• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.433-442
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• 2017

As a result of the Four-River Restoration Project in Korea, the habitat of endangered plant species of Aster altaicus var. uchiyamae and Polygonatum stenophyllum, which had been natively grown in the riparian zone of Namhan River, was destroyed and artificial replacement habitats were created. In this study, Habitat Suitability Index (HSI) was used to determine whether the replacement habitats are suitable for each species or not. From October 2015 to July 2016, Habitat Evaluate Procedures (HEP) were conducted on two replacement habitats of A. altaicus var. uchiyamae (Gangcheonsum and Sum-River) and on two replacement habitats of P. stenophyllum (Gangcheonsum and Youngjuk) in the Namhan River watershed. As evaluation parameters for A. altaicus var. uchiyamae habitat, habitat matrix (ratio of unburied gravel), height above the ordinary water level, soil nutrients, and light conditions were selected and for P. stenophyllum habitat, soil texture, light conditions, and coverage of companion species were selected. HSI was applied to evaluate the suitability of each replacement habitat. According to the result of the evaluation, replacement habitats of A. altaicus var. uchiyamae and P. stenophyllum located in Gangcheonsum have relatively high HSI values as 0.839 and 0.846, respectively. On the other hand, replacement habitats of A. altaicus var. uchiyamae in Sum-River and P. stenophyllum in Youngjuk zone have HSI value of 0, indicating unsuitable habitats for these species. This is the first attempt to apply HSI for plant species in Korea and proved the usefulness of HSI on plants.

• Journal of Fisheries and Marine Sciences Education
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.1021-1030
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• 2015

For the water quality improvement in the ocean outfall area of sewage treatment plant, this study tried to control the water quality of outfall area using the biofilter method through seaweeds, a way of ecological engineering treatment that is applicable in the marine ecosystem. Therefore, this research made an attempt the main factors necessary for creating seaweed bed to improve water quality in the outfall area of sewage treatment plant, and the results are as follows. In the case of making the seaweed bed in the ocean outfall area of sewage treatment plant, Habitat Suitability Index of Ecklonia cava per all survey points, considered physical and physico-chemical factors in 5~10 meters below sea level, was 50~93% (average 80%), so this seaweed, Ecklonia cava, was suitable for making the seaweed bed.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.367-379
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• 2011

This study was conducted to develop an ecological park planning model to enhance the functions of habitats and ecological corridors in Green Belt Areas, because changing policies have resulted in the degredation of the Green Belts due to progressive fragmentation of ecosystems. The principal outcome of the study is to plan an ecological park model through the restoration of habitats. In order to evaluate the capacity of the model to enhance the ecological functions of habitats and ecological corridors in Green Belt Areas, a simulation of habitats was carried out in the Sungnam-Yusoo region. The model was developed via following steps: 1. Selection of candidate sites and selection of the study site by analyzing development factors; 2. Selection of target species that can represent the habitat at the site; 3. Analysis of the site's suitability index for the target species; 4. Establishment of a conceptual plan to enhance and expand the currently produced suitability index; 5. Creation of a master plan based on the conceptual plan; and 6. Evaluation of the enhanced and expanded suitability index of the site. The study showed that the Habitat Unit (HU) of Rana coreana, which was selected as the target species of the study, increased from $28,044m^2$(3.6%) to $224,352m^2$(28.8%), and the HU of the site as the ecological corridor for wild animals increased from $4,674m^2$(0.6%) to $152,684m^2$(19.6%). The study results show that the ecological deficits of the Green Belt Area can be overcome by enhancing the ecological functions of the region, which should be beneficial. The model could be utilized for effective enhancement and management of other Green Belt Areas.

• Ecology and Resilient Infrastructure
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.68-76
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• 2022

In this study, the Habitat Suitability Index (HSI) was calculated in the Miho stream of the Geum river system, and the environmental ecological flow by point was evaluated. Two points (St.3 and St.8) representing the up and downstream of Miho Stream were selected, in order to calculate the Habitat Suitability Index, the depth and velocity at point where each species is appeared were investigated. The Habitat Suitability Index (HSI) was calculated by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) method using the number collected by water depth and velocity section and the results of the flow rate survey. Two target species were selected in this study; dominant species and swimming species sensitive to flow. In the case of a single species of Zacco platypus, the water depth was 0.1 - 0.5 m and the velocity was 0.2 - 0.5 m/s. For species of swimming fish, the water depth was 0.2 - 0.5 m and the velocity was 0.2 - 0.5 m/s. The discharge-Weighted Useable Area (WUA) relationship curve and habitat suitability distribution were simulated at the Miho Stream points St.3 and St.8. At the upstream St.3 of Miho Stream, the optimal discharge was simulated as 4.0 m³/s for swimming fishes and 2.7 m³/s for Zacco platypus. At the downstream point of St.8, species of swimming fish were simulated as 8.8 m³/s and Zacco platypus was simulated as 7.6 m³/s. In both points, the optimal discharge of swimming fish was over estimated. This is a result that the Habitat Suitability Index for swimming fish requires a faster flow rate than the habitat conditions of the Zacco platypus. In the calculation of the minimum discharge, the discharge of Zacco platypus is smaller and is evaluated to provide more Weighted Useable Area. In the case of swimming fishes, narrow range of depth and velocity increases the required discharge and relatively decreases the Weighted Useable Area. Therefore, when calculating the Habitat Suitability Index for swimming fishes, it is more advantageous to calculate the index including the habitat of all fish species than to narrow the range.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.10-25
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• 2018

