• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.338-350
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• 2024

A vegetation survey was conducted and analyzed on 25 survey plots of Betula ermanii communities in the subalpine zone of Mt. Gariwang, Mt. Balwang, Mt. Bangtae, and Mt. Hambaek in Gangwon-do. As a result of TWINSPAN and DCA analysis, the community was divided into a total of 3 communities: Betula ermanii-Quercus mongolica community(GroupI), Betula ermanii-Acer pseudosieboldianum community (GroupII), and Betula ermanii community(GroupIII). As a result of the vegetation structure analysis, Betula ermanii-Quercus mongolica community(GroupI) is located on the periphery of the Mt. Bangtae trail at altitude of 1,082~1,192m, and Betula ermanii-Acer pseudosieboldianum community(GroupII) is located on the ridges and slopes of Mt. Bangtae, Mt. Gariwang, and Mt. Hambaek at altitudes of 1,230~1,373m. Betula ermanii-Quercus mongolica community(GroupI) and Betula ermanii-Acer pseudosieboldianum community(GroupII) are currently dominated by Betula ermanii, but after long term, it is expected that they will transe to Quercus mongolica. The Betula ermanii community(GroupIII) is located the summit of Mt. Hambaek and the summit of Mt. Balwang at altitude of 1,428~1,464m. It is expected that the community will be maintained as Betula ermanii community, because Betula ermanii is very dominant, and so the next generation dominant species is maintained by Betula ermanii. Betula ermanii community generally appear above 1,000 m above sea level, and the higher the altitude, the more dominant the Betula ermanii are. As a result of the soil analysis, the soil characteristics shows a similar pattern to the subalpine belt of Daecheongbong Peak of Mt. Seoraksan and Banyabong Peak of Mt. Jirisan. As a result of the species diversity index analysis, the species diversity index was 1.210~1.293, the abundance index was 0.698~0.795, and the dominance index was 0.208~0.302.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.321-359
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• 2024

To conduct ethnobotanical study that grow wild in biosphere reserves or are traded in nearby traditional markets, we collected and analyzed traditional knowledge information on vascular plants that live in Mt. Seorak and Mt. Halla. As a result, the ethnobotanical plants investigated in Mt. Seorak consisted of 102 families and 489 taxa. The ethnobotanical plants investigated in Mt. Halla consisted of 118 families and 374 taxa. Both ethnobotanical plants from Mt. Seorak and Mt. Halla were most widely used for oriental medicine and treatment, and leaves were the most used organ. Differences in diversity by family of ethnobotanical plants inhabiting Mt. Seorak and Mt. Halla showed significant differences only in other use. The ethnobotanical plants traded at the traditional market near Mt. Seorak consists of 59 species in 34 families and 56 genera. The ethnobotanical plants traded at the traditional market near Mt. Halla consists of 102 species in 49 families and 94 genera. All ethnobotanical plants traded in traditional markets were most often used for oriental medicine and treatment, and stems were used most often in the traditional market near Mt. Seorak, and leaves were used most often in the traditional market near Mt. Halla.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2014

This study was to understand the ecological characteristics of the goral through the study on goral behavioral characteristics and to be carried out to provide basic behavioral data such as annual home range, seasonal home range and monthly used altitude with 4,752 locations obtained during the study period through home range analysis of three long-tailed gorals (Naemorhedus caudatus) in Soeraksan. For this study, gorals who were rescued from heavy snow in Seoraksan were used. The gorals were equipped with GPS Collar, released at their natural habitats, and then monitored from May, 2010 to September, 2011. According to our results, annual home ranges of the gorals (n=3) have $0.88km^2$ of MCP 95%, $0.27km^2$ of MCP 50%, $0.43km^2$ of FK 95%, and $0.09km^2$ of FK 50% respectively. Seasonal home range of MCP 95% was $0.47km^2$ in spring, $0.45km^2$ in summer, $0.63km^2$ in fall and $0.50km^2$ in winter respectively and home ranges of fall was the largest. In the case of FK 95% analysis, home ranges were $0.23km^2$ in spring, $0.19km^2$ in summer, $0.33km^2$ in fall, and $0.22km^2$ in winter respectively and the largest seasonal home range was fall. Female and male annual home ranges of the gorals were $1.03km^2$ for female and $0.58km^2$ for male. In analysis of the monthly used altitudes which were used Jun, July, and August were higher than in the other months and the altitudes which were used in Dec, Jan, and Feb were lower than in the other months. This study was to secure basic data for the habitat management policy, restoration, and conservation of Korea gorals and to be conducted to contribute to the success in doing or planning stage of the wild animal restoration.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.139-149
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• 2022

