• 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 the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.135-154
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• 2023

Urban wetlands provide various ecosystem services and are subject to restoration and creation projects due to their increased value in the context of climate change. However, the vegetation structure of wetlands is sensitive to environmental changes, including artificial disturbances, and requires continuous maintenance. In this study, we conducted a vegetation survey of three wetlands created as part of a project to restore urban degraded natural ecosystems and monitored the quantitative changes in wetland vegetation structure using an unmanned aerial vehicle. The vegetation survey revealed 73 species in Incheon Yeonhui wetland, and the change in vegetation composition based on wetland occurrence frequency was 11.5% on average compared to the 2018 vegetation survey results. The vegetation survey identified 44 species in Busan Igidae wetland, and the proportion of species classified as obligate upland plants was the highest at 48.8% among all plants, while the proportion of naturalized plants accounted for 15.9% of all plants. The open water surface area decreased from 10% in May 2019 to 6.7% in May 2020. Iksan Sorasan wetland was surveyed and 44 species were confirmed, and it was found that the proportion of facultative wetland plant decreased compared to the 2018 vegetation survey results, and the open water surface area increased from 0.4% in May 2019 to 4.1% in May 2020. The results of this study showed that wetlands with low artificial management intensity exhibited a tendency for stabilization of vegetation structure, with a decrease in the proportion of plants with high wetland occurrence frequency and a relatively small number of new species. Wetlands with high artificial management intensity required specific management, as they had a large change in vegetation structure and a partially high possibility of new invasion. We reaffirmed the importance of continuous monitoring of vegetation communities and infrastructure for wetlands considering the function and use of urban wetlands, and restoration stages. These research results suggest the need to establish a sustainable wetland maintenance system through the establishment of long-term maintenance goals and monitoring methods that consider the environmental conditions and vegetation composition of wetlands.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.28-45
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• 2024

This study was conducted to investigate the flora of Sonjukdo Island(Yeosu-si), Korea. From results of four field surveys from April 2023 to October 2023, we identified 483 total taxa, representing 440 species, seven subspecies, 35 varieties, and one hybrid. They were placed in 322 genera and 109 families, including 249 taxa newly recorded in this study. Among them, four taxa were endemic to Korea, four taxa were IUCN red list plants, and 22 taxa were climate sensitive indicator plants. Floristic target plants amounted to 99 taxa, including two taxa of grade IV, 41 taxa of grade III, 10 taxa of grade II, and 46 taxa of grade I. A total of 54 taxa of alien plants were identified, with a Naturalized Index of 11.2% and an Urbanization Index of 13.8%. Three plants disturbed the ecosystem. The flora of this surveyed area belongs to the south-coast province among floral provinces of the Korean Peninsula. Our results provide basic data on vascular plants flora, plant species diversity, and distributional changes.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.95-126
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• 2024

In this study, we investigated the vertical distribution and vascular plants on Joryeongsan Mountain in Baekdudaegan, Korea. The results of four field surveys from April to September 2023 identified a total of 552 taxa, representing 491 species, ten subspecies, 43 varieties, six forms, and two hybrids in 314 genera and 101 families. The elevational distribution ranges of 360 taxa of vascular plants were also identified. Among them, 19 taxa were endemic to Korea, and two taxa were rare plants. The floristic target plants amounted to 100 taxa, specifically two taxa of grade V, seven taxa of grade IV, 25 taxa of grade III, 33 taxa of grade II, and 33 taxa of grade I. Seventy-eight taxa were northern lineage plants. In all, 29 taxa of alien plants were recorded in the investigated area, with a naturalized index of 5.3% and an urbanization index of 7.4%. Two plants disturbed the ecosystem. Species richness along the elevation showed a reversed double-hump shape with peaks at low, mid, and high elevations. The results of a cluster analysis showed a high degree of similarity between adjacent elevation sections, except in lowlands. Detrended Correspondence Analysis ordination also supported distinct groups by elevation. Warmth index values ranged from 62.1℃·month to 92.9℃·month on Joryeongsan Mountain. Our results provide primary data on vascular plants and valuable information on the current distribution ranges of plant species on Joryeongsan Mountain. These data could serve as a baseline for comparing species shifts at elevations under future climate changes.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.325-331
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• 2012

