• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.265-270
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• 2022

With the implementation of the fox restoration project, the number of foxes released into nature are increasing; therefore, in the future, foxes will be dispersed to other areas and will appear in human habitats. In this study, the habitat suitability index (HSI) of foxes was developed to predict and prepare for the effects. After extracting major environmental variables through literature research and GIS analysis, 5 suitability indices (SIs) were constructed. The forest physiognomy, slope, aspect, distance from water source, and distance from road are the main variables, and the arithmetic average value by giving twice the weight to the forest physiognomy is the HSI result. As a result of comparing with the data from the Natural Environment Survey, it is found that the fox coordinates have an average HSI value of 0.64, and the probability of appearance is high when it is 0.53 or higher. Using the results of this study, it is expected to be able to predict the distribution of foxes in advance, to use them as basic data for future restoration plans, or to identify the distribution of the species and the reduction plan in future environmental impact assessments.

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

• Proceedings of the Korea Water Resources Association Conference
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• 2022.05a
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• pp.485-485
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• 2022

본 연구에서는 낙동강 수계에서 어류의 수생태 건강성이 악화된 지점, 장기간 수질이 악화되거나 수위가 저하된 지점, 보호종이 지정된 지점을 중심으로 어류 서식지적합도지수(Habitat Suitability index, HSI)를 산정하였다. 현장조사는 하천유량이 감소하는 4월부터 6월 사이 총 4회 실시하였고, 투망과 족대를 이용해 어류 채집하였다. 어류의 서식지 특성 조사를 위해 채집 지점에서 수심, 유속, 하상재료를 조사하고 기록하여 엑셀 자료를 구축하였다. 본 연구에서는 실제 하천 단면의 물리적 특성을 잘 반영할 수 있는 WDFW(Washington Dept. of Fish and Wildlife) 방법을 이용하여 어류 서식처적합도지수를 산정하였다. 낙동강 수계 10개 지점에서 실시한 어류 조사 결과는 전체 9과 35종 2,227개체이다. 낙동강 수계 10개 지점의 대표어종을 선정하기 위해 법정보호종, 유영성종, 고유종, 기타 중요종을 검토한 다음 각 지점별 대표어종, 대리어종, 유사어종 등을 산정하였다. 낙동강 수계 전반에 걸쳐 피라미가 우점종으로 조사되었으며, 낙동강 상류지역에는 모래무지, 하류에는 수수미꾸리와 유사한 종의 출현빈도가 높은 것으로 나타났다. 낙동강 전역에 걸쳐 서식하고 있는 피라미는 가능한 대표어종에서 제외하고, 보호종과 고유종을 중심으로 대표어종을 선정하였다. 그 결과 낙동강 상류 내성천 합류전 지점에서는 피라미, 내성천에서 참마자, 위천에서 참몰개, 갑천에서 돌고기, 황강에서 모래무지, 금호강에서 돌마자, 밀양강에서 쉬리. 남강에서 피라미, 형산강에서 참갈겨니, 태화강에서 피라미로 대표어종을 각각 결정하였다. 다음으로 각 지점별 대표어종에 대한 수심, 유속, 하상재료 조사 자료를 이용해 대표어종에 대한 서식지적합도지수를 산정하였다. 최근 갈수기 유량 감소로 생태계가 위협받는 기간이 증가하고 있다. 하천의 정상적인 생태기능 유지를 위한 최소한의 유량이 필요하고, 이를 확보하기 위한 노력이 요구된다. 어류의 서식지적합도지수를 활용해 갈수기 어류 서식에 필요한 최소한의 유량을 결정하거나, 수생태계 복원을 위한 기초자료로 활용성이 높을 것으로 판단된다.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.213-223
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• 2022

This study was conducted to establish a Habitat Suitability index (HSI) based on literature research and field surveys on ecology and habitat of 'Hynobius leechii'. And this study will be used as basic data for qualitative evaluation of habitat environment. The survey sites were divided into natural habitats close to the prototype habitat and artificial restoration areas where Hynobius leechii was monitored. So the types of habitats were diversified. Hynobius leechii is a vulnerable species to climate change because it is affected by the microhabitat and has low mobility. HSI variables of Hynobius leechii were extracted through domestic and overseas literature, and standards were extracted from literature research and field survey. The standards were presented as a value of the physical allowable category in consideration of realization. To verify the study, an in-depth consultation was conducted by amphibians experts. HSI variables of Hynobius leechii were included 9 variables such as Overstory canopy cover(%), Understory cover(%), Water-pH, Soil-pH, Soil relative humidity(%), Leaf litter depth(cm), Rock substrates (%), Type of Coarse woody, Distance from Street or Pollutant(m).

• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
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• v.42 no.6
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• pp.481-491
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• 2009

In this study, a comprehensive field monitoring was conducted to understand habitat conditions of fish species in the upper Geum river. Based on the monitoring data, riverine health conditions such as composition ratio of fish species, richness and dominance indexes, bio-diversity (dominance index, diversity, evenness and richness), and index of biological integrity were assessed, and optimal ecological flowrates were estimated using the habitat suitability indexes established for three fish species Coreoleuciscus splendidus, Zacco platypus and Pseudopungtungia nigra selected as icon species using the physical habitat simulation system (PHABSIM). The total number of species sampled was 20 species, and two sensitive species of C. splendidus (22.4%) and Z. platypus (22.0%) dominated the fish community. The estimated IBI values ranged from 34 to 42 with average being 38 out of 50, rendering the site ecologically fair to good health conditions. An optimal ecological flowrate of 9.0 cms was recommended for the representative fish species at the site.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.184-192
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• 2007

This study was to evaluate ecological health of Sumjin River during April${\sim}$June 2006. The ecological health assessments was based on the Index of Biological Integrity (IBI), Qualitative Babitat Evaluation Index (QHEI), and water chemistry. For the study, the models of IBI and QHEI were modified as 10 and 11 metric attributes, respectively. We also analyzed spatial patterns of chemical water quality over the period of $2002{\sim}2005$, using the water chemistry dataset, obtained from the Ministry of Environment, Korea. In Sumjin River, values of IBI averaged 33 (n= 12), which is judged as a "Fair${\sim}$Good" condition after the criteria of Barbour at al. (1999). There was a distinct spatial variation. Mean IBI score at Site 5 was estimated as 40, indicating a "Good" condition whereas, the mean at Site 3 was 23, indicating a "Poor${\sim}$Fair" condition. Habitat analysis showed that QHEI values in the river averaged 109 (n=6), indicating a "Marginal" condition after the criteria of Harbour et al. (1999). Values of BOD and COD averaged 1.3 mg $L^{-1}$ (scope: $0.9{\sim}1.8$ mg $L^{-1}$) and 3.3 mg $L^{-1}$ (scope: $2.8{\sim}4.0$ mg $L^{-1}$), respectively during the study. It was evident that chemical pollutions by organic matter were minor in the river. Total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) averaged 2.5 mg $L^{-1}$ and 0.067 mg $L^{-1}$, respectively, and the nutrients did not show large longitudinal gradients between the upper and lower reach. Overall, dataset of IBI, QHEI, and water chemistry suggest that river health has been well maintained, compared to other major watersheds in Korea and should be protected from habitat disturbance and chemical pollutions.

• Proceedings of the Korea Water Resources Association Conference
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• 2018.05a
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• pp.73-75
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• 2018

최근의 하천복원 사업은 제외지 중심의 하천복원에서 벗어나 제내지의 격리 차단된 구하도까지 복원하고자 하는 노력이 시도되고 있다. 그러나 하천복원에 따른 수리적 및 생태적 연결성 향상이 적절히 수행되는지에 대한 정량적 평가 수단이 부족한 상태다. 본 연구에서는 구하도 복원에 따른 생태적 연결성 평가수단으로서 복원전 후 수리해석 결과를 이용하여 대상어종의 서식처적합도지수(HSI)와 식생의 공간분포를 분석 또는 예측할 수 있는 모형을 개발하였다. 공간분포된 수리특성을 위해서는 2 3차원의 모형이 필요하지만 복잡한 계산과정, 고도의 기술 및 많은 시간과 비용이 필요하다는 점에서 접근이 용이하지 않다. 이에 1차원 홍수추적모형의 결과를 이용하여 1차원 수리특성을 2차원으로 확장시키는 수치모형도 함께 개발하였다. 다만 개발된 각 모형의 단계별 실행 결과는 개별적인 요소의 평가로서 그 의미가 작으므로 하천복원의 종합적 평가를 위한 수리-물리서식처-식생의 통합적 모의가 필요하다 개발된 모형의 사용성 증대 및 생태적 연결성 평가 통합모형으로의 발전을 위해 개발된 모형을 하나의 연동시스템으로 구축하고자 하며, 연동 시스템을 이용하여 수리적 및 생태적 연결성을 신속하고 간단하게 해석할 수 있다.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.110 no.4
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• pp.504-515
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• 2021

