• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.21-31
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• 2007

Estuarine wetland, where freshwater meets saltwater, is a transitional ecosystem that is valuable ecologically for a variety of reasons, such as feeding and breeding sites for birds, fish, and wildlife. However, research on the spatial distribution and temporal dynamics of estuarine wetlands in Korea is rare. As a fundamental basis for wetland conservation, this study quantified the wetlands in three major estuaries, and evaluated the temporal dynamics of the wetlands since the 1910s. In particular, this study classified the wetland types into mud flat, sand, and emergent-plant types, and estimated the change of each wetland type, using topographic maps produced in the 1910s, 1970s, and 2000s. The wetlands in both the Han and Youngsan River estuaries have declined since the 1910s, but the rate of wetland decline was relatively low before the 1970s, compared to that since the 1970s. The impact of human activities, such as the Youngsan Watershed Comprehensive Development Project and the construction of estuary barrages, has disrupted the estuary cycles and destroyed huge amounts of wetland in the Youngsan estuary. By contrast, estuarine wetlands have been preserved in the small Gahwa estuary, and provide a variety of habitats for plants and wildlife. A special management strategy for wetlands should be established as soon as possible.

• Journal of the Korean Geographical Society
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.321-338
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• 2014

This study aims to identify spatial distribution of estuarine wetlands in Korea, and to assess temporal variation of the wetlands in the last few decades. Widely known in environmental and coastal management, watershed-based regions which composed with Han-river(western and eastern parts), Keum-river, Yeoungsan-river, Seomjin-river, Nakdong-river, and Jeju, are analyzed to evaluate temporal change of estuarine wetlands in the 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s, through the land-cover map. Results show that estuarine wetlands dramatically decreased in Han-river(western part), Keum-river, Yeoungsan-river that estuarine circulation have been interrupted with man-made structures such as dyke and drainage. But, estuarine wetlands surrounded by forests and grasslands has been relatively less damaged. Habitat diversity providing healthy estuary ecosystem is lower in interrupted estuaries than circulated estuaries, which are composed of tidal-flat, open water, salt marsh, rocky coasts and sandy shoreline. This study indicates that spatial distribution and temporal variation of estuarine wetlands are different with estuary type and region, so estuary type with seven regions can be applied to provides a framework for estuary management strategies and to establish estuary restoration plans.

• Journal of the Korean Geographical Society
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• v.42 no.3 s.120
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• pp.344-354
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• 2007

Estuarine wetlands for 33 watersheds in the Han River estuary were delineated on topographic maps from the 1910s, 1970s, and 2000s. Then, these data were used to address the issue of spatial distribution and temporal variation. Watershed characteristics such as drainage density, location, watershed size, slope, and elevation were identified for each watershed to determine the relationship between watershed characteristics and spatial distribution of estuarine wetlands. The analysis of estuarine wetlands indicated that wetlands in the estuary had declined gradually between the 1910s and the 1970s, although most wetlands were lost since the 1970s mainly caused by the large development projects related to urban expansion in metropolitan Seoul. The sediment composition and formation processes of the wetlands differed with watershed location; mud flats dominate in the lower part of the estuary, and relatively more sandy and emergent-plant wetlands occur near the main channel and tributaries of the Han River. Relatively more estuary wetlands occur in large watersheds, which have high slopes and low elevations. Estuarine wetlands have been lost dramatically in the densely populated watershed regions (i.e., Han River Seoul, Han River Goyang, West Han River), while relatively more wetlands have remained in undeveloped regions, including the Lower Imjin River and Lower Han River. In particular, anthropogenic disturbance has played an important role in the loss of wetland through the conversion of wetland into agricultural and developed land.

• Proceedings of the Korea Water Resources Association Conference
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• 2011.05a
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• pp.208-208
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• 2011

