• Ecology and Resilient Infrastructure
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.285-293
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• 2016

This study conducted the evaluations of stable channel and physical disturbance improvement for optimal construction of river structures by focusing on Wonju River. A stable slope was analyzed sectionally for stable channel design, and in order to satisfy the stable slope, river structure improvement scenarios were deduced. Accordingly, through physical disturbance improvement evaluation for each scenario, the study extracted the optimal scenario for stable channel design and physical disturbance improvements. The changes in physical habitat were analyzed when river structure improvements were made for stable channel design and physical disturbance improvement. Zacco koreanus, an indicator fish of the soundness of the aquatic ecosystem, was selected as a restoration target species by investigating the community characteristics of fish fauna and river environments in the Wonju River. The habitat suitability was investigated by the PHABSIM model with the habitat suitability index of Zacco koreanus. The results of the prediction evaluation showed a slight decrease in habitat suitability and weighted usable area. However, it was not influenced by the improvements in the river structure. The study suggested river structure arrangement methods that can improve physical soundness and safety of Wonju River, and confirmed that there were no effects to the changes in the physical habitat.

• Ecology and Resilient Infrastructure
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.145-153
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• 2019

The present study performed the impact of the change of low-flow channel on aquatic habitat in a reach of the Wonju-cheon Stream, Korea. The target species was Zacco platypus, a dominant species in the middle- and upper-stream of Wonju Cheon. The River2D model was used for the computation of the flow and the habitat suitability index model was used to estimate the quantity and quality of fish habitat using habitat suitability curves. First, for the restoration to low-flow channel, the restoration was conducted in a form close-to-nature flow channel, and the width of the low-flow channel was expanded and reduced. The results indicated that the Weighted Usable Area (WUA) of the target species improved by about 72% when the width of the low-flow channel was expanded, and that the fish habitat decreased by about 25% when the width of the low-flow channel was reduced.

• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.207-219
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• 2018

In this study, the ecological flow rate of the Zacco playtypus habitat was simulated based on the Instream Flow Incremental Methodology (IFIM) in reachs of urban and natural stream using the habitat suitability index (HSI) of the probability density function (PDF). To apply this method, PHABSIM model was used in this study. However, in this study, the HSI of the probability density function was developed by adjusting the parameters of the PDF based on Kang (2010) HSI. As a result, the normal distribution is closest to the ecological flow rate of the Kang (2010) in the urban stream. However, the two-parameter log-pearson distribution tended to be the closest in the natural stream. The ecological flow rate was simulated by the HSI and the reach of stream with the PDF. Based on the comparison of simulation results, we propose an ecological flow rate estimation method using probabilistic method.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.227-239
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• 2018

Background: Predicting the potential habitat of plants in arid regions, especially for medicinal ones, is very important. Although Pergularia tomentosa is a key species for medicinal purposes, it appears in very low density in the arid rangelands of Iran, needing an urgent ecological attention. In this study, we modeled and predicted the potential habitat of P. tomentosa using maximum entropy, and the effects of environmental factors (geology, geomorphology, altitude, and soil properties) on some characteristics of the species were determined. Results: The results showed that P. tomentosa was absent in igneous formation while it appeared in conglomerate formation. In addition, among geomorphological units, the best quantitative characteristics of P. tomentosa was belonged to the conglomerate formation-small hill area (plant aerial parts = 57.63 and root length = 30.68 cm) with the highest electrical conductivity, silt, and $CaCO_3$ content. Conversely, the species was not found in the mountainous area with igneous formation. Moreover, plant density, length of roots, and aerial parts of the species were negatively correlated with soil sand, while positive correlation was observed with $CaCO_3$, EC, potassium, and silt content. The maximum entropy was found to be a reliable method (ROC = 0.91) for predicting suitable habitats for P. tomentosa. Conclusion: These results suggest that in evaluating the plant's habitat suitability in arid regions, contrary to the importance of the topography, some environmental variables such as geomorphology and geology can play the main role in rangeland plants' habitat suitability.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.115-125
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• 2013

