• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.29-42
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• 2023

As the destruction of habitats due to recent development continues, there is also increasing interest in endangered species. Mankyua chejuense is a vulnerable species that is sensitive to changes in population and habitat, and it has recently been upgraded from Endangered Species II to Endangered Species I, requiring significant management efforts. So in this study, we analyzed the potential habitats of Mankyua chejuense using MaxEnt(Maximum Entropy) modeling. We developed three models: one that considered only environmental characteristics, one that considered artificial factors, and one that reflected the habitat of dominant tree species in the overstory. Based on previous studies, we incorporated environmental and human influence factors for the habitats of Mankyua chejuense into spatial information, and we also used the habitat distribution models of dominant tree species, including Ulmus parvifolia, Maclura tricuspidata, and Ligustrum obtusifolium, that have been previously identified as major overstory species of Mankyua chejuense. Our analysis revealed that rock exposure, elevation, slope, forest type, building density, and soil type were the main factors determining the potential habitat of Mankyua chejuense. Differences among the three models were observed in the edges of the habitats due to human influence factors, and results varied depending on the similarity of the habitats of Mankyua chejuense and the dominant tree species in the overstory. The potential habitats of Mankyua chejuense presented in this study include areas where the species could potentially inhabit in addition to existing habitats. Therefore, these results can be used for the conservation and management planning of Mankyua chejuense.

• Entomological Research
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• v.48 no.6
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• pp.540-549
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• 2018

Climate change due to global warming and changes in land use increase the development time and distribution, as well as the abundance, of mosquitoes, thereby negatively affecting human life and health. In this study, we investigated the habitat characteristics of mosquito occurrence sites in Danwon-gu, Ansan city, Korea, based on a daily record of civil pest complaints lodged at the Danwon-gu Community Health Center. We considered two types of factors (natural and artificial) known to affect mosquito occurrence. We confirmed a total of 554 cases of mosquito occurrence from March 2014 to August 2017. The total study area was $49.11km^2$, with urban areas constituting the largest proportion. Additionally, we investigated habitat preferences of mosquitoes in terms of terrain factors; generally, mosquitoes occurred at low elevations and on low slopes. Regarding the preference of oviposition sites, mosquitoes occurred at higher rates near streams and crops lands. The rate of mosquito occurrence tended to increase in areas with dense human populations. Regarding climatic factors, the rate of mosquito occurrence increased in areas with high temperature and low precipitation.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.177-182
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• 2012

It is widely recognised that changes in size and isolation of habitat patches have a negative impact on species richness and the distribution and persistence of populations. Thus, the aim of the research was to analyze the change, distribution and spatial characteristics of woodlands in an urban fringe landscape. The results indicated that there was a common trend of woodland loss across all landscape types while no new woodlands were established during 1976 and 2009. Small patches (less than 5 ha in size) were particularly vulnerable to and more likely to disappear due to human activities such as urbanisation. Changes in woodland cover were clearly observed between 1976 and 2009. Loss of many woodlands was caused by residential and infrastructural developments. As a result, woodlands were becoming smaller and more isolated. This trend probably had adverse effects on biodiversity. This woodland information can be used to identify the potential and specific needs for conservation planning in rapidly developing urban areas.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.27 no.8
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• pp.689-699
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• 2018

