• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.123-129
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• 2012

Salt marsh is an important transitional zone among terrestrial, riverine, and marine ecosystems and is a productive habitat that interacts extensively with adjacent landscape elements of estuarine and coastal ecosystems. Nowadays, in addition to various human activities, a variety of natural processes induce changes in salt marshes. This study aims to provide background information to restore disturbed salt marshes and to propose their ecological restoration using seed banks. The study area is a prepared area for the Gwangyang Container Port located in the southern Korea. This area was formed by accumulating mud soils dredged from the bottom of the forward sea. This land was created in a serial process of preparing the Gwangyang container port and the salt marsh was passively restored by seeds buried in mud soil dredged from seabed. As a result of stand ordination based on vegetation data collected from the land, stands were arranged according to tolerance to salinity in the order of $Suaeda$ $maritima$, $Salicornia$ $europaea$, and $Phragmites$ $communis$ communities on the Axis 1. Landscape structure of the projected area was analyzed as well. Edges of the projected area were divided from the marginal waterway by the dike. Four types of vegetation appeared on the dike: $Alnus$ $firma$ plantation, $Robinia$ $pseudoacacia$ plantation, $Lespedeza$ $cyrtobotrya$ plantation, and grassland. In the more internal areas, two types of vegetation sequences appeared: $Aster$ $tripolium$ community-$Suaeda$ $glauca$ community-$Salicornia$ $europaea$ community sequence and $Aster$ $tripolium$ community-$Suaeda$ $maritima$ community-$S.$ $europaea$ community sequence. Mixed community showed the highest species diversity (H' = 0.86) and $S.$ $europaea$ community showed the lowest (H' = 0.0). Evenness is the highest in Mixed community (J' = 2.26) and the lowest in $S.$ $maritime-S.$ $europaea$ community (J' = 0.0). Several plant communities were successfully established on the land created by mud soil dredged from the bottom of Gwangyang Bay. Moreover, community diversity in this area approached a similar level with those from other studies involving natural salt marshes. Therefore, restoration effect based on community diversity obtained in our study can be evaluated as a successful achievement. In this respect, although most salt marshes in Korea and other places worldwide have been destroyed or disturbed by excessive land use, feasibility of seed bank as a restoration tool is greatly expected.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.246-256
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• 2016

The objective of the study was to investigate vascular plants of Mueuido in Incheon from April to October, 2011. The investigation was carried out for mountains (Mt. Horyonggok and Mt. Guksa), coastal areas and annexed islands (Silmido and Somueuido). Vascular plants were found to have 338 taxa, including 90 families, 235 genera, 297 species, 5 subspecies, 32 varieties and 4 forms. Rare and endangered plants designated by Korea Forest Service had 5 taxa including Utricularia bifida, U. vulgaris var. japonica, U. racemosa, Ottelia alismoides, and Arisaema heterophyllum. The floristic regional indicator plants found in this area had 3 taxa of grade V and 5 taxa of grade III. Naturalized plants consisted of 20 taxa that made up 8.3% of the total vascular plants in this area.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.463-471
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• 2009

