• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.83-98
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• 2018

This study was conducted on rare plants distributed in Chungnam area from April, 2012 to November, 2017. The rare plant populations that are emerging are: Utricularia pilosa, Jeffersonia dubia, Iris ruthenica, Tipularia japonica, Calanthe discolor, Parasenecio pseudotaimingasa, Ranunculus kazusensis, Berchemia racemosa, Pogonia minor and Glehnia littoralis. According to the criteria of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), plant resources in the rare species category were one important type (CR), three hazardous species (EN) and six vulnerable species (VU). As a result of analyzing characteristics of ecological environment and threats, five types of habitat types, two aquatic areas, two types of flatland and coastal sand dune distribution types were analyzed. The decreasing tendency of the rare plant populations in the surveyed area is judged to be artificial disturbance and habitat destruction rather than climate or environmental change. Considering the characteristics of habitat, conservation measures should be prepared for each population.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.31-40
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• 2019

Daphne pseudomezereum var. koreana is an endangered deciduous shrub distributed in mountain areas that is vulnerable to climate change. The purpose of this study was to provide foundational data on the physical characteristics, soil environment, and vegetation structure of habitats of Daphne pseudomezereum var. koreana habitat in Korea in order to help with management decisions on ecosystem restoration. Rock exposure was 15 to 35%, with an average of 24%. The native habitat of D. pseudomezereum included 129 taxa consisting of 46 families and 95 genera. Two-way cluster analysis divided the habitat into three plant communities: Community I (dominaterd by Tilia amurensis and Quercus mongolica), Community II (dominaterd by Fraxinus rhynchophylla and Acer pseudosieboldianum), and Community III (dominaterd by Ulmus davidiana var. japonica). The diversity indices for Communities I, II, and III were 1.124, 1.047 and 0.932, respectively. The soils were loam or clay loam. Soil pH, organic matter content, and available phosphoric acid were 5.40, 14.38%, and 31.08 ppm, respectively. Ordination analysis resulted that most significant factors influencing D. pseudomezereum distribution were magnesium content of soil, shrub layer, and altitude.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.12-24
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• 1992

The application of island biogepgraphy and habitat fragmentation theory to protected area management in Korea is discussed. The accelerating destruction and degradation of natural habitats, with the associated erosion of biodiversity, demands and urgent response and a critical review of attitudes to protected area management. The flora of Korea will continue to change in both distribution and status in response to these man induced changes. The conservation and management of ecosystems, because of the variety of threats and the varying levels of biodiversity to be conserved, requires an integrated approach. Such an approach assesses the variety of threats, prevalent and potential, and responds with a strategy combining habitat, species and population management. The application of island biogeography, habitat fragmentation and edge effects theory to conservation strategies in Korea will assist in the understanding of the dynamic relationships between the isolation. degradation and fragmentation of surviving habitat patches. The application of such approaches is discussed with recommendations made for the adoption of an increasingly scientific approach to plant conservation based upon a knowledge of the conservation status and distribution characteristics of the Korean flora. Such data combined with demographic studies on topics such as Minimum Viable Population Size will allow an integrated approach to plant and habitat conservation to progress.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.155-164
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• 2016

In this study we analyzed the spatial and temporal distribution and preferred habitat type of the Kentish plover (Charadrius alexandrinus) based on the 3rd National Ecosystem Survey. Kentish plovers were observed in 97 maps out of a total 842 maps (11.8%) between 2006 and 2012, mainly along the western and southern coasts of Korea. They were also observed in the eastern coast of Korea, inland rivers (Han, Geum, Nakdong, Seomjin, and Yongsan River), the western and eastern coast of Jeju island, and Daecheong Island in the Yellow Sea. The observations were mainly made during the spring breeding season and migration seasons in spring and autumn. The occurrence of kentish plovers was positively influenced by the area of water and wetland according to the middle classification level of land cover type analysis and the area of coastal wetlands in the detailed classification level of land cover types. Most (90%) of the kentish plovers recorded maps had coastal wetlands. Kentish plovers were known to be susceptible to change of habitat. As the occurrence of kentish plovers could be associated with the habitat-change of coastal wetlands and it is possible to estimate the number of individuals, it is recommended that kentish plovers be used as a bioindicator species for the ecological assessment of ecosystem in intertidal zones.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.27 no.8
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• pp.689-699
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• 2018

