• Spatial Information Research
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• 제10권4호
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• pp.501-513
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• 2002

Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) is one of endangered wildlife species whose population size is declining in Korea. To manage and conserve habitat for Eurasian otter, it is crucial to understand which habitat components affect otter habitat qualities. The objectives of this study were to develop a habitat suitability model of Eurasian otter in Soraksan National Park, to validate the model in Odaesan National Park. The research methods of this study were as follows. First, trace data and characters of Eurasian otter habitat were collected with Geographic Information System (GIS) data and Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers between 2000 and 2002. Second, the habitat use factors were identified as habitat characteristics of Eurasian otter and classified with habitat use and availability analyses. Third, significant factors of habitat model were extracted by Chi-square test. The last, Eurasian Otter Habitat Suitability Model (EOHSM) was employed by logistic regression method. Otter habitat use was positively associated with the reeds and shrubs areas adjacent to streams, the size of boulders, and low human disturbance in Soraksan National Park by EOHSM. This model had a classification accuracy of 74.4% at cutoff value of 0.5. Model validation showed a classification accuracy of 86.6 % at cut off value of 0.5 for otter habitat in Odaesan National Park.

• 한국환경과학회지
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• 제26권12호
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• pp.1341-1353
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• 2017

This study aimed to identify the aquatic and riparian factors associated with the presence/absence of the Eurasian otter in the Nakdong river basin, where the species is relatively more abundant than other otter species. Environmental factors and presence records were collected. Geographical Information System technology and chi-square test were used to compare environmental gradients in aquatic and riparian factors between presence and absence sites. Aquatic habitat attributes were evaluated with natural riverside sandbars and channel crossing artificial structures, the ratio of channel width to alluvial plain width, riverbed substrate, and flow diversity. Riverbank characteristics, bank materials, man-made embankment types, and land use/land cover of inland and riverside areas were selected as riparian habitat attributes. Compared to the aquatic attributes, riparian attributes were highly significant when assessing otter presence and absence sites, suggesting that conservation of suitable riparian areas to provide maternity and resting areas for otter species is essential in the Nakdong river basin. None of the aquatic attributes examined were statistically significant when evaluating otter presence or absence. These results indicate that the presence of suitable riparian area for resting and reproduction habitats is more critical to the presence of Eurasian otter than food availability in aquatic areas. To inform implementation of effective conservation actions, broad-scale factors, such as watershed attributes, would be needed to further assess habitat conditions of the Eurasian otter.

• Journal of Species Research
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• 제1권2호
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• pp.240-248
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• 2012

We used a non-invasive technique with microsatellite primers to investigate genetic variation among Eurasian otters Lutra lutra in eastern South Korea. We collected twenty two otter spraints in January and six in August 2008. We used spraints from five dead otters from five different river systems for the present genetic analysis. We extracted DNA from 20 spraints from the January sample. Ten microsatellite primers (Lut435, Lut453, Lut457, Lut604, Lut615, Lut701, Lut715, Lut717, Lut733, and Lut832) for Eurasian otters were tested, and four loci were successfully amplified for further analyses. The results of genotyping the otter population with microsatellite loci lead to the identification of 9 individuals from the Ungokcheon Stream. The Ungokcheon population also showed a genetic structure represented by the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium.

• Proceedings of the National Institute of Ecology of the Republic of Korea
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• 제3권1호
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• pp.1-6
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• 2022

Among the 13 species of otters in the world, only one Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) is found in South Korea. In the Korean Peninsula, otter pelts were historically valuable and expensive commodities used for international trade, and otters have long been poached as hunting animals. Recent rapid economic development in South Korea has increased habitat fragmentation and loss, creating a continuing threat to the natural environment. Otters live only in the area of rivers and streams as a family group and are territorial (linear habitat). Due to these limited conditions of otter habitat, the population size of otter is lower than that of onshore mammals. According to recent research, DNA analyses using microsatellite markers have shown that only approximately 7-21 otter individuals inhabit river systems for a length of 50-230 km. Korea's urban streams are associated with many threats that hinder otters from inhabiting them. Many areas around the urban streams are surrounded by high concrete riverbanks, and the risk of roadkill is also high. Nevertheless, ecological restoration projects in the urban rivers will contribute greatly to the stable inhabitation of otters. Detailed otter conservation strategies, such as the elimination of threat factors, improvement of habitat environment, and restoration of food resources and shelter, will provide a positive restoration effect on otter and river ecosystems as well.

