• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.55 no.4
• /
• pp.415-420
• /
• 2022

It is essential that continual assessments of the impact of mine-derived water as a long-lasting burden on freshwater environments. Abundance-based evaluations of benthic macroinvertebrates have been conducted to evaluate anthropogenic disturbances and devise policies to reduce their impact. In this study, the status of a stream habitat was evaluated based on the body length and biomass weight of benthic macroinvertebrates of the family Baetidae. Following the renewal of the mining water treatment plant, the abundance of Baetidae assemblages recovered to a level comparable to that of a reference site. However, relatively low values were found for both body length and biomass weight in Baetidae species inhabiting the reddened streambed area, suggesting that the habitat has not yet been completely recovered despite the recovery of the abundance of the Baetidae assemblages. Therefore, continuous investigation and evaluation of this disturbed stream are necessary until their growth conditions of the habitat have functionally recovered.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
• /
• v.29 no.2
• /
• pp.228-235
• /
• 2015

Stream ecosystems are closely related to many human activities. Therefore, streams are affected by anthropogenic disturbances such as riverine development and gravel-mining as well as deterioration of water quality. The goal of this study was to elucidate the recolonization process of the macroinvertebrate community after a small-scale anthropogenic disturbance. Field studies were conducted at three sites in a natural stream. The number of recolonizing species tended to increase slightly over time, exceeding the total species number of the control. Ephemeroptera contributed the most to shaping the recolonizing pattern of the entire community. From the result of changes in dominant species, the early recolonizers of each site were the species that showed more frequent occurrence particulary at each sites. But the late recolonizers are Chironomidae at all the sites commonly. This result implies that the actual differences exist among the recolonizing trends of each benthic macroinvertebrate taxon. Collector-gatherers and scrapers comprised about 70% of the recolonizing species. These results indicate that the recolonizing process of an aquatic community after an artificial disturbance depends on the environmental conditions(particularly substratum composition or organic pollution) of the habitat.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.33 no.1
• /
• pp.3-13
• /
• 2010

The Tsushima leopard cat, Prionailurus bengalensis euptilurus, a small felid, inhabits only the Tsushima Islands in Japan. Previous studies of the Tsushima leopard cat revealed that natural factors; including sex, reproductive activity, season, and prey distribution and abundance affect leopard cat home range variation and habitat use. In this study, we focused on clarifying how anthropogenic factors influenced home range variation and habitat use of a male Tsushima leopard cat living near a suburban area in January, March, May and September 2005 using radio-tracking. The home range size (100% MCP) of this cat was $0.78\;{\pm}\;0.26\;km^2$ (mean ${\pm}$ SD, n = 4 tracking sessions) across the whole study period. However, the cat did not use all parts of its home range uniformly; rather it used some habitat types selectively. The cat avoided agriculture areas and residential areas in all of the tracking-sessions. On the other hand, the cat showed a weak preference for artificial structures and a strong preference for baiting sites in January and March, while it avoided them in May, and no baiting site was included in its home range in September. These results suggest that anthropogenic factors influenced the ranging patterns and habitat use of the leopard cat living near a suburban area. Artificial structures might provided good resting spaces for the cat in bad weather. When the density of its main prey was low in the winter, the cat tended to rely on artificial prey and had a small home range size.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
• /
• v.28 no.4
• /
• pp.143-157
• /
• 2023

This study confirmed the characteristics of macrobenthic community due to anthropogenic environmental changes in the Boryeong Jugyo tidal flat, where the habitat of manila clam (Ruditapes philippinarum) and mud shrimp (Upogebia major) is separated. The total number of occurring species was 55 during the study period with an average habitat density of 338 ind./m² and a biomass of 212.2 gWWt/m². The number of occuring species increased from 27 species at the upper flat to 37 species at the lower flat, and the dominant species differed by tide levels (Upper: Leonnates persica, Middle: Heteromastus filiformis, Lower: R. philippinarum). The macro-benthic community sturctures of the top 10 species using cluster analysis and nMDS were divided into two groups, focusing on Manila clam culture farm of lower flats and middle flats with high habitat density, reflecting the influence of specific species. The sediment composition of the U. major habitat space fluctuated highly, but it was maintained annually, and the sorting coefficient was 2.1 𝜑, and the proportion of the same particle size was increased. In particular, because the middle flat has a dense anthropogenic impact, a dominant species, H. filiformis dominated and revealed a relationship with the density of burrow holes of U. major, which is considered to be a biological interaction between these two macrofauna in this tidal flat.

