• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.81-86
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• 2007

Human activities have enhanced the influx of heavy metals to aquatic ecosystem and hanged the abiotic environment such as the sediments supporting benthic organisms. The levels of heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn) in the benthic gastropod Oxyloma hirasei and the sediments around their habitat were investigated to examine heavy metal levels and the potential of the gastropod as a bioindicator. We detected different levels of heavy metals in the sediments of two wetland areas, Upo and Mokpo, in the relatively well-conserved Upo wetland, Ramsar Convention Area. Oxyloma hirasei had higher concentrations of heavy metals except Cr and Ni in their soft tissues than in their shells (Cd: $2.10{\sim}3.16$, Cu: $19.73{\sim}28.66$, Pb: $0.67{\sim}1.17$, Zn: $216.1{\sim}285.7\;{\mu}g/g$ dry weight in the soft tissues; Cr: $1.19{\sim}2.58$, Ni: $0.47{\sim}1.16\;{\mu}g/g$ dry weight in the shells). Differences in the Cd, Cu, Ni and Pb concentrations in O. hirasei soft tissues reflected differences in heavy metal concentrations in the sediments at the sampling sites. The coefficients of variation for Cd, Cu and Pb were lower than those for other metals in the soft tissues. Levels of Cd in the tissues of O. hirasei were the highest among the metals examined in this study. Therefore, the soft tissue of O. hirasei appears to be a promising bioindicator particularly for Cd.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.209-223
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• 2007

Twenty-four wetlands located in Higashi-Hiroshima City in West Japan were selected for this study in order to investigate both the relationship between aquatic plant composition and environmental conditions; and the relationship between changing land use patterns in the catchments and the concentration of different forms of nitrogen in the wetlands. The dominant and subdominant species which comprised the principal vegetation were determined based on a vegetation census conducted in each wetland during the growing season from June to August, 2006. The seasonal variations of water quality factors (pH, electrical conductivity, turbidity, dissolved oxygen, total dissolved solid, and temperature) and different forms of nitrogen such as nitrite, nitrate, ammonium, total nitrogen, dissolved organic nitrogen and dissolved inorganic nitrogen concentrations were analyzed as important indicators of water quality for the surface water of the wetlands. The surveyed wetlands were classified into three types (non-disturbed wetlands, moderately-disturbed wetlands and highly-disturbed wetlands), based on the degree of human disturbance to their catchment areas. An analysis of variance indicated that there was a significant difference among the wetland groups in the annual mean values of electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, total nitrogen, nitrite, dissolved inorganic nitrogen and dissolved organic nitrogen. Classification of the wetlands into three groups has revealed a pattern of changes in the composition of plant species in the wetlands and a pattern of changes in nitrogen concentrations. A majority of the non-disturbed wetlands were characterized by Brasenia schrebi and Trapa bispinosa as dominant; with Potamogeton fryeri and Iris pesudacorus as sub-dominant species. For most of the moderately-disturbed wetlands, Brasenia schrebi were shown to be a dominant species; Elocheriss kuriguwai and Phragmites australis were observed as sub-dominant species. For a majority of the highly-disturbed wetlands, Typha latifolia and T. angustifolia were observed as dominant species, and Nymphea tetragona as the sub-dominant species in the study area. An analysis of land use and water quality factors indicated that forest area played a considerable role in reducing the concentration of nutrients, and can act as a sink for surface/subsurface nutrient inputs flowing into wetland water, anchor the soil, and lower erosion rates into wetlands.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.159-172
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• 2008

