• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.356-368
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• 2010

In this study, we applied approach of integrative star-plot area (SPA), chemical water quality and habitat conditions (QHEI) to diagnoze ecological conditions at the eight sampling sites of Sapkyo Stream. These outcomes were compared with biological health based on the Index of Biological Integrity (IBI) using fish assemblage. And then, we evaluated the integrative ecological health condition using the star-plot method. This approach based on the sum of all the star-plot areas over these water and habitat characteristics. It was developed to reflect an integrative assessment of the ecological health in the stream. The biological health, based on the model values of IBI indicating "fair-poor" condition according to the criteria. Physical habitat health, based on the QHEI, averaged 123 indicating a "good-fair" condition. Also, chemical health, based on simply BOD values indicating "poor grade" according to the criteria of the Ministry of Environment Korea (MEK). The SPA indicating that 50% of the all was impaired condition and the most sampling sites were downstream sites influenced by the point and non-point sources. Overall our results suggest that the ecological health impact was a combined effect of eutrophication and habitat degradations in the stream. The approach of SPA can be used as a tool to evaluate the integrative health of stream environment and to identify possible causes of observed effects.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.986-995
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• 2016

The objective of this study was to analyze the distribution of endangered fish species and elucidate their relations on chemical water quality, physical habitat conditions and ecological stream health. The dominant species in the watershed was Pseudopungtungia nigra (Pn), Gobiobotia macrocephala (Gm), Gobiobotia brevibarba (Gb), Liobagrus obesus (Lo), and Iksookimia choii (Ic) in the order. The species of Pn designated as "critical endangered species (I) (CER)", was most widely distributed species among the endangered species, so the designation of the species should be re-evaluated. The endangered species was most popular (4 species, 384 individuals) in the Cho-River region of eighteen lotic regions. According to the analysis of chemical tolerance limits in the habitats with endangered fish species, biological oxygen demand (BOD) and total phosphorus (TP) was analyzed as "very good" (Ia) and "good condition" in the chemical criteria of the Ministry of Environment, Korea. Also, chemical conditions, based on ammonia-N ($NH_{4+}$), total nitrogen (TN), phosphate-P ($PO_{4^-}P$) were much better in the habitat with endangered species (Hw) than the habitat without endangered species (Ho). In the meantime, the species of Ic showed wide ranges on the chemical tolerance, so physical habitat conditions, such as the size of substrate particles (sand) and hydrological regime, were considered as more important factors than the chemical water quality, if the water quality is not largely degraded. The endangered species were also more distributed in the high-order (4-6) streams than the low-order (1-3) streams. The evaluation of ecological stream health, based on multi-metric model of the Index of Biological Integrity (IBI), showed the large difference between the Hw (21.6, fair condition)and Ho (30.5, good condition), indicating that the habitat maintained well chemically and physically had higher distributions of endangered species. Overall, the designation of CER on the Pn should be re-evaluated due to wide-distributions, and the protections from water pollution and the habitat conservations on the endangered species are necessary in the watershed.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.39 no.3 s.117
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• pp.310-319
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• 2006

The objective of study was to evaluate ecological health from seven sampling locations of Yoogu Stream, one of the tributaries of Guem River, July and September 2005. The research approach was based on the Index of Biological Integrity (IBI) using fish assemblage and Qualitative Habitat Evaluation Index (QHEI) using fish assemblage. The models of IBI and QHEI were modified as 10 metric model and 11 metric model, respectively, for the regional applications. In Yoogu Stream, value of IBI were averaged 29.5 (n=7) which is judged as a 'fair condition'. The IBI model scores, at the site 3 and 7, were estimated as 23 and 24, indicating a 'poor${\sim}$fair condition' while, site 5 was estimated as 28, 'fair condition'. The remaining sites were between 31 and 34, indicating 'fair${\sim}$good condition'. According to the analysis of QHEI, the average was estimated as 136, 'fair${\sim}$good condition'. Spatial variation the QHEI were evident; site 1 and site 4 were 186 and 120 respectively, indicating an 'excellent and fair${\sim}$good conditions'. Site 3 was 69, fair condition while the other sites were 128${\sim}$156, good condition.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.405-411
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• 1997

