• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.34-45
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• 2002

Of the four tidal flat areas(Yeocha-ri, Dongmak-ri, Sundu-ri and Donggum-ri) on Southern Ganghwa Island, the distribution of migratory waterbirds showed a difference in the numbers of individuals and species. Higher numbers of individuals and species were observed on the Yeocha-ri tidal flat. The dominant waterbirds species at the four areas was the Dentin(Calidris alpina). This species showed an occupancy rate(42.0-79.1%) on the Yeocha-ri tidal flat, which was much higher relative to the other areas. The Yeocha-ri tidal flats were higher relative to MSL than the other tidal flats. When the Dongmak-ri tidal flat was covered by sea water, the Yeocha-ri tidal flat was 0.0317$\textrm{km}^2$ in area and on this space we observed many resting waterbirds. The biomass of the waterbirds' potential prey on the Yeocha-ri tidal flat was higher(1.6~2.5$\times$) than other tidal flats. Twenty-three species and 266 individuals were found on the Yeocha-ri tidal flat, which was higher than the tidal flats. The food of Dunlin, which was the dominant species in these four areas, was mainly Reticunassa festiva and Umbonium thomasi(Gastropoda) and Perinereis aibuitensis(Polychaeta). A Dunlin(38.11g) used to eat 1,295 individuals of these food items for daily basal energy. Gastropod, its density was highest on Yeocha-ri tidal flats. The distribution of waterbirds seemed to be closely related with the distribution of the benthos, space and safety of resting site. We suggest that the environments of tidal flats, which are rich foraging habitats, are important factors for conservation of waterbirds.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.81-91
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• 2016

This study was performed to investigate and monitor changes in aquatic ecological communities, particularly benthic macroinvertebrates from the upper reaches to the down reaches of Songchu valley before the project of Songchu valley translocation initiates. We aimed to verify the translocation effects of the valley on the aquatic macroinvertebrate communities. A field investigation was conducted over three rounds from November 2012 to August 2013. A total of four sites were selected: one to represent the control site (St. 1), two for the translocation sites (St. 2, 3), and one for the downstream sites (St. 4). Our quantitative sampling revealed that the total number of benthic macroinvertebrates were 3,805, which belong to 62 species, 32 families, 9 orders, 5 classes and 4 phyla. As a result of the community analysis at the control site, dominant index was 0.52(${\pm}0.16$), diversity index was 1.95(${\pm}0.44$), evenness index was 0.81(${\pm}0.04$), and richness index was 2.25(${\pm}0.85$). Thus, the community structure was found to be relatively stable. For the EPT ratio of species and individuals that appeared, the control site showed the highest values at 67.60(${\pm}5.66$)% and 66.30(${\pm}2.06$)% respectively, but its value became lower towards the downstream sites. Upon the statistical analysis of the functional feeding groups, it was found that gathering-collectors and filtering-collectors increased toward the downstream sites while shredders decreased. From the point of habitat-oriented group evaluation, sprawlers decreased and burrows increased toward the downstream sites. According to the analysis using Korea Saprobic Index (KSI), the control site is categorized as grade A with average value at 0.75(${\pm}0.10$). However, the grade gradually falls from A to B toward the lower reaches, as the KSI value increases at the translocation and downstream sites.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.58-70
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• 2016

An investigation was carried out to study the diversity of aquatic insects, functional feeding groups (FFGs), habitat oriented groups (HOGs), and species-specific distribution in the Taean area in Korea from June to August, 2015. As a result, a total of 72 species belonging to 30 families and six orders were identified in all the investigated regions. Odonata (22 spp.: 30.56%) was the largest group in species richness followed by Coleoptera (21 spp.: 29.16%), Hemiptera (17 spp.: 23.61%) and Diptera (8 spp.: 11.11%) while for Ephemeroptera and Trichoptera, only two species (2.78%) were found. In addition, Plecoptera and Megaloptera inhabiting clean and flowing waters were not found. In the FFGs, predators (48 spp.: 66.67%) were relatively larger as represented by Odonata, Coleoptera, and Hemiptera, whereas shredders and scrapers were lower in proportion. The dominant groups of HOGs were swimmers (24 spp.: 33.33%), climbers (18 spp.: 25.0%), and sprawlers (12 spp.: 16.67%), which were characterized as aquatic insects community of island. Four species: Cybister lewisianus Sharp, Helophorus auriculatus Sharp, Agrypnia pagetana Curtis, Diplonychus esakii Miyamoto & Lee that are designated as Endangered, Near Threatened, and Vulnerable (Korean Red List) have been found to inhabitthe Taean area. Also, two species belonging to the exportable species group (Ceriagrion auranticum Fraser, Paracercion melanotum (Selys)) and one species belonging to the climate-sensitive biological indicator group (Ischnura elegans (Van der Linden)) were identified. In this study, four significant species including the Endangered are presented on the Korean distribution map based on the information in the national ecosystem survey accumulated for 7 years (2006-2012) by the Ministry of Environment.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.351-362
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• 2010

