Natural populations of numerous species have decreased sharply in recent years, and a number of mammalian species are also now at elevated risk of extinction globally. The long-tailed goral Naemorhedus caudatus, a vulnerable and protected species designated by IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) and CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora), is distributed in Northeast Asia including the Korean Peninsula. In South Korea, the Seoraksan National Park is known as the largest core habitat for the long-tailed goral population. In this study, phylogenetic relationships and population genetic features of the Seoraksan goral population were analyzed using fecal samples with both mitochondrial DNA and microsatellite markers. We found that Seoraksan gorals were the most closely related to Russian population, and also found that a unique Seoraksan lineage evolved there. In addition, the Seoraksan goral population showed higher genetic diversity than other South Korean populations, suggesting that this population might represent the most ecologically and evolutionarily important remnants of the long-tailed goral in South Korea. The Seoraksan goral population had a low level of genetic differentiation and a rather single genetic structure, suggesting that non-negligible levels of gene flow might have occurred across populations. Moreover, microsatellite genotype-based individual identification estimated that the population size was ≥81 in the Seoraksan National Park. Findings of our study suggest that effective conservation and restoration actions are needed for long-term conservation of N. caudatus in this protected area.

Biodiversity encompasses species diversity, which includes species richness and species evenness. High species diversity is known to contribute to community stability and the potential for maintaining healthy ecosystem functioning. However, the most commonly used species diversity indices have some limitations, as they require species-specific abundance data for each community. In contrast, phylogenetic diversity measures the evolutionary distances between species within a community, reflecting ecological and/or evolutionary divergences and niche differences, without requiring abundance data. This study assessed biodiversity by calculating phylogenetic diversity indices for freshwater fishes (19 species) and aquatic insects (49 species) at three sites within Seoraksan and Odaesan National Parks. The aquatic insects studied belong to the EPT group (Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera), which are widely used as bioindicators of aquatic ecosystems. Two mitochondrial DNA genes were used as molecular markers: COI and cyt b for fish, and COI and 16S rRNA for the EPT - group. Overall, Odaesan National Park exhibited higher phylogenetic diversity in both fishes and aquatic insects compared to Seoraksan National Park, although this difference was not statistically significant. The highest phylogenetic and species diversity were observed for fish at the OD2 site (Woljeong District) and for the EPT group at the OD1 (Gyebangsan) and SA2 (Jangsudae) sites. Correlation analysis revealed that phylogenetic diversity indices were more positively associated with species richness than species diversity indices. This study serves as a pilot project for establishing standardized methods for assessing biodiversity in national park habitats using phylogenetic diversity. It also aims to inform various policies, such as the development of biodiversity assessment systems and the prioritization of protected areas within national parks.

환경오염과 자원 고갈 문제가 심화됨에 따라 재생 가능하고 생분해가 가능한 바이오소재 개발이 지속 가능한 산업 발전의 핵심 과제로 대두되고 있다. 본 연구는 동아시아 지역에서 자생하는 꽝꽝나무(Ilex crenata Thunb.)를 대상으로, 발아 증진 및 순화재배 기술을 체계적으로 정립하여 대량 생산 체계를 구축하고 바이오소재로서의 산업적 활용 가능성을 평가하고자 하였다. 본 연구에서는 GA3, KNO3, NH4NO3, KH2PO4, PEG와 같은 다양한 프라이밍 처리제를 이용하여 꽝꽝나무 종자의 발아 특성과 유묘 생육 특성을 분석하였다. 그 결과, KNO3 50 mM 처리구는 발아율을 99.0%까지 증가시키며 발아 과정을 가속화하는 데 효과적이었다. 그러나 유묘 생육 및 단위면적당 수확량에서는 NH4NO3 200 mM 처리구가 가장 높은 증가를 보였으며, 이는 질소의 두 가지 형태(NH4 +, NO3 -)를 동시에 제공하여 질소 대사를 극대화한 결과로 판단된다. 유묘활력지수(SVI) 또한 NH4NO3 200 mM 처리구에서 254.3±41.6으로 가장 높게 나타났으며, 이는 대량 생산과 바이오소재 원료로의 활용에 적합한 조건으로 확인되었다. 본 연구는 발아 증진 기술 및 초기 생육 안정화를 통해 꽝꽝나무의 대량 재배 가능성을 제시하였으며, 지속 가능한 그린바이오소재 개발에 중요한 기초자료를 제공하였다. 향후 다양한 재배 조건과 종자 특성에 따른 최적화 연구가 추가적으로 필요할 것으로 판단된다.

