• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.440-447
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• 2013

The ecological health, based on the Index of Biological Integrity (IBI) and Qualitative Habitat Evaluation Index (QHEI) was evaluated in 10 stream sites of Southern Han River. Eleven parameters of 12 parameters (Karr 1981) were modified for the application of regional Korean circumstance. The ecological health, based on IBI grade, was in "good condition" and the IBI score ranged from 33 to 47. Nine parameters of the original 12-parameter metrics in QHEI model (Plafkin et al. 1989) were applied in the habitat assessment. The mean QHEI model values were judged as "partially supporting" and ranged from 75 (non-supporting) to 109 (supporting). Comparative analyses revealed that values of IBI and QHEI models were greater in Gj stream than Ig- and Dn streams. The analysis of fish compositions showed that the proportions of insectivore, omnivore, and carnivore were 61.9%, 19%, and 9.5%, respectively. According to tolerance guild analysis, sensitive species and tolerant species were 76.1% and 4.7%, respectively, indicating a healthy trophic state in terms of food chain. The analysis by habitat guild type indicated that riffle benthic species dominated (57.1%) when compared to water column species (28.5%). The introduced species and individuals with diseases or external abnormality were not observed. Overall, the model values of IBI and QHEI suggested that the ecological health was maintained well in this upstream region.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.19-29
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• 2004

This study was carried out to understand the bird community and habitat using condition in the Gildong natural ecological park, from April 2001 to March 2002. In this study, 63 species and 2,075 individuals were observed respectively. The dominant species were Paradoxornis webbianus(33.6%), Emberiza elegans 18.5%), Parus major(6.4%), Pica pica(6.0%), and the diversity of the species was 2.511. With migration, the highest number and percentage to the lowest was residents, summer visitors, winter visitors and passage migrants. Among 17 species which bred in the Gildong natural ecological park, hole(H) was 47.1%, canopy(C) was 41.1% and bush(B) was 11.8% in their nesting guilds. In foraging guilds in breeding season was canopy(c) was 45.7%, water(w) was 23.9% and bush(c) was 15.2%, and, in non-breeding season, canopy was 43.5%, water 23.9% and bush 21.7%. For the habitats of the birds in the Gildong natural cological park, reservoir area was used by herons, ducks and sandpiper, wetland area was used by Lanius bucephalus, Paradoxornis webbianus and buntings, grassland area was used by Paradoxornis webbianus and buntings, and forest area was used by Streptopelia orientalis, woodpeckers and tits. The number of species and individuals of birds observed in the Gildong natural ecological park was higher than other urban parks. We suggest that this was attributed to different habitats such as reservoir, wetland, grassland and forest area constructed in the Gildong natural ecological park.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.91-97
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• 2010

The systematic data management system in the area of river flow analysis has not yet constructed, even though the need is evident due to the complicated process of tremendous input/output data in the modeling study and the importance of visualization of spatial flow variation. The objectives of this study are to suggest the method for analysis of changing river sections affecting ecological habitat characteristics. The effects of ecological habitat characteristics are assessed with respect to changing river sections. A GIS special analysis is created representing in the past section of Nonsan-river using historical data. Topographic surfaces are subject to erosional and depositional forces that a specific set of surface characteristics unique to elevation data. GIS spatial analyst is used to generate surface grids from historical point data. Using the GIS spatial analyst can be constructed sections for anywhere of river. The change of depth between 1979 and 1988, the left bank elevations of a river are increased about 1.5m. But the right bank elevations of a river are decreased about 2.3m caused by erosion. In addition, the change of spatial between 1988 and 2002, the regions of a river from upper stream to midstream are decreased the elevation. But the downstream regions are increased the elevation. These changes are analyzed in GIS program to assess methods for affecting ecological habitat.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.145-159
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• 2010

A Sustainable Structured wetland Biotop (SSB) system was planned, designed, and finally constructed, and maintained in the An-teo Reservoir ecological park, which is the habitat of the endangered Gold-spotted Pond Frog. The system purifies polluted water of An-teo Reservoir which flows from up to bottom within the system. Water was sampled once a month at the inlet and at the outlet from December, 2009 to August, 2010. BOD5, SS, T-N and T-P were analyzed. Average influent and effluent BOD5 concentration was 2.9 and 1.0 mg/L, respectively, and BOD5 removal was 67%. SS concentration of influent and effluent averaged 18.1 mg/L and 2.5 mg/L, respectively, and SS abatement amounted to 86%. Average influent and effluent T-N concentration was 0.426 mg/L and 0.147 mg/L, respectively, and T-N retention was 66%. T-P concentration of influent and effluent averaged 0.071 mg/L and 0.022 mg/L, respectively, and T-P removal amounted to 68%. Plant and frog species of the system were monitored during the period. Amphibia and reptiles provided 7 species and 4 families including the Endangered Gold-Spotted Pond Frog (Rana chosenica ) which also lives in the system. Twenty-six plant species were naturally introduced into the system, however, they didn't make up a significant portion of the plant populations compared with the planted species. The endangered plants, Bladderwort (Utricularia vulgaris var. japonica ) and Euryale ferox were observed in An-teo Reservoir as well as in the system.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers
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• v.64 no.4
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• pp.55-64
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• 2022

