• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.30-39
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• 2010

We researched community structure, species composition, and habitat environment of Dendropanax morbifera populations distributed in Goheung, Haenam, Wando (I.), and Bogildo (I.) at south coast of the Korean Peninsula. Our research was also estimated possible area for growth of Dendropanax morbifera by analyzing meteorological factors of the habitat thereof. Dendropanax morbifera community divided into Castanopsis cuspidata var. sieboldii group and Carpinus laxiflora group by difference of species composition. Broad-leaved evergreens showed high dominance value in view of rNCD in Dendropanax morbifera community as follows: Camellia japonica (100.0), Quercus acuta (88.6), Castanopsis cuspidata var. sieboldii (55.8), Dendropanax morbifera Lev. (41.4), Trachelospermum asiaticum var. intermedium (23.8), Eurya japonica (19.9) and Ligustrum japonicum (11.5). In the population distribution, 94.2% of Carpinus laxiflora group consisted of sapling and small size class that are less than 5 cm in DBH while 54.2% of Castanopsis cuspidata var. sieboldii group did. The soil environment of habitat showed low soil acidity, good organic matter and water content, and good drainage. The distribution area of Dendropanax morifera habitat had $13^{\circ}C$ or more in annual mean temperature, $7.4^{\circ}C$ or more in daily minimum temperature, $100^{\circ}C$ month or more in warmth index, and approximately 1,344 mm in mean annual precipitation. Dendropanax morifera habitat corresponded to evergreen broad-leaved forest zone located in islands and coast in the southwest region of the Korean Peninsula. The northern limit line of Dendropanax morifera community was determined as Gunsan-Jeongeup-Gwangju-Jinju-Pohang-Youngdeok line based on $13^{\circ}C$ in annual mean temperature that was confirmed in natural habitat of Dendropanax morifera community.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.122-132
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• 2021

We reviewed the methods employed in Korean tidal flat surveys to measure the local abundance of the endangered wildlife and marine protected species, the fiddler crab, Austruca lactea. A complete census for infinite population is impossible even in a limited habitat within a tidal flat, and density estimates from samples strongly vary due to diverse biological and ecological factors. The habitat boundaries and areas shift with periodicities or rhythmic activities of organisms as well as measurement errors. Hence the local abundance calculated from density and habitat areas should be regarded as transient. This conjecture was valid based on the spatio-temporal variations of the density averages, standard error ranges, and spatial distribution of the crab, A. lactea observed for 3 years (2015-2017) in Songdo tidal flat in Incheon. We proposed the potential habitat areas using the occurrence probability of 50% from logistic regression model, reflecting the importance of habitat conservation value as an alternative to local abundance. The spatial shape of potential habitat predicted from a generalized model would remain constant over time unless the species' critical environmental conditions change rapidly. The species-specific model is expected to be used for the introduction of desired species in future habitat restoration/creation projects.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2022

Background: In this study, we proposed that the population dynamics of non-native red-eared sliders (Trachemys scripta elegans) depends on the species' habitat extension and survivorship. We used a logistic equation with time-dependent habitat carrying capacity. In detail, the present carrying capacity depends on the red-eared slider population of the previous year. Anthropogenic activities such as the abandonment of previously captive red-eared sliders or the release due to religion customs would supply new habitats to the species. Therefore we assumed that anthropogenic spread increases the habitat carrying capacity. Based on the urbanization increase rate of 3% in Korea from 1980 to 2000, we assumed an annual spread of 3% to simulate the population dynamics of the red-eared slider. In addition, the effect on the population of an increase of natural habitats due to migration was simulated. Results: The close relationship between the distributions of non-native red-eared sliders and of urbanized areas demonstrates that urbanization plays an important role in providing new habitats for released individuals. Depending on the survivorship, the population of the red-eared slider in Korea increased 1.826 to 3.577 times between 1980 and 2000. To control population growth, it is necessary to reduce carrying capacity by reducing habitat expansion through prohibition of release into the wild ecosystem and careful managements of the wetland or artificial ponds. Changes in the habitat carrying capacity showed that the population fluctuated every other year. However, after several years, it converged to a consistent value which depended on the survivorship. Further, our results showed that if red-eared sliders expand their habitat by natural migration, their population can increase to a greater number than when they have a 99% survivorship in a fixed habitat. Conclusions: Further introductions of red-eared sliders into wetlands or artificial ponds should be prohibited and managed to prevent future spread of the species. Moreover, it is important to reduce the species' survivorship by restoring disturbed ecosystems and maintaining healthy ecosystems.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.31 no.8
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• pp.611-618
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• 2009

