• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.420-431
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• 2015

As biodiversity and climate change have become main issues in recent times, the role of the forest ecosystem has been more important and forest conservation has been highlighted. The purpose of this study is to estimate forest area with high conservation values in Gapyung-gun by considering forest ecosystem services. The indicators of biodiversity, climate regulation, and water regulation were selected for assessment in this study. To assess biodiversity, habitat structural features and distribution characteristics of species were analyzed. Climate regulation and water regulation were assessed through analysis of carbon absorption volume and water storage. The result showed that, 50.1% of the forests in Gapyung-gun had high conservation values. The results were verified by comparing them with distribution tendencies of other environmental maps, which represent forest ecological values, and showed similar distribution tendencies. The study was conducted on only Gapyung-gun in Korea; however, the methods used in this study could be utilized for assessment of other areas to identify forests with high conservation values.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.326-344
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• 2011

Although anthropogenic disturbance of 20 years duration affects benthic habitats, few studies have examined its effects on the macrobenthic communities of a bay. The aim of this study was to determine the influence of environmental variables on the macrobenthic communities after the construction of the Hwaong dike. Macrobenthos were collected at 22 sites using a Smith McIntyre grab (0.1 $m^2$) in August 2007 and February 2008. Total organic content was very low around the Hwaong dike. Sediment grain size increased from the Hwaong dike to the outer bay. In total, 317 species of macrobenthic fauna were collected and the mean density was 1,155 ind. $m^{-2}$, both of which were higher than the results of previous studies. The dominant species, $Hetermastus$ $filiformis$, known to be a potential pollution indicator, was more abundant near the Hwaong dike. Conversely, species sensitive to organic pollution, such as the polychaete $Ampharete$ $arctica$ and the ophiuroid $Amphioplus$ $squamata$, exhibited higher mean densities in areas distant from the dike. A cluster analysis indicated that the macrobenthic community was divided into two distinct groups: group I near the dike and group II in the outer bay, which were affected by sediment grain size and total organic content. This study suggests that variations in sediment grain size and organic content after dike construction are important factors controlling the macrobenthic community in Asan Bay.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.888-895
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• 2016

The population ecology (Ecological characteristics) of Squalidus chankaensis tsuchigae were investigated at Geum River from March to November, 2013. This species inhabited midstream of the river where was mostly covered with cobble and sand. The depth of the habitat was 30~60 cm and velocity of stream was 2.27~4.88 cm/sec. The sex ratio of female to male was 1 : 0.86. They were sexually mature when they were over two years of age. The spawning period was from June to July with water temperatures from $25^{\circ}C$ to $25^{\circ}C$. Sexually matured individuals appeared over the two year of age. Frequency analysis of total length indicated that the group with 55~70 mm in total length was one year old, the 71~90 mm was two years old, and the group over 91 mm was three years old. The average number of eggs in the ovaries was estimated as 2,219 per matured female. The number of matured eggs size in ovaries was 0.64~0.98 (mean: 0.85) mm. Calulation length-weight relation of S. chankaensis tsuchigae show the value of contant a as 0.0002 and b as 2.81, and condition factor (K) was 1.06 on average. The stomach contents were Cyanophyta, Chlorophyta, Bacillariophyta, Crustaceae, Copepoda, Nematota, Actithocephala, and Ephemeroptera, Hemiptera, Diptera, and Trichoptera that belong to Aquatic insect, and dormant bud of Pectinatella that belongs to Phylactolaemata. The diet of S. chankaensis tsuchigae was omnivorous, mainly vegetable feed on attached algae (filament form), and mainly animality feeded on benthic invertebrates such as Chironomidae larvae.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.684-693
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• 2017

