• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2018.10a
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• pp.75-75
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• 2018

Watermelons, Citrullus species(Cucurbitaceae), are native to Africa and have been cultivated since ancient times. T he fruit flesh of wild watermelon is watery, but typically hard-textured, pale-colored and bland or bitter. The familiar sweet dessert watermelons, C. lanatus, featuring non-bitter, tender, well colored flesh, have a narrow genetic base, suggesting that they are originated from a series of selection events in a single ancestral population. In this study, considered as sweet dissert watermelon, genetic resources, C. lanatus, comprising of traditional cultivars and local accessions were collected from 18 different countries in four continents. A total of 60 accessions were characterized morphologically according to RDA genebank descriptors combined with Japan and China, list for 11 qualitative characteristics, leaf length, leaf width, petiole length, petiole diameter-source, stalk end length, stalk diameter, fruit length, fruit diameter, rind thickness, flesh sugar content($^{\circ}brix$), fruit weight-sink, and 6 sink related characters, leaf margin incision-source, fruit shape, fruit skin ground color, fruit skin stain color, fruit skin stain pattern and flesh color-sink, were also investigated. Even though the relatedness between some morphological traits and fruit weight or fruit sweetness showed no significance, the accessions investigated have a great deal of variation for most of the morphological traits. Additionally, the accessions which showed good performance in flesh color and fruit shape (IT271048) and high sugar content of flesh (IT274119, IT290118) above 14brix, were investigated in this experiment. The accessions, which have the information on specific traits including the selected accessions could be introduced, distributed and investigated for further use.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.639-650
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• 2022

Abeliophyllum distichum Nakai, a rare plant with distylous characteristics, is native to certain parts of the Korean Peninsula. It is registered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as a globally endangered plant. This study was conducted to establish an appropriate local conservation management plan suitable for future A. distichum populations by comparing and analyzing the flowering characteristics and population size according to distyly based on the results of quantitative surveys in 14 regions, including 8 areas with native populations of A. distichum and 6 natural monument populations. The number of individuals appearing in each population group was surveyed, and the flowering individuals were identified by style as being either pin or thrum flower types as they were being examined and recorded on the site. In total, 13,130 individuals of A. distichum (7,003 flowering and 6,127 non-flowering individuals) were recorded, but the balance of the number of pin- and thrum-flowered individuals in each population was not significant (p<0.05), indicating an imbalanced state. In particular, the Yeongdong (YD) population was very disproportionate compared to other populations, suggesting that its genetic diversity was low and the possibility of inbreeding was high. The average flowering and fruiting rates by management unit were much higher in the natural monument populations (89.2% and 55.3%, respectively) than in the natural habitat populations (39.0% and 8.5%, respectively). It may be due to a difference in reproductive growth resulting from light inflow into the forest caused by the upper crown closure. The area of occupation (AOO) of A. distichum on the Korean Peninsula covered an area of 23,224.5 m². Although the natural monument population was smaller than the natural habitat population, its density was higher, likely as a result of the periodic management of natural monument populations, where the installation of protective facilities in certain areas restricts population spread. Conservation of A. distichum populations requires removing the natural monument populations suspected of anthropogenic and genetic disturbances and expanding the conservation priority population by designating new protected areas. Although the habitats of natural monument populations are managed by the Cultural Heritage Administration and local governments, there are no agencies that are responsible for managing natural habitat populations. Therefore, institutional improvement in the overall management of A. distichum should be prioritized.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2020

Investigations of distribution status and extinction threat evaluation of the Korean endemic species, Iksookimia yongdokensis were undertaken from 2017 to 2018. Among the 22 streams and 97 sampling sites investigated during the study period, samples of I. yongdokensis were collected from 9 streams at 37 sites (from Daejongcheon Stream of Gyeongju-si to Songcheon Stream of Yeongdeok-gun). The appearance of I. yongdokensis was relatively common in streams such as Hyeongsangang River (15 stations), Yeongdeok Oshipcheon Stream (4 stations), Gokgangcheon Stream (4 stations), Chuksancheon Stream (3 stations) and Daejongcheon Stream (3 stations). The main habitat of I. yongdokensis was in pools on flat-land in streams of clean water with slow velocity, and with pebble, gravel and sand bottoms. Previous records of the appearance of I. yongdokensis, indicate they were first seen at seven stations including Jangsacheon Stream, but they were not present in Songcheon Stream. Compared to our results there is evidence as noted for a 38.9% reduction in occupancy within 3 generations (10.5 years), and a decline inhabitat quality. Therefore, I. yongdokensis is now considered vulnerable (VU A2ace) based on the IUCN Red List categories and criteria. The main reasons for the decline were assumed to be dry weathering in the river, the introduction and diffusion of exotic fish species Micropterus salmoides, and river refurbishment project.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.419-433
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• 2016

