• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.676-689
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• 2013

This study is to understand the current situation of Wonju Stream, which flows through Wonju, Kangwon-do, and Seom River, the national river located outside of Wonju, by investigating all river areas using biotope type. Also, this research looked into the relationship between biotope and appearance of wild birds by investigating the location of their appearance. Biotope groups are 'scale', 'shape', and 'landscape'. And, biotope types are 'moisture', 'physical environment', and 'existence of vegetation'. Biotope subtypes are 'river area', 'physical environment', 'vegetation type', and 'usage of land'. Seom River is classified as 21 different sections, and Wonju Stream is classified as 19 different sections. Wild birds are investigated on breeding season, which was January and May of 2008. By marking each bird's location of appearance, it figured out properties of biotope according to the location of bird's appearance. 31 species, 795 birds in spring were founded, and 49 species, 4,348 birds are founded in winter at Seom River area. Also, 34 species, 427 birds in spring, and 33 species, 3,442 birds are founded in winter at Wonju Stream area. In winter, 26 species, 547 birds, and in spring, 12 species, 72 birds at natural river with estuaries in confluence of Seom River area are founded. Also, 34 species, 1412 birds in winter, and 24 species, 341 birds in spring are founded at natural river with estuaries and wetland plants. This means that because agricultural rivers have wide river width, slow flow speed, and many different types of biotope, these rivers can be good habitats for wild birds. The precise investigations and classifications of biotope, which especially are hard for linear rivers, were done to understand the whole and current situation of rivers. Furthermore, the data that shows the locations of wild birds can basically be used for a recovery of biological habitats, a constructing of ecological streams, a river-maintenance, and an enhancement of biodiversity of Wonju. Also, because the types of biotope are altered by rain, a continuous monitoring for maintaining ecosystem of rivers are highly needed.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Traditional Landscape Architecture
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.57-65
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• 2016

Maeul-soop(Village forest) is a key element of Korean traditional village landscape historically and culturally. However, a number of Maeul-soops have been lost or declined due to various influences since the modern age. For this Maeul-soop that has a variety of conservation values including historical, cultural and ecological ones, attention and efforts for a systematic conservation and restoration of Maeul-soop are needed. The purpose of the present study is to provide information on ecological restoration and sustainable use and management of Maeul-soops based on component plant species, habitat and location characteristics of 499 Maeul-soops spread throughout Korea. Major six categories of threat factors to Maeul-soop ecosystem were identified and the influence of each factor was evaluated. For the evaluation of weight by threat factors for the influence on the vulnerability of Maeul-soop ecosystem, more three-dimensional analysis was conducted using Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) analysis method. In the results of evaluation using AHP analysis method, reduction of area, among six categories, was spotted as the biggest threat to existence of Maeul-soops. Next, changes in topography and soil environment were considered as a threat factor of qualitative changes in Maeul-soop ecosystem. Influence of vegetation structure and its qualitative changes on the loss or decline of Masul-soop was evaluated to be lower than that of changes in habitat. Based on weight of each factor, the figures were converted with 100 points being the highest score and the evaluation of vulnerability of Maeul-soop was conducted with the converted figures. In the result of evaluation of vulnerability of Maeul-soops, grade III showed the highest frequency and a normal distribution was formed from low grade to high grade. 38 Maeul-soops were evaluated as grade I which showed high naturality and 10 Maeul-soops were evaluated as grade V as their maintenance was threatened. Also in the results of evaluation of vulnerability of each Maeul-soop, restoration of Maeul-soop's own area was found as top priority to guarantee the sustainability of Maeul-soops. It was confirmed that there was a need to prepare a national level ecological response strategy for each vulnerability factor of Maeul-soop, which was important national ecological resources.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.388-404
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• 2024

The focus of conserving plant diversity at the national level includes endemic species restricted to specific regions. This study thus aimed to investigate and evaluate the current distribution status of the Pulsatilla tongkangensis Y.N. Lee & T.C. Lee, one of Korea's endemic plants. The study also examined the vegetation environment of its habitat and assessed the structure of each population. Furthermore, the performance variable of each population was comparatively evaluated, and its annual growth characteristics were also observed. The distribution area of the P. tongkangensis is largely divided into limestone cliffs, ridge rocks, mountain peaks in limestone regions, and sandy soil areas resulting from weathering. Plants in the same distribution area were categorized based on their geographical location, which reflected their respective habitats. According to the population structure evaluated using the number of measured leaves numbers, the plants were categorized into stable and relatively unstable populations. A relatively young population was observed at the top of mountains and rocky ridges of limestone areas and sandy soil areas resulting from weathering. The number of mature individuals was the highest in the population observed around limestone cliffs. In contrast, the population near the top of the limestone mountain range had more leaves , but the plants were of short stature and had the fewest inflorescences. The individuals distributed in limestone cliffs grew, produced, and dispersed seeds for an extended period following establishment. The growth of individuals was limited due to environmental factors in the habitat of distribution areas, including ridges, mountain tops in limestone regions, and sandy soil areas resulting from weathering. It was assessed to have a comparatively brief life cycle compared to that of the plants found on limestone cliffs. P. tongkangensis began flowering in early spring, and both fruit maturation and seed dispersal were completed before the onset of summer. The habitats were determined to receive around seven hours of sunlight per day during the summer, which was considered suitable for establishing a life cycle for the P. tongkangensis, a species requiring strong sunlight for growth to establish and success in a dry environment. Considering the status data gathered from this study, the P. tongkangensis was classified as an endangered species (EN). In addition, the collected data are expected to provide important information for the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Therefore, we proposed that the P. tongkangensis holds significant value as a core distribution site, given the observation of species with diverse characteristics on limestone cliffs in Pyeongchang-gun and Jeongseon-gun, Gangwon-do.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.427-434
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• 2008

