• Spatial Information Research
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.135-146
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• 2007

The purpose of this study was to ascertain and analyze environmental factors of subgenus Lycoctonum in Korea for conservation and management of rare high land plant species by GIS. We derived the habitat model of Lycoctonum from GPS coordination, habitat factors and digital topology maps. Suitable altitude fur the subgenus Lycoctonum is from 470m to 1320m, and northern slopes(between 15.5 and 36 degrees) are ideal for the Lycoctonum populations. In addition to altitude, slope and aspect, deciduous forest and approximation to water source were found as important factor. Using GIS and the Lycoctonum habitat model, we overlaid elevation, aspect, slope and land cover layers and analyzed buffer from the water source on two topology maps, Yang-Soo and Mock-Dong. After making prediction map for Lycoctonum habitat, we verified the existence of Lycoctonum populations on the predicted sites through field survey. Through this research, we're convinced that GIS software is powerful tool for plants conservation, such as finding unknown habitat or selecting alternative habitat.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.62-70
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• 2014

This study was carried out to analysis the vegetation status, the habitat size and the meaning of new natural habitat, and to provide basic data for conservation or management on the newly augmented natural habitat of Abeliophyllum distichum Nakai in Yeoju-si, Gyunggi-do, Korea. A. distichum is a Korean monotypic endemic species. Most natural habitats of A. distichum have been reported in South-Central area around Chungcheong-do. The extent of occurrence of A. distichum can be enlarged to Central area due to the Yeoju-si habitat. The new habitat is located on a hillock which is composed of rock field at $37^{\circ}20{\sim}21^{\prime}N$, $137^{\circ}43{\sim}21^{\prime}E$, and 99~120m a.s.l.. The habitat size is small as about $530m^2$, and a small stream runs aside. The number of individuals of A. distichum was about 1,200. But most individuals were smaller than 0.5m height, so just about 300 individuals are taller than 1.0m height. A. distichum on Yeoju-si seemed to be maintained and distributed by vegetative propagation from elongated roots of branches. Pinus rigida and Quercus aliena dominated tree layer, and Lindera obtusiloba, Q. aliena and Acer tatricum appeared frequently in subtree layer. The shrub layer was dominated by A. distichum with Stephanandra incisa, Euonymus alatus for. ciliatodentatus, Ligustrum obtusifolium, etc. The coverage of herbaceous layer was low.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.209-218
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• 2013

This study was conducted to analyze the characteristics of odonata communities as habitat types in Wonju City, Korea. The 33 plots were installed at 4 types of biotope like abandoned paddy fields, natural type reservoir, natural type river and forest valley in Wonju city. From the survey, the 9 family and 38 species were identified. As the result of comparative investigation of the species composition of each habitat through TWINSPAN analyzing, the difference of species composition was definite in abandoned paddy field, natural type reservoir and forest valley, however, it was uncertain in natural type river. The dominant species and the subdominant species of each habitat were mainly Sympetrum frequens and Sympetrum infuscatum but the distributions of Paracercion hieroglyphicum, Epophthalmia elegans, and Anax parthenope julius were different as haibtat types. The order of the index of species diversity was not different between abandoned paddy fiedls, natural type reservoir and natural type river, but forest valley was low. The abandoned paddy field was shown the most diverse spawning type of odonata, it is considered that hydrophyten play an important role in the abundant of odonata since the sorts of odonata spawning in plants are majority. As the result of analyzing interspecies relationship, Crocothemis servilia mariannae and Orthetrum albistylum, Crocothemis servilia mariannae-Platycnemis phyllopoda, Lyriothemis pachygastra-Sympetrum parvulum are shown the positive correlation, however, they have a difference in preferred habitat between high correlation species.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.377-385
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• 2005

The Eurasian otter(Lutra lutra) is listed as No. 330 in natural monument. To manage and conserve habitat for otters, it is critical to understand which habitat components are important for otters. The objectives of this study were to analyze otter habitat characteristics in accordance with land-cover map. We investigated otter spraints and sprainting site in Geoje Island from January to December, 2004. with GPS coordinates. The analysis of otter habitat use pattern was used by Arcview ver. 3.2 with 1: 25,000 Topology Map and field data. Otter habitat use was strongly related to sites in riparian vegetation riparian(dam or river) structures. In this study, Gucheon was a site with high coverage of riparian vegetation and unconfined channels, thus recording higher number of spraint densities than those of Yeonchocheon. Yeonchocheon was under construction at lower stream areas so that otter habitat use was limited. This study suggests that securing suitable forests and riparian vegetation zone is essential for conservation of otters.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.229-236
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• 2009

