• Journal of Wetlands Research
• /
• v.26 no.3
• /
• pp.285-297
• /
• 2024

This study, conducted in Geolpo-dong and Gamjeong-dong near Gimpo-Hangang New Town, examines an area adjacent to the Han River estuary, a major wintering ground for migratory birds. Over 59 surveys from October 2015 to March 2022 in four representative rice fields (sites A-D) recorded 44,942 individuals from 32 genera and 72 species. Site D, a large area near the Han River, exhibited high species diversity. Despite lower diversity in areas under development (sites A, B, C), ongoing species influx and utilization persist. The study focuses on Anser fabalis, a species predominantly utilizing rice fields, and identified their distribution characteristics. The analysis revealed 162 instances of population influx, with over a 30-fold increase observed across 39 surveys conducted over a 30-month period (October to March, '15~'22). The area, a key wintering site for migratory birds of Janghang Wetland, about 5 km from feeding sites, is heavily utilized by migratory geese, indicating the region's high value considering migration distance and anticipated continuous bird influx despite urban expansion. Therefore, future developments should preserve ecological corridors and connected stepping stone habitats to not only preserve existing habitats but to secure alternative feeding sites, ensuring smooth movements and mitigating habitat loss.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
• /
• v.14 no.4
• /
• pp.667-674
• /
• 2012

This study was conducted to understand landscape ecological characteristics on habitats of Nannophya pygmaea, an endangered species in South Korea. The ecological characteristics of the habitats were investigated in abandoned paddy fields where N. pygmaea populations have been found in Chungcheongnam-do Kongju, Gyeonggi-do Kwangju and Gyeongsangbuk-do Mungyeong from 2009 to 2010. We surveyed the dominant vegetation, areas, water depth and temperature, and plant height and coverage to compare the wetlands living N. pygmaea and not living N. pygmaea. As a result, habitats of N. pygmaea in all regions were dominated by Salix koreensis community. There is no signigicant difference in the water temperature, plant height and coverage among wetlands of the three different sites, but depth was varied within 2.5~9.5cm. The water depth of habitat was deeper in Gongju than the others. Percentage of open water was 1.7~6% in the wetlands living N. pygmaea. but it did not appear in the wetlands not living N. pygmaea. Therefore, the ecological characteristics of wetlands as abandoned paddy fields should be taken into account for N. pygmaea habitat conservation and restoration.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
• /
• v.17 no.2
• /
• pp.133-143
• /
• 2003

The three wild populations including unrecorded two wild populations and Do-dong population, where designated as a Natural Monument NO 51, of Cotoneaster wilsonii in Ulnung Island were studied. The population at Yilmoldae, western coast of the island is in the threat by the visitors, while the population at Tonggumi is well conserved due to the geomorphologically difficult to access . The existing 25 to 50 maturing individuals are are potentially vital sources fer the island species recovery projects in the future. There are no statistical difference in the floral characteristics of the species such as both length and width of the petals, while statistical difference were shown from the leaf characteristics such as length, width and area of the leaves in the three studies areas.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
• /
• v.20 no.4
• /
• pp.295-303
• /
• 2018

Inland wetlands in the Republic of Korea provide key breeding and wintering habitats, while coastal wetlands provide nutrient-rich habitats for stopover sites for East Asia/Australasia Flyway(EAAF) migrants. However, since the 1960's, Korea has reclaimed these coastal wetlands gradually for agriculture and urban expansion. The habitat loss has rippled across global populations of migrant shorebirds in EAAF. To protect a similar loss, the United States, specifically Missouri, developed the moist-soil management technique. Wetland impoundments are constructed from levees with water-flow control gates with specific soils, topography, available water sources, and target goals. The impoundments are subjected to a combination of carefully timed and regulated flooding and drawdown regimes with occasional soil disturbance. This serves a dual purpose of removing undesirable vegetation, while maximizing habitat and forage for wildlife. Flooding and drawdown schedules must be dynamic with constantly shifting climate conditions. Korea's latitude ($N33^{\circ}25^{\prime}{\sim}N38^{\circ}37^{\prime}$) is comparable to Missouri ($N36^{\circ}69^{\prime}{\sim}N40^{\circ}41^{\prime}$); as such, moist-soil management could prove to be an effective wetland restoration technique for Korea. In order to meet specific conservation goals (i.e. shorebird staging site restoration), it is necessary to test the proposed methodology on a site that can meet the required specifications for moist-soil management. Moist-soil management has the potential to not only create key habitat for endangered wildlife, but also provide valuable ecosystem services, including water filtration.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.55 no.1
• /
• pp.76-83
• /
• 2022

