• Journal of Life Science
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• v.20 no.11
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• pp.1697-1703
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• 2010

Asarum consists of low-growing herbs and is a genus in the Aristolochiaceae family with species found in the north temperate zones with most species in Asia. We evaluated the nine taxa with the trnL - trnT region of the chloroplast genome to estimate phenotypic relationships within genus Asarum in Korea. Alignment of the DNA sequences required the addition of numerous gaps. Sequence variation within the Asarum was mostly due to nucleotide inserts/deletions, although several indels and inserts were found. Another source of sequence divergence was length variation due to stretches of short repeats that occur at the trnL - trnT region in all the Asarum. A + T content for nine Korean species of genus Asarum ranged between 74.7% and 78.3%. These values were higher than those for the angiosperm alignments of the total trnL and trnT region (64.5~67.1%). Within genus Asarum, A. patens was strikingly different from the others in the three phylogenetic analyses (MP, ML, and NJ). However, some internal nodes were poorly supported. Within Korean Asarum, four species were unsolved portions. Possible reasons for the striking non-congruence between the previous morphological traits and the trnL - trnT based on phylogeny were discussed.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.40-49
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• 2019

Seasonal succession of zooplankton community and species composition was studied from 2003 to 2014 in a deep reservoir, Lake Soyang, in monsoon climate region, Korea. Annual precipitation was concentrated more than 70% between June and September and it showed remarkably that seasonal variation in water quality. Seasonal variation of water quality in Lake Soyang appeared to be more significant than annual variations, and the inflow of turbid water during the summer rainfall was the most important environmental factor. Zooplankton sepecies composition in Lake Soyang showed obvious tendency through two periods (May to June and August to October) every year. Small zooplankton (rotifer; Keratella cochlearis, Polyarthra vulgaris) dominated in spring and mesozooplankton such as copepods and crustaceans were dominant in summer and fall. Zooplankton biomass showed the maximum in September after monsoon rainfall, and chlorophyll showed a similar seasonal variation and it showed a high correlation (r=0.45). The increase of zooplankton biomass is considered to be a bottom-up effect due to the increase of primary producers and inflow of nutrients and organic matter from rainfall. In this study, we found that the variation of zooplankton community was affected by rainfall in monsoon climate region and inflow of turbid water was an important environmental factor, which influenced the water quality, zooplankton seasonal succession in Lake Soyang. It was also considered to be influenced by hydrological characteristics of lake and environment of watershed. In conclusion, seasonal succession of zooplankton species composition was the same as the PEG model. But seasonal succession of zooplankton biomass differed not only in the temperate lake but also in the monsoon region.

• 한국균학회소식:학술대회논문집
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• 2014.05a
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• pp.49-49
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• 2014

South Korea is covered primarily by temperate vegetation; therefore, foliicolous lichens may not be expected to play an important role in its lichen flora. Indeed, more than 100 years after the first lichen record from South Korea reported by Hue, the paper "Pyrenocarpous lichens in Korea" published by Moon and Aptroot, reported on the presence of two foliicolous lichens, Strigula nemathora Mont, and S. smaragdula Fr., for the first time in South Korea. No detailed reports on foliicolous lichens have since been published in South Korea. In Japan, the neighboring country, approximately 83 foliicolous lichen species are distributed at the southernmost part under temperate to subtropical climatic conditions. However, a large number of foliicolous lichens, with many recent records, have been reported in neighboring countries like China and Taiwan. According to Thor et al., studies on foliicolous lichen flora of Asia are comparatively poor compared to those reported from America. There are six lichenogeographical regions: the Neotropics, Valdivia, Tethyan, African Paleotropics, eastern Paleotropics, and Neozelandic-Tasmanian, which are demarcated based on the known worldwide distribution pattern of foliicolous lichen flora. South Korea belongs to the eastern paleotropic region, where a higher number of local endemic foliicolous lichens have been reported. So far, there are a total of six known foliicolous lichen taxa from South Korea; S. concreta, S. macrocarpa, S. melanobapha, S. nemathora, S. smaragdula, and S. subelegans from Jeju Island. So far, the genus Strigula is the only known representative of the foliicolous lichen flora in South Korea. Among the recorded species, S. concreta, S. smaragdula, and S. subelegans are abundant and widespread. Japan, the closest area to Jeju Island, has the same distribution pattern of foliicolous lichens, with S. smaragdula, S. melanobapha, and S. subtilissima. Pollen studies conducted by Chung reported that changes in vegetation on Jeju Island, due mainly to deglacial warming and the influence of geographical change, resulted from sea-level rises. In general, all of the foliicolous lichens observed so far were restricted to the southernmost part of South Korea, particularly Jeju Island. Island might be influenced by its geographical setting. One reason could be the close dispersal distances of spores and vegetative propagules from areas such as the southern part of Japan and eastern part of China, where more foliicolous lichens can be found. Thor et al. also showed that the southern part of Japan harbors more foliicolous lichens than the northern part. Considering that China is close to Jeju Island, many foliicolous lichens, including S. concreta, S. macrocarpa, S. nemanthora, and S. smaragdula, have been reported from Yunnan province, the southernmost part of China. Geographically, this province is far away from Jeju Island. In other provinces, such as Shandong, Jiangsu, Shanghai, and Zhejiang, which are closer to Jeju Island, no foliicolous lichens have been recorded so far. Therefore, the chance of spores and propagules coming from such closer areas is questionable. Thus, the location of origin of ancestors of foliicolous lichens of South Korea and the time and means of their invasion of this island is controverisial. The current study would lead the way to finding answers to the above mentioned questions.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.33 no.spc3
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• pp.349-358
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• 2011

