• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.46-53
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• 2024

The common snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina), which is native to North America, started to be imported into South Korea as pets in the 1990s. The turtle was sold in supermarkets and pet shops nationwide at low prices such as 20 USD. These non-native turtles, with their large size and strong predatory nature, have been consistently discovered in the wild in South Korea beginning in 2014, and they were designated as an ecosystem-disturbing species (EDS) in October 2022. Until June 30, 2023, a collection system was implemented to reduce the abandonment problem of C. serpentina due to their designation as an EDS. In this study, we analyzed the impacts of the legal designation as an ecologically disturbing species and the collection system of C. serpentina on their abandonment and surrender. Our findings showed that designation as EDS did not affect the abandonment of C. serpentina. Meanwhile, the collection system led to cases of immediate surrender. Within 3 years of post-purchase, 41.8% of the turtles were surrendered, and 67.5% were surrendered when they reached 3kg. Determining the impact of the legal designation as an EDS may be currently limited due to the difficulty of detecting C. serpentina in the wild. On the other hand, cases of surrender through the collection system are considered to be effective as they have been shown to reduce the abandonment of this newly designated ecosystem-disturbing species.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.31-40
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• 2023

In 2022, the Korean Ministry of Environment designated Parthenium hysterophorus as an ecosystem-disturbing plant. The purpose of this study was to present a management plan for P. hysterophorus considering its distribution, morphological, physiological, and ecological characteristics, and to introduce various control techniques. P. hysterophorus is native to Central America and occurs in about 45 countries worldwide. However, in Korea, it only grows in some areas of Tongyeong and Changwon, Gyeongsangnam Province. P. hysterophorus is an annual plant and spreads by seeds, moves between countries in the process of importing and/or exporting agricultural seeds, and spreads by agricultural machinery and vehicles after introduction. P. hysterophorus releases parthenin, an allelochemical that suppresses the occurrence of the surrounding vegetation, from its stems and roots. In addition, P. hysterophorus causes damage to humans and livestock through various allergens. P. hysterophorus can be controlled by physical methods, such as cutting its stems or pulling roots, and by treatment with non-selective herbicides, such as glyphosate. Many biological control research studies have been conducted and, unfortunately, there is no a practical solution so far.

• Weed & Turfgrass Science
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.315-320
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• 2015

Burcucumber (Sicyos angulatus) is an annual invasive plant species originated from North America. This species grows by twining around tree trunks, and blocks other plants from photosynthesis. Thus, it has caused the destruction of the ecosystem and biological diversity by threatening native plants. This study was performed to find out the effect of different soil water content (20%, 13%, 10%, 3%) and various shading degrees (0%, 60%, 80%) on the growth and photosynthesis-related activity of burcucumber. In the responses of burcucumber to soil water content, plant height (PH), leaf length (LL), leaf width (LW) and photosynthetic efficiency (PE) were lower at 20% water content than 10% reflecting that burcucumber plant grow well in the less dry soil and shows poor growth under wet soil condition. In shading experiment, PH, LL, LW and PE were lower at 80% than 60% shading and in general, the growth characteristics were lowered as the shading intensity increased. The improved growth of burcucumber under highly or moderately shaded condition implies that the plant can grow well without growth retardation and can be adapted to shading condition with other tall plant species including tree. Further study on the combination effects of above factors should be conducted in future for effective ecological control of burcucumber.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.73-81
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• 2018

