• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.115-121
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• 2009

In order to elucidate the mechanisms affecting plant distributions in the reclaimed dredging area in the Gwangyang steelworks, in the Gwangyang Bay, Korea, we examined soil characteristics and plant distributions in four study sites and a control site in the study area. Desalination occurring along a gradient with increasing elevation, resulting in decrease of soil pH, EC, P, K, Cl, Ca, Mg, and salt and an increase in soil T-N, silt, clay contents. From site 1 (the lowest-elevation site) to site 5 (the highest-elevation site), halophytes decreased in abundance and nonhalophytes increased. The dominant species in each site were: Phragmites communis, Limonium tetragonum, and 12 additional species at site 1, Carex pumila, Suaeda japonica, and 15 additional species at site 2, Spergularia marina, Scirpus planiculmis, and 22 additional species at site 3, Miscantus sinensis, Lespedeza bicolor, and 26 additional species at site 4 and Pinus thunberii, Rhododendron mucronulatum, and 39 additional species at site 5, which resembled a naturally-occurring P. thinbergii community. Cluster analysis of the vegetation data matrix grouped the 35 plots into 5 major groups, and cluster analysis using the soil environment data matrix revealed 4 major groups. CCA of the floristic and environmental data matrix showed a positive relationship of SAR, EC, Na, Cl, and Ca, which are related to salt, in the $1^{st}$ axis and $2^{nd}$ axis, but negative relationships for altitude, organic contents, silt, and clay contents. Notably, plant species in the reclaimed dredging area that were separated along the $1^{st}$ axis showed strong relationships with factors that related to salt. Long-term exposure to natural rainfall in the reclaimed dredging area changed the soil characteristics, such as salinity. This change in soil characteristics might alter the SAR, which affects plant survival strategies in a given habitat. These results strongly indicated that factors related to salt and elevation play important roles in determining the overall plant distribution in the reclaimed dredging area.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.325-330
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• 2007

Recognizing the ecological importance of forest gap formation for forest community structure, we examined the differences in species diversity between forest gaps and closed canopy areas for trees and shrubs in three developmental stages (seedling, sapling I, and sapling II) in a typical mixed broadleaved-Korean pine forest. We randomly placed 100 sample plots ($2{\times}2m$ for seedling and sapling I, and $5{\times}5m$ for sapling II) in forest gap and closed canopy areas of a 9 ha permanent sample plot for vegetation surveys of plants of each developmental stage in each habitat type. Even though the formation of forest gaps encouraged the occurrence of gap-dependent species and increased overall species diversity, there were no significant differences in species richness among the three developmental stages for both tree and shrub species (p>0.05). Comparing the two types of sites, statistical tests revealed no difference in species richness for trees, but highly significant differences (p<0.01) between forest types for shrubs for seedlings and sapling I, but not sapling II. Analysis of variance test indicated that there were no significant differences in species diversity among the three developmental stages of tree species (p>0.05) for both Simpson and Shannon indices. The variance for shrub seedlings was significantly different between forest gaps and closed canopy areas, but not for sapling I and sapling II. The analysis showed that the species diversity in forest gaps was significantly different from that of closed canopy areas for seedling and sapling I (p<0.01), but not for sapling II (p>0.05).

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.213-223
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• 2008