하구는 하천의 담수와 염수가 교차되고 혼합되는 기 수역으로서 수생 생태계의 중요한 서식처이며 바다와 하천의 중요한 생태통로가 되고 있다. 국내에서는 4대 하천 중에서 한강하구가 유일하게 하구 둑이 없는 자연하구이며 나머지 대하천은 둑으로 인해 담수와 해수의 자연스러운 흐름이 제한되고 생태적인 연결이 단절된 형태이다. 한강하구에는 대규모 습지가 분포하고 있으며 특히 장항습지는 종단길이 약 7.5km, 폭 최대 500m에 달하는 대규모 습지로서 고라니를 비롯한 동물과 줄, 선버들을 비롯한 식물의 대규모 군락이 분포하는 등 생태적 가치가 높은 지역이다. 본 연구에서는 한강하구의 장항습지와 산남습지를 대상으로 특정구간의 물리적 특성, 식생의 분포특성을 파악하고 연관성을 분석하고자 하였다. 이를 위해 1차적으로 포괄적인 현장조사를 통해 전체 식생군락과 분포를 파악하고 특징적인 식생군락을 선정하였다. 2차적으로는 선정된 줄 및 선버들 군락지를 대상으로 토양단면, 토양입경을 분석하고, 새섬매자기 군락지를 대상으로 측량을 실시하였다. 3차적으로는 대상 군락의 지하수위를 측정하여 상호관계를 분석하였다. 이 결과는 우선 한강하구의 지역적 특징에 국한되지만 향후 타 지역과의 비교연구가 수행된다면 대상 식생과 물리적 생장조건과의 정량적인 관계가 도출될 것으로 판단된다.

• Proceedings of the Korea Water Resources Association Conference
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• 2009.05a
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• pp.2132-2137
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• 2009

갈대(Phragmites communis Trin.)란 염분이 있는 곳에서 자라는 염생식물로서 우리나라 전역에 분포하고 있다. 지난 50년 동안 우리나라의 여러 습지에 걸쳐서 갈대는 우점종으로 자라왔고, 육지와 수중서식지에서 갈대의 확산범위는 증가하고 있다. 갈대의 확산은 다른 습지 식물의 서식지를 파괴하고, 갈대가 번식하면 동 식물들의 번식 자체가 어려울 뿐 아니라 갈대숲에 포식자가 늘어나 살아가기 어려운 환경으로 변하기때문에 갈대를 체계적으로 관리할 수 있는 방안이 마련되어야 한다. 본 연구는 우점종이 다른 두 습지에서 갈대군집의 성장률을 관찰하고, 토양의 화학적 분석과 식물의 생리적 분석을 통해 갈대군집 성장에 미치는 영양염류의 영향을 규명하였다. 연구 대상지는 한강하구에 위치한 장항습지와 성동습지로서 동일하게 갈대가 분포하며, 장항습지에는 줄 군락이 성동습지에는 새섬매자기 군락이 우점하고 있다. 분석 항목은 이화학적 항목을 비롯하여 용존유기탄소(DOC, dissolved organic carbon), 체외미생물효소활성도(Extracellular enzyme activities), 암모니아성 질소($NH_4^+$), 질산성 질소($NO_3^-$)을 분석하였다. 실험결과, 두 습지 갈대의 성장은 7월부터 9월에 증가하였고 성동습지의 토양성분이 점토질로 형성되어 높은 수분함량과 유기물함량을 유지하고 있기 때문에 갈대의 밀도가 높고 성장률이 활발한 것으로 나타났다. 또한 미생물활성과 환경인자간 양의 상관관계를 보아 환경인자들이 미생물 활성을 자극하고 미생물들은 식물의 성장을 촉진하여 영향을 주며, 반면 식물 뿌리는 enzyme을 생성하는 미생물에게 C 삼출물을 공급해 enzyme 활성에 영향을 미칠 것으로 사료된다.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.22-29
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• 2007

Investigation of carabid beetles as on ecological indicator species for wetland characterization and monitoring was conducted in three types of wetlands such as emergent wetland, forested wetland, and estuary, During the investigation period, twenty-eight species belonging to twenty-two genera and three families(Carabidae, Harpalidae, Brachinidae) were identified. The diversity of carabid beetles at riverine wetland such as Woopo (H'=1.18) and Hwapo-neup (H'=1.08) were higher than in the forested wetland (H'=1.03) and estuarine (H'=0.91). Species compositions in each wetland were significantly different(${\chi}^2=1716.8$, P<0.01). Riverine wetlands differed significantly from the forested wetland. Indicator species for the wetland chose with indicator species analysis were reacted sensitively on the parameter such as soil composition, moisture of soil, and environmental change. Thus, it was consequently suggested that these indicator species may be applied for wetland characterization and monitoring of the wetland ecosystem.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Geographic Information Studies
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.1-15
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• 1999

This study was carried out to find out the way to build a comprehensive wetland ecosystem database using the technique of remote sensing and geographic information system. A Landsat TM image taken in May 17, 1997 was used for the primary source for the image analysis. Field surveys were conducted March to September of 1998 to help image analysis and examine the results. An actual wetland vegetation map was created based on the field survey. A Landsat TM image was analyzed by unsupervised and supervised classification methods and finally categorized into such 5 classes as Phragmites australis community, mixed community, sand beach, Scirpus trigueter community and non-vegetation intertidal area. Wetland basemap was developed for the overall accuracy assesment in wetland mapping. Vegetation index map of wetland vegetation was developed using NDVI(normalized difference vegetation index). The map of wetland productivity was developed based on the productivity of Phragmites australis and the relationship to the proximity of adjacent water bodies. The map of potential vegetation succession map was also developed based on the experience and knowledge of the field biologists. Considering these results, it is possible to use the remote sensing and GIS techniques for producing wetland ecosystem database. This study indicated that these techniques are very effective for the development of the national wetland inventory in Korea.

