• Ecology and Resilient Infrastructure
• /
• v.3 no.1
• /
• pp.62-69
• /
• 2016

Narrow-mouth frog (Kaloula borealis) is the only amphibian species of genus Kaloula living in South Korea. They are designated and managed as endangered class II wildlife by the Ministry of Environment, Korea. Therefore, there is a desperate need of a habitat restoration study to prevent the extinction of narrow-mouth frog. This study is primarily for the purpose of presenting the direction and practical applications to restore damaged narrow-mouth frog habitats or to suggest alternative habitat options. The habitat suitability index (HSI) of narrow-mouth frog was applied to the research area in Mokpo City of Jeollanam-do Province, in order to present a new narrow-mouth frog habitat. We analyzed the research area based on historical contexts, ecological environment, ecology, and habitat requirements. The research area was divided into the core, buffer, and transition zones according to UNESCO MAB (Man and Biosphere) to establish local land-use plans. As for the foundation of the plan, we divided the habitat composition of the core, where narrow-mouth frog live in, into wetland (spawning area), grassland (shelter and feeding grounds), and forestland (feeding ground). We had a comparative analysis of habitat suitability in pre and post planning of narrow-mouth frog habitat restoration. For the validation study of habitat restoration plans, the future research should be on the composition of test-bed, continuous monitoring, and scientific habitat maintenance.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
• /
• v.22 no.5
• /
• pp.69-79
• /
• 2019

The purpose of this study is to suggest a guideline that can be used as a standard for consultation and review by environmental impact assessment consultation and review practitioner to enhance the practical effectiveness of creating alternative habitats. The consultation stage of environmental impact assessment was significantly divided into 1) preparation of draft environmental impact assessment reports and gathering of consensus thereon, 2) preparation of environmental impact assessment reports and consultation thereon, 3) follow-up survey of environmental impacts(under construction) and 4) follow-up survey of environmental impacts(in operation). And it was suggested that the procedures of creating alternative habitat by each consultation stage were linked in order of 1) planning, 2) designing, 3) construction, and 4) post-monitoring and maintenance. The basic principles were also proposed for each stage of consultation on environmental impact assessment and procedure for the creation of alternate habitats. Then, issues and methods to be reviewed by the consulting agency and review agency of environmental impact assessment were presented in detail. The guideline of this study provides important information not only to environmental impact assessment consultation and review practitioner, but also to developers and environmental impact assessment agents who plan, construct, and manage alternative habitats.

• Ecology and Resilient Infrastructure
• /
• v.6 no.4
• /
• pp.200-207
• /
• 2019

The movement distance and home range size of Pelophylax chosenicus were identified in the rice paddy and ecological park as alternative habitats from July to November 2017. A total of 39 frogs were tracked by radio tracking method. As a result, the average move distance in the population of rice paddy was 11.7 ± 1.9 m (n = 64) and the population of ecological park was 24.7 ± 4.3 m (n = 39). The move distance between the two populations was significantly different. The mean MCP of the population of rice paddy was 181.2 ± 110.8 m² (n = 11) and the population of ecological park was 416.1 ± 276.2 m² (n = 10), but there was no significant difference. The population area of rice paddy was 4,160 m² (Kernel density 95%) and the core area was 1,080 m² (Kernel density 50%). The population area (Kernel density 95%) of ecological park was 5,391 m² and the core area (Kernel density 50%) was 736 m². This study shows that it is appropriate to construct the area of alternative habitat for P. chosenicus at least 1.33 ha, and it is more advantageous for the ecological park to be constructed than the paddy field with high development pressure and human interference. If the rice paddies were to be abandoned for several years, or to be used traditional farming methods, such as refraining from using agricultural machinery and chemicals, they could be used as alternative habitat for P. chosenicus.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
• /
• v.21 no.2
• /
• pp.77-85
• /
• 2018

