• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.56 no.1
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• pp.83-93
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• 2023

This study compares the abundance and community structure of zooplankton organisms from pelagic regions, and considers particularly the trophic levels vs. zooplankton abundances and biomass. Zooplankton samples were collected three times from May to November 2022, at 30 temperate lakes and reservoirs, which belong to four different river basins. The total zooplankton abundance, biomass and species index were showed considerable spatial variation. The spatial pattern of rotifer abundance was similar to that of total zooplankton abundance, while there were not showed similar patterns of zooplankton biomass (㎍ L^-1) in lentic ecosystems. The rotifer strongly dominated the zooplankton assemblage in smaller lentic system than that of larger. A total of 130 species of zooplankton were identified (83 rotifers, 34 cladocerans and 13 copepods). The total average of zooplankton abundance and biomass were 213.7±342.3 Ind. L^-1 (n=129) and 1382.8±1850.4 ㎍ L^-1, respectively. Total and average of zooplankton abundance were usually dominated by the rotifers (>56.9%), while those of zooplankton biomass were dominated by the cladocerans and copepods (>73.6%) in lentic ecosystems. Considering the Trophic State Index (TSI), the factors of zooplankton abundance and biomass were included in between meso- and eutrophic states(27 lakes, 90% of all). The mean abundance and biomass of zooplankton in eutrophic systems were higher than that of meso- and hypertrophic systems. From this result, we suggest that management strategy for the lentic ecosystem water environment has to be focused more on small-sized lakes and reservoirs, in terms of zooplankton assemblages.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.100-139
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• 2023

This study was intended to identify the distribution and characteristics of plants such as native plants, rare plants, and endemic plants through a flora survey in Sangwangsan Mt. (644m), Wando-gun, Jeollanam-do, a group habitat of warm temperate forests in Korea, and use the data for the conservation of plant species diversity and the study of climate and distribution changes in warm-temperate forests. A total of 32 field surveys were conducted from 2018 to 2022. The survey identified 785 taxa, including 8 forms, 53 varieties, 16 subspecies, 708 species, 473 genera, and 132 families. The endangered wild plants designated by the Ministry of Environment included 6 taxa: Woodwardia japonica, Metanarthecium luteoviride, Bulbophyllum inconspicuum, Dendrobium moniliforme, Pelatantheria scolopendrifolia, and Cymbidium macrorhizon. Rare plants designated by the Korea Forest Service were identified as 26 taxa. The red list designated by the Korea National Arboretum was identified as 7 taxa, the red list designated by the Ministry of Environment was identified as 29 taxa, and endemic plants in Korea were identified as 17 taxa. Floristic target species in Korea were identified as 200 taxa, specifically 6 taxa of grade V, 13 taxa of grade IV, 73 taxa of grade III, 29 taxa of grade II, and 79 taxa of grade I. Naturalized plants were identified as 73 taxa, and invasive alien plants were identified as 6 taxa. Target plants adaptable to climate change in Korea were identified as 55 taxa, specifically 8 taxa of endemic plants, 46 taxa of southern plants, and 1 taxon of northern plants.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.119-130
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• 1998

The purposes of this study were to investigate vegetation structure and to present management plan of mountain type green space in Kangwhado, Inchon. The actual vegetation in survey sites(11,331ha) was divided into 19 community types. It was consisted of secondary forest(92.32%) which was Quercus acutissima, Pinus densiflora-Q. acutissima, and Q. mongolica community so on. Artificial planting forest area, such as Robinia pseudoacacia and Pinus rigida forest and others, was 5.40%(612ha) and it was less than cases in other cities in the Metropolitan area. According to the classification by TWINSPAN, 57 survey plots were divided into seven community types; P rigida(community A), Q. acutissima(community B) P. densiflora-Q. acutissima(community C), Q. acutissima-P. densiflora (community D), P. densiflora-Carpinus laxiflora-Q. serrata-Q. acutissima(community E), Q. serrata-Q. mongolica(community F), and Zelkova serrata-Acer mono(community G). From this result, ecological succession trend of vegetation in this area seems to be change from P. densiflora forest through Q. acutissima forest to Q. mongolica, Q. serrata, and C. laxiflora forest. It was similar to the ordinary successional trend of temperate deciduous forest in middle area, Korea. In addition, this study area was showed acid soil(pH 4.17). Therefore, there is a need for managing the soil environment for effective vegetation management.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.391-402
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• 2021