This study was conducted to understand the current status of the translocated species using a precede study and a model to evaluate the potential invasiveness that could adversely affect the aquatic ecosystem in the Gangneungnamdae Stream. A total of 12 translocated species were investigated and identified from 9 sites in a precede study, and steadily increased since 1982. For the study, which utilized research based on the total FISK (Fish Invasivenss Screening Kit) scores, all of the non-native fishes in Gangneungnamdae Stream were classified into two groups: namely as a high and a medium risk of becoming invasive. It was determined that there were two species (Zacco platypus and Pseudorasbora parva) that were determined to have posed the highest risk. The study determined that the mean scores were shown to have ranged from $3.06({\pm}0.16)-3.42({\pm}0.13)$. Consequently, the habitat analysis showed that the determined QHEI (Qualitative Habitat Evaluation Index) values in the stream averaged 146 (88-171), indicating that an optimal habitat condition did exist in that locale. It can be inferred that compared to land use in the surrounding watersheds, the QHEI values and frequency of translocated species showed the lower the altitude of stream, the QHEI values were decreased and in case of land use pattern, a noted decreased forest and grassland area, and gradually increased urbanized area was seen to exist in the region. The correlation between the fish assemblage, QHEI, land use pattern of surrounding watershed and number of translocated species was identified and analyzed when the stream altitude decreased, and the number of species was increased (r= - 0.782, p=0.0127), the number of species was decreased (r= - 0.737, p=0.0234), and finally when the QHEI values were decreased, it was noted that the urbanized area was increased (r=0.292, p=0.446). In the case of the number of translocated species, when the number of translocated species was increased, the associated urbanized area was increased.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.62 no.4
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• pp.221-225
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• 2023

A female specimen of Sternuchopsis (s. str.) waltoni (Boheman, 1844), belonging to the tribe Mecysolobini (Curculionidae: Molytinae), was collected by beating method from Gadeok-do in Busan, the southern part of the Korean Peninsula. This weevil pest is designated as a quarantine pest under the Plant Quarantine Act (2019) in Korea. It is considered unreasonable to determine whether this species is an invasive or native species in Korea, as damage to crops has not been confirmed and there is no other collection information. This study aims to provide accurate diagnosis information including illustration and ecological information to gain more domestic occurrence information on this weevil.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.266-271
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• 2015

Elaeagnus pungens Thunb., belongs to the family Elaeagnaceae, was recently recorded for the first time in Mt. Miruk, Tongyeong-si, Gyeongsangnam-do. The native distribution range of this species includes China and Japan in East Asia, while it is considered as an invasive species in North America. Elaeagnus pungens is related to E. glabra, but the species can be distinguished from its congeners by having revolute and repand leaf blades, silvery white and brown scales on the abaxial surface of the leaf, and a campanulate calyx. We propose the new Korean name 'Tong-yeong-bol-re-na-mu,' based on its first collecting site. A detailed description of vegetative and floral characteristics, trichome scanning electron micrographs, dichotomous keys, and the habitat of this species are also provided.

• ALGAE
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.57-66
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• 2017

The red alga Gracilaria vermiculophylla, a species native to the waters of Korea and Japan, has invaded marine coastal areas of Europe and the Americas, thriving in conditions that differ from those of its native habitat. In recent years, G. vermiculophylla has been discovered in the Long Island Sound (LIS) estuary growing alongside the native congener Gracilaria tikvahiae. The goal of this study was to determine whether the two strains of G. vermiculophylla from different regions of the world have evolved genetic differences (i.e., ecotypic differentiation) or if the physiological performance of the strains simply reflects phenotypic plasticity. Two strains of G. vermiculophylla (isolated in Korea and LIS) and a strain of the LIS native G. tikvahiae were grown for four weeks under temperatures ranging from 20 to $34^{\circ}C$ using a temperature gradient table (all other environmental conditions were kept constant). At the end of each week, wet weight of each sample was recorded, and thalli were reduced to the original stocking density of $1gL^{-1}$ (excess biomass was preserved for tissue carbon and nitrogen analysis). Generally, the growth rates of Korean G. vermiculophylla > LIS G. vermiculophylla > G. tikvahiae. After one week of growth G. tikvahiae grew 9.1, 12.0, 9.4, and 0.2% $d^{-1}$, at temperatures of 20, 24, 29, and $34^{\circ}C$, respectively, while G. vermiculophylla (LIS) grew 6.6, 6.2, 5.7, and 3.6% $d^{-1}$. G. vermiculophylla (Korea) grew 15.4, 22.9, 23.2, and 10.1% $d^{-1}$, much higher than the two strains currently inhabiting the LIS. On average, the LIS G. vermiculophylla strain contained 4-5% DW N, while the Korean strain and G. tikvahiae had more modest levels of 2-3% N DW. However, tissue N content declined as temperature increased in LIS and Korean G. vermiculophylla. The non-native haplotype may have evolved genetic differences resulting in lower growth capacity while concentrating significantly more nitrogen, giving the non-native a competitive advantage.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.351-361
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• 2010