The intensive habitats loss of natural organisms as a consequence of anthropogenic activities has lead to the use of alternative habitats for species conservation. We reviewed the current status of alternative habitats and suggest the improvement of alternative habitats. Most of alternative habitats regarded in this study are not following the pre-arranged consultation at environmental impact assessment. These alternative habitats are rendered useless due to the insufficient consideration of ecological characteristics of species and lack of detailed plans. A number of alternative habitats are influenced by disturbance such as environmental pollution and construction. Post-monitoring of alternative habitats are needed to estimate immigration rate of species. Post management is also needed to assess the status of population stability. Overall, low effectiveness of alternative habitats is presented in this study. According to the status survey, methods for improvement of alternative habitats are required such as detailed guidelines, establishment of post-monitoring system, improvement of habitat restoration techniques, and guidelines for management and operation of alternative habitats.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
• /
• v.23 no.1
• /
• pp.63-76
• /
• 2020

This study was conducted to quantitatively evaluate and analyze the alternative habitats using the HSI(Habitat Suitability Index) model of Lutra lutra in Banbyeoncheon Stream. Six variables were selected as habitat variables for Lutra lutra, including distance from waterfront, land cover within 1km from waterfront, presence of alluvial island, area of inland water and wetland, distance from roads and urbanized arid areas, and distance from aquaculture farm. The SI(Suitability Index) model and HSI model were developed based on the existing literature of Lutra lutra, the results of field surveys and expert opinions, and applied to the alternative habitats to examine the applicability of the HSI model. The results of this study can provide information on habitat evaluation to prevent the extinction of endangered Lutra lutra. In particular, it is highly applicable to the selection and evaluation of alternative habitats for Lutra lutra.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
• /
• v.30 no.3
• /
• pp.328-334
• /
• 2016

This study identified the habitat use pattern and migration distance of spot-billed ducks during winter that occur for breed and wintering. The study was carried out using GPS-mobile phone based Telemetry (WT-300) to provide the research results as basic data for protection and management of the habitats of water birds in Korea. The tracking devices (WT-300) were attached to a total of twenty spot-billed ducks collected from the rivers and reservoirs in Gyeonggi-do Anseongcheon, Chungcheongnam-do Seocheongun, Jeollabuk-do Mangyunggang, Dongjingang, and Jeollanam-do Haenamgun. It was found that spot-billed ducks used rivers most frequently as their habitats (47.3%), followed by rice fields, ocean, inland wetlands, and tidal flats. While spot-billed ducks used rice fields at night time and ocean, inland wetlands, and tidal flatss at day time, they used rivers regardless of time. Change rate of habitat use pattern was highest between 6:00am and 8:00am and between 16:00pm and 18:00pm. The average daily migration distance was $0.75{\pm}0.27km$/2hours and accumulated migration distance was 8.95km. Spot-billed ducks covered the longest migration distance between 6:00am and 8:00am and between 16:00pm and 18:00pm; the distance they moved during the periods from 6:00am to 8:00am and from 16:00pm to 18:00pm was 2km but during the rest of the time, it was less than 1km for equivalent durations. The time when spot-billed ducks covered the longest migration distance also corresponds to the time when they showed the greatest change rate of habitat use pattern.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
• /
• v.37 no.1
• /
• pp.76-85
• /
• 2023

This study aimed to understand social interactions by observing the courtship and attack behavior between individuals of 15 (6 females and 9 males) Reeves' turtle (Mauremys reevesii) in captivity in the Wolchulsan National Park. CCTV was installed in the study area from May 18, 2020 to October 19, 2020 and recorded 3 days a week (24 hours/day) for a total of 64 days and analyzed at intervals of 10 minutes per hour. Male turtle courtship was observed 884 times in total, with the heaviest females receiving the highest courtship frequency (357 times) and the smallest females receiving the least courtship (3 times). Of a total of observed 259 aggressive behaviors, 30 were for female to female, 81 for male to male, and 148 for female to male. Dominance hierarchy identified based on the result ranked females higher overall than males, and the larger the body, the higher the ranking. This study was the first in Korea to confirm individuals with high probability of reproduction through the frequency of courtship in the Reeves' turtle and investigate dominance hierarchy according to attack behavior. Our results can be used as reference behavioral data for managing and protecting the endangered Reeves' turtles and will help us understand their social structure.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
• /
• v.26 no.2
• /
• pp.160-167
• /
• 2024

