• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
• /
• v.40 no.3
• /
• pp.307-315
• /
• 2022

In terms of habitat conservation, it is essential to develop a habitat assessment system that can evaluate not only the suitability of the current habitat, but also the health and stability of the habitat. This study aimed to develop a methodology of habitat quality assessment for endangered species by analyzing various existing habitat assessment methods. The habitat quality assessment consisted of selecting targeted species, planning of assessment, selecting targeted sites, assessing performance, calculating grade, and expert verification. Target sites were selected separately from core and potential habitats using a species distribution model or habitat suitability index. Habitat assessment factors were classified into ecological characteristic, landscape characteristic, and species-habitat characteristic. Ecological characteristic consisted of thirteen factors related to health of tree, vegetation, and soil. Landscape characteristic consisted of five factors related to fragment and connectivity of habitat. Species-habitat characteristic consisted of factors for evaluating habitat suitability depending on target species. Since meanings are different depending on characteristics, habitat quality assessment of this study could be used by classifying results for each characteristic according to various assessment purposes, such as designation of alternative habitats, assessment of restoration project, and protected area valuation for endangered species. Forest habitat quality assessment is expected to play an important role in conservation acts of endangered species in the future through continuous supplementation of this system in regard to quantitative assessment criteria and weighting for each factor with an influence.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
• /
• v.36 no.2
• /
• pp.107-116
• /
• 2018

In this study, the distribution of sedimentary environment and benthic macro-fauna in habitats and non-habitats of Zostera marina were investigated. The purpose of this study was to obtain basic data about the sedimentary environment and benthic macro-fauna in the habitats and non-habitats of Z. marina. Sand was dominant within habitat environments, whereas the non-habitats were predominantly composed of silt. As a result, the habitats of Z. marina have a different grain size and organic matter content compared to the non-habitats. These differences in the sedimentary environment were expected to influence the species composition of benthic animals. Benthic communities in the habitats of Z. marina showed a higher density and a greater number of species than in the non-habitats. As a result of an ecological index evaluation, the species diversity index (H') was $3.44{\pm}0.10$ for the habitat; the non-habitat was analyzed as $2.34{\pm}0.35$. It was also found that the stability of community in the habitats was higher than that in the non-habitats. The cluster analysis also clearly showed that habitats and non-habitats of Z. marina have distinct characteristics.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
• /
• v.24 no.2
• /
• pp.175-189
• /
• 2015

The objective of this study was to analyze characteristics of distribution of amphibian species and the affecting ecological factors. For the study, habitat environment factors were determined and applied to a habitat suitability model for the data collected from the Seom River in Hoengseong County and Wonju City, Gangwon Province, Korea between March 2013 to October 2013. The analyzed amphibian species were Rana nigromaculata, Hyla japonica, Rana dybowski, and Rana rugosa Temminck and Schlegel, and a logistic regression model was used with the pseudo-absence data. The result of the model analysis suggests that the major factors for Rana nigromaculata are distance to vegetation and rock and that for Hyla japonica is waterway. Rana dybowski and Rana rugosa Temminck and Schlegel have similar habitat characteristics, but the latter is shown to be dominant due to its wider habitat preference. According to the species richness model, the analyzed amphibian species are shown to have tendency to move between valleys or streams. This study quantitatively analyzed habitat environment characteristics using species distribution model, however, there is a limitation in terms of analysis on food factor and connectivity with other species. Combined with additional density or habitat analysis on birds or fish, this study can lead to more comprehensive analysis on biological environment factors.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
• /
• v.31 no.2B
• /
• pp.193-203
• /
• 2011

With the recent growth of environmental and ecological interests, various river restoration and habitat environment creation projects are being carried out. For this, the estimation of the habitat flow discharge is important. In U.S. and Europe nations, The instream flow incremental methodology (IFIM) has been used to estimate the habitat discharge. IFIM is the method that can be applied to evaluate the flow discharge for the suitable habitat. To use the IFIM in river, a habitat suitability index(HSI) for the target organism is needed. However, HSIs for only two species of Zacco platypus and Zacco temminckii were proposed from the field monitoring. Thus, for the estimation of the ecological flow rate for a group of fish, the development of the HSIs for various fish are necessary. In this study, physical data such as water level and flow rate, chemical data such as acidity and dissolved oxygen, and life data such as fish types and population are collected in Keum river watershed. Based on the 2,736 field data, HSIs for the following 6 fish are developed: Zacco platypus, Zacco temminckii, Microphysogobio yaluensis, Coreoleuciscus splendidus, Pungtungia herzi, Pseudogobio esocinus. Through the comparison with HSIs in the literature, the developed HSIs are modified. Also, the limits of Froude number, pH, and DO for 6 fish are proposed. The HSIs developed in this study can be utilized as a essential data for performing river project evaluations.