The changes on community structures of benthic macroinvertebrates, relevance to the environment and interrelationship between benthos were studied over two years in stream with large environmental disturbance, which caused by localized heavy rain during Typhoon Chaba in October 2016. As a result, the number of species and individuals were increased after localized heavy rain, especially numbers of individuals of Ephemeroptera and Plecoptera were greatly increased. On the contrary, those of Semisulcospira libertina and Semisulcospira forticosta of Mesogastropoda were greatly decreased. Dominant species was Baetis fuscatus of Ephemeroptera, numbers of species and individuals of Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Trichoptera(EPT group) were dramatically increased from 26 species, 110 individuals to 32 species, 365 individuals respectively. This suggests that the change of river bed and flow velocity due to heavy rain provided a suitable environment for the EPT group that preferred the rift of a stream. In the functional feeding group, only gathering collectors and filtering collectors were identified in autumn of 2017 because some functional groups preferentially adapted to the changed environment. The interspecific competition and environmental condition were the worst in autumn after heavy rain due to the increase individuals of some species. The ecological score of benthic macroinvertebrate community(ESB) was higher after the heavy rain than before. Results of the Group Pollution Index(GPI), Korean Saprobic Index(KSI) and Benthic Macroinvertebrate Index(BMI) were similar to those before and after heavy rainfall. Therefore, ESB was the most discriminating method for estimating the biological water quality in this study. Some species that are sensitive to water quality changes still appear or increase individuals in the area under investigation after the heavy rain. On the other hand, the individuals of some pollutant species decreased. This is thought to be because the habitat fluctuation caused by heavy rainfall has improved the water environment.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.21-31
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• 2024

Macromia daimoji Okumura, 1949 was designated as an endangered species and also categorized as Class II Endangered wildlife on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List in Korea. The spatial distribution of this species ranged within a region delimited by northern latitude from Sacheon-si(35.1°) to Yeoncheon-gun(38.0°) and eastern longitude from Yeoncheon-gun(126.8°) to Yangsan-si(128.9°). They generally prefer microhabitats such as slowly flowing littoral zones of streams, alluvial stream islands and temporarily formed puddles in the sand-based lowland streams. The objectives of this study were to analyze the similarity of benthic macroinvertebrate communities in M. daimoji habitats, to predict the current potential distribution patterns as well as the changes of distribution ranges under global climate change circumstances. Data was collected both from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) and by field surveys from April 2009 to September 2022. We adopted MaxEnt model to predict the current and future potential distribution for M. daimoji using downloaded 19 variables from the WorldClim database. The differences of benthic macroinvertebrate assemblages in the mainstream of Nakdonggang were smaller than those in its tributaries and the other streams, based on the surrounding environments and stream sizes. MaxEnt model presented that potential distribution displayed high inhabiting probability in Nakdonggang and its tributaries. Applying to the future scenarios by Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), SSP1 scenario was predicted to expand in a wide area and SSP5 scenario in a narrow area, comparing with current potential distribution. M. daimoji is not only directly threatened by physical disturbances (e.g. river development activities) but also vulnerable to rapidly changing climate circumstances. Therefore, it is necessary to monitor the habitat environments and establish conservation strategies for preserving population of M. daimoji.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.214-223
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• 2022

Among migratory insect pests, Mythimna seperata and Cnaphalocrocis medinalis are invasive pests introduced into South Korea through westerlies from southern China. M. seperata and C. medinalis are insect pests that use rice as a host. They injure rice leaves and inhibit rice growth. To understand the distribution of M. seperata and C. medinalis, it is important to understand environmental factors such as temperature and humidity of their habitat. This study predicted current and future habitat suitability models for understanding the distribution of M. seperata and C. medinalis. Occurrence data, SSPs (Shared Socio-economic Pathways) scenario, and RCP (Representative Concentration Pathway) were applied to MaxEnt (Maximum Entropy), a machine learning model among SDM (Species Distribution Model). As a result, M. seperata and C. medinalis are aggregated on the west and south coasts where they have a host after migration from China. As a result of MaxEnt analysis, the contribution was high in the order of Land-cover data and DEM (Digital Elevation Model). In bioclimatic variables, BIO_4 (Temperature seasonality) was high in M. seperata and BIO_2 (Mean Diurnal Range) was found in C. medinalis. The habitat suitability model predicted that M. seperata and C. medinalis could inhabit most rice paddies.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.203-214
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• 2011

