• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.305-320
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• 2005

Recently 64 species in Korea have been ranked as rare and endangered taxa by the Ministry of Environment using two categories, I and II. The original threat categories produced by the Ministry of Environment were developed to provide a standard for specifying animals and plants in danger of extinction and has been influential sources of information used in species conservation in Korea. However, the criteria by Ministry of Environment were applied to the whole taxa only by regional boundaries, especially in South Korea, rather than international context, and it also lacked an explicit framework that was necessary to ensure repeatability among taxa because of the absence of quantitative criteria to measure the likelihood of extinction. The World Conservation Union (IUCN) has developed quantitative criteria for assessing the conservation status of species. The threatened species categories, the 2000 IUCN Red List, proposed by SSC (Species Survival Commission) of IUCN have become widely recognized internationally. Details of threatened Korean plants, identified by applying the IUCN threat categories and definitions, were listed and analyzed. The number of species identified as threatened was only 34 out of 64 taxa (48.4%), while the rest of taxa were rejected from the original lists. Many of the species (51.6%, 33 taxa) excluded from the original list proposed by Ministry of Environment do not qualify as Critically Endangered, Endangered or Vulnerable because these taxa were widely distributed either in Japan or in China/far eastern Russia and there is no evidence of substantial decline in these countries. An evaluation of taxa in Korea has been carried out only based on subjective views and qualitative data, rather than quantitative scientific data, such as rates of decline, distribution range size, population size, and risk of extinction. Therefore, the national lists undermine the credibility of threatened species lists and invite misuse, which have been raised by other cases, qualitative estimate of risk, political influence, uneven taxonomic or geographical coverage. The increasing emphasis on international responsibilities means that global scale is becoming more significant. The current listings by Environment of Ministry of Korea should be challenged, and the government should seek to facilitate the resolution of disagreements. Especially the list should be flexible enough to handle uncertainty and also incorporates detailed, quantitative data. It is suggested that the highest priorities for the Red List should be given to endemic species in Korea first. After setting up the list of endemic species to Korea, quantitative data on population size and structure, distributional range, rated of decline, and habitat fragmentation should be collected as one of long term projects for the Red list categories. Transparency and accountability are the most important key factors. Also, species assessors are named and data sources referenced are required for the future objective evaluations on Korean plant taxa.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.165-171
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• 2004

Weight loss and nutrients dynamics during decomposition of oak roots (diameter classes: R₁〈0.2㎝, 0.5㎝〈R₂〈1㎝, 1㎝〈R₃〈2㎝, 2㎝.〈R₄〈4㎝) (Quercus acutissima) were studied for 33-months in Kongiu, Korea. After 33-months, decomposition rate of R₁, R₂, R₃ and R₄ was 49.6%, 47.5%, 66.4% and 66.1%, respectively. The decomposition constant(k) for R₁, R₂, R₃, and R₄ was 0.249/yr, 0.234/yr, 0.397/yr and 0.393/yr, respectively. Larger diameter class of the root lost more weight than smaller diameter class. N concentration in decomposing oak roots increased in all diameter classes. After 33-months, remaining N in R₁, R₂, R₃ and R₄ was 66.5%, 80.7%, 84.4% and 44.4%, respectively. K concentration in decomposing oak roots decreased in early part of decomposition and then increased in later stage of decomposition. After 33-months, remaining P in R₁, R₂, R₃ and R₄ was 64.7%, 62.4%, 93.1% and 30.7%, respectively. K concentration in decomposing oak roots decreased rapidly in early stage of decomposition. Remaining K in R₁, R₂, R₃ and R₄ was 11.6%, 10.6%, 5.9% and 7.7%, respectively. Ca concentration in decomposing oak roots showed different among diameter classes. After 33-months, remaining Ca in R₁, R₂, R₃ and R₄ was 66.2%, 51.0%, 39.1% and 48.3%, respectively. Initial concentration of Mg in oak root was higher in smaller diameter class. After 33-months, remaining Mg in R₁, R₂, R₃ and R₄ was 15.3%, 29.9%, 24.5% and 69.4%, respectively.