A study on vegetation in the Mangyeong River and Dongjin River basins and the surrounding regions of the Saemangeum Reclaimed Land was conducted in a series of efforts to determine the expected ecological changes in the salt marshes, to restore their vegetation, to explore the restoring force of halophyte, to examine the community mechanism and, ultimately, to rehabilitate marshy land vegetation along the lakeside, coastal dune and salt marshes of the Saemangeum Project Area. The findings of the study may be summed up as follows: Five species such as Suaeda japonica, Salicornia herbacea, Atriplex gmelini, Aster tripolium and Suaeda asparagoides that are mostly distributed in the estuary of the Saemangeum Reclaimed Land were analyzed to examine the mechanism of halophyte to maintain their community. To find out the strategies of plants for survival and the cause of forming community structure, a research was made as for appearance ratio of biomass, root lengths and germination. With regard to biomasses of halophyte, the biomass of Suaeda japonica increases rapidly, while Salicornia herbacea adopts a strategy of unstable growth pattern by which the biomass increases slowly in parallel with its slow speed of growth since initial appearance of young sapling. In contrast, Suaeda asparagoides, Atriplex gmelini and Aster tripolium choose to adapt themselves to environment promptly by being transformed into life form of annual or biennial plant, a pattern that is presumed to be favorable and stable for survival in the later stage of growth. In short, there is a sharp distinction among the 5 species: i.e. Suaeda japonica that begins to grow fast in the length of surface and underground section but slows down from the mid-stage on; Salicornia herbacea that grows slowly in the beginning step but starts to step up from the middle onward; Atriplex gmelini and Aster tripolium growing slowly in the initial stage but fast later on; and Suaeda asparagoides that turns from the constant growth in the beginning to rapid growth in the later period. The outcomes of the analysis into status of growth and influencing factors of Suaeda japonica in the sowing field that is most widely prevalent in the Saemangeum Reclaimed Land as a sort of ecological pioneer in the salt marshes showed that the average size of grass lands, density and number of individuals increase in the natural sowing field as well as in the plowing field regardless of their physical as well as physico-chemical features of the soil as the season progresses from June to October of a year.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.295-304
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• 2010

Actual evapotranspiration (AET) in the Suyeong-gu was estimated and correlations between AET and meteorological factors were analyzed. The study area was Suyeong-gu lay at the east longitude $129^{\circ}$ 05' 40" ~ 129$^{\circ}$ 08' 08" and north latitude $35^{\circ}$ 07' 59" ~ $35^{\circ}$ 11' 01". The Kumryun mountain, the Bae mountain, the Suyeong river and the Suyeong bay are located on west, north, northeaster and south side in the study area, respectively. AET was estimated using precipitation (P), potential evapotranspiration (PET) and plant-available water coefficient. Meteorological factors to estimate PET were air temperature, dewpoint temperature, atmospheric pressure, duration of sunshine and mean wind speed (MWS). PET and AET were estimated by a method of Allen et al. (1998) and Zhang et al. (2001), respectively. PET was the highest value (564.45 mm/yr) in 2002 year, while it was the lowest value (449.95 mm/yr) in 2003 year. AET was estimated highest value (554.14 mm/yr) in 2002 year and lowest value (427.91 mm/yr) in 2003 year. Variations of PET and AET were similar. The linear regression function of AET as PET using monthly data was AET=0.87$\times$PET+3.52 and coefficient of determination was high, 0.75. In order to analyze relationship between the evapotranspiration and meteorological factors, correlation analysis using monthly data were accomplished. Correlation coefficient of AET-PET was 0.96 high, but they of AET-P and PET-P were very low. Correlation coefficients of AET-MWS and PET-MWS were 0.67 and 0.73, respectively. Thus, correlation between evapotranspiration and MWS was the highest among meteorological factors in Suyong-gu. This means that meteorological factor to powerfully effect for the variation of evapotranspiration was MWS. The linear regression function of AET as MWS was AET=84.73$\times$MWS+223.05 and coefficient of determination was 0.54. The linear regression function of PET as MWS was PET=83.83$\times$MWS+203.62 and coefficient of determination was 0.45.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.501-507
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• 2000

