• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.55 no.1
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• pp.10-18
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• 2022

This study analyzed the relationship between the community structure of benthic macroinvertebrates and habitat changes in open estuaries among the sites included in the national estuary monitoring program. The estuary survey was conducted under the "Guidelines for Investigation and Evaluation of Biometric Networks" and classified by sea area, 80 places in the East Sea, 102 places in the South Sea, and 19 places in the West Sea were investigated. In a total of 201 open estuaries, benthic macroinvertebrates were identified with 4 phyla, 9 classes, 41 orders, 139 families, 269 species and 196 species in the East Sea, 182 species in the South Sea, and 90 species in the West Sea. The highest population densities were Insecta in the East Sea, the Malacostraca in the South Sea, and the Annelida in the West Sea. Through SIMPER analysis, species contributing to the similarity of benthic macroinvertebrates communities in each sea area were identified. Some species greatly influenced the similarity of clusters. The benthic community in the East Sea was affected by the salinity, so the contribution rate of freshwater species was high. On the other hand, the benthic communities of the South and West Seas showed species compositions are influenced by the substrate composition. As results, the benthic macroinvertebrate community in Korean estuaries was impacted by salinity and substrate simultaneously, and the close relationship with geographical distance was not observed. The result of this study is expected to be used to respond to environmental changes by identifying and predicting changes in the diversity and distribution of benthic macroinvertebrates in Korea estuaries.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.55 no.1
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• pp.49-59
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• 2022

Total of 325 estuaries in Korea were surveyed to analyze the effect of presence of sluice gate on the estuary environment and fish community from 2016 to 2018. Fish community in closed and open estuaries showed differences generally, and the relative abundance (RA) of primary freshwater species in the closed and migratory species in the open estuaries were high. The result of classifying species by habitat characteristics in closed and open estuaries showed similar tendencies at the estuaries of south sea and west sea. The relative abundances of primary freshwater species in the closed estuaries at the estuaries of south sea and west sea were the highest, but estuarine and migratory species were high in both closed and open estuaries at the estuaries of east sea. Primary freshwater species showed higher abundances in the closed estuaries with reduced salinity due to blocking of seawater since they are not resistant to salt. However, primary freshwater species in open estuaries at east sea was higher than that of the closed estuaries, which is considered to be the result of reflecting the characteristics (tide, sand bar, etc.) of the east sea. Korea Estuary Fish Assessment Index (KEFAI) was showed to be higher at open estuaries than closed in all sea areas (T-test, P<0.001), the highest KEFAI was observed in closed estuaries at south sea, and open estuaries in east sea. Fish community of closed and open estuaries in each sea areas showed statistically significant differences (PERMANOVA, East, Pseudo-F=3.0198, P=0.002; South, Pseudo-F=22.00, P=0.001; West, Pseudo-F=14.067, P=0.001). Fish assemblage similarity by sea areas showed a significant differences on fish community in closed and open estuaries at east sea, south sea, and west sea (SIMPER, Group dissimilarity, 85.85%, 88.36%, and 88.05%). This study provided information on the characteristics and distribution of fish community according to the types of estuaries. The results of this study can be used as a reference for establishing appropriate management plans according to the sea areas and type in the management and restoration of estuaries for future.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.293-309
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• 2024