• Proceedings of the Korea Water Resources Association Conference
• /
• 2009.05a
• /
• pp.1979-1983
• /
• 2009

DMZ권은 지난 반세기 동안 출입이 통제된 덕분에 다양한 생물종의 서식공간이자 생명벨트로 형성되어 있다. 서부 DMZ권에는 한강 하구와 임진강 유역의 성동 습지와, 장단 습지, 문산 습지, 임진각 습지 및 초평도 습지가 있으며, 이곳에는 멸종위기종 1급인 황새, 노랑부리저어새, 저어새 등 8종과 2급인 큰고니, 개리 등 21종, 황조롱이, 매, 흑두루미 등 천연기념물 22종이 서식하고 있다. 본 연구에서는 서부 DMZ권을 중심으로 현지 조사를 통해 하천환경과 습지 현황을 조사하였다. 임진각 습지는 임진강의 건천화 때문인지, 아님 썰물 때문인지 유량은 그리 많지 않았다. 덕분에 갯벌이 많이 드러나고 재두루미와 개리 등이 눈에 뜨였다. 장단반도는 절반은 농경지, 절반은 갈대 군락지이다. 군락지에는 갈대뿐만 아니라 달뿌리풀, 갯버들도 서식하고 있었다. 농경지에는 재두루미 가족이 섭식하고 있고 임진강에는 기러기 약 2천 이상이 발견되었으며, 고라니도 다수가 조사되었다. 최근에는 136마리가 조사되었다. 초평도의 습지에서는 물새가 탐조되었다. 습지는 생태계의 훌륭한 서식처의 역할을 하며, 수질 개선과 기후 조절 기능도 갖고 있으며, 생태 관광에도 기여를 하고 있음이 밝혀졌다.

• Ecology and Resilient Infrastructure
• /
• v.10 no.1
• /
• pp.11-19
• /
• 2023

Alien species are known to threaten regional biodiversity globally, which has increased global interest regarding introduction of alien species. The Ministry of Environment of Korea designated species that have not yet been introduced into the country with potential threat as alert alien species to prevent damage to the ecosystem. In this study, potential habitats of Esox lucius and Maccullochella peelii, which are predatory and designated as alert alien fish, were predicted on a national basis. Habitat suitability was evaluated using EHSM (Ecological Habitat Suitability Model), and water temperature data were input to calculate Physiological Habitat Suitability (PHS). The prediction results have shown that PHS of the two fishes were mainly controlled by heat or cold stress, which resulted in biased habitat distribution. E. lucius was predicted to prefer the basins at high latitudes (Han and Geum River), while M. peelii preferred metropolitan areas. Through these differences, it was expected that the invasion pattern of each alien fish can be different due to thermal preference. Further studies are required to enhance the model's predictive power, and future predictions under climate change scenarios are required to aid establishing sustainable management plans.

• Journal of Environmental Policy
• /
• v.5 no.3
• /
• pp.25-56
• /
• 2006

We reviewed and compared nationwide surveys conducted in advanced countries (i.e., Japan, Germany, USA, and UK) with those in Korea, including the third Nationwide Survey of Natural Environments, which began in 2006 and will proceed until 2010. Based on this comparative analysis, we suggest alternatives to the nationwide survey of natural environments that are suited to Korea. Given the focus on species abundances and distributions in previous nationwide surveys in Korea, surveys of habitats, ecosystems, and ecoregions are required to more effectively protect biological resources in Korea. Furthermore, their spatial distributions should be mapped using periodical satellite images and aerial photographs. In particular, satellite images can be used to survey species, habitats, and ecosystems. Natural resources monitoring and management specialists are needed to collect various data and improve survey results. The participation of community volunteers is also important to develop an awareness in local residents of natural environment conservation. Independent survey institute (i.e., a 'National Ecosystem Institute') should be established to develop a database and survey scheme for species, habitats, and ecosystems throughout Korea. Moreover, the survey institute could develop natural environmental policy through the data analysis to meet the objectives of the Convention on Biological Diversity. The establishment of a survey institute will allow the completion of a natural environment survey that considers various factors, including physical habitat conditions. This will allow us to detect subtle changes in species abundance and spatial distributions and provide accurate and timely information on natural environments.

