• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2018.04a
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• pp.30-30
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• 2018

한반도 고유 식물자원인 특산식물 물들메나무의 지리학적 분포 범위에 대한 고찰을 시도 하였으며, 이를 바탕으로 IUCN 적색목록 평가 자료 확보를 위해 IUCN Red List Criteria B의 분포범위(Extent of occurrence)와 점유면적(Area of occupancy)을 측정하였다. 물들메나무 분포도 작성을 위해 분포가 언급된 관련 문헌자료, 국립수목원 표본관(KH) 소장 표본정보, 국가생물종지식정보시스템(Nature) 종발생정보 DB, 그리고 현장조사 자료를 활용하였다. 이를 통해 한반도 특산식물 물들메나무는 지리산을 중심으로 전라남 북도, 경상남 북도 및 충청북도에 분포하고 있는 것으로 나타났으며, 북방한계지역은 경상북도 보현산으로 추정된다. 수집된 분포정보를 바탕으로 IUCN Red List Criteria B의 분포범위(Extent of occurrence)과 점유면적(Area of occupancy)을 계산한 결과 각각 $25,183km^2$, $96km^2$로 나타났다. 하지만 정확한 보전지위 평가를 위해서는 점유면적, 분포범위, 서식지 면적, 개체군 크기에 대한 지속적인 하락과 극단적인 변동을 측정할 수 있는 모니터링과 객관적인 자료가 요구된다.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.180-188
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• 2017

We evaluated the actual distribution, present status, and number of remnant individuals of Korean Sagittaria aginashi (Alismataceae) based on herbarium specimens and field surveys. We also reidentified Korean S. aginashi by analyzing sequences of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region. We found nine specimens of S. aginashi in herbaria from four localities housed at the Osaka Museum of Natural History (OSA) and at the Korea National Herbarium (KH). During our field research, we could not confirm the current statuses of two collection localities (Taereung and Ansan-si), though this was not the case for Ulsan-si. In addition, we found two new localities in Ulsan-si and Yangsan-si. These three remnant populations are distributed in wetlands in mountainous areas (elev. 480-740 m). With regard to the number of flowering and immature individuals in the three localities, there were <50 and <2,000, respectively, in total. ITS sequences demonstrated that the sequences of Korean and Japanese S. aginashi are uniform and distinct from other Sagittaria species. These results indicate that S. aginashi is a rare and threatened species in Korea. It should be listed as an endangered species on the Korean Red List and requires urgent protection by conservation programs, including the extensive surveys of other possible natural habitats.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.67-89
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• 2022

This study aimed to elucidate the distribution of vascular plants on the Deok mountain in Ganghwa-gun, Korea. The results of 10 field surveys from March to October of 2019 identified 532 taxa in total, representing 482 species, 9 subspecies, 39 varieties, 1 form, and 1 hybrid in 318 genera and 105 families. The plant formation of Deok mountain is the deciduous broad-leaved and conifer mixed forest, which is the common one in the middle region of the Korean Peninsula. Among them, 301 taxa were newly recorded in this study, 7 taxa were endemic plants to Korea, 3 taxa were red list plants. The floristic target plants amounted to 41 taxa, specifically 1 taxon of grade V, 2 taxa of grade IV, 7 taxa of grade III, 9 taxa of grade II, and 22 taxa of grade I. Alien plants were recorded a total of 73 taxa with a naturalized index of 13.7%, the urbanization index was calculated to be 11.8% and 4 taxa were ecosystem disturbance plants.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.341-368
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• 2023

Distribution of plant resources in Mt. Baekseok located at Pyeongchang-gun, Gangwon-do, were surveyed for a total 17 times from April 2021 to September 2022. The result of this survey revealed 628 taxa, consisting of 99 families, 346 genera, 552 species, 20 subspecies, 49 varieties, 6 forms, and one hybrid. Among them, 21 taxa were endemic plants to Korea, 12 taxa were red list plants by the Ministry of Environment and 560 taxa were red list plants by the Korea Forest Service. The floristic target species amounted to 164 taxa, specifically one taxon of grade V, 20 taxa of grade IV, 52 taxa of grade III, 53 taxa of grade II, and 38 taxa of grade I. In addition, 34 taxa were classified as plants adaptable to climate change. 42 taxa of alien plants and 3 taxa of ecosystem disturbance species were also found in this area. Useful plants listed consists of 246 taxa (39.2%) of edible plants, 215 taxa (34.2%) of pasture plants, 187 taxa (29.8%) of medicinal plants, 75 taxa (11.9%) of ornamental plants and 22 taxa (3.5%) of timber plants, respectively.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.18-26
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• 2020

