• Spatial Information Research
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.501-513
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• 2002

Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) is one of endangered wildlife species whose population size is declining in Korea. To manage and conserve habitat for Eurasian otter, it is crucial to understand which habitat components affect otter habitat qualities. The objectives of this study were to develop a habitat suitability model of Eurasian otter in Soraksan National Park, to validate the model in Odaesan National Park. The research methods of this study were as follows. First, trace data and characters of Eurasian otter habitat were collected with Geographic Information System (GIS) data and Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers between 2000 and 2002. Second, the habitat use factors were identified as habitat characteristics of Eurasian otter and classified with habitat use and availability analyses. Third, significant factors of habitat model were extracted by Chi-square test. The last, Eurasian Otter Habitat Suitability Model (EOHSM) was employed by logistic regression method. Otter habitat use was positively associated with the reeds and shrubs areas adjacent to streams, the size of boulders, and low human disturbance in Soraksan National Park by EOHSM. This model had a classification accuracy of 74.4% at cutoff value of 0.5. Model validation showed a classification accuracy of 86.6 % at cut off value of 0.5 for otter habitat in Odaesan National Park.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.377-385
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• 2005

The Eurasian otter(Lutra lutra) is listed as No. 330 in natural monument. To manage and conserve habitat for otters, it is critical to understand which habitat components are important for otters. The objectives of this study were to analyze otter habitat characteristics in accordance with land-cover map. We investigated otter spraints and sprainting site in Geoje Island from January to December, 2004. with GPS coordinates. The analysis of otter habitat use pattern was used by Arcview ver. 3.2 with 1: 25,000 Topology Map and field data. Otter habitat use was strongly related to sites in riparian vegetation riparian(dam or river) structures. In this study, Gucheon was a site with high coverage of riparian vegetation and unconfined channels, thus recording higher number of spraint densities than those of Yeonchocheon. Yeonchocheon was under construction at lower stream areas so that otter habitat use was limited. This study suggests that securing suitable forests and riparian vegetation zone is essential for conservation of otters.

• 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.1-6
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• 2022

Among the 13 species of otters in the world, only one Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) is found in South Korea. In the Korean Peninsula, otter pelts were historically valuable and expensive commodities used for international trade, and otters have long been poached as hunting animals. Recent rapid economic development in South Korea has increased habitat fragmentation and loss, creating a continuing threat to the natural environment. Otters live only in the area of rivers and streams as a family group and are territorial (linear habitat). Due to these limited conditions of otter habitat, the population size of otter is lower than that of onshore mammals. According to recent research, DNA analyses using microsatellite markers have shown that only approximately 7-21 otter individuals inhabit river systems for a length of 50-230 km. Korea's urban streams are associated with many threats that hinder otters from inhabiting them. Many areas around the urban streams are surrounded by high concrete riverbanks, and the risk of roadkill is also high. Nevertheless, ecological restoration projects in the urban rivers will contribute greatly to the stable inhabitation of otters. Detailed otter conservation strategies, such as the elimination of threat factors, improvement of habitat environment, and restoration of food resources and shelter, will provide a positive restoration effect on otter and river ecosystems as well.

• Spatial Information Research
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.343-357
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• 2008

Hongdo and Huksando belong to the Dadohae national park parks in Korea and are famous sightseeing spots in Shinahn-gun. One of the keystone species in this area is otter (Lutra lutra). We accomplished field works for finding its present habitat and condition analyses for the potential habitat in the area via spatial analyses with digital elevation model and satellite imagery. Isolated condition with coastal cliffs was one of the superior conditions over habitat in the main land, but the road kills of small animals were also observed. Three underground eco-corridors were suggested for the protection of otter habitat in the Shinahn-gun area. Regional development strategies of Shinahn-gun should be focused on the protection of safe and pristine habitat for otter population.

• Spatial Information Research
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.29-42
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• 2004

This Study was Analysis about Habitat of Eurasian otter Lutra lutra L. In October 2002 during September 2003, Otter Spraints and Sprainting site were searched in river Unkog of North-Kyongsang Province for taking the GPS coordinates. For Analysis of habitat, This data were used by Arcview ver. 3.2 with 1/25000 Topology Map and Other Field data. The result of Habitat Analysis meant that Habitat use was strongly related to Fish diversity and richness also vegetation and cover were connected with otter habitat. In other hand, The Human interferences including dense structures like House acted as factor of disturbance. This study suggest that The preceding about Suitable habitat having free of Human disturbance, abundant fish and good vegetation is essential In Trial for Conservation or Recovery of Otter like Trans-location.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.26 no.12
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• pp.1341-1353
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• 2017