This study was supposed to offer vegetation plans for functional improvement of the recreational forest by researching Mt. Chukryong which is located at Oebang-li Sudong-Myon Namyangju Kyong-gi Province in Korea. In this study, artificial vegetation and natural vegetation near trails in recreational forest were researched through biodiversity analysis. From this analysis process, a typical management improvement of the biodiversity functions were examined by reviewing functions biotope condition, vegetation structure and wild bird community condition. Typical vegetation system was divided into four detail parts: Managed artificial Pinus koraiensis forest, Not managed artificial Pinus koraiensis forest, Natural deciduous forest and Not managed deciduous forest. As a result of the vegetation structure, the numerical value of the deciduous forest species diversity was higher than that of artificial Pinus koraiensis, and the numerical value of the managed condition was higher than that of not managed condition. As a result of a habitat structure analysis of the wild bird community, managed Pinus koraiensis forests were inadequate structure for wild birds to habit in there because the forests had weak structure layers, but unmanaged deciduous forest and unmanaged Pinus koraiensis that had diverse layers was proper places for birds to in habit. Thus, based on the functional analysis of biodiversity, management patterns of the target area were concluded in two manners: conserving management and restoring management. Deciduous forest protection target areas included natural deciduous forest area and managed deciduous forest area, ecological restoration target area included unmanaged artificial Pinus koraiensis area and restoring management target area includes managed artificial Pinus koraiensis.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.679-690
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• 2008

The objectives of this study are to investigate and analyze the vegetation structure and population dynamics of Berchemia racemosa habitats in the Weolmyung park in Gunsan city, and base on that to seek the ecological habitat conservation plan for the Berchemia racemosa. In results, the Berchemia racemosa habitats are located at $81{\sim}93$ meters above the sea level, in steep seaside slope of a mountain. The soil texture are silt loam mainly and soil pH were $4.1{\sim}5$. The vascular plants in the Berchemia racemosa habitats has been analyzed as 61 taxa; 33 families, 51 genera, 54 species, 6 varieties, and 1 forms. Berchemia racemosa as a Specific plant species by floral region was the class V. Berchemia racemosa habitats were classified into 7 vegetation communities of Quercus serrata community(A1), Alnus firm a community(A2), Platycarya strobilacea community(A3), Robinia pseudoacacia community(A4) and 3 Pinus densiflora communities(B1, B2, B3). The importance value of Berchemia racemosa were 30%(A1), 15%(A2), 27%(A3), 65%(A4), 18%(B1), 45%(B2) and 35%(B3) on shrubs layer and 12, 27, 20, 18, 11, 18, 21 % on herb layer. The constant companion species with Berchemia racemosa were Stephanandra incisa and Ligustrum obtusifolium. Total 103 populations appear in the 7 Berchemia racemosa habitats. Their spatial distribution pattern were clumped for the most part. The average height was 133cm, the root color diameter was 4.4cm and the ramification branch number was 9.4. From the results of this study, it is suggested the continued monitoring and the active protection measures for the Berchemia racemosa habitats.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2014