• Weed & Turfgrass Science
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.11-20
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• 2017

Ninety species belonging to 28 families of weeds were identified in Korean rice fields. They were divided by eight provinces and 19 agro-climatic zones to be used as basic data of weed control. Looking at the regional weed occurrence, there were 52 species of 20 families in Gyeonggi, 37 species of 17 families in Gangwon, 41 species of 15 families in Chungbuk, 21 species of 12 families in Chungnam, 24 species of 13 families in Jeonbuk, 54 species of 21 families in Chonnam, 36 species of 20 families in Gyeongbuk, and 32 species of 16 families in Gyeongnam province, respectively. The most dominant family was Poaceae followed by Cyperaceae and Asteraceae. Mostly dominant species were Echinochloa spp., Monochoria vaginalis var. plantaginea, Scirpus juncoides var. hotarui, Eleocharis kuroguwai, and Sagittaria sagittifolia subsp. leucopetala with slight differences among the provinces. Although there were some differences in 18 climate zones from Taebaek sub-highlands to the southern part of the East Coast (except for the Taebaek Highland), the dominant species were Echinochloa spp., Monochoria vaginalis var. plantaginea and Scirpus juncoides var. hotarui. The most dominant family was Cyperaceae followed by Poaceae and Asteraceae. The differences of weed occurrence between provinces and agro-climatic zones were largely influenced by various weather conditions rather than the provinces. The changes in cultivation mode and herbicide use might influence as well.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.38 no.3 s.113
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• pp.361-371
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• 2005

The objective of study was to diagnose integrative ecological health of Daejeon Stream, one of the tributaries of Guem River, during May 2004 ${\sim}$ April 2005. The research approach was primarily based on a Qualitative Habitat Evaluation Index (QHEI) and the Index of Biological Integrity (IBI) using fish assemblage. These outcomes were compared with conventional chemical dataset. For the experiment, four sampling sites were chosen from Daejeon Stream and long-term water quality data during 1995 ${\sim}$ 2004 (obtained from the Ministry of Environment) were analyzed in the spatial and temporal aspects. For the biological health assessment, we developed a stream health assessment model (SHA model) far regional applications. We found that current water quality conditions, based on the COD, BOD, TN and TP, were enhanced by 1.6 ${\sim}$ 5.3 fold over the period of 1995 ${\sim}$ 2004 and that the parameters showed a typical longitudinal decline from the upstream to downstream reach. The differences of water quality between the two reaches were more than 4.4 times, indicating a large spatial variations within the stream. The health conditions, based on the SHA model, averaged 23 and varied from 20 to 26 depending on the sampling stations. Values of the QHEI varied from 39 (Poor condition) to 124 (Cood condition)and values of QHEI in the reach of S2 ${\sim}$ S4 had significantly lower than in the headwater site (S1). Also, biological stream health, based on the criteria of US EPA (1993), was judged as 'Poor condition', in the S4 where TN, TP, BOD and COD were highest. In the meantime, maximum value of SHA (26) was found in the upstream reach (S1) where the water quality and QHEI were best. We also found that compositions of sensitive species showed a linear function with water quality conditions and this pattern was evident in the tolerant species. Thus, the biological stream health, based on the SHA model, matched well water chemistry. Overall outcomes suggest that the biological health impact was a function of chemical degradation and physical habitat quality in the stream.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.39 no.2 s.116
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• pp.145-156
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• 2006

