• Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.44 no.2
• /
• pp.90-97
• /
• 2020

Background: Natural forests are generally considered to be less prone to biological invasions than other modified ecosystems, particularly when canopy cover is high. Few decades of management of degraded forests by local communities in Nepal has increased canopy cover and altered disturbance regimes. These changes might have reduced the abundance of invasive alien plant species (IAPS) in forests. To understand the status of IAPS in such forests, we studied two community managed Shorea robusta forests (Sundari and Dhusheri) of Nawalpur district in central Nepal. In these two forests, vegetation sampling was done using circular plots 10 m radius at forest edge, gaps, and within canopy. Variation of IAPS richness and cover across these microhabitats were compared, and their variation with tree canopy cover and basal area analyzed. Result: Altogether 14 IAPS were recorded in the study forests; among them Chromolaena odorata, Ageratum houstonianum, and Lantana camara had the highest frequency. Mikania micrantha was at the early stage of colonization in Sundari Community Forest (CF) but absent in Dhuseri CF. Both IAPS cover and richness was higher at forest edge and gap than in canopy plots and both these attributes declined with increasing canopy cover and tree basal area. Conclusion: The results indicate that increase in canopy cover and closure of forest gaps through participatory management of degraded forests can prevent plant invasions and suppress the growth of previously established IAPS in Shorea robusta forests of Nepal. This is the unacknowledged benefit of participatory forest management in Nepal.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.47 no.1
• /
• pp.62-69
• /
• 2014

Standing crop distribution of aquatic plants in the West Nakdong River and riparian wetlands in the Nakdong River were surveyed in May, July and September, 2010. Total 25 aquatic macrophyte species (submerged: 9, leaf-floating: 3, free-floating: 5, emergent: 8) were observed during the survey periods. Distribution area of aquatic plants and proportion of submerged communities were highest in Garakchi-deung ($212,032m^2$, 72.7%). The distribution area of aquatic plants was highest in Phragmites australis community ($421,584m^2$), followed by Hydrilla verticillata-Vallisneria natans community ($181,511m^2$), Potamogeton wrightii-Vallisneria natans community ($61,604m^2$), and Hydrocharis dubia community ($49,709m^2$). Garakch-ideung (212,032 kg) also had the highest aquatic plant production, followed by Suanchi-deung (15,546 kg), Daedong (5,813 kg), Dunchi-do (3,963 kg), Maekdo (1,463 kg), Yeommak (571 kg), Jungsa-do (530 kg), and Shinan (300 kg). Average standing crop of the study area were $147.8{\pm}20.8g\;DW{\cdot}m^{-2}$ in 1988, $96.1{\pm}20.0g\;DW{\cdot}m^{-2}$ in 2000, and $172.6{\pm}76.1g\;DW{\cdot}m^{-2}$ in 2010. For a sustainable management of river habitat and food source, aquatic plant should concurrently be surveyed with river environmental variables (i.e. sediment, nutrient, flow).

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.24 no.3
• /
• pp.313-323
• /
• 2014

Significant alteration in the microbial community can occur across reclamation areas suffering subsidence from mining. A reclamation site undergoing fertilization practices and an adjacent coal-excavated subsidence site (sites A and B, respectively) were examined to characterize the bacterial diversity using 454 high-throughput 16S rDNA sequencing. The dominant taxonomic groups in both the sites were Proteobacteria, Acidobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Betaproteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Gammaproteobacteria, Alphaproteobacteria, Deltaproteobacteria, Chloroflexi, and Firmicutes. However, the bacterial communities' abundance, diversity, and composition differed significantly between the sites. Site A presented higher bacterial diversity and more complex community structures than site B. The majority of sequences related to Proteobacteria, Gemmatimonadetes, Chloroflexi, Nitrospirae, Firmicutes, Betaproteobacteria, Deltaproteobacteria, and Anaerolineae were from site A; whereas those related to Actinobacteria, Planctomycetes, Bacteroidetes, Verrucomicrobia, Gammaproteobacteria, Nitriliruptoria, Alphaproteobacteria, and Phycisphaerae originated from site B. The distribution of some bacterial groups and subgroups in the two sites correlated with soil properties and vegetation due to reclamation practice. Site A exhibited enriched bacterial community, soil organic matter (SOM), and total nitrogen (TN), suggesting the presence of relatively diverse microorganisms. SOM and TN were important factors shaping the underlying microbial communities. Furthermore, the specific plant functional group (legumes) was also an important factor influencing soil microbial community composition. Thus, the effectiveness of 454 pyrosequencing in analyzing soil bacterial diversity was validated and an association between land ecological system restoration, mostly mediated by microbial communities, and an improvement in soil properties in coal-mining reclamation areas was suggested.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
• /
• v.37 no.3
• /
• pp.206-216
• /
• 2021

