• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.365-370
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• 2011

The water deer (Hydropotes inermis) is one of the most primitive extant deer of the family Cervidae. Unlike Chinese water deer, Korean water deer have rarely been studied, even though they have relatively well remained in Korea. In particular, the home range of the Korean water deer has not yet been studied. Here we estimated the home range of the Korean water deer using two different methods (GPS and radio tracking) and analyzed the home range according to sex, time, and season. The mean home range size of four individuals was 2.77 $km^2$ and 0.34 $km^2$ under the 95% minimum convex polygon (MCP) and the 50% kernel (K) method, respectively. There seemed to be a difference in home range size between males (3.30 $km^2$) and females (2.25 $km^2$) under the 95% MCP method. We also found a difference in home range size between day (1.90 $km^2$) and night (2.43 $km^2$) by 95% MCP method. In addition, a home range size difference was observed between summer (4.65 $km^2$) and spring (0.48 $km^2$) or fall (0.85 $km^2$) using the 95% MCP method. Water deer seemed to have a larger home range in night than in day, and males also have a larger home range. We presumed that the GPS tracking method of the code division multiple access system could be a very useful tool for understanding the ecology of the water deer using the radio tracking method. Using these tracking methods and through future research, we can better understand the habitat use pattern of these water deer.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.95-102
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• 2018

Only the habitat characteristics and breeding status of Paridae have been studied, in addition to the lack of research on Parus varius varius, there is no study on the home-range in the post fledging period. This study was analyzed the home-range size of Parus varius varius in the post fledging period. The survey was conducted in the site located in Dankook Univ. Cheonan Campus(Middle Chungcheong Province). We captured five newborn Parus varius varius using artificial nest was installed before. Radio-tracking was carried out for analysis of home-range, and MCP (Minimum Convex Polygon) was used for analysis. We analyzed 1 individual tracked 15 days (VT5) and 4 individuals which missing radio-tracking transmitter within 3 days (VT1~VT4). Home-range of VT5 gradually increased to 1,38ha, 1.42ha, 2.14ha in the order of early, middle, late period. On the other hand, moving distance was decreased to 174.558m 125.129m, 120.180m. Home-range of V1~VT4 was estimated as 0.81ha which was 75.3% share of home-range of VT5 in early period. As the result it was found that home-range is formed far apart from artificial nest that has been influenced by human being interference, thereafter gradually adapting to interference and spreading close to artificial nest. through this research, we can construct basic ecological data for protecting habitat of Parus varius varius and increasing life rate. As first radio-tracking study of Parus varius varius home-range in the post fledging period, it is expected to be useful for the future study of home-range.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.202-216
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• 2022

Animals exhibit certain behaviors and movement patterns as they react to their internal needs, external stimuli, and surrounding environments. They have a bounded range in which they mostly spend their time, and it is referred to as a home range. Based on the fact that the home range is a critical area for the survival and preservation of species, there has been a growing body of research on developing more precise home range estimation methods to use the estimated ranges as a ground for establishing an effective conservation policy since the early 1940s. Recent rapid advancements in telemetry technology that resulted in the presence of autocorrelation between locations with short time intervals revealed the limitations of the existing estimators. Many novel estimators have been developed to compensate for it by incorporating autocorrelation in calculating home ranges. However, studies on the animal home range are still in their early stage in Korea, and newly developed methodologies have not yet been adopted. Therefore, this study aims to introduce the foreign home range estimation methods and foster domestic research activities on home ranges. Firstly, we compared and contemplated seven estimators by categorizing them into geometrical and statistical methodologies and then divided them into estimators that assume independent observations and those that consider autocorrelation in each category. After that, the home ranges of black-tailed gulls (Larus crassirostris) were calculated using GPS tracking data for the month of June and derived home range estimators by applying the methodology introduced in this study. We analyzed and compared the results to discuss the strengths and weaknesses of each method. Lastly, we proposed a guideline that can help researchers choose an appropriate estimator for home range calculation based on the animal location data characteristics and analysis purpose.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.3-13
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• 2010