The objective of this study was to evaluate biological health conditions and physicochemical status using multi-metric models at five sites of the Keum-Ho River during August 2004 and June 2005. The research approach was based on a qualitative habitat evaluation index (QHEI), index of biological integrity (IBI) using fish assemblage, and long-term chemical data (1995 ${\sim}$ 2004), which was obtained from the Ministry of Environment, Korea. For the biological health assessments, regional model of the IBI in Korea (An,2003), was applied for this study. Mean IBI in the river was 30 and varied from 23 to 48 depending on the sampling sites. The river health was judged to be "fair condition", according to the stream health criteria of US EPA (1993) and Barbour et al. (1999). According to the analysis of the chemical water quality data of the river, BOD, COD, conductivity, TP, TN, and TSS largely varied epending on the sampling sites, seasons and years. Variabilities of some parameters including BOD, COD, TP, TN, and conductivity were greater in the downstream than in the upstream reach. This phenomenon was evident in the dilution by the rain during the monsoon. This indicates that precipitation is a very important factor of the chemical variations of water quality. Community analyses showed that species diversity index was highest (H=0.78) in the site 1, while community dominance index was highest in the site 3, where Opsariichthys uncirostris largely dominated. In contrast, the proportions of omnivore and tolerant species were greater in the downstream reach, than in the upstream reach. Overall, this study suggests that some sites in the downstream reach may need to restore the aquatic ecosystem for better biological health.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Geographic Information Studies
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.135-146
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• 2015

This study was carried out to understand ecological characteristics of Korean goral such as home range, seasonal home range and habitat use and used for Korean goral restoration and conservation, through a pair of gorals in the north Gyeongbuk province of Korea. With data from GPS collars, we analyzed the behavioral characteristics of the endangered Korean gorals(n=2) in Uljin area from June 2013 to July 2014. As a result, their home range was $1.38{\pm}0.24km^2$ in MCP 95%, $0.81{\pm}0.09km^2$ in FK 95% and $0.15{\pm}0.16km^2$ in FK 50% (t=8.118, p>0.05). Seasonal home range for MCP 95% was $0.74{\pm}0.31km^2$ > (winter) > $0.71{\pm}0.27km^2$ (spring) > $0.61{\pm}0.06km^2$ (autumn) > $0.27{\pm}0.04km^2$ (summer) (F=2.135 p>0.05). It showed that home range in winter was the largest and that in summer was the smallest. Mean elevation of male for seasonal habitat use was $440.18{\pm}71.32m$ in summer and that of female was $727.25{\pm}99.98m$ in spring. The lowest altitude for male was $372.72{\pm}70.79$ and female was $664.60{\pm}139.71m$. It meant that there were seasonal change and thus annual and seasonal behavior characteristics for both sexes had different correlation according to elevation change. Although in this study the correlation with prey in habitat and the changes of habitat disturbance were not clearly investigated, We could understand goral home range and habitat use through research data.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.271-296
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• 2021

Since the thermal stratification in a reservoir inhibits the vertical mixing of the upper and lower layers and causes the formation of a hypoxia layer and the enhancement of nutrients release from the sediment, changes in the stratification structure of the reservoir according to future climate change are very important in terms of water quality and aquatic ecology management. This study was aimed to develop a data-driven inflow water temperature prediction model for Daecheong Reservoir (DR), and to predict future inflow water temperature and the stratification structure of DR considering future climate scenarios of Representative Concentration Pathways (RCP). The random forest (RF)regression model (NSE 0.97, RMSE 1.86℃, MAPE 9.45%) developed to predict the inflow temperature of DR adequately reproduced the statistics and variability of the observed water temperature. Future meteorological data for each RCP scenario predicted by the regional climate model (HadGEM3-RA) was input into RF model to predict the inflow water temperature, and a three-dimensional hydrodynamic model (AEM3D) was used to predict the change in the future (2018~2037, 2038~2057, 2058~2077, 2078~2097) stratification structure of DR due to climate change. As a result, the rates of increase in air temperature and inflow water temperature was 0.14~0.48℃/10year and 0.21~0.41℃/10year,respectively. As a result of seasonal analysis, in all scenarios except spring and winter in the RCP 2.6, the increase in inflow water temperature was statistically significant, and the increase rate was higher as the carbon reduction effort was weaker. The increase rate of the surface water temperature of the reservoir was in the range of 0.04~0.38℃/10year, and the stratification period was gradually increased in all scenarios. In particular, when the RCP 8.5 scenario is applied, the number of stratification days is expected to increase by about 24 days. These results were consistent with the results of previous studies that climate change strengthens the stratification intensity of lakes and reservoirs and prolonged the stratification period, and suggested that prolonged water temperature stratification could cause changes in the aquatic ecosystem, such as spatial expansion of the low-oxygen layer, an increase in sediment nutrient release, and changed in the dominant species of algae in the water body.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.125-137
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• 2022

