• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.47 no.3
• /
• pp.194-201
• /
• 2014

To elucidate which climate factors and what periods affect the time of breeding migration of Gori salamanders (Hynobius yangi), we have investigated relationships between the 5-years breeding monitoring data from 2006 to 2010 which had obtained in both natural and translocated breeding sites at Bongdae mountain, Gijang-gun, Busan-si and the matched climate data obtained from the weather station, approximately 25 km apart from the sites. Mean average and mean lowest temperatures during one month before the first breeding migration were related with the time of first female migration in the translocated site. Mean temperature variation and mean precipitation during 60~120 days before the first breeding migration affected the time of 30% male appearance at the natural site and the time of 30% female appearance at both natural and translocated sites. Climate factors were more closely related with female appearance than male and at the translocated site than at the natural site. Our results show that changes in mean temperature variation and mean precipitation rather than mean average temperature might more significantly affect the breeding migration of salamanders, female breeding migration is more closely related with climate factors, and the salamanders translocated could be more affected by climate changes than those in natural populations.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
• /
• v.29 no.6
• /
• pp.850-857
• /
• 2015

This study was aimed to identify the characteristics of nest and breeding site conditions of Chinese Egret (Egretta europhotes) that breed in the uninhabited islets of the western coast of South Korea. It is expected that the information collected through this study can contribute to providing basic information required when building and managing artificial nests in their natural breeding habitats. Chinese Egrets make their nests in the shrub layers of Long Leaf Elaeagnus (Elaeagnus macrophylla), Arrow Bamboo (Pseudosasa japonica), and Baby Brier (Rosa multiflora). A total of 50 breeding nests of Chinese Egret were investigated in June and July 2013, with area-wise distribution as follows: Seomando (11 nests), Hwangseodo (14 nests), Mokdo (10 nests), and Napdaekiseom (15 nests). Vegetation coverage (cover, %), height from the ground to the top (height, cm), thickness from top to bottom of the nest (thickness, cm), reuse period, major axis (cm), minor axis (cm), and depth (cm) of each nest were measured. According to the results of the study on the nest characteristics of 4 breeding groups, the nests in Hwangseodo had the highest coverage, the nests in Mokdo were built in the highest places, the nests in Napdaekiseom showed the longest reuse period, and the nests in Mokdo had the greatest depth. The differences in height and reuse period were significant between Mokdo and Napdaekiseom. Moreover, there were significant differences in reuse period and depth between Seomando and Hwangseodo. There were significant differences in cover, minor axis, and depth between breeding groups that built nests on Arrow Bamboo (Mokdo and Napdaekiseom) and Baby Brier (Seomando and Hwangseodo). Nest characteristics of Chinese Egret were generally similar, while some variables showed different values for different breeding groups.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
• /
• v.29 no.3
• /
• pp.333-343
• /
• 2015

This research aims at identifying the goshawk's possible and replaceable breeding ground by using the MaxEnt prediction model which has so far been insufficiently used in Korea, and providing evidence to expand possible protection areas for the goshawk's breeding for the future. The field research identified 10 goshawk's nests, and 23 appearance points confirmed during the 3rd round of environmental research were used for analysis. 4 geomorphic, 3 environmental, 7 distance, and 9 weather factors were used as model variables. The final environmental variables were selected through non-parametric verification between appearance and non-appearance coordinates identified by random sampling. The final predictive model (MaxEnt) was structured using 10 factors related to breeding ground and 7 factors related to appearance area selected by statistics verification. According to the results of the study, the factor that affected breeding point structure model the most was temperature seasonality, followed by distance from mixforest, density-class on the forest map and relief energy. The factor that affected appearance point structure model the most was temperature seasonality, followed by distance from rivers and ponds, distance from agricultural land and gradient. The nature of the goshawk's breeding environment and habit to breed inside forests were reflected in this modeling that targets breeding points. The northern central area which is about $189.5 km^2$(2.55 %) is expected to be suitable breeding ground. Large cities such as Cheongju and Chungju are located in the southern part of Chungcheongbuk-do whereas the northern part of Chungcheongbuk-do has evenly distributed forests and farmlands, which helps goshawks have a scope of influence and food source to breed. Appearance point modeling predicted an area of $3,071 km^2$(41.38 %) showing a wider ranging habitat than that of the breeding point modeling due to some limitations such as limited moving observation and non-consideration of seasonal changes. When targeting the breeding points, a specific predictive area can be deduced but it is difficult to check the points of nests and it is impossible to reflect the goshawk's behavioral area. On the other hand, when targeting appearance points, a wider ranging area can be covered but it is less accurate compared to predictive breeding point since simple movements and constant use status are not reflected. However, with these results, the goshawk's habitat can be predicted with reasonable accuracy. In particular, it is necessary to apply precise predictive breeding area data based on habitat modeling results when enforcing an environmental evaluation or establishing a development plan.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Marine Environment & Energy
• /
• v.18 no.1
• /
• pp.45-49
• /
• 2015

Disturbance to marine wildlife is a serious negative impact of marine debris. In this study, the percentages of Black-faced Spoonbill nests that included plastic marine debris were calculated from surveys conducted on an islet named Suhaam off the western coast of South Korea. The percentages of nests including plastic decreased from 71% in 2010 to 37% in 2011 to 33% in 2012. The total number of nests increased from 28 in 2010 to 38 in 2011 to 43 in 2012. These differences in nests and nesting materials were possibly due to natural nesting materials such as tree branches and rice straws that were provided at the breeding site as a protective action in 2011 and 2012. Additional conservation efforts should be made to prevent further negative impacts from marine debris.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
• /
• v.13 no.1
• /
• pp.67-77
• /
• 2011