This study aimed to identify the aquatic and riparian factors associated with the presence/absence of the Eurasian otter in the Nakdong river basin, where the species is relatively more abundant than other otter species. Environmental factors and presence records were collected. Geographical Information System technology and chi-square test were used to compare environmental gradients in aquatic and riparian factors between presence and absence sites. Aquatic habitat attributes were evaluated with natural riverside sandbars and channel crossing artificial structures, the ratio of channel width to alluvial plain width, riverbed substrate, and flow diversity. Riverbank characteristics, bank materials, man-made embankment types, and land use/land cover of inland and riverside areas were selected as riparian habitat attributes. Compared to the aquatic attributes, riparian attributes were highly significant when assessing otter presence and absence sites, suggesting that conservation of suitable riparian areas to provide maternity and resting areas for otter species is essential in the Nakdong river basin. None of the aquatic attributes examined were statistically significant when evaluating otter presence or absence. These results indicate that the presence of suitable riparian area for resting and reproduction habitats is more critical to the presence of Eurasian otter than food availability in aquatic areas. To inform implementation of effective conservation actions, broad-scale factors, such as watershed attributes, would be needed to further assess habitat conditions of the Eurasian otter.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.140-150
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• 2023

The Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) is an apex predator of the riparian ecosystem. It is a keystone and an indicator species; consequently, its presence suggests a sustainable water environment. Otter is a keystone species as a predator at the top of the food web in the aquatic environment and an indicator species representing the health of the aquatic environment. Although Eurasian otters disappeared from the Han River urban water system because of anthropogenic activities like habitat destruction, poaching, and environmental pollution in the 1980s, the species were sighted in the Cheonggye Stream, Jungrang Stream, and Seongnae Stream, which are urban sections of the Han River, in 2016 and 2021. Therefore, it is pertinent to assess the habitat potential in the area for conservation and management measures to ensure its permanent presence. However, existing studies on otter habitats focused on natural rivers and reservoirs, and there is a limit to applying them to habitats artificially confined habitats in narrow spaces such as tributaries in urban areas of the Han River. This study selected the Cheonggye Stream, an artificially restored urban stream, to evaluate its potential as a habitat for Eurasian otters in urban water environments using the habitat suitability index (HSI). The HSI was calculated with selected environment attributes, such as the cover, food, and threat, that best describe the L. lutra habitat. According to the results, the confluence area of Seongbuk Stream and Cheonggye Stream and the confluence area of Cheonggye Stream and Jungnang Stream were suitable otter habitats, requiring appropriate conservation efforts. The HSI model suggests a valuable method to assess the habitat quality of Eurasian otters in urban water environments. The study is crucial as it can help rehabilitate the species' populations by identifying and managing potential Eurasian otter habitats in highly urbanized areas of the Han River basin and its tributaries.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.19-32
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• 2015

In Korea, significant riparian areas have been developed due to river maintenance projects. Introduction of new riparian facilities can negatively affect wildlife in the riparian areas. This study focuses on selecting core conservation areas for Eurasian Otter(Lutra lutra) to support decision making process for development of riparian areas. For the study, first of all, field data of study site were collected by field surveys. Secondly, stream naturalness was assessed to understand physical environments of the study sites. Thirdly, habitat suitability was assessed using occurrence data of Eurasian Otter and environmental data. Lastly, core areas for conservation was selected by comparing and synthesizing stream naturalness map and habitat suitability map. The selected core areas showed several characteristics. The number of artificial facilities is low in the core areas. Rocks which are preferred by Eurasian Otter to eat and excrete are plentiful in the core areas. Also, the ratio of adjacent farmland is high. Based on the analyses, it is expected that this study can contribute to decision making process for environmental spatial plans to better conserve habitats of Eurasian Otter.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.402-406
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• 2015

This study aims at favorable environmental conditions by river otter residing in Hongcheon river ecosystems using spraints along the river. Otter spraints were indicative of habitat use pattern and marking a territory in the areas. Nae-chon and Kuneob-chon river otter spraints were collected totaling 478 with 8 times during 2009-2011, and based on the number river use patterns were analyzed with the technique of index of dispersion. Results with larger than one indicated that river otter habitat use pattern were not random; instead they used preferred areas for habitat use. 'I' values greater than one indicate a clumped distribution and lower than one indicate random distribution. This study also demonstrated that we need a sophiscated linear model that should be developed to identify key habitat elements in river ecosystems.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.298-306
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• 2020

This study was conducted to examine the impact of the correlation between habitat suitability of the Saemangeum lake area for otters and spatial variables (watersides, wetlands, farmlands, urban areas, roads, etc.) on the inhabitation of otters. As a result of the habitat suitability analysis, it was found that 380grids of 1097 grids (34.6%) studied are most suitable and suitable, whereas 413 grids of 1097 grids (37.7%) of the total are marginal and unsuitable. Comparatively analyzing otter traces data against for each spatial variable in the Saemangeum area revealed that the distance to the road or man-made areas is directly proportional to the number of otter traces, while more traces of otters were found areas close to waters. Despite the impact from the internal construction of Saemangeum lake, there found 2 to 6 times more otter traces in the area farthest from the urban areas and roads compared to the area nearest to the urban areas and roads. Thus, when restoring habitats for otters, a minimum of 500(m) distance to roads or urban areas, which can be considered as a threat to the habitats, must be secured.