This study was to understand the ecological characteristics of the goral through the study on goral behavioral characteristics and to be carried out to provide basic behavioral data such as annual home range, seasonal home range and monthly used altitude with 4,752 locations obtained during the study period through home range analysis of three long-tailed gorals (Naemorhedus caudatus) in Soeraksan. For this study, gorals who were rescued from heavy snow in Seoraksan were used. The gorals were equipped with GPS Collar, released at their natural habitats, and then monitored from May, 2010 to September, 2011. According to our results, annual home ranges of the gorals (n=3) have $0.88km^2$ of MCP 95%, $0.27km^2$ of MCP 50%, $0.43km^2$ of FK 95%, and $0.09km^2$ of FK 50% respectively. Seasonal home range of MCP 95% was $0.47km^2$ in spring, $0.45km^2$ in summer, $0.63km^2$ in fall and $0.50km^2$ in winter respectively and home ranges of fall was the largest. In the case of FK 95% analysis, home ranges were $0.23km^2$ in spring, $0.19km^2$ in summer, $0.33km^2$ in fall, and $0.22km^2$ in winter respectively and the largest seasonal home range was fall. Female and male annual home ranges of the gorals were $1.03km^2$ for female and $0.58km^2$ for male. In analysis of the monthly used altitudes which were used Jun, July, and August were higher than in the other months and the altitudes which were used in Dec, Jan, and Feb were lower than in the other months. This study was to secure basic data for the habitat management policy, restoration, and conservation of Korea gorals and to be conducted to contribute to the success in doing or planning stage of the wild animal restoration.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.219-229
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• 2013

This research is performed in order to suggest seasonal effective research time that is applied to wild birds research which lives in a forest. The subject area of this research is Mulgun-ri village forest in Samdong-Myeon, Namhe-gun. To investigate suitability of the project, existing land-use, existing vegetation, vegetational structure, and etc. of the subject and whole area are figured out. To suggest adequate research time, based on seasonal sun rise and set time for 3days, repetitive research is performed at hourly intervals. The subject area is connected with a forest and is possible for forest wild birds to flows in and provides various habitats and feeding areas. And also the subject area is a appropriate area for wild birds research and is like a natural forest in that a layer structure development of the forest itself, a distribution of Zelkova serrata and Aphananthe aspera and so on. 105 species which is observed in subject area are categorized and mountain birds are classified. After time-based peak value is selected in each season, hourly species richness, diversity, and index of similarity are analyzed as compared with the appearing number of species and individual bird. As a result, 7~11 hour is the most effective time in spring, and 8~9 hour is the best time. In summer, 6~9 hour is the most appropriate time when whole appearing species are similar to species structure. In fall, 7~11(30~60 minutes after sun rise) when wild birds movements are vigorous is analyzed easy to observe and 8~9 hour is the most appropriate research time because each analysis shows the best values. In winter, 7~12 hour is the most effective time although 10~11 hour is the best time but it is decided that similar results are drawn because hourly deviation is not so big except 1 hour before sun rise. In every four season, it is decided that 30~60 minutes after sun rise is appropriate to research a group of wild birds in the subject area.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.381-396
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• 2017

Understanding species distribution plays an important role in conservation as well as evolutionary biology. In this study, we applied a species distribution model to predict hotspot areas and habitat characteristics for endangered herpetofauna species in South Korea: the Korean Crevice Salamander (Karsenia koreana), Suweon-tree frog (Hyla suweonensis), Gold-spotted pond frog (Pelophylax chosenicus), Narrow-mouthed toad (Kaloula borealis), Korean ratsnake (Elaphe schrenckii), Mongolian racerunner (Eremias argus), Reeve's turtle (Mauremys reevesii) and Soft-shelled turtle (Pelodiscus sinensis). The Kori salamander (Hynobius yangi) and Black-headed snake (Sibynophis chinensis) were excluded from the analysis due to insufficient sample size. The results showed that the altitude was the most important environmental variable for their distribution, and the altitude at which these species were distributed correlated with the climate of that region. The predicted distribution area derived from the species distribution modelling adequately reflected the observation site used in this study as well as those reported in preceding studies. The average AUC value of the eigh species was relatively high ($0.845{\pm}0.08$), while the average omission rate value was relatively low ($0.087{\pm}0.01$). Therefore, the species overlaying model created for the endangered species is considered successful. When merging the distribution models, it was shown that five species shared their habitats in the coastal areas of Gyeonggi-do and Chungcheongnam-do, which are the western regions of the Korean Peninsula. Therefore, we suggest that protection should be a high priority in these area, and our overall results may serve as essential and fundamental data for the conservation of endangered amphibian and reptiles in Korea.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.409-419
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• 2017

