• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
• /
• v.13 no.3
• /
• pp.37-44
• /
• 2008

Soil ecology has important roles in global ecosystems. However, soil ecological quality information is being ignored when assessing ecological impact of construction actions. And methods for classifying and assessing soil ecological quality have been very little established in comparison to those for animal and plant ecosystems. In this study, it was examined whether soil ecological quality information has influence on determining an eco-friendly route for a road construction project. For this, sensitivity analysis was systematically performed by varying the relative significance (weights) of soil ecological quality information among natural environmental and ecological factors. When the weight of soil ecological quality was greater than just 14%, the soil ecological quality information significantly influenced the determination of the eco-friendly routes for a specific road construction project. This demonstrates that soil ecological quality information has to be considered for more reliable environmental impact assessment, and also supports the validity of use of soil ecological quality information and its mapping technique in planning and siting of eco-friendly construction projects.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
• /
• v.49 no.2
• /
• pp.74-88
• /
• 2021

In the present study, the characteristics and changes in the vegetation of Mt. Cheongryang, Inchon, were examined to identify and determine appropriate ways to restore the health of the urban forest and to preserve its vegetation. The vegetation of the community of Quercus mongolica (Mongolian oak) on Mt. Cheongryang appeared to decrease in response to the control of the wilt disease of oak trees. The communities of Sorbus alnifolia (Korean mountain ash) and Styrax japonicus (Snowbell tree) have increased. Pinus rigida (Pitch Pine) had its overall territory decrease, but the current state of the Pinus rigida (Pitch Pine) was estimated to be stable due to its dominance as a tree layer species. In regards to Robinia pseudoacacia (Black Locust), the urbanized species of Sorbus alnifolia (Korean mountain ash), and Styrax japonicus (Snowbell tree), their areas have increased with the appearance of Magnolia obovate (Whiteleaf Japanese Magnolia). The biodiversity of Mt. Cheongryang has decreased by simplifying species in the tree layer and understory species thereof, and the initial success of species in marginal areas has increased. The absence of potential succession was attributed to the termination of ecological succession; thereby, the current vegetation structure was concluded to be remaining as it is for the time being. Soil texture in the mountain primarily consisted of sandy loam or loamy sand; the pH of the soil was in the range 4.26-4.86, rendering a mean pH of 4.59. The content of organic matter (O.M.) appeared having a distributing range of 2.18-9.60%, rendering a mean value of 4.33%. To promote species diversity, several methods are suggested, such as prevention of soil acidification, selecting nationally-grown trees from moist soil or valleys for afforestation, preventing species appearing due to urbanization or excessive growth, protecting the understory vegetation and species with hygropreference, and managing the forest to maintain a multi-layered vegetation structure.

• Plant Breeding and Biotechnology
• /
• v.6 no.4
• /
• pp.404-412
• /
• 2018

The influenza neuraminidase (NA, E.C. 3.2.1.18), an antiviral, has been the target of high pharmaceutical companies due to its essential role in viral replication cycle. Perilla frutescens (P. frutescens) is used in traditional Chinese medicine for various diseases, such as cold due to wind-cold, headache and cough. In this context, four major polyphenolic compounds including rosmarinic acid-3-O-glucoside (1), rosmarinic acid (2), luteolin (3), and apigenin (4) isolated from P. frutescens were evaluated for their inhibitory effect on recombinant virus H1N1 neuraminidase (rvH1N1 NA). Among the test compounds, rosmarinic acid and luteolin inhibited the rvH1N1 NA with an $IC_{50}$ of 46.7 and $8.4{\mu}M$, respectively. The inhibition kinetics analyzed by the Dixon plots indicated that rosmarinic acid and luteolin were noncompetitive inhibitors and that the inhibition constant, $K_I$, was established as 43.9 and $14.3{\mu}M$, respectively. In addition, 578 genetically diverse accessions and 39 cultivars of P. frutescens were analyzed using HPLC to characterize the diversity of polyphenolic composition and concentration. The individual and total compositions exhibited significant difference (P < 0.05), especially rosmarinic acid which was detected as the predominant metabolite in all accessions (58.8%) and cultivars (62.8%). Yeupsil and Sangback cultivars exhibited the highest rosmarinic acid ($3,393.5{\mu}g/g$) and luteolin ($383.3{\mu}g/g$) content respectively. YCPL177-2 with the high concentration ($889.8{\mu}g/g$) of luteolin may be used as a genetic resource for breeding elite cultivars.

