• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
• /
• v.18 no.1
• /
• pp.37-51
• /
• 2015

Sparganium japonicum Rothert. is designated as a near threatened species by the National Institute of Biological Resources and is restrictively distributed in South Korea. To conserve and restore habitats of this plant, we investigated environmental characteristics and vegetation at five habitats during the growing season. Thirty plant species from seventeen families were found in the S. japonicum community. The species frequently found in this community included Utricularia vulgaris, Potamogeton distinctus, Phragmites japonica, Cicuta virosa, Persicaria thunbergii, Phragmites communis, Hydrilla verticillata. Maximum height of this plant reached at August and average height at five habitats is 120 cm at this time. Water and soil environmental factors showed low values compared with that of other wetlands. S. japonicum lived in not only shallow water level but also deep water level. These results can be helpful for S. japonicum habitat conservation and restoration.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
• /
• v.34 no.5
• /
• pp.388-394
• /
• 2018

An efficient and reproducible protocol for in vitro germination of seeds of Couroupita guianensis has been developed in the present study. Couroupita guianensis is a medicinally important tree and categorized as threatened plant species by the IUCN. The seeds were surface sterilized using 0.1% $HgCl_2$ and inoculated on MS (Murashige and Skoog) and Woody Plants (Llyod and McCown) medium. The seeds with partially removed seed coat responded better (100%) on half strength MS medium as compared to the full (51%), one-fourth strength MS (79%) and the WP medium. Half strength MS medium conjunct with $2.0mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ indole-3 butyric acid (IBA) was found best among the different types of auxins and cytokinins tested for seed germination, as all the seeds germinated on this medium combination. The seedlings were successfully hardened in the greenhouse and restored in the field with 83% survival rate. The protocol can be used as conservation measure for large scale multiplication of this threatened forest tree species.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
• /
• v.30 no.2
• /
• pp.167-175
• /
• 2017

We conducted a total of 28 surveys from March to October 2016 in Gayasan National Park, to identify threatened plants for climate change, as well as for the effective management of biological organisms and resources against climate changes in Korea. Regarding threatened plants for climate change, we identified a total of 39 taxa, with 11 northern, 2 southern, and 26 taxa of concern. Among these taxa, 33 were identified as wild species. The species threatened by climate change located in the subalpine regions of Gayasan National Park were Abies holophylla Maxim., Abies koreana Wilson, Pinus koraiensis Siebold & Zucc., Betula ermanii Cham., Berberis amurensis Rupr., Rhododendron tschonoskii Maxim., Vaccinium hirtum var. koreanum (Nakai) Kitam., Primula modesta var. hannasanensis T.Yamaz., Trientalis europaea var. arctica (Fisch.) Ledeb., Thymus quinquecostatus Celak., Parasenecio firmus (Kom.) Y.L.Chen, and Lilium cernuum Kom. These species are expected to be particularly vulnerable to the effects of global warming, since they were confirmed to have a very narrow vertical distribution range. Moreover, although the following species are not included in the list of plants threatened by climate change, it is assumed that the endemic species that grow at the summit, and Grade V floristics special plants, such as Pedicularis hallaisanensis Hurus., Allium thunbergii var. deltoides (S.O.Yu, S.Lee & W.Lee) H.J.Choi & B.U.Oh, Heloniopsis tubiflora Fuse, N.S.Lee & M.N. Tamura, Aletris glabra Bureau & Franch, and Gymnadenia cucullata (L.) Rich., will also be extremely vulnerable to climate change. Therefore, we believe that measures for the conservation of these species are urgently needed, and also that the definition of species threatened by climate change should be broadened to include more objective and valid taxa through the long-term monitoring of species distributed around the summit area.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
• /
• v.106 no.2
• /
• pp.111-120
• /
• 2017

