• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.73-83
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• 2019

Background: Habitat selectivity and ecology of freshwater fishes were studied in two selected streams and their junction point which consist a total of 39 microhabitats. The aims of this study were to describe the habitat preference and its availability to fish assemblage, as well as ecology, habitat use, and habitat characteristics. Methods: We collected fish with backpack electrofishing three times during August 2013, December 2013, and March 2014. Using a variation partitioning approach of R software, we studied the relationship of fish abundances with stream type, habitat type, and abundance of key macroinvertebrate taxa. Results: A total of 6554 fishes representing four species belonging to the family Cyprinidae were caught. A higher total fish abundance was recorded from Gereb Tsedo (4870; 74.3%) than from Elala stream (1684; 25.7%). Taking both streams together, the overall total relative fish abundance was significantly higher in pools (53%) than in runs (35%) and in riffles (12%) at P < 0.05. Species-wise comparisons showed that 71%, 15%, 13%, and 1% of the pool fish community were occupied by Garra blanfordii, Garra ignestii, Garra dembecha, and Garra aethiopica, respectively. Stream type, habitat type, and key macroinvertebrate taxa each explained a significant proportion of the variation in fish abundance. Based on the variation partitioning approach, fish abundance was higher in Gereb Tsedo stream (P < 0.01). Moreover, fish abundance increased with pool habitat type (P < 0.01) and with availability of key macroinvertebrate taxa (P < 0.01). Conclusion: Fish abundance differed between stream types, among habitats and among key macroinvertebrate taxa availability. Among the factors, habitat type was the most important driving factor behind variation among fish abundances, and pool supports the highest fish abundance.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.14-18
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• 2006

This study was carried out to investigate the distribution and habitat characteristics of Boehmeria for utilization and conservation plan of natural agro-plant resources in South Korea. The native habitat of B. longispica Steud., B. platanifolia Fr. et Sav., B. spicata Thunb., and B. tricuspis var. unicuspis Mak. were distributed nearly all areas in South Korea. B. nivea Gaudich. was distributed south of Chungnam but B. pannosa Nak. et Sat. and B. sieboldiana Bl. were partially distributed toward the southern part in South Korea. The average number of plant species growing with Boehmeria in natural habitat was found 124.9 species and Artemisia princeps var. orientalis Hara showed the highest importance value among neighbor species. B. platanifolia Fr. et Sav. and B. spicata Thunb. were the most commonly neighbor species growing with Boehmeria in rate of 49%. Average yearly precipitation and temperature of habitat for Boehmeria were 1100 mm to 1390 mm and $11.3^{\circ}C\;to\;13.7^{\circ}C$ respectively. Soil characteristics of habitat for Boehmeria. were that pH was 5.3 to 7.2 and B. nivea Gaudich. was higher content of organic matter than the other Boehmeria. Content of K and Na were similar among Boehmeria. $P_2O_5$, Ca and Mg were shown a little difference among seven species.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.175-189
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• 2015

The objective of this study was to analyze characteristics of distribution of amphibian species and the affecting ecological factors. For the study, habitat environment factors were determined and applied to a habitat suitability model for the data collected from the Seom River in Hoengseong County and Wonju City, Gangwon Province, Korea between March 2013 to October 2013. The analyzed amphibian species were Rana nigromaculata, Hyla japonica, Rana dybowski, and Rana rugosa Temminck and Schlegel, and a logistic regression model was used with the pseudo-absence data. The result of the model analysis suggests that the major factors for Rana nigromaculata are distance to vegetation and rock and that for Hyla japonica is waterway. Rana dybowski and Rana rugosa Temminck and Schlegel have similar habitat characteristics, but the latter is shown to be dominant due to its wider habitat preference. According to the species richness model, the analyzed amphibian species are shown to have tendency to move between valleys or streams. This study quantitatively analyzed habitat environment characteristics using species distribution model, however, there is a limitation in terms of analysis on food factor and connectivity with other species. Combined with additional density or habitat analysis on birds or fish, this study can lead to more comprehensive analysis on biological environment factors.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.67-84
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• 2023

