• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.53 no.2
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• pp.79-101
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• 2023

Following recent taxonomic, distributional, and nomenclatural revisions, an updated checklist of endemic plants on the Korean Peninsula is needed. This study provides an updated checklist of vascular plants endemic to the Korean Peninsula and describes their distribution within administrative provinces. The revised checklist includes 373 endemic taxa (304 species, six subspecies, 49 varieties, and 14 nothospecies) from 179 genera and 64 families, representing 9.5% of the total native flora of the Korean Peninsula. Asteraceae (41 taxa), Ranunculaceae (29 taxa), Liliaceae s.l. (24 taxa), and Rosaceae (22 taxa) were the most widely represented families. Compared with the most recent checklist published in 2017, 39 taxa were excluded from the checklist; one taxon was excluded because it did not have a valid published name, seven taxa were excluded because their natural habitats extended to neighboring countries, four taxa were excluded because they were treated as a rank form, and 27 taxa were excluded because they had been identified as heterotypic synonyms of taxa distributed outside of the Korean Peninsula. Fifty-two new taxa were included based on the literature. This checklist will help to focus conservation efforts and provide a framework for research, protection, and policy implementation related to these endemic taxa.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.110 no.2
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• pp.155-164
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• 2021

Many studies have been conducted on developing automatic plant identification algorithms using machine learning to various plant features, such as leaves and flowers. Unlike other plant characteristics, barks show only little change regardless of the season and are maintained for a long period. Nevertheless, barks show a complex shape with a large variation depending on the environment, and there are insufficient materials that can be utilized to train algorithms. Here, in addition to the previously published bark image dataset, BarkNet v.1.0, images of barks were collected, and a dataset consisting of 53 tree species that can be easily observed in Korea was presented. A convolutional neural network (CNN) was trained and tested on the dataset, and the factors that interfere with the model's performance were identified. For CNN architecture, VGG-16 and 19 were utilized. As a result, VGG-16 achieved 90.41% and VGG-19 achieved 92.62% accuracy. When tested on new tree images that do not exist in the original dataset but belong to the same genus or family, it was confirmed that more than 80% of cases were successfully identified as the same genus or family. Meanwhile, it was found that the model tended to misclassify when there were distracting features in the image, including leaves, mosses, and knots. In these cases, we propose that random cropping and classification by majority votes are valid for improving possible errors in training and inferences.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.125-133
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• 2016

Sharks (Selachii) comprising about 510 valid species worldwide. Forty-three shark species belonging to 30 genera, 19 families and 8 orders have been found in Korean coastal waters, and all these are registered at the IUCN Red List as followings: endangered (EN) 1 species (2.3%) (vs. worldwide 15 spp., 3.2%), vulnerable (VU) 11 spp. (25.6%) (vs. 48 spp., 10.3%), near threatened (NT) 10 spp. (23.3%) (vs. 67 spp., 14.4%), least concern (LC) 9 spp. (20.9%) (vs. 115 spp., 24.7%), data deficient (DD) 12 spp. (27.9%) (vs. 209 spp., 44.9%), and critically endangered (CR) absent (vs. 11 spp., 2.4%). Twelve species among 43 sharks distributing in Korean waters are assessed as Threatened in the IUCN Red List categories and criteria as followings: Sphyrna lewini (EN, A2bd+4bd), Rhincodon typus (VU, A2bd+3d), Cetorhinus maximus (VU, A2ad+3d), Carcharodon carcharias (VU, A2cd+3cd), Isurus oxyrinchus (VU, A2abd+3bd+4abd), Alopias pelagicus (VU, A2d+4d), A. vulpinus (VU, A2bd+3bd+4bd), Carcharhinus plumbeus (VU, A2bd+4bd), S. zygaena (VU, A2bd+3bd+4bd), Squalus suckleyi (VU, A2bd+3bd+4bd), Squatina japonica (VU, A2d+4d), and S. nebulosa (VU, A2d+4d). Eighteen chondrichthyan species are registered in the list of the CITES Appendices, among them five sharks are distributing in Korean waters as Appendix II, i.e., R. typus, C. maximus, C. carcharias, S. lewini and S. zygaena. The scientific name of "Gobsangeo" has been changed from Squalus acanthias of the North Pacific to S. suckleyi, and "Mojorisangeo" from S. megalops of the Northwest Pacific to brevirostris.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.15-24
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• 2006

