• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.11-38
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• 2012

Located in the middle part of the Korean peninsula, Pyeong-chang and Yeong-wol (Gangwon-do) areas are limestone regions that are important biogeographically showing the peculiar flora. In order to manage efficiently endangered and rare plant species, we have investigated flora of these above regions from March to October, 2010. The result of the investigation showed a total of vascular plants of 1,145 taxa; 134 families, 503 genera, and 1,010 species, 11 subspecies, 110 varieties, 10 forms and four hybrids. Among taxa investigated, endangered species designated by the law called 'Protection Law for Endangered wild fauna and flora' were seven taxa, and 50 taxa were considered to be endemic to Korea. Based on the floristic degrees categorized by the specific distribution of plant species, 24 taxa revealed the floristic degree (FD) V, 30 for FD IV, and 60 for FD III, 45 for FD II and 79 taxa for FD I. The 82 taxa were identified to be naturalized. Of those species investigated in this survey, 53 taxa were identified as specific ones biogeographically as compared to flora of other terrestrial regions; 35 of calcicolous plants, 15 with distribution in the northern part of the Korean peninsula, three with coastal habitats.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.106-114
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• 2020

The development of transportation and the expansion of the pet market has become the main causes of the increase in the cross-border migration of non-native species. Moreover, recent sales over the Internet were a factor that has promoted pet trades. While the import of non-native species has been steadily increasing in the Republic of Korea, it is not clear how these imported species are traded and how large the trade is. Considering that most of the non-native species found in the wild are the results of release by humans understanding the present situation of pet trades can identify potential non-native species that can enter the wild. This study surveyed the number of species, frequency, and prices of non-native amphibians and reptiles sold in 25 online pet shops from January 22 to February 10, 2019. The results of the survey showed that a total of 677 species of non-native amphibians and reptiles were sold, and the Squamata group accounted for the largest part of them at 65.4% (443 species). The number of non-native amphibians and reptiles sold in online pet shops in 2019 was 2.1 times larger than the 325 species officially imported in 2015. The non-native amphibians and reptiles sold in most pet shops were Litoria caerulea (21 shops) and Correlophus ciliatus (24 shops). The lowest price for non-native amphibians and reptiles was 3,000 won, and the highest price was 100 million won for Rhacodactylus leachianus of Squamata. Among the non-native amphibians and reptiles sold in online pet shops, 11 species were found in the wild and were sold at relatively low prices. We confirmed that Mauremys reevesii, an endangered species class II and natural monument no. 453, and American bullfrogs (albino), an ecosystem disturbing species, were being sold in online pet shops. Moreover, 21.6% of the 677 non-native amphibians and reptiles sold in online pet shops were species designated as CITES. The results of this study can be the important reference data for understanding the status of non-native amphibians and reptiles that are imported and sold in Korea and evaluating and predicting the potential for them to enter the wild.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.128-132
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• 2022

Wild boars (Sus scrofa) not only cause crop damage and human casualties, but also facilitate the spread of many infectious diseases in domestic animals and humans. To determine the efficiency of a fencing system in blocking the movement of wild boars, long-term monitoring was performed in a fenced area in Bukhansan National Park using camera traps. Upon monitoring for a period of 46 months, there was a 72.6% reduction in the number of wild boar appearances in the fence-enclosed area, compared to that in the unenclosed area. For 20 months after the fence installation, the blocking effect of the fence was effective enough to reduce the appearance of wild boars by 92.6% in the fence-enclosed area, compared to that in the unenclosed area. The blocking effect of the fence remained effective for 20 months after its installation, after which its effectiveness decreased. Maintaining a fence for a long time is likely to lead to habitat fragmentation. It can also block the movement of other wild animals, including the endangered species - the long-tailed goral. This study suggests a 20-month retention period for the fences installed to inhibit the movement of wild boars in wide forests such as Gangwon-do in South Korea. To identify how long the blocking effect of the fences lasts, further studies are needed focusing on the length and height of the fence, and the conditions of the ground surface.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.168-173
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• 2018