River estuaries are dynamic and productive ecosystems with high regional biodiversity. Environmental DNA (eDNA) has become a useful approach to assessing biodiversity in aquatic ecosystems. This study was conducted to investigate fish community characteristics and species diversity in two river estuary ecosystems, the Taehwa River and Changwon Stream. We further compared conventional and eDNA metabarcoding analyses of the fish communities. The conventional survey was performed in May, July, and October 2022, while the eDNA analysis was conducted only in May. We observed various fish species with different life histories, including carp, goby, and marine fish. We also found that migratory fish, such as dace Tribolodon hakonensis, sweetfish Plecoglossus altivelis, and eel Auguilla japonica, occurred in the Taehwa River, suggesting high river connectivity. Marine fish species were predominant in the Changwon Stream, as this river is located close to the sea. The diversity indices showed that the Taehwa River generally had higher species richness, evenness, and diversity values than the Changwon Stream. A total of 9-19 species were detected in the conventional survey for the three sites, whereas 11-18 species were found from eDNA analysis. The findings indicate that the sensitivity of eDNA was similar to or higher than that of the conventional method. Our study findings suggest the efficiency and efficacy of eDNA-based fish community monitoring, although with some shortcomings in applying the genetic marker to Korean fish, including no clear-cut distinction for Korean endemic species and/or genetically closely related species groups.

The bitterling (Cyprinidae, Acheilongnathinae) is a temperate freshwater fish with a unique spawning symbiosis with host mussels. Female bitterlings use their extended ovipositors to lay eggs on the gills of mussels through the mussel's exhalant siphon. In the present study, in April of 2020, we investigated spawning frequencies and patterns of three bitterling fish species in host mussel species in the Nakdong River basin (Hoecheon). During field surveys, a total of four bitterling and three mussel species were found. We observed bitterling's spawning eggs/larvae in the three mussel species: Anodonta arcaeformis (proportion spawned: 45.5%), Corbicula fluminea (12.1%), and Nodularia douglasiae (45.2%). The number of bitterlings’ eggs/larvae per mussel ranged from 1 to 58. Using our developed genetic markers, we identified the eggs/ larvae of each bitterling species in each mussel species (except for A. macropterus): A. arcaeformis (spawned by Acheilognathus yamatsutae), C. fluminea (A. yamatsutae and Tanakia latimarginata), and N. douglasiae (A. yamatsutae, Rhodeus uyekii, and T. latimarginata). Approximately 57.6% of N. douglasiae mussel individuals had eggs/ larvae of more than one bitterling species, suggesting that interspecific competition for occupying spawning grounds is intense. This is the first report on bitterling’s spawning events in the Asian clam C. fluminea from Korea; however, it should be ascertained whether bitterling’s embryo undergoes successful development inside the small mussel and leaves as a free-swimming juvenile. In addition, the importance of its conservation as a new host mussel species for bitterling fishes needs to be studied further.

본 연구는 국내 산림생명자원 중 광나무의 대량생산을 위한 기초연구로, Priming 처리에 따른 발아 효율성 및 유묘 생육특성에 미치는 영향을 구명하고자 수행하였다. 종자 Priming처리는 대조구, GA3 (10, 100, 200 ㎎·L-1), Ca (NO3)2 (50, 100, 200 mM), KNO3 (50, 100, 200 mM)를 24시간 처리하여 발아특성을 분석하였고, 순화재배에 따른 생육특성 및 활착률을 조사하여 수확량을 비교·분석하였다. 발아특성은 25℃·KNO3 100 mM에서 발아율이 유의적으로(p<0.001) 높았으며, 평균발아일수는 10.3~18.1일로 15℃에서 대체적으로 빠른 발아일수를 나타냈다(p<0.001). 발아속도 및 발아균일지수 또한 25℃·KNO3 100 mM에서 유의적으로 높은 값을 보였다(p<0.001). 생육특성의 경우 2 5℃·KNO3 100 mM 처리에서 유근 길이(5.1±2.4 ㎝), 초장(5.7±0.7 ㎝), 근장(16.6±2.0 ㎝), 건중량(0.079 g)이 유의적으로 가장 높게 나타났다 (p<0.001). 유묘활력지수 또한 25℃·KNO3 100 mM 처리에서 1418.3으로 높았으며, 가장 높은 수확량(16.8 g/㎡)을 나타냈다. 결과적으로 25℃, KNO3 100 mM 처리 시 실내발아에서 발아효율성을 높일 수 있었으며, 순화재배 시 우수한 유묘 생육을 보여 수확량을 증진시킬 수 있었다.

