Gu-Yeon Kim

Changes of Distribution of Vascular Hydrophytes in the Nakdong River Estuary and Growth Dynamics of Schenoplectus triqueter, Waterfowl Food Plant

A study on changes on the distribution of vascular hydrophytes and the growth pattern of Schenoplectus triqueter (Scirpus triqueter) was undertaken at the Nakdong River estuary from 2002 to 2004. The change was due to physical alteration of the estuary for the past 25 years. These plant species are the major food sources for winter waterfowl. A total of 32 species of vascular hydrophytes from 17 families were found in the West Nakdong River (freshwater), the main channel of Nakdong River (freshwater) and the Nakdong River Estuary (brackish water). After the construction of the barrage on the estuary in 1987, the number of hydrophytes has remarkably increased to 17 species (5 species in 1985) in the main channel of the River. In particular, a community of Eurale ferox was found at the backwater wetland of the Daejeo side of the main channel. The introduced species of Eichhornia crassipes and Pistia stratiotes that were epidemic in 2001 at West Nakdong River was not found any more. The other species such as Nymphoides indica, Myriophyllum spicatum, Ruppia spp. were rediscovered. The large area (about 1,300ha) of Zostera spp. was the main sources of food for swans, but disappeared because of direct and indirect impacts of reclamation in the River estuary. Currently, there remains a small patch of Zostera spp. and about 250ha of S. triqueter. Schenoplectus triqueter grew mostly between April-September and tuber formed, between September-October. The growth of S. triqueter up to in length was observed in 5 sites out of the 7 sites in brackish area. Tubers of S. triqueter were eaten by waterfowls such as swans as winter food. In five sites, tubers took of total biomass in October. Tubers were found in deep layers; (9%), (28%), (55%), below 40cm . The distribution of vascular hydrophytes has remarkably changed in the Nakdong River Estuary due to the reclamation of the area. In order to determine the extent of changes of the distribution of these plants and the carrying capacity of the area for waterfowl, an intensive research is urgently needed.

Importance of closed landfills as green space in urbanized areas: ecological assessment using carabid beetles

In a closed landfill, we investigated the diversity and ecological characters of carabid beetles to understand the ecological importance of closed landfills that have the potential as a multi-functional habitat for improving biodiversity in urbanized areas. In addition, we studied the influence of environmental factors (vegetation structure, soil) on distribution and diversity of carabid beetles. A total of 92,495 individuals representing 15 carabid species were collected from the closed landfill. Although the species richness of carabid beetles recorded in the closed landfill was not higher than the other green spaces in the city, the closed landfill could sufficiently provides a stable habitat as a semi-natural area for carabid beetles. Soil pH, Na, and tall grass plant cover influenced carabid assemblage in the closed landfill. However, other environmental variables (e.g., K+, Na+, Mg2+, bare land cover, weedy cover, and tree cover) were not correlated with carabid species composition. It is implied that in the closed landfill, which is a highly modified engineered environment, other abiotic environmental (e.g., drainage, soil texture, leachate, and landscape context, etc.) and biotic factors (e.g., intra- and interspecific competition) may have affected carabid assemblage. Although artificial drainages are essential facilities for landfill management, they are a critical factor that affects the species inhabiting the landfill. However, carabid beetles seemed to randomly fall into the artificial drainage. For successful management of closed landfills, it is very important that minimize the intervention and that develop the ecological sensitively management method.

Above-ground biomass estimation of tuberous bulrush (Bolboschoenus planiculmis) in mudflats using remotely sensed multispectral image

We present a multivariate regression approach for mapping the spatial distribution of above-ground biomass (AGB) of B. planiculmis using field data and coincident moderate spatial resolution satellite imagery. A total of 232 ground sample plots were used to estimate the biomass distribution in the Nakdong River estuary. Field data were overlain and correlated with digital values from an atmospherically corrected multispectral image (Landsat 8). The AGB distribution was derived using empirical models trained with field-measured AGB data. The final regression model for AGB estimation was composed using the OLI3, OLI4, and OLI7 spectral bands. The Pearson correlation between the observed and predicted biomass was significant (R = 0.84, p < 0.0001). OLI3 made the largest contribution to the final model (relative coefficient value: 53.4%) and revealed a negative relationship with the AGB biomass. The total distribution area of B. planiculmis was 1,922,979 m2. Based on the model estimation, the total AGB had a dry weight (DW) of approximately 298.2 tons. The distribution of high biomass stands (> 200 kg DW/900 m2) constituted approximately 23.91% of the total vegetated area. Our findings suggest the expandability of remotely sensed products to understand the distribution pattern of estuarine plant productivity at the landscape level.

Relative importance of hydrological variables in predicting the habitat suitability of Euryale ferox Salisb.