Precipitation samples were collected at Anmyeon (1997 - 2004), Uljin, and Gosan (1998 ~ 2004), the background area of the Korean Peninsula. These samples were analyzed for the concentration of 9 major ionic components ($F^{-}$,$Cl^{-}$, $NO_{3}^{-}$, $SO_{4}^{2-}$, $Na^{+}$, $NH_{4}^{+}$, $K^{+}$, $Mg^{2+}$, $Ca^{2+}$) with including a pH and an electric conductivity. Data quality for these samples was verified by ion balance and conductivity balance which are based on GAW manual for precipitation chemistry and the number of valid data at Anmyeon, Uljin, and Gosan is 249, 173, and 188, respectively. During the study period, the precipitation-weighted average pH at Anmyeon, Uljin, and Gosan was found to be 4.81, 4.87 and 4.89, respectively and each annual average pH was showed below pH 5.6 for every site. From the frequency survey on the precipitation acidity, the occurrence rate of acid rain below pH 5.6 is greater than $80\%$ for every site. Particularly, the highest occurrence rate for strong acid rain below pH 4.5 was found at Anmyeon, $32.1\%$, compared with other sites ($10.4\%$ at Uljin, $15.4\%$ at Gosan). That's because acidifying species (nss-$SO_{4}^{2-}$, $NO_{3}^{-}$) are remarkably high concentration at Anmyeon.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.238-242
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• 2009

Pediococci selective medium (PSM) supplemented with ampicillin (A) reported as valid for the detection and enumeration of pediococci included in foods and animal feed was evaluated for the selective detection of the genus Pediococcus in kimchi. PSM is based on the complex basal medium MRS supplemented with cysteine hydrochloride, vancomycin, novobiocin, and nystatin. In the medium evaluation with known species, the growth inhibition of leuconostocs, Pediococcus pentosaceus, Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus curvatus, Oenococcus oeni, and Streptococcus thermophilus was not confirmed. In the application of kimchi samples on the selective medium, leuconostocs, P. pentosaceus, Weissella koreensis, Lb. curvatus, Lactobacillus brevis, and Lactobacillus sakei were detected. PSM+A was proved to be not applicable for the detection of pediococci in kimchi.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.584-591
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• 2015

This study characterized the fecal bacterial community structure and inter-individual variation in 30-week-old Duroc pigs, which are known for their excellent meat quality. Pyrosequencing of the V1-V3 hypervariable regions of the 16S rRNA genes generated 108,254 valid reads and 508 operational taxonomic units at a 95% identity cut-off (genus level). Bacterial diversity and species richness as measured by the Shannon diversity index were significantly greater than those reported previously using denaturation gradient gel electrophoresis; thus, this study provides substantial information related to both known bacteria and the untapped portion of unclassified bacteria in the population. The bacterial composition of Duroc pig fecal samples was investigated at the phylum, class, family, and genus levels. Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes predominated at the phylum level, while Clostridia and Bacteroidia were most abundant at the class level. This study also detected prominent inter-individual variation starting at the family level. Among the core microbiome, which was observed at the genus level, Prevotella was consistently dominant, as well as a bacterial phylotype related to Oscillibacter valericigenes, a valerate producer. This study found high bacterial diversity and compositional variation among individuals of the same breed line, as well as high abundance of unclassified bacterial phylotypes that may have important functions in the growth performance of Duroc pigs.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.686-695
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• 2021

Tricholoma matsutake is an ectomycorrhizal fungus that has a symbiotic relationship with the root of Pinus densiflora. Soil microbial communities greatly affect the growth of T. matsutake, however, few studies have examined the characteristics of these communities. In the present study, we analyzed soil fungal communities from Gyeongju and Yeongdeok using metagenomic pyrosequencing to investigate differences in fungal species diversity, richness, and taxonomic composition between the soil under T. matsutake fruiting bodies (Sample 2) and soil where the fairy ring of T. matsutake was no longer present (Sample 1). The same spot was investigated three times at intervals of four months to observe changes in the community. In the samples from Yeongdeok, the number of valid reads was lower than that at Gyeongju. The operational taxonomic units of most Sample 2 groups were less than those of Sample 1 groups, indicating that fungal diversity was low in the T. matsutake-dominant soil. The soil under the T. matsutake fruiting bodies was dominated by more than 51% T. matsutake. From fall to the following spring, the ratio of T. matsutake decreased. Basidiomycota was the dominant phylum in most samples. G-F1-2, G-F2-2, and Y-F1-2 had the genera Tricholoma, Umbelopsis, Oidiodendron, Sagenomella, Cladophialophora, and Phialocephala in common. G-F1-1, G-F2-1, and Y-F1-1 had 10 genera including Umbelopsis and Sagenomella in common. From fall to the following spring, the amount of phyla Basidiomycota and Mucoromycota gradually decreased but that of phylum Ascomycota increased. We suggest that the genus Umbelopsis is positively related to T. matsutake.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.27-41
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• 2016