The best source of information on the conservation status of species at a global scale is the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Until now, 236 vascular plants from Korean peninsula have been evaluated using the IUCN red list categories and criteria. It indicated that five taxa were considered as critically endangered, 20 as endangered and nine as vulnerable species as a threatened status. On the other hand, the rest (189 taxa) were assessed as a least concern, which did not qualify for threatened species categories. Korea Ministry of Environment published a revised version of 57 species list by re-classifying endangered species with idiosyncratic qualitative criteria for two levels (I and II) followed by status reviews in 2011. However, two thirds species proposed by Ministry of Environment do not qualify as threatened. The major difficulties found in applying IUCN Red List criteria at the global scale was a lack of knowledge on the status of species at broader geographic scales and the perceived difficulty the causes. The lack of consistency between two lists constrains the prioritization of species-based conservation work at the national level. Due to a lack of centralized monitoring data for most species, this status is largely qualitatively and so it carries a high level of uncertainty. This is reflected in the high number of species with an unknown population trend. The current list of endangered species of flora and fauna by the Ministry of Environment should be recognized as the national list (local and population extinction), which is different from the IUCN Red list due to the different geographical contexts. Also, it is necessary to improve the quality of evaluation and conservation management system rather than presenting massive number of endangered species list.

• Genomics & Informatics
• /
• v.18 no.3
• /
• pp.32.1-32.7
• /
• 2020

The mitochondrial genome of a species is an essential resource for its effective conservation and phylogenetic studies. In this article, we present sequencing and characterization of the complete mitochondrial genome of a threatened labeonine fish, Cirrhinus reba collected from Khulna region of Bangladesh. The complete mitochondrial genome was 16,597 bp in size, which formed a circular double-stranded DNA molecule containing a total of 37 mitochondrial genes (13 protein-coding genes, 2 ribosomal RNA genes, and 22 transfer RNA genes) with two non-coding regions, an origin of light strand replication (OL) and a displacement loop (D-loop), similar structure with other fishes of Teleostei. The phylogenetic tree demonstrated its close relationship with labeonine fishes. The complete mitogenome of Cirrhinus reba (GenBank no. MN862482) showed 99.96% identity to another haplotype of Cirrhinus reba (AP013325), followed by 90.18% identity with Labeo bata (AP011198).

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
• /
• v.30 no.3
• /
• pp.253-258
• /
• 2014

The study attempts to assess the status, distribution, conservation and use value of Medicinal and Aromatic Plant (MAPs) in the Sagarmatha National Park. Altogether 62 species of MAPs belonging to 47 genera and 33 families have been recorded in the study area. 10 species, belonging to 9 families are categorized as the potential species. Out of the these species, most potential in local but threatened species are Allium hypsistum Stearn, Cordyceps sinensis Sacc, Dactylorhiza hatagirea Soo, Nardostachys grandiflora DC, Aconitum orochryseum, Ephedra gerardiana Wall. Ex. Stapf, Swertia multicaulis D. Don, Picrorhiza scrophulariflora Penne, Rheum australe. D. Don, Malva verticillataL and Swertia pedicallata Benerji. By analysis of data using Simpson's diversity index (SI) and Shannon weaver function (H'), there was high diversity (more heterogeneous) MAPs species composition in the Manjo Gate to Large Dobhan. (0.98349). Less diversity (less heterogeneous) MAPs species composition was in Tyanboche to Pangoche (0.90419). Similarly, the Shannon weaver function shows that in plots laying out in Mongla to Phorche are evenly distributed than others However, higher MAPs species (i.e., 31) was found in the way of Manjo Gate to Larja Dobhan than others.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Embryo Transfer Conference
• /
• 2002.11a
• /
• pp.56-62
• /
• 2002

The International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) considers the western/lowland bongo Tragelaphus eurycerus eurycerus to be a threatened species, and the eastern/mountain bongo Tragelaphus eurycerus isaaci an endangered species［1］. Although extinction is considered by many biologists to be a natural process during evolution, the exponential growth of the human population has drastically and prematurely reduced the numbers and genetic diversity of many species［2］. Species have evolved to adapt to a specific habitat or environment that meet their survival needs. Alteration or destruction of their habitat results in a species becoming incapable of adapting and hence becoming threatened with extinction. A widespread scientific and public consensus has emerged suggesting that governments should assign high priority to the maintenance of biological diversity via habitat preservation and management far species conservation［3］. Unfortunately, the loss of biological diversity far surpasses the available conservation resources and species are lost forever on a daily basis［4］. Notwithstanding the focus on habitat preservation and wildlife management, conservation biologists have also become increasingly interested in using the technologies of reproductive and developmental biology to help manage or rescue endangered species［5］.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
• /
• v.24 no.5
• /
• pp.549-556
• /
• 2011

