No abstract

No abstract

In a closed landfill, we investigated the diversity and ecological characters of carabid beetles to understand the ecological importance of closed landfills that have the potential as a multi-functional habitat for improving biodiversity in urbanized areas. In addition, we studied the influence of environmental factors (vegetation structure, soil) on distribution and diversity of carabid beetles. A total of 92,495 individuals representing 15 carabid species were collected from the closed landfill. Although the species richness of carabid beetles recorded in the closed landfill was not higher than the other green spaces in the city, the closed landfill could sufficiently provides a stable habitat as a semi-natural area for carabid beetles. Soil pH, Na, and tall grass plant cover influenced carabid assemblage in the closed landfill. However, other environmental variables (e.g., K? , Na ? , Mg 2? , bare land cover, weedy cover, and tree cover) were not correlated with carabid species composition. It is implied that in the closed landfill, which is a highly modified engineered environment, other abiotic environmental (e.g., drainage, soil texture, leachate, and landscape context, etc.) and biotic factors (e.g., intra-and interspecific competition) may have affected carabid assemblage. Although artificial drainages are essential facilities for landfill management, they are a critical factor that affects the species inhabiting the landfill. However, carabid beetles seemed to randomly fall into the artificial drainage. For successful management of closed landfills, it is very important that minimize the intervention and that develop the ecological sensitively management method.

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract

Coastal dunes are highly vulnerable to disturbances. We characterized changes in the plant distribution, soil properties, and topology of a coastal dune field during the monsoon period. We selected a 600×300 m rectangular area of Dadaepo in the Nakdong River estuary and measured variables at 40 sampling points. A field survey was performed over two periods (pre-and post-monsoon) in 2009. Soil, topological features, and vegetation were surveyed at each point, and canonical correspondence analysis was used to identify relationships among the variables during the monsoon. The volumetric net change in the study site was 33,104 m 3 during the monsoon. When topographic and edaphic variables were compared, topological variables were found to be the dominant factors in dune vegetation zonation; however, their influence on vegetation change during the monsoon was less prominent than that of edaphic variables. Inland exotic species (Oenothera odorata and Conyza canadensis) and Cynodon dactylon replaced most of the Carex pumila distribution (54 % decrease) after the monsoon. Phragmites australis expanded its distribution and replaced the adjacent community after the monsoon. The area of Suaeda japonica decreased by more than 85 %, and this area was also replaced by P. australis. This knowledge of the dynamics of dune vegetation and environmental variables will be important for predicting the impacts of climate change, such as sea level rise and increased rainfall frequency.