The primary purposes for using fire are to enhance marsh vegetation to support waterfowl, and to manage invasive plant species. The study was conducted for two consecutive years in 2004 and 2005, investigating the effects of prescribed fire regimes on vegetation biomass in tidal brackish marsh areas of the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge located on the eastern shore of Maryland, USA, that are under relatively similar environmental conditions. Four different burn regimes (i.e., annual burn, 3-5 year burn, 7-10 year burn, and no burn) were applied in the study. Above- and below-ground vegetation biomass samples as affected by the different burn regimes were harvested in each year for five plant species native to the marsh; Distichlis spicata, Spartina alterniflora, Schoenoplectus americanus, Spartina cynosuroides and Spartina patens. No significant difference was found either in total above-ground biomass or in above-ground biomass by species between burn regimes in 2004. However, more total above-ground biomass was produced in annual burn regime in 2005 than in the other burn regimes. There were no consistent effects of burning on vegetative biomass production by species, but it seemed D. spicata was somewhat benefited by prescribed burning for its biomass production. Moreover, the stem density for D. spicata under annual burn regime was significantly higher than that in the other burn regimes, showing some positive effects of burning on vegetation. The below-ground biomass was significantly greater in 2004 than in 2005, yet with no significant difference between burn regimes in either year. A longer-term monitoring is strongly recommended.

• Weed & Turfgrass Science
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.1-14
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• 2018

We surveyed the distribution of exotic weeds in Korean paddy fields, uplands, orchards and pastures from 12,568 sites during 3 years, 2013, 2014 and 2015. As a result, 166 species in 28 families were identified and 7, 130, 126, and 80 species were surveyed from paddy fields, uplands, orchards, and pastures, respectively. Among the 166 species, 128 species were annual weed and 38 species were perennial weed. Especially, winter annual exotic weeds were 63 species (37.8%). 46, 16, and 104 exotic weeds were classified to their introduction period of $1^{st}$ (1876-1921), $2^{nd}$ (1922-1963), and $3^{rd}$ (1964-now) period, respectively. The exotic weeds introduced in $2^{nd}$ and $3^{rd}$ period, included 12 Invasive Alien Species. The weeds from $1^{st}$ period, however, could be grouped into native weeds as the 'naturalized weed' and managed the same as the native weeds. Especially, some exotic weeds such as common groundsel were widely distributed in Korean crop lands, and they will become more problematic in near future. Therefore, systemic research from the biology to management should be conducted and the results from the studies should be applied practically.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Traditional Landscape Architecture
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.35-49
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• 2020

The purpose of this study is to provide the baseline data for conservation and management of the ecosystem of urban forest by surveying and analysing the vascular plants distributed in Hwangseong Park, Gyeongju-si. The results of the survey of vascular plants from April 2018 to May 2020 were summarized as 338 taxa including 78 families, 222 genera, 296 species, 5 subspecies, 18 varieties, 6 forms, 4 hybrids and 9 cultivars, and 110 taxa of planted species and 235 taxa of native species were identified. The representative planting species was Liriope muscari. The 7 taxa of rare plants and 5 taxa of Korean endemic plants were investigated. The specific plants by floristic region were totally 24 taxa, which were 1 taxa of grade V, 4 taxa of grade IV, 7 taxa of grade III, 4 taxa of grade II and 8 taxa of grade I. The 57 taxa of naturalized plants and 6 taxa of invasive alien plants were showed. In particular, Chionanthus retusus represent traditional landscape trees in Korea and have high ecological value. Therefore, the old trees of Chionanthus retusus will have to be managed by assigning a number for each individual. The invasive alien plants will need periodic control and development of programs that can work in conjunction with civic groups.