Korea National Long-Term Ecological Research: provision against climate change and environmental pollution (Review)

Kim, Ji-Yoon,Joo, Gea-Jae,Do, Yu-No,Kim, Gu-Yeon,Yang, Byeong-Gug,Kim, Myung-Jin,Lee, Chang-Seok The Ecological Society of Korea 2011 Journal of Ecology and Environment Vol.34 No.1

The Korea National Long-Term Ecological Research (KNLTER) was initiated in 2004 by the Korean Ministry of Environment. This project entered its third and final phase in 2010. Committee members have suggested that the project needs to be assessed in terms of its achievement and advised regarding its refinement. In this review, we recapitulated the last 7 years of KNLTER progress for developing further program improvements. We reviewed ecological research before the existing LTER, project initiation, the increase in the number of research sites, and research topics. Then, we briefly examine the status of KNLTER and discuss areas for improvement and avenues for further research. The KNLTER established 20 research sites covering 80 topics related to terrestrial, freshwater, coastal, and animal ecology. To strengthen its role in LTER research, KNLTER participants need to confirm standard protocols and data formats for an efficient interaction with other LTER programs. All participants should enhance communication at both the domestic and international levels to reach out and collaborate on research and multidisciplinary studies. Climate change and environmental pollution issues will be solved with a global research network and long-term research projects focusing on this issue.

Chinese sea snake (Laticauda semifasciata) misidentified as slender-necked sea snake in previous published account in Korea

Kim, Il-Hun,Park, Jaejin,Kaplan, Robert H.,Lee, Jong-Nam,Park, Daesik The Ecological Society of Korea 2016 Journal of Ecology and Environment Vol.40 No.1

Recent ocean warming near the Korean peninsula and our lack of knowledge of an important vertebrate group, the sea snakes, encouraged us to clarify this part of Korea's regional fauna. We re-examined photographs that had been used to report the slender-necked sea snake (Hydrophis melanocephalus) in 1995. We discovered it was misidentified. To determine the correct identity of the sea snake, we studied 13 original photographs taken at the collecting site in Sooyoung Bay, Busan-si, in 1995 and determined the snake to be Laticauda semifasciata based on enlarged ventral scales, definitive for Laticaudinae sea snakes, and internasal scales, pale blue body color, divided rostral scale, and evident "V"-shaped stripes on the body trunk, definitive for L. semifasciata. Therefore, the snake caught 30 years ago in Korean waters should be considered the first record of a Laticaudinae sea snake in Korean waters. L. semifasciata is listed as near threatened setting the stage for urgently needed studies of sea snakes in Korea and supporting those currently underway.

Ecological and Genetic Biodiversity of Corbicula leana in the Nakdong River and the Nam River

Huh, Man-Kyu,Lee, Bok-Kyu,Kim, Byung-Kee,Heo, Youn-Seong,Lee, Hak-Young The Ecological Society of Korea 2005 Journal of Ecology and Environment Vol.28 No.2

The eleven local samples of six species including Corbicula leana examined in this study were collected from the Nam River and the Nakdong River in Korea. Buzas's new formula was used to evaluate the ecological biodiversity among eleven populations and six species. In addition, enzyme electrophoresis was used to genetic diversity within and among populations of C. leana. The upper populations of the river have fewer species than the middle and low populations of this river. The genetic diversity trends to increase from the source of the main river to the mouth. It suggests that the population of downstream might be expanded toward upstream.

Development of the National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON)

Kim, Eun-Shik The Ecological Society of Korea 2007 Journal of Ecology and Environment Vol.30 No.1

After introducing various aspects of the National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON) being planned and established in the US, the author tries to suggest the future direction for the development of similar activities of the NEON to be carried out in the region of East Asia including Korea. A review was carried out in terms of the challenges, major questions, missions, developmental history, and some other specifics of the NEON design. It was further extended to the discussion of the issues for the regional construction of the Ecological Observatory Network (EON) in East Asia. The author hopes that this review could be used as a preliminary guide in ultimately promoting and advancing research, science and technology in conservation and preservation of ecosystems being degraded due to anthropogenic disturbances in the region of East Asia.

Ecological responses of natural and planted forests to thinning in southeastern Korea: a chronosequence study

Cho, Yong-Chan,Pee, Jung-Hun,Kim, Gyeong-Soon,Koo, Bon-Yoel,Cho, Hyun-Je,Lee, Chang-Seok The Ecological Society of Korea 2011 Journal of Ecology and Environment Vol.34 No.4

Effects of forest thinning on community level properties have not been understood yet in Korea. We investigated regeneration patterns and trajectories after a disturbance by applying a chronosequence approach. Light availability, litter and woody debris cover, and species composition were determined for twenty 50 m line-transect samples representing a disturbance duration gradient (within 11 years). Environmental factors such as light availability and coverage of woody debris and litter changed abruptly after thinning and then returned to the pre-disturbance state. Although species richness was gained at shrub and ground layer in a limited way in both forests, cover of various functional types revealed diversity in their responses. Notably, Alnus firma stands exhibited a larger increment of cover in woody plants. Ordination analysis revealed different regeneration trajectories between natural and planted stands. Based on ordination analysis, rehabilitated stands showed movement to alternative states compared with natural ones, reflecting lower resilience to perturbation (i.e., lower stability). Our results suggest that community resilience to artificial thinning depends on properties of the dominant species. But to get more explanatory ecological information, longer-term static observations are required.