Road construction has been worked on by focusing on cost effectiveness such as the reduction of construction costs without understanding the natural environment and ecosystems. In addition, since ecosystems have been destroyed and the habitats of animals and plants have been isolated, wild animals have sought other habitats or have moved into isolated habitats. Thus, issues such as roadkills or the extermination of species are increasingly occurring. Based on this background, the development and application of a general assessment method need to be researched in order to verify whether or not spaces or habitats where animals can be inhabited and their species can be maintained exist. The purpose of this study is to develop an ecosystem map where a conservation value evaluation method considering the functions of an ecosystem where animals live as well as the naturalness of ecosystems is used and can be made into a drawing. The items applied to evaluate the habitat conservation values were naturalness, rarity, and functionality, and sub-items for evaluation were created. GIS as well as the evaluation items were used to create a digital map about the level of importance based on the evaluation criteria. The created digital map showed that it was not limited to the adjustment or distribution of the fauna and flora but was applicable for a general ecosystem evaluation method for the conservation of habitats. It is expected that the isolation of habitats would be able to be minimized if the digital map is used for road construction projects. The digital map is deemed to be able to be used for the construction of environmentally friendly roads, which will minimize the destruction of ecosystems and the isolation of habitats for creatures.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.73-82
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• 2018

Urban parks are important bird habitat in cities. Various studies have evaluated the habitat function of urban parks focused on field surveys. In this study, we performed applicability of NDVI obtained from Landsat 8 OLI image as a factor for spatial planning considered bird diversity. This study was classified with green boundary into three groups using NDVI's value. Environmental variables were calculated by the green area ratio of the surrounding area from 100m to 500m at each groups. The 20 environmental variables such as park area, park shape index, canopy of tree, etc. were derived, the regression analysis was performed as a dependent variable for the bird diversity of urban parks. As a result, the park area and the green area ratio of Group 3, classified high NDVI, within the 100m buffer were adopted as the variables in the regression model. In other words, it was confirmed that as the park becomes larger, the distribution of key green areas within a radius of 100m of the parks becomes higher, the diversity of bird species has increased. It was appropriate to use satellite image, NDVI to analyze species diversity in urban area.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.45-58
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• 2020

This study was conducted to comprehend the spatial distribution characteristics, habitats and appearances of Hydropotes inermis by using the biotope mapping in Daebudo Island, Ansan-si. The result is base data to understand status and manage potential inhabitation of Hydropotes inermis in Daebudo Island through the Maximum Entropy model. The study used 105 traces from the primary investigation and 452 traces in the secondary investigation. The biotope types were distinquished Hydropotes inermis habitats largest from the order of natural forest (15.1%), natural coast (13.7%), marshy cultivated land (12.6%), and dry cultivated land (11.7%), and from the inhabitation trace results. Hydropotes inermis appearanced biotope types were the greatest in the order of cultivated land (49.73%) > forest (18.85%) > coast (7.00%) > grassland (6.28%). Since forests in Daebudo Island have low slope and altitude, it was concluded that Hydropotes inermis would live in most of the forests. A high number of Hydropotes inermis was found to appear in areas where the grassland is formed including cultivated lands (include unused paddies and fields) and marshy grasslands, which would result in direct damage of crops. According to the Maxent modeling analysis that used location information of Hydropotes inermis, the AUC value was 0.635 based on the ROC curve. In Daebudo Island, areas with over 0.635 potential inhabitation value are distributed all over the place, and it was concluded that each population would have a different scope of influence and home range. Hydropotes inermis living in Daebudo Island have high habitat suitability mainly around the cultivated lands near the roads, but due to the bare lands and roads, it is expected that their habitats would be fragmented and damaged, which would have a direct and indirect effect in maintaining the Hydropotes inermis population. Also, considering habitat disturbance, diverse methods for reducing damage including capturing some individuals within the limit that does not disperse Hydropotes inermis population in Daebudo Island must be carried out.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.97-104
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• 2021