Earthworms play an important role in soil fertilization, interacting continually with microorganisms. This study aims to demonstrate the existence of beneficial microorganisms living in the earthworm's immune system, the coelomic fluid. To achieve this goal, a molecular identification technique was performed, using cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) barcoding to identify abundant endogenic earthworms inhabiting the temperate zone of Rabat, Morocco. Then, 16S rDNA and ITS sequencing techniques were adopted for bacteria and fungi, respectively. Biochemical analysis, showed the ability of bacteria to produce characteristic enzymes and utilize substrates. Qualitative screening of plant growth-promoting traits, including nitrogen fixation, phosphate and potassium solubilization, and indole acetic acid (IAA) production, was also performed. The result of mitochondrial COI barcoding allowed the identification of the earthworm species Aporrectodea molleri. Phenotypic and genotypic studies of the sixteen isolated bacteria and the two isolated fungi showed that they belong to the Pseudomonas, Aeromonas, Bacillus, Buttiauxella, Enterobacter, Pantoea, and Raoultella, and the Penicillium genera, respectively. Most of the isolated bacteria in the coelomic fluid showed the ability to produce β-glucosidase, β-glucosaminidase, Glutamyl-β-naphthylamidase, and aminopeptidase enzymes, utilizing substrates like aliphatic thiol, sorbitol, and fatty acid ester. Furthermore, three bacteria were able to fix nitrogen, solubilize phosphate and potassium, and produce IAA. This initial study demonstrated that despite the immune property of earthworms' coelomic fluid, it harbors beneficial microorganisms. Thus, the presence of resistant microorganisms in the earthworm's immune system highlights a possible selection process at the coelomic fluid level.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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• v.37 no.5_1
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• pp.903-916
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• 2021

An area's topography refers to the shape of the earth's surface, described by its elevation, slope, and aspect, among other features. The topographical conditions determine energy flowsthat move water and energy from higher to lower elevations, such as how much solar energy will be received and how much wind or rain will affect it. Another common factor, the topographic wetness index (TWI), is a calculation in digital elevation models of the tendency to accumulate water per slope and unit area, and is one of the most widely referenced hydrologic topographic factors, which helps explain the location of forest vegetation. Analyses of topographical factors can be calculated using a geographic information system (GIS) program based on digital elevation model (DEM) data. Recently, a large number of free open source software (FOSS) GIS programs are available and developed for researchers, industries, and governments. FOSS GIS programs provide opportunitiesfor flexible algorithms customized forspecific user needs. The majority of biodiversity in island areas exists at about 20% higher elevations than in land ecosystems, playing an important role in ecological processes and therefore of high ecological value. However, island areas are vulnerable to disturbances and damage, such as through climate change, environmental pollution, development, and human intervention, and lacks systematic investigation due to geographical limitations (e.g. remoteness; difficulty to access). More than 4,000 of Korea's islands are within a few hours of its coast, and 88% are uninhabited, with 52% of them forested. The forest ecosystems of islands have fewer encounters with human interaction than on land, and therefore most of the topographical conditions are formed naturally and affected more directly by weather conditions or the environment. Therefore, the analysis of forest topography in island areas can be done more precisely than on its land counterparts, and therefore has become a major focus of attention in Korea. This study is focused on calculating the performance of different topographical factors using FOSS GIS programs. The test area is the island forests in Korea's south and the DEM of the target area was processed with GRASS GIS and SAGA GIS. The final slopes and TWI maps were produced as comparisons of the differences between topographic factor calculations of each respective FOSS GIS program. Finally, the merits of each FOSS GIS program used to calculate the topographic factors is discussed.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.223-236
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• 2021

This study aims to provide basic data for the systematic conservation and efficient management of forest ecosystems by analyzing changes in understory vegetation of temperate broad-leaved deciduous forests. One-hectare permanent survey plot, consisting of 100 subplots sized 10 × 10 meters, was installed in Gwangneung forest in Pocheon, Gyeonggi-do in 2003. The state of stands and the understory vegetation in the permanent survey plot were examined at a 5-year interval from 2003 to 2018. The vascular plants found in the survey area were 56 families, 128 genera, 176 species, 18 variants, 4 varieties, and 1 subspecies, for a total of 199 taxa. The number of species in both the shrub layer and the herbaceous layer showed a tendency to decrease with time. The MRPP-tests showed a significantly differing species composition of the shrub layer in all years except 2008-2013, whereas significant differences were found in all years concerning the herbaceous layer. As for the average importance value, Euonymus oxyphyllus (18.23%), Acer pseudosieboldianum (16.48%), and Callicarpa japonica (13.85%) were dominant in the shrub layer, while Ainsliaea acerifolia (23.41%), Disporum smilacinum (9.45%), and Oplismenus undulatifolius (5.62%) were dominant in the herbaceous layer. In the shrub layer, the richness of Smilax china, Lonicera subsessilis, and Philadelphus schrenkii was high when the basal area and the stand density of an upper layer were high. By contrast, smaller basal area and stand density were associated with the richness of Acer pseudosieboldianum, Deutzia glabrata, Morus bombycis, and Cornus kousa. Furthermore, it was found out that the impact of the basal area and the stand density on the herbaceous layer decreased over time, while the herb layer's species composition was greatly affected by cover degrees of Euonymus oxyphyllus and Acer pseudosieboldianum in the shrub layer. In conclusion, the number of species in the understory vegetation in Gwangneung forest is continuously decreasing, thus implying that species diversity, basal area, and stand density of an upper layer can influence the species composition in understory vegetation.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.54-61
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• 2010

