Kwang-Jin Cho

Ecological Characteristics of Vascular Plants by Habitat Types of Dry Field in Jeolla-do, Korea

BACKGROUND: According to the types of human interference, there are various plants that have strong vitality and ability to breed in the dry field. Recently, climate change alters the geographical distribution and phenology of the plant species. So, we need to understand present occurrence pattern and ecological characteristics of these plants. METHODS AND RESULTS: The plant species data were obtained from 8 regions in Jeolla-do. Flora investigation was done from May 2013 to September 2013. Habitat type of dry field in Jeolla-do was classified into 3 types (inside of dry field: IDF, embankment around the end of a dry field: EDF, levee slope of dry field: LS). The vascular plants of study area were listed 296 taxa which contain 68 families, 203 genera, 244 species, 43 varieties and 9 forms. The vascular plants of three different habitat types were IDF 174 taxa, EDF 249 taxa and LS 136 taxa. The occurrence rate of Therophyte was arranged by the order of IDF(67.6%), EDF(51.9%), LS(54.3%). Naturalized rate was analysed as IDF 27.9%, EDF 21.0%, LS 18.6%. Urbanization index was analysed as IDF 11.8%, EDF 13.7%, LS 10.0%. CONCLUSION: With these results, we found that three habitat types were ecological difference affected by the human impacts. Also, we found environmental indicators through the ecological characteristics of flora for the type of habitat of dry field. These indicators will help assess the agriculture environmental variability and the floral change according to the climate change in dry field.

Status of Birds Using a Rice Paddy in South Korea

BACKGROUND: Rice paddies not only produce food but also provides wildlife habitats. Although more than half agricultural land of South Korea is rice paddy, a few studies have been conducted in rice paddy ecosystem. We investigated a status of bird using a rice paddy in South Korea using published data. METHODS AND RESULTS: Birds using a rice paddy have been defined as birds which breed, rest or forage on rice paddy, bank, reservoirs or irrigation ditches. According to the publication from 1980s, birds using a rice paddy were total 47 families 279 species. Scolopacidae and Charadriidae (18%), Falconidae, Accipitridae and Strigidae (12%) and Anatidae (11%) used a rice paddy. Half of bird species using a rice paddy visited a dried rice paddy during the winter and 39.4% of them used a flooded rice paddy in spring, autumn or summer. Dependency on a rice paddy was high in ducks, egrets, cranes, and shorebirds. Population of dabbling ducks has decreased for last 12 years while cranes have increased. CONCLUSION(S): Rice paddies provide both migratory

Characteristics Communities Structure of Benthic Macroinvertebrates at Irrigation Ponds, within Paddy Field

BACKGROUND: Ecological functions of irrigation ponds were well known fact that important for biodiversity conservation in agricultural ecosystems. However, many irrigation ponds were destructed with changes of agricultural environment. The objective of this study is to appreciate the importance of ecological functions of irrigation pond. Furthermore, it presented to useful information for restorations of irrigation pond from analyses of correlations between benthic macroinvertebrate communities and locational factors of irrigation ponds. METHODS AND RESULTS: Benthic macroinvertebrate sampling was conducted from 2010 to 2012 at 15 study ponds. Comparisons of benthic macroinvertebrates diversity approached species richness and density, and statistical analyses were performed using independent t-test. A total of 131 species / 137,118 individuals of benthic macroinvertebrates were recorded during study period. Dominant taxa of benthic macroinvertebrates included Coleoptera, Hemiptera, and Odonata. Generally, benthic macroinvertebrate diversity in mountain region and existing ponds were showed higher than open field and created ponds, respectively. DCA ordination showed that benthic macroinvertebrate community was most correlated with locational characteristics of irrigation pond, and it correlated with bank type and age of pond. CONCLUSION(S): In conclusions, in order to restore ecological irrigation pond, it is necessary to consider environmental factors such as locational characteristics and bank types.

Occurrence and Distribution of C4 Plants under Diverse Agricultural Field Types in Korea

In order to search for distribution characteristics on C4 plants at the paddy fields, uplands, orchard and roadside in South Korea, vascular plants were investigated. Flora investigation had been carried out from May 2002 to October 2006 at 241 plots. In the results of survey, the flora of these areas consist of 74 families, 231 genera and 352 species totally. The class frequencies were arranged by the order of Magnoliopsidae (255 species), Monocotyledoneae (89 species), Pteropsida (7 species) and Sphenopsida (1 species). The number of species in each investigated agricultural field types was 55 families with 203 species in paddy field, 49 families with 218 species in uplands, 44 families with 115 species in orchard and 48 families with 202 species in roadside respectiviely. Representative species compositions of these four agricultural field types were characterized by Artemisia princeps, Persicaria thunbergii in paddy field, Artemisia princeps, Erigeron annuus in upland and roadside, Commelina communis, Digitaria ciliaris in orchard, respectively. Therefore, indicative species in agricultural ecosystem was Artemisia princeps. Among the investigated 352 species, C4 plants identified were 38 species, and the occurrence ratio of C4 monocotyledonous plants were higher in paddy field, orchard and roadside than upland. Such differences in the occurrence ratio of C4 plants under diverse agricultural field types reflect differences in environmental condition such as micro-climate, soil moisture under various agricultural fields. Dominant C4 monocotyledonous plants were Digitaria ciliaris and Commelina communis, while C4 dicotyledonous plants were Amaranthus mangostanus and Chenopodium album var. centrorubrum in agricultural fields. Naturalized plants were identified as 47 species and occurrence ratio were higher in upland and roadside than other agricultural field types. Among the investigated naturalized plants, C4 plants were Amaranthus mangostanus and Amaranthus retroflexus. Distribution characteristics of representative C4 plants in agricultural field types, revealed that the projected increase in temperature due to climate change may provide better conditions for the growth of C4 plants. Thus, the necessity of long-term monitoring should be conducted on the diffusion of C4 plants that may threaten influence agroecosystem in Korea.

