• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.149-155
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• 2012

Rice paddy fields have been recognized as an alternative habitat for avian wetland foragers, and fish-rice farms have become a new tool in improving the abundance of aquatic animals. However, the use of the habitats by avian foragers, particularly by oriental storks ($Ciconia$ $boyciana$), was not well understood. In the present study, we investigated how a fish-rice farm influenced the abundance of aquatic animals and documented the foraging behavior of the two captive bred oriental storks in a closed semi-natural paddy field. Our results showed that the fish refuge pond (water depth 40 cm) had a higher abundance of fish whereas the areas planted with rice (water depth 20 cm) had more tadpoles and some aquatic insects. The two captive bred oriental storks captured mostly fish and aquatic insects in the rice-planted area and mostly fish in the fish refuge pond. The two oriental storks had higher foraging success and spent more time for foraging in the rice-planted area than in the fish refuge pond. This result suggests that the oriental storks might prefer foraging in the area with fish, aquatic insects, and amphibians under a greater success rate presumably due to shallow water depth in the paddy fields with a fish-rice farm.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.223-235
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• 2011

Juncus effusus is mostly found in freshwater wetlands and is widely used for landscaping and creating artificial wetlands due to its high ecological value. J. effusus tends to dominate during the early stage (3-10 years) of the second succession in abandoned paddy fields. This study focused on the environmental characteristics of J. effusus to create habitat for an endangered species, Nannopya pygmaea, which lives in wetlands dominated by J. effusus. Considering the distribution of J. effusus and N. pygmaea, 63 quadrats at eight wetlands were investigated between May and June 2006 during the critically dry period. Fifty-three species from 28 families co-occurred with J. effusus, and Persicaria thunbergii was the most abundant (63.5%). The optimal ranges of distribution (ORD) for the water variables were water depth, -2 to 10 cm; dissolved oxygen, 0.99-3.55 mg/kg, conductivity (CON), 23.40-115.40 ${\mu}s/cm$, total dissolved solid, 12.53-57.60 mg/L; pH, 5.00-6.87; $K^+$, 0.11-1.46 mg/L; $Ca^{2+}$, 1.53-5.85 mg/L; $Na^+$, 3.16-7.47 mg/L; $Mg^{2+}$, 0.11-1.96 mg/L; $NO_3$-N, < 0.001-0.072 mg/L; $NH_4$-N, 0.005-0.097 mg/L; and $PO_4$-P, 0.006-0.047 mg/L. ORDs for the soil variables were water content, 1.05-2.96%; loss-on ignition method (LOI), 5.07-7.81%; CON, 23.70-59.70 ${\mu}s/cm$; pH, 4.40-5.16; extracted (e) $K^+$, 4.34-15.73 cmol/kg; $eCa^{2+}$, 31.56-191.56 cmol/kg; $eNa^+$, < 0.01-2.61 cmol/kg; eMg, 0.04-19.82 cmol/kg; $eNO_3$-N, 0.514-1.175 mg/kg; $eNH_4$-N, 0.033-0.974 mg/kg, $ePO_4$-P, 0.491-11.552 mg/kg; total nitrogen, 0.016-0.200%; and total carbon, 1.06-2.37%. The appearance of rush during early succession indicated relatively lower levels of these physicochemical parameters, and that ORDs should be maintained for the J. effusus community.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.27-34
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• 2012

Typha angustifolia has ecological characteristics of clonal growth similar to Phragmites australis. The plant spreads byclonal growth and seed dispersal. In this study, for the three stands which have different settlement age at the Baksilji wetland in Korea, genetic diversity was estimated by random amplification of polymorphic DNA analysis to evaluate the change in genetic diversity of T. angustifolia during stand development in the same population. Stand (ST) 1 was the oldest and ST 4 was the youngest. ST 5 was in a small ditch out of the Baksilji. Although the ST 1, ST 2, and ST 3 did not differ significantly in vegetational or physical environment, the genetic diversity estimated according to Nei's gene diversity (h) and the Shannon index (i) increased in the order of ST 1 < ST 2 < ST 3 contrary to formative age. The genetic diversity of ST 4 was much higher than that of the other three stands. ST 4 has similar abiotic environmental conditions with slight T. angustifolia dominance, and seems to be in the early establishment stage. ST 5 differed from the other stands in vegetational and soil environments, which can result in stressful cattail conditions. Even though the ST 5 stand was not younger than the ST 4 stand, ST 5 showed the highest genetic diversity. Our results indicate that after early settlement of the T. angustifolia population, genetic diversity within the species decreased over time and that the decreasing pattern of genetic diversity within T. angustifolia stands is not likely to occur under stressful conditions.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.41 no.8
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• pp.202-212
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• 2017