Deutzia paniculata Nakai, a rare and endemic plant, has limited distribution throughout the North and South Gyeongsang provinces of South Korea. The D. paniculata community grows mostly on the stony slopes of forests, valley edges, and rock layers at 250-960 m in altitude, where deciduous trees are dominant and high humidity is maintained. Correlation analysis of vegetation and environmental factors found that the Walter's dogwood-mulberry community was correlated with soil acidity (pH). Whilst the queritron community had correlations with distance from the valley, rock rate and slope. The natural habitat of the Palgongsan Mountain in Daegu is known to have high genetic diversity, had eight D. paniculata individuals recorded from 2014 to 2018, and 12 individuals recorded in 2020 (new individuals due to a newly created space within the herbaceous layer caused by grass mowing works), it is therefore unlikely that the community would perish unless there was an artificial disturbance. To conserve the natural habitats of D. paniculata, oppression by Sasa borealis, damage, increase in crown density of the upper layer, overexploitation, and absence of seedlings should be carefully investigated. In addition, response measures should also be established and the impact on seed fullness and the reproductive characteristics of D. paniculata recorded. To restore declined genetic diversity, individuals from high genetic diversity regions, such as Palgongsan Mountain, should be artificially transplanted.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
• /
• v.33 no.5
• /
• pp.482-500
• /
• 2020

The purpose of this study was to identify the phytosociological vegetation structure through a sampling survey of Mt. Jirisan National Park. And it was conducted to provide the latest data for establishing a conservation and management plan for forest ecosystems. As a result of TWINSPAN classification, it was classified into 4 communities. Group I is the Fraxinus mandshurica - Acer pseudosieboldianum Community, group II is the Quercus serrata - Quercus variabilis Community, group III is the Quercus mongolica Community, group IV is the Pinus densiflora Community. Group I is dominated by Fraxinus mandshurica in the canopy layer, and Cornus controversa and Quercus mongolica compete and maintain dominance. Group II is dominated by Quercus variabilis and Quercus serrata in canopy layer, and Styrax obassia and Styrax japonicus compete in sub-tree layer. In group III, Quercus mongolica has a high dominance of 67% in canopy layer and 27% in the sub-tree layer, and Acer pseudosieboldianum competes with the Quercus mongolica in the sub-tree layer. In group IV, Pinus densiflora showed a high dominance of 74% in canopy layer. The sub-tree layer is dominated by Quercus mongolica, and is accompanied by competition between Carpinus tschonoskii and Fraxinus sieboldiana.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
• /
• v.26 no.1
• /
• pp.113-124
• /
• 2012

The purpose of this study is to analyze community members' perception due to impacts on use and development of Dulegil in Bukhansan National Park. The study was conducted by questionnaire survey sent to community members of the vicinity of Dulegil. Average score of positive impact on the local community was 3.2. Positive impacts mentioned by community members were 'heightened pride in their community with increased community image' and 'improvement of landscape and natural environment.' Improved residents' awareness of landscape and natural environment indicated that Dulegil almost accomplished intended goal of preservation of ecosystem. However, actual effects on ecosystem preservation and local economy were not perceptible yet. Score of negative impact was 2.8 on average. 'Traffic congestion' and 'increase in noise level' were considered the most serious among the negative impacts. Environmental pollution and destruction of vegetation in the lowland were deemed relatively bad. Regarding resident awareness of community, those in their 50s and older were quite satisfied with the community. However, young people showed lower level of satisfaction. In order to satisfy all ages, infrastructure and programs for the youth should be in place. To minimize negative awareness of impacts of Dulegil, visitor's attitude should be changed, and education and training on the value and mind set of horizontal hiking are required.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
• /
• v.28 no.2
• /
• pp.125-130
• /
• 2009

