• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.306-313
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• 2014

BACKGROUND: Forest soils contain microbes capable of consuming atmospheric methane ($CH_4$), an amount matching the annual increase in $CH_4$ concentration in the atmosphere. However, the effect of plant residue production by different forest structure on $CH_4$ oxidation is not studied in Korea. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of Korean alpine soils having different forestation structure on $CH_4$ uptake rates. METHODS AND RESULTS: the $CH_4$ flux was measured at three sites dominated with pine, chestnut and oak trees in southern Korea. The $CH_4$ uptake potentials were evaluated by a closed chamber method for a year. The $CH_4$ uptake rate was the highest in the pine tree soil ($1.05mg/m^2/day$) and then followed by oak ($0.930mg/m^2/day$) and chestnut trees ($0.497mg/m^2/day$). The $CH_4$ uptake rates were highly correlated to soil organic matter and moisture contents, and total microbial and methanotrophs activities. Different with the general concent, there was no any correlation between $CH_4$ oxidation rates, and soil temperature and labile carbon concentrations, irrespective with tree species. CONCLUSION: Conclusively, the methane oxidation rate was correlated in positive manner with organic matter, abundance of methanotrophs. Methane oxidation was different among tree species. This results could be used to estimate methane oxidation rate in forest of Korea after complementing information about statistical data and methane oxidation of other site.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.107 no.4
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• pp.344-350
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• 2018

This study was carried out to improve the forest management method considering the use of high value added timber in the natural broadleaf forests. For this purpose, the criteria for evaluating the quality grade of standing trees were established and applied to the oak stand in the central region of Korea. The evaluation factors of the grade were bending of stem, branch, stem damage, and other defects. If the logs are divided into 2.1 m units and three logs up to 6.3 m are available, they are classified as Grade I (G-I). If two logs are available, they are classified as Grade II (G-II), If only one log is available, it is classified as Grade III (G-III). When any log is not available as timber, it is classified as Grade IV (G-IV). As a result of applying the grade to the oak stand, G-I was 6.7 %, G-II was 28.0 %, G-III was 38.3 %, and G-IV was 27.0 %. The ratio of standing trees by oak species of higher than G-III was 88.2 % for Quercus acutissima, 88.1 % for Q. variabilis, 83.5 % for Q. serrata, 56.3 % for Q. aliena, and 50.3 % for Q. mongolica, respectively. The G-IV ratio for Q. variabilis and Q. mongolica tended to decrease with increasing diameter at breast height. The order of major defect affecting the grading level was bending of stem > branch > stem damage > other defects. Considering the grade level and oak species distribution, it was concluded possible to produce high quality hardwood timber when we concentrate forest tending techniques on Q. acutissima and Q. variabilis stand. In order to improve the accuracy of grading, it is necessary to continuous complement through the monitoring research for evaluation factors.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.107 no.4
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• pp.336-343
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• 2018

This study was carried out to provide the technology of silvicultural practices and management for regeneration by sprouts in the oak forests distributed on the slope. A total of 1,451 stumps were examined for the following factors relative to the occurrence and growth of the sprouts: stump height & diameter; location & quantity and root collar diameter & height of arisen sprouts. The amount of sprouts deceased or increased as the stump diameter increased. However, it tended to increase with stump height. The difference in the stump height between direction of the upwards (DUS) and downward slopes (DDS) was occurred, because oak trees were felled lower based on direction of the upward for convenience of regeneration works on the slope. The number of sprouts was higher relatively in the stumps of DDS. The rate of arisen side and root sprouts was higher in the stumps of DDS and DUS, respectively. The stump height difference was found to affect the arisen part of sprouts. As a result of comparing the sprouts growth according to the arisen part, there was no difference in the stump of DUS, but the growth of side sprouts in the stump of DDS was higher than that of the root. In order to improve the quality of oak sprouts considering the distribution characteristics of the oak forests in South Korea, it is necessary to apply the silvicultural technique, making the cutting surface parallel with the slope to reduce the stump height difference, to suppress arising side sprouts.

• Atmosphere
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.221-233
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• 2015

Pollen is closely related to health issues such as allergenic rhinitis and asthma as well as intensifying atopic syndrome. Information on current and future spatio-temporal distribution of allergenic pollen is needed to address such issues. In this study, the Community Multiscale Air Quality Modeling (CMAQ) was utilized as a base modeling system to forecast pollen dispersal from oak trees. Pollen emission is one of the most important parts in the dispersal modeling system. Areal emission factor was determined from gridded areal fraction of oak trees, which was produced by the analysis of the tree type maps (1:5000) obtained from the Korea Forest Service. Daily total pollen production was estimated by a robust multiple regression model of weather conditions and pollen concentration. Hourly emission factor was determined from wind speed and friction velocity. Hourly pollen emission was then calculated by multiplying areal emission factor, daily total pollen production, and hourly emission factor. Forecast data from the KMA UM LDAPS (Korea Meteorological Administration Unified Model Local Data Assimilation and Prediction System) was utilized as input. For the verification of the model, daily observed pollen concentration from 12 sites in Korea during the pollen season of 2014. Although the model showed a tendency of over-estimation in terms of the seasonal and daily mean concentrations, overall concentration was similar to the observation. Comparison at the hourly output showed distinctive delay of the peak hours by the model at the 'Pocheon' site. It was speculated that the constant release of hourly number of pollen in the modeling framework caused the delay.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.599-604
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• 2015