• Ecology and Resilient Infrastructure
• /
• v.10 no.3
• /
• pp.73-84
• /
• 2023

The objective of this study was to evaluate biodiversity and natural habitat environment of freshwater ecosystem. Our aim was therefore to produce a set of biodiversity and habitat indicators based on multi-parameters of water quality and biodiversity by analyzing the characteristics of the results by indicators. We selected four indicators a) anthropogenic disturbance, b) habitat diversity, c) biodiversity, d) ecosystem structure. The fishes cohabiting with Brachymystax lenok tsinlingensis were Rhynchocypris kumgangensis and Zacco koreanus. As a result of the anthropogenic disturbance evaluation, it was analyzed that vegetation embankment showed a more stable environment in the tributary than the main stream, and other disturbance was not confirmed As a result of the habitat diversity evaluation, it was analyzed that habitat evaluation index showed a high score of 200 more on average, showing an optimal habitat condition. As a result of the biodiversity evaluation, it was analyzed as a clean habitat condition with a high proportion of sensitive species, abundant dissolved oxygen, and little pollutants. As a results of the ecosystem structure, the ecological health condition metrics and appearance of endangered species showed large score deviation, but it was analyzed that the stream ecosystem health was generally excellent. There was a slight correlation between the habitat environment and the results of the nature habitat evaluation according to the appearance of the B. lenok tsinlingensis.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.46 no.1
• /
• pp.1-7
• /
• 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 Environmental Impact Assessment
• /
• v.21 no.5
• /
• pp.735-743
• /
• 2012

Since the CBD(Conservation on Biological Diversity)'s 10th Conference of the Parties adopted the protocol on access to genetic resources and benefit sharing in Nagoya 2010, the importance of endangered species studies such as habitat distribution, protection and management have been more emerged. Corylopsis coreana, an endangered species in Korea, was isolated nationally and has been damaged by anthropogenic factors. In this paper, we identified the factors affecting C. coreana habitat at the national scale and regional scale using National Survey of Natural Environment and predicted the distribution of C. coreana. Annual precipitation, precipitation of wettest quarter, temperature seasonality and Digital Elevation Model(DEM) were derived as important factors at the national scale, and precipitation of wettest quarter, DEM and solar radiation on spring were identified as important factors at regional scale. Colylopsis distribution was affected by an effect of climate significantly at the national scale, and by additionally the microclimate and topography at regional scale. These findings will be used as the basis on habitat conservation and restoration plan and climate change.

• Ocean and Polar Research
• /
• v.32 no.1
• /
• pp.53-61
• /
• 2010

The distribution of coral reefs can be an indicator of environmental or anthropogenic impacts. Here, we present a habitat map of coral reefs developed using high-spatial satellite images. The study area was located on the north-eastern part of Weno island, in the Chuuk lagoon of Federated States of Micronesia. Two fieldwork expeditions were carried out between 2007 and 2008 to acquire optical and environmental data from 121 stations. We used an IKONOS image obtained in December 2000, and a Kompsat-2 image obtained in September 2008 for the purpose of coral reef mapping. We employed an adapted version of the object-based classification method for efficient classification of the high-spatial satellite images. The habitat map generated using Kompsat-2 was 72.22% accurate in terms of comparative analysis with in-situ measurements. The result of change detection analysis between 2000 and 2008 showed that coral reef distribution had decreased by 6.27% while seagrass meadows had increased by 8.0%.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
• /
• v.11 no.4
• /
• pp.91-102
• /
• 2008

This study was conducted to obtain the basic information about Siberia Musk Deer (Moschus moschiferus), and to establish a conservation area for the replacement of Siberia Musk Deer into Mt. Odea National Park, South Korea. We analyzed the main habitat for Siberia Musk Deer restoration in Mt. Odae National Park, Korea. We recorded Siberia Musk Deers' field signs (i.e., bedding sites, feeding areas, feces and tracks), and habitat variables such as nearest distance to the watercourse, trails, slope, aspect, forest type and land cover etc. from Dec. 2004 to Aug. 2007 in Mt. Jiri, Mt. Seorak, and Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). Rocky areas, ridges, mixed coniferous forest (Red pine and Mongolian oak), southern and southeastern slope, elevation of above 800m, and distance from watercourse shorter than 300m etc. were dominant habitat types of Siberia Musk Deer. Based on the significant habitat types, a proper conservation plan should be prepared for the restoration of habitats in order to reintroduce, and to increase the population of Siberia Musk Deer in Mt. Odea National Park, South Korea. Small population size, and limited ecological data are the major constraints for the establishment of conservation areas. Furthermore, other anthropogenic factors including human activities, poaching, and residential area around the park caused the difficulties to qualify as a conservation area. For the successful establishment of conservation area in the future, it is recommended to conduct a comprehensive ecological research, and to survey human disturbances including their impacts on the habitats of Siberia Musk Deer in the Mt. Odea National Park.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.35 no.2
• /
• pp.79-89
• /
• 2012

This study was conducted with the intention of clarifying the effects of land-use types on a species of ground beetle's richness, abundance, and composition; the study focused on urban landscapes. We also selected the potential bioindicators classifying land-use types; eleven sites were selected from an urban landscape in Korea. Overall, land-use types in urban landscapes did not appear to cause significant decrease in species richness or the abundance of total ground beetle assemblage. According to habitat preferences, several land-use types and distances from the forest significantly affected the species richness and abundance, while the open-habitat species were not affected by these variables. Land-use types were classified into two major groups, forest and non-forest areas, based on ground beetle assemblage; several indicators, such as $Dolichus$ $halensis$ $halensis$ and subfamily Carabinae species, were of particular consideration. In conclusion, environmental change by anthropogenic disturbance can cause different effects on ground beetle assemblages, and forest specialists can be negatively affected.