• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.67-84
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• 2023

In some areas of the Republic of Korea, the designation and management of conservation areas do not adequately reflect regional characteristics and often impose behavioral regulations without considering the local context. One prominent example is the Busan EDC area. As a result, conflicts may arise, including large-scale civil complaints, regarding the conservation and utilization of these areas. Therefore, for the efficient designation and management of protected areas, it is necessary to consider various ecosystem factors, changes in land use, and regional characteristics. In this study, we specifically focused on the Busan EDC area and applied machine learning techniques to analyze the habitat of regional species. Additionally, we employed Explainable Artificial Intelligence techniques to interpret the results of our analysis. To analyze the regional characteristics of the waterfront area in the Busan EDC district and the habitat of migratory birds, we used bird observations as dependent variables, distinguishing between presence and absence. The independent variables were constructed using land cover, elevation, slope, bridges, and river depth data. We utilized the XGBoost (eXtreme Gradient Boosting) model, known for its excellent performance in various fields, to predict the habitat probabilities of 11 bird species. Furthermore, we employed the SHapley Additive exPlanations technique, one of the representative methodologies of XAI, to analyze the relative importance and impact of the variables used in the model. The analysis results showed that in the EDC business district, as one moves closer to the river from the waterfront, the likelihood of bird habitat increases based on the overlapping habitat probabilities of the analyzed bird species. By synthesizing the major variables influencing the habitat of each species, key variables such as rivers, rice fields, fields, pastures, inland wetlands, tidal flats, orchards, cultivated lands, cliffs & rocks, elevation, lakes, and deciduous forests were identified as areas that can serve as habitats, shelters, resting places, and feeding grounds for birds. On the other hand, artificial structures such as bridges, railways, and other public facilities were found to have a negative impact on bird habitat. The development of a management plan for conservation areas based on the objective analysis presented in this study is expected to be extensively utilized in the future. It will provide diverse evidential materials for establishing effective conservation area management strategies.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.43-53
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• 2018

Laguna Lake is the largest inland fresh water body in the Philippines. It primarily serves as a site for aquaculture, hydropower, transportation, and water supply industries. Due to Laguna Lake's diverse functionalities, competition among water users became prominent. Water quality began to deteriorate due to various pollutant contributions in this process, thereby affecting the soundness of the aquatic ecosystem. This study was conducted to evaluate the current water quality management policy from the viewpoint of ecological environment through the evaluation of the water quality of Laguna Lake. Concentrations of water pollutants such as ammonia ($NH_3$), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chloride ($Cl^-$), pH, and total suspended solids (TSS) exceeded the water quality standards of the Philippines' Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). The water quality of the lake was also affected by the pollutant load due to agriculture and urban stormwater runoff in the watershed. The salinity and contaminated water from Pasig River also affected the water quality of Laguna Lake. Long-term water quality analysis showed that the water quality of Laguna Lake is also influenced by rainfall-related seasonal variations. The results of the water quality analysis of Laguna Lake indicated that the environmental management techniques of the Philippines should be changed from the conventional water management into an integrated watershed management scheme in the future. It is therefore necessary to study and introduce advanced watershed management measures in the Philippines based from the policies of other developed countries.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.370-375
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• 2013

Exotic species in aquatic ecosystem generate various problems domestically as well as globally. Largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) which is a well-known exotic species globally, acts as a substantial disturbance factor on the native fish communities in Korea due to the high predation pressure and hence designated as a ecologically harmful species by Ministry of Environment. In this study, we investigated the impact of largemouth bass on Korean native fish population, crucian carp (Carassius auratus), to identify responses of the prey fish. Two fish species were collected at seven reservoirs distributed at the Nakdong River catchment area, and changes in length-frequency and length-weight relationship (LWR) were analysed depending on existence of large-mouth bass. At bass absent sites, ratio of under age 1 year individuals were small, and over age two years were dominant. Conversely, normal length-frequency distribution pattern was identified at bass absent sites. The LWR of crucian carp (fish smaller than total length of 160 mm were only considered as it is frequently consumed by bass predation) was different depending upon bass existence. The value of parameter b at bass absent reservoirs was 2.909, which was smaller than that of bass present reservoirs, 3.100. Our results imply that crucian carp at bass present reservoirs presented a different strategy to survive from predation by bass, through relatively rapid growth. We propose that other native species might have similar growth strategies like crucian carp.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.177-188
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• 2019

