• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.495-501
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• 2009

The study was conducted in 2007~2008 in order to understand preference of physical microhabitat on the $1^{st}$-class endangered species, Gobiobotia naktongensis inhabiting the Gam Stream, tributary of Nakdong River. The total number of fish caught from the study sites was 3,671 representing 7 families 24 species. There were 8 Korean endemic species including Odontobutis platycephala, and 2 introduced species (Carassius cuvieri, Micropterus salmoides) were found. According to investigation and analysis of physical microhabitat on Gobiobotia naktongensis caught in the Gam Stream, a total of 57 individuals were found at shallow depth (0.14~0.46 m) and run (0.239~0.585m $sec^{-1}$). As a result of sieve analysis, stream beds consisted of about 1% gravel and 99% sand (83.4% coarse sand, 15.6% find sand). Therefore, Gobiobotia naktongensis seemed to inhabit shallow-run with coarse sand bed than deep-pool microhabitat. The findings indicate preference of physical microhabitat on Gobiobotia naktongensis, and it is important to enhance efficiency of fish conservation and ecological restoration with understanding species-specific characteristics in microhabitat including protected species.

• Proceedings of the National Institute of Ecology of the Republic of Korea
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.53-61
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• 2021

Distribution of fish community depends largely on environmental disturbance such as habitat change. In this study, we evaluated the impact of environmental variables and microhabitat patch types on fish distribution in Yudeung Stream at 15 sites between early May and late June 2019. We used non-metric multidimensional scaling to examine the distribution patterns of fish in each site. Gnathopogon strigatus, Squalidus gracilis majimae, Zacco koreanus, and Zacco platypus were associated with riffle and boulder areas, whereas Iksookimia koreensis, Acheilognathus koreensis, Coreoleuciscus splendidus, Sarcocheilichthys nigripinnis morii, and Odontobutis interrupta were associated with large shallow areas. In contrast, Cyprinus carpio, Carassius auratus, Lepomis macrochirus, and Micropterus salmoides were found at downstream sites associated with large pool areas, sandy/clay-bottomed areas, and vegetated areas. On the basis of these results, we suggest that microhabitat patch types are important in determining the diversity and abundance of fish communities, since a mosaic of different microhabitats supports diverse fish species. As such, microhabitat patches are key components of freshwater stream ecosystem heterogeneity, and a suitable patch composition in stream construction or restoration schemes will support ecologically healthy food webs.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.198-204
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• 2018

Background: The effective use of habitats is essential for the successful adaptation of a species to the local environment. Although habitats exhibit a hierarchical structure, including macro-, meso-, and microhabitats, the relationships among habitats of differing hierarchy have not been well studied. In this study, we studied the quantitative measures of microhabitat use of Gekko japonicus from three field populations in Japan: one at Tsushima Island, one at Nishi Park, Fukuoka, and one at Ohori Park, Fukuoka. We investigated whether land cover type, a higher hierarchical habitat component, was associated with quantitative microhabitat use, a lower hierarchical component, in these populations. Results: The substrate temperature where we located geckos (SubT) and the distance from the ground to the gecko (Height) were significantly different among the three populations. In particular, SubT on Tsushima Island was lower than it was in the other two populations. Irradiance at gecko location and Height were significantly different among the land cover types. In particular, Height in evergreen needleleaf forest was significantly lower than that in deciduous broadleaf forest. Furthermore, significant interactions between population and land cover type were observed for the SubT and Height variables. Conclusions: The quantitative measures of microhabitat use of G. japonicus varied with population and land cover type, which exhibited significant interaction effects on microhabitat use variables. These results suggest that higher hierarchical habitat components can affect the quantitative measures of lower hierarchical microhabitat use in nocturnal geckos.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.357-363
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• 2011

To examine factors affecting feeding efficiency of grey herons (Ardea cinerea), the foraging behavior was studied at a reservoir in Asan city, Chungcheongnam-do, South Korea during the breeding seasons (from April to July) of 2006 and 2007. Four factors (age of foraging birds, time of day, breeding stage, and microhabitat type) were analyzed. Adults were more efficient foragers than recently fledged juveniles, and they had a higher success rate than juveniles. About half of the adults caught large prey, whereas most juveniles caught only small prey. Adult grey herons had different feeding efficiency according to the breeding stage. Pecking and capture rates were high during the late period (fledging stage), and biomass intake rates were high during the early (incubating stage) and late periods. However, time of day had no significant effect on foraging activity of adult grey herons. Feeding activities of adult grey herons also showed significant variation among microhabitat types. Pecking and capture rates were higher in the submerged plants area, but capture success rate and biomass intake rate were not different according to microhabitat type.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.271-284
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• 2014