This study used a bio-social approach in classifying the vegetation communities of evergreen broad-leaved forest in Hongdo island of Korea, and the results are as follows: Quercus acuta community, Daphniphyllum macropodum community, and Carpinus coreana community. The composition of soil properties in the same areas are as follows:soil organic matter, total nitrogen, available phosphorous, exchangeable K, exchangeable Ca, exchangeable Mg contained, cation exchange capacity, and soil pH. The capacities of these chemical properties of the soil ranged from 6.49~13.71%, 0.1 9~0.46%, 26.1 9~10.63(mg/kg), 0.24~0.56($cmol^+$/kg), 0.68~3.19($cmol^+$/kg), 0.83~1.82($cmol^+$/kg), 9.74~22.55($cmol^+$/kg), and 4.04~4.14 respectively. The Carpinus coreana community was found in the high elevation areas; Quercus acuta community, and Darphniphyllum macropodum community were also found in the low elevation. However, Quercus acuta communiη, compared with Daphnihyllum macropodum community, was found in the areas that contained more total nitrogen, cation exchange capacity, and exchangeable Ca.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.333-345
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• 2009

Carpinus laxiflora communities are known as the climax forest community of the temperate zone of Korea. There are three Carpinus laxiflora communities in Seoul. The purpose of this research is to analyze the characteristics of Carpinus laxiflora communities of Seoul and supply basic data for establishing of a management plan. The research sites are Sahmyook University, Mountain Dobong and Jinkwandong. This study considers investigation and the analysis of communities structure, soil characteristics and the growth increment of trees. As the result of study, we could know that the growth increment of the Carpinus laxiflora trees of Seoul is decreasing recently because of soil acidification and so on. Also the vegetation disturbance is increasing because of naturalized plant. Oak wilt disease has appeared in the oak forest around Sahmyook University that is the largest Carpinus laxiflora communities area in Seoul. For that reason the open gap was appeared in forest, and the spread of naturalized plants has been increasing in the gap. Furthermore, the Carpinus laxiflora trees are affected by the Platypus koryoensis which is a kind of oak wilt disease. And so, Unless there is a specific management plan, the survival of Carpinus laxiflora communities are uncertain in Seoul. Therefore the management plan of Carpinus laxiflora communities is necessary such as precise investigation, annual monitoring, etc. For the conservation of the Carpinus laxiflora communities, it is necessary to establish the management plan of the biodiversity for Seoul area.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.54 no.4
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• pp.315-326
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• 2021

The clear-water phase (CWP) is a notable limnological phenomenon in freshwater systems caused by predatory interactions between large filter-feeding zooplankton and phytoplankton. However, the mechanisms and factors that influence the extent of CWP, particularly in complex water systems with both fluvial and lacustrine characteristics, remain poorly understood. The present study evaluated CWP occurrence patterns at different sites in a large reservoir located in a temperate monsoon region (Lake Paldang, Korea); the relationships among factors associated with CWP occurrence, such as transparency, zooplankton diversity, and chlorophyll a concentration were investigated. Transparency exhibited significant correlations with precipitation and retention time, as well as the relative abundance of zooplankton (p<0.01), suggesting that a change in the retention time due to precipitation can alter CWP. Data collected before and after CWP occurrence were analyzed using paired t-test to determine variations in CWP occurrence based on the water system characteristics. The results demonstrated that various factors were associated with CWP occurrence in the fluvial-type and lacustrine-type sites. The correlation between zooplankton biomass and transparency was stronger in the lacustrine-type sites than in the fluvial-type sites. The lacustrine-type sites, where cladoceran emergence is common and is associated with long retention times, favored CWP occurrence. The results suggest that lacustrine-type sites, which are conducive to zooplankton development and have relatively long retention times, enhance CWP occurrence. Furthermore, CWP occurrence was notable in spring, and the present study revealed that site-specific CWP could occur throughout the year, regardless of the season.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.819-827
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• 2011

Climate change is recognised as the best serious environmental problem in recent time, and high alpine or high latitudinal organisms especially endangered by its change. Leontice microrhyncha is recorded one of the endangered species by the Ministry of Environment Korea. We surveyed ten L. microrhyncha populations distributed at Taebaek Mountains, high mountain area in Kangwon province. L. microrhyncha is distributed 940m~1350m high altitude which equivalent of Warmth Index $53^{\circ}C{\cdot}month$ to $75^{\circ}C{\cdot}month$, the range of conspicuous cool temperate forest zone. The plant species distributed at slope of $5^{\circ}{\sim}23^{\circ}$ on northeast slopes. The vegetation structure at tree layer of L. microrhyncha distribution area is dominated by Quercus mongolica, Betula costata, Cornus controversa, Acer mono in tree layer, and by Staphylea bumalda, Deutzia glabrata, Stephanandra incisa in shrub layer. The species diversity of herb layer of each L. microrhyncha population showed from 0.21 to 0.98, and the importance value of L. microrhyncha in each population was the highest at blooming time of L. microrhyncha. These results will provide the basic information for the development of conservation strategies for this endangered species.