This study was conducted the vegetation clustering analysis for the 3 mountains of Mt. Bulam, Mt. Daemo, Mt. Bonghwa which were the urban forests of Seoul. Based on the results of the analysis related to the vegetation clustering, it was found that the clustering of Mt. Bulam consisted of pine trees(Pinus densiflora)-Mongolian oak(Quercus mongolica), Hornb eam(Carpinus laxiflora)-Pitch pine(P. rigida), oriental oak(Q. variabilis) - a wild pear tree(Sorbus alnifolia) while the clustering of Mt. Daemo consisted of Pitch pine-Japanese larch(Larix leptolepis), Poplar(Populus tomentig landulosa)- black birch(Betula davurica pall). Meanwhile, the clustering of Mt. Bonghwa consisted of pine trees-a wild pear tree Community and Sawtooth oak(Q. acutissima)-Cherry Blossoms(Prunus serrulata). In relation to the similarity index by region in Mt. Bulam, Mt. Daemo, and Mt. Bonghwa, the similarity index of Mt. Bulam and Mt. Daemo stood at as high as 0.634, suggesting the distribution of similar vegetation, and the dominance index of the Mt. Daemo region was found to be 0.166 which suggests the dominance of many species compared to other regions. In addition, the results of species diversity showed that Mt. Daemo had the highest stability, and the species diversity, maximum species diversity, evenness indices were highest in Mt. Bulam, followed by Mt. Bonghwa and Mt. Daemo. The dominance index was the lowest in Mt. Bulam, followed by Mt. Bonghwa and Mt. Daemo.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.74-88
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• 2021

In the present study, the characteristics and changes in the vegetation of Mt. Cheongryang, Inchon, were examined to identify and determine appropriate ways to restore the health of the urban forest and to preserve its vegetation. The vegetation of the community of Quercus mongolica (Mongolian oak) on Mt. Cheongryang appeared to decrease in response to the control of the wilt disease of oak trees. The communities of Sorbus alnifolia (Korean mountain ash) and Styrax japonicus (Snowbell tree) have increased. Pinus rigida (Pitch Pine) had its overall territory decrease, but the current state of the Pinus rigida (Pitch Pine) was estimated to be stable due to its dominance as a tree layer species. In regards to Robinia pseudoacacia (Black Locust), the urbanized species of Sorbus alnifolia (Korean mountain ash), and Styrax japonicus (Snowbell tree), their areas have increased with the appearance of Magnolia obovate (Whiteleaf Japanese Magnolia). The biodiversity of Mt. Cheongryang has decreased by simplifying species in the tree layer and understory species thereof, and the initial success of species in marginal areas has increased. The absence of potential succession was attributed to the termination of ecological succession; thereby, the current vegetation structure was concluded to be remaining as it is for the time being. Soil texture in the mountain primarily consisted of sandy loam or loamy sand; the pH of the soil was in the range 4.26-4.86, rendering a mean pH of 4.59. The content of organic matter (O.M.) appeared having a distributing range of 2.18-9.60%, rendering a mean value of 4.33%. To promote species diversity, several methods are suggested, such as prevention of soil acidification, selecting nationally-grown trees from moist soil or valleys for afforestation, preventing species appearing due to urbanization or excessive growth, protecting the understory vegetation and species with hygropreference, and managing the forest to maintain a multi-layered vegetation structure.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.689-695
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• 2017

This study was carried out to investigate the physicochemical and adsorptive characteristics of black carbon (BC) materials for cesium in case of severe nuclear accidents. The BC was prepared with a xylem of oak and pine trees incompletely combusted with different ramp rate and final temperature. Carbon (C), hydrogen (H) and oxygen (O) atomic ratios, BET, pore structure, and zeta potential were characterized for the produced BC. A low cesium concentration ($C_w{\approx}10^{-7}M$) was used for sorption batch experiments. The H/C and O/C ratios of BC decreased with the increase of final temperature, which indicates a carbonization of the wood materials regardless of ramp rate and tree species. However, SEM images showed different pore structures depending on tree species such as steric and plate-like for oak-BC and pine-BC, respectively. The greatest sorption distribution coefficients of $K_{d,Cs}{\approx}1,200{\sim}1,800L\;kg^{-1}$ were observed for the oak-BC produced at $400^{\circ}C$, while comparatively low $K_{d,Cs}$ < $100L\;kg^{-1}$ for pine-BC. In addition, the sorption capabilities of BC declined with the increase of combustion temperature up to $600^{\circ}C$, because high temperature destroyed surface functionalities with the rise of ash components in the BC. Therefore, the sorption processes of BC for radioactive cesium are predominantly controlled by final production temperature of BC as well as raw materials (e.g., tree species).