• Proceedings of the Korea Water Resources Association Conference
• /
• 2022.05a
• /
• pp.472-472
• /
• 2022

과거 우리나라 하천관리 정책은 이수와 치수 기능 위주로 개발됨에 따라 하천 수량이 감소하고 오염이 심화되는 등 하천환경이 계속적으로 악화되어 왔다. 시대가 변화함에 따라 하천환경 개선에 대한 패러다임과 사회적 요구의 변화로 인간과 자연이 더불어 살 수 있는 친환경적인 하천을 조성하고 훼손 또는 변화된 하천을 복원하는 노력이 필요하다. 하지만, 본래 자연상태의 하천으로 완벽하게 회복 될 수없다는 한계점이 있기 때문에 하천이 갖고 있는 하천공학적 기능을 최대한 유지하면서도 다양한 수생생물의 서식처의 기능도 되살아나게 해야 하는 복합적인 목적을 갖춰야 하며, 하천 수생생물의 서식처 복원을 위해서는 하천생태계에 필요한 환경유량의 정량적인 평가와 확보방안 및 공급방안의 검토가 동시에 필요하다. 본 연구에서는 하천유지유량이 생태계 기준으로 고시된 하천인 감천유역을 대상으로 물수급 분석을 통해 환경생태유량 확보할 수 있는 방안을 고려하고자 하였다. 물수급 분석을 위해 K-weap을 활용하였으며, 공급 우선순위, 저수지 운영 변화 등을 통해 제한된 수자원을 효율적으로 활용하여 방안을 제시하고자 하였다. 추후 하천 수생생물의 생애주기와 계절적 변화 등을 고려한다면, 더욱 합리적이고 지속가능한 환경생태유량 확보방안을 제시할수 있을 것으로 기대된다.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
• /
• v.27 no.5
• /
• pp.489-508
• /
• 2018

As climate changes, it is necessary to predict changes in the habitat environment in order to establish more aggressive adaptation strategies. The bioclimatic classification which clusters of areas with similar habitats can provide a useful ecosystem management framework. Therefore, in this study, biological habitat environment of Northeast Asia was identified through the establishment of the bioclimatic zones, and the impac of climate change on the biological habitat was analyzed. An ISODATA clustering was used to classify Northeast Asia (NEA)into 15 bioclimatic zones, and climate change impacts were predicted by projecting the future spatial distribution of bioclimatic zones based upon an ensemble of 17 GCMs across RCP4.5 and 8.5 scenarios for 2050s, and 2070s. Results demonstrated that significant changes in bioclimatic conditions can be expected throughout the NEA by 2050s and 2070s. The overall zones moved upward, and some zones were predicted to be greatly expanded or shrunk where we suggested as regions requiring intensive management. This analysis provides the basis for understanding potential impacts of climate change on biodiversity and ecosystem. Also, this could be used more effectively to support decision making on climate change adaptation.

• Ecology and Resilient Infrastructure
• /
• v.3 no.2
• /
• pp.134-142
• /
• 2016

Temperature increase and precipitation changes caused by change alter aquatic environments including water quantity and quality that eventually affects the habitat of aquatic organisms. Such changes in habitat lead to changes in habitat suitability of the organisms, which eventually determines species distribution. Therefore, conventional habitat suitability models were investigated to evaluate habitat suitability changes of freshwater fish cause by change. Habitat suitability models can be divided into habitat-hydraulic (PHABSIM, CCHE2D, CASiMiR, RHABSIM, RHYHABSIM, and River2D) and habitat-physiologic (CLIMEX) models. Habitat-hydraulic models use hydraulic variables (velocity, depth, substrate) to assess habitat suitability, but lack the ability to evaluate the effect of water quality, including temperature. On the contrary, CLIMEX evaluates the physiological response against climatic variables, but lacks the ability to interpret the effects of physical habitat (hydraulic variables). A new concept of ecological habitat suitability modeling (EHSM) is proposed to overcome such limitations by combining the habitat-hydraulic model (PHABSIM) and the habitat-physiologic model (CLIMEX), which is able to evaluate the effect of more environmental variables than each conventional model. This model is expected to predict fish habitat suitability according to climate change more accurately.