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.

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.

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.

Ecological significance of newly recorded halophilic Pharyngomonas kirbyi from two Korean solar salterns

Hyeon Been Lee,Jong Soo Park The Ecological Society of Korea 2024 Journal of Ecology and Environment Vol.48 No.1

Background: Hypersaline environments (> 40 practical salinity units [PSU]) represent some of the most extreme conditions on Earth, supporting a variety of halophilic and halotolerant bacteria, archaea, and protists. The taxon Heterolobosea includes numerous halophilic protists, making it a valuable model for studying eukaryotic adaptation to high salinity. Particularly, the genus Pharyngomonas, a deep-branching lineage within Heterolobosea, comprises mainly obligate halophiles, providing insights into early protist adaptations in hypersaline environments. Additionally, these protozoa play crucial ecological roles as grazers of bacteria and archaea, and are prey for higher trophic levels in hypersaline environments. Results: In the present study, two previously reported amoeboflagellates were isolated for the first time from hypersaline waters (~300 PSU) in two solar salterns in the Republic of Korea. Microscopic observations revealed that both strains exhibited the characteristic morphologies of Pharyngomonas, including amoeboid, flagellate, and cyst forms. Molecular phylogenetic analysis of their 18S rRNA gene sequences confirmed their close relationship to known Pharyngomonas kirbyi strains. The two strains demonstrated growth within a salinity range of 75-200 PSU, with optimal growth observed at 75-100 PSU, confirming their status as true halophiles. All known P. kirbyi strains are obligate halophiles, exhibiting a clear instance of adaptive radiation of halophilic eukaryotes. Additionally, the genus Pharyngomonas has been found in hypersaline environments across multiple continents (Asia, Europe, North America, Australia, and Africa), suggesting that it plays an ecologically significant role as a grazer of prokaryotes or prey for higher trophic levels in these habitats. Conclusions: On the bases of morphological and molecular analyses, two strains identified as P. kirbyi were isolated and characterized for the first time from solar salterns in the Republic of Korea. This discovery highlights the presence and adaptation of halophilic eukaryotes in such extreme environments. The confirmation of these strains as obligate halophiles provides additional evidence for the adaptive radiation of halophilic eukaryotes. Furthermore, the ecological role of Pharyngomonas species underscores their importance as trophic regulators in hypersaline ecosystems. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the diversity, adaptation, and ecological functions of halophilic eukaryotes in extreme environments.

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.

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.

Assessment of genetic diversity and distance of three Cicuta virosa populations in South Korea

Nam, Bo Eun,Kim, Jae Geun,Shin, Cha Jeong The Ecological Society of Korea 2013 Journal of Ecology and Environment Vol.36 No.3

Cicuta virosa L. (Apiaceae) is a perennial emergent plant designated as an endangered species in South Korea. According to the former records, only four natural habitats remain in South Korea. A former study suggested that three of four populations (Pyeongchang: PC, Hoengseong: HS, Gunsan: GS) would be classified as different ecotypes based on their different morphological characteristics and life cycle under different environmental conditions. To evaluate this suggestion, we estimated genetic diversity in each population and distance among three populations by random amplification of polymorphic DNA. Seven random primers generated a total of 61 different banding positions, 36 (59%) of them were polymorphic. Nei's gene diversity and the Shannon diversity index increased in the order of PC < HS < GS, which is the same order of population size. In the two-dimensional (2D) plot of first two principal components in principal component analysis with the presence of 61 loci, individuals could be grouped as three populations easily (proportion of variance = 0.6125). Nei's genetic distance for the three populations showed the same tendency with the geographical distance within three populations. And it is also similar to the result of discriminant analysis with the morphological or life-cycle factors from the previous study. From the results, we concluded that three different populations of C. virosa should be classified as ecotypes based on not only morphology and phenology but genetic differences in terms of diversity and distance as well.

Altitudinal patterns and determinants of plant species richness on the Baekdudaegan Mountains, South Korea: common versus rare species

Lee, Chang-Bae,Chun, Jung-Hwa,Um, Tae-Won,Cho, Hyun-Je The Ecological Society of Korea 2013 Journal of Ecology and Environment Vol.36 No.3

Altitudinal patterns of plant species richness and the effects of area, the mid-domain effect, climatic variables, net primary productivity and latitude on observed richness patterns along the ridge of the Baekdudaegan Mountains, South Korea were studied. Data were collected from 1,100 plots along a 200 to 1,900 m altitudinal gradient on the ridge. A total of 802 plant species from 97 families and 342 genera were recorded. Common and rare species accounted for 91% and 9%, respectively, of the total plant species. The altitudinal patterns of species richness for total, common and rare plants showed distinctly hump-shaped patterns, although the absolute altitudes of the richness peaks varied somewhat among plant groups. The mid-domain effect was the most powerful explanatory variable for total and common species richness, whereas climatic variables were better predictors for rare plant richness. No effect of latitude on species richness was observed. Our study suggests that the mid-domain effect is a better predictor for wide-ranging species such as common species, whereas climatic variables are more important factors for range-restricted species such as rare species. The mechanisms underlying these richness patterns may reflect fundamental differences in the biology and ecology of different plant groups.

New records of the marine pennate diatoms in Korea

Park, Joon Sang,Lee, Sang Deuk,Kang, Seong Eun,Lee, Jin Hwan The Ecological Society of Korea 2014 Journal of Ecology and Environment Vol.37 No.4

A study on indigenous diatoms was carried out at 49 sites from November 2008 to December 2012 in the marine and brackish plankton and benthic ecosystem in Korea. The structure of small-sized pennate diatoms was examined by means of light and scanning electron microscopy. Twenty species of diatoms were newly identified and divided into five orders, 18 families, and nine genera in this study. The nomenclature, references, specimens examined, specimen descriptions, photographs, and distribution profiles are reported here. The newly reported pennate diatoms imply several reasons why these taxa have not been recorded previously in Korea and we present the strategy to understand the diversity of diatoms in Korea.