The aim of this study was to investigate whether differences in the distribution of soil invertebrates among different vegetation types (forest, reservoir, and crop land types) in rural area. A total of 18 orders and 137 species were collected by pitfall traps. Species numbers were the lowest (33 species) at the Chamaecyparis obtusa plantation (St. 6). On the forest sites, the individual number of Hymenoptera was the most abundant, and Acari and Coleoptera was the relatively more abundant than the other sites. On the reservoir sites (Salix chaenomeloides community), the individual number of Collembola was the most abundant, and Diptera was the relatively more abundant than the other sites. On the crop land sites, the individual numbers of Collembola, Hymenoptera, and Araneae were the relatively more abundant than the other orders. The density of Araneae was higher in the reservoir and crop land sites than in the forest sites. From a point of view of biodiversity, although the diversity index(H') was the highest in the mixed broad-leaved forest type (St. 2) with Quercus serrata and Q. acutissima, and the lowest in the upland levee of crop land(St. 11), there was no significant difference among the habitat or vegetation types. According to the community analysis, the soil invertebrates could be divided into 4 groups, the mixed broad-leaved forest type (A group), the plantation or pure forest type (B group), the reservoir type (C group), and the crop land type (D group).

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
• /
• v.24 no.6
• /
• pp.723-734
• /
• 2010

This study aims to analyze the change in vegetation for 10 years after the construction, targeting Suwoncheon, the first domestic ecological stream construction project. As for the section for the study, the section from Gyeonggi bridge to Youngyeon bridge, the first restoration project section, was targeted. The research districts consisted of 3 districts depending on topographical structure. Investigation check cosisted of cross-sectional topographical structure, vegetation status and the structure of herbaceous plant community. As for the cross-sectional topographical structure of the stream, the width of entire stream was 26.5~28.0m and water channel is 10~20m. The area for hydrophilic space was securing spacious riverside. Upper stream of reservoir beam was shallow and slow in reservoir area above weir. Lower stream of reservoir beam, the width of water channel was narrow and ripples were formed. Among species, 9 plants were planted and 6 species plants including Salix gracilistyla, Phragmites communis and Zoysia japonica were planted at the time of construction. In the water side, there were 2 species, such as Zoysia japonica and Trifolium repens, etc, still remained after seeding at the time of constrcution. The planted plants which were observed through this investigation, were 2 species such as Festuca arundinacea and Dactylis glomerata. Apart from the planted plants, arid climate herbaceous plant such as Setaria viridis and Artemisia princeps var. orientalis formed power and the naturalized species variously emerged in 15 species. For revetment, natural stone stacking method was condicted and Salix gracilistyla, Aceriphyllum rossii, etc were planted. But all the planted plants disappeared and now it was covered with Equisetum arvense and Humulus japonicus. It was because that the base for growth and development of the plants was not constructed at the time of restoration in a way of attaching natural stones onto the concrete base. In the water channel, various wetland species including Typha orientalis, Acorus calamus var. angustatus and Phragmites communis, etc, were planted but only Salix gracilistyla, Phragmites communis and Zizania latifolia remained. As for species of the autochthons, Persicaria thunbergii was dominant. In the lower stream of reservoir beam, Humulus japonicus formed forces. In the hydrophilic space, it was necessary to direct the landscape of in-stream vegetation in cosideration of users. For this, planting Miscanthus sacchariflorus in a community was proposed. In the upper stream of reservoir beam, suplementary screen seeding was necessary so that Zizania latifolia, Typha orientalis and Phragmites communis can fit the depth of water. In the Lower stream of reservoir beam, it was necessary to constantly manage Humulus japonicus so that the wetland autochthons species, such as Phragmites communis and Persicaria thunbergii can establish power more stably.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
• /
• v.8 no.2
• /
• pp.53-64
• /
• 2006