The dual inoculation response of soybean with rhizobium and mycorrhiza was examined in pot vermiculite and field soils. In order to select a symbiotically compatible mycorrhiza with Bradyrhizobium japonicum, a highly germinating spore among 60 strains from 32 upland soils in southern part of Korea was obtained in Acaulospora sp., Gigaspora sp. and Glomus sp., respectively. As a result of dual inoculation of Glycin max cv. Dajangkong and Eunhakong both with $1{\times}10^8$cells of B. japonicum YCK 213 and 10 spores of each mycorrhiza in vermiculite pot, only Glomus sp. treatment together with the rhizobium showed significant increase ($P{\leqq}0.05$) both in shoot dry wt and nodule mass of not Eunhakong but Dajangkong. In red-yellow soils with pH 5.2($1:5H_2O$) and 203 mg of Lancaster P per kg of soil, in which $10^3$ cells of B. japonicum and $10{\pm}0.2$ spores of mycorrhizae per gram of soil were naturalized, grain yield of G. max cv. Dajangkong was increased to 3.9% by dual inoculation both of $4.8{\times}10^6$cells of B. japonicum and 10 spores of mycorrhizae per two seeds under condition applied with 30 kg $P_2O_5$ and 34 kg $K_2O$ per hectare compared to conventionally fertilized plot (2.75 MT $ha^{-1}$) added with 30 kg N $ha^{-1}$. However, there was not significant.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.1-18
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• 2016

This study was carried out to investigate the flora of the western front (Paju-Yencheon Area) of the Civilian Control Zone. Vascular plants collected in these areas were a total of 558 taxa composing of 501 species, 3 subspecies, 48 varieties and 1 forma of 330 genera under 109 families This shows that 11% of the 4,880 vascular plant species that are known to exist in Korea is distributed in the western part of the DMZ. 1 taxa of endangered species designated by the Ministry of Environment was found: the Polygonatum stenophyllum Maxim in the edge of the military operation road from Taepung observatory to Imjin river. For the floristically specific ones of the Korean floristic zones, 3 taxa of the $5^{th}$ grade, 3 taxa of the $4^{th}$ grade, 13 taxa of the $3^{rd}$ grade, 13 taxa of the $2^{nd}$ grade and 22 taxa of the $1^{st}$ grade were found. For the endemic species of Korea, 4 taxa including Cirsium setidens (Dunn) Nakai were confirmed to be distributed mostly on the slope or the cutting area. Among the collected rare plants (11 taxa), there were 1 taxa of endangered species, 4 taxa of vulnerable species and 6 taxa of least concern species. Also, 51 taxa of naturalized plants were identified and 4 taxa of ecosystem disturbance organism designated by the Ministry of Environment were identified. The urbanization index and naturalization index for all species were estimated to be 15.89% and 9.14% respectively. Our survey is expected to be considered as primary data of biological diversity and ecological axis in the DMZ and the western part of the DMZ. According to the results of this study, it is thought to be necessary to establish policies for conservation and protection of the DMZ.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.189-210
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• 2011

As a part of improving the effect of stream restoration, the study selected 90 domestic natural streams that are not damaged and researched their riparian vegetations. Among them, the results of streams, whose naturalized ratio were more than 5 % and valley type flood plains were not developed, were excluded. By using the results of final 49 streams, plant communities and companion species that commonly appeared in high frequency, depending on stream type, were drawn. The result revealed that Quercus mongolica community, Hemiptelea davidii community and Salix koreensis community were representative in the mid-northern district (latitude: N $37{\sim}37.9^{\circ}$) with Salix koreensis community in the central district (latitude: N $36{\sim}36.9^{\circ}$) and Quercus serrata community in the southern district (latitude: $34{\sim}35.9^{\circ}$). For the stream type depending on altitude, Quercus serrata community and Phragmites japonica community were representative in the altitude of 200~500 m and there was no stream, in which flood plain is developed naturally, in the altitude of more than 500 m. In addition, the study drew representative communities depending on width of stretches of water at mean water level indicating the size of stream. Quercus serrata community was major vegetation at sites which are less than 20 m wide and Salix koreensis community was common at sites which are more than 20 m and less than 100 m wide of stretches of water at mean water level. Meanwhile the major vegetations at sites which are more than 100 m wide were Salix koreensis community, Morus bombycis community and Salix nipponica community. The study selected the kind of tree for planning riparian forest in flood plain by stream type on the basis of the result and suggested tree planting pattern that can be used in actual work by referring to the result of hydraulic review.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.179-185
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• 1992