In order to ascertain latitudinal variation of lipid contents and compositions in copepods, we collected warm water copepod species (Euchaeta sp. and Pleuromamma spp.) from four different regions from low (sub-tropical) to mid (temperate) latitudes in the Northwest Pacific Ocean. Total lipid contents of Pleuromamma spp. were about 11 $ug{\cdot}ind^{-1}$ with little latitudinal variation, whereas Euchaeta sp. showed slightly higher lipid content (20 $ug{\cdot}ind^{-1}$) than Pleuromamma spp. with latitudinal gradient (low at subtropic and high at temperate). Wax esters, known as the major storage lipid classes, were found to be the dominant lipid classes (accounting for more than 35% of total lipids) in Euchaeta sp., whereas in Pleuromamma spp., phospholipids, known as cellular membrane components, were the dominant lipid classes. However, the exception was specimens from warm pool region exhibiting dominance in storage of lipids as a form of triacylglycerols. Among fatty acids, polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), especially docosahexaenoic acid (DHA : 22:6(n-3)) (about 35% of total fatty acids), were most abundant in Euchaeta sp., while saturated fatty acids (SAFA), specially hexadecanoic acid (16:0) (about 30% of total fatty acids), were most abundant in Pleuromamma spp.. Among the neutral fraction of lipids, phytol, originated from the side chain of chlorophyll, was found in all samples which generally indicate active copepods feeding on algae. While only trace amounts of short-chain fatty alcohols were found in Pleuromamma spp., significant amounts of fatty alcohols were found in Euchaeta sp.. Particularly, significant amounts of long chain monounsaturated fatty alcohols (20:1 and 22:1), generally found in cold water species, were found in Euchaeta sp. from low latitudes. The latitudinal variation of trophic lipid markers in these copepods could be significantly related with in-situ food availability and species-specific diet preference. The result of this study suggests that the lipid contents and compositions in copepods may not only indicate their nutritional condition and feeding ecology but also provide insight into species-specific living strategies under different environmental conditions (i.e. water temperature, food availability).

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.429-439
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• 2011

We investigated the flora of Imja-do(Isl.), an island of the Shinan archipelago, located in Imja-myeon, Shinan-gun, Jollanamo-do and discussed the vascular plants found there. Twenty-four separate field trips (100days) were completed from August of 1997 to October of 2009. As a result, we identified the distribution of 526 taxa in Imja-do(Isl.), comprising 112 families, 331 genera, 463 species, 1 subspecies, 60 varieties, and 2 forms. There are a total of 78 taxa of floristic regional indicator plants and one taxon of level II endangered species, Millettia japonica, as designated by the Korean Ministry of the Environment. The floristic regional indicator plants are as follows; four taxa of level V such as Utricularia bifida, two taxa of level IV such as Cladium chinense, 14 taxa of level III such as Aletris spicata, three taxa of level II, and 55 taxa of level I. In addition, one endangered species (EN), Nymphoides coreana, five vulnerable species (VU),such as Ilex cornuta, and three near-threatened species (NT) such as Utricula riaracemosa, were found in the investigated area. The plants of Imja-do(Isl.) are classified into four types based on the plant geographical origin, as follows: 1) boreal plants advancing southward in a glacial period, 2) temperate plants spreading eastward from the Himalayas and China to Japan passing through the south coast of Korea, 3) subtropical plants, and 4) indigenously developed endemic species of the warm-temperate region of East Asia.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.82-90
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• 2012

