• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.292-303
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• 2022

Background: Climate change significantly influences the geographical distribution of plant species worldwide. Selecting indicator species allows for better-informed and more effective ecosystem management in response to climate change. The Korean Peninsula is the northernmost distribution zone of warm temperate evergreen broad-leaved (WTEB) species in Northeast Asia. Considering the ecological value of these species, we evaluated the current distribution range and future suitable habitat for 13 WTEB tree species designated as climate-sensitive biological indicator species. Results: Up-to-date and accurate WTEB species distribution maps were constructed using herbarium specimens and citizen science data from the Korea Biodiversity Observation Network. Current northern limits for several species have shifted to higher latitudes compared to previous records. For example, the northern latitude limit for Stauntonia hexaphylla is higher (37° 02' N, Deokjeokdo archipelago) than that reported previously (36° 13' N). The minimum temperature of the coldest month (Bio6) is the major factor influencing species distribution. Under future climate change scenarios, suitable habitats are predicted to expand toward higher latitudes inland and along the western coastal areas. Conclusions: Our results support the suitability of WTEB trees as significant biological indicators of species' responses to warming. The findings also suggest the need for consistent monitoring of species distribution shifts. This study provides an important baseline dataset for future monitoring and management of indicator species' responses to changing climate conditions in South Korea.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.213-218
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• 2002

The use of biological indicator for environmental monitoring has suddenly become popular in many international organizations as well as domestic ones. Since the biological indicator species should be well responsive to native environmental change, development of native indicator species is prerequisite for environmental assessment and restoration program. Through regression analysis of mean density and pH, potential indicator species were screened from Namsan and Kwangreung where differential environmental stresses are influenced; Lasiobelba remota, Ceratozetes sp. Tectocepheus velatus, Neogymnobates sp. and Oppia sp.3. Also keystone species in two study area were Lohmannia coreana, Ceratozetes sp., Rostrozetes pulcherrimus, and Lasiobelba remota in Namsan Deciduous forest and Neogymnobates sp., Neogymnobates donghaksaensis, and Cultroribula tridentata in Kwangreung. Advantages and disadvantages of using biological indicator for environmental monitoring were further discussed.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.25 no.12
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• pp.2110-2115
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• 2015

A liquid-based colorimetric assay using a pH indicator was introduced for high-throughput monitoring of lysine decarboxylase activity. The assay is based on the color change of bromocresol purple, measured at 595 nm in liquid reaction mixture, due to an increase of pH by the production of cadaverine. Bromocresol purple was selected as the indicator because it has higher sensitivity than bromothymol blue and pheonol red within a broad range and shows good linearity within the applied pH. We applied this for simple determination of lysine decarboxylase reusability using 96-well plates, and optimization of conditions for enzyme overexpression with different concentrations of IPTG on lysine decarboxylase. This assay is expected to be applied for monitoring and quantifying the liquid-based enzyme reaction in biotransformation of decarboxylase in a high-throughput way.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.231-245
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• 2008

Various methods for detecting changes in response behaviors of indicator specimens are presented for monitoring effects of toxic treatments. The movement patterns of individuals are quantitatively characterized by statistical (i.e., ANOVA, multivariate analysis) and computational (i.e., fractal dimension, Fourier transform) methods. Extraction of information in complex behavioral data is further illustrated by techniques in ecological informatics. Multi-Layer Perceptron and Self-Organizing Map are applied for detection and patterning of response behaviors of indicator specimens. The recent techniques of Wavelet analysis and line detection by Recurrent Self-Organizing Map are additionally discussed as an efficient tool for checking time-series movement data. Behavioral monitoring could be established as new methodology in integrative ecological assessment, tilling the gap between large-scale (e.g., community structure) and small-scale (e.g., molecular response) measurements.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.81-93
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• 2011

Purpose: This study was conducted to analyze the articles published in the Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science from 1999 when it began to 2010. Methods: One hundred seventy eight articles were reviewed using analysis criteria developed by the researchers. Results: Thirty-one percent of the research was supported financially. The most used key concepts were in the health and environment domain. For study design, experimental studies were 50.56%, especially quasi-experimental design was most frequently used (22.47%). Selection of subjects by convenience sampling was most frequent (82.58%). The major subjects of study were adult patients (25.68%). Forty-eight percent of the research had verbal consent and 11% had written consent from the participants. Exercise was common intervention (27.87%) in experimental studies. Physiologic indicators (31.65%), cognitive indicator (25.38%), psychosocial indicator (13.21%) and physical indicator (7.31%) were frequently used as a measurement tool. For data analysis, descriptive statistics (28.99%), t-test (15.06%), chi-square test (11.69%) and ANOVA (9.89%) were most frequently used. Conclusion: The number of research papers published in the Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science has increased. Research topics varied and were mostly conducted on the basis of logical positivism. Further research should be more empirical enough to be utilized in an actual nursing care context.

