• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.298-306
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• 2020

This study was conducted to examine the impact of the correlation between habitat suitability of the Saemangeum lake area for otters and spatial variables (watersides, wetlands, farmlands, urban areas, roads, etc.) on the inhabitation of otters. As a result of the habitat suitability analysis, it was found that 380grids of 1097 grids (34.6%) studied are most suitable and suitable, whereas 413 grids of 1097 grids (37.7%) of the total are marginal and unsuitable. Comparatively analyzing otter traces data against for each spatial variable in the Saemangeum area revealed that the distance to the road or man-made areas is directly proportional to the number of otter traces, while more traces of otters were found areas close to waters. Despite the impact from the internal construction of Saemangeum lake, there found 2 to 6 times more otter traces in the area farthest from the urban areas and roads compared to the area nearest to the urban areas and roads. Thus, when restoring habitats for otters, a minimum of 500(m) distance to roads or urban areas, which can be considered as a threat to the habitats, must be secured.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.484-491
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• 2015

The productivity of Manila clam(Ruditapes philippinarum) aquaculture farm is closely related to suitable site selection, so it is essential to assess the habitat suitable for aquaculture species in order to manage yield. This study evaluated the habitat suitable index(HSI) with 9 sites for tidal flat farm, Gochang(Hajun) on May 2014. The suitability index was selected Growth(hydrodynamics, chlorophyll a), Survival(sediment-sand, silt-clay) and Water Environment(dissolved oxygen, salinity). Both Weight and No weight were tried for objective judgment as HSI scoring method. As a result, it shows lower tidal flat(HSI; No weight: 0.60~0.76, Weight: 0.47~0.70) is higher than upper(HSI; No weight: 0.25~0.27, Weight: 0.09~0.10), hydrodynamics and sediment particle size are the most effective. This research can consider the potential suitable site for Manila clam through scientific approach, and provide the basis for optimal management practices in tidal flat farm.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.31 no.2B
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• pp.193-203
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• 2011

With the recent growth of environmental and ecological interests, various river restoration and habitat environment creation projects are being carried out. For this, the estimation of the habitat flow discharge is important. In U.S. and Europe nations, The instream flow incremental methodology (IFIM) has been used to estimate the habitat discharge. IFIM is the method that can be applied to evaluate the flow discharge for the suitable habitat. To use the IFIM in river, a habitat suitability index(HSI) for the target organism is needed. However, HSIs for only two species of Zacco platypus and Zacco temminckii were proposed from the field monitoring. Thus, for the estimation of the ecological flow rate for a group of fish, the development of the HSIs for various fish are necessary. In this study, physical data such as water level and flow rate, chemical data such as acidity and dissolved oxygen, and life data such as fish types and population are collected in Keum river watershed. Based on the 2,736 field data, HSIs for the following 6 fish are developed: Zacco platypus, Zacco temminckii, Microphysogobio yaluensis, Coreoleuciscus splendidus, Pungtungia herzi, Pseudogobio esocinus. Through the comparison with HSIs in the literature, the developed HSIs are modified. Also, the limits of Froude number, pH, and DO for 6 fish are proposed. The HSIs developed in this study can be utilized as a essential data for performing river project evaluations.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.213-223
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• 2022

This study was conducted to establish a Habitat Suitability index (HSI) based on literature research and field surveys on ecology and habitat of 'Hynobius leechii'. And this study will be used as basic data for qualitative evaluation of habitat environment. The survey sites were divided into natural habitats close to the prototype habitat and artificial restoration areas where Hynobius leechii was monitored. So the types of habitats were diversified. Hynobius leechii is a vulnerable species to climate change because it is affected by the microhabitat and has low mobility. HSI variables of Hynobius leechii were extracted through domestic and overseas literature, and standards were extracted from literature research and field survey. The standards were presented as a value of the physical allowable category in consideration of realization. To verify the study, an in-depth consultation was conducted by amphibians experts. HSI variables of Hynobius leechii were included 9 variables such as Overstory canopy cover(%), Understory cover(%), Water-pH, Soil-pH, Soil relative humidity(%), Leaf litter depth(cm), Rock substrates (%), Type of Coarse woody, Distance from Street or Pollutant(m).

• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
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• v.54 no.11
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• pp.985-998
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• 2021

In general, the upstream dam changes downstream flow regime dramatically, i.e., from natural flow regime to hydropeaking flows. This study investigates the impact of the natural flow pattern on downstream fish habitat in a regulated river in Korea using the physical habitat simulation. The study area is a 13.4 km long reach of the Geum-gang River, located downstream from the Yongdam Dam, Korea. A field monitoring revealed that three fish species are dominant, namely Zacco platypus, Coreoleuciscus splendidus, and Opsariichthys bidens, and they account for 70% of the total fish community. Specially, Opsariichthys bidens is an indigenous species in the Geum-gang River. The three fish species are selected as target fish species for the physical habitat simulation. The Nays2D model, a 2D shallow water equation solver, and the HSI (Habitat Suitability Index) model are used for hydraulic and habitat simulations, respectively. To assess the impact of the natural flow pattern, this study uses the annual natural flow regime and hydropeaking flows from the dam. It is found that the natural flow regime increases significantly the Composite Suitability Index (CSI) in the study reach. Then, using the Building Block Approach (BBA), the scenarios for the modifying dam operations are presented in the study reach. Both Scenario 1 and scenario 2 are proposed by using the hydrological method considering both magnitude and duration of the inflow and averaging the inflow over each month, respectively. It is revealed that the natural flow regime embodied in scenario 1 and scenario 2 increases the Weighted Usable Area (WUA) significantly, compared to the hydropeaking flows. In conclusion, the modifying the dam operations by restoring to the natural flow pattern is advantageous to fish community.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.35-41
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• 2015

