This study utilizes association rule learning and clustering analysis to explore the co-occurrence and relationships within ecosystems, focusing on the endangered brackish-water snail Clithon retropictum, classified as Class II endangered wildlife in Korea. The goal is to analyze co-occurrence patterns between brackish-water snails and other species to better understand their roles within the ecosystem. By examining co-occurrence patterns and relationships among species in large datasets, association rule learning aids in identifying significant relationships. Meanwhile, K-means and hierarchical clustering analyses are employed to assess ecological similarities and differences among species, facilitating their classification based on ecological characteristics. The findings reveal a significant level of relationship and co-occurrence between brackish-water snails and other species. This research underscores the importance of understanding these relationships for the conservation of endangered species like C. retropictum and for developing effective ecosystem management strategies. By emphasizing the role of a data-driven approach, this study contributes to advancing our knowledge on biodiversity conservation and ecosystem health, proposing new directions for future research in ecosystem management and conservation strategies.

This study investigates the impact of Bursaphelenchus xylophilus infection on the gut bacterial communities of the pine sawyer beetle, Monochamus alternatus, with a distinction between male and female individuals. Utilizing specific primers, we determined the infection status and analyzed the bacterial composition across different taxonomic levels. Regardless of infection status or sex, Proteobacteria and Firmicutes were found to dominate the phylum level, with significant contributions from Actinobacteria and Bacteroidetes. At the class level, Bacilli, Gammaproteobacteria, Alphaproteobacteria, and Actinobacteria emerged as prevalent groups. Meanwhile, the genus level was characterized by a high abundance of Lactobacillus, Rickettsia, Bacillus, and Rahnella. Our analysis of alpha diversity metrics, including Observed Species, Shannon Index, Inverse Simpson Index, and Phylogenetic Diversity, revealed no significant differences attributable to B. xylophilus infection; however, notable variations were observed between sexes. Principal Coordinates Analysis and Non-metric Multidimensional Scaling further underscored that the differences in gut bacterial communities were more pronounced between male and female beetles than between infected and uninfected individuals. These findings highlight the influence of host sex over infection status in shaping the gut microbiome of Monochamus alternatus, providing new insights into the complex interactions between host biology, gut microbiota, and pathogen infection.

This study investigated the distribution and diversity of spider communities living in natural and semi-natural environments located in Gongju, Chungcheongnam-do, South Korea, and thereby emphasizes the importance of urban planning and biodiversity conservation. In this study, we documented 128 spider species through pit-fall trapping, sweeping, and manual collection methods and analyzed their alpha and beta diversity, nestedness, and interactions. As a result, natural habitats (forests) showed higher biodiversity and more complex species interactions. Despite anthropogenic impacts, such as human activities, urban habitats have shown notable biodiversity. Nestedness analysis and association rule learning reveal diverse community structures in multiple habitats and intricate interspecies relationships. This study highlights the importance of habitat heterogeneity in supporting biodiversity and the importance of considering multiple ecological factors in urban planning.

This study explores the significant influence of micro-environmental factors on carcass decomposition and insect colonization, with a particular emphasis on detailed insect community analysis. The research employed an innovative approach by placing two pig carcasses in contrasting environments that one in a sunlit open field and the other in a shaded forest. The findings revealed dynamic shifts in insect diversity in the sunlit area, characterized by a rapid increase followed by a decrease, in contrast to the more steady, gradual changes observed in the shaded area. This contrast highlights the sensitivity of insect communities to even minor changes in environmental conditions like sunlight and temperature. It unveils the nuanced ways in which such factors shape the composition and dynamics of insect communities. These insights are crucial for the field of forensic entomology, enhancing the accuracy of post-mortem interval estimations. By providing a clearer understanding of how different micro-environmental conditions influence insect activity and decomposition processes, this study significantly contributes to the refinement of forensic methodologies.

Over four years (2020–2023), 305 traps were strategically placed across South Korea to collect data on Vespidae species. Our findings showed that Vespula flaviceps, Vespa crabro, and Vespula koreensis were the most frequently encountered species. Vespa velutina was also widespread, suggesting its successful integration into local ecosystems. The ARL analysis, using the “apriori” algorithm, identified significant co-occurrence patterns and potential interactions. The rules generated indicated both competitive and coexistent relationships with varying levels of association strength across different regions. Clustering analyses, including hierarchical and k-means clustering, grouped species based on their occurrence similarities. The distinct clusters formed in the analysis highlighted the unique ecological roles and interactions of V. velutina and other Vespidae species in South Korean ecosystems.