The purpose of this study was to analyze fish communities in the Wonju stream located in Wonju-si in Gangwon-do, and to evaluate the health of the stream through past and present changes. We performed investigations four times from May 2015 to September 2016. In the survey, 5,201 individuals which belonged to 27 species and 9 families were collected. Zacco platypus was the dominant species and Pungtungia herziwas the subdominant species. Eight Korean endemic species (Acanthorhodeus gracilis, Zacco koreanus, Coreoleuciscus splendidus, Squalidus gracilis majimae, Microphysogobio yaluensis, Iksookimia koreensis, Koreocobitis rotundicaudata, Coreoperca herzi) were observed and showed a ratio of 16.54%. The fish community of dominance ($0.72{\pm}0.10$), diversity ($1.37{\pm}0.32$), evenness ($0.61{\pm}0.13$), and richness ($1.70{\pm}0.23$) were evaluated. According to our analysis of tolerance guilds, the total individual number of intermediate species was higher than the sensitive and tolerant species. As a result of the trophic guild analysis,the omnivore and insectivore species were relatively high. The value of the qualitative habitat evaluation index (QHEI) in the wonju stream was averaged 121.2 (${\pm}23.4$), indicating a suboptimal condition. Stream health showed that the fish assessment index (FAI) value was an A to C grade in the Wonju stream. A correlation coefficient analysis with FAI and various factors was analysed statistically, and had a high correlation in QHEI, with the omnivore species, insectivore species, intermediate species, sensitive species, dominance, diversity, evenness, and richness.

• Proceedings of the Korea Water Resources Association Conference
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• 2021.06a
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• pp.454-454
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• 2021

하천 환경에 대한 최근의 사회적 관심은 하천횡단구조물에 대한 평가를 기존의 이□치수적 관점에서 환경□생태학적 관점으로 변화시키고 있다. 이는 자연하천(특히 충적하천)이 수공구조물에 가로막히면 일반적으로 유사, 식생 등의 하천 제반 환경에 부정적인 영향을 준다는 전제에서 댐에 대한 평가가 시작되는 것으로, 국내에서는 이러한 인식의 변화가 2010년대 이후 널리 퍼지면서 현재는 더 이상 신규 댐을 건설할 수 없게 되었다. 댐에 의한 수리 특성과 기후 변화 등으로 댐 하류하천의 유사, 식생, 생태변화는 최근 급격하게 진행되었지만, 정량적인 변화량 및 지표 도출에 대한 연구는 대부분 최근의 data를 반영하지 못하고 있어 관련 원인과 대책 제시에 다소 한계가 있다고 생각된다. 이에 본 연구에서는 낙동강 주요 지류 중 하나이며, 충적하천인 황강을 대상으로 가용한 data를 활용하여, 합천댐 건설 전□후의 유사, 식생변화로 대표되는 하천 환경변화를 정량적으로 분석하고, 변화 원인을 파악하고자 하였다. 유사환경의 변화 분석은 댐 건설 전부터 최근까지의 문헌들에서 조사□제시된 data를 이용하였다. 연도별 최심 및 평균하상고는 댐 건설 전과 비교해 1.0 m가량 감소하였는데, 댐에 의한 세류사 공급차단보다는 골재 채취 및 하도 정비 등이 지배적인 원인인 것으로 파악되었다. 유사 입경의 변화는 댐 건설 전 대비 조립화가 진행되어 모래비율이 감소하고 유사 입경(댐 직하류 약 2배)이 증가하였다. 이는 골재 채취 및 댐에 의한 세류사 차단에 기인한 것으로, 준설된 지역의 하상이 모래 대신 자갈로 대체되고 있기 때문인 것으로 판단된다. 유사량의 경우 몇 번의 조사 과정이 있었으나, 기준이 명확하지 않아 정량적인 변화는 파악하기 어려웠다. 제외지의 식생 분포는 본 연구에서 개발한 이미지 처리 기법을 동원하여 분석하였으며, 대상은 합천댐 하류 중 모래 사주의 비율이 큰 곳을 선택(3지점)하였다. 분석 결과 2008~2011년 이전까지 큰 폭으로 사주가 식생 서식처로 변화(약 20%)되었으며, 이후 큰 변화 없이 안정화 된 경향을 보였다. 이는 2009~2011년 동안 식생이 활착되는 봄~초여름의 강우량 감소, 댐의 홍수조절 및 하상 조립화로 인한 다년생 식생의 활착되고 성장할 시간이 확보되면서 홍수 등 외부 변화에 대한 식생의 대응 능력이 증가했기 때문인 것으로 생각된다. 합천댐이 황강 환경변화에 주는 영향은 분명하지만, 현재 상황은 기후 변화와 인위적인 골재채취도 주요 원인으로 판단되는 바, 향후 하천 환경 개선 계획 수립 시 이러한 변화 원인이 고려된 대책이 수립되어야 할 것이다.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.11-28
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• 2021