The increasing area of abandoned rice fields could provide new opportunities for wetland restoration in Asia. However, it is unknown how quickly or completely abandoned rice fields will recover from agricultural disturbances. We assessed water quality and plant community succession in abandoned rice fields with different hydrology in a mountain valley to understand the effects of hydrological regime on recovery. Water level, soil redox potential, water quality, plant composition, and primary production were measured. The sites, coded as D6, N13, and N16, had been recovering for 6, 13, and 16 years by 2006. N13 and N16 have been recovering naturally whereas D6 has been drained with a nearby dike and was tilled in 2001. The typical hydroperiods of D6, N13, and N16 were no surface water, permanently flooded, and seasonally flooded, respectively. The major change in vegetation structure of both D6 and N13 was the replacement of herbaceous species by woody species. Drawdown accelerated this change because Salix koreensis grew better in damp conditions than in flooded conditions. Phragmites japonica reduced plot-level plant species richness. The removal efficiency of $NH_4-N$, $NO_3-N$, and $PO_4-P$ from water varied seasonally, ranging between -78.8 to 44.3%, 0 to 97.5%, and -26.0 to 44.4%, respectively. In summary, abandoned rice fields quickly became suitable habitat for native wetland plant species and improved regional water quality. Variation among our sites indicates that it is likely possible to manage abandoned rice fields, mostly through controlling hydrology, to achieve site-specific restoration goals.

• Journal of Ocean Engineering and Technology
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• v.21 no.2 s.75
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• pp.22-34
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• 2007

We present basic data for developing new research topics and closely examine the existing data on the development and organization of the Nakdong River Estuary Delta by analyzing various studies of the area, including ocean engineering, coastal engineering, ocean environmental engineering, geomorphological, and geological studies. We first defined the general concepts related to the estuary and delta and reviewed the historical development of the Nakdong River Estuary Delta over the past 100 years. We then examined the origin and core elements of the estuary deposits that constitute the delta. In addition, we scrutinized the main factors affecting the development of the delta and analyzed existing research on delta development mechanisms by core researchers. The construction of an estuary barrage is one of the main factors effecting estuarine circulation and has altered the physical oceanic environment, area of deposition, atmospheric environment, and vegetation community of the delta. These factors affect the estuary circulation in turn, altering the delta. Along the Nakdong River, an unsteady-state sandy barrier appears at approximately three times the distance of the wavelength of incident offshore waves, and this terrain forms approximately 10-15 years after reclamation in the interdistributary upper stream and transforms the shoreline. It is necessary to develop a technique to predict terrain change that reproduces the erosion and accumulation of estuarine deposits. To determine the parameters and variables necessary to reproduce this system, continuous on-site monitoring is necessary. The existing research did not fully examine the terrain changes in Nakdong River Estuary or the periodic developmental characteristics. To understand the future process of estuary delta development, it is necessary to establish an integrated management system.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2002

The ecological background of a restoration project is complex and difficult to betermine without experimentation. A useful context for experiments is the well-studied process of natural succession, because the factors that drive or inhibit succession are also at work during reclamation (a form of primary succession) and restoration (which often resembles secondary succession). Using experimental studies on urban wasteland reclamation, we have tested for factors that stimulate or inhibit succession during early phases of woodland development in the Northeastern United states. The emphasis has been on mutualisms (seed dispersal, pollination, and mycorrhizae) and microsite limitations in the recruitment, growth, and reproduction of woody plants. Using plantings of seeds, seedlings, and clusters of reproductively mature plants on abandoned landfills, we have observed that (1) soil microsite deficiencies lead to very poor germination (<0.1$\%$) and seedling survival (<0.01$\%$) of most native species; (2) seed dispersal by birds is a significant and reliable source of woody plant recruitment; however (3) proximity effects are strong, with most (up to 95$\%$) of seed rain falling in the vicinity of planted clusters that are closest to putative seed sources; and (4) remnant natural woodlands are critical components of the recruitment process. To emphasize the last point, in one case, we found that the destruction of approximately 50$\%$ of nearby natural woodland vegetation led to a commensurate decline in seed rain. In another case, we found that the species richness of recruits was strictly limited by the species composition of nearby source plant communities, with no evidence of community enrichment by long distance dispersal over 5 years. We conclude from these results that the size and proximity of remnant natural populations are critical considerations when planning reclamation and restoration programs that rely on natural successional processes.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.17-29
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• 2016