The objectives of this study were to assess physical habitat suitability of fish species for different life cycle stages and to suggest appropriate ecological stream flows in a Bokha downstream reach. A dominant species of Zacco platypus was selected as the study fish of which three stages of spawning, juvenile and adult in life cycle were considered into assessment. The stream hydraulic environment was calibrated with HEC-RAS before the PHABSIM simulation. The hydraulics of flow velocity and depth were used to estimate Weighted Usable Area (WUA) by multiplying respective habitat suitability indices with stream area. Overall the WUAs tend to be great in gentle slopes with relatively shallow water depth regions. Maximum WUAs, ie, candidate for ecological flow rates were 1 m³/s, 7 m³/s and 8 m³/s for the respective spawning, juvenile and adult stages of Zacco platypus. Since the ecological flow rates for juvenile and adult stages appeared to be is greater than the abundant flow rate (3.67 m³/s) for the study reach, additional water supply may be needed but should be cautious to avoid the spawning period of Apr through May from the stream water management perspective.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.11-22
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• 2011

This study was established to build and suggest the Ecological Performance Standards for replaced wetlands as the mitigation strategies for the construction projects. The request performance and assessment factors and standards were derived by bibliographic review and verified by the field survey for the reference wetlands. And the weights for each factor were derived by AHP(Analytical Hierarchy Process) method. The results are as follows : 1) Assessment factors were induced by in-depth research of many wetland assessment models and benchmarks evaluated ecological functions. This study proposed final 12 assessment factors through ecological specialist and experts interviews added with literature analysis. 2) 10 natural wetlands were selected as Reference Wetlands as the measure to propose assessment factors and assessment criteria. Those reference wetlands are well-conserved inland natural wetlands classified to the one having worthy to conserve (grade "high") according to RAM(Rapid Assessment Method). Reference wetlands chosen by the study are Parksilji, Jeongyangji, Mulkubi, Bawineupkubi, Jilnalneup, Jinchonneup, Doomoso, Haepyung wetland, Whangjeong wetland, and Whapo wetland. The research developed assessment criteria for the performance assessment factors based on several explorations of the reference wetlands. 3) "Requiring performance" of replaced wetlands is defined as "to carry out similar or same ecological functions provided by natural wetlands", in overall. The detailed requiring performances are as follows; ${\bullet}$ to play a role of wildlife habitats ${\bullet}$ to have biological diversity ${\bullet}$ to connect with other ecosystems ${\bullet}$ to provide water environment to perform good ecological functions 4) The assessment factors for required performance are categorized by wildlife habitat function, biological diversity, connectivity of adjacent ecosystem, and water environment. Wildlife habitat category is consisted of wildlife habitat creation, size of replacement wetland, and site suitability. Biological diversity category contains the number of plant species, the number of wildlife species, and number of protected species as the sub-factors. Connectivity of adjacent ecosystem is comprised of wildlife corridor, green network and distance from other ecosystem. Finally, water environment make up with water quality, depth of water body, and shape of waterfront. 5) Finally, every assessment factors were verified and weighted by the AHP methods and the final standards were proposed. The weights of factors of requiring performance suggested as habitat (0.280), connectivity (0.261), diversity (0.260), hydraulic environment (0.199). And those of detailed sub-factors are site suitability (0.118), protected species (0.096), distance to neighbor ecosystem (0.093), habitat creating (0.091), green corridor (0.090) etc.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.17-26
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• 2005

Ecological corridor is the facility to connect two habitats fragmented by roads, dam, housing and industrial area. Critics of faunal corridors have suggested that they are simply an untested application of unproved island biogeography theory. But, everyone agree that ecological corridor is important useful structural components that help animal movement in fragmented landscapes. There are 52 ecological corridors in Korea. We investigated 43 ecological corridors of these and recorded the size of corridor, planting species, management and growth condition. We compared planting species to nearby exiting vegetation species and structure. We found that there are no considerations for many aspects of planting, for example, planting species, structure, animal migration and behavior, surrounding vegetation etc. Expecially, It was ignored management of plants, difference of surrounding vegetation, lacks of diverse planting species and structure. We suggest planting the native species of tall tree, shrub and ground cover, edge planting for transitional space between road and natural habitat, planting for foraging and breeding of target animal, diverse layer vegetation, and open space of center for rapid animal dispersal.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.16 no.9
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• pp.1011-1018
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• 2007