Due to its size and complex characteristics, it is not often to newly create a large park within an existing urban area. Also, there has been a lack of research on the planting design methodologies for a large park. This study aims to elucidate how ecological ideas can be applied to planting practice from a designer's perspective, and eventually suggest a planting design framework in the actual case, the Central Park in the City of Gwangju. This framework consists of spatial structure of planting area in order to connect and unite the separated green patches, to adapt to the changes of existing vegetation patterns, to maintain the visual continuity of landscape, and to organize the whole open space system. The framework can be provided for the spatial planning and planting design phase in which the landscape designer flexibly uses it with the design intentions as well as with an understanding of the physical, social, and aesthetic characteristics of the site. The significance of this approach is, first that it can maintain ecological and visual consistency of the both existing and introduced landscapes as a whole in spite of its intrinsic complexity and largeness, and second that it can help efficiently respond to the unexpected changes in the landscape. In the case study, comprehensive site analysis is conducted before developing the framework. In particular, wetlands and grasslands have been identified as potential wildlife habitat which critically determines the vegetation patterns of the green area. Accordingly, the lists of plant communities are presented along with the planting scheme for their shape, layout, and relations. The model of the plant community is developed responding to the structure of surrounding natural landscape. However, it is not designed to evolve to a specific plant community, but is rather a conceptual model of ecological potentials. Therefore, the application of the model has great flexibility by using other plant communities as an alternative as long as the characteristics of the communities are appropriate to the physical conditions. Even though this research provides valuable implications for landscape planning and design in the similar circumstances, there are several limitations to be overcome in the further research. First, there needs to be more sufficient field surveys on the wildlife habitats, which would help generate a more concrete planting model. Second, a landscape management plan should be included considering the condition of existing forest, in particular the afforested landscapes. Last, there is a lack of quantitative data for the models of some plant communities.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.380-389
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• 2020

Research on diagnosing and predicting the response of ecosystems caused by environmental changes such as artificial disturbance and climate change is emerging as the most important issue of biodiversity and ecosystem researches. This study aims to clean, standardize, and provide the results of National Ecosystem Survey which should be considered fundamentally in diagnosing and predicting ecosystem changes in the form of dataset. To refine and clean the dataset we developed a simple verification program based on the fifth National Ecosystem Survey Guideline and applied that program to the data from the second (1997~2005), third (2006~2013) and fourth (2014~2018) National Ecosystem Survey. Data quality control processes were implemented including (1) standardization of terminology, (2) similar data table integration, (3) unnecessary attribute and error elimination, (4) unification of different input items, (5) data arrangement in codes, and (6) code mapping for input items. These approaches and methods are the first attempt propose an option for ecological data standardization in Korea. The standardized dataset of National Ecosystem Survey in Korea will be easily accessible, reusable for both researchers and public. In addition, we expect it will contribute to the establishment of diverse environmental policies concerning environmental assessments, habitat conservation, prediction of endangered species distribution and ecological risks due to climate change. The dataset through this study is open freely online via EcoBank (nie-ecobank.kr) which is the first ecological information portal system in Korea developed by National Institute of Ecology.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.272-289
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• 2017

