• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.280-289
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• 2009

The fish communities and physical habitat conditions of fifteen tributaries of Lake Paldang in spring and autumn, 2008 were surveyed to evaluate the ecological health of the streams. The total 2,746 individuals were collected belonging to 11 families 31 genera 40 species. Two new species (Cottus koreanus, Gnathopogon strigaus) that have never been reported as yet in Lake Paldang watershed were found for the first time. The most dominant species in the tributaries was Acheilognathus yamatsutae (19.9%) which is Korean endemic species. Ecological health evaluation of fifteen tributaries using index of biological integrity (IBI) model for fish community and qualitative habitat evaluation index (QHEI) was performed. According th the IBI analysis, four streams (Siwoo-Stream, Jojong-Stream, Moonho-Stream and Mugab-Stream) were evaluated as "good" condition (B grade), Woosan-Stream were "poor" condition (D grade) and others were "fair" condition (C grade). Qualitative habitat evaluation index values of the four streams were the grade "II" indicating "good" condition and those of eleven streams were the grade "III", indicating 'fair' condition. On the whole, dataset of IBI and QHEI showed that ecological health of Jojong-Stream has been well maintained compared to other tributaries of Lake Paldang.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.147-151
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• 2008

Feeding methods of five species of herons and egrets were studied in an agricultural landscape in Asan city, Chungcheongnam-do, Korea in 2006. Grey herons primarily hunted while standing, whereas great egrets fed while walking slowly. Two smaller species, little and cattle egrets, were active foragers, feeding both while walking quickly and walking slowly. Little egrets were the only species using the foot stirring method. The medium-sized heron, intermediate egrets, foraged mainly while walking slowly or leaning. For grey herons, great egrets and little egrets, the frequency of use of different feeding methods was different between habitats: these species used the leaning method more frequently in rice fields than in reservoirs and ditches. Also, most herons (all species other than great egrets) showed seasonal changes in their feeding methods that are related to changes in habitat condition.

• Animal Systematics, Evolution and Diversity
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• no.spc9
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• pp.80-83
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• 2016

In order to analyze a status of animal in an area where has been became a land cause of Jindo Grand Bridge established on Jindo island area, mammal status in the biggest mountain in Jindo province, Mt. Cheomchalsan has been investigated for four times from May to October of 2016. According to the investigation, 5 orders, 9 families and 15 species of inhabitation was confirmed, and water deer (Hydropotes inermis), raccoon (Nyctereutes procyonoides), cat (Felis catus), and etcetera were dominant. Biodiversity and evenness index were likely to be high as 2.24 and 0.83, respectively and it is considered that favorable condition of natural ecosystem for inhabitation of mammalian is established. Meanwhile, since the cat designated as control species is confirmed as a dominant species, it is supposed that continuous management is necessary.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.453-463
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• 1996

Diurnal changes of microclimatic conditions and tissue water relations were measured at two sites where Carpinus laxiflora and C. cordata were allopatrically distributed. The microclimatic conditions at a site where C. laxiflora was distributed produced severe water stress condition during summer months. Daily maximum temperature reached $30.4^\circC$ and the highest vapor pressure deficit was 1.31 KPa when 13 rainless days were continued. During this period soil water content decreased to below the field capacity even at a depth of 20 cm and xylem pressure potential also decreased to ­2.04 MPa. However, turgor potential was maintained more than 0.4 MPa. Patterns of stomatal conductance were changed with evaporative demand and soil water availability. On the other hand, microclimatic conditions at a site where C. cordata was distributed were moderate water strees condition compared with those at a site C. laxiflora was distributed. Though soil water content was maintained above field capacity C. cordata showed a remarkable decrease in turgor potential and stomatal conductance throughout the experiment. These results indicate that there is a difference in habitat characteristics between the two species and C. laxiflora is more resistant than C. cordata to water stress.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.24-34
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• 2010

