• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.57 no.2
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• pp.102-110
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• 2024

This study presents a fine scale distribution of the endangered species, Odontobutis obscura, through field surveys and literature reviews. Using the mark-recapture method, the population size in major habitats was determined. Field surveys conducted on 18 streams in Geoje Island revealed that the O. obscura was only found in the main streams and tributaries of the Sanyang, Gucheon, and Buchun Streams, which are part of the Sanyang Stream watershed. The O. obscura exhibited relative abundances ranging from 0.5% to 35.3% at different locations, with certain spots showing higher relative abundances (18.8% to 35.3%), indicating major habitat areas. A review of six literature studies confirmed the presence of the O. obscura, although there were differences in occurrence status depending on the purpose, scope, and duration of the studies. Combining the results of field and literature surveys, it was found that the O. obscura inhabits the main and tributary streams of the Sanyang, Gucheon, and Buchun Streams, from the upper to lower reaches. Currently, the O. obscura population in the Sanyang Stream watershed maintains a stable habitat, but its limited distribution range suggests potential issues such as genetic diversity deficiency in the long term. The population size of the O. obscura was confirmed at two specific locations, with densities of 0.5 to 1.5 individuals per m². The average movement distance from the release point was 13.1 m, indicating the limited mobility characteristic of ambush predators. Understanding the distribution and population size of endangered species is the first step towards their conservation and protection. Based on this information, further research could significantly contribute to the conservation of the O. obscura.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.516-522
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• 2014

This study was conducted to investigate the impact of the anthropogenic factors affecting distribution of the Red-crowned Crane and White-naped Crane wintering in Cheorwon, Korea. Especially, it was investigated that the impact power and its range of the anthropogenic effect to the feeding flock density in cranes due to the paved road, residential area, military facilities and greenhouse density. The Red-crowned Crane and the White-naped Crane showed the similar preference and sensitivity against anthropogenic factors, because correlation of feeding flock density of the Red-crowned Crane and White-naped Crane was similar in the same site. The feeding flock density of the cranes near the residential area was lower than that of area far from the area, and tended to increase within 2.5 km distance. The increasing tendencies of feeding flock density from military facilities and high traffic volume road were similar, but the density in military facilities increased within 0.8 km, and the density from high traffic volume road increased within 2 km. This results suggested that military facilities and the road with high traffic volume made significant influence on foraging densities to the certain range. As the distance from the road with low traffic volume increased, feeding flock density tended to decrease. The area near the low traffic volume road had high feeding flock density because remaining rice grains were preserved by intermittent disturbances in that area. If the density of greenhouse is lower than $40/km^2$, feeding flock density in the low greenhouses density area was higher than high greenhouses density area. However, there was no difference in the feeding flock density if the density of the green houses is higher than $40/km^2$.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.271-284
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• 2014

The objectives of this research were to analyse the microhabitat of Cobitis choii which is designated as an endangered fish species (I) and national monument species in Korea (No. 454), and provide valuable information of suitable replacement habitat in the future for a conservation of the population with rapid decreases by environmental pollution. Sampling and microhabitat analysis in three streams such as Baekgok, Yugu and Gap Stream, known as one of the least habitats in Korea showed that the mean number of Cobitis choii observed was 2.6. This result indicated that the richness was too low, so the species conservation was very urgent. Optimal physical microhabitat of the population was determined as environmental conditions with > 60% sand with 1 mm particle size, optimal water depth of 20 - 60 cm in the habitats, and the optimal current velocity of < 0.4 m/s. Under the circumstances of the microhabitat, optimal water volume (discharge) was 0 - 2 m3/s in the each sectional analysis and this reach was mainly composed of the stream section with intermittant slow runs and pools. These microhabitats were largely disturbed by physical modifications of habitat and chemical pollutions due to direct influences of nutrient-rich water inputs from the urban area and intensive agricultural pollutants. For these reasons, optimal habitat replacement are required in the future for the conservation of the species.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.142-149
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• 2010