In some areas of the Republic of Korea, the designation and management of conservation areas do not adequately reflect regional characteristics and often impose behavioral regulations without considering the local context. One prominent example is the Busan EDC area. As a result, conflicts may arise, including large-scale civil complaints, regarding the conservation and utilization of these areas. Therefore, for the efficient designation and management of protected areas, it is necessary to consider various ecosystem factors, changes in land use, and regional characteristics. In this study, we specifically focused on the Busan EDC area and applied machine learning techniques to analyze the habitat of regional species. Additionally, we employed Explainable Artificial Intelligence techniques to interpret the results of our analysis. To analyze the regional characteristics of the waterfront area in the Busan EDC district and the habitat of migratory birds, we used bird observations as dependent variables, distinguishing between presence and absence. The independent variables were constructed using land cover, elevation, slope, bridges, and river depth data. We utilized the XGBoost (eXtreme Gradient Boosting) model, known for its excellent performance in various fields, to predict the habitat probabilities of 11 bird species. Furthermore, we employed the SHapley Additive exPlanations technique, one of the representative methodologies of XAI, to analyze the relative importance and impact of the variables used in the model. The analysis results showed that in the EDC business district, as one moves closer to the river from the waterfront, the likelihood of bird habitat increases based on the overlapping habitat probabilities of the analyzed bird species. By synthesizing the major variables influencing the habitat of each species, key variables such as rivers, rice fields, fields, pastures, inland wetlands, tidal flats, orchards, cultivated lands, cliffs & rocks, elevation, lakes, and deciduous forests were identified as areas that can serve as habitats, shelters, resting places, and feeding grounds for birds. On the other hand, artificial structures such as bridges, railways, and other public facilities were found to have a negative impact on bird habitat. The development of a management plan for conservation areas based on the objective analysis presented in this study is expected to be extensively utilized in the future. It will provide diverse evidential materials for establishing effective conservation area management strategies.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.389-406
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• 2023

The research area, located in the northern coastal region of South Korea's West Sea, involves three bird habitats. Among these are two newly established habitats in Songdo International Business District, created by filling and developing tidal flats that were previously utilized as stopover sites for migratory birds. One of these areas showed decrease (Residual tidal flats, site.1) while the other showed increase (Artificial lake, site.2) in bird influx. The third habitat (Namdong reservoir, site.3) is a pre-existing stable habitat which has been maintained as a stable habitat. This study conducts an assessment of habitats based on avian population clusters and environmental surveys and proposes habitat management measures. A survey of bird populations and habitat environments was conducted for a total of 39 occasions from January to December 2022. The observed bird species totaled 14 families and 48 species with 20,760 individuals. Compared to the existing habitats, the newly established habitats showed relatively lower influx of bird species and individuals. During the habitat assessment, the newly established habitats were rated as I to II grade, while the existing habitat was rated as relatively high III grade on the grading assessment of the tidal flat. An analysis of habitat types revealed that the existing habitat, in which diverse strategies for habitat type diversity and mitigating anthropogenic interference were demonstrated, attracted a diverse range of bird species. Through this research, it was deduced that the diversity of habitat types plays a significant role in attracting various bird species. Upon evaluation of habitat types concerning the habitat characteristics of the bird species selected for habitat management, as habitat management measures, it is deemed that the creation of shielded green areas (referred to as 'buffer green') to minimize interference from the surroundings, the establishment of reed fields (site.1, 2) positively correlated with reservoirs, and the improvement of sandbanks (site.1) positively associated with tidal flats, the two relations which we drew from correlation analysis between occurrence species and habitat types, would contribute to the future restoration and maintenance of stable habitats. The results of this study can be applied not only to the study area but also to other development zones, such as coastal reclamation sites, which share similar geographical and environmental characteristics, including arrival sites for migratory birds.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.64-72
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• 2004