This study was conducted to analysis the ecological characteristics of "Wando HolIy"$(llex{\times}wandoensis)$ which is expecting as a possible ornamental tree with its beautiful leaves, flowers and fruits, and to find special breeding material which have particular characteristics and also provide correct environmental information which are required for commercial cultivation. The hill of Galmoon-Ri, Gunoei-Myon, Jeonnam Province, Korea, were reported as a original habitat of native $llex{\times}wandoensis$. The investigation shows that soil pH of native habitat was 6.18, hardness was 2.39, humidity was 38.6%, direction of slope is SSW, and average inclination was $15^{\circ}. The vegetation around $I.{\times}wandoensis$ is occupied by trees like an Quercus variabilis, Q. serrata, Q. acuta and so on. These are mixed forest of deciduous trees. Tree height reached up to about 12m and its coverage is about 30%. Q. salicina, Camellia japonica, I. integra, Cryptomeria japonica account for sub-tree layer. Tree height is around 8m and coverage is about 20%. Shrub layer was taken by Viburnum furcatum, Callicarpa japonica, Styrax japonica, Eurya japonica, Lindera obtusiloba, Ligustrum japonicum, Smilax china, Cornus walteri etc. Tree height reaches around l.2m and coverage is around 20%. Herb layer includes Trachelospermum asiaticum var. intermedium, Cymbidium goeringii, Dryopteris bissetiana, Disporum viridescens, Disporum smilacinum, Sasa borealis var. gracilis etc. Trachelospermum asiaticum var. intermedium, which are observed in southern evergreen zone, are dominant and its coverage is around 20%. The native habitat was in spoiled condition because of artificial thin out.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.133-141
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• 2008

The loss, alteration, and fragmentation of habitat have led to a reduction of biodiversity. The growing awareness of the negative effects of habitat fragmentation on natural systems has resulted in conservation strategy that is concerned with not only population and habitat level but also ecosystem and landscape level. Especially, ecological network to link core areas or major habitat patches is one of the most important issues. Recently, landscape connectivity is increasingly used in decision making for fragmented landscape management in order to conserve the biodiversity in the regional scale. The objective of this study was to find potential forest as a ecological corridor in Go-yang city, Gyung-gi province using cost-distance modelling method that can measure connectivity based on animal movement. 'Least cost-distance' modelling based on functional connectivity can be useful to establish ecological network and biodiversity conservation plan. This method calculates the distance modified with the cost to move between habitat patches based on detailed geographical information on the landscape as well as behavioural aspects of the animal movement. The least cost-distance models are based on two biologically assumptions: (1) dispersers have complete knowledge of their surroundings, and (2) they do select the least cost route from this information. As a result of this study, we can find wildlife moving route for biodiversity conservation. The result is very useful for long-term aspect of biodiversity conservation plan in regional scale, because this is reflection of geographical information and behavioural aspects of the animal movement.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.631-648
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• 2012

The integrative ecological approaches of chemical assessments, physical habitat modelling, and multi-metric biological health modelling were applied to Gwanpyeong Stream within Gap-Stream watersheds to evaluate environmental impacts on the constructions of residential and commercial complex. For the analysis, the surveys conducted from 45 sites of reference streams within the Gap-Stream watershed and 3 regular sites during 2009 - 2010. Physical habitat health, based on the habitat model of Qualitative Habitat Evaluation Index(QHEI) declined from the headwaters(good - fair condition) to the downstream(poor condition). Chemical water quality, based turbidity and electric conductivity(EC), was degraded toward to the downstream, and especially showed abrupt increases, compared to the values of control streams(CS). Also, concentrations of chlorophyll-a in the downstreams were greater compared to the control stream(CS), indicating an eutrophication. Biological health conditions, based on the Index of Biological Integrity(IBI) using fish assemblages, averaged 19.3 which is judged as a fair condition by the biological criteria of the Ministry of Environment, Korea. The comparisons of model metric values in sensitive species and riffle-benthic species on the Maximum Species Richness Line(MSRL) of 45 reference streams indicated a massive disturbances in all sampling locations. Also, tolerance guild and trophic guild analyses suggest that dominances of tolerant species and omnivores were evident, indicating a biological degradation by habitat disturbances and organic matter pollutions. There was no distinct longitudinal variations of IBI model values from the headwater to the downstream in spite of slight chemical and habitat health gradients among the sampling sites. Overall, integrative ecological health(IEH) scores, based on the chemical, physical, and biological parameters, were low compared to the 45 reference streams due to physical and chemical disturbances of massive constructions of the residential and commercial complex. This stream, thus showed a tendency of typical urban streams which are disturbed in the chemical water quality, habitat structures, and biological integrity. Effective stream management plans and restoration strategies are required in this urban stream for improving integrative stream health.