In this research, a habitat model for Chinemys reevesii is suggested based on the components and variables of the Habitat Suitability Index which was determined through a series of literature researches, site surveys, and behavioral analysis. After reviewing the general habitat requirements, the site surveys(9 reservoirs) from July to December 2010, and the behavioral analysis of five Chinemys reevesii, the relationship between the behavioral and habitat use pattern was evaluated. According to the site surveys and behavioral analysis, the ecological core area(FK 50%) was about 0.96ha on average, the influence area(FK 90%) 4.22ha, and the home range was about $37.75{\pm}17.26m$ on average. As for the habitat use pattern of Chinemys reevesii, it travels through canals, and is influenced by the surrounding land uses. Also when there is a lack of food, the home range increases, and during hibernation, Chinemys reevesii prefers to be in an area within 1~2m range of water shores of fine textured soil and aquatic plants. After analyzing the information, the HSI standard was set and its components were determined as food, sunbathing and cover, aquatic environment, and spatial relationships. And the variables and the ranges of the components was determined as aquatic plant cover(0~49.81%), sandy area($3{\sim}13m^2$) and water velocity(0~60cm/s) etc. Lastly, plans and sections of the habitat model is provided designed according to the information from the researches, and problems to consider during habitat restoration was suggested in order to help understand about Chinemys reevesii habitat.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.161-172
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• 2010

As the interest on biodiversity has increased around the world, researches about evaluating potential for habitat are also increasing to find and comprehend the valuable habitats. This study focus on comprehending the significance of stream in evaluating habitat's potential. The purpose of this study is to evaluate habitat potential with applying stream as a main variable, and to comprehend the relationship between the variables and habitat potential. Basin is a unit that has hydrological properties and dynamic interaction with ecosystem. Especially, biodiversity and suitability of habitat in basin area has direct correlation with stream. Existing studies also are proposing for habitat potential evaluation in basin unit, they applied forest, slope and road as main variables. Despite stream is considered the most important factor in basin area, researchers haven't applied stream as a main variable. Therefore, in this study, three variables that can demonstrate hydrological properties are selected, which are, riparian distance, stream order and land use disturbance, and evaluate habitat potential. Habitat potential is analyzed by using Maxent (Maximum entropy model), and vertebrate's presence data is used as dependent variables and stream order map and land cover map is used as base data of independent variables. As a result of analysis, habitat potential is higher at riparian and upstream area, and lower at frequently disturbed area. Result indicates that adjacent to stream, upstream, and less disturbed area is the habitat that vertebrate prefer. In particular, mammals prefer adjacent area of stream and forest and reptiles prefer upriver area. Birds prefer adjacent area of stream and midstream and amphibians prefer adjacent area of stream and upriver. The result of this research could help to establish habitat conservation strategy around basin unit in the future.

• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
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• v.54 no.11
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• pp.985-998
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• 2021

In general, the upstream dam changes downstream flow regime dramatically, i.e., from natural flow regime to hydropeaking flows. This study investigates the impact of the natural flow pattern on downstream fish habitat in a regulated river in Korea using the physical habitat simulation. The study area is a 13.4 km long reach of the Geum-gang River, located downstream from the Yongdam Dam, Korea. A field monitoring revealed that three fish species are dominant, namely Zacco platypus, Coreoleuciscus splendidus, and Opsariichthys bidens, and they account for 70% of the total fish community. Specially, Opsariichthys bidens is an indigenous species in the Geum-gang River. The three fish species are selected as target fish species for the physical habitat simulation. The Nays2D model, a 2D shallow water equation solver, and the HSI (Habitat Suitability Index) model are used for hydraulic and habitat simulations, respectively. To assess the impact of the natural flow pattern, this study uses the annual natural flow regime and hydropeaking flows from the dam. It is found that the natural flow regime increases significantly the Composite Suitability Index (CSI) in the study reach. Then, using the Building Block Approach (BBA), the scenarios for the modifying dam operations are presented in the study reach. Both Scenario 1 and scenario 2 are proposed by using the hydrological method considering both magnitude and duration of the inflow and averaging the inflow over each month, respectively. It is revealed that the natural flow regime embodied in scenario 1 and scenario 2 increases the Weighted Usable Area (WUA) significantly, compared to the hydropeaking flows. In conclusion, the modifying the dam operations by restoring to the natural flow pattern is advantageous to fish community.