This study was carried out to obtain ecological information necessary for a conservation plan based on the distributional patterns, wetland types, and hydrophytic characteristics of urban wetlands in Seongnam City, Kyunggi Province where representing the various patterns of land use made by rapid urbanization since 1970s. Total 162 sites of four wetland types were identified as urban wetlands during the first survey. The sites were classified into 55 forested swamps, 4 riverine wetlands, 62 abandoned paddy fields, 37 small ponds, and 4 reservoirs, etc. The second survey targeted 107 sites which were identified as good wetlands. It showed that 42 sites(about 39%) were already degraded due to drainage, landfill, and crop cultivation at 6 months intervals. Both hydrologic conditions and hydrophytic characteristics of 27 good wetlands help maintain current ecological status, but most wetlands have been degraded by artificial impacts. Among 184 species identified, only 75 species(about 40.7%) were hydrophytes. Prevalence Index of hydrophyte based on three categories of OBL(obligatory wetland plant), FAC(facultitative plant), UPL(obligatory upland plant) was 3.7, indicating that vegetation data alone is inadequate to designate as wetlands. This study revealed that as critical habitats for wildlife they playa vital role in ecotone between both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystem with its proper distributional pattern in spite of their small areas compared to the entire geographic region of the City.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.41 no.6
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• pp.147-157
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• 2013

The purpose of this study was to determine the correlation between wetland visitors' consciousness of ecology and their needs and thereby, provide for some effective measures to manage them. For this purpose, 3 study points were set up: "wetland visitors' consciousness of ecology and their needs", "differences of such consciousness depending on their demographic variables" and the "relationship between such consciousness and their needs". To this end, Upo Wetland visitors were surveyed for an empirical analysis. The visitors' awareness about ecology was measured with Dunlap's 15-item NEP Inventory, while their needs were analyzed in reference to Maslow's 7-Step Human Desire Ladder. The survey was conducted at Upo Wetland for 3 days, and as a result, a total of 228 questionnaires were returned. The results of this study can be summarized as follows; First, the visitors' consciousness of ecology and their needs were higher than the normal level. In terms of their consciousness of ecology, their awareness of the ecological crisis potential and anti-humanism was highest. In terms of their needs, the aesthetic need was highest, followed by the cognitive one. On the other hand, the needs for self-achievement and self-esteem were lowest; except them, the higher the needs were positioned at Maslow's ladder of desire, and subjects were more responsive to them. As a result of analyzing the correlation between the subjects' consciousness of ecology and their needs, it was found that the correlation was negative in some sub-areas, while being positive in other sub-areas. After all, the ratio of the sub-areas having a positive correlation was as 3 times high as that of the sub-areas having a negative correlation. Even as for the correlation coefficient values, they were higher in the positive sub-areas, which suggests that the correlation between wetland visitors' consciousness of ecology and their needs were positive, although at a lower level, in overall terms. As a result of comparatively analyzing visitors' needs by dividing them into 3 sub-groups depending on the levels of their consciousness of ecology, it was found that the higher their consciousness of ecology was, their needs were higher. Overall, wetland visitors' awareness of ecology was higher than the normal level, and it was estimated that such awareness would continue to increase. Hence, it could be inferred that their needs, particularly, their aesthetic and cognitive ones would continue to increase, too. Accordingly, it is deemed important to manage the wetland landscape making use of its visual resources, while continuing to provide the visitors with the contents fulfilling their need for knowledge.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.15-32
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• 2003

The ecological study on seven wetlands of Haman area in Kyungsangnamdo, Korea, was carried out. In especial, the biological data of the sites were unknown. In this study, water quality including water temperature, pH, DO, COD, T-N, T-P, SS were tested. On the survey of plants and animals, vegetation and flora were investigated and the fauna of insects, fish, and amphibians were studied on each wetland. Water of wetland Oksu was heavily polluted and wetlands Pyungy and Dodulyangy were relatively clean. The water pollution was most severe in winter at all of the wetlands. Plant communities were classified into 9 natural communities and 1 artificial community. On the vegetation, wetland Sugok showed the highest plant taxa, and 41 families, 78 species and 16 varieties were classified. There was remarkable difference in number of plant taxa. The difference may be caused by the variances of wetland sizes, the influence from terrestrial environment. Wetland Sugok showed most rich insect fauna, and 10 orders, 76 families 224 species and 1082 individuals were identified. The species diversity was 2.05 and the species richness was 73.49. Wetland Ddun showed poor insect fauna, and 6 orders, 23 families, 29 species and 81 individuals were identified. Total collected fish were 4 orders, 7 families and 11 species. The fish fauna was most rich in wetlands Oksu and Pyungy, but poor in wetland Unan. Total collected amphibians were 2 orders, 3 families and 4 species.

