 hybrids in 530 genera and 133 families. Among them, 55 taxa were endemic plants to Korea, and 38 taxa were red data plants. The floristic target plants amounted to 102 taxa, specifically 27 taxa of grade V and 75 taxa of grade IV. In all, 121 alien plants were recorded in the investigated area. Calciphilous plants amounted to 102 taxa, specifically 14 taxa of calciphilous indicator plants, 30 taxa of superlative most calciphilous plants, and 58 taxa of comparative more calciphilous plants. A cluster analysis showed a high degree of similarity between sites that are geographically adjacent with similar habitat environments. Limestone areas also supported groups distinct from those in non-limestone areas, demonstrating the specificity of limestone flora. Plant geography approaches therefore appear to be crucial to gain a better understanding of the level of biodiversity in limestone areas, not only at the interspecific but also at the intraspecific level. These results highlight the importance of protecting limestone habitats to preserve not only their interspecific but also the intraspecific diversity, which is highly threatened.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.161-170
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• 2014

This study classified the types of major forest vegetation and analyzed the syngeographical characteristics of the vegetation in the Mt. Deokhang with exhumed lime rocks. The forest vegetation on the ridge of Mt. Deokhang was classified into 1 community group, 3 communities, 2 groups, and 2 subgroups, 5 types in total. The syngeographical form of Deokhangsan fully exhibited the topographical peculiarity, proximity to subalpine, and limestone zone. In addition, Carex ciliato-marginata, Carex humilis var. nana, and so forth which appear as species with high consistency in the well-drained semiarid zone represent the soil environment of the lime stone area and northern plants such as Carex ussuriensis and Asplenium ruta-muraria represent the characteristics of the vegetation in alpestrine in close proximity. Moreover, the Carpinus turczaninowii in the area appears to show the characteristics of migratory vegetation due to the peculiarity of the habitat. The syngeographical characteristics of this study area show both the characteristics of the habitat and phytogeographic characteristics. Furthermore, they are expected to contribute to the diversity in community and habitat form in Korean peninsula in terms of vegetation science.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.119-123
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• 2017

A new unrecorded species, Hypodematium squamuloso-pilosum Ching (Hypodematiaceae), previously known only in China, was newly found on the rocks of a limestone mountain in Yeongwol-gun, Gangwondo, Korea. This taxon is distinguished from H. glanduloso-pilosum (Tagawa) Ohwi, reported as a species of Hypodematium in Korea based on linear lanceolate scales on the rhizome and a stipe base, white long hairs throughout the leaves, rarely reddish brown curly linear scales on the stipe, and oblong-lanceolate basal pinna. This taxon was most similar to H. hirsutum based on the plant height, rhizome, scale shape and size, sori position, and indusium shape. A new Korean name, 'Huin-geum-teol-go-sa-ri', was given based on the long white hair throughout. Descriptions and illustrations of this taxon and a photograph of its habitat are provided from Korea.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Traditional Landscape Architecture
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.72-83
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• 2015

A plant diversity, which consists of indigenous plant community with Orientla thuja community (Natural monument no. 1) in Dodong, Daegu, is identified and analyzed as ecological characteristic to consider worth plants and vegetation resource of the region. The vascular plants of Thuja orientalis community were listed as 219 taxa (3.7% of all 4,881 taxa of Korean vascular plants); 67 families, 147 genera, 199 species, 16 varieties, and 4 forms. Vulnerable species (VU) and least concerned species (LC) were recorded based on IUCN standard; Koelretueria paniculata (VU), Thuja orientalis (LC), and Exochorda serratifolia (LC). Although the study site is a non-limestone area, a total of 15 taxa of calciphilous plants were identified; Cheilanthes argentea, Hypodematium glandulosopilosum, Asplenium retamuraria, Thuja orientalis, Spiraea blumei, Smilax sieboldii, etc. A total of 4 taxa endemic plants were identified; Prunus mandshurica for. barbinervis, Lespedeza maximowiczii var. tomentella, Forythia koreana (artificial origin), and Veronica pyrethrina. Among the list, 8 taxa of naturalized plants were identified; Fallopia dentatoalalta, Rumex crispus, Nasturtium officinale, Bidens frondosa, Erigeron annuus etc. Naturalization rate (NR) was 3.6%, of all 219 taxa of vascular plants and urbanization index (UI) was 2.2% of all 321 taxa of naturalized plants. Thuja orientalis occupies a lot of indigenous landscape in this study area which is the southern-limited part of a natural distribution where it can survive. The T. orientalis community, where indigenous plants have formed a characterful species composition based on habitat, has been confirmed as a worth national vegetation resource in an indigeous flora. It has been considered of plans for persistent conservation.