- KOREAN
- P-ISSN2287-8327
- E-ISSN2288-1220
- SCOPUS, KCI
ISSN : 2287-8327
Vol.49 No.1
Abstract
Background: Among the 22 species in the Vespa genus, five have successfully established populations outside their native ranges, while four others have been recorded either in natural habitats or during border inspections in various countries. This study aims to assess the potential threat posed by 12 hornet species—Vespa crabro, Vespa mandarinia, Vespa simillima, Vespa velutina, Vespa affinis, Vespa analis, Vespa basalis, Vespa bicolor, Vespa ducalis, Vespa dybowskii, Vespa soror, and Vespa tropica—within the geographical and ecological context of Iran, an arid Middle Eastern country. Using ecological niche modeling, we analyzed species occurrence data alongside climatic variables with minimal correlation to predict the potential distribution of these hornets across Iran. The mobility-oriented parity method was applied to identify areas where strict extrapolation is relevant for these species. Additionally, we generated a habitat suitability map for Apis mellifera (honey bee) using ecological niche modeling and compared the spatial overlap between the predicted risk maps for the hornets and the honey bee habitat suitability map, employing Schoener’s D metric. Results: The results revealed two key findings. First, a significant portion of Iran exhibits climatic dissimilarity compared to the native habitats of certain hornet species. Second, the spatial overlap analysis showed varying degrees of overlap between A. mellifera habitats and the potential distributions of different hornet species. Notably, V. mandarinia and V. crabro demonstrated the highest overlap values (D = 0.68), suggesting that these hornets could share substantial habitat preferences or ecological roles with honey bees in Iran. Conclusions: Although most regions of Iran appear less suitable for hornet invasions, caution is warranted in the northern areas, where trade and exchanges could serve as pathways for Vespa hornet introductions. These findings highlight the importance of targeted monitoring and preventative measures in these high-risk regions.
Abstract
The shift in flowering phenology with plants blooming earlier due to climate change, disrupts the synchronization between plants and pollinators by creating temporal and spatial mismatches. Monitoring these shifts is essential, and remote sensing has become an invaluable tool for detecting flowering periods over vast areas. Despite the technological advancements, there remains a significant gap in comprehensive reviews that explore the use of remote sensing in flowering phenology and its impact on pollination ecology. Therefore, this study aims to review and summarize research on the remote sensing of flowers, with a particular focus on key techniques used to analyze flowering phenology. We categorized the application of remote sensing in the field of flowering phenology into four groups based on the type of data used: optical, Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), and PhenoCam-based applications. In each section, we have reviewed and provided a summary of the studies conducted in this field, with a particular focus on those that primarily examine canola crop flowering. In conclusion, our findings reveal that Optical remote sensing, proves effective in capturing detailed imagery of flowering events, while SAR technology offers robust, all-weather monitoring capabilities. UAV-based remote sensing provides high-resolution, site-specific data, although it is constrained by operational limitations. PhenoCams offer valuable long-term monitoring but lack the spatial resolution for detailed analysis. Each remote sensing approach has distinct advantages and limitations, underscoring the need for integrated methods to improve flowering phenology assessments and enhance agricultural monitoring.
Abstract
Background: Soil carbon sequestration is a fundamental mechanism for mitigating climate change by capturing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Soils can store more carbon than both vegetation and the atmosphere combined. This study aims to quantify the organic carbon stock and evaluate various physicochemical properties of the soil to promote sustainability in the Lesser Himalayan subtropical coniferous and mixed forests of Muzaffarabad. Soil samples were collected from ten representative sites within each forest type, and soil organic carbon (SOC) was measured using the Walkley-Black method. Results: The SOC averaged 63.86 ± 3.29 Mg ha-1 in coniferous forests and 50.05 ± 3.05 Mg ha-1 in mixed forests, with a total average of 56.95 ± 1.40 Mg ha-1. SOC levels in coniferous forest soils ranged from 82.11 ± 6.52 Mg ha-1 to 48.63 ± 3.82 Mg ha-1, while mixed forest ecosystems exhibited a SOC range of 62.29 ± 4.71 Mg ha-1 to 35.57 ± 2.34 Mg ha-1. The average soil pH was 7.1 ± 0.14, whereas soil bulk density, and electrical conductivity were 1.1 ± 0.01 g cm-3 and 0.95 ± 0.07 dS m-1, respectively. The sampled forests harboured 103 plant species from 48 families and 92 genera, with trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants constituting 17%, 12%, and 71% of the flora, respectively. Conclusions: Statistical analysis revealed a significant difference in SOC between coniferous and mixed forest types. The dominant plant families in the studied forests were Poaceae, Compositeae, Fabaceae, and Lamiaceae. The findings underscore the need for sustainable forest and soil management policies to enhance SOC levels. Implementing such policies is crucial for achieving the sustainable development goals related to environmental sustainability, economic development, and societal well-being.