• Journal of agriculture & life science
• /
• v.52 no.6
• /
• pp.163-173
• /
• 2018

This study was carried out to propose the baseline data for in situ conservation by analyzing environmental and growth characteristics in Pedicularis hallaisanenesis habitats. P. hallaisanensis habitats, according to investigations, were located on the slope of southwest at an elevation of 1,400 m in Mt. Gayasan and on the slope of southeast at an elevation of 1,500 m in Mt. Hallasan. Pedicularishallaisanensis habitats. Also, habitats were found at the grassland with no upper vegetation. In the study sites, soil pH and soil organic matter were 4.9-6.5 and 4.4-8.1%, respectively. A total of 55 vascular plants taxa were identified in ten quadrats in two habitats, of which 25 were inhabited in Mt. Gayasan and 37 in Mt. Hallasan. Current status of P. hallaisanensis habitats were very vulnerable with the pressure of the vegetation constantly threatening the species' survival. Thus, concrete conservation plans including diverse factors as light intensity, temperature and genetic analysis to protect natural habitats should be set up as soon as possible.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
• /
• v.24 no.1
• /
• pp.139-159
• /
• 2019

This survey was conducted from May 2017 to August 2018 as part of the National Marine Ecosystem Surveys sponsored by MOF (Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries) and KOEM (Korea Marine Environment Management Corporation). The survey was conducted at 157 stations including intertidal zones, coastal sand dunes and beaches. A total of 72 species of halophytes were identified and the total vegetated area was $1,813,546m^2$ in coastal waters of Korea. In the west coast region, Suaeda japonica was the dominant species, Phragmites communis in the southern coast, and Carex kobomugi in the east coast. Phragmites communis was the most dominant with $1,136,643m^2$ (62.7%) in the whole surveyed area. The top 11 dominant plants are Phragmites communis, Suaeda japonica, Suaeda maritima, Zoysia sinica, Carex kobomugi, Elymus mollis, Suaeda malacosperma, Phacelurus latifolius, Triglochin maritimum, Carex pumila and Carex scabrifolia, and Phragmites communis and Suaeda japonica accounted for 75.9% of the total vegetated area. The distribution of halophyte on the coast of Korea was determined by the habitat types rather than the climate ranges, and there was a difference in the species diversity and habitat range of the halophyte depending on the habitat diversities within the same area.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.54 no.3
• /
• pp.240-246
• /
• 2021

The Chironomidae is a benthic macroinvertebrate commonly found in freshwater ecosystems, along with Ephemeroptera and Trichoptera, which can be used for environmental health assessments. There are approximately 15,000 species of Chironomidae worldwide, but there are limited studies on species identification of domestic Chironomidae larvae. In the present study, we carried out species classification of the Chironomidae larvae that found in Jeju's tap water purification plants using morphological characteristics and genetic identification based on cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene of the mitochondrial DNA. Body shape, mentum, antenna, mandible in the head capsule, and claws were observed in the larvae for morphological classification. Analysis of 17 larvae collected from faucets and fire hydrants of domestic tap water purification plants revealed the presence of two species, including 14 Orthocladius tamarutilus and 3 Paratrichocladius tammaater. These results will aid the use of the criteria information about species classification of the Chironomidae for water quality management in water purification plants and diversity monitoring of freshwater environments.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
• /
• v.41 no.1
• /
• pp.35-40
• /
• 2021

