• Journal of the Korean Geographical Society
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.511-521
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• 2002

Coastal sand dunes in West coast of Korea are under stress. Due to the newly constructed Seohaean(West Coast) Highways, the number of visitors and the anthropogenic pressures will keep rising in near future. Sea level rise due to the global warming may cause a lot of damage to the natural resources and residents of coastal area. Therefore, many countries including United States are doing nationwide coastline survey using highly sophisticated methodology. In this study, high resolution IKONOS satellite images along with aerial photographs taken since 1960's have been sequentially analyzed using GIS software (Erdas Imagine 8.3). Onsite monitoring has been performed at the 31 measuring points in 10 beaches since the May of 2001 in order to measure the sand budget. Post-construction monitoring after installation of sand fences is also being done on sites regularly. Restoration works seem to be effective at this moment.

• Journal of The Geomorphological Association of Korea
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.43-55
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• 2018

This study aimed to identify different sedimentary environments of Gochang coast according to geomorphic conditions of each bore hole. To achieve the aim, this study utilized the classification of sedimentary environmental conditions of surface sediment, which was based on grain size distribution characteristics.In other words, three sedimentary environmental conditions ofsandy flat + sand beach, coastal sand dune and weathered bedrock soil, which were distinguished based on grain size distribution characteristics of mean-sorting for surface sediments, were applied to the sediments of bore holes. Four sedimentary environments could be identified in Gochang coast. First, the lake sedimentary environment originated from terrestrial sediments seems to have been dominated by weathered bedrock soil that the surface flow has deposited in a coastal wetland or a boundary, which is affected by the sea. Second, the lake sedimentary environment that is little affected by coastal sand dunes is located at the center of a valley, which is connected to the land, and the dune slack of Saban-ri. The surface flow of weather bedrock soil is the main source of deposits. However, there seems to have been a temporary influence of the sea. Third, the lake sedimentary environment that is strongly affected by coastal sand dunes is located at the dune slack of Yeongjeong-ri. This environment shows traces of a change from a coastal sand dune into the dune slack. Finally, the coastalsand dune sedimentary environment, which wasinvestigated by boring the current coastal sand dune, shows a temporary influence of the land but seems to have maintained the overall stability. Consequently, this study demonstrated that the grain size distribution characteristics of the present surface sediments could be effectively applied to identify the sedimentary environments of the paleo bore hole sediments. In addition, the paleo change of sedimentary environment could also be identified in many places of Gochang coast. If the results of this study are combined with the age dating and geochemical analysis in future works, the paleo environmental change in Gochang coast will be restored more precisely.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Marine Environment & Energy
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.218-226
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• 2016

Field observations were used to study the characteristics and influence of groundwater level fluctuations on vegetation development on the natural beach of a sandy barrier island, in the Nakdong River estuary. The spatial/temporal fluctuations of the groundwater level and the interactions with the external forces (weather, ocean wave and tide) were analyzed. The results indicated that when it rains the groundwater level rises. During summer, when precipitation intensity is greater than 20 mm/hour, it rose rapidly over 20 cm. Subsequently, it fell gradually during periods of no precipitation. Seasonal characteristics indicated that the groundwater level was high during the summer rainy season and tended to fall in the winter dry season. The time-averaged groundwater level, observed from the four observations over 3 years (2012-2014), was about 1.47 m, higher than mean sea level (M.S.L.). It was shown that the average annual groundwater level rises toward the land rather than showing intertidal patterns observation. Differences in the presence or absence of a coastal sand dunes affected the progress of vegetation. In other words, in environments of saltwater intrusion where the groundwater level varies, dependent on the distance from the shoreline and bottom slope, sand dunes can be provided to affect soil conditions and groundwater, so that vegetation can be grown reliably.

• Journal of The Geomorphological Association of Korea
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2017

Planting trees is a very common practice in the coastal dunefields of South Korea as a way to stabilize dune landscapes and protect inland residential areas from strong winds and blown sands. On the other hand, disturbing the original foredune environment may deteriorate the ability of coastal landsto recover from coastal erosion after storms, causing a retreat of coastline. However, there is little information of this sort on the surface of forested dunefields. Airborne LiDAR or drone-based mapping is not easily applicable in such areas. In this study, we developed a digital terrain model of Dasari dunefields, Chungnam Province, based on direct topographic surveys with real-time kinematic GPS and total stations. We also analyzed previous two aerial photographs taken in 1947 and 1966, in order to detect an older landforms of the dunefields. Results suggested that there have been little changes in geomorphology of the Dasari dunefields for the last 50 years, despite continued tree plantings. Today, there are remains of U-shaped structures such as blowouts and parabolic dunes in the dunefields.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.290-298
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• 2007

The results of this research on the diversity, zonation of vegetation and micro-topography by TWINSPAN classification and DECORANA ordination, executed with Sinduri coastal dunes of Korea, are as follows: The vegetation and micro-topography of coastal dunes formed a noticeably clear zonation structure. The beach in the direction of the coastline saw a lot of appearance of Salsola komarovi and the primary dune was dominated by Elymus mollis. Imperata cylindrica var. koenigii and Carex pumila formed a colony at flat area of the sand hills and Calamagrostis epigeios was widely distributed at the wet slack. The secondary dune was dominated mostly by Ischaemum anthephoroides and Imperata cylindrica var. koenigii, and it showed an aspect of the distribution of Vitex rotundifolia and Rosa rugosa. while the hinterland hillside in the direction of inland was dominated by Robinia pseudo-acacia and Pinus thunbergii. However, Carex kobomugi, known as the pioneer species of the coastline-bound areas at the coastal dune, dominantly occupied the secondary dune of the rear side and continentally-inclined Miscanthus sinensi and Oenothera biennis of naturalized plant were irregularly spread over the whole of the coastal dune, so the stabilization of micro-topography seemed to be uncertain. Particularly, Miscanthus sinensis was predicted to be changed into dominant species of the primary dune, and secondary dune and slack having a commonly high species gathering inclination with the more progress of stabilization of the coastal dune. The expansion of sand hill wetlands and roads located between the primary dune and secondary dune was judged to have an effect on the zonation structure of plant distribution.