This study was conducted to estimate the habitat suitability of 17 benthic macroinvertebrate taxa in the Hwayang stream. Habitat Suitability Index (HSI) of benthic macroinvertebrates from the Hwayang stream was developed based on three physical habitat factors which include current velocity, water depth, and the substrate. The Weibull model was used as a probability density function to analyze the distribution of individual abundance by physical factors. The number of species and the total individual abundance increased along with the increase in current velocity. By means of Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA), the relative importance of each factor was determined in the following order: current velocity, water depth, and the mean diameter. The results depicted that, the most influential factor in the growth of benthic macroinvertebrates in the Hwavang system was current velocity. After comparing the analyzed results from the Hwayang stream with the resukts from the Gapyeong stream, the integrated HSI was drawn. The results indicated that current velocity and substrate had similar distributions of HSI in the two streams. This was due to the addition of unmeasured data from previous surveys, or the fact that benthic macroinvertebrates adapted to deeper waters in the Hwayang Stream. Most taxa showed a clear preference for a fast current velocity, deep water depth and coarse substrate except Baetiella, Epeorus, (mayflies), and Hydropsyche (caddisfly).

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.801-811
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• 2012

For biodiversity conservation, Biological Impact Assessment is very important. The focus of the study is to enhance efficient Environment Impact Assessment(EIA) based on collecting existing information of endangered species covering the status survey, estimation of effects and reducing methods. Habitat Suitability Index(HSI) can be applicable to Ecological Impact Assessment and finding various reducing methods based on estimating effects. For this study, the EIA report of Samjang - Sanchung highway construction was chosen as an example and Prionailurus bengalensis euptilura as an endangered species was chosen to assess the ecosystem impact on road construction. Water, road, ground coverage, slope, altitude as variables of habitat were weighted and final HSI map was calculated using Arc map and Arc view. Through comparing of before and after HSI, quantitative estimating on effects was possible to minimize impact of road construction to wildlife habitat.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers
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• v.63 no.6
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• pp.89-100
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• 2021

The conservation of stream habitats has been gaining more public attention and fish habitat suitability index (HSI) is an important measure for ecological stream habitat assessment. The fish habitat preference is affected not only by physical stream conditions but also by water quality of which HSI was not available due to the lack of field data. The purpose of this study is to estimate the HSI of Zacco platypus for water quality parameters of water temperature, dissolved oxygen (DO), and biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) using the water environment monitoring data provided by the Ministry of Environment (ME). Fish population data merged with water quality were constructed by spatio-temporal matching of nationwide water quality monitoring data with bio-monitoring data of the ME. Two types of the HSI were calculated by the Instream Flow and Aquatic Systems Group (IFASG) method and probability distribution (Weibull) fitting for the four major river basins. Both the HSIs by the IFASG and Weibull fitting appeared to represent the overall distribution and magnitude of fish population and this can be used in stream fish habitat evaluation considering water quality.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.427-434
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• 2023

Oysters are an important organism, accounting for an average of 76% of shellfish aquaculture production. In this study, optimal habitat was searched for by calculating the Habitat Suitability Index (HSI) using water temperature, salinity, hydrodynamics, DO, SS and Chl.a in Jaran Bay. As a result, the inside of Jaran Bay was found to be a more suitable habitat than the outside with a wide entrance and rapid hydrodynamics. Oyster production and HSI showed a significant correlation (0.710, p<0.05). Hydrodynamics helps the growth of aquaculture organisms, such as food supply through seawater exchange in the bay, which showed a high correlation (0.709, p<0.05) with oyster production. It was found to have a greater effect on habitat suitability than Chl.a. The results of this study are expected to be helpful for the efficient conservation, use and management of coastal fisheries.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.185-191
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• 2012

Most of Korean farms have been developed in the semi-closed bay, and its position is very vulnerable to the coastal contamination due to the long term and the high density. So, mariculture management is very essential for the sustainable aquaculture. Some of the specific ways would be the assessment of the optimal stocking density for mariculture management zone and this has to consider both the suitable site selection and the assessment of ecological carrying capacity. Habitat suitability index(0.0 totally unsuitable habitat, 1.0 optimum habitat) and ecological indicator(Filtration pressure indicator) was used to assess the stocking density for oyster farms in Geoje-Hansan Bay. Geoje Bay showed the higher habitat suitability index value 0.75 than Hansan Bay 0.53, indicating that Geoje Bay is more suitable for oyster farming. Ecological indicator showed different stocking density according to the coastal characteristics in Geoje-Hansan Bay. Consequently, it is desirable that the stocking density in Geoje Bay should reduce average 40% and Hansan Bay, average 60% than present, in order to meet the ecological carrying capacity. The assessment of the stocking density could solve various problems such as the coastal contamination, environmental aggravation and the productivity decrease and this study could be a scientific basis to establish the policies for mariculture management.

• Ecology and Resilient Infrastructure
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.9-21
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• 2021

In this study, fish and flow surveys were conducted at 12 survey points to calculate the fish habitat suitability index of Miho Stream in the Geum River Water System. The field surveys were conducted four times from September 2019 to May 2020. The results show the presence of 8 families, 37 species, and 5,754 individuals. The number of water purification species that preferred waters with a low flow rate was the highest. The habitat suitability index was calculated according to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife method based on the populations collected at various water depths and flow rate sections and the flow rate survey results. For the dominant species, Zacco platypus and swimming species, the results were compared by calculating at Gasan Bridge and Palgye Bridge at the upper stream. The single species showed no significant difference between the upstream and downstream at water depths of 0.1 - 0.5 m and flow rates of 0.2 - 0.5 m/s. The species swimming ability was similarly calculated at water depths of 0.2 - 0.5 m and flow rates of 0.2 - 0.5 m/s. The dominant species, Pyramid, had a wide range of physical habitats. The habitat suitability index between the swimming species was similarly calculated. These results can be effectively used as basic data for calculating the environmental ecological flow rate and establishing a river restoration plan of the Miho Stream.