The Tsushima leopard cat, Prionailurus bengalensis euptilurus, a small felid, inhabits only the Tsushima Islands in Japan. Previous studies of the Tsushima leopard cat revealed that natural factors; including sex, reproductive activity, season, and prey distribution and abundance affect leopard cat home range variation and habitat use. In this study, we focused on clarifying how anthropogenic factors influenced home range variation and habitat use of a male Tsushima leopard cat living near a suburban area in January, March, May and September 2005 using radio-tracking. The home range size (100% MCP) of this cat was $0.78\;{\pm}\;0.26\;km^2$ (mean ${\pm}$ SD, n = 4 tracking sessions) across the whole study period. However, the cat did not use all parts of its home range uniformly; rather it used some habitat types selectively. The cat avoided agriculture areas and residential areas in all of the tracking-sessions. On the other hand, the cat showed a weak preference for artificial structures and a strong preference for baiting sites in January and March, while it avoided them in May, and no baiting site was included in its home range in September. These results suggest that anthropogenic factors influenced the ranging patterns and habitat use of the leopard cat living near a suburban area. Artificial structures might provided good resting spaces for the cat in bad weather. When the density of its main prey was low in the winter, the cat tended to rely on artificial prey and had a small home range size.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Environment and Ecology Conference
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• 2007.04a
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• pp.136-142
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• 2007

The main aim of this study is to estimate home-range of the Korean raccoon dog(Nyctereutes procyonoides koreensis) at a rural area of Gurye in the southern part of South Korea. A radio-tracking was regularly carried out on 4 raccoon dogs for 2 days every 2 months in 2006. During the days, the radio-tracking was usually conducted every 1-3 hours through day-time to night-time. Among the 4 raccoon dogs, 2 individuals(a permanent breeding pair) could be extensively tracked for 5 to 7 months, including all 4 seasons. The result showed that total home-range sizes of the pair were 0.732 $km^2$ and 0.373 $km^2$ for 100% minimum convex polygons(MCP) and 100% kernel(K), respectively, during the monitoring period. Mean home-range sizes of the 2 raccoon dogs were 0.035-0,688 $km^2$ and 0.012-0.341 $km^2$ for MCP and K, respectively. Yearly home-range sizes of the male and female were similar to each other. However, home-range sizes of the raccoon dogs between day-time and night-time were quite different. Furthermore, the raccoon dogs showed a much broader home-range size in spring, summer and fall than in winter season. Finally, the pair had a broad overlapping home-range(about 70-95%), and 1 core area and 4 different feeding areas.

• Proceedings of the National Institute of Ecology of the Republic of Korea
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.115-126
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• 2023

Understanding the carrying capacity of a habitat is crucial for effectively managing populations of wild boars (Sus scrofa), which are designated as harmful wild animal species in national parks. Carrying capacity refers to the maximum population size supported by a park's environmental conditions. This study aimed to estimate the appropriate wild boar population size by integrating population characteristics and habitat suitability for wild boars in the Bukhansan National Park using the HexSim program. Population characteristics included age, survival, reproduction, and movement. Habitat suitability, which reflects prospecting and resource acquisition, was determined using the Maximum Entropy model. This study found that the optimal population size for wild boar ranged from 217 to 254 individuals. The population size varied depending on the amount of resources available within the home range, indicating fewer individuals in a larger home range. The estimated wild boar population size was 217 individuals for the minimum amount of resources (50% minimum convex polygon [MCP] home range), 225 individuals for the average amount of resources (95% MCP home range), and 254 individuals for the maximum amount of resources (100% MCP home range). The results of one-way analysis of variance revealed a significant difference in wild boar population size based on the amount of resources within the home range. These findings provide a basis for the development and implementation of effective management strategies for wild boar populations.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.27 no.8
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• pp.665-675
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• 2018

The purpose of this study was to identify the characteristics of the home range and habitat use of Rhinolophus ferrumequinum individuals that inhabit urban areas. The bats were tracked using GPS tags. For analysis of the home rage, Minimum Convex Polygon (MCP) and Kernel Home Range (KHR) methods were used. The landscape types of all positional information were analyzed using ArcGIS 9.3.1 (ESRI Inc.). The average home range of 16 R. ferrumequinum individuals was $68.63{\pm}25.23ha$, and the size of the overall home range for the females ($85.49{\pm}25.40ha$) was larger than that for the males ($51.76{\pm}8.30ha$). The highest average home range for the males was found in August ($61.21{\pm}0.01ha$), whereas that for the females was found in September ($112.27{\pm}5.94ha$). The size of 50% KHR ranged from a minimum of 13.26 ha to a maximum of 31.00 for the males and a minimum of 8.02 ha to a maxinum of 42.16 ha for the females, showing no significant differences between the two sexes. In addition, males and females showed no differences in the size of 50% KHR in the monthly comparisons. However, the females showed differences in the size of their core area between periods before and after giving birth. The comparisons between 100% MCP and 50% KHR showed that the types of habitats used by R. ferrumequinum were mostly forest areas, including some farmlands. In addition, comparisons with a land cover map showed that the proportion of broad-leaved forests was the highest, followed by that of mixed forests.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.259-263
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• 2006

