• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.19-38
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• 2016

This study was carried out to investigate the flora, vegetation and soil properties of serpentine area in Andong, Korea. The vascular plants identified during the seven-round field surveys were a total of 359 taxa: 88 families, 239 genera, 311 species, 6 subspecies, 33 varieties, 6 forms and 3 hybrids. 249 taxa were newly discovered in this region. The plant composition of serpentine area is the deciduous broad-leaved and conifer-mixed forest which is the common one in the middle part of the Korean peninsula. Four taxa of Korean endemic plants such as Clematis brachyura, Populus ${\times}$ tomentiglandulosa, Paulownia coreana and Aster koraiensis were collected. The vascular plants on the red list according to IUCN evaluation basis were found to be seven taxa: Near Threatened (NT) species of Hypericum attenuatum, Polygala tenuifolia and Senecio argunensis, Least Concern (LC) species of Penthorum chinense, Potentilla discolor and Acorus calamus, and Not Evaluate (NE) species of Scorzonera austriaca ssp. glabra. The floristic regional indicator plants found in this area were 19 taxa comprising two taxa of grade IV, five taxa of grade III, four taxa of grade II, and nine taxa of grade I. The naturalized plants were identified as 34 taxa and the percentage of naturalized index (NI) was 9.5 %, and urbanization index (UI) was 10.6 %. Forest soils contained high content of nickel and cadmium. The soil layer consists of loam and silt loam from the surface to a depth of 20 cm and loam and silt clay from a depth of 20 cm to 40 cm.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.528-534
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• 2009

Styan's Grasshopper Warblers (Locustella pleskei) are vulnerable species distributed in East-Asia only. Its known breeding sites in Korea are remote islets including Hongdo Islet, Chilbal Islet, Mara Islet, and Chuja Islets, and, therefore, the breeding biology of this species is still poorly known. This study was conducted on Mara Islet (N $33^{\circ}$ 06', E $126^{\circ}$ 16') from May to September 2008 to investigate the breeding status and breeding site characteristics of the grasshopper warblers. A total of 11 breeding pairs and their nests were found on trees and shrubs at artificially planted forests and hedges of Pinus thunbergii. The grasshopper warblers preferentially utilized the shrub trees for nesting places, and major nesting trees were Camellia japonica, Pittosporum tobira and Pinus thunbergii as nesting trees. Average heights of nesting trees and nests were $2.77{\pm}1.10m$ and $1.75{\pm}0.56m$, respectively. The grasshopper warblers selected lower shrubs and trees for nesting than randomly selected ones around them, probably to avoid strong and prevailed winds in flat and un vegetated environments on Mara Islet. The shape of nests was a round bowl-type, and measurements of nests were $11.9{\pm}0.5cm$ in exterior nest diameter, $11.1{\pm}1.1cm$ in height of exterior nest, $5.8{\pm}0.4cm$ in interior nest depth, and 6.0cm in interior nest diameter. It incubated eggs until the early August on Mara islet, and incubation periods of Mara Islet was possibly later than that of other areas. Furthermore, the clutch size in the study area was three, and they laid smaller number of eggs than normal clutch size (4~5 eggs) reported in other areas. Although we could not observe any nest predator on this species in the study area, selective cutting and pruning of trees will diminish dense shrub layer of forests. Therefore, it may affect the breeding of this threatened species which prefers dense shrubs of artificially planted forest of Pinus thunbergii. This study suggests that detailed and consistent further research on breeding biology and habitats of the grasshopper warblers are needed to conserve and manage of Pinus thunbergii forests on Mara Islet as an important breeding site of Styan's Grasshopper Warblers.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.241-263
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• 2016

This study was carried out to survey the vascular plants on Mt. Seokbyeongsan (1,055 m) and provide a basis for the conservation and management of plant resources. The vascular plants were surveyed from March to October 2015. The flora on Mt. Seokbyeongsan was classified as follows: 102 families, 295 genera, 454 species, 4 subspecies, 51 varieties, 7 forms, and a total of 516 taxa. Endemic plants included 17 families, 24 genera, 25 species, 1 variety, and a total of 26 taxa. The Korea Forest Service assignment of rare plants, including 21 families, 33 genera, 33 species, 3 varieties, and a total of 36 taxa, was investigated. Moreover, the Ministry of Environment assignment of rare plants, including 13 families, 17 genera, 17 species, 1 variety, and a total of 18 taxa, was investigated. Floristic special plants in the surveyed area were divided into five classes (Classes I-V): 42 taxa of Class I, 26 taxa of Class II, 35 taxa of Class III, 20 taxa of Class IV, and 9 taxa of Class V for a total of 132 taxa. Naturalized plants were 18 taxa, and plants threatened by climate change were 48 taxa.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.18-34
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• 2008