본 연구는 헛개나무 용기묘를 생산하기 위한 적정 차광수준을 밝히고자 수행되었다. 헛개나무 1년생 용기묘를 대상으로 4가지 차광처리(0%, 35%, 55%, 75%)에 따른 용기묘의 간장, 근원경, 건중량, 묘목품질지수, 엽록소 함량 등의 반응 특성을 조사하였다. 연구 결과, 헛개나무 용기묘의 근원경, 잎 건중량, 뿌리 건중량은 차광처리구 간에 통계적인 유의성이 나타나지 않았으나(p≥0.05), 간장, 줄기 건중량, 엽록소 함량은 차광처리에 의해 55%와 75%의 차광처리에서 유의적인 차이를 나타내며 증가하였다(p<0.001). 간장과 줄기 건중량의 증가로 헛개나무 용기묘의 H/D율과 T/R율은 증가하였으며 묘목품질지수는 낮게 나타났다. 따라서, 헛개나무 1년생 용기묘 생산을 위한 적절한 차광수준은 묘목품질지수가 가장 높게 나타난 35%로 판단된다. 본 연구결과는 우량한 헛개나무 용기묘 생산을 위한 기초자료로 활용될 수 있을 것으로 기대된다.

Considering the non-linear behavior of structure and soil when evaluating a nuclear power plant's seismic safety under a beyond-design basis earthquake is essential. In order to obtain the nonlinear response of a nuclear power plant structure, a time-domain SSI analysis method that considers the nonlinearity of soil and structure and the nonlinear Soil-Structure Interaction (SSI) effect is necessary. The Boundary Reaction Method (BRM) is a time-domain SSI analysis method. The BRM can be applied effectively with a Perfectly Matched Layer (PML), which is an effective energy absorbing boundary condition. The BRM has a characteristic that the magnitude of the response in far-field soil increases as the boundary interface of the effective seismic load moves outward. In addition, the PML has poor absorption performance of low-frequency waves. For this reason, the accuracy of the low-frequency response may be degraded when analyzing the combination of the BRM and the PML. In this study, the accuracy of the analysis response was improved by adjusting the PML input parameters to improve this problem. The accuracy of the response was evaluated by using the analysis response using KIESSI-3D, a frequency domain SSI analysis program, as a reference solution. As a result of the analysis applying the optimal PML parameter, the average error rate of the acceleration response spectrum for 9 degrees of freedom of the structure was 3.40%, which was highly similar to the reference result. In addition, time-domain nonlinear SSI analysis was performed with the soil's nonlinearity to show this study's applicability. As a result of nonlinear SSI analysis, plastic deformation was concentrated in the soil around the foundation. The analysis results found that the analysis method combining BRM and PML can be effectively applied to the seismic response analysis of nuclear power plant structures.

In recent years, macroalgal bloom occurs frequently in coastal oceans worldwide. It might be attributed to accelerating climate change. “Green tide” events caused by proliferation of green macroalgae (Ulva spp.) not only damage the local economy, but also harm coastal environments. These nuisance events have become common across several coastal regions of continents. In Korea, green tide incidences are readily seen throughout the year along the coastlines of Jeju Island, particularly the northeastern coast, since the 2000s. Ulva species are notorious to be difficult for morphology-based species identification due to their high degrees of phenotypic plasticity. In this study, to investigate temporal variation in Ulva community structure on Jeju Island between 2015 and 2020, chloroplast barcode tuf A gene was sequenced and phylogenetically analyzed for 152 specimens from 24 sites. We found that Ulva ohnoi and Ulva pertusa known to be originated from subtropical regions were the most predominant all year round, suggesting that these two species contributed the most to local green tides in this region. While U. pertusa was relatively stable in frequency during 2015 to 2020, U. ohnoi increased 16% in frequency in 2020 (36.84%), which might be associated with rising sea surface temperature from which U. ohnoi could benefit. Two species (Ulva flexuosa, Ulva procera) of origins of Europe should be continuously monitored. The findings of this study provide valuable information and molecular genetic data of genus Ulva occurring in southern coasts of Korea, which will help mitigate negative influences of green tide events on Korea coast.