• 한국환경생태학회지
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• 제37권2호
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• pp.140-150
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• 2023

수달(Eurasian otter, Lutra lutra)은 식육목 족제비과에 속하는 동물이다. 수달은 수계환경 먹이그물의 최상위에 존재하는 포식자로 핵심종(keystone species)이자 건강한 수계환경을 대변하는 지표종(Indicator species)이다. 현대에 이르면서 남획과 서식지 파괴, 환경 오염 등에 의하여 한강 도심 수계에서 사라졌지만, 2016년 다시 발견된 이후 2021년 1월에도 한강의 지류인 청계천, 중랑천과 성내천에서 서식함을 확인하였다. 수달의 서식지 보호와 관리 방안 수립을 위하여 잠재 서식지 평가가 시급하나, 기존의 수달 서식지 관련 연구는 자연형 하천과 저수지 위주로 이루어져 한강 도심 지류와 같이 좁은 공간에 인위적으로 한정된 서식지에 적용하기에는 한계가 있다. 본 연구에서는 인공하천인 청계천이 수달의 잠재 서식지로 적합한지를 서식지 적합성 지수(Habitat Suitability Index, HSI)를 활용하여 평가하였다. 서식지 적합성 지수는 수달의 서식 환경을 나타내는 지표, 먹이자원, 위협 요소 환경 특성을 종합하여 추정하였다. 그 결과 성북천과 청계천의 합류 지점과 청계천과 중랑천의 합류 지점이 적합한 서식지로 나타났다. 본 연구에서 추정한 HSI는 도심 하천의 수달 서식지 평가가 가능하였으며, 따라서 청계천을 포함한 한강 도심 지류에서의 효과적인 수달 모니터링과 수달 인공 서식지 장소 선정을 위한 기반 자료가 될 수 있을 것으로 판단된다.

• 한국환경복원기술학회지
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• 제18권2호
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• pp.19-32
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• 2015

In Korea, significant riparian areas have been developed due to river maintenance projects. Introduction of new riparian facilities can negatively affect wildlife in the riparian areas. This study focuses on selecting core conservation areas for Eurasian Otter(Lutra lutra) to support decision making process for development of riparian areas. For the study, first of all, field data of study site were collected by field surveys. Secondly, stream naturalness was assessed to understand physical environments of the study sites. Thirdly, habitat suitability was assessed using occurrence data of Eurasian Otter and environmental data. Lastly, core areas for conservation was selected by comparing and synthesizing stream naturalness map and habitat suitability map. The selected core areas showed several characteristics. The number of artificial facilities is low in the core areas. Rocks which are preferred by Eurasian Otter to eat and excrete are plentiful in the core areas. Also, the ratio of adjacent farmland is high. Based on the analyses, it is expected that this study can contribute to decision making process for environmental spatial plans to better conserve habitats of Eurasian Otter.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• 제47권2호
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• pp.42-48
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• 2023

An adult male Eurasian river otter (Lutra lutra) with ataxia and lethargy was rescued. Through the necropsy of this otter with neurological symptoms, a broad range of vascular damage caused by mercury toxicity in several organs, hepatocellular necrosis, and vacuolation in the brain. In mercury examination, liver, kidney, and hair showed values of 0.878 ± 0.027, 1.807 ± 0.049, and 5.712 ± 0.102 ㎍/g, respectively. Compared with certified reference material, it was confirmed that the concentration of mercury were 6.7 times, 13.7 times, and 43.3 times higher, respectively. When the symptoms and diagnosis results were comprehensively reviewed, this otter's demise was revealed due to mercury poisoning. The mercury concentration in the liver does not exceed the lowest observed effect level of 3.4 ㎍/g. However, even at low concentrations, long-term accumulation can cause symptoms including neuropathy, and the possibility that these heavy metals have accumulated in other wild animals cannot be ruled out. It seems that continuous monitoring using sentinel animals is necessary.