Abstract
Background: A leafless, partially mycoheterotrophic terrestrial orchid Cymbidium macrorhizon is legally protected as Endangered Species in Korea, but there is insufficient information on the habitat and growth conditions of this species to ensure its conservation. We conducted a survey of the occurrence and growth of C. macrorhizon from June to November 2024 on Mt. Noza in Geoje, and in Jeju during July and September. We also examined the vegetation, canopy coverage, soil respiration rate, and soil physicochemical parameters in C. macrorhizon habitats. To understand the factors influencing the survival and reproductive success of C. macrorhizon, we analyzed the relationships between population size and the surrounding vegetation, as well as soil physicochemical parameters. Results: In both Geoje and Jeju, C. macrorhizon can be observed from late June to early November, with the highest emergence occurring in July. However, less than 3% of the fruits were continuously maintained and reached fruit maturity. Cymbidium macrorhizon was observed with more than 20 individuals in the Pinus thunbergii and Platycarya strobilacea communities. The results of the Principal Component Analysis indicated that the P. thunbergii community is associated with soil characteristics such as organic matter content, water content, and pH. The successful progression of C. macrorhizon through its growth stages, including flowering, fruiting, and fruit maturation, was primarily observed in areas with adequate light penetration, specifically where light levels reached up to a relative light intensity of 56% with a maximum of about 5,300 lux, rather than those excessively shaded by the canopy. Conclusions: Cymbidium macrorhizon forms large populations, especially in P. thunbergii stands, which are characterized by well-developed organic layers and well-drained soils with approximately 40% soil moisture content. It is proposed that C. macrorhizon may increase its population size through vegetative propagation via rhizomes facilitated by microbial activity in environments that limit population growth through seed reproduction, such as shaded stands with high organic matter content. Understanding the specific environmental conditions, such as soil characteristics and light penetration, and vegetation community in its natural habitat, can provide crucial data for establishing effective conservation strategies to ensure the continued survival and proliferation of C. macrorhizon.
Abstract
Background: Sensitivity of forests to atmospheric warming is greater when compared with other types of landuse. Evaluation on response of soil respiration to increase in temperature is valuable as forest soils emits 75 to 77 PgC yr-1. Sensitivity of soil respiration to climate change varies from a forest to another forests, therefore evaluation of Q10 is necessary to provide an unbiased result. Results: In the present compilation it was found that as latitude increases Q10 of forests rises and it correlated negatively with mean annual temperature (MAT) and mean annual precipitation (MAP). The amount of soil organic carbon (SOC) does not correlate with Q10 however, higher amount of recalcitrant C and associated microbial population in forest soils at higher latitudes as a result of low MAT and MAP is an important factor in the elevated response of Q10. Conclusions: The quality of SOC and not the quantity of SOC is an important component in estimating sensitivity of soil respiration to increase in temperature in different forests.
Abstract
Background: This study was undertaken to analyze the impact of reforestation and logging (i.e., forestry projects) on forest carbon stocks and biodiversity. Vegetation and biodiversity data were utilized from areas where forestry projects were implemented to estimate changes in carbon stocks and biodiversity before and after forestry projects. The carbon-biodiversity linkage assessment was developed by indexing carbon stocks and biodiversity in the same ratio. Results: A high carbon-biodiversity linkage assessment index indicates high carbon stocks and biodiversity. Forestry projects were found to have a negative impact on both carbon stocks and biodiversity. Significant reductions in tree above-ground and soil carbon stocks and biodiversity declines of mast taxonomic groups were observed. However, due to differences in ecosystem characteristics, the magnitude of biodiversity decline varied among taxa. A decline following forestry projects was demonstrated as a result of the carbon-biodiversity linkage assessment. A decrease in the carbon-biodiversity linkage index indicates a weakening of ecosystem services, climate change reduction, and mitigation functions of the target area. Through carbon-biodiversity linkage assessment, this study identified hotspot areas with high carbon stocks and biodiversity. Conclusions: These areas of concern can provide a policy basis information for simultaneously increasing and conserving carbon storage capacity and biodiversity in Korea. Therefore, we recommend an ecosystem survey database that is consistent in time and space should be established and managed for accurate carbon-biodiversity linkage assessment. It is also necessary, depending on ecosystem type and environmental impacts, to investigate the synergy and trade-offs between carbon stocks and biodiversity.