Rhizobium meliloti populated in five Korean pasture soils were characterized by symbiotic effectiveness and intrinsic antibiotic resistance using whole-soil inoculum and 11 antibiotics, respectively. Most probable number (MPN) of naturalized rhizobia counted with alfalfa Vernal[Medicago sativa (L.)] as a host ranged $1.7{\times}10^2\;cells/g$. soil(Chunghyo, Kyeongiu)-$1.0{\times}10^5\;cells/g$. soil(Gampo, Kyeongiu) and ended to be positively associated with soil pH. On the whole, the effectiveness of population as compared to TAL mix inoculum (TAL 380+TAL 1372+TAL 1373) was very low. Nevertheless, there were two highly effective strains, YCK 539 and YCK 542, which were not inferior to TAL 1372, from Ogpo, Dalseong among the total of 30 of 6 isolates per each soil. As long as mean $N_2$ fixing ability of each soil isolate, the isolates from Hyeongog, Kyeonju were outstanding and the rest were in order of Ogpo, Dalseong>Chunghyo, Kyeongju>Hwaweon, Dalseong>Gampo, Kyeongiu. Isolates as a whole were resistant to erythromycin(67崙), nalidixic acid(77%), and streptomycin sulfate(8051), which had the concentration of $100\;{\mu}g/ml$, $160\;{\mu}g/ml$, and $10\;{\mu}g/ml$, respectively and divided into 14 patterns of resistance. Association between resistances in each soil was not clear. And there was no relationship of resistance pattern to effectiveness. The best effective strain YCKa 542 exclusively fell into No. X pattern having resistance to erythromycin, nalidixic acid, and neomycin sulfate.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.17-30
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• 2011

This study has analyzed the vegetation composition in the areas using different slope revetment techniques of riverbanks, in a way to improve the vegetation induction in the future considering the ecological aspects of the induction in Garaeyoul Village, Gangdong-gu, Seoul. The result of the vegetation distribution in each different slope revetment technique was analyzed, that the naturalized herb was dominant in the pole block accounting for 70.7%, while native herb was dominant in the lawn block occupying 48.5% and in the crib block occupying 55.7%. The vegetation coverage measured by different slope revetment techniques was highest in the crib block(average 97.5%), followed by the lawn block(average 95.3%) and pole block(average 27.9%). The vegetation base area was the most wide in the crib block and the most narrowest in the pole block. The result of community analysis in areas using different slope revetment techniques, dry herbs and vine herbs were dominated and the coverage was very poor in the pole block. In the lawn block, the barb was fragmented into narrow areas due to the blocks, which prevented the creation of large-scale plant communities. In the crib block, Miscanthus sacchariflorus, Fescue arundinacea and Aster pilosus, which also consisted of large-scale communities. Average dry weight was also measured by each slope revetment technique. The weight was heaviest in the crib block with $187.63g/m^2$, followed by the lawn block($137.65g/m^2$) and pole block($6.75g/m^2$). The soil moisture contents in the crib block and lawn block was 16.3% and 15.2%, respectively, while that of the pole block was 4.7%, which revealed the highly dry condition of the pole block soil. The analysis result of soil chemical property showed that there was little difference in soil texture, soile acidity(pH), and exchangeable ion content, however, the soil organic matter(OM) content and available $P_2O_5$ were highest in the pole block. In the future, in order to induce more vegetation into river banks and walls, a proper construction method should be applied so that the vegetation area can be expanded as much as possible, considering the safety of the banks.

• Korea journal of population studies
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.58-81
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• 1987

The purpose of this study is to examine major factors that affect patterns of living arrangements of older Korean noncitizens in the United States using the 1990 8% Public Use Microdata Sample(PUMS). In order to do so, I analyzed the effects of four factors including acculturation(English proficiency and Age at migration), economic circumstances(Personal Income and Supplemental Security Income: SSI receipt), health status(Mobility and Personal care limitation), and the ethnic community. The results show that acculturation and economic circumstances play an important role in determining the patterns of living arrangements among older Korean aliens, whereas the health status and the ethnic community do not show consistent effects. Regardless of marital status, the impact of age at migration is positively associated with solitary living of older Korean noncitizens, though, the effect of English proficiency show the opposite direction in accordance with marital status. That is, among nonmarried elders, those who cannot speak English are more likely to live alone. The case is reverse for married elders. The impact of economic feasibility is also positively associated with independent living arrangements. Those who receive SSI are much more likely to live apart from family, and elders whose annual personal income between $5,001 and $10,000 have the greatest propensity of solitary living-a large proportion of their income source is SSI. Individuals who receive SSI are also qualified to collect Medicaid, food stamps, rent subsidies, and other welfare benefits. In a sense, the economic feasibility provided by welfare benefits is the key determinant of independent living of older Korean noncitizens. Therefore, the recent welfare reform which denies legal aliens welfare benefits such as SSI and food stamps will severly affect the present living arrangements of older Korean aliens, and give economic burden to their family member The findings also show that there are significant differences within the elderly Korean Americans in terms of demographics, income, fertility, health status, and patterns of living arrangements by U.S. citizenship status. In particular, after controlling for age at migration as a proxy for acculturation, there is a statistically significant variation in living arrangements between elderly Korean noncitizens and naturalized citizens. For both theoretical and methodological reasons, future research on minority aging needs to investigate the concept of U.S. citizenship status for its impact on patterns of living arrangements among the minority elderly.