• Current Research on Agriculture and Life Sciences
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• v.29
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• pp.11-19
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• 2011

This research gives weight to establish practical improvement based on analysis of the landscape ecological character and value to realize the importance of small wetland and stream in cultivated areas functioning as a residual landscape element in rural landscape and to deal with ecological depression effectively. The results of summary are as follows. 1) The results of landscape ecological character analysis of wetlands biotop in total of 7 sites, for example, size of surface in site 5 was widely formed about $10,600m^2$, which was assessed satisfactory in terms of slope of waterfront, width of hedgerow, vegetation condition of composition and so on. Also, The number of flexibility showed 2 in site 8-1, the highest, and morphological diversity showed 1.47, the highest. 2) The results of problem analysis of wetland biotop, most of wetlands are analyzed that the width of hedgerow was below 1m. Also, the 4 wetlands in site 8 are appeared that hard to live slope vegetation in there because of slope of waterfronts are above $45^{\circ}$. 3) The results of landscape ecological character analysis of stream in total of 6 sites, for example, width of waterfront in site 4 showed 55m, the widest, and investigated consist of natural ingredients such as soil, rock, gravel. However, width of waterfront in site 2-2 showed 4m, the narrowest, and inclined angle of slope was formed a right angle. 4) The results of problem analysis of stream, width of waterfront hedgerow in site 2-1 showed about 5m, which was very narrower than width of waterfront, and toxic chemicals discharged from near cultivated area without any filtering. Also, all areas of site 2-2 was formed concrete, and was assessed dissatisfactory in terms of capacity of nature purification, flood control, habitat living space because of straight stream. 5) Based on the result above landscape ecological character and problem analysis, main improvement guidelines are set in terms of shape, vegetation, topography in case of wetlands, and which are set in terms of vertical, horizontal structure in case of stream.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.274-288
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• 2018

This study investigated the environmental factors and fish assemblage in 42 wetlands between spring and autumn of 2017 to evaluate the fish distribution and deduce the management strategy for improving biodiversity in created wetlands located at the Nakdong River basin. The investigation identified a total of 30 fish species and found that the most of wetlands were dominated by exotic fishes such as Micropterus salmoides and Lepomis macrochirus. Fish species such as Rhinogobius brunneus, Opsariichthys uncirostris amurensis, Zacco platypus were less abundant in the area with high density of Micropterus salmoides (static area) because they preferred the environment with active water flow. The pattern analysis of fish distribution in each wetland using the self-organizing map (SOM) showed a total of 24 variables (14 fish species and 10 environmental variables). The comparison of variables indicated that the distribution of fish species varied according to water depth and plant cover rate and was less affected by water temperature, pH, and dissolved oxygen. The plant cover rate was strongly associated with high fish density and species diversity. However, wetlands with low plant biomass had diversity and density of fish species. The results showed that the microhabitat structure, created by macrophytes, was an important factor in determining the diversity and abundance of fish communities because the different species compositions of macrophytes supported diverse fish species in these habitats. Based on the results of this study, we conclude that macrophytes are the key components of lentic freshwater ecosystem heterogeneity, and the inclusion of diverse plant species in wetland construction or restoration schemes will result in ecologically healthy food webs.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Geographic Information Studies
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.52-68
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• 2009

