- KOREAN
- P-ISSN2287-8327
- E-ISSN2288-1220
- SCOPUS, KCI
ISSN : 2287-8327
Vol.33 No.3
Abstract
Seed germination is a biological process that is affected by a variety of genetic and environmental factors. The cardinal temperature and thermal time are required for germination. The principal objective of this study was to identify and characterize variations in the base, optimum, and maximum germination temperatures of Haloxylon aphyllum L. from two seed sources, in order to establish models for use in predicting seeding dates. Mature H. aphyllum seeds were germinated at temperatures between 5 and 35℃. The germination behavior of H. aphyllum seeds to different temperature regimens in light was evaluated over a temperature range of 5-35℃ at intervals of 5℃. The rate of germination increased between base and optimum thermal conditions, and decreased between optimum and maximum thermal conditions;the germination rate varied in a linear fashion at both sub-optimal and supra-optimal temperatures. The linear regression fit the range of germination rates at 5℃ to 25℃ and 25℃ to 30℃, and thus the base temperature, optimum temperature,and maximum temperature for the germination of H. aphyllum were measured to be 0.6℃, 25.69℃, 37.90℃, and 1.76℃, 21.56℃, 37.90℃ for Qom and the Fars dune desert respectively.
Abstract
In the study, the effects of elevated CO₂ and temperature on the photosynthetic characteristics, chlorophyll content,nitrogen content, carbon content, and C/N ratio of Phytolacca insularis and Phytolacca americana were examined under control (ambient CO₂+ ambient temperature) and treatment (elevated CO₂+ elevated temperature) for 2 years (2008and 2009). The photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate and water use efficiency of two plant species were higher under the treatment than the under the control. The stomatal conductance of P. insularis was higher under the control, but that of P. americana was not significantly affected by CO₂ and temperature under the treatment. The chlorophyll contents of two species were decreased about 72.5% and 20%, respectively, by elevated CO₂ and temperature. The nitrogen contents of two species were not significantly altered by increase in CO₂ and temperature. The carbon contents of the two species were higher under the treatment than under the control. The C/N ratio of P. insularis was higher under the treatment but that of P. americana was not significantly affected by CO₂ and temperature. These results demonstrated that the physiological responses of P. insularis native plants might be more sensitively influenced by a CO₂-mediated global warming situation than those of the P. americana invasive plants.
Abstract
This research identified a disturbance regime caused by wild boar in a mature Quercus mongolica forest and analyzed the impact of this disturbance on the structure and distribution of herbaceous plants in Mt. Jeombong, Korea. We demonstrate that disturbance by wild boar was most frequent from winter to early spring, but also occurred year round. Areas which were frequently disturbed by wild boar included the mountain ridge, the mild slope on the north face, and sites with high concentration of Erythronium japonicum. The disturbance cycle by the wild boar in this region was estimated at approximately 2.8 years. The wild boar’s reduced the community’s species diversity and herbaceous coverage, and increased its evenness. This disturbance reduced the coverage of spring ephemeral; Veratrum nigrum var. ussuriense, Symplocarpus niponnicus, Anemone koraiensis and Corydalis turtschaninovii were particularly sensitive. In addition, summer green herbaceous plants such as Astilbe chinensis, Ainsliaea acerifolia, Meehania urticifolia, and Pimpinella brachycarpa were sensitive to the wild boar’s. It was found that wild boar ate E. japonicum most selectively of all plants in this investigation area. In conclusion, together with micro-topography, wind, formation of gaps of a forest and rearrangement of litter layer, wild boar’s disturbance is an important factor influencing the dynamic changes of an herbaceous community in a mature temperate hardwood forest.
Abstract
To determine whether or not the female Korean salamander, Hynobius leechii, responds to water currents and, if so,whether those responses depend on their reproductive conditions, we evaluated the responses of ovulated and oviposited females to 1-Hz water currents generated by a model salamander with and without the placement of a transparent water current blocker between the model and the test females. The ovulated females responded to water currents by turning their heads toward, approaching, and/or making physical contact with the model. When the water current blocker was in place, the number of salamanders that approached the model was reduced significantly. The approaching and touching responses of ovulated females were greater than those of oviposited females, whereas the other measurements evidenced no differences. None of the responses of the oviposited females to water currents was affected by the presence of the blocker. Our results indicate that female H. leechii responds to water currents via a mechanosensory system.
Abstract
Soil microbes perform crucial roles in the nutrient cycles of forest ecosystems, by effecting the decomposition of organic matter. Enzyme activities have been used to evaluate decomposition rates, as well as microbial activities. The principal objectives of this study were to determine the activities of different soil enzymes, to compare enzyme activities at different elevations, and to elucidate the most important controlling variables for enzyme activities. We conducted a field survey at three sites in Mt. Jumbong on a monthly basis from May, 2004 to September, 2005. Enzyme activities did not change substantially over different seasons. However, the spatial differences were distinct; the lowest elevation site evidenced the lowest levels of enzyme activity. Soils at the lowest elevation were nutrient-depleted soils, and enzyme activities appeared to be affected by precipitation and temperature. However, enzyme activities in fertile soils at high elevations were associated with nutrients and organic matter. The enzyme activities detected in this study differed significantly at the three elevations, and their controlling variables also evidenced different factors.