Echinosophora koreensis (Nakai) Nakai an endemic plant with limited distribution in some parts of the Korean Peninsula, is designated as "Endangered" species on the IUCN Red List. The species is under the threat of deterioration in nature due to various environmental changes causing loss of natural habitats. We investigated the distribution pattern and population structure of E. koreensis to serve as a basic reference for identifying the dynamics and persistence of natural populations of this species in the future. To determine the characteristics of the E. koreensis population, we laid two to three large plots sized 20m×30m on the ridgeline as the reference in Yanggu, Chuncheon, and Hongcheon and laid four to seven small quadrats sized 1m×1m on the transect. A total of 530 plots were laid, 10 each at 2m interval, to measure the number of the stems, the number of fruiting, height, and other factors. The collected distribution information was compared with the existing IUCN assessed categories by applying IUCN Red List ver 3.1 Criteria B. The average population density of the three surveyed areas was 3.47 stem/㎡; the density of each area was 3.95 stems/㎡ in Yanggu, 3.37 stems/㎡ in Chuncheon, and 2.87 stems/㎡ in Hongcheon. The number of fruiting per stem was 0.0038, indicating only 7 fruits out of 1,837 stems and that vegetative reproduction is likely to be more dominant than sexual reproduction. The distribution tendency of population density in the small plots in three surveyed areas showed that the density of E. koreensis tended to decrease toward the center of the forest with low crown openness and around the mountain ridge with high crown openness. It indicated that the quantity of light could be a very important factor for the growth of individuals of this species. The analysis of the heights of individuals present in the surveyed plots showed a range of 2.3 ~ 68.5cm and an average of 20.1cm. An analysis on the stage-structure of the E. koreensis population based on the sieve height found that the appearance frequency decreased with increasing height above 15 ~ 20cm and that the percentage of individuals lower than 10cm, which were presumed to be seedlings, was severely low, indicating a necessity of study on the population sustainability based on the monitored data. The occupied area calculated with the collected species distribution information was 200㎢, indicating the EN category according to the IUCN Red List Reference B.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.109-133
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• 2022

We investigated the flora of Gwanmae island and discussed important vascular plants found on the island. We made plant list using voucher specimens collected from Gwanmae island from 2016 to 2021 and deposited in CNU. There are 500 taxa in Gwanmae island, comprising 103 families, 307 genera, 461 species, 4 subspecies, 32 varieties and 3 forms. Eight endemic plants of Korea were found including Saussurea polylepis Nakai. There are 15 red list plants designated by Ministry of Environment including Cleisostoma scolopendrifolium (Makino) Garay and Woodwardia japonica (L. f.) Sm. There are total 126 taxa of floristic regional indicator plants including 4 taxa of level V such as Juniperus procumbens (Siebold ex Endl.) Miq., 4 taxa of level IV such as Wisteria japonica Siebold & Zucc., 45 taxa of level III such as Rubus trifidus Thunb., 16 taxa of level II such as Glehnia littoralis F. Schmidt and 56 taxa of level I such as Carpesium glossophyllum Maxim. There are 32 invasive plants including Cerastium glomeratum Thuill.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.305-320
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• 2005

Recently 64 species in Korea have been ranked as rare and endangered taxa by the Ministry of Environment using two categories, I and II. The original threat categories produced by the Ministry of Environment were developed to provide a standard for specifying animals and plants in danger of extinction and has been influential sources of information used in species conservation in Korea. However, the criteria by Ministry of Environment were applied to the whole taxa only by regional boundaries, especially in South Korea, rather than international context, and it also lacked an explicit framework that was necessary to ensure repeatability among taxa because of the absence of quantitative criteria to measure the likelihood of extinction. The World Conservation Union (IUCN) has developed quantitative criteria for assessing the conservation status of species. The threatened species categories, the 2000 IUCN Red List, proposed by SSC (Species Survival Commission) of IUCN have become widely recognized internationally. Details of threatened Korean plants, identified by applying the IUCN threat categories and definitions, were listed and analyzed. The number of species identified as threatened was only 34 out of 64 taxa (48.4%), while the rest of taxa were rejected from the original lists. Many of the species (51.6%, 33 taxa) excluded from the original list proposed by Ministry of Environment do not qualify as Critically Endangered, Endangered or Vulnerable because these taxa were widely distributed either in Japan or in China/far eastern Russia and there is no evidence of substantial decline in these countries. An evaluation of taxa in Korea has been carried out only based on subjective views and qualitative data, rather than quantitative scientific data, such as rates of decline, distribution range size, population size, and risk of extinction. Therefore, the national lists undermine the credibility of threatened species lists and invite misuse, which have been raised by other cases, qualitative estimate of risk, political influence, uneven taxonomic or geographical coverage. The increasing emphasis on international responsibilities means that global scale is becoming more significant. The current listings by Environment of Ministry of Korea should be challenged, and the government should seek to facilitate the resolution of disagreements. Especially the list should be flexible enough to handle uncertainty and also incorporates detailed, quantitative data. It is suggested that the highest priorities for the Red List should be given to endemic species in Korea first. After setting up the list of endemic species to Korea, quantitative data on population size and structure, distributional range, rated of decline, and habitat fragmentation should be collected as one of long term projects for the Red list categories. Transparency and accountability are the most important key factors. Also, species assessors are named and data sources referenced are required for the future objective evaluations on Korean plant taxa.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.109 no.4
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• pp.371-381
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• 2020