Tadpole shrimps are aquatic crustaceans adapted to temporary water pool. Since they have been recorded as the living fossil, there are a number of reports on their past and present distribution as well as their morphology and reproduction in foreign countries. However, there are few studies of biology and ecology of tadpole shrimps despite registration as an endangered species by Ministry of Environment, in Korea. This study was carried out to examine the distribution and habitat characteristics of tadpole shrimps (Triops longicaudatus) collected from May 2006 to July 2008 in Korea. Tadpole shrimps were found from the paddy fields and ephemeral pools at 21 countries in South Korea. They appeared between May and July and survived for 30 days, and temperatrue range was $10.7^{\circ}C$ to $33.5^{\circ}C$. The average turbidity of experimental paddy fields was 176.8 (${\pm}239.3$) NTU, and controlled field was 28.9 (${\pm}26.7$) NTU. The life pattern of tadpole shrimps is adapted to a temporary water pool and unstable environmental conditions, and also there was great effect of agricultural activity on the development and growth of tadpole shrimps.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.16-22
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• 2019

Investigations on the study of the distribution aspects and extinction threat evaluation of the Korean endemic species, Iksookimia pacifica were done from 2017 to 2018 in Korea. During the study period, the samples of I. pacifica were collected in 17 streams, 46 sites (from Baebongcheon Stream of Goseong-gun to Gunsuncheon Stream of Gangneung-si) among the noted 33 streams and 104 sampling sites investigated. The population size of I. pacifica was relatively large in streams such as Bukcheon, Baebongcheon, Hwasangcheon, Cheonjincheon, Ohhocheon Stream etc., but the population size was small in streams such as Sacheoncheon, Namcheon, Gangneung Namdaecheon Stream etc. The main habitat of I. pacifica was the downstream pool of clean water with slow velocity and sand bottoms, and their sensibility was estimated to be due to river work and water pollution. Comparing the previous records of the appearance of I. pacifica, they were first seen in Sampocheon Stream, but they did not appear in Jusucheon, Jeoncheon, Samcheok Osipcheon Stream. Given this evidence as noted for the 19.5% reduction in occupancy within 3 generations, in small appearance range ($1,343km^2$) and small occupancy area ($184km^2$), the number of locations were many (18) and the population was relatively large within the range of habitat. Therefore, I. pacifica is now considered a Near Threatened (NT) based on the IUCN Red List categories and criteria.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.712-719
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• 2023

This study investigated the diversity of butterfly communities inhabiting agroecosystems and examined the effect of latitude and longitude. The ecological characteristics of butterflies inhabiting rural ecosystems, such as habitat preference and food plant range, were also examined. This study was conducted from 2019 to 2022, selecting 10 locations nationwide and conducting line transect surveys every two weeks for four years, confirming a total of 112 species and 21,901 individuals. There was no difference in the number of species and individuals by region, but there was a clear difference in community composition. The most abundant species in rural ecosystems were Pieris rapae, Polygonia c-aureum, Zizeeria maha, and Colias erate, in that order. There was no significant difference in the number of species and individuals by latitude and longitude, indicating no peninsula effect. Habitat preference showed that butterflies preferring grasslands and forest edges were much more common than those preferring the forest interior, and the food breadth was mostly oligophagous, followed by monophagous and polyphagous. Butterflies inhabiting agroecosystems had ecological characteristics that preferred open spaces such as grasslands and forest edges or relatively diverse foods, due to the similarity of the environmental characteristics of the survey points. Through this study, we believe that continuous monitoring is necessary to determine whether climate change, which is currently underway and habitat change are affecting butterflies in agroecosystems.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.482-489
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• 2012

Visual monitoring is hard to apply on fish because they are living in a water system. To overcome this problem, acoustic telemetry, which is effective for underwater monitoring, is often used for studying fish behaviors, such as movement distance, route and patterns. In this study, in order to monitor the movement pattern of Squaliobarbus curriculus (family Cyprinidae), we used acoustic telemetry and identified the home range and movement distances. A total of nine individuals were released at two different locations: one is at the estuary barrage (Sc1~3) and the other is at the lower part of Baekjae Weir (Sc4~9), located in Geum River. Approximately, a 70 km section from the estuary barrage was investigated. Fish, which were released at the estuary barrage, utilized up to 12.7 km upstream as home range from the release site. At the lower part of Baekjae Weir, most of the fish moved and stayed within a 7.2 km downstream area, except for Sc6, which moved 53.4 km (linear maximum distance from release site) downstream from the release site. Relatively small sized fish (Sc7~9) did not show any movement. Accumulated movement distance significantly correlated with the standard length of S. curriculus ($r_s$=0.715, p=0.03). Moreover, the standard length of moving fish was significantly larger than that of not moving fish (Mann-Whitney U test, p=0.024). Therefore, the movement distance of S. curriculus has been correlated with fish size; movement distance was increased with the standard fish length. Although the sample size of monitored fish was small, various meaningful data were collected by acoustic telemetry. Consequently, this technique could be a method available for effectively monitoring the behavior and ecology of native Korean and endemic species.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.403-411
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• 2012