In this study, we investigated the environmental factors and growth characteristics of Sasa borealis community inside a temperate deciduous forest and reviewed its effect on the lower vegetation and natural regeneration. The S. borealis community in the Jungsan-ri region of Jirisan National Park was chosen as the study area, and the vegetation and the environmental factors were investigated. The dominance value, height and foliage layer thickness were investigated as the growth characteristics of S. borealis in the area. As the environmental factors, we investigated the photosynthesis photon flux density (PPFD) of the shrub and ground layers as well as the chemical characteristics of the soil. Additionally, we investigated the flora on the ground layer of the area as well as the number and height of woody plants. The result showed that the height and foliage layer thickness of the S. borealis was closely related to the light conditions but the distribution was not determined simply by the effect of the environment or vegetation of the particular area. This may be deeply related with the unique survival strategy of S. borealis, a vegetably propagated plant, that it can extensively distributed on a heterogeneous resources environment in a forest as multiple culm are interconnected with each other through the rhizomes. The dense dominance and great height of S. borealis reduced the plant species diversity in the ground layer by decreasing the PPFD on the ground surface.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.128-139
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• 1996

The twelve relatively intact ev ergreen broad-leaved forests in the islands off the southern coast of the Korean peninsula were surveyed. The species which commonly appeared over seventy percents in frequency among studied island biotic ecosystems including rare and endangered species and an introduxed or invaded species in the observed localities were also discussed. The common species in each areas were summarized as 28 families, 34 genus and 37 taxa. The pokildo island marked the highest species diversity as 5.511 per 100m$^{2}$ sized plots. And then the species diversity of the Mijo-ri(4.677) and the Maengson-ni(2.481) were following. The total number of rare and endangered species which appeared in the investigated areas were 24 families and 32 taxa, and 13 taxa, and the Pokildo island had the largest number as of 13 families, 12 species, 1 variety and 13 taxa. The 7 species of Compositae, 5 species of Leguminosae and 2 species of Phytolaccaceae were recorded as naturalized, invaded of introduced species. Also each one species which belonged to the Amaranthaceae, Betulaceae, Bignoniaceae, Chenopodiaceae, Commelinaceae, Cupressaceae, Labiatae, Malvaceae, Nyctaginaceae, Pinaceae, Polygonaceae and Txaceae were recorded. The Pokildo island had the largest number of plant invaders with at least 9 families and 13 genus and 13 species including Cryptomeria japonica of Taxodiaceae. It was urgently needed to work for the preperation of an island management plan to the levels of species or habitat conservation.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.345-353
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• 2018

Hibernation is regarded as a physiological and behavioral adaptation that permits the survival of animals such as bats during seasonal periods of energy shortage. This study investigated the hibernation period of Plecotus ognevi in the temperate climate zone and the relationship between the thermal preference and hibernating process of bats. We hypothesized that the hibernation period of bats is closely related to the external temperature and temperature preference of bat species in the temperate region. To verify this hypothesis, we surveyed the distribution of the P. ognevi population in South Korea, and the temperature preference and the characteristics of hibernacula of P. ognevi. We predict that hibernation in the bat will begin when the external temperature drops below the thermal preference of the species and will leave from hibernation when the external temperature is higher than the thermal preference. P. ognevi hibernated in roosts maintained in low temperature ambient conditions with $-3.5{\sim}7.5^{\circ}C$). The body temperatures (averaged $3.01{\pm}1.30^{\circ}C$, ranged $0.1{\sim}7.8^{\circ}C$) of hibernating bats were closely related to the rock surface temperatures rather than the ambient temperatures. The bats began to hibernate in late November and final arousals occurred in mid-March, so that the total length of the hibernation was 115~120 days. The period of hibernation was strongly influenced by fluctuations in the external mean temperature. This study suggests that the onset and termination of P. ognevi hibernation is due to the interaction between the temperature of the hibernacula and that of the external environment and is based on the thermal preference of the bats. The study also suggests that the hibernation strategy such as thermal preference and hibernation periods of this species affect to distribution as bat species adapting to a severely climate.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.287-298
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• 2020