Distribution and habitat characteristics of Zostera (Zosteraceae) in the eastern coast of Korea were examined along with plant monohology, sediment composition and physicochemical factors of seawater from June 1998 to July 2000, The results showed that three species, Zostera marina, Z. asiatica and Z, caespitosa were found in specific habitats. The depth of habitat for Z. asiatica was deeper ($8.5{\~}15.0 m$) than that of Z. marina ($1.3{\~}5.6 m$) and Z. caespitosa ($3.2{\~}5.2 m$). Z. marina beds were observed at brackish-water, port and inner bay with the sediment type of sand or muddy sand. Habitats of Z. asiatica were restricted to the open bay with the sediment type of sand, Zostera have been described with regard to different growth forms of vegetation, flowering shoot and life history. Vegetation and flowering shoot length varied significantly with habitats; values ranged $66.8{\~}110.0 cm$ and $128.0{\~}217,8 cm$, respectively. Morphology of Z. marina varied with water depth and different substrates. Morphological characteristics of Z. asiatica showed a new phenotype at the deeper water depth. Vegetation and flowering shoots of Z. caespitosa were not significantly different between study sites (values ranged from 64.9 cm to 70.3 cm). Nutrient concentrations of seawater were higher at southern part than at middle part of the eastern coast of Korea. Distribution of Zostera in the eastern coast of Korea was dependent upon differences in water depth and habitat environments, by which affected the morphological differences were affected.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.38-43
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• 1999

Over 2,000 ha of rice fields in the western and southern coastal region of Korea were flooded with sea water during the spring tide, on August 19-21, 1997, and the rice plant at heading stage was injured. The field surveys were undertaken at the sea water flooded paddy fields in Chonbuk Province, to identify the injury symptoms and rice yield damage subjected to different flooding condition and desalinization methods. Five days after sea water flooding at heading stage, the flag leaves of rice plants flooded with 30 ㎝ deep sea water withered from the tip, the withering progressed to the lower leaves in deeper flooding. The spikelets were spotted black and discolored from the tip at 50 ㎝ deep flooded rice, and some panicles changed to white at 80 ㎝ deep flooded rice. Most of the rice leaves submerged completely for an hour were withered and most of panicles changed to white. The milled rice yield, percentage of ripened grain, and 1000 grain weight of flooded rice decreased with deeper flooding water, higher water salinity and longer flooding time. Even under the same flooding conditions, the damage of rice yield varied with the growth stage: heading stage>dough stage>booting stage. Rice yield damage was less in the fields on the upper riverside than those of the fields on the estuary and seaside, because of lower water salinity. In a flooded field, the rice yield damages were reduced as the distance increased from the levees where the sea water inflowed and increased as the distance increased from the fresh water irrigation gate. The desalinization treatments consisting of frequent exchange of irrigation water and spraying with fresh water soon after flooding effectively reduced the rice yield damage.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.646-655
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• 2015

A phytosociological survey carried out using the Z.-M. School’s methodology and system of numerical-classification analyses, this study sought to classify the syntaxa of forest vegetation on Mt. Byeokbang and to collect basic data on the transitional zones of the southern Korean peninsula’s coastal region. The syntaxa were classified into three physiognomic types and nine communities, including (1) evergreen coniferous forests (Eurya japonica-Pinus thunbergii community and Ardisia japonica-Pinus densiflora community), (2) summer-green, broad-leaved forests (Chloranthus japonicus-Quercus serrate community, Syneilesis palmata-Quercus mongolica community, Quercus acutissima community, Carpinus turczaninovii var. coreana community, Fraxinus siebolidiana-Quercus dentate community, and Deutzia glabrata-Lindera erythrocarpa community), and (3) artificial afforestation (Alnus firma afforestation). The Chloranthus japonicus-Quercus serrata community, Syneilesis palmata-Quercus mongolica community, Fraxinus siebolidiana-Quercus dentata community, Carpinus turczaninovii var. coreana, community and Deutzia glabrata-Lindera erythrocarpa community were closely evaluated for national vegetation naturalness. It was confirmed that the Carpinus turczaninovii var. coreana community was endemic to Korea. Most syntaxa were defined as a secondary forestation due to various human activities (e.g., forest fires, logging, digging, climbing, etc.). The results of a canonical-correspondence analysis (CCA) showed that human activities, altitude, humus depth, rock cover ratio, slope, etc. were the main ecological factors determining the classified plant communities’ distribution patterns.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.189-196
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• 2015