Background: Asarum sieboldii Miq., a species of forest understory vegetation, is an herbaceous perennial belonging to the family Aristolochiaceae. The metapopulation of A. sieboldii is distributed sparsely and has a short seed dispersal distance by ants as their seed distributor. It is known that many flowers of A. sieboldii depend on self-fertilization. Because these characteristics can affect negatively in genetic structure, investigating habitat structure and assessment of genetic structure is needed. A total of 27 individuals in a valley were sampled for measuring genetic diversity, genetic distance, and genetic differentiation by RAPDPCR. Results: The habitat areas of A. sieboldii metapopulation were relatively small (3.78~33.60 m²) and population density was very low (five to seven individuals in 20×20 m quadrat). The habitat of A. sieboldii was a very shady (relative light intensity = 0.9%) and mature forest with a high evenness value (J = 0.81~0.99) and a low dominance value (D = 0.19~0.28). The total genetic diversity of A. sieboldii was quite high (h = 0.338, I = 0.506). A total of 33 band loci were observed in five selected primers, and 31 band loci (94%) were polymorphic. However, genetic differentiation along the valley was highly progressed (G_st = 0.548, N_m = 0.412). The average genetic distance between subpopulations was 0.387. The results of AMOVA showed 52.77% of variance occurs among populations, which is evidence of population structuring. Conclusions: It is expected that a small-scale founder effect had occurred, an individual spread far from the original subpopulation formed a new subpopulation. However, geographical distance between individuals would have been far and genetic flow occurred only within each subpopulation because of the low density of population. This made significant genetic distance between the original and new population by distance. Although genetic diversity of A. sieboldii metapopulation is not as low as concerned, the subpopulation of A. sieboldii can disappear by stochastic events due to small subpopulation size and low density of population. To prevent genetic isolation and to enhance the stable population size, conservative efforts such as increasing the size of each subpopulation or the connection between subpopulations are needed.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.98-106
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• 2011

Establishing conservation programs to protect and maintain populations of endangered species are not only a global trend, but also a pursuit endorsed by the Korean Environmental Conservation Act. This study evaluates the feasibility of alternative habitat patches for the endangered butterfly Parnassius bremeri. A portion of habitat of P. bremeri is expected to be fragmented and damaged due to the scheduled construction of the Sangju-Yongduk Highway. A trans fer of the habitat patches of P. bremeri is also scheduled. In order to select an alternative habitat patch, the Mark-Release-Recapture (MRR) method was used to simulate a patch transfer model. The connectedness between habitat are as and the survival of local populations were evaluated for each candidate habitat. It was found that metapopulations with patch distances of <250m showed a 50% connectedness and survival rate in local populations. P. bremeri were expected to migrate at an average distance of 300m. In addition, P. bremeri formed a metapopulation that exhibited intimate patch dynamics that promoted persistence among these patches. Possible candidate habitats including those recommended by local governing bodies were evaluated along with habitats that may counter problems arising from the damage done to the original habitat and habitats that may have a compensatory value equal to that of the original habitat. Based on these criteria, Ansa-myeon township office was selected due to its high scores. This scoring was based on a consideration of a wide range of variables that mark a successful transfer of habitat. These include the amount of funding available, the governing bodies of the possible alternative habitat, and the Expected collaborative effort of local citizens. This decision was collaborated on by incorporating the expertise of various fields of study including biology, ecology, biogeography, ecological engineering, landscape architecture, and social sciences. Therefore, it is suggested that in order to evaluate an alternative habitat for organisms, many social issues as well as ecological issues must be considered.

• 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.

• 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).