• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.837-847
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• 2016

In this study, the bird fauna of Sihwa Lake in Gyeonggi Province were investigated from 2009 to 2014 to identify the effect of the restored intertidal zone on bird community. Based upon the analysis of the habitat status and distribution change of water birds in the intertidal zone, the following conclusions were obtained. The number of water bird individuals increased by approx. 40 thousand after the restoration. Most of water bird species increased, but diving ducks decreased. Analysis of the number of individuals of water birds before and after the intertidal zone restoration showed that there was a significant increase in the number of shorebird individuals. There is a habitat use pattern change in the southern tideland intertidal zone that includes the largest area of widened intertidal zone and the inland waters of the intertidal zone. This is related to the change of benthic ecosystem which is the food source of birds. The benthic ecosystem in restoring Sihwa Lake has been stabilized with a decrease in opportunistic species and consistent increase in equilibrium species that are sensitive to pollution. As a result, the environmental conditions for shorebirds have been improved. The restoration of intertidal zone affected the habitat use and distribution patterns of water birds in a short period of time. Compared to before restoration, all the water birds now use the wide area of the intertidal zone with no partiality and it is confirmed that the restoration greatly affected the distribution of shorebirds and swan & geese. This study was conduced to identify the effects of an artificial restoration of intertidal zone due to tidal power generation of bird species. In terms of maintaining and improving biodiversity, the intertidal zone restoration was recognized to be important and still shows positive results. This study is expected to provide a direction when an alternative is required to maintain and improve biodiversity in a similar situation in the future.