• 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.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.67-71
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• 2016

Two Korean Rhodeus bittering fishes are known as having a unique reproduction system that the female deposits its egg inside freshwater mussels. Among them, R. ocellatus and R. uyekii show an ecological difference in feeding items and micro-habitat. Through a light microscope, the visual cells of the retina in the two species were investigated to get information between vision and environment related with habitat. The two fishes' eyes are spherical and R. ocellatus has relatively larger eyes. For the two species, the visual cells of the retina consisted of long single cones, short single cones, unequal double cones and rods. In the cones, all show a row mosaic pattern. Although the two species have a different micro-habitat in the wild, the component of the visual cells was very similar to each other.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.147-162
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• 2014

This study aims to provide the biological and geographical materials to identify the changes in population of Family Ardeidae included Egretta alba modesta, Egretta garzetta, Bubulcus ibis, and Nycticorax nycticorax and establish their conservation measurement in terms of the fragmented and deteriorated habitat by human development such as housing and park projects. Wonjucheon Stream was measured the highest species diversity since the survey site was relatively less interfered by the surrounding human beings showing lower disturbance elements. However, the closer the stream comes downstream, the more the artificial disturbance elements generate, confirming that the species better adapted to contamination grow in more density so that the species composition becomes simplified. It implies that feeding place as well as breeding-growing places is also more closely related to the changes in population structure and species composition of Family Ardeidae. The results of Family Ardeidae immigration in Taejang-dong, Wonju, among the other survey sites, revealed that a total of 231 came to the site in 2006; and 210 in 2011, showing more or less reduction in the population. In the mean while, Namyang-dong in Hwaseong City showed the continuous decrease in population number of Family Ardeidae with 135 before development and 60 during development, resulting in the number never growing but continuously narrowing over and over after development. As a result of surveying the number of Family Ardeidae that bred following the findings above, Taejang-dong in Wonju City had 4 species of Family Ardeidae being bred, however, showing the decrease in number of population from 998 in 2006 to 589 in 2011. Namyang-dong in Hwaseong was confirmed to have as many as 352 of the population in 2006 and 230 in 2008; after the deforestation on their habitat, they had not lived in the site any longer, suggesting that the development would significantly affect Family Ardeidae.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.163-169
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• 2021

Background: Understanding the habitat characteristics of the endangered Siberian flying squirrel Pteromys volans is the first step in conserving and managing the forests it requires for nesting, gliding, and feeding. Therefore, in the present study, we characterized the habitats of P. volans using GIS analysis of 411 forest sites in South Korea where fecal droppings were found. Results: Fecal signs of P. volans were found in various regions in South Korea, including the Baekdudaegan Mountains. GIS analysis with six environmental layers (vegetation type, wood-age class, diameter at breast height [DBH], crown density, elevation, and distance from stream) revealed that fecal signs of P. volans were more frequently found in broad-leaved deciduous forests (42%) located 200-399 m above sea level (43.1%) and 0-199 m from the nearest stream (53%), with 5th class wood-age (35.3%), middle size class DBH (51.1%), and high crown density (71%). Conclusions: The present study provides information on the biotic and abiotic characteristics of P. volans habitats. In South Korea, the fecal droppings of P. volans were found predominantly old deciduous broadleaf forests. Further studies are needed to reveal whether the more frequent occurrence of P. volans dropping in broadleaf forests may be due to a particular preference of this species for the forests or to a simple reflection of the area of the broadleaf forests occupying a much larger area than other forest types in Korea.

• Proceedings of the National Institute of Ecology of the Republic of Korea
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.104-114
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• 2023

In this study, the distribution, bait preference, hosts, symbionts, habitat status, and cytochrome c oxidase subunit-I sequences of the ant Linepithema humile were analyzed. This species habitat comprised approximately 1.5 km along stone crevices, flower gardens, roadsides, and container yards in the vicinity of Busan station, Korea. Feeding activity of this species was confirmed in 9 species of 7 families of plants. Which was approximately 14% of total flora (63 species of 37 families) in the studied area. Particularly, it was observed that Dendranthema indicum and Camellia japonica were the most frequently visited. Further, we verified that they interacted with four species of aphids. We identified 22 species of ants (17 genera, 4 subfamilies) inhabiting the Busan station area, including L. humile, Tetramorium tsushimae, Nylanderia flavipes and the alien species Paratrechina longicornis. In areas where L. humile was the dominant species, the habitat of local native ants was reduced by approximately 30%. Bait preference was ranked in the following order: jelly, water with glucose (25%), and yogurt, with the highest preference for baits containing sugar and protein. The 630-bp cytochrome c oxidase subunit-I sequences of the local L. humile populations were 99% identical to those of L. humile in the National Center for Biotechnology Information database, and the Argentine ants that invaded Korea had a sequence identical to that of other invasive populations from China, Japan, and New Zealand. As L. humile rapidly increases due to domestic adaptation, continuous monitoring and control strategy for eradication are needed to protect domestic biodiversity.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.121-127
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• 2008