This study was conducted to provide basic data on the structure of the Carpinus turczaninowii community and the characteristics of the habitat environment for ex situ conservation. To identify the current ecological environment, 27 plots (each measuring 100m²) were selected for analyzing the detailed structure of plant communities in Anmyondo Isl.(Jungjangri San 14-217), Hwanggumsan Mt., Gayasan Mt.(Wonhyobong) and Palbongsan Mt.. The research methodology employed in this study was qualitative analysis. The TWINSPAN classification yielded a total of seven distinct communities. Group I represents the C. turczaninowii - Quercus mongolica community, Group II represents the C. turczaninowii - Pinus densiflora community, Group III represents the C. turczaninowii - P. densiflora community, Group IV represents the C. turczaninowii - Q. mongolica community, Group V represents the C. turczaninowii - Q. variabilis community, Group VI represents the C. turczaninowii - Prunus serrulata Lindl. var. pubescens community, and Group VII represents the C. turczaninowii - Styrax japonicus community. The species diversity ranged from 0.8056 to 1.1568, the importance value ranged from 0.1214 to 0.3024, and the similarity index ranged from 9.37% to 36.36%. Based on the correlation analysis of six environmental factors for the seven communities using RDA ordination, the results indicate that on the first axis, Altitude, Crown density, Bare rock, and Slope exhibited a positive correlation. In the C. turczaninowii - P. densiflora community (Group III) and C. turczaninowii - Q. mongolica community (Group IV), altitude, bare rock, and slope were analyzed as factors influencing vegetation distribution. In the C. turczaninowii - Q. variabilis community (Group V), C. turczaninowii - P. serrulata Lindl. var. pubescens community (Group VI), and C. turczaninowii - S. japonicus community (Group VII), crown density was analyzed as a factor influencing vegetation distribution.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.536-543
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• 2007

This research was conducted every month from June 1994 until August 1996 with the aim to understand the ecosystem structure through the analysis of oribatid mite community structure in soil subsequent to environmental difference of its habitats located at northward & southward slopes adjacent to each other at an altitude of 1,000 meters of Mt.Jumbong, which is a natural reserved forest, remaining intact. There appeared a significant difference [t-test, p<0.06] in comparison of the number of the species and individuals of Oribatid mite species which were collected and identified at two survey areas. The mean density and the number of the species collected and identified at the northward slopes, and southward slopes were $99.2{\pm}17.6,\;234.2{\pm}62.6$ and $24.7{\pm}3.0,\;40.8{\pm}5.8$, respectively. Species diversity index(H') was higher at the southward slopes($3.09{\pm}0.11$) than at the northward slopes($2.71{\pm}0.13$). The population size of Oribatid mite species was found by the percentage of each species density as against the whole density and classified into dominant species, influent species, and recessive species according to the percentage; as a result, O. nova and Suctobelbella naginata was found to be a dominant species at both survey slopes while Trichogalumna nipponica was found to be a dominant species, at southward but it wasn't collected at the northward slopes at all. The feeding habit of the dominant species at two survey slopes was found to be microphytophagous- eating soil microbe. There appeared a conspicuous difference in compositions of the number of the species, individuals and dominant species at the southward/northward slopes adjoining each other at an attitude of 1,000 meters and less similarity between the two survey slopes. Conclusively, It was found that the heterogeneity of microhabitat has a great effect on Oribatid mite's community characteristics.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.1-17
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• 2001

The flora, vegetation structure, distribution of the vascular plants, physico-chemical characteristics of sediment, and nutrient contents of palnts were investigated in the ten disturbed and undisturbed wetlands around the littoral zone of Namgang, Jinju-si, Gyongsangnam-do, Korea from August 7 to August 15 in 1999. 217 taxa of the vascular plants distributed into 2 formas, 26 varieties, 189 species belong to 142 genera under 52 families were sampled or recorded. Dominant species of the undisturbed and the disturbed area were Persicaria thunbergii and Ambrosia artemisiifolia var. elatior, of which importance values were 13.86, and 15.81, respectively. Among 26 species of the naturalized plants, importance value of Ambrosia artemisiifolia var. elatior was highest as 9.54. The ranges of species diversity indices (H') were 1.370~1.819, and highest in the site 1 of the undisturbed area. The ranges of eqitability (J') were 0.779~0.902, and highest in the site 8 of the disturbed area. The ranges of community similarity indices ($CC_s$) were 0.341~0.578 among the ten wetlands, and highest between site 1 and site 2 which were the undisturbed area. The ranges of sediment properties such as pH, conductivity, organic matter, total phosphorus, and total nitrogen were 5.17~7.35, $24.67{\sim}74.33{\mu}mhocm^{-1}$, 1.09~3.82%, 0.0008~0.0034 mg/100g, and 0.06~0.15%, respectively. Nutrient contents of plants such as total nitrogen and total phosphorus were 1.52~2.65% and $0.010{\sim}0.039mg100g^{-1}$, respectively. It was recommended that the establishment of the conservation area was necessary to ensure the habitat for wild life and to maintain the diversity of the vascular hydrophytes and hygrophytes.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.219-229
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• 2013