Variation in Population Size of Mudfish by Agricultural Practices in Paddy Fields

BACKGROUND: This study was carried out to compare population size of mudfish (Misgurnus mizolepis) between the agricultural practices and to investigate the causes of its differences. We also provided basic information for sustainable use of mudfish population in paddy fields. METHODS AND RESULTS: Mudfish and benthic invertebrates which are diet of mudifish were investigated from 8 sites of organic and conventional rice paddy fields in South Korea. Total number of mudfish were 1,882 individuals in survey sites. Mudfish population were 2.4 times larger in organic paddy fields (1,333 individuals) than in conventional paddy fields (549 individuals). The population size of mudfish was larger in Mungyeong-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do and Anseong-si, Gyeonggi-do with relatively better environmental conditions than the other 5 sites including Suwon-si, Gyeonggi-do, Cheongyang-gun, Chungcheongnam-do, Gunsan-si, Jeollabuk-do, Gimje-si, Jeollabuk-do, Hwasun-gun, Jeollanam-do, Hamyang-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do. Benthic invertebrates collected from survey sites were 74 species, 68 genera, 46 families, 19 orders, 6 classes and 3 phyla. According to agricultural practices, benthic invertebrates were identified 66 species, 62 genera, 41 families, 17 orders, 6 classes and 3 phyla in organic paddy fields while there were 66 species, 60 genera, 42 families, 18 orders, 6 classes and 3 phyla in conventional paddy fields. Dominant invertebrates were Chironomidae sp., Branchiopoda sp., Ostracoda sp., and Copepoda sp. There were no differences in dominant species between organic and conventional paddy fields. Population size of mudfish tended to increase with the population size of Chironomidae sp., Branchiopoda sp., Ostracoda sp., and Copepoda sp. But, only population of Chironomidae sp. and Copepoda sp. statistically related to population size of mudfish. The number of individuals of mudfish (Misgurnus mizolepis) was higher at the low rate of urban area than any other surveyed region and was affected by appearance ratio of main preys such as Chironomidae sp. and Ostracoda sp. CONCLUSION(S): The population size of mudfish in rice paddy fields could be affected by environmental conditions and agricultural practices such as organic and conventional methods.

Status of Birds using Rice Fields in Mid-western Part of Korean Peninsula

BACKGROUND: Rice fields are one of the most important habitats for various bird species. The list of bird species occurred in rice fields in Korean peninsula have been documented. However, information of listed bird species is included not only rice fields but also other wetland habitats such as lakes, tidal flats and rivers. Therefore, the study was conducted to clarify the status of bird observed in rice fields of Korea.METHODS AND RESULTS: Birds using rice fields defined as birds which forage or rest on rice paddies, levees, ditches and farming roads. Birds using rice fields recorded as total 124 species belonging to 40 families. Anatidae and Scolopacidae were the best represented family, followed by Ardeidae, Accipitridae, Motacillidae and Emberizidae; 50% of species belonged to these six families. 18 of 124 endangered wild species, which designated threatened at the national scale, found in this study regions.CONCLUSION: Despite interest in birds using rice fields of Korean peninsula, knowledge of birds and rice fields there is extremely limited. We need more studies to understand and conserve for birds in rice fields of Korea.

Characteristics of Flora on Dry Field Margins in Korean Peninsula

Characteristics of Flora on Dry Field Margins in Korean Peninsula Myung-Hyun Kim, Soon-Kun Choi, Min-Kyeong Kim, Lak-Jung Choe, Seong-Chang Hong, Goo-Bok Jung, Kwang-Jin Cho, Donguk Han, Young-Ju Oh, Wook-Jae Lee, Dongwoo Yang, Sangkyu Park and Young-Eun Na* (National Academy of Agricultural Science, Rural Development of Administration, Wanju-gun 565-851, Korea, Ecological Conservation Research Office, National Institute of Ecology, Seocheon-gun, 325-813, Korea, Institute for Future Environmental Ecology Co., Ltd, Jeonju, 561-842, Korea, Department of Life Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Ajou University, Suwon, 443-749, Korea, Climate Change Team, Rural Development of Administration, Jeonju, 560-500, Korea)

Application Evaluation of Best Management Practices for Agricultural Non-Point Source Pollution using Delphi Survey Method

BACKGROUND: It is essential to prioritize the exact and clear understanding of agricultural nonpoint source pollution (NPS) controls. The realistic policies and systems should also be developed based on this understanding. Therefore, this study aimed to present agricultural Best Management Practices (BMPs) applicable for the fields based on the Delphi survey result. METHODS AND RESULTS: This study deduced the evaluation items to assess each BMP for agricultural NPS control and conducted the surveying using the Delphi method based on agricultural BMP experts. In addition, its on-the-spot application were evaluated. Considering its importance, technical, social and economic proprieties showed that political support was ranked first and followed by cost investment, labor investment, reduction effect and resident participation. The survey findings by agricultural BMP experts showed the good performance of on-the-spot application can be achieved from fertilization by soil testing, residue and green manure application and contour plowing which are applicable within a field. Agricultural BMPs, highly applicable for the fields, were the countermeasures that farmers who are the principal bodies of agricultural NPS control could be participated directly. CONCLUSION: The active participation of farmers is essential for effective control of agricultural NPS. It is necessary to establish various incentive systems.