The objectives of this research were to predict land-use/land-cover change at the Sakaerat Environmental Research Station (SERS) and to analyze its consequences on the distribution for Black-crested Bulbul (Pycnonotus melanicterus), which is a popular species for bird-watching activity. The Dyna-CLUE model was used to determine land-use allocation between 2008 and 2020 under two scenarios. Trend scenario was a continuation of recent land-use change (2002-2008), while the integrated land-use management scenario aimed to protect 45% of study area under intact forest, rehabilitated forest and reforestation for renewable energy. The maximum entropy model (Maxent), Geographic Information System (GIS) and FRAGSTATS package were used to predict bird occurrence and assess landscape fragmentation indices, respectively. The results revealed that parts of secondary growth, agriculture areas and dry dipterocarp forest close to road networks would be converted to other land use classes, especially eucalyptus plantation. Distance to dry evergreen forest, distance to secondary growth and distance to road were important factors for Black-crested Bulbul distribution because this species prefers to inhabit ecotones between dense forest and open woodland. The predicted for occurrence of Black-crested Bulbul in 2008 covers an area of 3,802 ha and relatively reduces to 3,342 ha in 2020 for trend scenario and to 3,627 ha for integrated-land use management scenario. However, intact habitats would be severely fragmented, which can be noticed by total habitat area, largest patch index and total core area indices, especially under the trend scenario. These consequences are likely to diminish the recreation and education values of the SERS to the public.

• Proceedings of the National Institute of Ecology of the Republic of Korea
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.219-228
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• 2021

During our observations of changes in halophyte distribution in Hampyeong Bay over a period of five years, we found that the distribution area showed a maintenance for Phragmites communis community, a tendency of gradual increase for Zoysia sinica community, gradual decrease for Suaeda maritima community, and disappearance for Limonium tetragonum community during the studied period. The Phragmites communis community stably settled in areas adjacent to land and appeared not to be significantly affected by physical factors (such as tides and waves) or disturbances caused by biological factors (such as interspecific competition). Among studied species, germination time was shown to be the fastest for Suaeda maritima. In addition, this species showed certain characteristics that allowed it to settle primarily in new habitats formed by sand deposition as its growth was not halted under conditions with high amounts of sand and high organic matter content. However, in areas where Zoysia sinica and Suaeda maritima resided together, the area inhabited by Suaeda maritima gradually decreased due to interspecific competition between the two species. This was believed to be the result of a sharp decrease in the germination of Suaeda maritima since May, while the germination of Zoysia sinica was continuously maintained, indicating that the latter had an advantage in terms of seedling competition. In the case of the Limonium tetragonum community, its habitat was found to have been completely destroyed because it was covered by sand. The study area was confirmed to have undergone a large change in topography as tides and waves resulted in sand deposition onto these lands. Hampyeong Bay is considered to have experienced changes in halophyte distribution related to certain complex factors, such as changes in physical habitats and changes in biological factors such as interspecific competition.

• Journal of Climate Change Research
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.243-248
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• 2015

This study was conducted to predict the changes of potential distribution for invasive alien plant, Conyza bonariensis in Korea. C. bonariensis was found in southern Korea (Jeju, south coast, southwest coast). The habitats of C. bonariensis were roadside, bare ground, farm area, and pasture, where the interference by human was severe. Due to the seed characteristics of Compositae, C. bonariensis take long scattering distance and it will easily spread by movement of wind, vehicles and people. C. canadensis in same Conyza genus has already spread on a national scale and it is difficult to manage. We used maximum entropy modeling (MaxEnt) for analyzing the environmental influences on C. bonariensis distribution and projecting on two different RCP scenarios, RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5. The results of our study indicated annual mean temperature, elevation and temperature seasonality had higher contribution for C. bonariensis potential distribution. Area under curve (AUC) values of the model was 0.9. Under future climate scenario, the constructed model predicted that potential distribution of C. bonariensis will be increased by 338% on RCP 4.5 and 769% on RCP 8.5 in 2100s.