• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.57-66
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• 2001

The floating islands have been constructed for the water quality improvement and the biodiversity conservation in an disturbed aquatic ecosystem. We made floating islands consisted of a special float and substrates of coconut fibers implanted with four emergent macrophytes such as Phragmites australis, Zizania latifolia, Iris pseudoacorus, Typha angustifolia. Vegetation structure and plant growth were compared between on the floating islands and on ground in order to select suitable plants for the construction of floating islands. Emergent-macrophytic vegetation on the floating islands showed lower coverages and higher plant biodiversity due to natural introduction of various hydrophytes and hygrophytes. Shoot density was increased on floating islands except for Zizania latifolia. From the point of coverage and density of plants, Phragmites australis and Iris pseudoacorus were suitable for floating islands. Total biomass of emergent macrophytes was decreased on the floating islands. The belowground/aboveground biomass ratio of floating islands was higher than that of the ground. Out of planted macrophytes, Iris pseudoacorus with a high belowground/aboveground biomass ratio could be evaluated a suitable plant for the floating islands because a plenty of its root is profitable to adapt with the nutrient-limited environment of floating islands.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2002

The effects of floating islands on the changes in phytoplankton community structure were investigated in a small artificial pond. The floating islands planted with various emergent macrophytes covered 35% of total water surface area of the pond. Total 17 genera and 25 species of phytoplankton were found in the pond, of which Dinophyceae was 1 genera and 1 species, Cyanophyceae 1 genera and 1 species, Bacillariophyceae 6 genera and 8 species, and Chlorophyceae 9 genera and 15 species. Dominant phytoplanktons under floating islands were changed from Aphanizomenon sp. as a Cyanophyceae to Golenkinia radiata, Kirchneriella contorta and Micractinium pusillum as a Chlorophyceae for 56 days after the construction of floating islands on July 24, 2001. The changes of dominant phytoplanktons of the control without floating islands were similar to those under floating islands in July and August, but Aphanizomenon sp. was rapidly increased in the control sites in September. About 99% of the cell number of Aphanizomenon sp. was disappeared for a month after construction of floating islands. Species diversity of phytoplankton under the floating islands of Iris pseudoacorus was higher than those of other macrophytes as well as the control without floating islands. The cell numbers of Cyanophyceae and Chlorophyceae were fewer under the floating islands of I. pseudoacorus than those of other macrophytes. Our results showed that the floating islands could be a useful eco-technique for the control of water bloom by Cyanophyceae and Chlorophyceae in a pond ecosystem.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.25-35
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• 2001

This study aims to find out the growth characteristics of riparian plants on the artificial floating islands (AFI). Three types of experiments were performed. The vegetation growth were compared by the plant-supporting materials; natural cotton mat, coir mat on the AFI or in the water, and natural soil at the waterfront. Major findings are; 1. The survival rate of riparian plants was 100% on both coir-mat and cotton-matislands, which implies that we may substitute cheaper cotton for expensive coir-mat. 2. Both natural cotton mat and coir mat were good for the growth of plants. Especially, the natural cotton mat was good for Sparganium stoloniferum and Miscanthus sacchariflorus, and the coir mat was good for Typha latifolia. 3. The growth rate of stem and root showed difference between the stem-removed plants and stem-remaining plants. As a whole, the growth rate of stem-removed plants was bigger than the one of stem-remaining plants. 4. The growth rate of plants showed difference between those grown on the AFI and those grown in the water. The growth rate of plant on the AFI was bigger than the one in the water. 5. The growth rate of plants on the AFI was bigger than the one on the natural soil at the waterfront.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.90-97
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• 2001

For improvement of water quality, $20m^2$ of artificial floating plant islands planted with Iris pseudoacorus, were installed in small pond on March, 1999. Small pond has surface area $1,000m^2$ and mean depth 1.5 m. The density of plants was 16 per $m^2$ by using jute pot. Environmental parameters such as COD, SS, T-N, T-P and planktons were biweekly measured from 29 March to 28 September. Because of the small portion of floating island, the effect for water quality improvement was not sufficient. But considering the data of plant growth and nitrogen and phosphorus uptake capacity of plant, about 40% of coverage by artificial floating island was needed for elimination of whole nutrients from inflow.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.57-67
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• 2019

Water-Birds are the birds that occupy the highest proportion in Korea, inland wetlands and reservoirs provide them with a good environment as habitat, but their habitats have been losing because of thoughtless development. Therefore, artificial plant islands in reservoirs are important for improving habitat environment and providing food resources. However, there are no research and standards on the built and management of artificial plant islands. So this study is to find out the density of bird using artificial plant island as habitat through monitoring using UAV focus on the Cheonho-reservoirs located in Seobuk-gu, Cheonan-si(Middle Chungcheong Province). Further, the correlation analysis with environmental factors was conducted to determine the effect of artificial plant islands as habitats for water-birds. The supervised classification of the three-time images taken by the drone identified 244 white-billed ducks and 46 mandarin ducks. The utilization rate was different for each photographed date, and more individuals were identified in wet artificial plant islands than dry ones. As a result of analyzing the utilization follow environmental factors, the distance from the trail showed a significant correlation, and the other factors did not have a statistically significant effect. This study is the first case of the UAV monitoring method of the water-birds using artificial plant islands in the reservoir, and can be used as the basic data for the built and management.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.105-116
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• 2021

Background: The creation of the National Institute of Ecology began as a national alternative project to preserve mudflats instead of constructing the industrial complexes by reclamation, and achieve regional development. On the other hand, at the national level, the research institute for ecology was needed to cope with the worsening conditions for maintaining biodiversity due to accelerated climate change such as global warming and increased demand for development. In order to meet these needs, the National Institute of Ecology has the following objectives: (1) carries out studies for ecosystem change due to climate change and biodiversity conservation, (2) performs ecological education to the public through exhibition of various ecosystem models, and (3) promotes regional development through the ecological industry. Furthermore, to achieve these objectives, the National Institute of Ecology thoroughly followed the basic principles of ecology, especially restoration ecology, in the process of its construction. We introduce the principles and cases of ecological restoration applied in the process. Results: We minimized the impact on the ecosystem in order to harmonize with the surrounding environment in all the processes of construction. We pursued passive restoration following the principle of ecological restoration as a process of assisting the recovery of an ecosystem degraded for all the space except in land where artificial facilities were introduced. Reference information was applied thoroughly in the process of active restoration to create biome around the world, Korean peninsula forests, and wetland ecosystems. In order to realize true restoration, we pursued the ecological restoration in a landscape level as the follows. We moved the local road 6 and high-voltage power lines to underground to ensure ecological connectivity within the National Institute of Ecology campus. To enhance ecological diversity, we introduced perch poles and islands as well as floating leaved, emerged, wetland, and riparian plants in wetlands and mantle communities around the forests of the Korean Peninsula in the terrestrial ecosystem. Furthermore, in order to make the public aware of the importance of the intact nature, the low-lying landscape elements, which have disappeared due to excessive land use in most areas of Korea, was created by imitating demilitarized zone (DMZ) landscape that has these landscape elements. Conclusions: The National Institute of Ecology was created in an eco-friendly way by thoroughly reflecting the principles of ecology to suit its status and thus the impact on the existing ecosystem was minimized. This concept was also designed to be reflected in the process of operation. The results have become real, and a result of analysis on carbon budget analysis is approaching the carbon neutrality.