This study was performed to investigate the community structure and health assessment of macrobenthic assemblages in Geoje-Hansan Bay, Southern Coast of Korea. Macrobenthos were collected by van Veen grab sampler at May (spring) and August (summer) 2013. The total species number and mean density were 300 species $7.6m^{-2}$ and $1,994ind.\;m^{-2}$, respectively. The major dominant species were the polychaetes Lumbrineris longifolia ($299{\pm}164ind.\;m^{-2}$), Aphelochaeta monilaris ($100{\pm}57ind.\;m^{-2}$), the bivalve Musculista senhousia ($91{\pm}96ind.\;m^{-2}$) and the polychaete Praxillella affinis ($80{\pm}66ind.\;m^{-2}$). From the community statistics [cluster analysis and nonmetric multidimentional scaling (NMDS) ordination], the macrobenthic community was distinguished into two groups of inner bay (farming ground of near Sandal Island) and channel station(from Hansan Island to Chubong Island) group. In this study, the ecological status was assessed by four biotic indices Shannon's H', the ATZI Marine Biotic Index (AMBI), multivariate-AMBI (M-AMBI) and the Environment Conservation Index (ECI). The ecological status of the macrobenthic community in Geoje-Hansan Bay were poorer in the inner bay station than in the channel station. The results of the present study showed that three biotic indices (Shannon's H', M-AMBI and ECI) were valid as an index for evaluating the ecological status than the AMBI.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.35-44
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• 2015

Forests contain a huge amount of carbon (C) and climate change could affect forest C dynamics. This study was conducted to predict the C dynamics of Pinus densiflora and Quercus variabilis forests, which are the most dominant needleleaf and broadleaf forests in Korea, using the Korean Forest Soil Carbon (KFSC) model under the two climate change scenarios (2012-2100; Constant Temperature (CT) scenario and Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) 8.5 scenario). To construct simulation unit, the forest land areas for those two species in the 5th National Forest Inventory (NFI) data were sorted by administrative district and stand age class. The C pools were initialized at 2012, and any disturbance was not considered during the simulation period. Although the forest C stocks of two species generally increased over time, the forest C stocks under the RCP 8.5 scenario were less than those stocks under the CT scenario. The C stocks of P. densiflora forests increased from 260.4 Tg C in 2012 to 395.3 (CT scenario) or 384.1 Tg C (RCP 8.5 scenario) in 2100. For Q. variabilis forests, the C stocks increased from 124.4 Tg C in 2012 to 219.5 (CT scenario) or 204.7 (RCP 8.5 scenario) Tg C in 2100. Compared to 5th NFI data, the initial value of C stocks in dead organic matter C pools seemed valid. Accordingly, the annual C sequestration rates of the two species over the simulation period under the RCP 8.5 scenario (65.8 and $164.2g\;C\;m^{-2}\;yr^{-1}$ for P. densiflora and Q. variabilis) were lower than those values under the CT scenario (71.1 and $193.5g\;C\;m^{-2}\;yr^{-1}$ for P. densiflora and Q. variabilis). We concluded that the C sequestration potential of P. densiflora and Q. variabilis forests could be decreased by climate change. Although there were uncertainties from parameters and model structure, this study could contribute to elucidating the C dynamics of South Korean forests in future.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.693-697
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• 2010

This study, conducted with four leopard cats (Prionailurus bengalensis), used time-resolved fluoroimmunoassay (TR-FIA) to analyze estradiol and progesterone concentrations in fecal samples. We measured fecal samples taken during estrus period, diestrus period, pregnancy and non-pregnancy period. During estrus (February), the mean minimum estradiol concentration was $4.02{\pm}1.9$ng/g, and the mean maximum was $86.01{\pm}35.2$ng/g (dry fecal weight). During diestrus (November), the mean minimum estradiol concentration was $4.42{\pm}1.32$ng/g and mean maximum was $15.62{\pm}6.48$ng/g (dry fecal weight). Midgestation (April), the mean minimum progesterone concentration was $427{\pm}24.49$ng/g and the mean maximum was $1490{\pm}265.27$ng/g. During non-pregnancy (November), the mean minimum progesterone concentration was $71.25{\pm}29.61$ng/g and the mean maximum was $291.75{\pm}90.30$ng/g. These results suggest that steroid hormone analysis of feces using TR-FIA is a valid method for noninvasively determining ovarian activity associated with estrus and pregnancy in leopard cats. This study will contribute to building breeding management and reproductive plans for endangered species.