It is predicted that future climate warming will occur, and the subtropical climate zone currently confined to the south coast of Korea will gradually rise north. The shift of climate zone implies a change in area for cultivating crops. This study aimed to evaluate the current and future status of climate zones based on the high-resolution climate data of South Korea to prepare adaptation measures for cultivating crops under changing agricultural climate conditions. First, the climatic maps of South and North Korea were produced by using the high-resolution monthly maximum and minimum daily temperature and monthly cumulative precipitation produced during the past 30 years (1981-2010) covering South and North Korea. Then the climate zones of the Korean Peninsula were classified based on the Köppen climate classification. Second, the changes in climate zones were predicted by using the corrected monthly climate data of the Korean Peninsula (grid resolution 30-270m) based on the RCP8.5 scenario of the Korea Meteorological Administration. Köppen climate classification was applied based on the RCP8.5 scenario, the temperature and precipitation of the Korean Peninsula would continue to increase and the climate would become simpler. It was predicted that the temperate climate, appearing in the southern region of Korea, would be gradually expanded and the most of the Korean Peninsula, excluding some areas of Hamgkyeong and Pyeongan provinces in North Korea, would be classified as a temperate climate zone between 2071 and 2100. The subarctic climate would retreat to the north and the Korean Peninsula would become warmer and wetter in general.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.558-570
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• 2009

The vascular plants in Jeju composed of 21 families 62 genera, 190 species, 7 varieties with 197 taxa in Pteridophyta, 3 families 5 genera, 7 species, 3 forma with 10 taxa in gymnosperm (Coniferophyta) and 143 families 703 genera, 1,622 species, 114 varieties and 47 forma with 1,783 taxa in Endospermae. The total number of taxa was 1,990 consisting 167 families, 770 genera, 1,818 species, 121 varieties and 50 forma. Three families, 4 genera 4 species and 1 variety in Pteridophyta and 1 family, 1 genus I species, 1 forma of Coniferophyta were endemic to Jeju. Five families, 8 genera and 8 species in the Monocotyledonae of Endospermae and 23 families, 32 genera, 21 species, 16 varieties and 7 forma and 44 taxa in Cholipetalae, and 9 families, 24 genera, 12 species, 13 varieties and 7 forma, total 32 taxa in Sympetalae were endemic to Jeju. Total 90 taxa with 41 families, 69 genera, 46 species, 29 varieties and 15 forma were drawn up as endemic plants in Jeju. As the numbers show on, Jeju has more biodiversity especially plant diversity than any other places in Korea. It was an important region in regard to geographical position. The rarity on plants from Jeju has been assessed based on the IUCN red list categories and criteria at both regional and global levels. There was one species in each extinct (EX) and extinct in the Wild (EW). The EX and EW species were Rhododendron saisiuense Nakai (Ericaceae) and Asplenium antiquum Makino (Aspleniaceae), respectively. Three taxa, Rhododendron dauricum L. (Ericaceae), Lycopodium sieboldii Miq., and Lycopodiella cernua (L.) Serm (Lycopodiaceae) were species that is extinct in the region (RE). Sixty-one taxa were critically endangered (CR), 13 were endangered (EN), and 83 were vulnerable (VU) at regional level. The taxa listed on a Red List corresponds 26.9% of total taxa in Jeju. At global level, there were 19 taxa in CR, 4 in EN, and 1 in VU (Vulnerable) as the category of threat. The rest taxa (133 taxa) were classified as Least Concern (LC). According to the results of the assessment, conservation measures must be taken for total of 157 species that were categorized in threaten including one of EX, one of EW and three extinct in the region immediately. Of 157 species, 61 were CR, 13 are EN and 83 were VU.