A study on the restoration process of a stream ecosystem and the water quality renovation technique by removing algae, vegetation and fish monitoring as evaluating the removal of the algae by dietetic characteristics of fishes were performed on Sangdong stream in the B city after stream restoration it to the artificial stream as the cases, restoring urban stream into close-to-nature stream are being increased domestically with the aim of ecological city. As a result, restoration and rehabilitation of the fundamental stream ecosystem was well maintained 4 years later the reclamation at the moment and total 93 diagnosis which were all vascular plant phylum including 44 families, 73 genuses, 79 species and 14 varieties in flora and vegetation community were observed. 3 families, 8 species and 354 populations in total among Fishes were found and Pseudorasbora Parva, Cyprinus Carpic and Carassius Auratus strongly resistant to water pollution were dominantly appeared in order of 50.5% of Pseudorasbora Parva 21.2% of Cyprinus Carpic, 20.9% of Carassius Auratus, 7.1% of Macropodus chinensis and 0.3% of Misqurnus anguillicaudatus according to relative richness index. It turned out to be that Cyprinus Carpic ingests algae over 90% and Carassius Auratus takes it over 30% according to the analysis about the alimentary object of the fishes as a consequences of algae's excrescent from characteristics of the tested experimental stream. It is reported that a Cyprinus Carpic, about 34 cm in length, ingested wet-weight 43.2g algae on the rough analysis toward the sample which makes us recognize how effective a macro community Cyprinus Carpic is for removing algae.As a consequence of this research, the effect of stream ecosystem characteristics and water quality purification could not be expected by aquatic plants and trees which were eliminated at experimental stream. From now on, a close-to-nature stream should be formed of ecological hydraulic and hydrologic engineered modeling from the beginning so that it can perform the water quality purifying function. It is determined that the structure of food chain will be abundantly influenced by the induction of oversized macro community like Cyprinus Carpic because a biomass of a consumer of higher order is increased. It is estimated that the removal algae by fishes is not effective despite in some cases of dietetic characteristics so much more studies should be executed in the future.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
• /
• v.50 no.1
• /
• pp.1-19
• /
• 2022

The Geumgang Pine (Pinus densiflora) Forest in Sogwang-ri, Uljin has traditionally been a pine tree protection area (prohibited forest) for timber production purposes, and is now designated and managed as a protected area for forest genetic resource conservation by the Korea Forest Service. This study, we analyzed topographical characteristics, existing vegetation, tree age, and plant community structure, and proposed a sustainable management method for the Geumgang Pine (Pinus densiflora) Forest in Sogwang-ri, Uljin for timber havesting purposes. The topographical characteristics of the target area were 36.7% ridges and 38.7% valleys; the ratio of ridges to valleys was similar, and the slopes formed 24.7% of the total area. The types of pine forest communities are divided into six types based on the progress of pine forest renewal, the competition with other species such as deciduous broadleaf trees, and the formation of layered structures. It has been confirmed that the age of the large-diameter pine trees (40~60cm in diameter) is approximately 60~70 years, which is relatively low. As a result of the analysis of the relative importance percentage and layered structure, differences depended on the progress of the pine forest renewal project, and not only the maintenance of the pine forest, but also the creation of a secondary growth forest, the density adjustment of pine trees, and the active management of competitive trees. The average basal area by the community was 12,642.1~25,424.4cm² for the tree layer and 1.8~1,956.5cm² for the low tree layer based on a quadrat of 400m². The difference in the basal area appeared to depend on the size and number of trees forming the tree layer and the degree of pine forest renewal (the degree of time elapsed after thinning pine trees). The average number of species that appeared in each community was 8.7-20.3; there were many species located in valleys, and the type competes with deciduous broadleaf trees due to the lack of management. The diversity of species ranged from 0.6915-1.0942, and was evaluated as low compared to pine communities in central temperate zones. In this paper, we determined the management goals of Geumgang Pine (Pinus densiflora) Forest in Sogwang-ri, Uljin to produce timber with high economic value, and suggested efficient vegetation management for continuous afforestation, the establishment of a timber production system, and improvement of wood production as a management direction.