A floristic study was conducted 23 times from March 2010 to May 2016 on Mt. Yongbongsan and Mt. Suamsan region of Chungcheongnam-do which lies across Sapgyo-eup, Deoksan-myeon Yesan-gun, and Hongbuk-myeon Hongseong-gun. Based on voucher speciemens, list of vascular plants found in this area were contained 532 taxa in total including 105 families, 312 genera, 468 species, 4 subspecies, 47 varieties, and 13 forma. The 8 taxa were Korean endemic plants such as Populus tomentiglandulosa T.B.Lee, Clematis brachyura Maxim, C. trichotoma Nakai, Indigofera koreana Ohwi, Forsythia koreana (Rehder) Nakai, Paulownia coreana Uyeki, Weigela subsessilis (Nakai) L.H.Bailey, Aster koraiensis Nakai. 4 taxa of rare plants designated by the Korea Forest Service such as Taxus cuspidata Siebold & Zucc., Lithospermum arvense L., Allium senescens L., and Iris ensata var. spontanea (Makino) Nakai. Endangered plants designated by the Ministry of Environment was not found in this study. The 11 taxa of floristic regional indicator plants in 3^rd to 5^th degree were found. 68 taxa naturalized plants were found and the naturalized ratio was 12.8% while 21.2% of urbanized ratio which is regarded quite high.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.56-79
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• 2020

Baekdudaegan, the largest mountain range in eastern Asia, is a biodiversity hotspot in Korea that may have served as a glacial refugium. This study presents the flora of vascular plants on Deok-chi upto the Yuk-sim-nyeong area of the Baekdudaegan conservation area. The survey area was divided into four subareas and fieldwork was conducted for a total of twelve days in 2015. Voucher specimens were collected during the survey and were deposited at Daejeon University. A list of vascular plants was prepared based on the voucher specimens. The results of the survey showed that a total of 441 taxa, consisting of 100 families, 265 genera, 398 species, 9 subspecies, 32 varieties, and 2 forms, were found in the survey area. There was one endangered species, Aconitum coreanum, in the Bonghwasan Mt. area. Sixteen endemic taxa, 74 floristic regional indicator plants, as designated by the Ministry of the Environment, and eleven naturalized plants were distributed. The results of this study can serve as basic information to establish conservation and management plans for the Baekdudaegan conservation area.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.16-22
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• 2019

Investigations on the study of the distribution aspects and extinction threat evaluation of the Korean endemic species, Iksookimia pacifica were done from 2017 to 2018 in Korea. During the study period, the samples of I. pacifica were collected in 17 streams, 46 sites (from Baebongcheon Stream of Goseong-gun to Gunsuncheon Stream of Gangneung-si) among the noted 33 streams and 104 sampling sites investigated. The population size of I. pacifica was relatively large in streams such as Bukcheon, Baebongcheon, Hwasangcheon, Cheonjincheon, Ohhocheon Stream etc., but the population size was small in streams such as Sacheoncheon, Namcheon, Gangneung Namdaecheon Stream etc. The main habitat of I. pacifica was the downstream pool of clean water with slow velocity and sand bottoms, and their sensibility was estimated to be due to river work and water pollution. Comparing the previous records of the appearance of I. pacifica, they were first seen in Sampocheon Stream, but they did not appear in Jusucheon, Jeoncheon, Samcheok Osipcheon Stream. Given this evidence as noted for the 19.5% reduction in occupancy within 3 generations, in small appearance range ($1,343km^2$) and small occupancy area ($184km^2$), the number of locations were many (18) and the population was relatively large within the range of habitat. Therefore, I. pacifica is now considered a Near Threatened (NT) based on the IUCN Red List categories and criteria.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.73-80
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• 2020