This presentation explores the application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in entomology beyond traditional image analysis. It highlights AI's potential in auditory and olfactory analysis, areas less explored in entomological research. Utilizing machine learning, AI enhances insect classification and ecosystem assessment through improved analysis of existing data. The discussion includes AI's capability in developing indices for habitat evaluation using insects as bioindicators, emphasizing its versatility across different research areas within entomology. This approach aims to broaden the scope of AI applications, promoting a deeper understanding of ecological dynamics through entomological studies.

We attempted to estimate potential habitats of Clithon retropictus and to determine the community structure of benthic macroinvertebrates by presence of C. retropictus. 2016 to 2018 database of “Survey and Assessment of Estuary Ecosystem Health” by the Ministry of Environment were used to identify the distribution site of C. retropictus. The occupancy model was applied to estimate the potential habitat of C. retropictus. Four diversity indices were used to confirm the community structure of benthic macroinvertebrates. C. retropictus was found in the southern coast area and part of the east coast, and this pattern was consistent with previous studies. Additionally, the occupancy model predicted that a potential habitat of C. retropictus could appear in the west coast area. The community structure of benthic macroinvertebrates was relatively high at the site with C. retropictus than the site without C. retropictus. Therefore, the occupancy model can be considered when conserving C. retropictus inhabiting a limited area. Additionally, C. retropictus can be used to the indicator species that can represent the brackish water environment.

An estuary is an area where a freshwater river or stream meets the ocean. Even before the importance of the value of estuaries was recognized, the estuary was lost because of large-scale conversion by draining, filling, damming, and dredging. In South Korea, 643 estuaries are located, and the total area is 3,248,300 ha, accounting for 32.5% of the total area of South Korea. Over 35% of Korean estuaries are closed estuaries which are only temporally connected with the sea, either permanently or periodically. Since 2008, in order to preserve the estuary ecosystem and solve major issues in the estuary by accumulating knowledge about the estuarine ecosystem, the Ministry of Environment of Republic of Korea has been conducting the “Estuarine Ecosystem Monitoring and Assessment Project”. At 668 sites of 325 estuaries, epilithic diatom, benthic macroinvertebrate, fish, and vegetation are investigated, and the habitat condition of each site is evaluated using the newly developed biotic index. More than 100 researchers annually record 2,097 species of estuaries according to the standardized survey guidelines over the past 14 years and provide strictly managed data necessary for establishing estuaries conservation policies. As a result of bibliometric analysis of 1,195 research articles related to the monitoring and assessment of the estuarine ecosystem, research on pollutants such as heavy metals and sediment control have recently been conducted. “Estuarine Ecosystem Monitoring and Assessment Project” is an ecological monitoring type of long-term mandated monitoring that is usually focused on identifying trends. Although it is difficult to identify the mechanism influencing a change in an ecosystem through long-term mandated monitoring, providing empirical data for supporting evidence-based policy, decision-making, and the management of ecosystems. In order to increase the efficiency of the project, research to investigate the relationship between sediments and pollutants and organisms can be conducted at specific estuaries or sites to compensate for the shortcomings of mandatory monitoring.

본 연구에서는 방사선 촬영 기법을 사용하여 국내에 서식 하는 무미양서류인 청개구리 (Hyla japonica), 옴개구리 (Glandirana rugosa), 참개구리 (Pelophylax nigromaculatus), 황소개구리 (Lithobates catesbeianus)의 체성분과 골밀도를 분석하였다. 이중 엑스선 촬영 장치 (Dual-energy Xray absorptiometry)를 사용하여 체성분과 골밀도를 측정하 였으며 암수 간 차이와 종 간 차이를 파악하였다. 또한 방사선 촬영 기법을 사용한 신체 상태 평가 방법의 효용성을 확인하기 위해 무미양서류 4종의 먹이자원 가용성을 파악하고 신체상태와의 관계를 확인하였다. 신체를 구성하는 성분인 골, 지방, 제지방 비율과 골밀도는 암수 간 차이가 없었지만 무미양서류 4종 간 차이는 있었다. 골밀도와 먹이자원 가용성은 황소개구리가 가장 높았으며 청개구리가 가장 낮았다. 옴개구리와 참개구리의 먹이자원 가용성은 차이는 없었다. 골밀도와 먹이자원 가용성은 유의미한 상관관계를 가졌으며 먹이 상태를 나타내는 질소 안정동위원소비는 골밀도에 의해서만 변화하는 것을 확인하였다. 기회적 포식자인 무미양서류의 먹이 상태 혹은 자원 가용성이 체성분은 물론 골밀도에 영향을 미칠 수 있다. 개체의 신체 상태를 나타내는 체성분과 골밀도는 무미양서류에서 서식지의 안정성을 평가하는 생태지표로서 사용이 가능할 것으로 보인다.