Feeding behavior of the Russet Sparrow Passer rutilans was studied in two different types of habitats, shelter belts and isolated forests, in south-eastern Hokkaido, Japan, during the breeding seasons of 1995 and 1996. Predominant foods were determined as Caterpillar, Coleoptera, Diptera, Ephemeropera, Odonate and some other insects. The composition of the nestiling foods were not the same by season, region, and year. Larger foods in size were used by birds in isolated forests more frequently than in shelter belts. Amount of food per feeding was significantly larger in isolated forests than in shelter belts. Although food supply were more abundant in isolated forests than in shelter belts, the feeding frequency did not significantly differ between these two habitats. The nest density was higher in isolated forests than in shelter belts. Results of this study indicate that when the feeding condition is poor, birds tend not show specific food selection behavior, the feeding range is therefore larger, and the feeding interval is longer. Contrarily, the birds show a specific food selection behavior when they are in good feeding condition, the feeding range is therefor smaller and the feeding interval decreases.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.527-536
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• 2007

In this study, we applied 10-metric health assessment model, based on the Index of Biological Integrity (IBI) during 2006 in the Changwon Stream, which is located in the Changwon city, Gyeongnam province, S. Korea, and then compared with water quality data. The Index of Biological Integrity (IBI) in the Changwon Stream varied from 18 to 38 in the watershed depending on the sampling location and averaged 30.3 (n=6) during the study. Analysis of tolerance guilds showed that the proportion of sensitive species was 13%, but tolerant and intermediate species were 34% and 53%, respectively. Qualitative Habitat Evaluation Index (QHEI) averaged 43.3 (range: 65-104, n=6) indicating non-supporting condition, based on the criteria of U.S. EPA (1993). Values of QHEI showed a typical longitudinal decreases from the headwater reach to the downstream location, except for Site 1 with a low QHEI value by artificial habitat by concrete construction. Minimum QHEI was found in Site 4 where fish diversity was minimal. Conductivity increased continuously along the gradients and especially showed abrupt increases in the downstream sites along with turbidity. Stream ecosystem health of IBI matched to the values of QHEI except for S6. Low IBI values in the sites 4 and 5 was considered to be a result of combined effects of chemical pollutions and habitat degradations. Our results support the hypotheses of Plafkin et ai. (1989) that physical habitat quality directly influences the trophic structure and species richness, and is closely associated with IBI values.

• Ecology and Resilient Infrastructure
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.169-179
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• 2017

This study analyzed the aspect of bed change according to the stable channel design on the Wonju River to quantitatively evaluate habitat suitability (HS). According to the result of evaluating stable channel of object section in the Wonju River, 17 sections among total 20 sections were stable and 3 sections were unstable. Physical disturbance improvement evaluation (PDIE) was the range average showed good disturbance condition with a range average of 112.17 points. Habitat suitability index of Zacco Koreanus, the most dominant species of the Wonju River, was used for analysis of physical habitat for fish. According to the physical habitat analysis result, HS was 0.16 and weighted usable area (WUA) was $347.68m^2$. The methods of improving/introducing/removing structures and dredging stream channel were used for stable channel design of unstable channel, and analyzed PDIE according to the aspect of bed change and changes in habitat suitability. Stable channel design was possible in 19 sections in times of structures improvement/introduction/removal, and PDIE was 117.53 points, HS was 0.14 points, and WUA was $313.37m^2$. Stable channel design was possible in all 20 sections when dredging the stream channel. PDIE was 116.50 points, HS was 0.16, and WUA was $332.14m^2$. Therefore, this study obtained channel design measures that can improve physical soundness and stability of the Wonju River, and it was analyzed that it will have no impact on changes of physical disturbance and physical habitat. Furthermore, this study analyzed velocity and depth of each section and appearance frequency of riffle and pool to analyze correlation between physical disturbance and physical habitat. According to the analysis result, it was identified that the analysis of riffle and pool showed similar result as the evaluation result of physical habitat.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.17-26
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• 2005