Background: To reveal establishment strategy of Sparganium erectum, we tried to find realized niche of adults through field survey and effects of water level on the establishment process through mesocosm experiments. Results: In the field survey, the height and coverage of community living in deeper water were greater than those of community living in shallow water. There was no statistically significant difference (p > 0.05) in the means of water and soil properties between the two communities. In mesocosm experiments, we found no correlation between water levels and germination rates, but S. erectum seedlings have characteristics of post germination seedling buoyancy when S. erectum seeds germinated in inundation conditions. Shoot height, total leaf length, and survival rates of sinking seedlings in shallow water levels at -5, 0, and 5 cm were higher than those in deeper water levels at 10 and 20 cm. Floating seedlings established in water levels of 3 and 6 cm only. The seedlings could live up to 6 weeks in floating state but died if they were unable to establish. Conclusions: The water level around adult S. erectum communities in the field were different from the water level at which S. erectum seedlings can survive in the mesocosm experiments. The findings provided not only understanding of S. erectum habitat characteristics but also evidence to connect historical links between the early seedlings stage and adult habitat conditions. We suggested the logical establishment strategy of S. erectum based on the data.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.88-96
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• 2021

Background: Sika deer, Cervus nippon, were originally introduced to South Korea from Japan and Taiwan for commercial farming purposes. Unfortunately, they were released into the wild during religious events and have since begun to impact the native ecosystem and species endemic to South Korea. The study of activity patterns can improve our understanding of the environmental impact of non-native species and their association with sympatric species. Using camera traps, we studied the diel and seasonal activity patterns of non-native sika deer and quantified the temporal overlap with sympatric mammalian species in the Muljangori-oreum wetlands of Hallasan National Park, South Korea. Results: A total of 970 trap events were recorded for five mammalian species from nine locations during the camera-trap survey. Siberian roe deer (Capreolus pygargus tianschanicus) had the highest number of recorded events (72.0%), followed by sika deer (Cervus nippon) (16.2%), wild boar (Sus scrofa) (5.0%), Asian badger (Meles leucurus) (4.5%), and the Jeju weasel (Mustela sibirica quelpartis) (2.0%). Sika deer had bimodal activity patterns throughout the year, with peaks throughout the spring-autumn twilight, and day and night time throughout the winter. Relating the daily activity of sika deer with other mammalian species, roe deer expressed the highest degree of overlap (Δ₄ = 0.80) while the Asian badger demonstrated the lowest overlap (Δ₄ = 0.37). Conclusions: Our data show that sika deer are a crepuscular species with seasonal variations in daily activity patterns. Additionally, we identified the temporal differences in activity peaks between different mammals in the Muljangori-oreum wetlands and found higher degree of overlap between sika deer and roe deer during twilight hours.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.389-398
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• 2006

To examine sediment characteristics and find anthropogenic effects on riverine wetland ecosystems, paleoecological study was carried out at Bam islands in Seoul. Three hundred cm deep sediment cores were retrieved and dated with the lamination analysis method until 36 cm depth (1986). Sediments were divided into three zones based on the depth profiles of physico-chemical variables: below 160 cm depth (before 1968), between 160 and 40cm depths and above 40cm depth (after 1986). Physico-chemical characteristics were very variable between 160 and 40cm depths and this indicates unstable sedimentation environment. Even though heavy metal concentrations were relatively low, Cd and As contents have increased continuously. Dry mass accumulation rates during $1968{\sim}1986\;and\;1987{\sim}2003$ were 140 and $21\;kg\;m^{-2}\;yr^{-1}$, respectively. This was related to flooding intensity and duration. Bulk density, water content, loss on ignition, N, C, C/N ratio were very similar to other river delta but Ca, Na and K contents were 2 to 4 times higher than others. Heavy metal contents except Pb were lower or similar to those in other studied marshes in Korea. Heavy metal and Mg contents were correlated with each other and this suggests that the source of heavy metals be parent rock. From $^{13}C$ dating dates of organic materials in sediment, it is suggested that organic matter originated from the watershed and flooding intensity in the watershed might be responsible for the source of sediments. This study provides reference data for the comparison of sediment characteristics at islands in river and for the management of Bam islands.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.129-135
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• 2010