The objectives of this research were to analyse the microhabitat of Cobitis choii which is designated as an endangered fish species (I) and national monument species in Korea (No. 454), and provide valuable information of suitable replacement habitat in the future for a conservation of the population with rapid decreases by environmental pollution. Sampling and microhabitat analysis in three streams such as Baekgok, Yugu and Gap Stream, known as one of the least habitats in Korea showed that the mean number of Cobitis choii observed was 2.6. This result indicated that the richness was too low, so the species conservation was very urgent. Optimal physical microhabitat of the population was determined as environmental conditions with > 60% sand with 1 mm particle size, optimal water depth of 20 - 60 cm in the habitats, and the optimal current velocity of < 0.4 m/s. Under the circumstances of the microhabitat, optimal water volume (discharge) was 0 - 2 m3/s in the each sectional analysis and this reach was mainly composed of the stream section with intermittant slow runs and pools. These microhabitats were largely disturbed by physical modifications of habitat and chemical pollutions due to direct influences of nutrient-rich water inputs from the urban area and intensive agricultural pollutants. For these reasons, optimal habitat replacement are required in the future for the conservation of the species.

• Ecology and Resilient Infrastructure
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.216-225
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• 2017

We assessed the microhabitat conditions of three fish species (black shinner Pseudopungtungia nigra, striped shinner Pungtungia herzi, Korean shinner Coreoleuciscus splendidus) considering various stream order in the Geumgang River Basin. A total of 1,275 individuals were collected from 19 sites. And the microhabitat condition was assessed measuring flow velocity, water depth and substrate size at each site. The highest relative frequencies for P. herzi, C. splendidus and P. nigra were calculated 100% (n = 310), 78.9% (n = 784) and 47.3% (n = 181) respectively. P. herzi appeared in all streams, irrespective of their stream order; however, appearance in streams with the $2^{nd}$ order or lower was found to be scarcer than in the ones with the $3^{rd}$ order or higher. On the other hand, P. nigra and C. splendidus didn't appear in streams with the $2^{nd}$ order or lower. When it comes to P. nigra, the ones with 7 to 8 cm in length most frequently appeared. They inhabited streams, mainly, with 0.2 to $0.4m\;s^{-1}$ and 0.5 m in velocity and water depth, respectively. The three species all preferred runs as types of habitats with lots of coarse gravels-cobbles. P. herzi, the ones with 5 cm or shorter in length most frequently appeared. They inhabited streams, mainly, with 0 to $0.3m\;s^{-1}$ and 0.4 m in velocity and water depth, respectively. C. splendidus with 7 to 8 cm in length occupied the majority of them. They appeared in streams, mainly, with $0.9m\;s^{-1}$or higher and 0.3 m in velocity and water depth.

• ALGAE
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.41-51
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• 2002

Three dominant rocky intertidal macroalgae, the fucoids Fucus gardneri and Pelvetiopsis limitata (Phaeophyta) and the red alga Mazzaella cornucopiae (= Iridaea cornucopiae) on the west coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada were used in a series of field experiments to examine interspecific interactions. These experiments showed complex patterns which included an interchange of negative (inhibition) and positive (facilitation) interactions depending on neighbor distance. Less fucoid recruitment occurred in the plots with greater percent cover of a turfforming red alga, M. cornucopiae. However, experimentally removing Mazzaella turf (the turf was considered to be "blocking" fucoid recruits or "shading" growing recruits) did not increase recruitment. This result indicated that there may be another factor(s) involved in the survivorship of juvenile fucoids in the turf-removed plots. Morphological differences in adult plants between Mazzaella and the two fucoids resulted in another type of interaction; these began when fucoids successfully settled and grew nearby or within the red algal turf. By monitoring microhabitat at the individual plant level for two years, I found that survivorship of fucoid recruits showed different species-specific patterns. The patterns also varied as the microhabitat changed from Mazzaella turf edge to open space. For F. gardneri, longevity of P.limitata at all distances tested was similar. A reason for greater longevity of F. gardneri individuals at edge microhabitats may be that these sites have one side open to light and nutrients and another site that buffers them from desiccation and wave impact. In the Mazzaella-Fucus interaction, neighbor distance was a key factor in determining whether the outcome of the interaction would be competition or facilitation (or protection). This study provides experimental evidence that detectable biological interactions occur in this upper intertidal algal community where physical conditions are usually severe, and also indicates the importance of small scale examination in understanding macroalgal interactions in intertidal habitats.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.728-735
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• 2017