This research is performed in order to suggest seasonal effective research time that is applied to wild birds research which lives in a forest. The subject area of this research is Mulgun-ri village forest in Samdong-Myeon, Namhe-gun. To investigate suitability of the project, existing land-use, existing vegetation, vegetational structure, and etc. of the subject and whole area are figured out. To suggest adequate research time, based on seasonal sun rise and set time for 3days, repetitive research is performed at hourly intervals. The subject area is connected with a forest and is possible for forest wild birds to flows in and provides various habitats and feeding areas. And also the subject area is a appropriate area for wild birds research and is like a natural forest in that a layer structure development of the forest itself, a distribution of Zelkova serrata and Aphananthe aspera and so on. 105 species which is observed in subject area are categorized and mountain birds are classified. After time-based peak value is selected in each season, hourly species richness, diversity, and index of similarity are analyzed as compared with the appearing number of species and individual bird. As a result, 7~11 hour is the most effective time in spring, and 8~9 hour is the best time. In summer, 6~9 hour is the most appropriate time when whole appearing species are similar to species structure. In fall, 7~11(30~60 minutes after sun rise) when wild birds movements are vigorous is analyzed easy to observe and 8~9 hour is the most appropriate research time because each analysis shows the best values. In winter, 7~12 hour is the most effective time although 10~11 hour is the best time but it is decided that similar results are drawn because hourly deviation is not so big except 1 hour before sun rise. In every four season, it is decided that 30~60 minutes after sun rise is appropriate to research a group of wild birds in the subject area.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.404-417
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• 2017

In this study, we analyzed response patterns of rotifer community to eutrophic state, and estimated the applicability of rotifer community as an environmental indicator for highly eutrophicated reservoirs. In order to evaluate the relationships among spatial and temporal distributions and the water quality of rotifer community, we selected the Jundae Reservoir and Chodae Reservoir in Chungcheongnam-do, Korea, which are geographically adjacent but have different water quality, particularly in their eutrophic states. For the analyses on their correlations, monthly survey of water quality and rotifer community, was conducted from April to November 2013 in both reservoirs. The rotifer community was divided into different compositions of functional groups as well as species. Functional groups were classified according to the structure and shape of trophi which can represent feeding behavior of rotifer genus. To reflect ecological characteristics of species, body size and habitat preferences were also considered. Species-based composition did not show a consistent tendency with water quality parameters related with eutrophication. On the contrary, functional group composition showed relatively clear group-specific patterns, increasing or decreasing according to the parameters. The results suggest the possible application of rotifer functional group composition as an indicatorforthe lentic systems, especially hyper-eutrophicated reservoirs. The present study can suggest the applicability based on the field observations from the limited time scale and sites, and further studies on feeding behavior of the rotifer functional group and its interactions with environmental variables are necessary for the further application.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.250-293
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• 2021