This study focuses on whether a physical habitat model, River2D, is useful to assess and design stream restoration. To achieve the aim, the habitat suitability for Zacco Platypus was analyzed using River2D at midstream of the Anyang-Cheon through modifying the low flow channel and changing the flow discharge. The River2D simulation results show that the inhabited environment for Zacco Platypus is improved by increasing the sinuosity of the low flow channel, and vice versa. Also the inhabited environment for Zacco Platypus gets worse when there is no additional flow for maintenance water supply at the stream flowing through cities. In this respect, the physical habitat simulation study based on the River2D model is useful because it provides a practical guidance in designing stream restoration.

• 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.115-126
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• 2023

Understanding the carrying capacity of a habitat is crucial for effectively managing populations of wild boars (Sus scrofa), which are designated as harmful wild animal species in national parks. Carrying capacity refers to the maximum population size supported by a park's environmental conditions. This study aimed to estimate the appropriate wild boar population size by integrating population characteristics and habitat suitability for wild boars in the Bukhansan National Park using the HexSim program. Population characteristics included age, survival, reproduction, and movement. Habitat suitability, which reflects prospecting and resource acquisition, was determined using the Maximum Entropy model. This study found that the optimal population size for wild boar ranged from 217 to 254 individuals. The population size varied depending on the amount of resources available within the home range, indicating fewer individuals in a larger home range. The estimated wild boar population size was 217 individuals for the minimum amount of resources (50% minimum convex polygon [MCP] home range), 225 individuals for the average amount of resources (95% MCP home range), and 254 individuals for the maximum amount of resources (100% MCP home range). The results of one-way analysis of variance revealed a significant difference in wild boar population size based on the amount of resources within the home range. These findings provide a basis for the development and implementation of effective management strategies for wild boar populations.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.265-270
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• 2022

With the implementation of the fox restoration project, the number of foxes released into nature are increasing; therefore, in the future, foxes will be dispersed to other areas and will appear in human habitats. In this study, the habitat suitability index (HSI) of foxes was developed to predict and prepare for the effects. After extracting major environmental variables through literature research and GIS analysis, 5 suitability indices (SIs) were constructed. The forest physiognomy, slope, aspect, distance from water source, and distance from road are the main variables, and the arithmetic average value by giving twice the weight to the forest physiognomy is the HSI result. As a result of comparing with the data from the Natural Environment Survey, it is found that the fox coordinates have an average HSI value of 0.64, and the probability of appearance is high when it is 0.53 or higher. Using the results of this study, it is expected to be able to predict the distribution of foxes in advance, to use them as basic data for future restoration plans, or to identify the distribution of the species and the reduction plan in future environmental impact assessments.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.65-72
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• 2023

The endangered species of Cyathea spinulosa (tree ferns) are among the least concerned ferns of Nepal that bring threats to them and their habitat. A way to reduce such threats is by maintaining a database of species' whereabouts and generating a scientific understanding the habitat preferences. This will eventually help in the formulation of conservation plans for the species. This research aimed to characterize the suitable habitat of C. spinulosa by enumerating the location of species in the Panchase Forests of central Nepal. The statistical index method was applied to relate the occurrence locations of species with various environmental factors for the development of indices. The suitable habitat of C. spinulosa (more and most suitable categories) covered 119 km² and accounted for 43% of the total area studied. 74.4% of occurrence locations of C. spinulosa were recorded from these habitats. The habitat characteristics suitable for C. spinulosa were: proximity to streams (high moisture), land covered by forested area (shady area), mid-elevations of hills about 1,000 m to 2,000 m (sub-tropical climate), slope gradient of 20° to 40° (steep slopes), and northern to eastern aspects. These habitat characteristics could be considered for in-situ protection of tree ferns and designating the conservation plots.

• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
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• v.37 no.11
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• pp.915-927
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• 2004

The purpose of this paper is to estimate the instream flow of the South Han River Basin to ensure an adequate supply of suitable quality of water for preservation and enhancement of aquatic ecosystems. Proposed methods is Physical Habitant Simulation System of Instream Flow Incremental Methodology. Accurate estimation on a water depth and a velocity distribution was acquired by applying a two dimensional hydrodynamic model for a simulation of a hydraulic parameter necessary for the habitat evaluation to be used in a physical habitat simulation system. The Habitat Suitability Criteria with the application of univariate curve on zacco platypus as a representative fish was able to be established by conducting a field investigation. The establishment of a hydrological materialistic balance between upper and lower streams was confirmed by conducting a simulation simultaneously together with a mainstream section, which was excluded from the considered sections for the inhabitation evaluation of fish.