A habitat model was developed to delineate potential habitat of the leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis) in a mountainous region of Kangwon Province, Korea. Between 1997 and 2005, 224 leopard cat presence sites were recorded in the province in the Nationwide Survey on Natural Environments. Fifty percent of the sites were used to develop a habitat model, and the remaining sites were used to test the model. Fourteen environmental variables related to topographic features, water resources, vegetation and human disturbance were quantified for 112 of the leopard cat presence sites and an equal number of randomly selected sites. Statistical analyses (e.g., t-tests, and Pearson correlation analysis) showed that elevation, ridges, plains, % water cover, distance to water source, vegetated area, deciduous forest, coniferous forest, and distance to paved road differed significantly (P < 0.01) between presence and random sites. Stepwise logistic regression was used to develop a habitat model. Landform type (e.g., ridges vs. plains) is the major topographic factor affecting leopard cat presence. The species also appears to prefer deciduous forests and areas far from paved roads. The habitat map derived from the model correctly classified 93.75% of data from an independent sample of leopard cat presence sites, and the map at a regional scale showed that the cat's habitats are highly fragmented. Protection and restoration of connectivity of critical habitats should be implemented to preserve the leopard cat in mountainous regions of Korea.

• Proceedings of the National Institute of Ecology of the Republic of Korea
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.293-297
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• 2021

The oriental stork (Ciconia boyciana) is listed as an endangered species internationally. Its resident population has been extirpated in South Korea since 1971. Its predicted historical habitat included forests (54%), rice paddy fields (28%), grasslands (17%), river-streams (less than 1%), and villages (less than 1%) based on pre-extirpation records in a previous study. However, habitat attributes of recently reintroduced oriental storks since 2015 remain unknown. To examine habitat use patterns and home ranges of recently reintroduced oriental storks, 2015-2017 tracking data of 17 individuals were used to analyze their spatial attributes with a Kernel Density Estimate method and breeding status. Their habitat use patterns from peripheral to core areas were highly associated with increasing rice paddy fields (26%) and decreasing forested areas (55%). Scale-dependent home ranges were 51% smaller for breeders than for non-breeders on average. Our study results highlight that the habitat use pattern of reintroduced oriental storks seems to be comparable to the historical pattern where the used area is likely to be more centralized for breeders than for non-breeders in South Korea. Furthermore, the direction of habitat management for oriental storks should focus on biodiversity improvement of rice paddy fields with chemical free cultivation and irrigation.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.553-565
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• 2022

Awareness of the ecological value and importance of protected areas has increased as climate change accelerates, and there is a need for research on ecosystem services provided by nature. The natural park, which is a representative protected area in Korea, has a system of national parks, provincial parks, and county parks. National parks are managed systematically by the Korea National Park Service, but local governments manage provincial parks and county parks. There may be the same hierarchical differences in naturalness (habitat quality) depending on the hierarchy of the natural parks, but it has not been verified. To identify differences, we examined 22 mountain-type natural parks using habitat quality using the INVEST model developed by Stanford University. The analysis of the habitat quality, regardless of the type and area of the natural park, showed that it was higher in the order of Taebaeksan National Park (0.89), Juwangsan National Park (0.87), Woongseokbong County Park (0.86), and Gayasan National Park (0.85). The larger the area, the higher the value of habitat quality. A comparison of natural parks with similar areas showed that the habitat quality of national parks was higher than that of provincial parks and parks. On the other hand, the average habitat quality of county parks was 0.83±0.02, which was 0.05 higher than that of provincial parks at 0.78±0.03. Furthermore, the higher the proportion of forest areas within the natural park, the higher the habitat quality. The results confirmed that the naturalness of natural parks was independent of their hierarchy and that there are differences in naturalness depending on land use, land coverage, and park management.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 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.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.47-53
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• 1996

Effects of group breeding of herons on pine community were studied at Pomaeri, in Yangyang, Kangwon Province, Korea. This site has been protected as a Natural Monument (No. 229) since 1970. Herons have used this habitat as a breeding site from] anuary to October every year. In 1995, more than 500 herons were observed in this habitat. Many big pine trees are dying or already dead due to group inhabitation of herons, and no pine saplings were found at forest floor in this habitat. Nutrient contents of soil in this habitat were much higher than those in control plot. This must be due to the addition of feces from herons and of thin twigs and other organic materials from the canopy and bird nests. Species composition of herb layer in this habitat was quite different from that in control plot. Breeding site was dominated by Humulus japonicus. Persiearia perJohata, Persicaria thunbergii. and Commelina communis. which are indicator species of soil eutrophication.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.115-124
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• 2013

This study was conducted to make a biotop planning and construct 3 types of biotop by each site conditions. Three sites of different types in ecological and scenery conservation area of the Dong-gang river were selected by expert brain-storming process and constructed terrestrial biotops and aquatic biotops. Targets of 3 sites were set up such as constructing a habitat for Kaloula borealis and an ecological education place, building a terrestrial biotopes and monitoring the natural vegetation succession, and constructing a habitat for Luciola unmunsana Doi. The study results can be applied hereafter to ecological restoration projects, after construction of habitat, the priority should be prepare measures of monitoring and maintenance, hereafter continuous study on ecological restoration should be performed actively through construction of biotope and wild animals and plants habitat.