Local activation using traditional knowledge and ecological resources of Korean islands

Hong, Sun-Kee The Ecological Society of Korea 2015 Journal of Ecology and Environment Vol.38 No.2

When we consider changes in agro-fishery systems instigated by environmental changes in islands, rise in sea levels, and natural disasters such as tsunamis, there is an urgent need to carry out initiatives to enhance life standard and conserve ecosystem in island and coastal regions. To protect the region's landscape from the effects of climate change, it is necessary to develop an integrated management system for ecosystem conservation, human settlements, and the local economy. This paper discusses the outline of a preliminary national plan for a sustainable island management system for remote (inhabited and uninhabited) islands in Korea. Two main ideas to enhance life standard are adapting to the natural environment by applying traditional knowledge and utilizing ecological resources of islands, i.e., improving the quality of life and creating added value. As a technique for improving the quality of life, the establishment of eco-villages based on energy-efficient passive houses and ecological welfare is suggested. Another technique for creating added value, the development of sea-farming islands that utilize islands' new recyclable energy is also proposed. Finally, the suggested ideas are discussed in relation to island ecotourism and carbon zero islands.

First detection of ranavirus in a wild population of Dybowski's brown frog (Rana dybowskii) in South Korea

Park, Jaejin,Grajal-Puche, Alejandro,Roh, Nam-Ho,Park, Il-Kook,Ra, Nam-Yong,Park, Daesik The Ecological Society of Korea 2021 Journal of Ecology and Environment Vol.45 No.1

Background: Ranavirus is an emerging infectious disease which has been linked to mass mortality events in various amphibian species. In this study, we document the first mass mortality event of an adult population of Dybowski's brown frogs (Rana dybowskii), in 2017, within a mountain valley in South Korea. Results: We confirmed the presence of ranavirus from all collected frogs (n = 22) via PCR and obtained the 500 bp major capsid protein (MCP) sequence from 13 individuals. The identified MCP sequence highly resembled Frog virus 3 (FV3) and was the same haplotype of a previously identified viral sequence collected from Huanren brown frog (R. huanrenensis) tadpoles in South Korea. Human habitat alteration, by recent erosion control works, may be partially responsible for this mass mortality event. Conclusion: We document the first mass mortality event in a wild Korean population of R. dybowskii. We also suggest, to determine if ranavirus infection is a threat to amphibians, government officials and researchers should develop continuous, country-wide, ranavirus monitoring programs of Korean amphibian populations.

A study of newly recorded genera and species of aerial algae in the order Chlorococcales (Chlorophyta) from the Hongcheon-river, Korea

Song, Mi Ae,Lee, Ok-Min The Ecological Society of Korea 2014 Journal of Ecology and Environment Vol.37 No.4

Aerial algae were sampled from 28 sites on rocks, tree barks, and mosses along the Hongcheon-river in Gangwon-do, Korea, from December 2011 to September 2012 and then cultivated. Seven genera and eight species of the order Chlorococcales were newly recorded in Korea. These were Spongiococcum tetrasporum, Tetracystis aggregata, Myrmecia bisecta, Coenocystis inconstans, Lobosphaeropsis pyrenoidosa, Pseudococcomyxa simplex, Coelastrella oocystiformis, and C. vacuolata. As a result, the known Korean flora of the order Chlorococcales now includes 12 families with 54 genera, 263 species, 76 varieties, and 27 forma, giving a total of 366 taxa.

Distribution and habitat use of the endangered Siberian flying squirrel Pteromys volans (Rodentia: Sciuridae)

Lim, Sang Jin,Kim, Ki Yoon,Kim, Eui Kyeong,Han, Chang Wook,Park, Yung Chul The Ecological Society of Korea 2021 Journal of Ecology and Environment Vol.45 No.1

Background: Understanding the habitat characteristics of the endangered Siberian flying squirrel Pteromys volans is the first step in conserving and managing the forests it requires for nesting, gliding, and feeding. Therefore, in the present study, we characterized the habitats of P. volans using GIS analysis of 411 forest sites in South Korea where fecal droppings were found. Results: Fecal signs of P. volans were found in various regions in South Korea, including the Baekdudaegan Mountains. GIS analysis with six environmental layers (vegetation type, wood-age class, diameter at breast height [DBH], crown density, elevation, and distance from stream) revealed that fecal signs of P. volans were more frequently found in broad-leaved deciduous forests (42%) located 200-399 m above sea level (43.1%) and 0-199 m from the nearest stream (53%), with 5th class wood-age (35.3%), middle size class DBH (51.1%), and high crown density (71%). Conclusions: The present study provides information on the biotic and abiotic characteristics of P. volans habitats. In South Korea, the fecal droppings of P. volans were found predominantly old deciduous broadleaf forests. Further studies are needed to reveal whether the more frequent occurrence of P. volans dropping in broadleaf forests may be due to a particular preference of this species for the forests or to a simple reflection of the area of the broadleaf forests occupying a much larger area than other forest types in Korea.

Records of desmids (Chlorophyta) newly found in Korea

Kim, Han Soon The Ecological Society of Korea 2014 Journal of Ecology and Environment Vol.37 No.4

The present study summarizes the taxonomic notes and korean distribution of 29 taxa of the desmids (Chlorophyta) collected from several swamps, reservoirs, rivers, and high land wetlands in South Korea from 2009 to 2013. All of these consisting of 9 genera (Tetmemorus 1 taxon, Pleurotaenium 5 taxa, Triploceras 1 taxon, Euastrum 7 taxa, Cosmarium 6 taxa, Staurastrum 5 taxa, Xanthidium 1 taxon, Hyalotheca 2 taxa, and Desmidium 1 taxon) are newly described in Korean freshwater algal flora. In this study, light microscopy of all of these are presented and briefly discussed with regard to their taxonomy, distribution and ecology within South Korea.