• Journal of architectural history
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.9-28
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• 2007

We investigated the changes in the species of the woods used for Korean ancient and historic architectures, which include prehistoric excavated relics and existing wooden buildings in South Korea. The species data were collected from various sources such as excavation and repair reports, journal papers, and a few unpublished documents. We divided the building Periods as Paleolithic, Neolitic, Bronze Ages, Iron Age/Three Kingdoms, Koryo, Joseon (early, middle, late) and modem periods. In prehistoric periods, hardwoods were major species. Oak (Quercus spp.) woods dominated (94 percent in average); the others (5%) were Juglans mandshurica, Platycarya strobilacea, Castanea crenata, and few softwoods(1%). During Iron Age and Three Kingdom periods, oaks remained as a major species (57%) and others Platycarya strobilacea(21%), Castanea crenata(13%), and Pinus spp. (6%). The oak woods decreased in Koryo period and they occupied only 1.1%. Instead of oaks, pine (Pinus spp., 71%) and Zelkova serrata (22%) dominated in Koryo. In early and middle Joseon periods, pine woods (73%) remain as a major species and the others were oaks (14%) and Zelkova serrata (9%). As late Joseon came, the pine woods occupied more than 88%. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, a few boreal species such as larch (Larix spp.) and spruce (Picea spp.), which grow in cold area, were found. We believe they were transported from northern Korea. The existing buildings in Korea are mainly from Joseon period and a few from late Koryo periods. During these periods, pine woods were used for most buildings. For such reason, pine woods were known as 'representative materials for historic buildings'. but earlier times, broad-leaved trees, i.e., oak and Zelkova woods were major materials. The changes in building materials resulted from both climate and human impacts. The dry climate and disturbed forests induce more pines in the mountains. We also compared the wood qualities of the species and found that Zelkova woods were superior ones and deserved more planting for future demands in the repair for historic buildings.

• Mycobiology
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.458-466
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• 2015

Oak tree death caused by symbiosis of an ambrosia beetle, Platypus koryoensis, and an ophiostomatoid filamentous fungus, Raffaelea quercus-mongolicae, has been a nationwide problem in Korea since 2004. In this study, we surveyed the yeast species associated with P. koryoensis to better understand the diversity of fungal associates of the beetle pest. In 2009, a total of 195 yeast isolates were sampled from larvae and adult beetles (female and male) of P. koryoensis in Cheonan, Goyang, and Paju; 8 species were identified by based on their morphological, biochemical and molecular analyses. Meyerozyma guilliermondii and Candida kashinagacola were found to be the two dominant species. Among the 8 species, Candida homilentoma was a newly recorded yeast species in Korea, and thus, its mycological characteristics were described. The P. koryoensis symbiont R. quercusmongolicae did not show extracelluar CM-cellulase, xylanase and avicelase activity that are responsible for degradation of wood structure; however, C. kashinagacola and M. guilliermondii did show the three extracellular enzymatic activities. Extracelluar CM-cellulase activity was also found in Ambrosiozyma sp., C. homilentoma, C. kashinagacola, and Candida sp. Extracelluar pectinase activity was detected in Ambrosiozyma sp., C. homilentoma, Candida sp., and M. guilliermondii. All the 8 yeast species displayed compatible relationships with R. quercus-mongolicae when they were co-cultivated on yeast extract-malt extract plates. Overall, our results demonstrated that P. koryoensis carries the yeast species as a symbiotic fungal associate. This is first report of yeast diversity associated with P. koryoensis.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.229-240
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• 2020

Background: Genus Quercus is a successful group that has occupied the largest area of forest around the world including South Korea. The acorns are an important food source for both wild animals and humans. Although the reproductive characteristics of this genus are highly variable, it had been rarely studied in South Korea. Therefore, in Seoraksan and Odaesan National Parks (i) we measured the acorn production of Quercus mongolica, an overwhelmingly dominant species in South Korea, for 3 years (2017-2019), (ii) evaluated the spatial-temporal variation of acorn production, and (iii) analyzed the effects of oak- and site-related variables on the acorn production. Results: The annual acorn production of Q. mongolica increased 36 times from 1.2 g m-2 in 2017 to 43.2 g m-2 in 2018, and decreased to 16.7 g m-2 in 2019, resulting in an annual coefficient of variation of 104%. The coefficient of spatial variation was high and reached a maximum of 142%, and the tree size was the greatest influencing factor. That is, with an increase in tree size, acorn production increased significantly (2018 F = 16.3, p < 0.001; 2019 F = 8.2, p < 0.01). Elevation and slope also significantly affected the production in 2019. However, since elevation and tree size showed a positive correlation (r = 0.517, p < 0.001), the increase in acorn production with increasing elevation was possibly due to the effect of tree size. The acorn production of Odaesan for 3 years was 2.2 times greater than that of Seoraksan. This was presumed that there are more distribution of thick oak trees and more favorable site conditions such as deep soil A-layer depth, high organic matter, and slower slopes. Conclusion: As reported for other species of the genus Quercus, the acorn production of Q. mongolica showed large spatial and annual variations. The temporal variability was presumed to be a weather-influenced masting, while the spatial variability was mainly caused by oak tree size.