• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.322-332
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• 2012

The objectives of this paper were to investigate home range, habitat selection, and threat factors of leopard cats (Prionailurus bengalensis) living in rural area of Korea. The results based on radio tracking of three leopard cats (two males and one female) can be summarized as follows. First, the average home range of leopard cats were $2.64{\pm}1.99km^2$ (Kernel 95) and $3.69{\pm}1.34km^2$ (MCP 100), and the average size of core areas was $0.64{\pm}0.47km^2$ (Kernel 50). The home range of a male leopard cat that radio-tracked in winter was the largest ($5.19km^2$, MCP 100). Second, the Johnson's habitat selection model based on the Jacobs index showed that leopard cats preferred meadows and paddy fields avoiding forest covers at the second level, whereas they preferred meadows adjacent to streams and avoided paddy fields at the third level. Finally, roadkill could be prime threat factor for the cat population. Therefore, habitats dominated by paddy fields, stream corridors with paved roads, and human settlements with insufficient forest patches could threaten the long-term viability of leopard cat populations. Thus the habitat managements for the leopard cat conservation should focus on the prevention of road-kill and the installation of wildlife passages in rural highways adjacent to stream corridors.

• Proceedings of the Zoological Society Korea Conference
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• 2003.08a
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• pp.133.1-133
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• 2003

• Journal of the Korean Association of Geographic Information Studies
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.102-113
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• 2016

This study analyzes the geographic information system (GIS) and machine learning models to understand the relationship between the appearance of hibernation sites and habitats in order to systematically manage the habitat of Asiatic Black Bear(Ursus thibetanus ussuricus) inhabiting Jirisan National Park, South Korea. The most important environmental factors influencing the hibernation sites was found to be the inclination(41.4%), followed by altitude(20.4%), distance from the trail(10.9%), and age group(7.7%) in the order of their contribution. A comparison between the hibernation habitat and the normal habitat of Asiatic Black Bear indicated that the average altitude of the hibernation sites was 63m, whereas the average altitude of the normal habitat was approximately 400m. The average inclination was found to be $7^{\circ}$, and a preference for the steeper inclination of $12-43^{\circ}$ was also observed. The average distance of the hibernation site from the road was approximately 300m; the range of separation distance was found to be 1,300-2,400m. This was thought to be the result of a safer selection of winter hibernation site by preventing human contact and outside invasion. This study analyzes the habitat environmental factors for the selection of hibernation sites that prevent severe cold and other threats during the hibernation period in order to provide fundamental data for hibernation ecology and habitat management of Asiatic Black Bear.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.47 no.spc
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• pp.66-73
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• 2014

In order to determine whether vegetation would be one of the factors for the selection of otter home range, vegetation structure and other potential factors were studied in Hwacheon, Korea. Thirteen sites, otter's activity found and not found, were investigated in North Han River and connected tributary streams of Hwacheon-gun. Three types of vegetation were classified by cluster analysis, which is short grass, tall grass and shrub type. Vegetation zone of each channel is composed of either one type, or mosaic of tall grass and shrub type. Short grass type is common in Lake Paro and upper North Han-river where water level is highly variable throughout a year. Therefore, annual species such as Persicaria nodosa, Fimbristylis dichotomam and Chenopodium ficifolium are the most dominant. Shrub type is common at the downstream sites of Jichon stream and along mainstream of North Han River down Lake Paro. A shrub species, Salix koreensis, is the most common. Tall grass type is dominant occupying the most vegetation zone of the tributary channels. Phragmites japonica is absolutely dominant. Due to its dense cover, a few plant species are co-existed. Otter activity was found in all three vegetation types and no marked activity was found at some sites of tall grass type. There is no difference in species composition and physiognomy between tall grass sites with and without otter activity, while it shows significant difference in fish availability between two groups. Overall we found that home range of otters in the region is along the mainstream and downstream of tributary streams with high fish availability in all vegetation types and in various human activity levels.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.178-185
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• 2015

BACKGROUND: The coexisting shorebirds often use various foraging strategies, including feeding methods and habitat use, which are the likely mechanisms to explain the variation of morphological and behavior traits. We studied the foraging behaviors of four shorebirds to define how species separate according to habitat structures in rice fields of western-central Korea during their northward migration. METHODS AND RESULTS: The studied species were Long-toed Stints (Calidris subminuta), Wood Sandpipers (Tringa glareola), Common Greenshanks (Tringa nebularia), and Black-tailed Godwits (Limosa limosa), which were commonly observed in rice fields and represented by a wide range of morphological traits. Habitats were categorized into three types ("plowed with water", "shallow water level after harrowing", and "deep water level after harrowing") according to the irrigation intensity and soil manipulation of the farming practices. Long-toed Stints mainly foraged in the "plowed with water", where they used both visual and tactile searching methods. Wood Sandpipers and Common Greenshanks were frequently observed in "shallow water level after harrowing" They spent a considerable amount of time using a visual searching method. Black-tailed Godwits were selectively attracted to "deep water level after harrowing" and used tactile cues as their predominant feeding technique. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that the water levels related in soil manipulation and irrigation intensity influence the accessibility to foraging sites and the detectability of prey for shorebirds species.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.193-204
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• 2014