Based on external morphology, each of five species can be classified into three groups: 1) B. falcatum group (B. falcatum, B. scorzonerifolium), 2) B. euphorbioides group (B. euphorbioides) and 3) B. longiradiatum group (B. longiradiatum, B. latissimum). B. falcatum group has cauline leaves linear or lanceolate in shape and attenuate at base and not surrounding the stem. In contrast, B. longiradiatum group and B. euphorbioides group have cauline leaves ovate, lanceolate or panduriform in shape and auriculate or cordate at base and completely surrounding the stem. The inflorescence is basically compound umbels terminated at the apex of stem. But B. euphorbioides group is small in size and pedicels are rather short and the number of the pedicel is ca. 20. On the other hand, B. longiradiatum and B. falcatum groups are large in size and their pedicels are long and the number of the pedicel is around 10. The pore of pollen aperture of B. longiradiatum and B. latissimum is partially projected or not while those of B. falcatum group and B. euphorbioides is usually remarkably projected. The number of somatic chromosomes was counted as 2n=20 in B. falcatum, 2n=12 in B. scorzonerifolium and B. longiradiatum, and 2n=16 in B. euphorbioides and B. latissimum. Although chromosome numbers of B. euphorbioides and B. latissimum are the same, the two species are not likely to relate because the karyotypes of the two species are different from each other. Based on these observations, it can be concluded that B. latissimum is most closely related to B. longiradiatum. However, molecular data indicated that the species is probably related to B. bicaule distributed in central Siberia. In terms of conservation of B. latissimum, overexploitation by human and grazing by goat are most threatened factors.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.11-21
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• 2016

Cymbidium kanran Makino is being threatened in its own habitats due illegal collecting and habitat changes by vegetation growth along historical landuse change. In this study, we established habitat restoration model for conservation of C. kanran based on ecological diagnosis. Through exploration to Jeju Island in 2014 and 2015, we identified 27 unknown habitats of C. kanran and in there, abiotic variables and vegetation structure and composition were quantified. Altitudinal distribution of C. kanran was between 200 m~700 m a.s.l. and compared to distribution in 2004, Area of Occupation (AOO) decreased at 82%. Specific habitat affinity was not observed by evenly found in mountain slope and valley and summergreen and evergreen broadleaved forests, but likely more abundant in valley habitats with higher soil and ambient moisture. Total of 96 individual of C. kanran was observed with an average density of $942.6individuals\;ha^{-1}$. The plants showed relatively short leaf length (average=$10.7cm{\pm}1.1cm$) and small number of pseudo bulbs ($1.2{\pm}0.2$). Flowering and fruiting individuals were not observed in field. C. kanran was classified into endangered plant species as CR (Critically Endangered) category by IUCN criteria. Phenotypic plasticity of C. kanran was likely support to sustain in more shaded habitat environment and recent habatat changes to closed canopy and low light availability may exhibit negatively effects to C. kanran's life history. Restoring C. kanran habitat should create open environment as grassland and low woody species density.

• 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.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.239-244
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• 2015

Calanthe striata f. sieboldii Decne. ex Regel is a terrestrial orchid with beautiful flowers arranged in racemose inflorescences. This species is threatened due to over-collection and loss of suitable habitats. Asymbiotic germination is useful in the conservation efforts to re-establish plants in the wild, and for commercial propagation. In this study, we investigate the effects of sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl), three types of culture media (Phytomax Orchid Maintenance - POM, Seed Germination Maintenance - SGM, and Murashige and Skoog 1962 - MS), and plant growth regulators on embryo swelling, protocorm formation, and embryo diameter of C. striata f. sieboldii. Treatment with 1% NaOCl for 30 min greatly enhanced embryo swelling (28.3%), embryo diameter ($205.8{\mu}m$), and embryo protocorm formation (54.8%) compared to seeds without NaOCl treatment (embryo swelling 8.5%, embryo diameter $14.6{\mu}m$, and protocorm formation 13.4%) on POM medium. Protocorm formation on POM medium supplemented with 1.0 mg/L N6-benzyladenine (BA) (95.6%) was better than the control (54.5%). Additionally, the effects of activated charcoal (AC) and sucrose on seedling growth in in vitro culture were examined. The protocorm converted into healthy plants with well-developed shoot primordia on the POM medium with AC and sucrose. The most suitable conditions for seedling growth after 10 weeks of culture were the POM medium with AC or sucrose. These results show effective asymbiotic seed germination and in vitro seedling growth of C. striata f. sieboldii.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.404-416
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• 2020

Studies on the preservation and propagation of tropical and subtropical plants are required, but the studies are insufficient in Korea. Since 2013, the Tropical Plant Resources Research Center has been collaborating on field research and publication to preserve plant diversity in Myanmar protected areas and Sagging areas in cooperation with Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment Conservation and the Myanmar Forest Research Institute. This study is to provide information on cooperative projects. As a result of the joint research between the Korea National Arboretum and Myanmar, in December 2018, the Korea National Arboretum Tropical Plant Resources Research Center is on display for conservation and education purposes with the 65 Myanmar useful materials and specimens of 326 kinds of plants and specimens that Myanmar Forest Research Institute donated. This donation is the first case of Myanmar's export of plant organisms to a foreign country, and as for the Korea National Arboretum, it is the second official case of introducing a mass plant from foreign governments. The study will also accelerate preservation biodiversity and propagation methods of tropical and subtropical plants as well as research on biodiversity conservation and industrial use.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.19-28
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• 2009

Echinosophora koreensis (Nakai) Nakai (Leguminosae) is one of the threatened plant growing in secondary forest with sparse pine forest. The aim of this research is to investigate current status in a habitat of E. koreensis population, and obtain knowledge for conservation of the population. The flora of vascular plants and vegetation were investigated in the habitat E. koreensis in Mt. Bibong, Gangweon Province. Investigation were carried out in August 2003 and May 2008 at the three different habitats. As a result, a total 40 species 7 varieties of 28 family were recorded in whole area. The vegetation of investigated area was typical northern-temperate Pinus forest, humidity of soil was low and located at a slope area. These investigated area is very important for conservation of rare plant, E. koreensis. Therefore, sustainable conservation strategy such as designation of conservation area should be prepared urgently by the results of long-term monitoring studies.

• 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.