The research was carried out to define the environmental characteristics and vegetation structure of the evergreen fern habitat in Jejudo. The growth conditions of evergreen fern in various habitats was surveyed, including topographical features, vegetation structure, air temperature, humidity, intensity of light, water content and organic matter content in the soil. In the direction of the native habitat, 70% of research area was located in the southeast-facing slopes, 30% was located in southern slopes. The gradient ranged from $0^{\circ}$ to $30^{\circ}$. Temperature ranged from $16^{\circ}C$ to $28^{\circ}C$, and $22.3^{\circ}C$ was the average. Humidity ranged from 20 to 68%, and 36% was the average. In the native habitat, the highest light intensities reached 60,000 to 80,0001ux, but in general ranged from 300 to 40001ux. Water content in the soil ranged from 32% to 59%, organic matter content ranged from 8 to 13%. Within a unit of 25$m^2$, there were tall-tree layer such as Quercus galuca and Castanopsis cuspidata with a covering of rate 40~80%, a sub-tall-tree layer such as Camellia japonica, Staphylea bumalda and Sambucus williamsii with the covering rate of 3~5%, a shrub layer with the covering rate of 5~20%, and a grass layer with the covering rate of 40~95%. This research provides the basic data about the native habitat environment of the evergreen fern plant. Continuous monitoring and accumulation of data is necessary for the use of evergreen fern as vegetation materials.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.28-38
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• 2004

Korean goral (Nemorhaedus caudatus raddeanus) is one of the endangered species in Korea, and the rugged terrain of the Soraksan National Park (373㎢) is a critical habitat for the species. But the goral population is threatened by habitat fragmentation caused by roads and hiking trails. The objective of this study was to develop a potential habitat suitability model for Korean goral in the park, and the model was based on the concepts of fuzzy set theory and multi-criteria evaluation. The process of the suitability modeling could be divided into three steps. First, data for the modeling was collected by using field work and a literature survey. Collected data included 204 points of GPS data obtained through a goral trace survey and through the number of daily visitors to each hiking trail during the peak season of the park. Second, fuzzy set theory was employed for building a GIS data base related to environmental factors affecting the suitability of the goral habitat. Finally, a multiple-criteria evaluation was performed as the final step towards a goral habitat suitability model. The results of the study were as follows. First, characteristics of suitable habitats were the proximity to rock cliffs, scattered pine (Pinus densiflora) patches, ridges, the elevation of 700∼800m, and the aspect of south and southeast. Second, the habitat suitability model had a high classification accuracy of 93.9％ for the analysis site, and 95.7％ for the validation site at a cut off value of 0.5. Finally, 11.7％ of habitatwith more than 0.5 of habitat suitability index was affected by roads and hiking trails in the park.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.1-11
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• 2020

This study aimed to develop the HSI (Habitat Suitability Index) model of Cypripedium guttatum. and to verify this model by applying to the candidate sites for replacement habitat. The development of HSI and SI (Suitability Index) model was conducted based on the existing literature, field surveys, and expert opinions for information on ecological habitat characteristics. Seven variables were selected as habitat variables including mean maximum temperature in Jul.-Aug., lighting, slope, altitude, effective soil depth, soil texture, and artificial overexploitation (i.e. protected areas). HSI model was developed for C. guttaum based on these variables. This HSI model showed high applicability to selection and evaluation of replacement habitats for C. guttaum. Our findings could provide the basic information on habitat assessment to prevent the extinction of endangered C. guttatum. However, since there is a limitation that the survey data were insufficient, further field surveys should be conducted on several habitat types to improve the accuracy of the HSI model.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.52 no.2
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• pp.110-126
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• 2024