Many restoration projects are underway to revive disturbed streams. In order to achieve successful stream restoration, a variety of microhabitats should be created to promote biological diversity. Research on biological classification of microhabitats is essential for biological diversity. However, research on classification using only physical environmental factors has been carried out. The purpose of this study is to classify and quantify the microhabitat of the stream by using macroinvertebrates systematically. In this study, eight wadeable streams and four non-wadeable streams were surveyed to identify the benthic macroinvertebrates in these various microhabitats. Among the physical environmental factors (current velocity, water depth, substrate), the particle size of the substrate was the most influential factor in the emergence of the Habitat Orientaion Groups. Among the HOGs, clinger and burrower were highly correlated with physical environment factors and showed the opposite tendency. The distribution of clinger and burrower according to the physical environmental factors showed two tendencies based on the current velocity (0.3 m/s) and water depth (0.4 m). In addition, the particle size of the substrate showed three trends (${\leq}-5.0$, -5.0 < mean diameter ${\leq}-2.0$, > -2.0). Based on the abundance tendency of these two HOGs, the microhabitats were classified into nine types, from a eupotamic microhabitat to a lentic microhabitat. Classification of the microhabitats using HOGs can be employed for creating microhabitats to promote biological diversity in future stream restoration plans.

• Proceedings of the National Institute of Ecology of the Republic of Korea
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.32-40
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• 2022

The trade-off between morphology and physical function may vary according to ecological traits. Taking a quantitative approach, we attempted to analyze the differences in the skeletal shape of the lower body and limbs in relation to the ecological traits of four anuran species (Dryophytes japonicus, Glandirana rugosa, Pelophylax nigromaculatus, and Lithobates catesbeianus) occurring in South Korea. Body size, locomotor mode, microhabitat, trophic positions, and predator defense mechanisms were selected for the ecological traits of the anurans. The pelvis, ilium, and urostyle, which are associated with locomotor performance, were selected for the skeletal shape of the lower body. The ratio of limbs, which is related to locomotor mode and microhabitat, was confirmed by analyzing the skeletons of the forelimbs (radio-ulnar and humerus) and hindlimbs (femur and tibiofibular). Both landmark-based geometric morphometrics and traditional methods were used for skeletal shape comparison. The skeletal shape of the lower body was completely different among the four species, whereas the ratio of the limbs was only different in D. japonicus. The skeletal shape of the lower body may be related to body mass and predator defense mechanisms, whereas the ratio of the limbs was related to the locomotor mode and microhabitat. Quantifying these morphological differences among various species can help elucidate the mechanisms of behavioral and morphological changes in response to ecological effects.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.39 no.5
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• pp.396-412
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• 2023

Species from the mayfly genus Ephemera (Order Ephemeroptera) was assessed for their physical microhabitat suitability (namely E. strigata, E. separigata, and E. orientalis-sachalinensis). Probability distribution models (Exponential, Normal, Lognormal, Logistic, Weibull, Gamma, Beta, and Gumbel) based on the data collected from 23,957 sampling units of 6,787 sites in Korea from 2010 to 2021 were used. Mode and standard deviation calculated from the best-fitting models to species distribution along a water depth gradient were 265 cm and 159 cm in E. orientalis-sachalinensis; 10 cm and 83 cm in E. strigata; 20 cm and 15 cm in E. separigata, respectively. The current velocity gradient was 22 cm/s and 40 cm/s in E. orientalis-sachalinensis; 60 cm/s and 53 cm/s in E. strigata; 82 cm/s and 25 cm/s in E. separigata, respectively. The mean diameter (phi scale) of substrate grains were -3.6 and 2.2 in E. orientalis-sachalinensis; -7.4 and 1.5 in E. strigata; -5.8 and 0.9 in E. separigata, respectively. Habitat suitability range of E. orientalis-sachalinensis was estimated to be 161~369 cm (water depth), 5~44 cm/s (current velocity), -5.2~-2.0 (mean diameter); 3~34 cm (water depth), 36~94 cm/s (current velocity), -8.1~-6.3 (mean diameter) for E. strigata; 12~32 cm (water depth), 63~96 cm/s (current velocity), -6.3~-5.2 (mean diameter) for E. separigata. In relative comparison, E. orientalis-sachalinensis was estimated to be rheophobic, eurybathophilic, and eurypsephophilic; E. strigata to be euryrheophilic, bathophobic, and lithophilic; E. separigata to be stenomesorheophilic, stenobathophobic, stenolithophilic.