To assess the characteristics of meiofaunal community fluctuations related to environmental factors, seasonal surveys were conducted in the subtidal zone of Hallyeohaesang National Park. The average depth of the study area was about 20 m, and the average water temperature at the bottom was low in winter(11.33℃) and high in summer(17.95℃). The sedimentary particles mainly comprised silt and clay at most stations. The abundance of meiofauna ranged from 81.7 to 1,296.5 Inds. 10 cm^-2, and the average abundance was 589.3 Inds. 10 cm^-2. The average abundance of meiofauna in each season was the lowest at 416.5 Inds. 10cm^-2 in winter and the highest at 704.5Inds.10 cm^-2 in spring. The dominant taxa were nematodes (about 92%) and harpacticoids (about 5%). In the cluster analysis of meiofaunal communities, they were divided into four significant groups. The largest group mainly contained spring and summer samples, and contained stations with a high nematode density of over 500 Inds. 10 cm^-2 and harpacticoids below 50 Inds. 10 cm^-2 with a high composition ratio of nematodes. In the cluster analysis, no regional division was found between the stations, and it was thought to be divided by the seasons with high abundance according to seasonal variation and the composition ratio of nematodes and harpacticoids. In the Spearman rank correlation analysis, the density of total meiofauna and the most dominant taxa, nematodes, was not significantly related to environmental factors. However, the density of harpacticoids had a significant positive correlation with water depth and a negative correlation with sediment particle size.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.50 no.6
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• pp.58-69
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• 2022

This study compares and analyses the impacts of holding domestic garden expos that will be fundamental for holding garden expos in the future. Satisfaction with the three sites of the 2013 Suncheon Bay International Gardening Expo, 2015 Seoul Gardening Expo, and 2022 Goyang International Flower Fair, as well as factors affecting the satisfaction in economic, social/cultural, environment/ecology, and operation aspects, were analyzed. As a result of the study, the satisfaction level of all three sites was high, with a value of 3.5 or higher. In particular, satisfaction with the 2013 Suncheon Bay International Gardening Expo was the highest. It was found that there was a difference between the satisfaction level of the 2013 Suncheon Bay International Gardening Expo and the 2015 Seoul Gardening Expo. As a regional festival, the 2013 Suncheon Bay International Garden Expo has acquired a high status due to the 'Suncheon Bay Garden' being designated as the first National Garden. It is thought that great satisfaction was obtained because economic, social, cultural, and environmental revitalization was achieved by matching the values of citizen participation and ecological conservation. As a result of the comparison of perception types affecting the satisfaction by garden fair, satisfaction at the 2013 Suncheon Bay International Gardening Expo and the 2015 Seoul Gardening Expo, it was found that both affected all four aspects. The 2022 Goyang International Flower Fair did not affect satisfaction in the operational aspect. This seems to be because the Goyang International Flower Fair is already a fixed local brand. As a result of analyzing the detailed factors of perception that affect satisfaction, the three target sites were commonly analyzed, including social and cultural factors, which attract cultural events, improve pride and affection for the region, and help educate children. In terms of environmental and ecological factors were analyzed as an inconvenience in life due to traffic congestion. It can be seen that it has the same meaning as the comparative analysis of the difference in factors on the satisfaction of the target site. There is no difference in the effect on satisfaction in terms of social·cultural, and environmental·ecological aspects, but there are differences in terms of economy and operation. Based on the analysis results of this study, to hold a domestic garden expo in the future, it is necessary to properly utilize "environmental" and "ecological" garden aspects that have potential values according to the region's characteristics to develop sustainable, eco-friendly tourism resources. In addition, values will be more apparent when cultural and artistic programs are planned to establish a differentiated identity in the host area and are appropriately used as a marketing means for a local fair. A well-planned local festival through communication with local residents can affect the image of the region and lead to the revitalization of the local communities by securing urban competitiveness along with the establishment of urban brands, so it can be said that local residents' participation and national or local organizations' cooperation is essential.