The studies of seven individuals of Asiatic black bears were carried out with radio telemetry from October 2004 to December 2006 in Jirisan National Park. They were attached radio-transmitter and calculated by the 95%MCP and fixed kernel method(95%, 50%). As a result, Mean annual home ranges for female and male asiatic black bears were 71.66$km^2$ and 90.20$km^2$. The seasonal home ranges were calculated 19.81$km^2$ for females and 33.47$km^2$ for males in spring, 30.48$km^2$ for females and 20.26$km^2$ for males in summer, 22.63$km^2$ for females and 23.23$km^2$ for males in autumn and 0.22$km^2$ for females and 0.78$km^2$ for males in winter(F=4.193, P<0.05). The degree of home range overlapped 38%, 12.5% among females, 22.4% among males. Mean elevation of seven bears was 744$\pm$236m in spring, 682$\pm$253m in summer, 937$\pm$218m in fall and 975$\pm$137m in winter(F=8.526, P<0.001). It is assumed that home range sizes and location were closely correlated to environmental characteristics of the habitats and the seasonal variation of home-range was related to distribution of food sources.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.642-649
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• 2014

Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) is the abundant winter visitor in South Korea. Mallard migrates long distances between Russian Siberia and Korea. This species prefers a rice paddy area as their winter habitat. We captured birds using cannon-net, and attached the GPS-Mobile phone based Telemetry(WT-200) on Seven Mallards in the winter of 2011~2013. We were monitored wintering home-range and movement distance. We analyzed the tracking location data using ArcGIS 9.0 and calculated Kernel Density Estimation (KDE) and Minimum Convex Polygon (MCP). The average home-range in the wintering ground by MCP was $118.8km^2$(SD=70.1, n=7)and the maximum home-rang was $221.8km^2$ and the minimum was $27.7km^2$. Extents of home-range by KDE were $60.0km^2$(KDE 90%), $23.0km^2$(KDE 70%) and $11.6km^2$(KDE 50%). Mallard moved an average of 19.4 km from start site(attach to WT-200 site), maximum moved was 33.2 km and minimum moved was 9.4 km. The average distance of 0.8 km between GPS fixed point(range 0.2~1.6 km), maximum moved was 19.7 km. Mallard moved a very short distance in wintering season and showed a very high water-dependent trends in wintering site.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 1965

The short-necked clam is distributed widely in Korean tidal flats and it is a much an important bivalve quantitatively as to control the production of the tidal flat. The shell of this clam tends to show remarkable morphological variations depending on the habitat. Under a seemingly favorable condition for the growth , the color pattern of shell of the clam is clear and obvious and having less weight and elongated shape, the ratios of shell length to both height and width are small . On the contrary , when the environment appears to be an unfavorable one, the shell is found to be heavy and stunted with smudgy color pattern. If this correlation between could be a basis for the judgement in suitability of growth environment for the clam. In the Ikawazu Bay, Japan, it is revealed that the elongated shell is produced from the coast outside of the Bay (1) , the stunted from the esturay (2) and the intermediate from the floodgate area (3) and the middle of the Bay (4). Followings are the results obtained from the morphological investigation of the claim in this Bay. 1. Relationship between the shell length and the largest shell rib length is linear and between the shell length and the shell width is also linear but with a critical point at the shell length of 17-20 mm. The ratio between the width and the largest rib length at a given shell length increases with the order of 1, 3, 4, and 2. 2. A gradual decreases of the ratio of the shell length to the largest rib length is observed when the former is less than 17-18 mm, and this ratio increases with the shell of longer. Also there is a different range of this ratio in each different location ; the greatest range in 2, the smallest in 1 and 4 being in between. 3. A similar biometric finding is apparent with the ratio between the length and width of the shell and the order in value is 2, 4, 1 and 3. 4. The ratios between the length and the largest rib length of elongated and stunted shell are 0.84-0.86 and 0.89-0.92, respectively , and those between the length and width are 0.40-0.51 and 0.49-0.58, respectively. 5. Generally , the elongated short necked clam shells are products of the tidal flat of good circulation of sea water with high salinity and smaller fluctuations of salinity and temperature within a day. The stunted shells are produced for tidal flats of opposite of above conditions.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.662-675
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• 2022