본 연구는 광나무(Ligustrum japonicum) 종자의 파종 효율성 및 유묘 생산성을 증진시키기 위하여, 발아와 균일성에 효과가 있는 priming 처리 중 처리시간, 처리제 및 처리농도를 비교·분석하여 적절한 전처리 조건을 구명하고자 실시하였다. 광나무 종자는 충실 종자를 사용하기 위해 1일간 침지처리 후 침강 종자만을 사용하였다. 종자 전처리는 priming 처리시간(24, 48시간)에 따라 GA3 (0, 10, 100, 200 ㎎·L-1) 생장조절제와 Ca(NO3)2 및 KNO3 (0, 50, 100, 200 mM) 무기염류로 처리하여 시험을 수행하였다. 발아특성을 분석한 결과 priming 24시간 처리는 대조구보다 유의적으로 높은 발아율, 발아속도, 발아균일지수를 보인 반면(p≤0.001), priming 48시간 처리 시 대조구보다 낮은 발아특성을 나타냈다. 특히, priming 24시간·GA3 200 ㎎ 처리에서 발아율 44.0%, 발아속도 0.59%·day, 발아균일지수 0.55으로 가장 높은 효과를 보였다(p≤0.001). 한편, priming 48시간·GA3 및 Ca(NO3)2 200 mM 처리구에서는 발아가 나타나지 않았다. priming 처리된 종자로부터 생장한 유묘들을 대상으로 T/R율 및 유묘활력지수를 조사한 결과 발아율이 가장 높았던 priming 24시간·GA3 200 ㎎ 처리에서 낮은 T/R율과 수분감소율을 보였으며, 유묘 활력지수는 793.0으로 가장 높게 나타났다(p≤0.001). 결과적으로 priming 종류(GA3, Ca(NO3)2, KNO3) 중 광나무 종자 발아 및 유묘의 생장에 영향을 적정 처리제는 GA3로 판단되며, 적정 처리 조건은 200 ㎎, 24시간 처리로 나타났다.

본 연구는 컨테이너 재배용 중간목의 노지 생산기술 개발을 위하여 왕벚나무 3년생을 대상으로 전정, 시비종류·시비량 처리에 미치는 영향을 구명하기 위해 수행되었다. 노지에 정식 후 전정 유무(1.8m 이하 전정(P) 및 무전정(N.P))와 시비종류 및 시비량(유박비료 21.7, 43.3g/㎡/yr, 퇴비 1.0, 2.0 ㎏/tree/yr, 고형비료 40.5, 81.0g/㎡/yr)을 대조구를 포함하여 처리하였다. 묘목의 생장에 미치는 영향을 평가하기 위해 정식 2년 후 생장 및 상대생장량, 건물생산량, 품질지수 및 양분특성을 비교‧분석하였다. 묘고 및 근원경 상대생장량은 무전정 처리보다 전정처리에서 유의적(p≤0.000)으로 높았으며, 전정을 실시한 고형비료 81.0g/㎡/yr 처리에서 가장 높은 생장량을 보였다. 본 연구결과 왕벚나무 접목 3년생을 노지에 정식한 후, 1.8m 이하 전정을 실시하고 고형비료 81.0g/㎡/yr을 처리하여 2년 재배 시, 고품질의 컨테이너 재배용 왕벚나무 중간목이 생산되는 것으로 판단된다.

Failure to comply with the performance test requirements for the centrifugal pumps at power plants often results in performance dissatisfaction as a result of field tests. This study proposed a method of reducing the uncertainty of the field test results by evaluating the systematic error in the measurement system caused by failure to follow the test requirements using the computational fluid dynamics(CFD) technique. As a result of the evaluation of the systematic error and reflecting it in the performance test data, it was confirmed that the error occurred at a constant rate with respect to the flowrate and that the pump, which showed a difference in performance actually had the same performance.