Mauremys reevesii is a Korean endemic turtle, and designed as an endangered species and national monument in South Korea. Recently, the population of the species has been dramatically declining because of habitat destruction, pollution and illegal capture. Moreover, small population size, difficulty of securing individuals, and lack of research are factors that impede the effective management of the species. In this study, we tested the effect of individual breeding and feeding on the seven juveniles of M. reevesii. Our results showed individual breeding and feeding were guaranteed the effective growth and development. Noticeable growth was confirmed in both body weight and carapace length. Moreover, the size difference among the individuals appeared at the start of this study decreased at the end of this study. Artificial breeding during the wither season was not caused disorders on the growth, behavior and morphology. This individual breeding may lead to effective growth and development, and it will be a way to increase the survival rate when the juveniles released into the wild.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.483-495
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• 2010

The passenger pigeon (Ectopistes migratorius) was a species of pigeon that was once the most common bird in North America. According to some ornithologists, the number of passenger pigeons is estimated as many as five to six billions at the time when the first Europeans arrived there. But this species became extinct in 1914. There were a multiplicity of causes in the extinction; first, the extension of telegraph lines and railroads into the Middle West of the USA beginning in 1850s, second, the loss of vast feeding, nesting, and roosting sites of the passenger pigeon due to the massive deforestation, third, the rapid population growth of the USA during nineteen century, fourth, the commercial exploitation of the species, and finally, the infirm and weak protective efforts. Some important lessons can be learned from the extinction of the passenger pigeon. First, it shows how much critical the public interest is for a successful conservational movement. Second, it illustrates the need for strong laws and practices in the protection of an endangered species from going extinct. Third, the fate of the passenger pigeon proves a very important principle in conservational biology. That is, for each species (bird or other animal) there is a minimum population to sustain the species. Ecologists generally believe that the extinction of the passenger pigeon was due to the loss of their numbers below the minimum owing to overexploitation.

• Animal Systematics, Evolution and Diversity
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.191-196
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• 2010

The Oriental White Stork (Ciconia boyciana) and the Crested Ibis (Nipponia nippon) are wetland species listed as "Endangered" on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. The two species were once common on the Korean peninsula, but have experienced a severe population reduction in the past decades. Currently, they are officially extinct in Korea. At present, reintroduction programs to release the birds to the wild are in progress in Korea as well as in Japan. In this study, we surveyed the historic breeding sites of the two species using the literature and face-to-face interviews with local people as a step toward determining appropriate breeding habitats for reintroduction. We found 26 historic breeding sites for the Oriental White Stork in Chungcheong-do and Gyeonggi-do, but did not find any breeding sites for the Crested Ibis. These findings suggest that the Oriental White Stork was resident, while the Crested Ibis was a winter visitor to Korea. Based on these results, we discuss the possibilities for successful reintroduction of the two species in Korea.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.664-696
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• 2014

This study was carried out to investigate the insect diversity in the islands of Daecheong-do and Socheong-do, Incheon, Korea. The survey was conducted six times throughout the day and night from June to October 2011. As a result, a total of 336 species, belonging to 78 families of 9 orders of insects were collected: 286 species, of 75 families in 9 orders from Daecheong-do and 106 species, 42 families and 8 orders from Socheong-do. 744 species, belonging to 103 families of 10 orders were identified in total including previous reference. Lepidoptera was the most commonly identified order with 439 species of 29 families (59%), and the next most commonly identified order was Coleoptera with 124 species of 27 families (16%). Among them, Copris tripartitus and Fabriciana nerippe, endangered species of wildlife fauna in Korea, were found in this study. Also, 2 species (Coenonympha oedippus, Lycaena dispar) belonging to IUCN Red List, 25 species belonging to Management of Exportable species, 5 species belonging to Endemic species, 6 species belonging to Korean Red List, 77 species belonging to Designated species and 2 species belonging to Climate-sensitive Indicator species were recorded. In this study, 147 species of 58 families and 43 species of 24 families were newly added in Daecheong-do and Socheong-do, respectively.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.8-14
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• 2021