The objectives of this paper are to estimate home range and core habitat area of raccoon dog living in the rural area of Korea. A radio-telemetry study was carried out on 22 raccoon dog individuals. Among these individuals, 4 raccoon dogs made 2 pairs and they were monogamous and moved together all the year round. Mean home-range size of 9 individuals which were radio-tracked more than 3 months was $0.80km^2$ (100% MCP). The mean home range size of male individuals was $0.98km^2$ (N=5, 100% MCP) and that of female individuals was $0.58km^2$ (N=4, 100% MCP). On the other hand, in case 95% MCP(Mininlum Convex Polygon) was applied, the gap of home-range size between sex distinction was closed to $0.63km^2$ (male) and $0.42km^2$ (female). The home range size of two pairs of which the male and the female were radio-tracked at the same time showed little difference. In case of one pair, the home range size(95% MCP) was $0.28km^2$ (male) and $0.26km^2$ (female) and in case of the other pair, it was $0.36km^2$ each (male and female). Consequently there seems no significant difference in the home-range size between a male and a female racoon dog except the unusual cases such as unpaired individuals or the ones with no fixed territory.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.182-197
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• 2020

This study investigated the home range and characteristics of activities to contribute to the improvement of management techniques and the successful promotion of management policies of invasive nutria, which is a representative invasive species of South Korea. Six individuals were captivated for the study. Remote radio tracking on three of them was carried out followed by the analysis of the results. The average home range of the follow-up individuals were confirmed to be 0.043 ㎢ at MCP 95%, 0.085 ㎢ at K 95%. It was 0.018 ㎢ at K 50%, which is the core space. In 95% MCP, males exhibited the home range with 0.058 ㎢, showed wider home range 0.046 ㎢ than females who showed 0.012 ㎢, and showed a wider home range 0.015 ㎢ more at night than during the day. As a result of comparing the results of this study with the case studies of overseas studies, it is determined that the magnitude of the derived home range is the result of a stable habitat in which the procurement of food resources is smooth and human interference is limited. The daily moved distance of males was larger than that of females, with a maximum moved distance of 1,278 m per day. Activity at the study site is high from around sunset to around 6 A.M., 10 P.M., 7 P.M., 1 A.M., and 5 A.M., and high around sunrise and low during the daytime such as 2 P.M., which reflected the propensity of nocturnal animals to act. The results of this study on the home range and activity in nutria can be used as useful data forimproving the management of invasive alien species for the installation and operation of traps, the spatial setting of controlled areas, and the calculation of the amount ofresources together with a basic understanding of nutria's behaviors in South Korea.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.162-173
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• 2015

The current study analyzed the home range size of the Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) by observation using the natural markings in the suburban area of Busan from December 2009 to May 2010. In all, 26 individual kestrels were observed in the study area, of which 14 individual kestrels were frequently observed (more than five times) and 12 were observed less frequently (less than five times). Mean home range sizes of the 14 frequently observed kestrels were estimated using two different methods (minimum convex polygon (MCP) method and fixed kernel (FK) method): 34.49 ha(2.74-163.96 ha) by 100% MCP, 41.35 ha(3.54-99.02 ha) by the 95% FK, 14.33 ha(0.20-31.57 ha) by the 75% FK and 5.75 ha(0.52-14.74 ha) by the 50% FK. The mean home range size was larger for males than for females estimated at 51.50 ha(15.04-163.96 ha) and 11.80ha(2.74-24.48 ha), respectively, by the 100 % MCP method and 8.02 ha(2.38-14.74 ha) and 2.72 ha (0.52-4.28 ha), respectively, by the 50 % Fixed Kernel method. The home range sizes by sexes in breeding pairs differed during the wintering and breeding seasons; the sizes decreased among females but increased among males during the breeding season. Such differences of home range sizes between sexes could be attributed to parental role division during the breeding season. Females stay in the nest or next to it during laying, incubating, and feeding activities, and males go far away from their nest sites to forage areas for their fledglings for most of the breeding period.