The amphibians serve as environmental indicator species warning of threats from pollution and development, and information regarding their body condition and surrounding habitat can be utilized as crucial indicators for assessing ecosystem health. The objective of this study was to investigate the differences in body condition and the climate environments according to the season and sex of Class II endangered Kaloula borealis. A total of 53 surveys were conducted from June to October 2018, targeting frogs inhabiting the Godeok-dong area of Gangdong-gu, Seoul. Using the weight and length of each individual, the body condition index (SMI, Scaled mass index) was calculated. Results showed a total capture of 396 individuals, consisting of 235 males and 161 females. Females exhibited longer SVL and greater weight compared to males, with higher body condition indices. Monthly body condition indices were lower for males in June, while no differences were observed between males and females from July to September. Among the climate environments where females and males appeared, environmental variables related to precipitation and humidity showed differences. These research findings are deemed crucial for providing fundamental information to ascertain suitable habitats for Kaloula borealis and selecting alternative habitats due to developmental impacts in the future.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
• /
• v.104 no.3
• /
• pp.360-367
• /
• 2015

The present study investigated the habitats of Korean fir trees (Abies koreana E. H. Wilson) on Mt. Baekwun (Baekwun-san), determined the current distribution, quantified the contribution of biological and non-biological environmental factors affecting the distribution, derived actual and potential habitats, presented a plan for the establishment of protected areas, applied RCP 8.5 climate change scenario to analyze the effects of climate change on the future distribution of Korean fir trees, and predicted future potential habitats. According to the results of the study, 3,325 Korean fir trees (DBH >= 2.5 cm) inhabited Mt. Baekwun, and their distribution area was approximately 150 ha. Populations of Korean fir trees were confirmed to exist at an altitude of 900 m above sea level and were distributed up to 1,200 m. Based on potential distribution, areas appropriate for habitation by Korean fir trees were analyzed to be 450 ha, three times the current distribution area, with a focus on Sang Peak (Sang-bong), Eokbul Peak (Eokbul-bong), Ddari Peak (Ddari-bong), and Dosol Peak (Dosol-bong). The forest stands near Sang Peak, the main peak, were evaluated as those with the most appropriate potential for the habitation of Korean fir trees, and populations of the trees tended to prefer the northern slope rather than the southern slope. When climate change scenario RCP 8.5 was applied and future potential distribution was analyzed, the habitats were expected to decrease in area to 20 ha by 2050, with a focus on Sang Peak, and areas appropriate for habitation were predicted not to exist by 2080. Judging from such results, as global warming accelerates, the habitats of Korean fir trees are clearly expected to move from lowlands to highlands.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• v.22 no.1
• /
• pp.102-108
• /
• 1984

This paper is the result of adult female mosquito and larval collection in U.S. Army Installations in Korea from 1979 to 1983. New Jersey light traps were operated for adult collection from May to October. The primary concern of this surveillance is to determine when to recommend insecticide spraying for mosquito control in the Army areas. The 5th Preventive Medicine Unit have developed an "index" level of female mosquitoes in a light trap similar to other U.S. Army Agencies in other parts of the world. When 10 female mosquitoes are reached on two consecutive trap-night, or 5 known vector females are collected, fogging is recommended in the trap areas. 1. Mosquito collections were conducted in 12 U.S. Army areas by operating 39 New Jersey light traps. Mosquitoes collected from the areas were identified to be 17 species comprising 3 genera. Anopheles sinensis (40%), Culex tritaeniorhynchus (31%), Aedes vexans nipponii (19 %) and Culex pipiens pallens (10%) appeared to be the most common species in the areas. 2. The species, population density and monthly appearance of adult mosquitoes were found to be almost the same in the all provinces involved. And Japanese Encephalitis vector mosquitoes, Culex tritaeniorhynchus, showed their seasonal fluctuation from July to September with a peak in August each year. 3. Larval habitats confirmed in the Army areas were categorized into 16 types as shown in Table 3. The mosquito larvae collected in those habitats were identified to be 15 species representing 4 genera. Most breeding sites in the Army areas were those which are activated during the wet season. 4. More mosquitoes were collected from the Kyungki Province than from the other Provinces. The reason for more collection of mosquitoes from military installations in the Kyungki Province appears to be the geographic characteristics surrounded by rice fields, marshes and other stagnant water areas.