• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.176-187
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• 2015

In this study, we hypothesized that the size of wintering crane population would change due to the climate factors. We assumed that wintering population size would differ by climate values in January, which is the coldest period in year. Especially, White-naped cranes were able to choose wintering site between Cheorwon and other alternative place where snow coverage had low influence, differing from Red crowned cranes. For this reason, we predicted the population size of White-naped cranes would fluctuate according to the extent of snow coverage in Cheorwon. Therefore we used snow coverage data based on MODIS and climate data from KMA (Korea Meteorological Administration) that are generally used. We analyzed the crane's population size in Cheorwon in January from 2002 to 2014. The temperature in the Cheorwon increased from 2002 to wintering period in 2007~ 2008 and went down, showing the lowest temperature in 2011~ 2012. With this phenomenon, warmth index showed the similar pattern with temperature. Amount of newly accumulated snow (the amount of snow that fallen from 0:01 am to 11:29 pm in a day) was low after 2002, but rapidly increased in 2010~ 2011 and 2011~ 2012. The area of snow coverage rapidly declined from 2002 to 2005~ 2006 but suddenly expanded in wintering period in 2009~ 2010 and 2010~ 2011. Wintering population size of the White-naped cranes decreased as snow coverage area increased in January and the highest correlation was found between them, compared to the other climatic factors. However, the number of individuals of Red crowned cranes had little relationship with general climate factors including snow cover range. Therefore it seems that population size of the Red crowned crane varied by factors related with habitat selection such as secure roosting site and area of foraging place, not by climatic factors. In multiple regression analysis, wintering population of White-naped cranes showed significant relationship with logarithmic value of snow cover range and its period. Therefore, it suggests that the population size of the White-naped crane was affected by snow cover range n wintering period and this was because it was hard for them to find out rice grains which are their main food items, buried in snow cover. The population size variation in White-naped cranes was caused by some individuals which left Cheorwon for Izumi where snow cover had little influence on them. The wintering population in Izumi and Cheorwon had negative correlation, implying they were mutually related.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.89-95
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• 2005

Understanding of routes of migratory birds are important subject for conservation of avifauna. Korea Demilitarized zone (DMZ) is considered as one of the most important stopover for migratory birds that pass in the Korean peninsula. This region has been known internationally as an excellent nature preservation areas since 1953. Rare and endangered animal species such as leopards (Pathera pardus) and Siberian tigers (Panthera tigris) have increased in population. Furthermore this areas provide home for endangered migratory birds including white-naped (Grus vipio) and red-crowned cranes (G. japonensis). Recent satellite-tracked crane species has shown the importance and linkages between a small number of habitat sites in DMZ. White-naped cranes were satellite tracked 9 individuals spent 27-78% of their time in Panmunjum and 10-75% in Cheolwon. This signifies the rich feeding sites with relatively little disturbance thus making the DMZ extremely valuable as a stopover.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2020

This study aims to evaluate the effect of artificial facilities constructed afterthe release of the civilian controlled zone (CCZ) in Cheorwon on the inhabitation of cranes. The study site was released from the CCZ in 2012, and several barns have been built since 2017. The average number of Red-crowned Cranes was 9.3±4.3 individuals (±Standard Deviation) in the period before the release of the CCZ from 2009 to 2012, and it decreased by ca. one third of Red-crowned Crane's average individuals were showing 3.5±0.5 individuals after release. The average number of White-naped Cranes also appeared to be decreased by ca. 90% from 63.3±24.6 to 6.0±6.0 individuals. This results suggest that the construction of greenhouses and barns after the releasing of the CCZ affected the decrease of the population of these two crane species. In the case of Red-crowned Crane, the core area tended to move away from the area where barns were built. However, the distribution range of Red-crowned Cranes did not change significantly we expected because the study area was not their favorite place since 2012 when the area was released from the CCZ. The density of the White-naped Crane was relatively high even in the area where greenhouses were built, but after 2017 when the barn was built intensively, core habitat of crane became shrink and fragmented. These results suggest that both Red-crowned Cranes and White-naped Cranes response sensitively against habitat change due to the construction of barns. Since the release of the CCZ, the construction of the greenhouse has been influenced on the distribution of cranes, but subsequently, the construction of the barn seems to have caused a bigger change in their core habitat because the passage of people to barns is more frequent than the greenhouses.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.301-316
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• 2015

The endangered species, The Red-crowned Crane and the White-naped Crane are vulnerable species to the disturbance for human beings. We examined the importance of CCZ for the cranes by comparing the crane's density in some CCZ-released areas, which are cranes' wintering site in Cheorwon. We also assessed influence of disturbance such as construction and greenhouses on core habitats of cranes. Our study results suggested that the construction and reclamation in the CCZ shrunk core habitat area while increasing core area of far from the construction and reclamation area. The CCZ has been set since March, 2011 and the number of greenhouse has rapidly increased after 2012. As the number and size of greenhouse in the area where designation of CCZ was cancelled increased, foraging area of cranes diminished. Although the area where designation of CCZ was cancelled seemed to have more human disturbance than CCZ, the foraging density of cranes did not decline and even that of white-naped cranes increased. This could be the influence of artificial food supply at their roosting site. In conclusion, if the area of CCZ decline continuously in the future, density of cranes would decrease.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.516-525
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• 2011

We studied the influence certain environmental factors (proximity of roosting site, roads, and residential areas) have on the spatial distribution of cranes in the Cheorwon, Korea. Using a range finder and GPS, data were collected from January to February 2007 and were subsequently evaluated with ArcGIS. The size of the cranes' wintering habitat was estimated to be 7$76.9km^2$. Five hundred and fifty-five flocks of cranes were observed and detailed distributions were collected. Feeding distribution of the cranes showed clustered distribution, however, no tendencies of spatial autocorrelation were apparent. Adjacent regions with paved roads and residences showed lower densities than other areas. Distances at which paved roads and residential areas induced changes in feeding flock densities were 1500m and 1750m, respectively. Feeding flock density decreased with increased distance from roosting site. Feeding flock density of the two crane species did not increase as distance from roads increased, however, the density of individuals showed a significant increasing tendency with increased distance from roads. In both species, density of feeding flocks and individuals significantly increased with increasing distance from residential areas. In Red-crowned Cranes, the density of feeding flocks and individuals significantly decreased with increasing distance from roosting site, however, in the case of White-naped Cranes, there was an even distribution in density of feeding flocks and individuals.