We attempted to estimate potential habitats of Clithon retropictus and to determine the community structure of benthic macroinvertebrates by presence of C. retropictus. 2016 to 2018 database of "Survey and Assessment of Estuary Ecosystem Health" by the Ministry of Environment were used to identify the distribution site of C. retropictus. The occupancy model was applied to estimate the potential habitat of C. retropictus. Four diversity indices were used to confirm the community structure of benthic macroinvertebrates. C. retropictus was found in the southern coast area and part of the east coast, and this pattern was consistent with previous studies. Additionally, the occupancy model predicted that a potential habitat of C. retropictus could appear in the west coast area. The community structure of benthic macroinvertebrates was relatively high at the site with C. retropictus than the site without C. retropictus. Therefore, the occupancy model can be considered when conserving C. retropictus inhabiting a limited area. Additionally, C. retropictus can be used to the indicator species that can represent the brackish water environment.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
• /
• v.36 no.11
• /
• pp.733-738
• /
• 2014

Within the scope that does not interfere with the performance of basic duty, the military has been actively supporting the national policy for the conservation of the natural environment in accordance with the "military environmental protection guidelines". Since there is a lack of information regarding inhabitation for wild fauna and flora, field investigations of the natural environment at Jinhae local unit were performed three times in 2003. As a result of the investigation, lycoris sanguinea as flora, marten, otter, and leopard cat as mammalia, and accipiter soloensis, accipiter gentilis schvedow, accipiter gularis, buteo hemilasius, falco tinnunculus and terpsiphone atrocaudata as bird were confirmed to inhabit. For the conservation of the natural ecosystem, the expansion of research for natural ecosystems within the military unit is required. Additionally, environmental pollution can be prevented through the proper maintenance of basic environmental facilities including sewage treatment facilities, soil pollution control facilities, and waste storage facilities. In cooperation with local governments and private organizations, the natural cleansing action and sustainable wildlife conservation should be expanded.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.55 no.4
• /
• pp.390-397
• /
• 2022

Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna (CAFF) is the biodiversity working group of the Arctic Council. CAFF conducts Monitoring, Assessment, Policy, and expert group activities to preserve Arctic biodiversity and ensure the sustainability of biological resources and communicates the results to governments and indigenous peoples. The main tasks of CAFF consist of monitoring (Circumpolar Biodiversity Monitoring Program), assessment (Arctic Biodiversity Assessment) and strategic projects(Arctic Migratory Bird Initiative, AMBI). Korea has been directly participating in the AMBI since 2015 after acquiring observer status of the Arctic Council in 2013. The AMBI aims to preserve habitats on migration routes used by breeding birds in the Arctic and prevent illegal hunting. Thus, observer countries on migratory routes are directly participating in the project. When selecting priorities for participation in Arctic cooperation projects by 2030, Korea should consider continuing participation in AMBI and participating in the "CAFF Youth Program" in connection with the Arctic Academy program operated by Korea's public institutes.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
• /
• v.35 no.4
• /
• pp.377-386
• /
• 2021