This study conducted a classification of small-scale biological habitats created in Seoul to analyze and synthesize location characteristics, habitat structure, biological habitat functions, and threat factors of representative sites, as well as derive creation and management problems according to the ecological characteristics. The aim was to suggest improvement measures and management items. Data collected through a field survey was used to categorize 39 locations, and 8 representative sites were selected by dividing them into location, water system, and size as classification criteria for typification. Due to the characteristics of each type, the site was created in an area where amphibian movement was disadvantageous due to low or disconnected connectivity with the hinterland forest, and the water supply was unstable in securing a constant flow and maintaining a constant water depth. The habitat structure has a small area, an artificial habitat structure that is unfavorable for amphibians, having the possibility of sediment inflow, and damage to the revetment area. The biological habitat function is a lack of wetland plants and the distribution of naturalized grasses, and threats include the establishment of hiking trails and decks in the surrounding area. Artificial disturbances occur adjacent to facilities. When creating habitats according to the characteristics of each type, it was necessary to review the possibility of an artificial water supply and introduce a water system with a continuous flow in order to connect the hinterland forest for amphibian movement and locate it in a place where water supply is possible. The habitat structure should be as large as possible, or several small-scale habitats should be connected to create a natural waterfront structure. In addition, additional wetland plants should be introduced to provide shelter for amphibians, and facilities such as walking paths should be installed in areas other than migration routes to prevent artificial disturbances. After construction, the management plan is to maintain various water depths for amphibians to inhabit and spawn, stabilize slopes due to sediment inflow, repair damage to revetments, and remove organic matter deposits to secure natural grasses and open water. Artificial management should be minimized. This study proposed improvement measures to improve the function of biological habitats through the analysis of problems with previously applied techniques, and based on this, in the future, small-scale biological habitat spaces suitable for the urban environment can be created for local governments that want to create small-scale biological habitat spaces, including Seoul City. It is significant in that it can provide management plans.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.11-23
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• 2018

The purpose of this study is to identify the ecological characteristics and biological interactions between species of the abandoned rice paddy field in mountainous areas and to suggest a management strategy for stable food chain formation and biodiversity enhancement. The study site is located in Uldae wetland of Songchu district Bukhansan National Park, site characteristics and biological habitat characteristics were identified through site survey and literature survey. With regard to physical environment, among geographical features, the Uldae Wetland and the neighborhood inside the basin was a gently sloping area($5{\sim}15^{\circ}$). And 64.0% of basin faced the north. With regard to water environment, the Uldae Wetland was wetland of rainfed paddy field depending on precipitation and the system of stream flowing into the wetland from valley. According to the results of examining flora in plant ecology, in general, they were herbaceous wetland species. 88.6% of existing plants inside the Uldae Wetland basin was a forest in the mountain. And Quercus spp. community and Pinus densiflora community accounted for 64.6% of that, and was dominant. Except for that, Salix koreensis community was distributed. The existing vegetation of Uldae Wetland inhabited wetland species and terrestrialization indicator species, and it was thought that partial terrestrialization inside the Uldae Wetland was in progress after the discontinuation of paddy cultivation, such as the expansion of Salix koreensis distribution area. In the status of appearing faunae in the Uldae Wetland with regard to wildbirds of appearing principal species, The Uldae wetland was based on a abandoned rice paddy field various wildlife, and was a wildlife feeding, spawning, and resting place. The water environment was an important factor in maintaining the wetland living creatures function, habitat of waterbirds and benthic macroinvertebrates, amphibians and odonate are spawning ground and habitat, it was affecting the vegetation ecosystem based on wetlands. In order to maintain the diversity of wildlife, it was important to maintain smooth water supply and water level. A stable food chain will be formed and the Uldae wetland biodiversity will be abundant by establishing the relationship between the species of Uldae wetland, which is abandoned rice paddy field, and the habitat environment favored by species belonging to the ecosystem stepwise linkage. The ecological characteristics of the Uldae wetlands and the relation between the species were analyzed and the environmental conditions were reflected in the planning and management plan of Uldae wetland ecology.