The objective of this study was to analyze the distribution patterns of two exotic disturbing fish species (largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides and bluegill, Lepomis macrochirus), their physical habitat features, and chemical water qualities from 13 sites of Dongjin River. The relationships between the fish distributions and water chemistry and physical habitat characteristics (i.e., bottom substrate) were evaluated by comparing dominant vs. absent regions of largemouth bass and bluegill. The relative abundance of the two species decreased sharply with decreased in the water quality in terms of BOD, PO₄-P and pH, but not with NO₃-N and conductivity. The bluegill showed no difference in habitat preference between the two regions with regard to the bottom structure, while the largemouth bass had significant differences in the bottom structures of silt, coarse gravels and boulders. The dominant species were Zacco platypus (14.6%), Lepomis macrochirus (14.0%), and Micropterus salmoides (9.8%) in the order of relative abundance, indicating that exotic species (24% in total) dominated the fish community, perhaps ensuing large ecological disturbances on the ecosystem. In conclusion, the results of this study suggest that the distribution of the two exotic species may be largely influenced by water quality of organic matter and nutrient pollutions.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.410-420
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• 2015

In order to estimate the influence of environmental factors on zooplankton communities in lentic freshwater ecosystems, 20 reservoirs and wetlands were monitored by season in 2013. A total of 109 species of zooplankton were identified during the study period. Zooplankton assemblage showed a different distribution in its density and diversity in accordance with the seasons. In particular, the density of zooplankton (98 species and 603ind. L-1) was the most in autumn when compared to the other seasons. In order to effectively analyze zooplankton distribution that are affected by various environmental factors, a Self-Organizing Map (SOM) was used, which extracts information through competitive and adaptive properties. A total of 11 variables (8 environment factors and 3 groups of zooplankton) were patterned on to the SOM. Based on a U-matrix, four clusters were identified from the model. Among zooplankton communities, rotifer displayed a positive relationship with water temperature, and cladocerans and copepod were positively related to conductivity, chlorophyll a, and nutrient factor (i. e. TN and TP). In contrast, high dissolved oxygen appeared to have a negative effect on zooplankton distribution. Consequently, the SOM results depicted a clear pattern of zooplankton density clusters partitioned by environmental factors, which play a key role in determining the seasonal distribution of zooplankton groups in lentic freshwater ecosystem.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.52 no.4
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• pp.333-339
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• 2019

The Red swamp crawfish Procambarus clarkii is native to the southern United States and inhibits all over the world including the United States, Asia, Africa and Europe. In Europe, it is known to disrupt ecosystems such as competition with native crayfish. In this study, habitats of red swamp crawfish were identified in Jiseok stream (15.5 km section) and Daecho stream (6.1 km section) of Youngsan river. A total 33 red swamp crawfish were captured. A female captured in Jiseok stream carried 215 newly hatched red swamp crawfish in her the burrow. As a result of the analysis of the habitat environment, the water temperature was ranged of 2.4~32.8℃, conductivity was 53.4~502.3 μS cm^-1 and DO was 0.74~22.64 mg L^-1. As a result of measuring HOBO, the temperature ranged from -9~48.1℃, showing a change of 57.1℃ throughout the year. The variation of the water temperature throughout the year from 2.9~33.9℃ was found to be 31℃. Red swamp crawfish have a high adaptability and a wide range of environmental resistance, and report a sharp increase in newly invaded areas, negatively affecting indigenous organisms. In addition, it can be used as a medium for the spread of diseases and parasites, so prompt investigation and research should be carried out.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.53 no.1
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• pp.63-72
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• 2020