• Journal of Species Research
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.183-194
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• 2014

As part of a study to understand the current status of Korean plant species propagated in foreign countries, we conducted extensive surveys on Korean living collections in the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University, the oldest public arboretum in North America. Specifically, we collected and identified the voucher specimens of the living collections and further examined the collection databases to understand the history of how Korean plants were introduced to the Arboretum. We found that a total of 154 Korean taxa (belonging to 49 families and 81 genera) have been planted in the arboretum. Most plants originated from seeds that were directly collected in Korea or obtained via seed exchanges with botanical gardens in Asia, Europe, and U.S.A. Of the 154 taxa, 16 are Korean endemic species, and three are listed as endangered species. In addition, 62 taxa are as floristic regional indicator species of Korea used by the Ministry of Environment.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.288-301
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• 2023

This study aims to identify benthic macroinvertebrate fauna inhabiting at the mountain valley stream (Mt. Cheonggye) in Korea and the relationship between physical environmental factors and biological indices. Benthic macroinvertebrates were collected at five locations on August 24 and October 14, 2020, and were identified as 4 phyla, 7 classes, 16 orders, 42 families, and 72 species. Dominance ranged from 0.38 to 0.59, diversity 2.81 to 3.75, richness 3.25 to 4.63, evenness 0.65 to 0.84, and %EPT (Ephemeroptera-PlecopteraTrichoptera) richness value 42% to 73%, respectively. All sites were evaluated as a very good status by mostly biological indices based on tolerance of indicator organisms in Korea. As a result of principal component analysis, biological indices are classified into species-level indices and higher cartegory-level indices according to the taxonomic level of the indicator organism considered in each index. As a result of canonical correspondence analysis, it was confirmed that current velocity was a major factor that increased species richness and classified biological indices according to taxonomic category level. Water depth was a major factor related to the community indices, and the deeper the water depth, the lower the diversity and the evenness.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.269-287
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• 2023

The genus-level biotic index of benthic macroinvertebrates (Benthic Macroinvertebrates Genus Index, BMGI) was developed and applicated based on the data collected from 13,347 sampling units of 814 sites from 2010 to 2021 in Korea. Tolerant values of 274 indicator taxa were established by analyzing the relationship between the relative frequency and abundance of indicator taxa and the water quality index considering biochemical oxygen demand (BOD₅), total suspended solids (TSS), and total phosphorus (T-P). BMGI showed a slightly higher correlation with water quality than the species-level biotic index (Benthic Macroinvertebrates Index, BMI) that was developed and applied in Korea. Although the BMGI does not contain species-level information, the reason why BMGI shows higher applicability than BMI seems to be due to the increase in the number of indicator taxa and the decrease in the misidentification of immature aquatic insects. The coefficient of determination in multiple regression with BOD₅, TSS, and TP for BMGI was 0.62 in the long-term averaged data of 814 sites, and the standardized coefficient of BOD₅ was -0.46, TSS was -0.17 and T-P was -0.21, respectively. As a result of the evaluation by BMGI, of the 814 sites, 38% were in good, 25% in fair, and 37% in poor condition.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.55-67
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• 2022

Land use is a critical factor that affects the hydrological characteristics of watersheds, thereby determining the biological condition of streams. This study analyzes the effects of land uses in the watersheds on biological indicators of streams across the Han River basin using a linear model (LM) and generalized additive model (GAM). LULC and biological monitoring data of streams were obtained from the Korean Ministry of Environment. The proportions of urban, agricultural, and forest areas in the watersheds were regressed to the three biological indicators, including diatom, benthic macroinvertebrate, and fish of streams. The estimated LM and GAM models for the biological indicators were then compared, using regression determination R² and AIC values. The results revealed that GAM models performed better than the LM models in explaining the variances of biological indicators of streams, indicating the non-linear relationships between biological indicators and land uses in watersheds. Also, the results suggested that the indicator of macroinvertebrates was the most sensitive indicator to land uses in watersheds. Although non-linear relationships between watershed land uses and biological indicators of streams could vary among biological indicators, it was consistent that streams' biological integrity significantly deteriorated by a relatively low percentage of urban areas. Meanwhile, biological indicators of streams were negatively affected by the relatively high percentage of agricultural areas. The results of this study can be integrated into effective quantitative criteria for the watershed management and land use plans to enhance the biological integrity of streams. In specific, land uses management plans in watersheds may need more close attention to urban land use changes than agricultural land uses to sustain the biological integrity of streams.

• Proceedings of the National Institute of Ecology of the Republic of Korea
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.188-197
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• 2021

This study aimed to obtain fundamental data for demonstrating biodiversity of vegetation of East Asian alder (Alnus japonica) Forest Wetland of Heonilleung Royal Tombs. A total of 166 vascular plants (159 species, three subspecies, three varieties, and one cultivar) belonging to 132 genera and 59 families were found, accounting for 8.3% of 1,996 vascular plant species found in Seoul. Therophyte was the most common life-form of plants in Heonilleung Wetland. As for rare plant species, one Least Concern (LC) species was found. There were 15 floristic regional indicator species in the research area. Three of them belonged to floristic grades III and IV. This indicates that their habitats are discontinuous and isolated to some degree. Nineteen invasive alien plant species were found, most of which were introduced from North America after the year 1964 with a spread rate of V (widespread, WS).