Bacterial diversity was studied in the rhizosphere of Suaeda japonica Makino, which is native to Suncheon Bay in South Korea. Soil samples from several sites were diluted serially, and pure isolation was performed by subculture using marine agar and tryptic soy agar media. Genomic DNA was extracted from 29 pure, isolated bacterial strains, after which their 16S rDNA sequences were amplified and analyzed. Phylogenetic analysis was performed to confirm their genetic relationship. The 29 bacterial strains were classified into five groups: phylum Firmicutes (44.8%), Gamma proteobacteria group (27.6%), Alpha proteobacteria group (10.3%), phylum Bacteriodetes (10.3%), and phylum Actinobacteria (6.8%). The most widely distributed genera were Bacillus (phylum Firmicutes), and Marinobacterium, Halomonas, and Vibrio (Gamma proteobacteria group). To confirm the bacterial diversity in rhizospheres of S. japonica, the diversity index was used at the genus level. The results show that bacterial diversity differed at each of the sampling sites. These 29 bacterial strains are thought to play a major role in material cycling at Suncheon Bay, in overcoming the sea/mud flat-specific environmental stress. Furthermore, some strains are assumed to be involved in a positive interaction with the halophyte S. japonica, as rhizospheric flora, with induction of growth promotion and plant defense mechanism.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.314-317
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• 1997

This study was carried out to determine the effect of various fertilizer levels on the growth and yield of Scutellaria baicalensis Georg cultivated after the barley in the southern coastal areas of Korea under the non-mulching condition by direct sowing culture. The flowering date of medium dressing plot $(N\;:\;P_2O_5\;:\;K_2O=9\;:\;13.5\;:\;9 kg/10a)$ and heavy dression plot $(N\;:\;P_2O_5\;:\;K_2O=12\;:\;18\;:\;12kg/l0a)$ were July 23. The flowering date of the medium and the heavy dressing plot was delayed by 3days compared with that of non-fertilizing plot. The growth characteristics such as stem length, diameter of main stem, number of branch per plant, main root length, main root thickness and dry weight of stem leaves were more increased at medium dressing plot than that of other fertilizer levels. The root dry weight of in Scutellaria baicalensis Georg cultivated after barley was highest at the fertilizing plot of N, $P_2O_5\;:\;K_2O$ = 9 : 13.5 : 9kg/10a. The dried-root yield was 178kg in medium dressing plot, 167kg in standard dressing pot, and 126kg in non-dressing plot. The dried-root yield of medium dressing plot was 7% and 41% higher than that of standard dressing pot and non-dressing control plot, respectively.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.485-495
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• 2018

Background: The geographical origin of Panax ginseng Meyer, a valuable medicinal plant, is important to both ginseng producers and consumers in the context of economic profit and human health benefits. We, therefore, aimed to discriminate between the cultivation regions of ginseng using the stable isotope ratios of C, N, O, and S, which are abundant bioelements in living organisms. Methods: Six Korean ginseng cultivars (3-yr-old roots) were collected from five different regions in Korea. The C, N, O, and S stable isotope ratios in ginseng roots were measured by isotope ratio mass spectrometry, and then these isotope ratio profiles were statistically analyzed using chemometrics. Results: The various isotope ratios found in P. ginseng roots were significantly influenced by region, cultivar, and the interactions between these two factors ($p{\leq}0.001$). The variation in ${\delta}^{15}N$ and ${\delta}^{13}C$ in ginseng roots was significant for discriminating between different ginseng cultivation regions, and ${\delta}^{18}O$ and ${\delta}^{34}S$ were also affected by both altitude and proximity to coastal areas. Chemometric model results tested in this study provided discrimination between the majority of different cultivation regions. Based on the external validation, this chemometric model also showed good model performance ($R^2=0.853$ and $Q^2=0.738$). Conclusion: Our case study elucidates the variation of C, N, O, and S stable isotope ratios in ginseng root depending on cultivation region. Hence, the analysis of stable isotope ratios is a suitable tool for discrimination between the regional origins of ginseng samples from Korea, with potential application to other countries.