Although Korean red pine (Pinus densiflora) forests near temples are valuable as forests of the cultural landscape, they are likely to be deteriorated because of vegetation succession and climate changes. The purpose of this study is to investigate the vegetation structure, the pine vitality, and the site environmental characteristics of the pine forests near temples to identify the correlation between pine tree growth and location environment. We selected Chuneunsa, Wonhyosa, Jeungsimsa, and Taeansa Temples since these four areas still had the healthy pine forests. In all four studied area, the pine trees dominate the canopy layers while the deciduous broadleaf trees mostly inhabited appeared in the lower layers. The growth of pine trees in Jeungsimsa and Wonhyosa areas was not as good as Chuneunsa area where the pine trees tended to be older. We found higher total nitrogen content in soil in Jeungsimsa area than other areas, maybe because of increase in total nitrogen caused by the development of low vegetation in the area. This peculiarity may have led to the pine trees in the area to fall behind the deciduous broadleaf trees in competition for nitrogen nutrient and thus to show deteriorated growth. The altitude and the twig length showed a negative correlation as did the degree of slope and the mean importance percentage of the pine tree. In other words, the growth environment such as soil became poorer when the altitude and the degree of slope increased, and thus the growth amount and dominance of the pine trees were lower. The degree of slope showed a positive correlation with the twig length of the pine tree. Within boundaries of location environment where the pine tree forests were dominant, it seemed that growth of the pine trees was more favorable as the slope was steeper because the trees could avoid competition with deciduous broadleaf trees. On the other hand, the growth of pine trees deteriorated as the electrical conductivity of soil increased; increase in soil nutrients might have accelerated vegetation development of deciduous broadleaf trees and thus aggravated the growth environment of pine trees to negatively affect maintaining the health of the pine tree forests.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.508-519
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• 2017

There have been many studies on monitoring of biodiversity changes and preservation of Gwangneung Forest Biosphere Reserve (GFBR) in South Korea in recognition of the rare ecosystem that has been preserved for a long period. However, there are few studies on diversity and community characteristics of benthic macroinvertebrates as an indicator of stream health of GFBR. The purpose of this study was to assess the water quality of Bongseonsa Stream that penetrated through Gwangneung Forest and the nearby torrents by analyzing the benthic macroinvertebrates community during April to September 2016. The investigation collected a total of 114 species of benthic macroinvertebrates belonging to 56 families, 17 orders, 8 classes, and 5 phyla from the Bongseonsa Stream and Kwangneung Stream. Ephemeroptera and Trichoptera were the largest groups in species diversity with 30 species (32.3%) and 16 species (17.2%), respectively, and Tubificidae sp., Baetis fuscatus, Antocha KUa, and Cheumatopsyche brevilineata, which usually habit in contaminated streams, appeared frequently. Among the feeding function groups, the gatherers and hunters appeared relatively frequently, and the shredders and scrapers appeared frequently in the torrents. Among the habitat oriented groups, the clingers and burrower appeared more frequently and represented the microhabitats in the shallow areas. The result of the analysis of benthic macroinvertebrates community showed that the dominant index was $0.48{\pm}0.10$ in average while it was lowest with 0.33 in GS 8 of the Gwangneung Forest torrent and highest in BS 1 of Bongseonsa Stream. The diversity and richness indices were inversely proportional to the dominant index and were 2.53 and 4.22, respectively, in GS 8 where the dominant index was low. The result of the analysis of community stability showed that area I, which had high resistance and restoration, was high in Bongseonsa Stream while the area III, which had low resistance and restoration, was high in Gwangneung Forest, indicating that the water system in Gwangneung Forest had a wider distribution of specifies sensitive to agitation. The biological water quality assessment showed ESB of $50.88{\pm}17.69$, KSI of $1.11{\pm}0.57$, and BMI of $78.55{\pm}11.05$. GS 8 of Gwangneung Forest torrent was judged to be the highest priority protective water area with the best water environment and I class water quality with ESB of 63, KSI of 0.55, and BMI of 89.9. On the contrary, BS 1 of Bongseonsa Stream was judged to be the high priority improvement area that had the lowest water quality rating of III with ESB of 25, KSI of 2.13, and BMI of 62.7. Although the diversity of water beetle was higher in the water system of nearby Bongseonsa Stream than the water system inside the Gwangneung Forest, the annual community structure appeared to have distinct differences.