The relationship between rainfall variable and zooplankton dynamics was studied in the Upo wetland, an ecosystem of international importance. Water sampling was conducted on biweekly basis from January 2002 to December 2007 in the study site. The annual average of total rainfall was 1,324 mm during the study period. Total rainfall amount in 2003 (1,766 mm) was unusually high, while total rainfall amount in 2005 (975 mm) was exceptionally lower than the average. Most of basic limnological parameters (water temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, conductivity and turbidity) in the study site were greatly influenced by the flooding events and rainfall amounts in summer. There were statistically significance between seasonal and inter-annual differences in zooplankton abundance and the total rainfall amount (ANOVA, P<0.05). Zooplankton abundance was high in summer (mean${\pm}$s.d.: $1,594{\pm}1,598\;Ind.\;L^{-1}$) and low in winter ($246{\pm}234\;Ind.\;L^{-1}$. The 47% of annual total zooplankton abundance in the study site were observed in summer. The seasonal pattern of rotifers was similar to that of total zooplankton. This reflected the fact that rotifers strongly dominated and occupied ca. 65% the total zooplankton abundance (annual mean: $398{\pm}1,139\;Ind.\;L^{-1}$, n=149), followed by cladocerans ($65{\pm}140\;Ind.\;L^{-1}$) and copepods ($58{\pm}84\;L^{-1}$). Planktonic rotifers such as Keratella cochlearis, Polyarthra spp. and Brachionus calyciflorus were dominant from winter to spring and attached rotifers such as Lecane spp., Monostyla spp. and Trichocerca spp., observed commonly from spring to fall. Among the environmental variables considered, rainfall in summer seemed to play the most important role in determining characteristics of zooplankton community dynamics in the Upo wetland.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.52 no.2
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• pp.136-142
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• 2019

Water spider(Argyroneta aquatica) inhabits only a small size wetland in Eundae-ri, Yeoncheon-gun. In this study to investigate environmental factors influencing on population of A. aquatica, we analyzed the relationship between density of A. aquatica and various physicochemical and biological factors. Density of A. aquatica increased with small habitat area and high $NH_4$ and electric conductivity. The relationship between density of A. aquatica and prey or predator was low but the water spider decreased with density of Pomacea canaliculata. And density of A. aquatica was not related to the coverage of emergent plant. However density of A. aquatica decreased as the increase of floating plant and increased as the increase of submerged plant. These results indicated that aquatic plants are important in the habitat environment of A. aquatica. Therefore we suggest necessity of management strategies for the invasive species, P. canaliculata which is a notorious predator of aquatic plants.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.846-852
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• 2011

This study researched the spawning sites of Kaloula borealis in a large number of wetlands in Jeju Island between May and August from 2007 to 2010. Based on the surveys, we discovered the locations of their habitats by investigating their calls from a rainy night to the next day and where their spawning sites were by ascertaining the existence of their eggs and tadpoles. According to the results, 83 wetlands were used as spawning sites across Jeju Island. A large number of wetlands were found to be permanent wetlands for Kaloula borealis. In addition, 81.9% of the wetlands in Jeju Island were found to be at an altitude of 150m or lower, and they spawned in shallow water not more than 50cm in depth. By region, 54 wetlands were in Jeju-island 29 wetlands were in Seogwipo-si. One of the reasons that Seogwipo-si has less wetlands than Jeju-si is that there are more orchards in Seogwipo-si than Jeju-si; accordingly, wetlands in Seogwipo-si were found to be more destroyed by farming. In the case of Seongsan-eup, a reedy marsh stretches out widely so that spawning sites were well preserved compared to other regions. This research will provide useful data for sustaining the population of Kaloula borealis by protecting their spawning sites from development, by offering habitats, and restoring spawning sites, which have become severely damaged and destroyed.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.331-341
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• 2016

A small irrigation pond for a rice paddy field is a very important refuge for aquatic insects and plants. To reveal environmental factors determining species composition of aquatic insect and plant communities, we analyzed water chemistry and connection between pond and surrounding in five types of irrigation ponds based on water source and connection in CCZ of South Korea: stagnation, exchange-stagnation, spring, stagnation-spring, and exchange-spring types. The stagnation type had the most stable water chemistry among the 16 irrigation ponds studied, and the spring type had the most variable water chemistry. Anion content was highest in the stagnation type, and cation content was highest in the exchange-stagnation type. 228 taxa including 63 wetland plants and 95 aquatic insect taxa were recorded. Six rare plant species and four rare aquatic insect species were identified. The stagnation-spring type had the highest species richness. There was no correlation between size and species richness. Multivariate analyses showed distinctive species assemblages among the irrigation pond types. This would indicate that water chemical change at annual cycle and connection influenced on the species assemblages in irrigation pond. In additional, irrigation pond contributes to regional biodiversity in agricultural areas, as irrigation pond provides heterogeneous communities for the freshwater ecosystem.