This study aimed to prepare basic data for protecting the habitat of Fairy Pitta Pitta nympha and coping with climate change by detecting songs with bio-acoustic recording technology and identifying phenological characteristics in protected areas in Korea. The study sites were 36 protected areas nationwide. Data were collected between January and December 2019, and the analysis period was from May 1 to August 31, 2019. The main results are described as follows. Firstly, songs were detected in 22 out of 36 study sites. Frequency analysis results of songs show that high frequency was observed in southern inland, including Jeju island, and the area with the highest latitude was Seoraksan National Park. Secondly, the first song was observed in Hallyeohaesang National Park Geumsan on May 14, 2019, and the last song was observed in Ungok wetland in Gochang on August 6, 2019. Thirdly, circadian rhythm analysis results of songs show that the frequency rapidly increased at five o'clock in the morning, peaked at six o'clock, and then decreased afterward. Fourthly, seasonal cycle analysis results of songs show that they were observed from May 14, 2019 to August 6, and the day with the highest accumulated frequency of songs was June 3, 2019 (Julian date: 154). The average temperature of the day the songs were detected was 17.4℃, the average precipitation was 0.02mm, and the average humidity was 82.6%. Fifthly, a correlation analysis result between Fairy Pitta's songs and meteorological factors shows that temperature indicated a negative correlation with Fairy Pitta's songs (p<0.001), but precipitation (p=0.053) and humidity (p=0.077) did not indicate a statistical significance (df=471). This study is significant in that it confirmed the distribution of Fairy Pitta's songs using bio-acoustic recording technology in protected areas nationwide and identified their ecological characteristics by precisely analyzing the relationship between the song period and meteorological factors.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.102-111
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• 2022

Among protected areas, National Parks are rich in biodiversity, and the benefits of ecosystem services provided to human are higher than the others. Ecosystem service evaluation is being used to manage the value of national parks based on objective and scientific data. Ecosystem services are classified into four services: supporting, provisioning, regulating and cultural. The purpose of this study is to evaluate habitat quality among supporting services. Habitat Quality Model of InVEST was used to analyze. The coefficients of sensitivity and habitat initial value were reset by reflecting prior studies and the actual conditions of protected areas. Habitat quality of 21 national parks except Hallasan National Park was analyzed and mapped. The value of habitat quality was evaluated to be between 0 and 1, and the closer it is to 1, the more natural it is. As a result of habitat quality analysis, Seoraksan and Taebaeksan National Parks (0.90), Jirisan and Odaesan National Parks (0.89), and Sobaeksan National Park (0.88) were found to be the highest in the order. As a result of comparing the area and habitat quality of 18 national parks except for coastal-marine national parks, the larger the area, the higher the overall habitat quality. Comparing the value of habitat quality of each zone, the value of habitat quality was high in the order of the park nature preservation zone, the park nature environmental zone, the park cultural heritage zone, and the park village zone. Considering both the analysis of habitat quality and the legal regulations for each zone of use, it is judged that the more artificial acts are restricted, the higher the habitat quality. This study is meaningful in analyzing habitat quality of 21 National Parks by readjusting the parameters according to the situation of protected areas in Korea. It is expected to be easy to intuitively understand through accurate data and mapping, and will be useful in making policy decisions regarding the development and preservation of protected areas in the future.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.169-177
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• 2024

This study investigated whether population dynamic analysis based on the height characteristics of Abies nephrolepis was feasible. It was necessary because existing population dynamic analyses based on age and diameter at breast height (DBH) made it difficult to reflect the slow growth characteristics of Abies nephrolepis in harsh environments of high altitudes. The limitations of population dynamics analysis based on the age and DBH distribution of Abies nephrolepis in Seoraksan, Odaesan, and Taebaeksan National Parks, where Abies nephrolepis populations are representative, were verified, and the characteristics of height growth were investigated to comprehensively analyze whether a vertical structure based on height could reveal the population dynamics. The result of this study showed some limitations in understanding the population dynamics of Abies nephrolepis based on age distribution due to practical difficulties in sampling all trees and variations in age distribution within the same community depending on factors such as light conditions. Moreover, it was challenging to differentiate the distribution of DBH classes at fine levels, making it difficult to reflect the rapid growth characteristics of Abies nephrolepis when light conditions become suitable after prolonged stays in smaller DBH classes under shade conditions. However, a comprehensive analysis of the height characteristics of Abies nephrolepis revealed that the density corresponding to the population dynamic characteristics of Abies was high and adequately reflected the predominant tree death at similar height stages, as well as the U-shaped population dynamics at the lower stratum. Moreover, it was possible to identify a transition point in height values under shaded conditions, where the annual growth of Abies nephrolepis individuals in the lower stratum increases significantly, indicating that Abies nephrolepis individuals can escape from competition with other shrubs and undergo vigorous growth only at this height level. Therefore, this study confirmed that a vertical structure based on height can be utilized to understand the population dynamics of Abies nephrolepis in high altitudes, and it is expected that future studies on height characteristics can intuitively reveal the maintenance status of Abies nephrolepis populations in the field.