As a step toward developing conservation and restoration plans for an endangered species of the Oriental White Stork (Ciconia boyciana), we studied daily foraging behavior and ecology. We released two individuals, male and female, after enclosing study site with a fence and cutting out a part of two or three feathers of primaries. Research was conducted from 16 June to 11 July, 2007 for 25 days at Whawonri, Mewonmyung, Chungbuk province. We investigated diural and daily variation of foraging time budget, diet composition, and habitat selection of the feeding individuals. The storks quadratically invested for foraging time and resting time according to time of day, but no significant variation in the foraging time and resting time appeared daily over 25 days. As a result, the storks mainly used wetland as a foraging site in the center of the study area to that in the edge as well as to other types of habitat. The high usage for wetland in the center did not change over the 25 days while Rice field decreased and Wetland in the edge and Pathway increased. Female invested more time for foraging than male, but the foraging efficiency did not differ between them. We discussed the significance of foraging behavior and habitat selection for management plan.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.285-297
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• 2024

This study, conducted in Geolpo-dong and Gamjeong-dong near Gimpo-Hangang New Town, examines an area adjacent to the Han River estuary, a major wintering ground for migratory birds. Over 59 surveys from October 2015 to March 2022 in four representative rice fields (sites A-D) recorded 44,942 individuals from 32 genera and 72 species. Site D, a large area near the Han River, exhibited high species diversity. Despite lower diversity in areas under development (sites A, B, C), ongoing species influx and utilization persist. The study focuses on Anser fabalis, a species predominantly utilizing rice fields, and identified their distribution characteristics. The analysis revealed 162 instances of population influx, with over a 30-fold increase observed across 39 surveys conducted over a 30-month period (October to March, '15~'22). The area, a key wintering site for migratory birds of Janghang Wetland, about 5 km from feeding sites, is heavily utilized by migratory geese, indicating the region's high value considering migration distance and anticipated continuous bird influx despite urban expansion. Therefore, future developments should preserve ecological corridors and connected stepping stone habitats to not only preserve existing habitats but to secure alternative feeding sites, ensuring smooth movements and mitigating habitat loss.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.197-206
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• 2009

Benthic macroinvertebrate communities were collected from six different sites in the Dobong Stream in Seoul, Korea to investigate spatial and temporal changes in benthic macroinvertebrate communities in response to natural disturbances such as floods and droughts. We collected samples monthly or semimonthly with a Surber net ($30cm{\times}30cm$), and measured environmental factors, including stream temperature, discharge, width, conductivity, dissolved oxygen and pH at each sampling site. Benthic macro invertebrates were strongly affected by floods as well as droughts. In addition, benthic macroinvertebrate communities displayed different responses to the onset of the rainy season in summer 2006 and 2007, apparently due to differences in the intensity and amount of precipitation. Chironomids were particularly sensitive to heavy rain. Floods and droughts also affected the proportions of functional feeding groups during the survey period: the proportion of scrapers was high right after heavy rains, while the proportion of predators tended to increase in intermittent-type streams as the riffle zone decreased. Finally, although species richness and abundance were strongly influenced by heavy rain, they recovered to background levels for within one month, and varied consistently among stream types, indicating habitat stability.

• 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.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.54-61
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• 2019

A study on the diel activities and feeding habits of Pseudobagrus brevicorpus living in the Daegacheon Stream of Nakdonggang River was conducted in September 2017. Diel activity took place during the night, just after sunset and just before sunrise. Pseudobagrus brevicorpus swam in the middle depths, and when they found prey organisms, approached and consumed them immediately. Fish were divided by age into three groups. Prey organisms whose index of relative importance in the stomach contents exceeded 1% belonged to the orders Ephemeroptera (80.8%), Diptera (8.6%), and Trichoptera (8.5%). An index of relative importance by age showed that the Ephemeroptera are very important prey organisms, and the sizes of prey organisms increase with fish growth.