The changes on community structures of benthic macroinvertebrates, relevance to the environment and interrelationship between benthos were studied over two years in stream with large environmental disturbance, which caused by localized heavy rain during Typhoon Chaba in October 2016. As a result, the number of species and individuals were increased after localized heavy rain, especially numbers of individuals of Ephemeroptera and Plecoptera were greatly increased. On the contrary, those of Semisulcospira libertina and Semisulcospira forticosta of Mesogastropoda were greatly decreased. Dominant species was Baetis fuscatus of Ephemeroptera, numbers of species and individuals of Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Trichoptera(EPT group) were dramatically increased from 26 species, 110 individuals to 32 species, 365 individuals respectively. This suggests that the change of river bed and flow velocity due to heavy rain provided a suitable environment for the EPT group that preferred the rift of a stream. In the functional feeding group, only gathering collectors and filtering collectors were identified in autumn of 2017 because some functional groups preferentially adapted to the changed environment. The interspecific competition and environmental condition were the worst in autumn after heavy rain due to the increase individuals of some species. The ecological score of benthic macroinvertebrate community(ESB) was higher after the heavy rain than before. Results of the Group Pollution Index(GPI), Korean Saprobic Index(KSI) and Benthic Macroinvertebrate Index(BMI) were similar to those before and after heavy rainfall. Therefore, ESB was the most discriminating method for estimating the biological water quality in this study. Some species that are sensitive to water quality changes still appear or increase individuals in the area under investigation after the heavy rain. On the other hand, the individuals of some pollutant species decreased. This is thought to be because the habitat fluctuation caused by heavy rainfall has improved the water environment.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.207-217
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• 2022

We investigated the habitat distribution and diversity of ground beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae), a bioindicator for assessing environmental changes on Geumo Mountain, in survey plots at different altitudes on the southern and northern slopes of Geumo Mountain in South Korea. From April to September 2021, we collected 1,384 individuals, 41 species, and 15 families of Carabidae from the survey sites. The dominant species collected was Synuchus cycloderus (347 individuals), followed by Carabus jankowskii (193 individuals). The monthly distributions of species richness and abundance were as follows: 24 beetles of 9 species in April, 115 beetles of 28 species in May, 288 beetles of 32 species in June, peaking at 379 beetles of 32 species in July, 354 beetles of 23 species in August, and 224 beetles of 14 species in September. Additionally, we collected 305 beetles of 32 species at 400 m, 326 beetles of 31 species at 500 m, 359 beetles of 27 species at 600 m, 582 beetles of 16 species at 700 m, and 112 beetles of 7 species at 800 m near the summit. The habitat distribution by slope was 307 beetles (20 species of 8 families) on the southern slope and 1,077 beetles (34 species of 15 families) on the northern slope. For the 307 beetles of 20 species collected from the southern slope, the diversity, evenness, and dominance indices were 0.981, 0.754, and 0.156, respectively. For the 1,077 beetles of 34 species collected from the northern slope, the diversity evenness, and dominance indices were 1.187, 0.775, and 0.101, respectively.

• Proceedings of the Korea Water Resources Association Conference
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• 2007.05a
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• pp.667-672
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• 2007

Land-use in Cheongju region is changing rapidly because of the increased interactions of human activities with the environment as population increases. We used multi-temporal Landsat images (1991 and 2000) and DEM data in a post-classification analysis with GIS to map land-use distribution and to analyse factors influencing the land-use changes for Cheongju City. Land-use statistics revealed that substantial land-use changes have taken place and that the built-up areas have expanded by about $17.57km^2(11.47%)$ over the study period (1991-2000). Agricultural lands and forests have decreased substantially while urban and barren lands have been on the increase. Rapid economic developments together with the increasing population were noted to be the major factors influencing rapid land use changes. Urban expansion has replaced urban and barren lands, thereby affecting habitat quality and leading to serious environmental degradation.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.51-58
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• 2012

In this study, we investigated carabid beetles residing in the wetlands to understand their ecological adaptation and strategy selection associated with restricted resources and habitat limitation. The species richness, abundance, seasonal activity, and spatial distribution of the carabid beetles between the Mujechi Wetlands (wetland sites) and Mt. Jeongjok (mountain sites) have been compared. A total of 1,733 individual beetles from 30 species were collected and classified at the studied sites. The wetland sites were identified as having lower species richness and abundance for carabid beetles when compared with the adjacent mountain sites, whereas these beetles were observed to be dominant in the wetland sites than in the adjacent mountain sites. Calosoma inquisitor cyanescens, Carabus sternbergi sternbergi, and Carabus jankowskii jankowskii species were dominant in both the wetland and mountain sites. These species showed significantly different seasonal activity patterns in the wetland sites relative to the mountain sites. Although the three listed carabid species were observed to be widely distributed throughout the wetland sites, they still showed preference for drier sites, which clearly shows a distinction in their habitats. The results of the spatial-temporal distribution of carabid beetles in the wetland sites reflect their special strategies regarding space and time partitioning for maintaining their population. The distribution patterns of carabid beetles in the wetland sites also showed the desiccation gradient and environmental changes prevalent in wetlands. Ecological surveys, which use carabid beetles in the wetlands, can then be performed when restoring wetlands and for establishing management practices for improving the habitat quality.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.101-108
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• 2023

