A study on the characteristics of urban ecosystems and plans for the environment and ecosystem in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Korea

Abstract

The aim of this study is to establish a plan for the environment and ecosystem by studying the characteristics of urban ecosystems, involving one of Seoul's districts for environment-friendly urban management. Biotope type in Gangnam-gu was classified into six large groups: forest, planted area, grassland, stream and wetland, cultivated land and urbanization area. Then the six groups were again divided into 22 small groups on the basis of composition of species, naturalness, diversity of stratification and scarcity. Filicales and Disporum smilacinum communities, moisture-loving native plants which are well worth conserving, were distributed widely throughout the northern slope of Mt. Daemosan, an outer mountain in Gangnam-gu. In contrast, Ageratina altissima, one of the naturalized plants in Seoul, was found to spread over Mt. Maebongsan and the Cheongdam neighborhood park, residual mountaintype parks located along the northern part of the Yangjaecheon stream. The southern part of the stream was found to be used as a route for woodpeckers and small wild birds, since the district's residual mountain type park was connected to large outer forest whose naturalness was in good condition. Under the plan for ecosystem conservation and restoration, conservation and restoration areas with highly valuable conservation biotopes were selected. Under the plan for ecosystem networking, a natural corridor and a green corridor were designed to connect greenspaces for the migration of woodpeckers. The plan for enlarging the greenspaces has a short-, mid-and long-term plan for areas that are need to secured greenspaces. The plan was set after comparing greenspaces in each block within the district.

Ecological application of biotic resistance to control the invasion of an invasive plant, Ageratina altissima

“…Ageratina altissima is a noxious weed and an invasive plant that is very difficult to control (Chun et al., ; Kim, Jang, & Park, ; Lee, Yoo, & Lee, ; Lee et al., ). In the field, invasion success is determined by the interplay among environmental conditions, propagule pressure, and biotic resistance (Catford, Jansson, & Nilsson, ; D'Antonio, ; Dethier & Hacker, ; Perelman, Chaneton, Batista, Burkart, & León, ).…”

“…Ageratina altissima , white snakeroot (also known as Eupatorium rugosum ), is an invasive plant in South Korea (Kil et al., ). White snakeroot is a perennial herb native to the eastern United States and Canada that is currently receiving much attention for its rapid invasion of Korean forests (Chun, Lee, & Lee, ; Lee, Han, Hong, & Choi, ). Populations of A. altissima are distributed in forest edges disturbed by the development of roads and human settlements from which the plant extends to inner forest patches, although individuals are scattered (Song, Hong, Kim, Byun, & Gin, ).…”

The effects of vegetation on indoor thermal comfort: The application of a multi-scale simulation methodology on a residential neighborhood renovation case study

“…As cities have grown over the last century, urbanization and industrialization have led to the reduction of green spaces and the deterioration of ecosystems [1,2], exacerbating the heat island effect and significantly affecting global energy costs and the quality of urban life.…”

Urban Green Development Planning Opportunities and Challenges in Sub-Saharan Africa: Lessons from Bamenda City, Cameroon

“…Such leads to significant alteration of its ecosystems and the loss of urban greenery and habitat (Gairola & Noresah, 2010) as well as habitat loss in the urban landscape (Mckinney, 2002). This has triggered a myriad of environmental challenges ranging from a reduction in green spaces to ecosystem deterioration (Lee et al, 2005). Urban green spaces are considered as ecosystem resources which are directly (e.g.…”