• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.57 no.2
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• pp.92-101
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• 2024

Current distribution of Korean Cottus pollux was investigated by conducting field surveys and environmental DNA analysis in September to November 2022 and March to May 2023. As a result of the field survey, the presence of C. pollux was confirmed in the uppermost stream of Hyeongsangang River, as well as in Deokdongcheon, Jeolgolcheon, and Hoamcheon Streams. The main habitat of C. pollux was the riffle area in the upper reaches of streams with clean water and boulder-cobble bottoms. As a result of environmental DNA analysis, the samples determined to be positive included all streams in which the presence of C. pollux was confirmed in the field survey. In addition, Namcheon and Singwangcheon Streams were determined to be positive, indicating potential as its habitats. Since C. pollux has a narrow distribution area and a small population size, continuous monitoring and conservation measures are required to immediately respond to damage caused by typhoons and river works, which are the main causes of habitat disturbance, in order to maintain a stable population.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.896-907
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• 2016

The habitat characteristics of Aconitum austrokoreense Koidz. were investigated to provide basic data for conservation and restoration. The altitude ranged from 260m to 728m with inclinations of $4-39^{\circ}$. As a result of vegetation survey within natural populations, a total of 147 taxa were identified inside 20 quadrates in 7 natural habitats. The importance value of Aconitum austrokoreense was 23.0% based on the coverage and frequency of the herbaceous layer and sat is more dominant. Species diversity was 1.23, and dominace and evenness were found to be 0.22 and 0.77, respectively. The soil type were silty loam (four sites), sandy loam (two sites) and loam (one site). The average field organic matter was 7.83% and the total nitrogen and pH were 0.35, and 5.69. Correlation analysis between environmental factors and population characteristic showed the correlations between chlorophyll content and slope, flowering rate and soil humidity. Conservation on habitats conditions is important for stable maintenance the flora and the surrounding area including habitats has to be designated a protection area for habitats conservation.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Geographic Information Studies
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.89-101
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• 2016

This study examined spatial disposition of wildlife highway mortality using road-kill GIS database and Naver panoramic 360 degree views to find out which habitat and road variables most influenced road-kill numbers for each mammal species and how the landscape and road elements are connected on highway. Road-kills on Yeongdong(YD) and Jungbu highway(JB) generally tended to be higher in natural barren, grassland and cropland due to its value of preferred habitats of nocturnal and multihabitat species like water deer(Hydropotes inermis argyropus), raccoon(Nyctereutes procyonoides) and hare(Lepus coreanus). Land cover in YD showed no difference between species (p=0.165) while JB did by species (p=0.001). This may be explained by disparate landscape between mountain and urban or the fact that YD in long term operation might have enabled consistent crossing pattern compared to JB experiencing continuous extension works which may in turn have deviated the road crossing. Although road-kill prevention effect of local topography alone was appreciable, compared to less significant or ineffective fence and guardrail, gentle slope declining in a direction to the road turned out to offset the preventive effect of juxtaposed fence. Furthermore, green patches on road near intersection were deemed a visual stepping stone facilitating wildlife attempted crossing and local roads juxtaposed with a highway were especially left defenceless to road-kill without road barriers.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.432-441
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• 2016

In this study, we predicted species distributions in Mt. Inwang and Mt. An as preceding research to build ecological corridor by considering connectivity of habitats which have been fragmented in the city. We analyzed species distributions by using Maxent (Maximum Entropy Approach) model with species presence. We used 23 points of mammals and 15 points of Titmouse (Parus major, P. palustris, P. varius) as target species from appearance points of species examined. We build 4 geography factors, 4 vegetation factors, and 2 distance factors as model variables In case of mammals, factors that affected species distribution model was Digital Elevation Model(DEM, 34%) followed by Distance from edge forest to interior (24.8%) and Species of tree (10%). On the other hand, in case of Parus species, factors that affected species distribution model were DEM (39.6%) followed by distance from road (35.4%) and Density-class (8.2%). Therefore, birds and mammals prefer interior of mountain, and this area needs to be protected.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.161-170
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• 2014

This study classified the types of major forest vegetation and analyzed the syngeographical characteristics of the vegetation in the Mt. Deokhang with exhumed lime rocks. The forest vegetation on the ridge of Mt. Deokhang was classified into 1 community group, 3 communities, 2 groups, and 2 subgroups, 5 types in total. The syngeographical form of Deokhangsan fully exhibited the topographical peculiarity, proximity to subalpine, and limestone zone. In addition, Carex ciliato-marginata, Carex humilis var. nana, and so forth which appear as species with high consistency in the well-drained semiarid zone represent the soil environment of the lime stone area and northern plants such as Carex ussuriensis and Asplenium ruta-muraria represent the characteristics of the vegetation in alpestrine in close proximity. Moreover, the Carpinus turczaninowii in the area appears to show the characteristics of migratory vegetation due to the peculiarity of the habitat. The syngeographical characteristics of this study area show both the characteristics of the habitat and phytogeographic characteristics. Furthermore, they are expected to contribute to the diversity in community and habitat form in Korean peninsula in terms of vegetation science.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.106 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2017