• 환경영향평가
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• 제14권6호
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• pp.377-385
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• 2005

The Eurasian otter(Lutra lutra) is listed as No. 330 in natural monument. To manage and conserve habitat for otters, it is critical to understand which habitat components are important for otters. The objectives of this study were to analyze otter habitat characteristics in accordance with land-cover map. We investigated otter spraints and sprainting site in Geoje Island from January to December, 2004. with GPS coordinates. The analysis of otter habitat use pattern was used by Arcview ver. 3.2 with 1: 25,000 Topology Map and field data. Otter habitat use was strongly related to sites in riparian vegetation riparian(dam or river) structures. In this study, Gucheon was a site with high coverage of riparian vegetation and unconfined channels, thus recording higher number of spraint densities than those of Yeonchocheon. Yeonchocheon was under construction at lower stream areas so that otter habitat use was limited. This study suggests that securing suitable forests and riparian vegetation zone is essential for conservation of otters.

• Spatial Information Research
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• 제12권1호
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• pp.29-42
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• 2004

본 연구는 2002년 10월부터 2003년 9월까지 경상북도 봉화군 운곡천을 대상으로 수달의 배설물(Spraint) 및 배설지(Sprainting site)등의 흔적조사를 통해 얻은 GPS좌표를 중심으로 하여 국립지리원에서 발행한 1/25000 수치지도 및 현장조사에서 얻은 정보를 ESRI사의 Arcview를 통하여 수달의 최적 서식지분석에 이용하였다. 분석 결과 수달의 서식지 이용에는 먹이자원인 어류의 종다양도와 풍부도가 깊은 연관을 맺고 있으며 식생 등의 서식환경이 밀접한 연관을 맺고 있음을 확인하였다. 또한, 밀집된 주거지 등의 인간의 간섭은 수달의 서식지 이용에 교란요인으로 작용한다는 것을 알 수 있었다. 결국 수달의 이주(Trans-location)등 보전 및 복원을 위한 시도에서 적합 서식지를 선정하기 위해서는 인간의 간섭으로부터 배제와 풍부한 어족자원, 좋은 식생을 두루 갖춘 서식지를 찾아내는 것이 선행되어야 함을 시사한다.

• 환경생물
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• 제24권1호
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• pp.89-94
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• 2006

본 연구는 수달의 배설물에 근거해 한국 수달의 서식지 분포 및 그 패턴을 유추하기 위하여 수행되었다. 본 연구에서 분포 조사에 사용한 총 750개의 조사 격자 (13.75X11\;km) 중 34%에 이르는 255개의 구획에서 수달의 배설물이 존재한다는 것을 확인하였다. 수달 배설물의 지역적 분포 빈도는 경상북도(49.62%), 강원도 (49.56%), 충청북도 (41.67%), 경상남도 (38.00%), 전라북도 (37.93%), 전라남도 (24.24%), 충청남도 (20.29%), 경기도(7.36%)순이었다. 수달의 배설물이 발견된 대부분 지역에서 아주 적은 수(평균 1.7 spraints/sprainting site)의 배설물만을 확인하였으므로 지역별 개체군의 크기는 크지 않은 것으로 추정된다. 수달의 배설물에 근거해 유추한 수달 서식지의 분포 패턴은 한국에 서식하는 수달의 보전 및 관리를 위한 기초 생태자료로써 중요한 기여를 할 것으로 사료된다.