This study was conducted to provide basic data for habitat management and preservation of Jeongmaek. A total of 18 priority research areas were selected with consideration to terrain and habitat environment, and 54 fixed plots were selected for three types of habits: development, valley, and forest road and ridge. The survey was conducted in each season (May, August, and October), excluding the winter season, from 2016 to 2018. The distribution analysis of birds observed in each habitat type using a self-organizing map (SOM) classified them into a total of four groups (MRPP, A=0.12, and p <0.005). The comparative analysis of the number of species, the number of individuals, and the species diversity index for each SOM group showed that they were all the highest in group III (Kruskal-Wallis, the number species: x² = 13.436, P <0.005; the number of individuals: x² = 8.229, P <0.05; the species diversity index: x² = 17.115, P <0.005). Moreover, the analysis by applying the land cover map to the random forest model to examine the index species of each group and identify the characteristics of the habitat environment showed a difference in the ratio of the habitat environment and the indicator species among the four groups. The index species analysis identified a total of 18 bird species as the indicator species in three groups except for group II. When applying the random forest model and indicator species analysis to the results of classification into four groups using the SOM, the composition of the indicator species by the group showed a correlation with the habitat characteristics of each group. Moreover, the distribution patterns and densities of observed species were clearly distinguished according to the dominant habitat for each group. The results of the analysis that applied the SOM, indicator species, and random forest model together can derive useful results for the characterization of bird habitats according to the habitat environment.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
• /
• v.28 no.1
• /
• pp.171-180
• /
• 2012

The field of wildlife habitat conservation research has attracted attention as integrated biodiversity management strategies. Considering the status of the species surveying data and the environmental variables in Korea, the GARP and Maxent models optimized for presence-only data could be one of the most suitable models in habitat modeling. For make sure applicability in the domestic environment we applied the machine learning species distribution model for analyzing habitats of the Korea water deer($Hydropotes$ $inermis$ $argyropus$) in the $Sapgyocheon$ watershed, $Chungcheong$ province. We used the $3^{rd}$ National Natural Environment Survey data and 10 environment variables by literature review for the modelling. Analysis results showed that habitats for the Korea water deer were predicted 16.3%(Maxent) and 27.1%(GARP), respectively. In terms of accuracy(training/test) the Maxent(0.85/0.69) was higher than the GARP(0.65/0.61), and the Spearman's rank correlation coefficient result of the Maxent(${\rho}$=0.71, p<0.01) was higher than the result of GARP(${\rho}$=0.55, p<0.05). However results could be depended on sites and target species, therefore selection of the appropriate model considering on the situation will be important to analyzing habitats.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
• /
• v.31 no.6B
• /
• pp.565-575
• /
• 2011

The purpose of this study was to quantitatively evaluate the expression of both multi-metric qualitative habitat evaluation index (QHEI) and biological integrity index (IBI) for artificial structures eco-artificial fish reef (EAFR) for fishes asylum and habitat. Especially, both experimental evaluation and biological verification were performed in Water and Environmental Center's outdoor test-bed of Korea Institute of Construction Technology located in Andong-city, Gyeongsangbuk-do. The experimental conditions reflecting the situation of domestic river include the flow rate (e.g., $0.0{\sim}1.5m\;s^{-1}$), the width (e.g., 1.0~3.0 m), the depth (e.g., 0.05~0.70 m), and variable bed materials. Both QHEI and IBI were monitored for 8 months from May to December 2010. Whereas QHEI values were highest at experimental points of the E~F with an average of 83.1, those were lowest at B~C with an average of 78.1. However, QHEI values inside EAFR were more than 98.9, regardelss of space and time, and indicated more than the highest good of the state (Good) in the habitat. Overally, IBI values showed similar trend with QHEI, but were 44.2 in the winter dry season, compared to 32.8 of QHEI values. IBI values Also, IBI values inside EAFR were greater than those at the experimental channel by 5.7 to 11.4% and 18.7 to 34.8% in flow and stagnant conditions, respectively, indicating that EAFR can secure asylum and habitat for fish during the dry season. For comprehensive aquatic ecosystem assessment, the experimental channel showed generally fair conditions (Fair~Good), whereas EAFR showed good conditions (Good), suggesting that EAFR can be applied to aquatic ecosystem restoration and improvement.