This study was conducted to evaluate the forage productivity and feed value of Sasa borealis (S. borealis) using growing black goats(S. borealis) in order to improve the utilization of S. borealis and to help mitigate the problem of reduced plant species diversity caused by S. borealis in Hanlla Mountain. One control and three treatments were made by the level of addition of S. borealis silage to the TMR feed. T1(10%), T2(20%), and T3(30%) treatments showed more daily weight gains than control group. Feed conversion ratio of T2 is 4.4g, which is significantly lower than control(P<0.05). The nitrogen retention in the control, which had relatively high dry matter intake, was 12.5g, which was significantly higher than that of T3. Sasa. borealis silage is considered to be able to use as a forage source for black goats, and if it is fed in an appropriate amount, it is considered that it will help improve livestock productivity, such as weight gain and feed conversion ratio.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
• /
• v.35 no.4
• /
• pp.387-397
• /
• 2021

This study aims to present reference data necessary for developing evaluation indicators to analyze the actual resilience of purchased land by investigating the factors that affect the restoration of the purchased land in the riparian zone and quantitatively calculating its importance. The main results are as follows. Firstly, this study identified 34 potential resilience factors through a literature review encompassing domestic and overseas studies and derived seven ecological responsiveness factors, six physical responsiveness factors, and four managerial responsiveness factors through the Delphi survey. Secondly, reliability analysis and Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) analysis derived the following important factors: structural stability of the vegetation restored in the purchased land, species diversity of wildlife, structural stability of wildlife, the size of restored wetland after purchase, number of plant species, and the land cover status adjacent to the purchased land. The study results are expected to be helpful information for ecological restoration and management plans reflecting reinforcing factors for resilience at each stage of land purchase, restoration, and management.

• Ecology and Resilient Infrastructure
• /
• v.8 no.2
• /
• pp.112-119
• /
• 2021

In 2012, the National Park Service conducted an ecological health assessment to efficiently preserve and manage the ecosystem. The need for improving pre-existing management indicators was recognized from the revised Natural Park Act because, while the indicators of the existing evaluation system focused on endangered species, ecosystem disturbance, diversity, water quality (BOD, DO), and habitat fragmentation, they did not reflect the lack of indicators for marine ecological assessment, policy changes, and the time demands. The evaluation results comprised a five-point grading system, which made the analysis of immediate changes, difficult. Therefore, the benthic pollution index (BPI) and habitat restoration indicators were added to improve the evaluation system. The National Park was assessed using 10 classifications, however, only four classifications were evaluated. The ratings were divided into five states, and ten classes were presented as pictograms. The assessment results showed a similar trend as the indicators were improved, increasing from level 3 to level 5. However, the results of the Wolaksan National Park after improvement in the indicators were lower than that before the improvement, whereas, for the Juwangsan National Park, it was higher. This study aims at contributing to the scientific and systematic management of the national park ecosystem by improving the ecological health assessment system.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.32 no.5
• /
• pp.375-390
• /
• 2022

Influenza viruses are zoonotic respiratory pathogens, and influenza infections have caused a substantial burden on public health systems and the livestock industry. Although currently approved seasonal influenza vaccines have shown potent protection efficacy against antigenically well-matched strains, there are considerable unmet needs for the efficient control of viral infections. Enormous efforts have been made to develop broadly protective universal influenza vaccines to tackle the huge levels of genetic diversity and variability of influenza viruses. In addition, antiviral drugs have been considered important interventions for the treatment of viral infections. The viral neuraminidase inhibitor oseltamivir is the most widely used antiviral medication to treat influenza A and influenza B viruses. However, unsatisfactory clinical outcomes resulting from side effects and the emergence of resistant variants have led to greater attention being paid to plants as a natural resource for anti-influenza drugs. In particular, the recent COVID-19 pandemic has underpinned the need for safe and effective antiviral drugs with a broad spectrum of antiviral activity to prevent the rapid spread of viruses among humans. This review outlines the results of the antiviral activities of various natural products isolated from plants against influenza viruses. Special focus is paid to the virucidal effects and the immune-enhancing effects of antiviral natural products, since the products have broad applications as inactivating agents for the preparation of inactivated vaccines and vaccine adjuvants.