• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.337-347
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• 2016

Based on genetic studies and palaeoecological surveys, the main Korean mountain range, the so-called "Baekdudaegan" (BDDG), has been recently suggested to be a major glacial refugium at the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) for the boreal and temperate flora of northeastern Asia. On the basis of its shared role as a glacial refugium, and on a series of striking similarities in floristic richness and orographic features, the BDDG would constitute a sort of "eastern counterpart" of the Southern Appalachians. Given its floristic, biogeographic, and cultural value, the BDDG merits high priority for conservation.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.324-333
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• 2019

Neutral genetic diversity found in plant species usually leaves an indelible footprint of historical events. Korea's main mountain range (referred to as the Baekdudaegan [BDDG]), is known to have served as a glacial refugium primarily for the boreal and temperate flora of northeastern Asia. In addition, life-history traits (life forms, geographic range, and breeding systems) influence the within- and among-population genetic diversity of seed plant species. For example, selfing species harbor significantly less within-population genetic variation than that of predominantly outcrossers. A previous study of two Liparis species (L. makinoana and L. kumokiri) emphasizes the role of the abovementioned factors shaping the levels of genetic diversity. Liparis makinoana, mainly occurring on the BDDG and self-incompatible, harbors high levels of within-population genetic diversity (expected heterozygosity, H_eP = 0.319), whereas there is no allozyme variation (H_eP = 0.000) in L. kumokiri, which is self-compatible and mainly occurs in lowland hilly areas. To determine if this trend is also found in other congeners, we sampled five populations of L. krameri from the southern part of the Korean Peninsula and investigated the allozyme-based genetic diversity at 15 putative loci. The somewhat intermediate levels of within-population genetic variation (H_eP = 0.145) found in L. krameri are most likely due to its occurrence in mountainous areas that, despite being outside of the main ridge of the BDDG, still served as refugia, and a self-incompatible breeding system. Management strategies are suggested for L. krameri and L. makinoana based on the levels and distribution of genetic diversity and inbreeding.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.297-303
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• 2017

In central and southern Korea, the two small insectivorous, terrestrial herbs, Utricularia bifida and U. caerulea, often co-occur at wet locations (or in wetlands). The Korean Peninsula (with central China and northern Japan) constitutes the northern edge of their distribution, as their main range is subtropical and tropical Asia. The Korean populations of both species are very likely of post-glacial origin, given that warm-temperate vegetation was absent from the Korean Peninsula during the Last Glacial Maximum. Two hypotheses of the post-glacial colonization of the peninsula can be formulated; first, if current populations were founded by propagules coming from a single ancestral population (i.e., a single refugium), we would expect low levels of genetic diversity. Alternatively, if contemporary Korean populations originated from multiple sources (multiple refugia), we would expect high levels of genetic variation. To test which is more likely, we surveyed the degree of allozyme variation at 20 loci in ten populations for each of the two species from southern Korea. We found no allozyme variation within each species. However, their aquatic congener U. australis exhibited allozyme polymorphism across Japan (four polymorphic loci at three enzyme systems). We suggest that southern Korean populations of Utricularia bifida and U. caerulea were established by a single introduction event from a genetically depauperate ancestral population.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.254-261
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• 2015

Genetic variations of Abies koreana and Abies nephrolepis were assessed using two mitochondrial DNA regions (nad5 intron 4 and nad5 intron 1) for 16 natural populations to understand their phylogeographical history. Seven polymorphic sites of the two combined regions resulted in the resolution of four haplotypes (M1-M4). The average gene diversity within the population ($H_S$) was 0.098, the total gene diversity ($H_T$) was 0.620, and the interpopulation differentiation was $G_{ST}=0.841$, $N_{ST}=0.849$. The populations were divided into three groups (northern area, central area, southern area) according to their geographic locations. The populations of the northern and southern areas were mostly fixed for M1 and M2, respectively. The populations of the central area showed the highest levels of gene diversity ($H_T=0.654$) due to introgression from the northern area and southern area. The presence of a single mtDNA haplotype in the southern area suggests that current widespread populations have expanded to the central area from a specific refugium population after the last glacial period.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.56-79
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• 2020

Baekdudaegan, the largest mountain range in eastern Asia, is a biodiversity hotspot in Korea that may have served as a glacial refugium. This study presents the flora of vascular plants on Deok-chi upto the Yuk-sim-nyeong area of the Baekdudaegan conservation area. The survey area was divided into four subareas and fieldwork was conducted for a total of twelve days in 2015. Voucher specimens were collected during the survey and were deposited at Daejeon University. A list of vascular plants was prepared based on the voucher specimens. The results of the survey showed that a total of 441 taxa, consisting of 100 families, 265 genera, 398 species, 9 subspecies, 32 varieties, and 2 forms, were found in the survey area. There was one endangered species, Aconitum coreanum, in the Bonghwasan Mt. area. Sixteen endemic taxa, 74 floristic regional indicator plants, as designated by the Ministry of the Environment, and eleven naturalized plants were distributed. The results of this study can serve as basic information to establish conservation and management plans for the Baekdudaegan conservation area.