• Proceedings of the National Institute of Ecology of the Republic of Korea
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2023

In this study, we aimed to quantify the population size and spatial distribution of three predatory Scarites species in coastal sand dunes. In June and August 2014, 252 pitfall traps were utilized to conduct a trapping web analysis at three distinct sites with varying vegetation dominance values. Scarites sulcatus had the largest estimated population in a 10 m² area with a habitat density of 36.6 in a Vitex rotundifolia community area (site B) in the June survey. In contrast, Scarites aterrimus had the largest population size with a habitat density of 2.9 in a Calystegia soldanella community area (site A) in the August survey. Spatial distribution analysis revealed that S. sulcatus dominated the Vitex rotundifolia community without preference for a particular site, whereas S. aterrimus and Scarites terricola pacificus were primarily observed on the beach. The results indicated that the three Scarites species in the Sohwang coastal sand dune region exhibited differences in their spatial and temporal distributions in the coastal dune ecosystem in order to avoid competition and predation. In conclusion, our findings can be utilized to estimate the population density of the genus Scarites on the Korean Peninsula. The outcomes of this study will contribute to estimating insect population densities on the Korean Peninsula and developing investigative assessment methodologies.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.193-199
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• 2006

Halotolerant spore-forming Gram-positive bacteria were isolated from the root, rhizosphere, and non-rhizosphere soil of Blutaparon portulacoides. The different isolates were characterized genetically using an amplified ribosomal DNA restriction analysis (ARDRA), and phenotypically based on their colonial morphology, physiology, and nutritional requirements. Three different 16S rRNA gene-based genotypes were observed at a 100% similarity using the enzymes HinfI, MspI, and RsaI, and the phenotypic results also followed the ARDRA groupings. Selected strains, representing the different ARDRA groups, were analyzed by 16S rDNA sequencing, and members of the genera Halobaeillus, Virgibacillus, and Oceanobacillus were found. Two isolates showed low 16S rDNA sequence similarities with the closest related species of Halobacillus, indicating the presence of new species among the isolates. The majority of the strains isolated in this study seemed to belong to the species O. iheyensis and were compared using an AP-PCR to determine whether they had a clonal origin or not. Different patterns allowed the grouping of the strains according to Pearson's coefficient, and the resulting dendrogram revealed the formation of two main clusters, denoted as A and B. All the strains isolated from the soil were grouped into cluster A, whereas cluster B was exclusively composed of the strains associated with the B. portulacoides roots. This is the first report on the isolation and characterization of halotolerant spore-forming Gram-positive bacteria that coexist with B. portulacoides. As such, these new strains may be a potential source for the discovery of bioactive compounds with industrial value.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.383-389
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• 2000

A comparative analysis on the Viticetea rotundifoliae (coastal dune shrub vegetation) in South Korea and Japan was carried out. 569 releves from the most typical and homogeneous stands of the coastal dunes in South Korea and Japan were used. This study was accomplished by using the syntaxa and hierarchical system of the Viticetea rotundifoliae in South Korea and Japan according to the Zurich-Montpellier School's method, and syntaxonomy, synecology, syndynamics and syngeography between two countries were also compared with. Coastal dune shrub vegetation in South Korea and Japan were defined to the Viticetea rotundifoliae representing southern type coastal shrub in Northeast Asia. Coastal dune shrub communities of the Viticetea rotundifoliae in South Korea and Japan are considerably corresponded between the two, and contain their own characteristic syntaxa. Coastal dune shrub communities of the Viticetea rotundifoliae in Japan showed much diversification in syntaxa and species composition than those in South Korea.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.66-72
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• 2020

The coastal sand dunes have transitional characteristics of marine and inland ecosystems, and they have abundant biodiversity. This study investigated flora and vegetation and analyzed the landscape structure at seven beaches in Busan metropolitan city. As a result, the vascular species of the coastal sand dunes in Busan were identified as 178 taxa of 140 families. Vegetation landscape was damaged to the extent that no natural vegetation was found in 4 of 7 beaches (57%). The coastal dune vegetation was dominated by the Carex pumila community and Carex kobomugi community. The halophyte and invasive alien species were classified into 18 taxa (10% of all species) and 40 taxa (22% of all), respectively. The vegetation that made up the largest area was the Phragmites communis community of the salt marsh, and the species number of halophyte increased as the wetland area increased. This means that the maintenance and management of salt marshes is important to conserve the unique plant diversity of the region.

• Journal of Navigation and Port Research
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.421-427
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• 2014

In order to protect coastal facilities mainly from wave and current actions, the self-locking eco blocks constituting elements of protecting shore structures against scouring were designed. These blocks are adapted to the sloping bottom, coastal dunes, and submerged coastal pipelines, counteracting the destructive and erosive impulse action. A series of laboratory experiments has been conducted to investigate the reflection of water waves over and against a train of protruded or submerged shore structures and compare the reflecting capabilities of incident waves including wave forces. In this study the hydraulic model experiment was conducted to identify the performance of newly designed water affinity eco blocks to keep the coast slope and bottom mound from scouring by reduction of the wave reflection and to convince stability of the block placement. Revised design of each block element was also tested for field conditions. From the result of experiments, the field applicability of the developed blocks and placement was discussed afterward.