We conducted the study on the relationship between the distribution of coastal sand dune plants and edaphic factors from the shoreline to inland in sand dune ecosystem. The application of TWINSPAN classification based on 10 species, led to the recognition of three vegetative groups (A-C), which associated with their habitats (foredune, hummuck in semistable zone and stable zone). The associations were separated along soil gradient far from the seashore. The relationships between species composition and environmental gradients were explained by canonical correspondence analysis (CCA). Distance from the shoreline was an important indicator to determine soil properties (pH, total ion contents, sand particle sizes, organic matters and nitrogen contents) from the seaward area to inland area and distribution pattern of coastal sand dune plants. Group A is foredune zone, characterized by Calystegia soldanella; group included typical foredune species such as Elymus mollis, Carex kobomugi, Ixeris repens, C. soldanella and Glehnia littoralis. Group B on semi-stabilized zone was characterized by Vitex rotundifolia, a perennial woody shrub. This group was associated the proportion of fine sand size (100 to 250 μm). The results on the proportion of soil particle size showed a transition in sand composition, particularly with respect to the proportion of fine sand size that occurred from the foredune ridge at 32.5 m to the Vitex rotundifolia community at 57.5 m from the shoreline. Group C on stabilized zone was characterized by Zoysia macrostachya, Lathyrus japonicus and Cynodon dactylon and were associated soil organic matter and nitrogen contents. The spatial distribution of plants in the Goraebul coastal sand dune system may result from the interactions between the plant species and environmental heterogeneity.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.74-81
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• 2016

Classified into sub-tree of the growth-form, Acer pseudosieboldianum and Carpinus cordata hardly reach the uppermost canopy with limited height growth potentiality in the natural deciduous forest. However, the two species usually dominate lower stories of the forest, playing an important role in overall ecological characteristics in the forest. Based on the vegetation data of 106 $20m{\times}20m$ sample plots in Mt. Jumbong area, this study was carried out to evaluate ecological constitution by several quantitative analysis so as to understand the mechanism of the natural deciduous forest. The results indicated that individuals of A. pseudosieboldianum and C. cordata were absent or few in overstory, but emerged the most dominant species in midstory and understory, providing adequate proof of the ecological importance. The comparison of indices of succession between presented and predicted values in midstory did not make much difference, suggesting that the species composition would not change much and come close to steady state in midstory and understory. The pair combination of species association noted that A. pseudosieboldianum had significant positive association with C. cordata, Quercus mongolica, and Tilia amurensis had significant positive association with A. pseudosieboldianum, A. pictum subsp. mono and Fraxinus mandshurica but negative association with F. rhynchophylla. Being compared with other major canopy tree species in the study forest, the target species of A. pseudosieboldianum and C. cordata had strong regeneration strategies, partially characterized by large number of saplings and pole sized trees and high ratio of live crown, which indicated high shade tolerance to survive in the limited amount of light under the canopy. Even though A. pseudosieboldianum and C. cordata do not reach and occupy the canopy layer mainly due to the inherent growth form, they would have highest competitive potentiality to prosper and dominate in the midstory of the natural deciduous forest.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.355-361
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• 1999

Distribution of size class, population regeneration and changes in the population structure of Quercus mongolica were studied from 1994 to 1999 in Mt. Jumbong (128°27' E, 38° 04' N) of Mt. Sorak National Park and Biosphere Reserve in central Korea. Three 20m × 20m permanent quadrats were set up at the elevation of 900m. The vegetation of the study site was dominated by Quercus mongolica and Acer pseudosieboldianum, but little change was observed in the community structure from 1995 to 1999. Most mortality in the study site was observed in small trees of A. pseudosieboldianum and Tilia amurensis. Mean annual growth in dbh (diameter of breast height) of Q. mongolica for 4 years was only 0.09cm, and no ingrowth of saplings (dbh < 2.5cm) into tree class was observed during the study period. Among the 21 Q. mongolica trees studied in the permanent quadrats. all the smaller trees (dbh < 30cm) were established in 1920 ∼ 1950, while many bigger trees (with 40cm < dbh < 80cm) were established in 1750 ∼ 1800, indicating that its establishment was episodic. Distribution of dbh classes among Q. mongolica trees shows that smaller trees were poorly represented, and no saplings of Q. mongolica occurred in the permanent quadrats studied, indicating that currently Q. mongolica is not regenerating well in the study site. Total seed production of Q. mongolica in 1994 was estimated as 88 acorns per square meter in the study site. Rate of predation including caching of acorns was highest in 1994, then declined sharply thereafter. Most of the acorns which managed to survive in the first year were predated in the second year, and only 5% of the acorns produced in 1994 survived into the third year. No seeds produced in 1994 or seedlings germinated from them succeeded to survive to 5 years after seed production. However, seedling emergence rate and seedling survival were high in the early growing season in 1995. These results suggest that predation can be a significant factor in the regeneration of Q. mongolica. and that Q. mongolica is not regenerating well in Mt. Jumbong and needs large scale disturbances for its new recruitment.