• Proceedings of the National Institute of Ecology of the Republic of Korea
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.79-85
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• 2023

The Tibetan Plateau is home to the only alpine crane species, the black-necked crane (Grus nigricollis). Conservation efforts are severely hampered by a lack of knowledge on the spatial distribution and breeding habitats of this species. The ecological niche modeling framework used to predict the spatial distribution of this species, based on the maximum entropy and occurrence record data, allowed us to generate a species-specific spatial distribution map in Ladakh, Trans-Himalaya, India. The model was created by assimilating species occurrence data from 486 geographical sites with 24 topographic and bioclimatic variables. Fourteen variables helped forecast the distribution of black-necked cranes by 96.2%. The area under the curve score for the model training data was high (0.98), indicating the accuracy and predictive performance of the model. Of the total study area, the areas with high and moderate habitat suitability for black-necked cranes were anticipated to be 8,156 km² and 6,759 km², respectively. The area with high habitat suitability within the protected areas was 5,335 km². The spatial distribution predicted using our model showed that the majority of speculated conservation areas bordered the existing protected areas of the Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary. Hence, we believe, that by increasing the current study area, we can account for these gaps in conservation areas, more effectively.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.311-325
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• 2023

This study was conducted to analyze the habitat suitability of the major honey trees including Kalopanax septemlobus Koidz., Prunus spp., Tilia spp., and Styrax obassia Siebold & Zucc. indigenous to mountain Gariwang and Yumeong using the machine learning approach (i.e., MaxEnt model). The AUC values of the model predictions were mostly above 0.7, and the results of the response curves showed that the environmental drivers that had effects on the habitat suitability of the major honey trees were elevation, mean annual precipitation, and mean annual temperature. These results indicate that climatic drivers along the elevation gradient are the main environmental drivers in explaining the distribution patterns of the major honey trees. In addition, the results of the response curves of Prunus spp. and Styrax obassia Siebold & Zucc. differed slightly in terms of slope and mean annual solar radiation as the main environmental drivers. The results of this study will be valuable for the establishment of honey tree forests and management plans for the natural and artificial forests in South Korea, as well as for the mapping the distribution of honey trees. Further studies at different regional levels, reflecting biotic drivers, will be needed to expand the production of honey and pollen at different strata and to produce honey annually.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.140-150
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• 2023

The Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) is an apex predator of the riparian ecosystem. It is a keystone and an indicator species; consequently, its presence suggests a sustainable water environment. Otter is a keystone species as a predator at the top of the food web in the aquatic environment and an indicator species representing the health of the aquatic environment. Although Eurasian otters disappeared from the Han River urban water system because of anthropogenic activities like habitat destruction, poaching, and environmental pollution in the 1980s, the species were sighted in the Cheonggye Stream, Jungrang Stream, and Seongnae Stream, which are urban sections of the Han River, in 2016 and 2021. Therefore, it is pertinent to assess the habitat potential in the area for conservation and management measures to ensure its permanent presence. However, existing studies on otter habitats focused on natural rivers and reservoirs, and there is a limit to applying them to habitats artificially confined habitats in narrow spaces such as tributaries in urban areas of the Han River. This study selected the Cheonggye Stream, an artificially restored urban stream, to evaluate its potential as a habitat for Eurasian otters in urban water environments using the habitat suitability index (HSI). The HSI was calculated with selected environment attributes, such as the cover, food, and threat, that best describe the L. lutra habitat. According to the results, the confluence area of Seongbuk Stream and Cheonggye Stream and the confluence area of Cheonggye Stream and Jungnang Stream were suitable otter habitats, requiring appropriate conservation efforts. The HSI model suggests a valuable method to assess the habitat quality of Eurasian otters in urban water environments. The study is crucial as it can help rehabilitate the species' populations by identifying and managing potential Eurasian otter habitats in highly urbanized areas of the Han River basin and its tributaries.