This study was carried out to analyze some influences on ecological health conditions, threaten by various stressors such as physical, chemical and biological parameters. We collected samples in 2008 from three zones of upstream, midstream and downstream, Gap Stream. We applied multi-metric fish assessment index (MFAI), based on biotic integrity model to the three zones along with habitat evaluations based on Qualitative Habitat Evaluation Index (QHEI). We also examined fish fauna and compositions, and analyzed relations with MFAI values, QHEI values, and various guild types. Chemical parameters such as oragnic matter (BOD, COD), nutrients (TP, $NH_3$-N), coli-form number (as MPN), and suspended solids (SS) were analyzed to identify the relationship among multiple stressor effects. Using the sentinel species of Zacco platypus, the population structures and condition factors were analyzed along with DNA damages related with genotoxicant effects by comet assay. This study using all these parameters showed that stream condition was degraded along the longitudinal gradient from upstream to downstream, and the downstream, especially, was impacted by nutrient enrichment and toxicant exposure from the point source, wastewater treatment plant. Overall results indicated that our approaches applying various parameters may be used as a cause-effect technique in the stream health assessments and also used as a pre-warning tool for diagnosis of ecological degradation.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.297-304
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• 2019

Background: The growing wild boar population has become a social issue and its feeding characteristics could affect the physical condition and the plant species composition in the South Korean forests. We aimed to reveal the preference of the wild boar on forest type and site condition as feeding grounds in two cool-temperate forested national parks, Odaesan and Seoraksan, in order to provide information to manage the growing population. Results: The 75 plots (53.6%) out of 140 plots were used as feeding grounds by the wild boar, implying a considerably large population. Especially, the observation frequency as feeding ground was the highest in Quercus forests (73.3%), and it was significantly more preferred than deciduous forest type (44.2%) and coniferous forest type (32.4%) (${\chi}^2=17.591$, p < 0.001). Significantly more and deeper pits were found in Quercus forests. Moreover, high elevation and gentle slope ridge were relatively preferred regardless of forest distribution. Conclusions: South Korean forests are growing qualitatively and quantitatively. Particularly, Quercus forest area has increased markedly, while coniferous forest area has decreased. Since the Quercus forest provides rich food sources for the wild boar, the enlargement of this forest type is expected to increase the wild boar population. The forests located at high elevations have high species diversity, and it is expected that these forests will be greatly affected by the increase in the wild boar population as preferred feeding grounds.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.9-15
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• 2019

Artiodactyla, which is an even-toed mammal, widely inhabits worldwide. In recent years, wild Artiodactyla species have attracted public attention due to the rapid increase of crop damage and road-kill caused by wild Artiodactyla such as water deer and wild boar and the decrease of some species such as long-tailed goral and musk deer. In spite of such public attention, however, there have been few studies on Artiodactyla in Korea, and no studies have focused on the trend analysis of Artiodactyla, making it difficult to understand actual problems. Many recent studies on trend used text-mining and co-occurrence analysis to increase objectivity in the classification of research subjects by extracting keywords appearing in literature and quantifying relevance between words. In this study, we analyzed texts from research articles of three countries (Korea, China, and Japan) through text-mining and co-occurrence analysis and compared the research subjects in each country. We extracted 199 words from 665 articles related to Artiodactyla of three countries through text-mining. Three word-clusters were formed as a result of co-occurrence analysis on extracted words. We determined that cluster1 was related to "habitat condition and ecology", cluster2 was related to "disease" and cluster3 was related to "conservation genetics and molecular ecology". The results of comparing the rates of occurrence of each word clusters in each country showed that they were relatively even in China and Japan whereas Korea had a prevailing rate (69%) of cluster2 related to "disease". In the regression analysis on the number of words per year in each cluster, the number of words in both China and Japan increased evenly by year in each cluster while the rate of increase of cluster2 was five times more than the other clusters in Korea. The results indicate that Korean researches on Artiodactyla tended to focus on diseases more than those in China and Japan, and few researchers considered other subjects including habitat characteristics, behavior and molecular ecology. In order to control the damage caused by Artiodactyla and to establish a reasonable policy for the protection of endangered species, it is necessary to accumulate basic ecological data by conducting researches on wild Artiodactyla more.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.374-381
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• 2012