• Proceedings of the Korea Water Resources Association Conference
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• 2009.05a
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• pp.1979-1983
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• 2009

DMZ권은 지난 반세기 동안 출입이 통제된 덕분에 다양한 생물종의 서식공간이자 생명벨트로 형성되어 있다. 서부 DMZ권에는 한강 하구와 임진강 유역의 성동 습지와, 장단 습지, 문산 습지, 임진각 습지 및 초평도 습지가 있으며, 이곳에는 멸종위기종 1급인 황새, 노랑부리저어새, 저어새 등 8종과 2급인 큰고니, 개리 등 21종, 황조롱이, 매, 흑두루미 등 천연기념물 22종이 서식하고 있다. 본 연구에서는 서부 DMZ권을 중심으로 현지 조사를 통해 하천환경과 습지 현황을 조사하였다. 임진각 습지는 임진강의 건천화 때문인지, 아님 썰물 때문인지 유량은 그리 많지 않았다. 덕분에 갯벌이 많이 드러나고 재두루미와 개리 등이 눈에 뜨였다. 장단반도는 절반은 농경지, 절반은 갈대 군락지이다. 군락지에는 갈대뿐만 아니라 달뿌리풀, 갯버들도 서식하고 있었다. 농경지에는 재두루미 가족이 섭식하고 있고 임진강에는 기러기 약 2천 이상이 발견되었으며, 고라니도 다수가 조사되었다. 최근에는 136마리가 조사되었다. 초평도의 습지에서는 물새가 탐조되었다. 습지는 생태계의 훌륭한 서식처의 역할을 하며, 수질 개선과 기후 조절 기능도 갖고 있으며, 생태 관광에도 기여를 하고 있음이 밝혀졌다.

• Ecology and Resilient Infrastructure
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.171-183
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• 2023

Estuarine wetlands, which form a distinctive brackish water zone, serve as important habitats for organisms that have adapted to and thrive in this environment. Nonetheless, excessive development and utilization result in artificial disruptions that alter the distinctive functions and attributes of estuarine wetlands. To collect the basic data for the conservation of estuarine wetlands with excellent ecosystems, we investigated the vegetation distribution characteristics and biota status of the Taehwagang River Estuarine Wetland. Data from vegetation surveys have shown that 25 plant communities of six physiognomic vegetation types, including willow vegetation, lotic and lentic herbaceous vegetation, floating/submerged vegetation. In the upper reaches, where topographical diversity was high, various types of wetland vegetation were distributed. In terms of biodiversity, a total of 696 species, including 7 endangered wildlife species, were identified. Due to good ecological connectivity, tidal rivers are formed, brackish water species including various functional groups are distributed around this section. The inhabitation of various water birds, such as diving and dabbler ducks, were confirmed according to the aquatic environment of each river section. The collection of ecological information of the Taehwagang River Estuarine Wetland can be used as a framework for establishing the basis for conservation and management of the estuarine ecosystem and support policy establishment.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.320-330
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• 2022

The Hangang river estuary, which is a natural estuary without structures such as estuary barrage, is an ecological pathway connecting the sea and rivers. Accordingly, Hangang river estuary has various species, and there is very valuable. Sediment classification in Hangang river estuary is three-dimensionally and diversely is distributed. Sediment classification in Hangang river estuary is also sensitively changed according to various factors such as climate change and river development. It is typically cause to landform and to develop a compound cross section. In Janghang wetland, the plant success is remarkable according to the morphological change at river bed. The purpose of this study is to identify the mechanism of wetland formation based on the observation on-site. As a result of the observation, Janghang wetland where was artificially created, has been grown according to the river bed change based on the flow rate and the plant success. The viscous surface layer material(fine grains of wash rod properties), which is not the main material(sand) of the river bed, but sub-materials of river bed, jas been settled on the pioneer plants(bolboschoenus planiculmis, etc.). It is an important role in the growth of a compound cross section and a wetland. After the wetland developed to the compound cross section, it is observed that the pioneer plants are transferred to other plant species.