• ALGAE
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.139-146
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• 2015

Urchin barrens have been a major issue of rocky coastal ecosystems in temperate regions. In South Korea, the east coast and Jeju Island have especially been a focus because the area of barren ground increases in spite of continual efforts to install artificial reefs. This study approached the urchin barrens issue in South Korea, by focusing on a correlational analysis of urchin and macroalgal abundance. Urchin density and algal species coverage were obtained using a quadrat image analysis. Subtidal sites were then classified into three groups according to the average densities of urchins to evaluate the characterization of the macroalgal community: no urchin (NU) zone; transition (TR) zone, $4inds.\;m^{-2};$ and urchin (UR) zone, ${\geq}8inds.\;m^{-2}$. The average urchin density in the study site was $4.7inds.\;m^{-2}$ and 57 macroalgal species were found in the study site. From the NU zone to UR zone, total species number, species diversity index and evenness gradually decreased, whereas the dominance index increased. The algae species with negative correlations were Grateloupia divaricata, Polysiphonia morrowii, Chondracanthus intermedius, Delesseria violacea, Desmarestia viridis; and those with positive correlations were the crustose corallines, Sargassum horneri. Other species were not significantly correlated with urchin density. The significant correlations indicate that the abundance of some macroalgal species is proportionally regulated by sea urchin density. This study also shows how macroalgal vegetation changes in response to an urchin's density gradient in a natural condition; and there is a TR zone that existed with respect to an intermediate level of algal abundance.

• Journal of Korean Society of Rural Planning
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.157-165
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• 2015

The purpose of this study is on identifying charactreistics and management direction of complementary pond of Dalmaji village in Gangjin. Accordingly, this village was indicated as Experience and Resort village by Korean government. This study describes the construction background and characteristics and identifies species diversity and characteristics through field survey. For this, literature and field survey was performed. In field survey, vegetational survey was performed in Aug. of 2015. D(Dominant degree) and S(Sociability degree) was measured by Brown-Blanquet's method. The answer was searched from Myungsanron(明山論), a textbook of Fengsui(風水) in Joseon dynasty. Of these causes, it was considered that the representative one is a protection of fire and infectious disease because the Wolgak mountain is a fire mountain(火山) as a stone mountain in Fengsui. The results demonstrate decline of aquatic ecosystem because of neglect management. The total number of species was 24. Of the species, Zelkova serrata is a natural vegetation of this complementary forest. This is nominated as Lagerstroemia indica and Camellia japonica community. Species composition demonstrate the characteristics of Korean southern region as mixed forest of evergreen trees and deciduous ones which are indigenous plants. It was considered Juniperus chinensis KaizukaVariega in central round island was planted in Japanese colonial period and it have to be removed. It was considered that name of moon pond and moon island etc. projects the mind of village ancestors which are going to reach an ideal condition of moon. And management of quantity and depth of pond water was critical for restoration of disappearing lotus from related literature. Periodic management was needed for ecological structure and function improvement because of ecological disturbance by the invasive plants like Humulus japonicus.