The distribution of animals is affected by habitat selection, and habitat type and prey resource are important factors affecting their survival. This study was conducted to investigate the distribution pattern of the Red-tongue viper snake (Gloydius ussuriensis) with respect to altitude, habitat type and distribution of potential prey resource in Cheon-ma mountain, Korea. The study area of Cheon-ma mountain was separated into three altitude categories (low, middle, and high altitude) and the habitat types were categorized according to presence or absence of aquatic ecosystem and the preferred habitat in relation to altitude was determined. The distribution pattern of Red-tongue viper snakes was significantly different according to altitude and habitat type: they were mainly distributed at low altitude and in the water valleys. The distribution pattern of the Red-tongue viper snake correlated with that of amphibians. The analyses of microhabitat use of the Red-tongue viper snake and amphibians showed that their microhabitat types were not different significantly in water valleys. In conclusion, Red-tongue viper snakes were mainly distributed in the water valleys at low altitude and this is because amphibians are important as potential prey of the Red-tongue viper snake in Cheon-ma mountain.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.516-525
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• 2011

We studied the influence certain environmental factors (proximity of roosting site, roads, and residential areas) have on the spatial distribution of cranes in the Cheorwon, Korea. Using a range finder and GPS, data were collected from January to February 2007 and were subsequently evaluated with ArcGIS. The size of the cranes' wintering habitat was estimated to be 7$76.9km^2$. Five hundred and fifty-five flocks of cranes were observed and detailed distributions were collected. Feeding distribution of the cranes showed clustered distribution, however, no tendencies of spatial autocorrelation were apparent. Adjacent regions with paved roads and residences showed lower densities than other areas. Distances at which paved roads and residential areas induced changes in feeding flock densities were 1500m and 1750m, respectively. Feeding flock density decreased with increased distance from roosting site. Feeding flock density of the two crane species did not increase as distance from roads increased, however, the density of individuals showed a significant increasing tendency with increased distance from roads. In both species, density of feeding flocks and individuals significantly increased with increasing distance from residential areas. In Red-crowned Cranes, the density of feeding flocks and individuals significantly decreased with increasing distance from roosting site, however, in the case of White-naped Cranes, there was an even distribution in density of feeding flocks and individuals.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.38 no.3 s.113
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• pp.352-360
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• 2005

Acheilognathus signifer is distributed widely in high density in the Naechon-stream. The order of this-stream was 2 ${\sim}$ 4 and the water width is wide but the depth is relatively shallow and the sinuosity is 1.83, which indicates a meandering stream. The water width/stream width ratio is 1.59, which suggests moderate entrenchment. Naechon-stream was classed as B type by Rosgen (1995). The natural habitat of A. signifer is a slow flow velocity pool, like a backwater pool, which is made up of piled up boulders that restricts the flow of water. The stream bed is made up of boulders and sands that enable the spawning host to inhabit. A. signifer selects a microhabitat where the boulders furnish hiding places. The Habitat of A. signifer is strongly affected by the existence or not there of U. douglasiae sinuolatus. After hatching from the mussel, A. signifer inhabits the surface of the water. It then moves to the low layer once it acquires swimming ability. While A. signifer inhabits the river in summer, A. signifer moves to the deeper layers in winter, where there are the refuge like rocks and boulders. In spring A. signifer moves from the deep water to the river line where the mussels reside.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.188-195
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• 2010

The Abundance of zooplankton was studied in the pelagic and the littoral zone in four shallow reservoirs along with the Nakdong river basin of S. Korea. In the pelagic zone, there was a higher zooplankton density ($477.5{\pm}312.4$ ind. $L^{-1}$) than in the littoral zone during our study period (t=2.337, p<0.05). Overall, Rotifers were the most abundant group in the studied reservoirs. However, there are no significant correlations between the pelagic and the littoral zone in physical and chemical parameters. In the pelagic and the littoral zone, zooplankton density usually increased with increasing density of aquatic plants in the littoral zone. However, this study showed different trends. Although macrophyte abundance was higher in the littoral zone than in the pelagic zone, zooplankton abundance was higher in pelagic zone. Moreover, when macrophytes (Trapa japonica and Spirodela plyrhiza) covered the complete water surface of the reservoir, zooplankton abundance was higher. It appears that comparisons between the pelagic and the littoral zone give important cues on the selection of habitats by zooplankton. It is assumed that a higher density of aquatic plants does not always imply a higher density of zooplankton in the littoral zone. Furthermore, when the water surface was covered with aquatic plants, the zooplankton communities showed the highest density in the pelagic zone. These results imply that habitat selection of the zooplankton community (Rotifers) is influenced by aquatic plant density with an associated decrease in predation pressure during summer.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.350-356
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• 2016

The biggest factor in the success of breeding animals is selection of foods, which is determined by quality and quantity of habitats(Newton, 2003), in the case of This high biomass wetlands as an indicator of ecosystem function about Common Kestrel's choice of hunting area is expected to be an important clue of quality and quantity of habitats. For this study, it is divided into four types(Glasslands, Paddy fields, Dry fields, Rparian land) about Common Kestrel's hunting area in Yugu-eup, Gongju-si, Chungcheongnam-do, Recorded the behavior of Common Kestrel for three years during the breeding season from March to June(2014~2016). Result of investigation, hunting area showed a high hunting behavior in riversides and flight-hunting was frequently investigated from may to June. In addition flight-hunting's main food acquisition is mammal(the vole), while perching behavior's main food acquisition is insect according to the fact flight-hunting were mainly done in riversides, perching behavior were highly investigated than flight-hunting at glasslands and paddy fields and dry field. Hunting spot's coverage rate of plants covering the ground showed differences depending on hunting areas, but height of plants were not significant. Height of the plant according to hunting methods of flight-hunting to catch mammal(vole) was analyzed to prefer lower height than perching behavior Based on these results riversides are considered as a very important environmental factors for Common Kestrel's prey selection in breeding session.