To examine the relationship between environmental factors influencing the habitat of Aconitum austrokoreense Koidz., this study employed the MexEnt model to evaluate 21 environmental factors. Fourteen environmental factors having an AUC of at least 0.6 were found to be the age of stand, growing stock, altitude, topography, topographic wetness index, solar radiation, soil texture, mean temperature in January, mean temperature in April, mean annual temperature, mean rainfall in January, mean rainfall in August, and mean annual rainfall. Based on the response curves of the 14 descriptive factors, Aconitum austrokoreense Koidz. on the Baekun Mountain were deemed more suitable for sites at an altitude of 600 m or lower, and habitats were not significantly affected by the inclination angle. The preferred conditions were high stand density, sites close to valleys, and distribution in the northwestern direction. Under the five-age class system, the species were more likely to be observed for lower classes. The preferred solar radiation in this study was 1.2 MJ/m². The species were less likely to be observed when the topographic wetness index fell below the reference value of 4.5, and were more likely observed above 7.5 (reference of threshold). Soil analysis showed that Aconitum austrokoreense Koidz. was more likely to thrive in sandy loam than clay. Suitable conditions were a mean January temperature of - 4.4℃ to -2.5℃, mean April temperature of 8.8℃-10.0℃, and mean annual temperature of 9.6℃-11.0℃. Aconitum austrokoreense Koidz. was first observed in sites with a mean annual rainfall of 1,670- 1,720 mm, and a mean August rainfall of at least 350 mm. Therefore, sites with increasing rainfall of up to 390 mm were preferred. The area of potential habitats having distributive significance of 75% or higher was 202 ha, or 1.8% of the area covered in this study.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.34 no.3 s.95
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• pp.153-165
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• 2001

We evaluated the health condition of Pyong-Chang river, the tributary of Han- River, using the Index of Biological Integrity (IBI) and Qualitative Habitat Evaluation Index (QHEI) during September 1999${\sim}$August 2000. The annual mean of IBI,　which was estimated using eleven metrics, was 49 (range: $45{\sim}51$) and the mean of QHEI, which was estimated using seven parameters, was 88 (range: $76{\sim}94$) during　the study. The river health, based on the IBI criteria of Karr (1981), ranged from "excellent" to "good" conditions, while based on the habitat criteria of Plafkin et al. (1989), it ranged from "pristine" (comparable to reference) to "supporting" conditions. Values of IBI showed slight differences between upstream and downstream sites and QHEI values varied weakly depending on characteristics of variables. Regression analyses showed that annual values of QHEI had no functional relations with stream order (p = 1.82; n = 8) but showed some decreases near slight point-sources. This result indicates that conditions of physical habitat did not change highly with increases of the stream order. According to analyses of feed guilds, relative abundance of insectivores, omnivores and carnivores was 85.1%, 3.5% 0.3%, respectively. Also, relative abundance of sensitive and tolerant species was 75% and 4.6%, respectively, while exotic and morphological anomalies were not found in the river. These outcomes indicate that health condition of fish, based on the trophic conditions of U.S. EPA (1993), was excellent in the river. Regression analyses of IBI values against the QHEI showed that the variation of habitat conditions accounted 57% for the variation of the Index of Biological Integrity (p<0.05; $R^2\;=\;0.57$; n = 7).Overall data of IBI and QHEI suggest that the river health in the present is in optimal conditions but may be degradated by acceleration of chemical inputs and physical-habitat disturbance.

• Ecology and Resilient Infrastructure
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.68-76
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• 2022

In this study, the Habitat Suitability Index (HSI) was calculated in the Miho stream of the Geum river system, and the environmental ecological flow by point was evaluated. Two points (St.3 and St.8) representing the up and downstream of Miho Stream were selected, in order to calculate the Habitat Suitability Index, the depth and velocity at point where each species is appeared were investigated. The Habitat Suitability Index (HSI) was calculated by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) method using the number collected by water depth and velocity section and the results of the flow rate survey. Two target species were selected in this study; dominant species and swimming species sensitive to flow. In the case of a single species of Zacco platypus, the water depth was 0.1 - 0.5 m and the velocity was 0.2 - 0.5 m/s. For species of swimming fish, the water depth was 0.2 - 0.5 m and the velocity was 0.2 - 0.5 m/s. The discharge-Weighted Useable Area (WUA) relationship curve and habitat suitability distribution were simulated at the Miho Stream points St.3 and St.8. At the upstream St.3 of Miho Stream, the optimal discharge was simulated as 4.0 m³/s for swimming fishes and 2.7 m³/s for Zacco platypus. At the downstream point of St.8, species of swimming fish were simulated as 8.8 m³/s and Zacco platypus was simulated as 7.6 m³/s. In both points, the optimal discharge of swimming fish was over estimated. This is a result that the Habitat Suitability Index for swimming fish requires a faster flow rate than the habitat conditions of the Zacco platypus. In the calculation of the minimum discharge, the discharge of Zacco platypus is smaller and is evaluated to provide more Weighted Useable Area. In the case of swimming fishes, narrow range of depth and velocity increases the required discharge and relatively decreases the Weighted Useable Area. Therefore, when calculating the Habitat Suitability Index for swimming fishes, it is more advantageous to calculate the index including the habitat of all fish species than to narrow the range.