Forest harvest as large scale artificial disturbance makes edge environment in both clear-cutted and forested habitat. To clarify the development and recovery process of forest edge after disturbances is essential to understand vegetation responses and landscape level consequences such as edge-distance. In Korea, after clear-cutting, edge-related changes of environment and vegetation was not clarified yet. In Korean red pine (Pinus densiflora) forest, by applying space-for-time approach (sites with undisturbed and 1, 3, 10, 16 yr after cutting), the edge-related change of plant abundance and abiotic factors were determined for 20 line-transect (60 m) and 340 ($1m{\times}5m$) quadrats, and clarified depth and duration of the disturbance. Immediately after edge formation, within 15m form the edge, biotic and abiotic factors such as cover, richness, canopy openness, temperature and moisture content exhibited larger changes compared to forest interior. Plant abundance and abiotic variables were stabilized at the level of forest inside within 16 yr and 10 yr after edge creation, respectively. Woody (tree and shrub) species generally was showed larger increment with proximity to edge than did herb or graminoid species. In addition, negative interactions between woody and herbaceous species were detected during the period of forest edge closure. Our results suggested that depth of forest edge formed by clear-cutting of Korean red pine forest was at least from 15 m to 20 m and edge effect were likely sustained more than 16 years. As the first empirical study on edge-distance between two contrast habitats of clear-cutted and adjacent forest in South Korea, the analytical reality on landscape structure and habitat patches can be improved.

• 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.10 no.1
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• pp.39-47
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• 2008

An eco-washland is increasingly getting attentions as a new alternative plan for management of water resources because of role as flooding control and ecological park without social and ecological side effects. However, there is a lack of study regarding technological development and ecological guidelines to create eco-washland. This study was carried out to suggest ecological guidelines necessary for engineering process to create eco-washland. A study site was the lower reach of Seokjang stream connecting to Yimjin river, a candidate of new eco-washland, and Kumsa area in Namhan river was selected as a reference site. The analysis of ecological characteristics focused on vegetation, fishes, and birds. Major vegetation communities, composed of dominant species such as Salix koreensis, Salix gracylistyla, Miscanthus sacchariflorus, Phragmites communis, etc., formed physical conditions along with other land uses including open water, sandbar, cultivated land, etc. Dominant species of fishes were some species belonging to Cyprinidae and Acheilognathinae, and in case of birds Anser albifrons, Anas platyrhychos, Anas poecilorhyncha belonging to waterbirds and Paradoxornis webbinanus dependent to forest edge were dominantly distributed. The results showed that complex wetland types associated with partially deep water and upland was the optimal eco-hydrological condition of washland. Cyprinidae and Acheilognathinae in case of fish and Egretta spp. (spring season) and Anas spp. (winter season) in case of bird were selected as target species for the these wetland types. Finally, a detail planning criteria to create habitats of these target species were discussed in terms of spawning, breeding, feeding, resting, refuge, nesting, etc.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.317-325
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• 2009

This study was presented to effect of prescribed burning to the avian fauna and was conducted from March to October 2007 in Sihwa grassland, Gyeonggi-do, Korea. Prescribed burning was conducted at Sihwa grassland of Songjeong-ri Mado-myeon, Hwaseong city from 28th February to 1 st March 2007. Thirty birds species were observed and sum of the maximum count was 181 individuals at the prescribed burning area for all survey time. Observed species was 24 species and sum of the maximum count was 154 individuals on the unburned area. Number of species and sum of the maximum count at the prescribed burning area was greater than unburned area. There is no differences in the dominant species between prescribed and unburned area. Average number of species, number of individuals, species diversity and species richness of the prescribed burning area were greater than unburned area in early stage (from March to June) after prescribed burning. Community indices in burned area during early season were different with unburned area by prediscribed burning. However, the indices had became similar between burned and unburned area as time goes by. Disturbance by prescribed burning created new habitat and feeding site temporarily for the avian species in grassland. We would suggest that prescribed burning is most effective method to maintain grassland ecosystem from the invading bush or tree and periodical prescribed burning is a good method to preserve and manage the grassland ecosystem.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.613-621
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• 2011

Bog bean (Menyanthes trifoliata L.) is an endangered species in Korea, inhabiting in montane wetlands. Its' habitats are decreasing due to artificial disturbances and climate change in Korea. Interspecies competitions determine the distribution of a species and it is important to examine the effects of companion species on the growth of a species. To reveal the effects of habitat substrate and companion species on the growth of bog bean, we compared the growth parameters of bog bean at three substrate conditions where plant communities were formed: water column, Sphagnum mat, and paddy soil. Bog bean had the highest relative coverage at Sphagnum mat condition and there are few species whose height were higher than it. In contrast, there were many species larger than bog bean at paddy soil condition. The maximum coverage of bog bean was the largest at water column condition, and the lowest at paddy soil condition. Our results indicate that the growth of bog bean was more restricted by interspecific competition at paddy soil condition than at Sphagnum mat condition. Those results suggest that bog bean avoid competitions by expansion of rhizome rather than elongation of its height. For conservation or creation of bog bean habitats, it is necessary to offer the environment where other species cannot survive well.