Polygonatum stenophyllum Maxim. is a native perennial herb to Korea belonging to family Liliaceae. Although it was removed from the endangered species list, since it inhabits the riverside, it has been threatened with damage to its populations due to frequent disturbances. In order to reveal the basic ecological characteristics of P. stenophyllum, This study was identified the life cycle of the aboveground part and was measured the number of flowers and fruits, which are reproductive organs of P. stenophyllum in riverside in Paju - si during the two years. As a result, aboveground part of P. stenophyllum appeared and grew rapidly until the end of May to about 1m. In early May, two buds per one peduncle were formed up to six pairs per floor. The flowers bloomed in turn from the base of the stem and to the top floor and the blooming occurred when the number of leaves was at least three. Fruits were formed in mid-June and matured by the end of September. The numbers of flowers and fruits were revealed that flowers bloomed in turn from the bottom of the stem to the top floor, the most intensively bloomed in the center part of the stem, and did not bloom from the floor closest to the ground and above the highest 5th node. This basic ecological characteristics of the P. stenophllyum grown in riverside identified in this study will be useful as basic data for their conservation.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.453-474
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• 2020

Here, we present an updated checklist based on voucher specimens of vascular plants for Gasan Mt. which is located in Chilgok-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea. The list includes 322 taxa in 212 genera and 81 families of vascular plants, of which 14 are endemic, six are rare plants, 48 are floristic target species, and 14 are considered naturalized in Korea. Based on voucher specimens, Gasan Mt. was the southern limit of Cimicifuga heracleifolia var. bifida Nakai and Iris odaesanensis Y. N. Lee on the Korean peninsula. Moreover, we confirmed a hybrid plant deriving from two Iris parents, I. minutoaurea Makino and I. odaesanensis, in a mountain fortress of Gasan Mt. We also present online databases including 325 voucher specimens deposited at the Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine (KIOM; http://oasis.kiom.re.kr/herblib). This study has great significance as the first floristic study of Korean plants sharing virtual specimens online.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.291-307
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• 2016

Evaluation of the extinction risk of endangered plants at international, national as well as at regional levels is essential to the implementation of plans for direct conservation activities. Reports indicate that 34 endangered plants are distributed in the middle eastern area of Korea. For each endangered plant, we investigated the sites, area of extents, population size, and factors that affect population extinction. We assessed risk factors based on 10 evaluation criteria including the results from the investigation and the life traits each endangered plant has. As a result of evaluating the risk factors, these 34 endangered plants are classified into 3 groups: the first category comprises 12 endangered plants that require active and urgent conservation of habitats due to multiple risk factors; the second group has 16 endangered plants that should be able to persist with the removal of a few direct risk factors; the third category has 6 endangered plants that can persist with minimal management due to comparatively large distributed area and numerous individuals. It was found that most major risk factors in the population of endangered plants are caused by disruption of habitats and population extinction due to the increase of human habitation in the concerned areas, development and illegal harvesting. Futhermore, ecological collapse from decreasing habitats and malfunctioning mechanism of extinction and regeneration due to the changes of vegetational environment can be the other causes. From the area of the present investigations, we selected 5 regions according to the number of species and the frequency of appearance and importance of conservation measures. Also, we suggested a conservation strategy according to the regional characteristics. We suggest that the method for evaluating extinction risk of endangered plants includes distributional data and life traits of species. In addition, we underscore the necessity for understanding population dynamics and ecological niche of the each target species.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.387-394
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• 2011

This study was performed to investigate the contents and leaching characteristics of hazardous wastes from the paint industry. In order to establish a hazardous waste list, samples from industrial discharge have been analyzed for 8 non-regulated inorganic hazardous substances (i.e., Sb, Ni, F, V, Ba, Zn, Be, Se). In more detail, hazardous waste samples from a total of 64 workplaces, e.g. manufacture, formulation, supply and use (MFSU) of coatings, adhesives, sealants and printing inks processing, have been chosen and analyzed. Contents and leaching tests for inorganic metal species in samples show that the non-regulated hazardous substances satisfy all the criteria, while quantitative analyses reveal that some samples of the discharged wastes exceeded the criteria proposed by NIER (National Instituted of Environmental Research). In conclusion, we expect the outcome of this study to align the classification system of hazardous waste management in South Korea with international legislations, and consequently contribute to reduce environmental pollution as well as health risks by toxic wastes.