Carcass or the remains of animals are a spatially and temporally patchy resource. Consumers of carcass during the different phases of carcass decomposition show a unique pattern i.e. insect succession i.e. resource pulses. Resource pulses are events of increased resource availability over short period that combine low frequency and large magnitude. The subject field of resource pulses is important because many natural systems are immediately influenced by some pulsed resource component. Specially, species composition (structure) and their activities (function) could be changed by pulsed resources in the incorporated habitat.

The Wintering Waterbird Census of Korea was started in 1999 and monitors 200 major migratory sites in South Korea. Waterfowl counts have been undertaken for more than 20 years since; however, a limited number of studies have analyzed the temporal patterns of waterfowl population. In this study, we analyzed population size changes of wintering whooper swan (Cygnus cygnus) at 112 monitoring sites from 2001 to 2018. The average number of whooper swans was 4,296±42.66 and there was a trend for an increase in population size across the survey period. We found that the population in the Nakdong River Estuary, one of the major wintering sites over 18 years (26.22% of the national population), had rapidly decreased (- 0.77% per year). Conversely, the whooper swan population in the Junam Reservoir and Sihwa Lake increased (+1.64%, +0.54% per year, respectively). Estuaries showed the highest dominance of whooper swans among the five different habitat types, accounting for 32.13% of the population. Reservoir/lakes had 30.60% of the total population and reclaimed lakes (18.24%), river (13.11%), and coast (5.93%) followed. The annual distribution of the whooper swan population in South Korea has been affected by various habitat conditions resulting from human activities and urbanization. To better understand the complex factors that can cause rapid changes in wintering waterfowl populations, it is necessary to integrate the data from the bird census program with environmental conditions to conduct in-depth pattern analyses over longer time periods.

We analyzed research topics, temporal distribution of field sites, and researcher network of 1,508 limnology publications in the Korean Journal of Limnology (1968~2012) and the Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment (2013~2017). We found that water quality and sediment, phytoplankton, invertebrates, and fish were major subjects during the study periods. Survey of flora and fauna and physiological experiment of freshwater species were the largest subjects during 1970~80s, while other subjects including production, behavior, modeling, and ecological assessment have been rapidly increased since the 1990s. Most of the biological taxa equally studied lotic and lentic system, however, invertebrates and fish related studies more focused on the lotic system. Spatially, the field site of Korean limnology studies was found to be concentrated in main river channels runs through urban areas and artificial lakes than preserved natural areas. Freshwater system, located at the elevation range of 301~400m(upstream of main channels), had the lowest number of field sites. Collaboration among researchers and different institution types have been steadily increased and expanded as the number of publications increased.

We analyzed research trend and public perception related with tap water to identify major factors affecting low consumption of tap water. 805 research articles were collected for text mining analysis and 1,000 on-line questionnaires were surveyed to find social variables influencing tap water intake. Based on the word network analysis, research topics were divided into 4 major categories, 1) drinking water quality, 2) water fluoridation, 3) residual chlorine, and 4) micro-organism management. Compared with these major research topics, scientific studies of drinking behavior, or social perception were rather limited. 22.4% of total respondents used tap water as drinking water source, and only 1% drank tap water without further treatments (i.e. boiling, filtering). Experience of quality control report (B=0.392, p=0.046) and level of policy trust (B=1.002, p<0.0001) were influential factors on tap water drinking behavior. Age (B=0.020, p=0.002) and gender (B= - 1.843, p<0.0001) also showed significant difference. To increase the frequency of drinking the tap water by social members, the more scientific information of tap water quality and the water policy management should be clearly shared with social members.

River channel dredging and riparian development have been influenced morphology and quantity of natural river habitat. We compared distribution of riverside land and alluvial island in the Nakdong River with field survey and remote sensing analysis after the 4 Large River Project in South Korea. We digitized geomorphological elements, includes main channel, riverside land, and alluvial island by using georeferenced aerial photos taken in pre-dredging (2008) and post-dredging (2012) periods. Field survey was followed in 2012 for a ground truth of digitized boundaries and identification of newly constructed wetland types such as pond, channel, branch, and riverine type. We found that during the dredging period, riverside land and alluvial island were lost by 20.2% and 72.7%, respectively. Modification rate of riverside land was higher in the section of river kilometer 50~90, 140~180, and 210~270. Alluvial island had higher change rate in the section of river kilometer 50~70, 190~210, and 270~310. Average change rate for the riverside land and alluvial island was - 1.02±0.14 km² ·10 km¯¹ and - 0.05±0.05 km² ·10 km¯¹, respectively. Channel shaped wetlands (72.5%) constituted large portion of newly constructed wetlands.