In this study, ecological characteristics of Zacco platypus population in Lake Hoengseong region, including the up-and downstream in Lake, were investigated from April to November, 2010. The results compared with regional dynamics of Z. platypus population showed a dominant population among the other fish population, and also upstream has relatively high as 1,707 (78.70%) individuals than those of other sites. The regression coefficient (b) in relation to length-weight on Z. platypus population were 3.28 which appeared relatively a stabilized habitat condition in Lake Hoengseong region and 3.28 at the upstream and 3.10 in Lake Hoengseong and 3.09 at the downstream. Condition factor on Z. platypus population in Lake Hoengseong region showed stabilized population as 0.003 value, and especially the condition factors at the upstream were relatively higher than those at the downstream and Lake Hoengseong, indicate that Z. platypus population at the upstream displayed to be maintained as the most good condition in relation to trophic states. As a results of compared with body size on Z. platypus population, was investgated as highly distribute between 30~50mm and 70~90mm at upstream; 60~80mm in Lake Heongseong; 70~100mm at downstream, respectively. As a results, Z. platypus population at the upstream among Lake Hoengseong region displayed the most stabilized growth condition, and Z. platypus population were inhabitable in lotic and lentic environments based on good habitat condition.

• Ecology and Resilient Infrastructure
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.64-79
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• 2015

We investigated the tidal current, hydrographic data, and benthic environment of major sea cucumber (Holothuroidea, de Blainville, 1834) habitats in Baengnyeongdo, Jindo and Uljin to understand the optimal environmental or ecological habitat for sea cucumbers. The three study areas were characterized by a cold-water mass of temperatures ranging $12{\sim}18^{\circ}C$, with an active circulation between the surface and deep waters. According to an analysis of the tidal current map, a strong flow velocity of $100{\sim}120cm\;s^{-1}$ appeared in Baengnyeongdo and Jindo. The three sea cucumber habitats showed the common characters of a bottom sediment composed of sand-silt, a diverse seaweed colony and benthic organisms, and boulders and rocks which provide a hideout for the organisms. We aimed to draw the optimal habitat condition for sea cucumbers in Korea, and the result showed that the low water temperature, rapid water flow, active vertical mixing between surface and deep waters, bottom composed by sand-silt, large rocks, and diverse seaweed colony and benthic organism were important factors. The optimal habitat for Juvenile sea cucumbers was the intertidal areas characterized by a muddy bottom, reef, and seaweed. The optimal habitat for adult sea cucumbers was characterized by a place where sand and mud are mixed, and the body size of the sea cucumber was proportional to water depth, and the relatively large boulders and rocks compared to the intertidal area.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.744-750
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• 2010

This study examined the different polyphenism of larval salamander Hynobius ieechii according to two habitats, pond and stream. We collected salamander's eggs from three regions including Mountain Inwang, Surak and Gwangju. Eggs were treated by four different conditions according to predation level and habitat: high risk - which had a predation risk three times a day; low risk - which had no predation risk, pond and stream habitat. Predation risk was conducted by using chemical cue from Chinese minnows. The chemical cue treatment started from the day of collection and ended one week after the hatching. After the treatment phase, we measured the head width at the level of the eyes(HWE) and the largest head width(LHW) and snout-vent length of the each larva. We calculated the ratio of the head size by dividing HWE by LHW and made a comparison with each of the average ratio of head size according to the predation risk. The results showed that there was a significant difference in the ratio of the head size and snout-vent length according to the predation risk and habitat. From these results we found that predation risk and habitat condition can cause the different polyphenism to the larval salamander and these morphological changes could be affect their mortality.