Acoustic telemetry is used to obtain a relatively continuous record of fish movement. This method has several advantages for studying migrating fish populations that are moving from large rivers. The Nakdong River is the longest river in South Korea and the main stream has faced a change, which consists of the installation of the large weirs. In this study, we applied acoustic telemetry to monitor the movement pattern of Erythroculter erythropterus (family Cyprinidae) and identified home range and movement distance in the Nakdong River. A total of fourteen individuals were released at three different locations and around 80 km section from the estuary barrage was investigated. Eight individuals were tagged and released at estuary barrage (N02) utilized up to 15.9 km (home range) upstream from the release site as home range. Four individuals were tagged and released at Samrangjin (N07), most fish moved and stayed within 9.7 km (home range) downstream area, except E12, which did not show any movement. Two individuals were tagged and released at Changnyeong-Haman weir (N10), and all individuals migrated downstream from the release site. Especially, E14 recorded the longest accumulated detected distance, 36.7 km downstream during 32 days after release. There was no correlation identified between movement (accumulated detected distance and home range) and standard length (Spearman rank correlation, p>0.05). Although, this technique could be an available method to monitor behavior and ecology of freshwater fish effectively, increment of number of receivers and tags are required for more detailed results of fish migration.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.45-50
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• 2001

The fish fauna of the Buan Dam, Chollabuk-do, Korea which was constructed in 1995 was surveyed in 1994 and 1998. 14 fish species were collected in the Buan Dam and 19 species were recognized in the brackish waters along the lower course of the dam in 1998. It was remarked that the dominant species in the dam has been changed dramatically from Zacco platypus and Z. temmincki to Pseudorasbora parva and Squalidus gracilis majimae within the three years after the dam construction. And also the number of Carassius auratus and Sirulus asotus were gradually increased in the dam. However, lksookimia pumila, the threatened fish species of Korea, was decreased sharply and restricted conspicuously by fragmentation of the habitat. The positive strategies should be considered for the species conservation of lksookimia pumila in the Buan Dam.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.260-279
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• 2010

The analysis on bibliography and field investigation of Callipogon relictus Semenov, 1898 (Korean natural monument number 218) shows that the size varies from country to country, and Korean specimens, for which male is 85~120mm and female is 65~85mm, are found to be the largest. The average diameter and length of egg are 2.60mm and 6.72mm respectively. The larva has milky color and is about 100~150mm in length. The pupa is nearly 70~110mm. An adult generally appears from June to September in Korea in the broadleaf forest of lowland, whereas it appears from June to July in China. It is known that the pupa largely feed on the old tree trunk of Carpinus laxiflora (Siebold & Zucc.) blume in Korea, but no such data have been reported in China and Russia, showing differences in host plants. While the larva period is not exactly known in Korea, it is reported to be two years in China. It appears that the species inhabits in very limited regions of approximately between geographical latitude $37.5^{\circ}{\sim}47.8^{\circ}$ and longitude $126^{\circ}{\sim}140^{\circ}$ including Korea, China and Russia. To conserve the long-horned beetle in Korea, this research drew out following some conclusions through analyzing the references and field survey data. First, it need to perform precise survey on the natural environment of occurring and collected area or place including host plant kinds, temperate, humidity, latitude, longitude etc. Second, habitat region must be designated as a restricted development area, and it need to exclude or reduce the damage factors to prosper reproduction of the species. Third, it is necessary to keep loosing cautiously artificial breeding individuals in the reported sites, not disturbing scope of natural populations. Fourth, it needs to educate or publicize many people importance and value of this species through many methods.