This study analyzed the status of the naturalized plants in islands in Jeollanamdo from an island biogeographic perspective. As a result of a floristic analysis at 47 inhabited islands and 194 uninhabited islands, 30 families and 134 species naturalized plants are reported. The most commonly occurring naturalized plant from 141 islands was Rumex crispus. The average number of naturalized plants by islands is 20.6 species (${\pm}14.22$) at the inhabited islands and 3.7 species (${\pm}3.89$) at the uninhabited islands. Presence of fifty nine naturalized species at Geumodo in Yeosu-si is the largest in number. The naturalization ratio, which is the ratio of naturalized plants to native plants, is 7.66% (${\pm}3.96$) in the inhabitable islands and 4.97% (${\pm}3.70$) in the uninhabitable islands. The naturalization ratio among islands of the West Sea in Jeollanam-do is 5.92% (${\pm}4.49$), and it is higher than 4.96% (${\pm}2.15$) in islands in the South Sea. Especially, the naturalization ratio at the inhabitable islands, i.e., 8.39% (${\pm}4.37$) at the islands of the West Sea is higher than 5.80% (${\pm}1.41$) at islands in the South Sea. The naturalization ratio of naturalized plants at the islands shows positive correlation with the size of the island (r=0.412, p<0.01), but the correlations with distance from the mainland and altitude above sea level are not significant. Eight ecosystem disturbing species designated by law are reported, and each species shows distinct distributional ranges. The regional differences in the number of naturalized plant species seem to be a result of the complex reflection of natural and human environmental factors, such as the degree of traffic between mainland and islands, degree of cultivation activities, along with the physical environmental differences. Since islands have limited habitats and resources, islands could be more vulnerable to the incoming species from outside, and environmental changes than mainland. Therefore, continuous monitoring and management against the naturalized plants in islands are needed.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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• v.39 no.6_2
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• pp.1635-1650
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• 2023

Under global warming, the steadily increasing sea surface temperature (SST) severely impacts marine ecosystems,such as the productivity decrease and change in marine species distribution. Recently, the catch of Todarodes Pacificus, one of South Korea's primary marine resources, has dramatically decreased. In this study, we analyze the marine environment that affects the formation of fishing grounds of Todarodes Pacificus and develop seasonal habitat suitability index (HSI) models based on various satellite data including Geostationary Ocean Color Imager (GOCI) data to continuously manage fisheries resources over Korean exclusive economic zone. About 83% of catches are found within the range of SST of 14.11-26.16℃,sea level height of 0.56-0.82 m, chlorophyll-a concentration of 0.31-1.52 mg m^-3, and primary production of 580.96-1574.13 mg C m^-2 day^-1. The seasonal HSI models are developed using the Arithmetic Mean Model, which showed the best performance. Comparing the developed HSI value with the 2019 catch data, it is confirmed that the HSI model is valid because the fishing grounds are formed in different sea regions by season (East Sea in winter and Yellow Sea in summer) and the high HSI (> 0.6) concurrences to areas with the high catch. In addition, we identified the significant increasing trend in SST over study regions, which is highly related to the formation of fishing grounds of Todarodes Pacificus. We can expect the fishing grounds will be changed by accelerating ocean warming in the future. Continuous HSI monitoring is necessary to manage fisheries' spatial and temporal distribution.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.311-322
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• 2008

The objectives of the study were to analyze chemical water quality and physical habitat characteristics in the urban streams (Miho and Gap streams) along with evaluations of fish community structures and ecosystem health, throughout fish composition and guild analyses during 2006$\sim$2007. Concentrations of BOD and COD averaged 3.5 and 5.7 mg L$^{-1}$, in the urban streams, while TN and TP averaged 5.1 mg L$^{-1}$ and 274 ${\mu}g$ L$^{-1}$, indicating an eutrophic state. Especially, organic pollution and eutrophication were most intense in the downstream reach of both streams. Total number of fish was 34 species in the both streams, and the most abundant species was Zacco platypus (32$\sim$42% of the total). In both streams, the relative abundance of sensitive species was low (23%) and tolerant and omnivores were high (45%, 52%), indicating an typical tolerance and trophic guilds of urban streams in Korea. According to multi-metric models of Stream Ecosystem Health Assessments (SEHA), model values were 19 and 24 in Miho Stream and Gap Stream, respectively. Habitat analysis showed that QHEI (Qulatitative Habitat Evaluation Index) values were 123 and 135 in the two streams, respectively. The minimum values in the SEHA and QHEI were observed in the both downstreams, and this was mainly attributed to chemical pollutions, as shown in the water quality parameters. The model values of SEHA were strongly correlated with conductivity (r=-0.530, p=0.016), BOD (r=-0.578, p< 0.01), COD (r=-0.603, p< 0.01), and nutrients (TN, TP: r>0.40, p<0.05). This model applied in this study seems to be a useful tool, which could reflect the chemical water quality in the urban streams. Overall, this study suggests that consistent ecological monitoring is required in the urban streams for the conservations along with ecological restorations in the degradated downstrems.