Aquatic ecosystems are a priority for conservation as they have become rapidly degraded with land-use changes. Predicting the habitat range of an endangered species provides crucial information for biodiversity conservation in such rapidly changing environments. However, the complex network structure of aquatic ecosystems restricts spatial prediction variables and has hitherto limited the use of habitat models to predict species occurrence in aquatic ecosystems. We used the maximum entropy model to evaluate the potential distribution of an endangered aquatic species, Euryale ferox Salisb. We tested the relative influence of (i) climatic variables, (ii) topographic variables, and (iii) hydrological variables derived from remote sensing data to improve the prediction of occurrence of aquatic plant species. We considered the southern part of the Korean Peninsula as the modeling extent for the potential distribution of E. ferox. Occurrence records for E. ferox were collected from the literature and field surveys. We applied maximum entropy modeling using remotely sensed environmental variables and evaluated their relative importance as prediction variables with variation partitioning. The species distribution model predicted potential habitats of E. ferox that matched the actual distribution well. Floodplain wetlands and shallow reservoirs were the favored habitats of E. ferox. Quantitative loss and fragmentation of wetland habitats appeared to be a major reason for the decrease of E. ferox populations. Our results also imply that hydrological variables (i.e. normalized difference water index) derived from remote sensing data greatly increased model prediction (relative contribution: 10.5–37.0%) in the aquatic ecosystem. However, interspecific competition within a similar niche environment should be considered to increase the accuracy of the distribution model.

A scientometric study of the limnological societies: inferences of research collaboration and core topics based on publication networks

Abstract Scientometric analysis of limnological societies and related publications revealed complex relationships among research topics and research collaborations. We applied scientometric analysis, word networks, bibliographic coupling, and author networks analysis, to 34777 publications related to limnology and monsoon research. We analyzed usage frequencies of limnology-related words in a Google corpus and found that usage frequencies of most limnological terms peaked during the 1980s. Social interest in the term “limnology” showed a gradually decreasing trend after the late 1990s. Monsoon research was focused in the Asian–Indian region but not in the European, African, and American regions. Word networks of limnological studies related to monsoons were mainly grouped into 3 clusters (Indian monsoons, East Asian monsoons, and monsoon assessment clusters). In the citation network of limnology journals, water quality, plankton, and invertebrate research groups generally showed strong internal citation networks. An author connection map of the limnological societies revealed strong modulators in the international societies, whereas research collaboration was rather limited to small groups within the entire network. This retrospective analysis will provide meaningful information to further develop and enhance international collaboration within limnological studies.

Evaluation of Winter Barley Fields as Feeding Habitat for Waterfowl in the Dongup Reservoir System, Korea

ABSTRACT : As a Biodiversity Management Plan in S. Korea, barley fields are being prepared for the wintering migratory birds. However, the effectiveness of barley fields as a feeding habitat has not been evaluated. In 2003/04 wintering period, we installed exclosures in the barley fields to evaluate the waterfowl grazing effectiveness. Approximately 8,000 waterfowls used the Dongup Reservoir System and utilized the barley fields during the daytime. The white-fronted goose Anser albifrons occupied more than 90% of the all barley-feeding waterfowls. Waterfowls significantly impacted to the shoot density and biomass of barley. In the closed plot, barley shoot density gradually increased to 267±27/m 2 in January, 2004. Shoot density in open plots (site 1) declined sharply from 15 December (189±18/m 2 ) to 5 January 2004 (25±11/m 2 ). However, barley shoot density in open plots (site 2) was stable in January 2004 because of human disturbances. The changes in barley biomass and shoot density showed similar trend in both open and closed plot. From the exclosure experiment, it was clear that barley fields were important feeding habitat for wintering waterfowls in this area. Further, human disturbances such as noise from traffic and other human activities (farming and hiking) had significant impact on waterfowls’ grazing activity. Collectively, winter barley fields were effective for waterfowl feeding, but the location of barley fields should be carefully selected for the maximum utilization of the barley feeding.

Correlation Analysis between Phenology of Salix spp. and Meteorological Factors

The objective of this study was to analyze correlation between phenological characteristics of Salix spp. and meteorological factors in the Upo wetlands. Phenology of Salix subfragilis Andersson and Salix chaenomeloides Kimura was monitored from 2007 to 2012. Meteorological variables were monitored by Korea Meteorological Administration (Hap-chon). Average date of flowering, fruiting, seed dispersion was 86, 113, 136 days for S. subfragilis and 112, 140, 164 days for S. chaenomeloides as Julian days. Flowering of S. subfragilis and S. chaenomeloides were correlated with daily mean air temp. in March (r=-0.92, r=-0.85, p<0.05). Fruiting of S. subfragilis was correlated with total precipitation between Jan and March of previous year (r=-0.90, p<0.01), however, the fruiting of S. chaenomeloides was highly correlated with max. temp. in Jan of previous year (r=0.99, p<0.01). Seed dispersion of both species is correlated with min. temp. in Feb. Phenology monitoring will contribute to understanding Salix spp. response against climate change.