In this study, to discuss on the applicability of eDNA as a new method to investigate fish diversity at streams, we applied eDNA at 4 streams (Geum River, Ji Stream, Hwangji Stream, Seomjin River), where endangered species are inhabits, with conventional survey (cast net and kick net). The average (±standard deviation) number of species investigated by eDNA were 19 species (±4.4), and it was relatively higher than average of conventional survey, 10 species (±4.8). Most of case, in this study, eDNA was more efficient than conventional survey. However, there were errors on species identification of Korean endemic species and aliied species from eDNA, and it seems the universal primer (MiFish primer set) is not suitable for them. Furthermore, some of endangered species, caught by conventional method, was not detected by eDNA. As the present universal primer is not suitable for identify the every freshwater fish species in Korea, the complementing or development of universal primer is needed, and the eDNA application after species specific marker development for detecting specific species like endangered species should be considered. In conclusion, if the manual for field survey method by eDNA is developed, we expect applicability enlargement for water ecosystem survey.

• Ecology and Resilient Infrastructure
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.217-226
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• 2019

Optimum engineering methods for bank protection were classified based on steepness of bank slope and an existence of waterfront facility in the floodplain, and a new concept of eco-hybrid rolling mat method which could be applicable for the unfitted cases with previously developed countermeasures was suggested in this study. The eco-hybrid rolling mat method can be constructed while maintaining the river environment and ecosystem that does not interfere with the ground and slopes, when bank erosion occurs, it is an economical and efficient construction method that can protect the revetment and the bank slope immediately. The developed eco-hybrid rolling mat method was verified for the designed structure, system, function and effect based on large-scale river experiments including field exposure and decomposition test. As a result, the normal operation and effect of the rolling mat ted under low and high velocity conditions were confirmed with respect to bank protection. The effect of bank erosion prevention was quantitatively validated by sediment concentration monitoring and analysis, and the product specification of the eco-hybrid rolling mat was presented based on the standardized mat applied in real-scale tests.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Surveying, Geodesy, Photogrammetry and Cartography
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.639-647
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• 2009

In line with the rapid settlement of information society, the demand for geospatial information and its applications are dramatically increasing. The Project of National Geographic Information System(NGIS) is actively on going to meet up-to-dateness and accuracy of geospatial data. It is fact that the public interest in environmental issues is increasing than ever in accordance with the restoration of the four major rivers, core project of Green New Deal Policy, and the event of the Ramsar General Meeting. Because the Nakdong River Estuary is a place of great importance in both aspects of wetland and environment conservation, a variety of researches related to this area are progressing. Although artificial developments and natural phenomena are rapidly changing the topography and ecosystem of this area, the effort to build topographic DB for change monitoring is very slow. This study describes a Lidar surveying project over the restored wetland Eulsukdo, the southermost part of the Nakdong River, to establish precise topographic DB throughout producing 3D topographical maps and wetland classification maps. The results of this study will make a large contribution to the systematic maintenance and management for the restored Eulsukdo wetland.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.225-235
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• 2007

The freshwater fish fauna and physical characteristics of streams in Yeosu peninsula and Geumo Islands were surveyed at thirty nine stations in the period of 2003 and 2005. Most of the streams were short in length and narrow in flowing water width. Main materials of riverbed in most stations were cobble, pebble and gravel; those in the stations adjacent river mouth gravel and sand. In the river type, eighteen stations out of surveyed stations were upstream type: Aa. Thirty nine fish species belonging sixteen families were caught in this survey region. Among them twenty seven species were primary freshwater fishes and nine were peripheral. In the species composition of each family, there were the most species in Cyprinidae and Gobiidae, twelve and ten species, respectively. Endemic species of Korean peninsula in this region were eight species. One exotic fish species, Lepomis macrochirus was found in Yeosu peninsula. Dominant species in each district was Zacco temminckii in Yeosu peninsula, Rhinogobius brunneus in Dolsan Island, Leucopsarion petersii in Geumo island and Oryzias latipes in Gae island. In the analysis of community structure, it was appeared that the community of Yeosu peninsula was the most diverse and stable in this region; as the size of island became smaller, diversity and richness of community decreased. Kichulchoia brevifasciata did not caught in this survey, and it is possible that the species was extincted in this island. Acanthorhodeus gracilis and L. petersii were reported firstly in this region.