Spawning behavior of the endangered Korean fish, Microphysogobio koreensis, was investigated in the Seomjingang (river), Imsil-gun, South Korea, during the spawning season, April to May 2012. The mating system of M. koreensis, a broadcast spawner, was a primitive spawning mode, and involved one male and one female, unlike group spawning fishes. Spawning behavior of M. koreensis in the wild were observed in eight patterns as resting, male chase, body beating, parallel swim, female withdrawal, male competition, spawning and not guard while spawning behavior in the glass tank were verified in six patterns as resting, male chase, body beating, parallel swim, spawning and not guard. In particular, a behavioral attempt of the pre-spawning stage showed more frequently in the wild than in the glass tank. We assume that difference of spawning behavior might be implication on behavioral restrictions in small and narrow indoor glass tank.

• Proceedings of the National Institute of Ecology of the Republic of Korea
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.165-171
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• 2022

The Chinese crested tern (Thalasseus bersteini) is one of the most globally endangered species, listed as "Critically Endangered (CE)" on the IUCN Red List, with only approximately 30-49 individuals surviving in the wild. Chinese crested terns were discovered to breed in South Korea for the first time in 2016 while conducting a census on uninhabited islands. The Ministry of Environment has declared the breeding habitat of the Chinese crested terns as "Specified Island" to protect this CE species. However, brown rats (Rattus norvegicus) inhabiting the breeding grounds of the Chinese crested terns and Black-tailed gulls may potentially pose a threat to the breeding of these avian species. Therefore, we conducted a study on the feeding behavior of brown rats involving stable isotope analysis to determine their food sources. Fecal analysis showed that brown rats mainly fed on plants, whereas they scarcely fed on animals, such as insects. In addition, the stable isotope analysis showed that the δ¹³C values of brown rats, insects, and Indian goosegrasses were approximately -16 to -11‰, whereas the δ¹³C value of Chinese crested terns that obtained their food from the marine ecosystem was approximately -22 to -18‰. Hence, we conclude that the source of carbon for brown rats on this island is the terrestrial ecosystem. We ruled out the possibility of any direct prey-predator interaction between the brown rat and the Chinese crested tern or Black-tailed gull.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.169-182
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• 2004

The purpose of this study is carried out accurately to grasp the vascular plants in Mt. Bakdal (825 m of sea level), Goesan-gun, Chungcheongbuk-do. In the results of survey from October, 2000 to August, 2001, the vascular plant species in Mt. Bakdal were summarized as 458 taxa; 91 families, 275 genera, 391 species, 62 varieties and 5 forms. The rare plants designated by Korea Forestry Service were six species; Lilium distichum, Iris uniflora var. carisina, Hylomecon hylomeconoides, Viola albida, Scopolia japonicus and Scrophularia koraiensis. And the endemic plants were seventeen species; Melandryum seoulense, Aconitum pseudo-laeve var. erectum, Hylomecon hylomeconoides, Spiraea prunifolia for. simpliciflora, Rubus hongnoensis, Gleditsia japonica var. koraiensis, Lespedeza ${\times}$ tomentella, Vicia venosa var. cuspidata, Vicia venosissima, Tilia taquetii, Ajuga spectabilis, Paulownia coreana, Scrophularia koraiensis, Weigela subsessilis, Lonicera subsessilis, Cirsium setidens and Saussurea seoulensis. The sixteen species were recorded in the surveyed sites as the naturalized plants; Rumex acetocella, Rumex crispus, Fallopia dumetora, Chenopodium glaucum, Amaranthus retroflexus, Robinia pseudo-acacia, Amorpha fruticosa, Trifolium repens, Abutilon avicennae, Hibiscus trionum, Oenothera odorata, Oenothera lamarckiana, Erigeron annuus, Erigeron canadensis, Bidens frondosa and Carduus crispus.