The purpose of this study is to establish the management area using assessment of the conservation value on forest wetland, Sandeul wetland in Mt. Jaeyak, Miryang-si, Gyeongsangnam-do, Korea. The six assessment factors were selected through the review of previous researches and written evidences such as wetland vegetation, hydrological factor, soil factor, topographical factor, naturalness and risk. The assessment data were built on the basis of digital topographic maps, digital detailed soil maps, high resolution satellite images and field surveys of three times. According to the result of assessment of the conservation value and establishment the management area, the core area which has the highest conservation value was occupied by 1.9ha and the conservation area which conservation value is 2 grades was occupied by 33.7ha. The buffer area surrounded core area and conservation area was analyzed by 33.7ha. The transition area which conservation value is 4 grades showed by the widest area(151.2ha) and restoration area that is the ecological hazard area was occupied by 1.7ha. In conclusion, these results can provide methods and basic informations for conserving and managing wetlands because the management area was classified scientifically considering rational processes.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.308-319
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• 2016

The purpose of this study is to identify distribution patterns of hydrophytes in the Mokpo wetland in relation to the depth of water. Sample surveys were conducted based on plant species distribution status and water depths at 274 spots. This study also developed a detailed depth distribution map for Mokpo wetland, which was never done in any previous studies. Through this study, it was found that the average depth of the wetland was 77cm (${\pm}29cm$) and the maximal depth was 157cm. The outer edge was no deeper than 60cm and the center approximately 120~130cm in depth, forming a concave bowl-like shape. This research confirmed inhabitation of 6 types of submerged plants (Verticillate hydrilla, Vallisneria natans, Najas graminea, Potamogeton cripus, Ceratophyllum demersum, and Potamogeton brechtoldi), and three types of floating leaved plants (Euryale ferox, Hydrocharis dubia and Trapa japonica) in the surveyed areas of the wetland. The distribution of these hydrophytes showed a statistically significant difference (${\chi}^2=982.2$, df = 8, p < 0.01), which confirms the fact that distribution varies based on environmental conditions. The most frequently observed species was Trapa japonicas at 244 times, and it showed a distribution pattern by which coverage increased with greater depth, as was also seen in the case of Potamogeton cripus. Five species-Euryale ferox, Hydrocharis dubid, Verticillate hydrilla, Najas graminea, and Ceratophyllum demersum-showed a negative correlation to depth, by which coverage decreased with increasing depth. It has been shown that fundamentally, the distribution of hydrophytes based on depth is affected by ecological factors, but also reflects the environmental properties of Mokpo wetland.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.25-43
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• 2016

This research was completed to provide fundamental data regarding the guidelines to installing and managing utility facilities & structures in wetland protected area to advance the functions and sustainable use of ecology services by preserving the ecology within wetland protected area. There were 5 on-site researching areas that were used as the main subject with these areas chosen and considered from 21 inland wetlands that have been designated and are being managed from the Ministry of Environment and by their designated dates as a wetland protected area. The utility facilities in these wetland areas were categorized by their types and a detailed on-site investigation was proceeded with investigation items chosen whereas these facilities are working by their roles from their location, size, used materials, types, information contents and etc., The results showed that regarding informational structures, several locations of information boards were distanced from the main exploring routes which did not consider the visitor's eye level which had their readability dropped and by sunlight, time lapse and water penetration, many information boards were damaged or corrupted so that it was hard to confirm the information noticed or understanding an image. Insufficient observation and educational structures were installed that considered the ecological characteristics of wild animals and their living conditions. Regarding convenience facilities, there were parking lots that were installed on the fore-land and to decrease non-point solution sources, some parking lots needed to be located in protected lowlands while some facilities' shape and colors did not harmonize with their natural surroundings, creating a sense of awareness, which will need some more consideration. As for safety facilities, they were very insufficient compared to other facilities. This means that additional safety structures are needed so that related personnel can be aware of where a visitor is located when an accident occurs. Protectional facilities strongly needed new structures and a management system to cut off entrances and do surveillance so that visitors do not go into areas outside of the managed areas and bring damages to restricted locations. Research labs needed to expand the use of automatic weather systems and water gauge equipments to build fundamental data regarding floodgates that are intimated to the forming of wetlands. Sensor cameras and other types of monitoring systems are needed to monitor the majority types of animals living in the wetlands as well.