We investigated the plant phenology on the threatened species for climate change in the summit area of Mt. Deogyusan which is a representative sub-alpine zone in Korea. We had performed the monitoring survey of plant phenology on 38 species including 20 trees and 18 herbs from May 2009 to November 2010. The investigated phenological charateristics were five dates for leafing, flowering, floral abscission, autumn leaf colors and leaf abscission on each plant species in sub-alpine region. The climate data were measured from November 2009 to December 2010. The range of temperature was from 30.4 to -$20.3^{\circ}C$ at Hyangjeokbong to Jungbong region, and the relative humidity was 100% to 3.4%. The leafing dates in 2010 were similar to 2009 or were 6-20 days delayed in most of the investigated species except Veratrum oxysepalum and Sanguisorba hakusanensis which showed 8 days earlier leafing dates in 2010. The biggest difference among phenological characters was found in flowering dates. The flowering dates of early Spring blooming species such as Heloniopsis koreana, Rhododendron yedoense for. poukhanense and Viola orientalis showed 13-20 days earlier in 2010, and the several summer flowering species as Viburnum opulus var. calvescens, Smilacina japonica and Bupleurum longeradiatum showed 6-10 days delay in 2010. The dates for floral abscission and autumn leaf colors in 2010 were delayed about 10-18 days, and leaf abscission dates were similar to 2009. The effects of climate change on the phenology for the threatened species in sub-alpine zones of Korea are occuring especially on flowering, floral abscission and autumn leaf colors.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
• /
• v.24 no.2
• /
• pp.79-88
• /
• 2008

Twenty-eight of 44 Indian Ceropegia species are endemic and their survival is threatened. As a step towards conservation, we implied in vitro methods for the sustainable propagule production in C. hirsuta, C. lawii, C. maccannii, C. oculata and C. sahyadrica. Effects of explant, growth regulators, sucrose and photoperiod were studied. High frequency microtuber production was achieved with the seedling-apical buds, grown on MS medium containing 4-6 mg $1^{-1}$ BAP, 3-8% (w/v) sucrose, under continuous illumination. Each microtuber, when subcultured proliferated to form a cluster of secondary microtubers. Every primary and secondary microtuber bore at least one shoot-bud and a root primordium. Each tuber (formed with any of the significantly effective treatments) weighed more than 500 mg, enough to plant directly in non-sterilized soils. Microtubers could be produced and proliferated round the year. Proliferation could be solely attributed to in vitro procedures as these plants bear solitary tubers in vivo. Microtubers could be sprouted in vitro to prepare ready to pot plantlets. As, this novel method succeeded for all five species, though they belong to different eco-physiological backgrounds, we recommend its implementation in the conservation programs for a broader range of Ceropegia species, supported by other integrated strategies.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
• /
• v.28 no.3
• /
• pp.186-191
• /
• 2016

Distribution status and threatened assessment of endangered species, Pungitius sinensis (Pisces: Gasterosteidae), were investigated from March to October 2015 in Gangwon-do and Gyeongsangbuk-do etc., Korea. During the study period, a total of 854 individual P. sinensis were collected from 21 of 71 sampling stations using skimming nets. P. sinensis appeared in 23 streams during the past 30 years. However, it was only collected in 12 streams. Therefore, its habitats and populations were drastically reduced. The preferred habitat of P. sinensis was pool of the lower stream with lots of aquatic plants. Given these evidences of small occupying areas ($84km^2$) and drastic reduction in its habitats and populations, P. sinensis is considered as an endangered (EN) [B2ab(ii,iii,iv,v)] species based on IUCN Red List categories and criteria.