Ecological corridor is the facility to connect two habitats fragmented by roads, dam, housing and industrial area. Critics of faunal corridors have suggested that they are simply an untested application of unproved island biogeography theory. But, everyone agree that ecological corridor is important useful structural components that help animal movement in fragmented landscapes. There are 52 ecological corridors in Korea. We investigated 43 ecological corridors of these and recorded the size of corridor, planting species, management and growth condition. We compared planting species to nearby exiting vegetation species and structure. We found that there are no considerations for many aspects of planting, for example, planting species, structure, animal migration and behavior, surrounding vegetation etc. Expecially, It was ignored management of plants, difference of surrounding vegetation, lacks of diverse planting species and structure. We suggest planting the native species of tall tree, shrub and ground cover, edge planting for transitional space between road and natural habitat, planting for foraging and breeding of target animal, diverse layer vegetation, and open space of center for rapid animal dispersal.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.370-378
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• 2007

The objective of this research was to diagnose integrative ecological health in Bansuk Stream, one of the tributaries of Gap Stream, using the fish assemblage during July 2006${\sim}$April 2006. For this research, we selected six sampling sites and applied some approaches such as the Index of Biological Integrity (IBI), Qualitative Habitat Evaluation Index (QHEI), and necropsy-based Health Assessment Index (HAI). The stream health condition, based on the IBI values, averaged 24 (n= 18, range: $10{\sim}46$), indicating "poor${\sim}$fair" condition according to the criteria of US EPA (1993). Physical habitat condition, based on the QHEI, averaged 116 (n=6, range: $77{\sim}139$), indicating "fair${\sim}$good" condition. Values of IBI were more correlated with 3 metrics of instream cover ($M_1$, r=0.553, p=0.017, n=18), flow/velocity ($M_3$, r=0.627, p=0.005, n=18), and riffes/bends ($M_7$, r=0.631, p=0.005, n=18) than other metrics. Value of HAI in the control was zero (i.e., excellent condition), while the values in the T1 and T2 treatments were 5 (range: 0${\sim}$30) and 50 (range: 40${\sim}$80), respectively. The maximum values of IBI (46) were coincided with zero of HAI. Thus, these approaches seem to be a good tool for a diagnosis and evaluations of stream ecosystem health.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.41-50
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• 2012

To determine the movement patterns, home range, and use of structural features of captive-bred one- or two-year-old Amur ratsnake (Elaphe schrenckii) juveniles in the natural habitat, we radio-tracked a total of 11 juvenile snakes in a mountain valley in Chiaksan National Park, South Korea, between August 21 and September 20, 2010 and between June 13 and July 13, 2011. During the first week of the release, most juveniles moved short distances, daily, but they increased their distances after the first week. The body weight of the juveniles was negatively related with the movement rate (dividing the number of movements by the number of relocations), which was positively related with the mean daily distances moved and the size of both a kernel 50% and 95% home range. During the study period, the juveniles moved daily, approximately 17 m, and the size of the minimum convex polygon and the 50% and 95% kernel home ranges were 1.8 ha, 0.4 ha, and 3.0 ha, respectively. The released captive-bred juveniles were more frequently confirmed underground or on the ground rather than on rocks or on trees. Our results suggest that the body condition of released individuals, the seasonal time of the release, and the existence of available prey and shelters in the habitat should be carefully considered when releasing captive-bred Amur ratsnake juveniles for the rehabilitation of field populations.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.133-139
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• 2004

This study was conducted to clarify the preference and habitat condition of small mammals at the Hyeongsan river in Ulsan, Gyeongju, and Pohang from January 2003 to July 2003. In the study sites, total 111 individuals of Apodemus agrarius, Rattus norvegicus, and Micromys minutus were captured in study sites. The most abundant species were Apodemus agrarius, 79.2 percent, among the captured small mammals. Density of habitation was significantly higher in agricultural land than in either private house or woods. However, they were more abundant in paddy Weld area than in agricultural land. A number of captured small mammals were higher in herbaceous rather than three other vegetation types. Existent of river embankment and its type were important factors affecting the spatial distribution of the individuals. Preference of small mammals were significantly lower in revetment block area rather than in none or nature-stone mat area. There was significantly correlationship between the depth of water and the number of captured small mammals. A number of captured small mammals were clearly increased in reference to decreasing depth of water in study site, in conclusion, the following factors such as the vegetation structure, depth of water, types of land use and types of river dike could be affected the spatial distribution of small mammals in the study sites.