This study was intended to investigate and analyze the current status of the plant community structure in order to provide basic data for the systematic conservation and management of the Buxus sinica area appearing on the ridgeline connecting the Gyeokjabong(Mt.) and Keungiljae, on Bogildo Island. In consideration of location characteristics such as density, topography, and direction of B. sinica appearing in the shrub layers, a total of 26 sites were set as the survey area for representative vegetation communities or areas with changes in topography. According to DCA and TWINSPAN, it was classified into 6 communities, namely Carpinus turczaninovii-Deciduous broad-leaved, C. turczaninovii, C. turczaninovii-B. sinica, C. turczaninovii-Evergreen broad-leaved, Q. acuta, and D. trifidus-Q. acuta. The community dominated by C. turczaninovii maintains the status quo for the present moment, however, Q. acuta will dominate the surrounding area in the long term, so Q. acuta has high succesion potential. In the case of the Q. acuta and D. trifidus-Q. acuta communities, Q. acuta, known as the climax species of warm-temperate forests, will maintain dominant status. In a case of B. sinica, the community dominated by C. turczaninovii will remain in good status due to the topographical conditions, but the community dominated by Q. acuta growth difficulties are expected due to the high coverage. In the relationship between environmental factors and vegetation distribution, analysis showed that only soil pH affect vegetation distribution. Furthermore, the soil acidity (pH) was 3.78-5.30, the electrical conductivity was 0.186-0.543 dS/m, and the organic matter content was 2.25-2.89%.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.549-556
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• 2017

The purpose of this study was to investigate the change of spatial distribution of Korean fir (Abies koreana E. H. Wilson) in Mt. Hallasan for the past 10 years. We examined the distribution and crown density between 2006 and 2015 and analyzed the elevation, direction, and regional characteristics. The total area of Korean fir was 626.0ha in 2015, which declined by 112.3ha accounting for 15.2% for the past 10 years compared to 738.3ha in 2006. For the past 10 years, the area of moderately dense Korean fir with the crown density of 41% to 70% decreased by 72.6ha while the area of dense Korean fir with the crown density of 71% or more deceased by 21.3ha. The area with an elevation between 1,510m and 1,600m showed the largest change, accounting for 32.6% of the total declining area. Regarding the distribution by the direction, the area in the southeastern direction decreased by 23.4ha while the area in the southeast and northeast centered on the eastern direction decreased by 62.3ha, which accounted for 55.5% of the total area. Regarding the change of the distribution of Korean fir forest area by the region, the decrease of the area from the Jindallaebat to the top of the mountain was the largest at 84.6ha, or 71.8% of the total decreased area. The Yeongshil Trail area decreased by 25.3ha or 21.5% of the total while the Keundurewat area decreased by 8.0ha or 6.8%. On the contrary, the Bangaeoreum area increased by 5.6ha. The results indicate the large decrease of area of Korean fir forest centered on a particular location of Mt. Hallasan. Considering the changes according to the elevation, direction, and regional characteristics, it can be attributed to increasing frequency of abnormal climates such as typhoons and droughts.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.676-683
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• 2016

This study was conducted using the Wild -Tracker (WT-300, GPS-Mobile Phone Based Telemetry KoEco) to understand the habitats of the spot-billed duck wintering in urban and rural areas and provide the results as the basic data for the protection and management of the habitats of the waterbirds in Korea. Study areas consisted of the Anseong stream in Gyeonggi-do and the Sansu reservoir in Haenam. Five spot-billed ducks were captured by region, and we attached Wild-Tracker to each of the spot-billed ducks. We analyzed the tracking location data using ArcGIS 9.x and calculated Kernel Density Estimation (KDE) and Minimum Convex Polygon (MCP). The average home-range measured by MCP was $250.8km^2$(SD=195.3, n=5) in Anseong and was $89.1km^2$ (SD=69.6, n=5) in Haenam. 50% home-range measured by KDE was $21.8km^2$ (SD=26.9, n=5) in Anseong and $3.5km^2$ (SD=2.2, n=5) in Haenam, indicating a narrow home range in Haenam. During the winter season, both wetland and paddy field were mostly used as habitats in Anseong and Haenam. While the paddy field utilization rate was high in the daytime in Haenam, it was high in the nighttime in Anseong. By late winter, Haenam's day time paddy field utilization rate and Anseong's night time paddy field utilization rate increased.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.264-274
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• 2020

This study aims to clarify the diversity and distribution characteristics of plant communities in four small mountain wetlands located in the high altitude area of Cheonchuk Mountain within the Wangpicheon Basin Ecological Landscape Conservation Area in Seomyeon, Uljin-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-do. A total of 26 vegetation data were collected according to the Z.-M. school's phytosociological vegetation survey method considering the homogeneity of habitat type and species composition. Four physiognomic vegetation types composed of 9 syntaxa was confirmed through vegetation classification according to dominant correlation and vegetation type classification considering species composition. The Iris ensata var. spontanea-Molinia arundinacea community is a dominant plant community representing the research area. After human use, vegetation is developing through natural transition in a homogeneous location left unattended, but the distribution of other plant communities was rarely observed due to the narrow wetland area. The microtopography and hydrological environment of each wetland were identified as key factors affecting the diversity and distribution of vegetation.