Historical Changes and Characteristics of Rehabilitation,Management and Utilization of Forest Resources in South Korea

This study analyzed the causes of forest devastation,the characteristics of forest rehabilitation process,and the success factors of reforestation. And it reviewed the management of rehabilitated forest resources and identified the income sources of mountain villages in South Korea. The devastation of forest starting from the early twentieth century was continued to the 1950’s. The main causes of deforestation were the illegal cutting of trees for fuel and the slash-and-burning agriculture in forest. The success factors of reforestation were the decrease in the dependence on forest of fuel source,strict administration system and national participation. Sustainable forest management could be made possible through the practical use of social issues like public work project for prevention of landslide damages caused by the thinned logs left in the forest. Also it could be possible by making people realize that the public benefit was obtained from forest and the income sources of mountain villages were supplemented by non-timber forest products and tourism. Food and Agriculture Organization indicated Korea as the country that forestation was succeeded in a very short period. Korea seems to be not ordinary because economic growth was accomplished with rehabilitating natural environment. Korean forestation can become a good prototype of combining environmental rehabilitation and economic development.

Influence of volcanic activity on vegetation succession and growth environment on the hillslope of Sakurajima Volcano in southern Kyushu,Japan

This study was conducted in order to examine the influence of long-term volcanic activity on vegetative succession and growth on the slope of Sakurajima in southern Kyushu, Japan. We investigated the vegetation,depth of the volcanic ash layer, and dry density and p H of the surface soil at six places on the north-northwestern slope, 2.3–3.4 km from the Minami-dake crater, where a layer of pumice stone was deposited by the Taisho eruption in 1914. The height and diameter at breast height（DBH） of the trees increased with increasing distance from the Minami-dake crater, as did the number of individuals and species, and basal area. The Shannon–Wiener diversity index（H＇） demonstrates that vegetative succession is significantly affected by distance from the Minami-dake crater, as areas farther from the crater exhibited later seral stages. Comparison of the diversity index and species number of the crater region with that of the climax forest in Kagoshima indicates that vegetative growth alone cannot advance succession in the study area, as the local vegetative community is heavily influenced by the harsh environmental conditions associated with continual exposure to long-term volcanic activity. Seral stage, ash layer depth,dry density, and p H of the soil surface layer are governed by distance from the Minami-dake crater. The results of this study indicate that conditions for vegetative growth and succession improve with increasing distance from the source of constant volcanic activity. Thus, soil development is promoted by the acidification of the soil, which decreases the dry density and p H of the soil surface layer.The introduction of plant species resistant to volcanic ash and gas is recommended to promote soil development and improve the infiltration capacity of the soil.

Proximate and mineral components of Viscum album var. coloratum grown on eight different host tree species

Mistletoes are parasite plants growing on various tree species,taking nutrients from the host.Beneficial compounds of mistletoe were used in medicine and these mistletoes were commonly collected from oak species that were not well identified.We analyzed the nutritional value by measuring proximate and mineral components of Korean mistletoe(Viscum album var.coloratum)from various host trees.Carbohydrate was the most proximate component in both leaves and twigs followed crude protein,crude fiber,crude ash and crude fat.While the contents of the proximate components and minerals varied among hosts and between plant parts,leaves contained higher crude protein and ash,and more minerals except for magnesium than twigs,although no significant difference was found inmistletoe grown on Prunus mandshurica.There were significant differences of proximate and mineral contents depending on the host species.Mistletoe grown on Chaenomeles sinensis contained higher levels of carbohydrates,crude fat,crude ash,magnesium,calcium,sodium,iron,and zinc than mistletoe grown on other species.Mistletoe grown on P.mandshurica contained high mineral levels of potassium,copper and phosphorous.The nutritional value of mistletoes were greatly influenced by the host species but among the hosts,specific nutrients accumulated in leaves more than in twigs,and vice versa.Based on the analysis,Korean mistletoe contains relatively good quality of nutrients and has high potential for dietary supplements as well as for medicinal compounds.

Dietary composition of birds in isolated ecosystems:a case study of Black Wood Pigeon in Republic of Korea

We studied the feeding ecology of the Black Wood Pigeon(Columba janthina),a species endemic to the East Asian Pacific Islands,and determined the species’dietary composition and food preferences on Ulleung Island,South Korea,through field observations.From March 2016 to February 2018,the diversity of food items consumed was low,with the 10 most common plant species(from a total of 33)accounting for over 80%.Food availability varied depending on plant abundance,but this influence was minimized because of factors such as delayed fruit ripening.Drupes were the most favored food items(60-68%)but were replaced by nuts and weed seeds during the spring and winter months.Dietary composition and food preferences were related to the abundance of food items based on their phenology,but a steady,high preference for Aphananthe aspera was observed throughout the study period.The abundance of Prunus takesimensis in June was correlated with changes in the Black Wood Pigeon population.This study is the first to assess the feeding ecology of Black Wood Pigeons using field observations and suggests that the availability of different food items affects population changes on the East Asian Pacific islands.

Nitrogen removal efficiencies and microbial communities in full-scale IFAS and MBBR municipal wastewater treatment plants at high COD:N ratio

The relative locations of AOB,NOB,and DNB were examined for three different kinds of carriers in two types of hybrid bioflm process configurations:integrated fixed-film activated sludge(IFAS)and moving bed bioflm reactor(MBBR)processes.IFAS water resource recovery facilities(WRRFs)used Anodkainess^TM K1 carriers(KC)at Broomfield,Colorado,USA and polypropylene resin crriers(R)at Fukuok,Japa,whic MBBR WRFS used KC crier at South Adams Couty,Colorado,USA and sponge carriers(SC)at Saga,Japan.Influent COD to N ratios ranged from 8:1 to 15:1.The COD and BOD removal efficiencies were high(96%-98%);NH^+4-N and TN removal efficiencies were more varied at 72%98%and 64%-77%,respectively.The extent of TN removal was higher at high SRT,high COD:N ratio and low DO concentration in the anoxic tank.In IFAS,RC with high specific surface area.(SSA)maintained higher AOB population than KC.Sponge carriers with high SSA maintained higher overall bacteria population than KC in MBBR systems.However,the DNB were not more abundant in high SSA crriers.The diversity of AOB,NOB,and DNB was fairly similar in different carriers.Nitrosomonas sp.dominated over Nitrosospira sp.while denitrifying bacteria included Rhodobacter sp.,Sulfuritalea sp.,.Rubrivivax sp:Paracoccus sp..and Pseudomonas sp.The results from this work suggest that high SRT,high.COD:N ratio,low DO concentration in anoxic tanks,and carriers with greater surface area may be recommended for high COD,BOD and TN removal in WRRFs with IFAS and MBBR systerms.