To classify the relationship between riparian vegetation type and bird habitat, we studied the vegetation and avian species in the three streams(Anyang Stream, Gap Stream, Seom River), located in middle province. Five different vegetation types - Woodland type, Shrub type, Tall and wet grassland type, Low and dry grassland type and Cropland - were identified. The habitats of avian species were highly correlated with vegetation type. Streptopelia orientalis and Hypsipetes amaurotis were found in woodland. Both Paradoxornis webbiana and Phoenicurus auroreus were mainly found in shrub. Tall and wet grassland were preference habitats of Ixobrychus sinensis, Acrocephalus arundinaceus, while, low and dry grassland were occupied by Phasianus colchicus, Falco tinnunculus. Cropland were used as breeding and feeding sites for Egretta alba modesta, Anas poecilorhyncha, Anthus spinoletta. Distribution patterns of avian species were clearly divided by vegetation type and site characteristics in the stream.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
• /
• v.30 no.2
• /
• pp.155-164
• /
• 2016

In this study we analyzed the spatial and temporal distribution and preferred habitat type of the Kentish plover (Charadrius alexandrinus) based on the 3rd National Ecosystem Survey. Kentish plovers were observed in 97 maps out of a total 842 maps (11.8%) between 2006 and 2012, mainly along the western and southern coasts of Korea. They were also observed in the eastern coast of Korea, inland rivers (Han, Geum, Nakdong, Seomjin, and Yongsan River), the western and eastern coast of Jeju island, and Daecheong Island in the Yellow Sea. The observations were mainly made during the spring breeding season and migration seasons in spring and autumn. The occurrence of kentish plovers was positively influenced by the area of water and wetland according to the middle classification level of land cover type analysis and the area of coastal wetlands in the detailed classification level of land cover types. Most (90%) of the kentish plovers recorded maps had coastal wetlands. Kentish plovers were known to be susceptible to change of habitat. As the occurrence of kentish plovers could be associated with the habitat-change of coastal wetlands and it is possible to estimate the number of individuals, it is recommended that kentish plovers be used as a bioindicator species for the ecological assessment of ecosystem in intertidal zones.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
• /
• v.33 no.4
• /
• pp.402-407
• /
• 2019

In this study, we investigated the habitat characteristics of a reservoir in Gyeongju City, Gyeongbuk, in which a large group of Mauremys reevesii (endangered species Class II and natural monument No. 453 in Korea) was discovered. We examined the biotic and abiotic factors that directly and indirectly threaten the survival of M. reevesii within the habitat. The reservoir where M. reevesii was discovered was built for agriculture and surrounded by submerged trees, dam, forests, reeds, and farmland (paddy field). All of the M. reevesii were found only in the submerged trees on the north side of the reservoir. We found 28 M. reevesii (8 juveniles) and 21 M. reevesii (16 juveniles) from field surveys on May 10th and August 9th, 2018, respectively. A number of red-eared sliders (Trachemys scripta elegans) and American bullfrogs (Rana catesbeiana), which threaten the survival of M. reevesii, were also found in and around the reservoir. Moreover, there were signs of excavation of cultural asset, chemical fertilizer, and household garbage, all of which are considered to be major threats to the survival of M. reevesii, all over the reservoir. Newborn turtles in this year were not observed. However, we estimated that natural breeding had sufficiently occurred since we observed many young turtles in the reservoir. Furthermore, the presence of young T. s. elegans individuals can be a persistent problem for M. reevesii as they are competing species. In conclusion, in-situ conservation method should be considered for protecting the endangered turtle and their habitat.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
• /
• v.32 no.5
• /
• pp.478-485
• /
• 2018

With the total population of 3,356 worldwide as of 2016, the black-faced spoonbill (Platalea minor) is designated as "endangered (EN)" species by IUCN. About 70% of population breeds on the uninhabited islands near the west coast of Korea and wintering area is Taiwan, China, Hong Kong, etc. However, there is few detail research in Korea and East Asia on black-faced spoonbill's long range migration and its habitat when migrating southward. We studied black-faced spoonbill's migration route, distribution, stopover, wintering sites, and timing of migration movements using a wild-tracker (WT-200, GPS-Mobile phone based telemetry, KoEco). We caught the black-faced spoonbills in the breeding sites (Gugi island, Bi island, Sangyeobawi, Chilsan island) in Korea in late June 2014. We attached the wild-tracker to 10 juvenile black-faced spoonbills. The tracking showed that the black-faced spoonbills started southward migration between late October and early November. The traveling distance to wintering site was maximum at 1,820 km, minimum at 746 km, the average at 1,201km. The maximum daily traveling distance was 1,479 km with an average of 782 km. The average days it took from breeding site to wintering site was 10 days (SD=10.7). The shortest duration was 2 days, and the longest duration was 34 days. Most individuals used 2-3 stopover sites between the breeding sites to the wintering sites and stayed almost 1-2 days (maximum 31 days). Stopover sites were wetlands such as rivers, streams, reservoir, and mud flat. The wintering sites were coastal areas (five individuals) in China, inland (one individual) in China, Taiwan (three individuals), and Japan (one individual). In conclusion, it is necessary to preserve the stopover sites and wintering site of the black-faced spoonbills through consultation and protection policy between countries and establish the systematic preservation measures and activity plans through continued moniting and additional studies.