Abstract
We conducted field surveys of amphibians and reptiles over a two-year period in 16 lagoons along the eastern coastline of South Korea, and determined the habitat characteristics correlated with the number of amphibian and reptilian species and individuals. We documented 11 amphibian species and 8 reptilian species. The dominant amphibian species was the black-spotted pond frog (Rana nigromaculata), and the dominant reptilian species was the red-eared turtle (Trachemys scripta elegans), an invasive species. Among the 14 habitat characteristics, connectivity to mountainous area significantly affected the number of amphibian and reptilian individuals. Other factors, including emerged plant cover,salinity, pH, the number of birds for amphibians and connectivity to agricultural land, lagoon perimeter length for reptiles also influenced the number of species or individuals of them. Our results demonstrate that these lagoons are home to more amphibians and reptiles than has been previously known. To effectively conserve herpetofauna in the lagoon ecosystem, lagoons as well as surrounding wetlands, grasslands, and mountainous areas should be protected.
Abstract
In this study, we evaluated the distribution, habitat characteristics, and diet of two Korean freshwater turtle species (Chinemys reevesii, Pelodiscus sinensis) and an invasive turtle species (Trachemys scripta elegans) in the area surrounding the Seomjin River and the Nam River. We surveyed basking turtles in multiple locations along a 48-km stretch of the Seomjin River and in 99 reservoirs distributed along the Seomjin and Nam rivers from June to September, 2009. We observed 8 and 6 red-eared turtles in 3 reservoirs and at 3 sites in the Seomjin River, respectively, and 33 Reeve’s turtles in 9 reservoirs. There were also 28 and 16 mud turtles detected at 15 sites along the Seomjin River and in 8 reservoirs,respectively. Among the 14 biotic and abiotic habitat characteristics that might influence the abundance of freshwater turtles in reservoirs, only the distance between a reservoir and the nearest residential areas was correlated negatively with abundance. With regard to the diet, all Reeve’s and red-eared turtles investigated were determined to forage on water snails. Some turtles also foraged on vegetation and aquatic invertebrates. Additionally, we found fish in the stomach of one of the Reeve’s turtles, and dragonflies in the stomachs of two red-eared turtles.
Abstract
We evaluated the interaction between Cd and Zn in the bioaccumulation of seven clones of Salix caprea, which were exposed both to Cd and Zn alone and to a combination of Cd and Zn. Cadmium (Cd) and Zn concentration in the four treatments were administered in the following order: root > leaf > stem, and obvious differences were noted among the treatments and clones. The leaf Cd concentration of clone BH2 and stem Cd concentration of clone BH5 in the combined Cd and Zn treatment group was increased by 62% and 110%, respectively, relative of that of the Cd alone treatment group. On the other hand, the leaf and stem Zn concentration of clone BH8 in the combined Cd and Zn treatment group was reduced by 66% and 61%, respectively, relative to that of the Zn alone treatment group. Translocation of Cd and Zn from the root was higher in the leaf than in the stem, and the combined Cd and Zn treatment stimulated the translocation of Cd from the root to the leaf and stem, whereas it suppressed the translocation of Zn from the root to the leaf and stem. Therefore, the interaction effects were considered strongly synergistic with Cd in the presence of Zn, but proved antagonistic to Zn in the presence of Cd in the combined Cd and Zn treatment group. The phytoremediation potentials of the seven clones, which were estimated from standard indices of Cd and Zn concentration in Cd and Zn alone and the combined Cd and Zn treatment groups, were highest in clone BH3, and lowest in clone BH5. Therefore, we recognize S. caprea as an appropriate material for phytoremediation, and this is particularly the case with clone BH3. However,further research will be required to evaluate the effects of Cd and Zn on the physiological changes as well as tolerance mechanisms against metal toxicity in S. caprea clones.
Abstract
It has been well established that leaf longevity is linked to the carbon economy of plants. We used this relationship to predict leaf lifetime carbon gains from leaf lifespan, and estimated the gross primary production (GPP) of a young deciduous forest of Japanese beech (Fagus crenata) located in central Japan. The light-saturated photosynthetic rates of the leaves were measured repeatedly during the growing season. We used the leaf lifespan to calculate the conversion coefficient from the light-saturated photosynthetic rate into the realized leaf lifetime carbon gain under field conditions. The leaf turnover rate was estimated using litter traps. GPP was estimated as the product of lifetime carbon gain per unit of leaf mass, and the annual leaf turnover rate. The GPP of the forest in 2007 was estimated to be 1.2 × 10³ g C m⁻² y⁻¹, which was within the range of previously reported GPP values of beech forests in Japan, and was close to the GPP of a European beech forest, as estimated by eddy flux measurements.
Abstract
Increasing atmospheric CO₂ affects the soil carbon cycle by influencing microbial activity and the carbon pool. In this study, the effects of elevated CO₂ on extracellular enzyme activities (EEA; β-glucosidase, N-acetylglucosaminidase,aminopeptidase) in salt marsh sediment vegetated with Suaeda japonica were assessed under ambient atmospheric CO₂ concentration (380 ppm) or elevated CO₂ concentration (760 ppm) conditions. Additionally, the community structure of sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) was analyzed via terminal restriction fragments length polymorphism (T-RFLP). Sediment with S. japonica samples were collected from the Hwangsando intertidal flat in May 2005, and placed in small pots (diameter 6 cm, height 10 cm). The pots were incubated for 60 days in a growth chamber under two different CO₂concentration conditions. Sediment samples for all measurements were subdivided into two parts: surface (0-2 cm)and rhizome (4-6 cm) soils. No significant differences were detected in EEA with different CO₂ treatments in the surface and rhizome soils. However, the ratio of β-glucosidase activity to N-acetylglucosaminidase activity in rhizome soil was significantly lower (P < 0.01) at 760 ppm CO₂ than at 380 ppm CO₂, thereby suggesting that the contribution of fungi to the decomposition of soil organic matter might in some cases prove larger than that of bacteria. Community structures of SRB were separated according to different CO₂ treatments, suggesting that elevated CO₂ may affect the carbon and sulfur cycle in salt marshes.