Recently, in relation to climate change, many studies have been conducted to predict the potential habitat area and distribution range of tilapia and the suitability of habitat for each species. Most tilapia are tropical fish that cannot survive at water temperatures below 10 to 12℃, although some tilapia can survive at 6 to 8℃. This study predicted habitable areas and the possibility of spreading of habitat ranges of tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus and Oreochromis aureus) known to inhabit domestic streams. Due to climate change, it was found that habitats in the Geum River, Mangyeong River, Dongjin River, Seomjin River, Taehwa River, Hyeongsan River, and the flowing in East Sea were possible by 2050. In addition, it was confirmed that tilapia could inhabit the preferred lentic ecosystem such as Tamjin Lake, Naju Lake, Juam Lake, Sangsa Lake, Jinyang Lake, Junam Reservoir, and Hoedong Reservoir. In particular, in the case of tilapia, which lives in tributaries of the Geumho River, Dalseo Stream, and the Nakdong River, its range of habitat is expected to expand to the middle and lower of the Nakdong River system. Therefore, it is judged that it is necessary to prepare physical and institutional management measures to prevent the spread of the local population where tilapia currently inhabits and to prevent introduction to new habitats.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.12-24
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• 1992

The application of island biogepgraphy and habitat fragmentation theory to protected area management in Korea is discussed. The accelerating destruction and degradation of natural habitats, with the associated erosion of biodiversity, demands and urgent response and a critical review of attitudes to protected area management. The flora of Korea will continue to change in both distribution and status in response to these man induced changes. The conservation and management of ecosystems, because of the variety of threats and the varying levels of biodiversity to be conserved, requires an integrated approach. Such an approach assesses the variety of threats, prevalent and potential, and responds with a strategy combining habitat, species and population management. The application of island biogeography, habitat fragmentation and edge effects theory to conservation strategies in Korea will assist in the understanding of the dynamic relationships between the isolation. degradation and fragmentation of surviving habitat patches. The application of such approaches is discussed with recommendations made for the adoption of an increasingly scientific approach to plant conservation based upon a knowledge of the conservation status and distribution characteristics of the Korean flora. Such data combined with demographic studies on topics such as Minimum Viable Population Size will allow an integrated approach to plant and habitat conservation to progress.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2022

Global warming has a major impact on the Earth's precipitation and temperature fluctuations, and significantly affects the habitats and biodiversity of many species. Although the number of alien plants newly introduced in South Korea has recently increased due to the increasing frequency of international exchanges and climate change, studies on how climate change affects the distribution of these alien plants are lacking. This study predicts changes in the distribution of suitable habitats according to RCPs climate change scenarios using the current distribution of the invasive alien plant Conyza sumatrensis and bioclimatic variables. C. sumatrensis has a limited distribution in the southern part of South Korea. Isothermality (bio03), the max temperature of the warmest month (bio05), and the mean temperature of the driest quarter (bio09) were found to influence the distribution of C. sumatrensis. In the future, the suitable habitat for C. sumatrensis is projected to increase under RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5 climate change scenarios. Changes in the distribution of alien plants can have a significant impact on the survival of native plants and cause ecosystem disturbance. Therefore, studies on changing distribution of invasive species according to climate change scenarios can provide useful information required to plan conservation strategies and restoration plans for various ecosystems.