The Ministry of Environment (ME) is planning to adopt in 2020 the IUCN regional Red List for "Guidelines for listing and delisting rare & endangered species and management of endangered Species System". The ME designated 377 species of vascular plants on the regional Red List. In a previous study it had been suggested that 103 species from this list are candidates for the regional Red List. With respect to a possible Red List, we assessed 59 species (after excluding 34 additional NA species and ten endemic species). These assessments indicated that 16 species are at the "threatened" level. Of those, one species is Critically Endangered, ten are Endangered, and five are Vulnerable. A further four species are classified as Near Threatened, 30 as Of Least Concern, and nine as Data Deficient. We found that most of the assessments proposed by the Ministry of Environment were not supported by scientific data, including quantitative geographic data (over 70%) in Criteria B. In order to determine the endangered species belonging to the orchid family, it is necessary to obtain records of illegal activities or data on overcollection. The current problem with the Ministry of Environment Red List has been the lack of management of scientific data on species showing a trend in decreasing population in the mid- to long-term; thus, there is a lack of critical resources for policy-makers. The ME legally designated categories and assessment, and the lack of expertise in failing to comply with the legal law by itself. The key to presenting an accurate overview of the state of Korean flora is to fill the information gaps with respect to significant geographical and taxonomical biases in the quality and quantity of data. By regularly updating the qualified data, we will be able to track the changes in the conservation status of the flora and inform the necessary conservation policies.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.558-570
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• 2009

The vascular plants in Jeju composed of 21 families 62 genera, 190 species, 7 varieties with 197 taxa in Pteridophyta, 3 families 5 genera, 7 species, 3 forma with 10 taxa in gymnosperm (Coniferophyta) and 143 families 703 genera, 1,622 species, 114 varieties and 47 forma with 1,783 taxa in Endospermae. The total number of taxa was 1,990 consisting 167 families, 770 genera, 1,818 species, 121 varieties and 50 forma. Three families, 4 genera 4 species and 1 variety in Pteridophyta and 1 family, 1 genus I species, 1 forma of Coniferophyta were endemic to Jeju. Five families, 8 genera and 8 species in the Monocotyledonae of Endospermae and 23 families, 32 genera, 21 species, 16 varieties and 7 forma and 44 taxa in Cholipetalae, and 9 families, 24 genera, 12 species, 13 varieties and 7 forma, total 32 taxa in Sympetalae were endemic to Jeju. Total 90 taxa with 41 families, 69 genera, 46 species, 29 varieties and 15 forma were drawn up as endemic plants in Jeju. As the numbers show on, Jeju has more biodiversity especially plant diversity than any other places in Korea. It was an important region in regard to geographical position. The rarity on plants from Jeju has been assessed based on the IUCN red list categories and criteria at both regional and global levels. There was one species in each extinct (EX) and extinct in the Wild (EW). The EX and EW species were Rhododendron saisiuense Nakai (Ericaceae) and Asplenium antiquum Makino (Aspleniaceae), respectively. Three taxa, Rhododendron dauricum L. (Ericaceae), Lycopodium sieboldii Miq., and Lycopodiella cernua (L.) Serm (Lycopodiaceae) were species that is extinct in the region (RE). Sixty-one taxa were critically endangered (CR), 13 were endangered (EN), and 83 were vulnerable (VU) at regional level. The taxa listed on a Red List corresponds 26.9% of total taxa in Jeju. At global level, there were 19 taxa in CR, 4 in EN, and 1 in VU (Vulnerable) as the category of threat. The rest taxa (133 taxa) were classified as Least Concern (LC). According to the results of the assessment, conservation measures must be taken for total of 157 species that were categorized in threaten including one of EX, one of EW and three extinct in the region immediately. Of 157 species, 61 were CR, 13 are EN and 83 were VU.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.94-99
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• 2023

Blueberry red ringspot virus (BRRSV) and blueberry scorch virus (BlScV) are included in the quarantine virus list managed by the Korean Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency. A multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay with an internal control was developed for the simultaneous detection of both viruses. The specific primers used here were designed based on the highly conserved regions of the genomic sequences of each virus, obtained from the National Center for Biotechnology Information nucleotide databases. The primers were designed to amplify a partial sequence within coat protein (CP) for detecting BRRSV and a partial sequence within the CP-16 kDa for detecting BlScV. 18S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) was used as internal control, and the primer set used in a previous study was modified in this study for detecting 18S rRNA. Each conventional PCR using the BRRSV, BlScV, and 18S rRNA primers exhibited a sensitivity of approximately 1 fg plasmid DNA. The multiplex PCR assay using the BRRSV, BlScV, and 18S rRNA primers was effective in simultaneously detecting the two viruses and 18S rRNA with a sensitivity of 1 fg plasmid DNA, similar to that of conventional PCR assays. The multiplex PCR assay developed in this study was performed using 14 blueberry cultivars grown in South Korea. BRRSV and BlScV were not detected, but 18S rRNA was all detected in all the plants tested. Therefore, our optimized multiplex PCR assay could simultaneously detect the two viruses and 18S rRNA in field samples collected from South Korea in a time-efficient manner. This approach could be valuable in crop protection and plant quarantine management.