Abstract
This study set out to identify problems with amphibian habitation by the wetland types and improve their habitation environment in urban forest wetlands, thus creating a habitat for amphibians. Study site include forest swamps in Jatjul Park as well as Yeoji neighborhood Park in Guro-gu, and in Choansan neighborhood Park in Dobong-gu. The forest swamp in Jatjul Park gets its water from Mt. Maebong and it is a former escalated farmland-turned wetland. The swamp area is $2,500m^2$, a forest zone and a landscape planting site are 83.27% and 6.70% each. Target species Seoul pond frogs are inseparable from rice fields because they live in a short radius of and lay eggs in or near paddy fields, and Rana nigromaculata have similarities with Rana plancyi chosenica in choosing their habitats. There was need for paths that would lead to other paths so amphibians would spread to other parts of the forest and for measures to secure open water. Modifying a variety of routes for water, human and animals along with building a buffer to keep the core habitation zones were required. The forest swamp in Yeonji neighborhood Park used to be a water reservoir on the foot of Mt. Gunji. The swamp area is $1,980m^2$, a forest zone and farmland account for 80.61% and 4.88% each. Non-point pollutants from upstream along run into the subject forest marsh, bare ground on the around swamp and steep stone embankments obstructed amphibians. Target species was Bufo gargarizans that live in forests and edges of hills and spawn in deep water. The forest swamp in Choansan neighborhood Park gets its water from Mt. Choan and it is close to its water source that it is a mountain stream forest wetland. The basin and the swamp are $35,240m^2$ and $250m^2$ in size respectively. A forest zone accounts for 90.20%, high stone embankments laid in refurbishing the valley obstruct amphibians and there is water shortage in times of droughts. Target species were Rana coreana, Rana dybowskii and Hynobius leechii that live in mountain valleys, streams and wetlands and lay eggs in forest marshes and rocks in valleys. Looking into the three swamps of amphibian habitation, I came to conclusions that those wetlands were suitable for their amphibians but man-made facilities blocked their corridors leading to other corridors and even killed off target species in some parts of those swamps by destroying those parts. Amphibians live in water, on ground and underground at different stages of life. Hence, we should take this fact into consideration when planning their habitats and design core habitation zones, buffers zone and use zones accordingly. Buffer zones ought to be between core habitation zones and surrounding trees. Aiming at protecting core habitation zones, buffers should be in harmony with habitation zones. Use zones should be minimized in size and not in direct contact with core habitation zones.