Limestone areas are sedimentary rock outcrops consisting of calcium carbonate created several hundreds of millions of years ago by calcium-secreting marine organisms and subsequently lifted above sea level by tectonic movement. Limestone areas support very high levels of endemic species of plants and are recognized as biodiversity areas with much biological information. The purpose of this study is to devise a strategy for the comprehensive conservation of the vegetation of limestone areas through analyses of the floristics and plant species compositions in ten limestone areas on the Korean Peninsula. The results of 153 field surveys from April of 2010 to October of 2016 identified 1,202 taxa in total, representing 1,096 species, 18 subspecies, 84 varieties, 2 forms, and 2 hybrids in 530 genera and 133 families. Among them, 55 taxa were endemic plants to Korea, and 38 taxa were red data plants. The floristic target plants amounted to 102 taxa, specifically 27 taxa of grade V and 75 taxa of grade IV. In all, 121 alien plants were recorded in the investigated area. Calciphilous plants amounted to 102 taxa, specifically 14 taxa of calciphilous indicator plants, 30 taxa of superlative most calciphilous plants, and 58 taxa of comparative more calciphilous plants. A cluster analysis showed a high degree of similarity between sites that are geographically adjacent with similar habitat environments. Limestone areas also supported groups distinct from those in non-limestone areas, demonstrating the specificity of limestone flora. Plant geography approaches therefore appear to be crucial to gain a better understanding of the level of biodiversity in limestone areas, not only at the interspecific but also at the intraspecific level. These results highlight the importance of protecting limestone habitats to preserve not only their interspecific but also the intraspecific diversity, which is highly threatened.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.400-411
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• 2018

This study was a survey of the Wonju stream in Wonju city from May 2015 to September 2016. A total of three sites were selected from the upstream area Gwanseol-dong to the downstream area Hojeo-myeon. Physicochemical analysis, aquatic insect changes, cluster analysis, functional group analysis, rarefaction curve, and statistical analysis were compared between 2004 and 2016. A total of 19 species (38.78%) in 2004 and 22 species (36.67%) in 2016 were analyzed, with the largest number belonging to ephemeroptera. The individual ratio ranged from 27,759.2 (ind. $m^{-2}$, 84.30%) in 2004 to 4,573.2 (ind. $m^{-2}$, 41.64%) in 2016, with the highest number involving diptera. As a result of the community analysis, significant differences were detected in the indices of dominance, diversity, evenness, and richness in 2004 and 2016 (p<0.05). Burrowers of the habitat orientation groups showed the greatest variation with an average of -68.00% (${\pm}2.15$) and the collector-gatherers of the functional feeding groups showed the highest variation of -40.12% (${\pm}1.77$). The rarefaction curve analysis suggested that the species was the poorest in the midstream regions in 2004 and 2016. Physical factors and water quality showed a significant correlation with diversity index, evenness index, and the number of individuals. MDS analysis of the similarity of upstream and downstream regions was high in 2004, and low in 2016. The differences were attributed to physicochemical changes such as increase in flow velocity due to improvement of small dams and changes in bottom structure.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.126-141
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• 2021

Fauna of freshwater fish and community structure were investigated at 13 sites in the Deogyusan National Park, Korea from 2014 to 2018. During the period, a total of 8 families, 21 species, and 8,716 individuals of fishes were collected. The number of fish collected over the past five years from 2014 to 2018, were 17 species and 2,280 individuals, 17 species and 1,579 individuals, 17 species 1,905 individuals, 17 species and 1,384 individuals, and 15 species and 1,568 individuals, respectively. There were 13 Korean endemic species including Iksookimia koreensis and Coreoleuciscus splendidus, etc. Only in Wondangcheon Stream, two endangered species were identified, and Hemibarbus mylodon was collected continuously except in 2015, and Pseudopungtungia nigra was observed every year. And two exotic species such as Oncorhynchus masou masou and Oncorhynchus mykiss occurred in Gucheongdongcheon Stream sites. The dominant species was Rhynchocypris oxycephalus and the sub-dominant species was Zacco koreanus and there was no difference by year. The fish community structure of Deogyusan National Park was varied depending on the sites and the year. Most of the survey sites located upper stream where the river structure is Aa river type showed poor community analysis results. On the other hand, the upper-mid stream sites including the Bb type showed better results. As a result, the Wondangcheon Stream sites had the most diverse and stable community structure. Similarity dendrogram was divided into 4 groups, mainly reflecting the characteristics of the habitat. The flagship species of the Deogyusan National Park, Rhynchocypris kumgangensis, was constantly observed during the investigation period. Compared to the previous survey, the number of species increased from 2004 (12 species) and decreased from 2009 (22 species).