Abstract
Background: Trophic diatom index (TDI) should have been conducted annually by ‘water environment conservation act’ since 2008 in South Korea. However, its application had difficulties in identification such as fine structures and diversity of diatoms. In this study, it is proposed that a new water quality assessment method called simplified-TDI (S-TDI) for reducing the difficulties of identification using indicator-diatom taxa. Results: The indicator-diatom taxa were selected using relative abundance and frequency of occurrence. The one criterion was above 10% of the minimum relative abundance of diatom species occurred in each station and the other was above 2% of the minimum frequency of occurrence of diatoms among the total station. Appeared species in 1,999 stations for study was 412 and 115 species were selected as the indicator-diatom taxa. The criterions were verified using statistic assessment method as below similarity, paired sample t-test and root mean square error (RMSE). Species excluded from indicator-diatom taxa were identified two methods. They were identified up to genus level and received the average sensitivities and indicator values of the genus in TDI. Even they were not able to be identified genus level, identified them to “unidentified group” and received the average sensitivities and indicator values of total diatom species in TDI. This method was newly proposed as S-TDI in this study. To verify the application of S-TDI, its values were compared with original TDI values from 60 sampling stations considering various aquatic environments. The similarity between S-TDI and original TDI values were very high degree of 0.999, the paired sample t-test indicated no statistically significant difference and RMSE was 1.52 below the threshold. Conclusions: These results showed S-TDI can be applied to the water quality assessment instead of original TDI.
Abstract
Background: Drought represents a significant global threat, affecting agricultural productivity and leading to water shortages. Nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) are essential macronutrients that promote plant growth and enhance tolerance to drought. Swietenia mahagoni (L.) Jacq. (mahogany), is a high-quality timber species recognized for its extensive commercial and pharmaceutical applications. The present study aims to study the effect of fertilization by different forms of N and P on the growth and drought tolerance of mahogany seedlings. Results: The application of three levels of soil water regime (100%, 75%, and 50%, field capacity [FC]) on mahogany seedlings, with different combinations of N fertilizers (ammonium sulfate [AS], ammonium nitrate [AN], and urea [UR]) and P (phosphoric acid [PA], superphosphate [SP], and triple superphosphate [TS]) in two seasons, indicating that the water regimes and all the combinations of N and P forms significantly increased mahogany growth (number of leaves, root length, stem height, the fresh and dry weights of shoots, roots, stem, and leaves), water use efficiency (WUE), and N and P leaves content. The highest values were obtained from irrigation with 100% FC, while the lowest was from 50% FC. All combinations of N and P significantly enhance all growth parameters compared to the control. Furthermore, AS, PA, and AS-PA had significantly the highest values of all studied characteristics. While AN, SP, and AN-TS had the lowest values. The interaction between different water regimes and different N and P combinations had a highly significant (p ≤ 0.001) effect on WUE, root length, leaves dry weight, and N leaf content in both growing seasons. While fresh and dry weights of stem and shoots were significant at p ≤ 0.05 in the second growing season. Conclusions: Drought stress had a negative impact on all vegetative characteristics, WUE, and N and P leaves content of mahogany seedlings. All the combinations of N and P significantly improved growth characteristics under drought conditions, but the most effective treatments were AS, PA, and AS-TS. The present study is very important in that it provides critical insights for enhancing drought adaptation, reducing water usage, and enhancing plant growth characteristics.
Abstract
Background: This study focused on assessing ecosystem services in the Solomon Islands, highlighting their significance and challenges. We evaluated the importance of mangrove management using the Rapid Assessment Wetland Ecosystem Services method and the need for integrated conservation efforts to sustain these valuable ecosystems. Results: This study assessed the first qualitative ecosystem services in the Solomon Islands with multi-stakeholders. The assessment revealed significant benefits from ecosystem services in the Solomon Islands, particularly in provisioning fresh water, food, and cultural services. However, challenges such as illegal logging and degradation threaten these benefits, reducing the effectiveness of ecosystem services. We also identified the importance of mangrove management and the need for integrated conservation efforts to sustain these valuable ecosystems. Conclusions: We identified the significance of ecosystem services in the Solomon Islands. This study can help decision-makers in the Solomon Islands determine and ensure the sustainable management of mangrove areas and broader ecosystems.