Development of Methodology for Vulnerability Assessment of Chemical Accident in Terrestrial Ecosystem:(1) Focusing on the Trees

Objective:With rapid industrial development, human and the environment are frequently exposed to various chemicals. In particular, there is a possibility that terrestrial ecosystems as well as humans are exposed to a large amount of highly toxic chemicals due to accidents occurring frequently in Korea and abroad. If a large amount of chemicals enter the terrestrial ecosystem due to an accident such as a chemical leakage, the terrestrial ecosystem around the accident site may be affected and these chemicals may impair not only a living organisms, but also the function of terrestrial environment, the habitat of the organisms. The aim of this study is to develop methodology for vulnerability assessment of chemical accident in terrestrial ecosystem.Method:First, we selected 41 forest tree species and 41 shrubs among woody plants according to the domestic distribution and establish various vulnerability indicators that can be evaluated according to the exposure and recovery categories.Results and Discussion:As a result of vulnerability scoring for 41 forest tree species and 41 shrubs, most vulnerable species were Daphniphyllum macropodum, Lindera obtusiloba, Juniperus rigida, Diospyros lotus, and Eucommia ulmoides in forest trees and Zanthoxylum piperitum, Cephalotaxus koreana, Forsythia koreana, Cycas revoluta, and Lespedeza maximowiczii in shrubs.Conclusions:This study quantified the vulnerability of trees to chemical accidents by adding them and assigning them according to their characteristics. We expect that the risk of chemicals caused by chemical accidents occurring in these days and the exposure of chemicals to the environment can be assessed in terms of ecological perspective using the assessment of vulnerability of terrestrial ecosystems proposed in this study.

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Development of Methodology for Vulnerability Assessment of Chemical Accident in Terrestrial Ecosystem: (2) Focusing on the Herbs

Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers ◽

10.4491/ksee.2020.42.12.610 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 42 (12) ◽

pp. 610-622

Author(s):

Yooeun Chae ◽

Lia Kim ◽

Rongxue Cui ◽

Jieun Lee ◽

Youn-Joo An

Keyword(s):

Vulnerability Assessment ◽

Terrestrial Ecosystem ◽

Modern Society ◽

Miscanthus Sinensis ◽

Main Stage ◽

Vulnerable Species ◽

Chemical Accidents ◽

Psilotum Nudum ◽

Chemical Accident ◽

Assessment Techniques

Objective:As the industry rapidly develops in modern society, the use of chemicals increases and people and various organism living in terrestrial environments are exposed to these chemicals in large quantities. Chemical accidents frequently occur around the world, and these accidents could cause fatal damage to the terrestrial ecosystem. When the terrestrial ecosystem is exposed to highly toxic chemicals, soil functions as well as living organisms in the terrestrial ecosystem could be severely damaged. Countermeasures against chemical accidents and chemicals are required to prevent such damage and for this purpose, systematic vulnerability assessment techniques should be developed to prepare terrestrial ecosystem management for chemical accidents. For this purpose, this study is conducted to develop chemical vulnerability assessment techniques based on biological characteristics of plants.Method:First, we selected 215 species among herb plants according to the domestic distribution and establish various vulnerability indicators that can be evaluated according to the exposure and recovery categories.Results and Discussion:As a result of vulnerability scoring for 215 herbs species, the most vulnerable species were Humulus japonicus, Linum usitatissimum, Psilotum nudum, Trigonotis peduncularis, and Lamium amplexicaule. The least vulnerable species were Miscanthus sinensis, Dactylis glomerata, Spodiopogon sibiricus, and Polygonum filiforme.Conclusions:Terrestrial ecosystem is a main stage of human activity, so there is a high risk of chemical accidents as a large amount of chemicals are used. By utilizing this terrestrial ecosystem vulnerability assessment proposed in this study, we can prioritize the vulnerability of chemicals on the terrestrial ecosystem and use this technique to manage chemical accidents and chemicals and prepare countermeasures.

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Light and Water in Relation to Growth and Competition of Piedmont Forest Tree Species

Ecological Monographs ◽

10.2307/1943536 ◽

1949 ◽

Vol 19 (3) ◽

pp. 207-231 ◽

Cited By ~ 77

Author(s):

Theodore T. Kozlowski

Keyword(s):

Tree Species ◽

Forest Tree ◽

Forest Tree Species

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Identification of spectral features in the longwave infrared (LWIR) spectra of leaves for the discrimination of tropical dry forest tree species

International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation ◽

10.1016/j.jag.2020.102286 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 97 ◽

pp. 102286

Author(s):

Yaqian Long ◽

Benoit Rivard ◽

Arturo Sanchez-Azofeifa ◽

Russell Greiner ◽

Dominica Harrison ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Tree Species ◽

Tropical Dry Forest ◽

Forest Tree ◽

Dry Forest ◽

Spectral Features ◽

Forest Tree Species

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A case of gender equality: absence of sex-related costs in a dioecious tropical forest tree species

Plant Ecology ◽

10.1007/s11258-020-01105-1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Valéria Forni Martins ◽

Rafaela Letícia Brito Bispo ◽

Priscilla de Paula Loiola

Keyword(s):

Tropical Forest ◽

Gender Equality ◽

Tree Species ◽

Forest Tree ◽

Forest Tree Species

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Fire suppression and seed dispersal play critical roles in the establishment of tropical forest tree species in southeastern Africa

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-95752-7 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Tomohiro Fujita

Keyword(s):

Seed Dispersal ◽

Tree Species ◽

Seedling Survival ◽

Fire Suppression ◽

Forest Tree ◽

Tree Seedlings ◽

Seedling Mortality ◽

Forest Tree Species ◽

Seed Deposition ◽

Syzygium Guineense

AbstractThis study examined the mechanisms of facilitation and importance of seed dispersal during establishment of forest tree species in an Afrotropical woodland. Seedling survival of Syzygium guineense ssp. afromontanum was monitored for 2.5 years at four different microsites in savannah woodland in Malawi (southeastern Africa) under Ficus natalensis (a potential nurse plant), Brachystegia floribunda (a woodland tree), Uapaca kirkiana (a woodland tree), and at a treeless site. The number of naturally established forest tree seedlings in the woodland was also counted. Additionally, S. guineense ssp. afromontanum seed deposition was monitored at the four microsites. Insect damage (9% of the total cause of mortality) and trampling by ungulates (1%) had limited impact on seedling survival in this area. Fire (43%) was found to be the most important cause of seedling mortality and fire induced mortality was especially high under U. kirkiana (74%) and at treeless site (51%). The rate was comparatively low under F. natalensis (4%) and B. floribunda (23%), where fire is thought to be inhibited due to the lack of light-demanding C4 grasses. Consequently, seedling survival under F. natalensis and B. floribunda was higher compared with the other two microsites. The seedling survival rate was similar under F. natalensis (57%) and B. floribunda (59%). However, only a few S. guineense ssp. afromontanum seedlings naturally established under B. floribunda (25/285) whereas many seedlings established under F. natalensis (146/285). These findings indicate that the facilitative mechanism of fire suppression is not the only factor affecting establishment. The seed deposition investigation revealed that most of the seeds (85%) were deposited under F. natalensis. As such, these findings suggest that in addition to fire suppression, dispersal limitations also play a role in forest-savannah dynamics in this region, especially at the community level.

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