Wee-Haeng Hur

Influence of roads on small rodents population in fragmented forest areas, South Korea

The road effect on small rodent population is investigated at 8 fragmented forest areas in the Baekdudaegan mountain range, South Korea in September 2001. We especially focused on the distribution and body condition of small rodents near the roads. Korean field mouse (Apodemus peninsulae) seems to be more sensitive to the existence of a road than striped field mouse (Apodemus agrarius). Korean field mouse prefers interior forest area to around road. Striped field mouse is a habitat generalist and has wide distributional range around road, but Korean field mouse is forest-inhabiting species and their distribution is limited in forest area. These results suggest the effect of road is different on each small rodent species and their habitat preferences.

Edge Preference of Forest-dwelling Birds in Temperate Deciduous Forests

본 연구는 중부 온대활엽수림을 대표하는 광릉 숲을 대상으로 산림성 조류가 숲의 내부와 가장자리를 어떻게 이용하는지 파악하고, 숲의 단편화로 인한 영향을 파악할 수 있도록 서식지 특이종을 선정하기 위해 실시되었다. 그 결과 조류의 풍부도는 숲의 내부와 가장자리에서 일관성 있는 결과를 얻지 못하였으며, 이는 숲 내부와 가장자리를 모두 이용할 수 있는 일반종의 출현 여부에 의해 크게 좌우되었다. 따라서 산림의 단편화가 산림성 조류에 미치는 영향을 파악하기 위해서는 전체 조류군집의 풍부도를 확인하는 것보다 특정 환경을 선호하는 서식지 특이종의 변화를 집중적으로 파악하는 것이 유리할 것으로 판단되었다. 선 조사법과 정점 조사법에 의해 얻어진 숲 내부와 가장자리의 서식밀도를 기준으로 서식지 특이종을 파악한 결과 숲새(U. squameiceps), 흰배지빠귀(T. pallidus), 진박새(P. ater) 등 3종이 숲 내부종으로 나타났으며 까치(P. pica), 꾀꼬리(O. chinensis)의 2종은 숲 가장자리종으로 나타났다. 따라서 광릉 숲으로 대표되는 중부 온대활엽수림의 단편화에 의한 산림성 조류의 영향을 파악하기 위해서는 서식지 특이종으로 파악된 종을 대상으로 한 분포와 번식 등에 대한 모니터링이 필요하며, 특히 숲의 내부에 강한 선호도를 보이는 종에 대한 조사가 우선되어야 할 것으로 판단된다.

Characteristics of Bird Community in Mangyeong River Area

This study was conducted to clarify the characteristics of bird community and habitat types in Mangyeong River area from Aug. 1999 to Jun. 2000. Paddy field was the most dominant land use type. Water area, mudflat, shrub field, urban area and green house were also dominant land use types in study area. Eighty-eight bird species were recorded during study period. Maximum number of species and individuals were shown as 58 species and 7,084 individuals in Oct. and Jan., respectively. There were low number of diving ducks and clumped pattern of waterfowl distribution of bird community in Mangyeong River area. Dabbling ducks distributed at upper reaches near Samrye Bridge, and plovers and sandpipers at lower reaches near estuary. Those results suggest that creation of pools over one meter water-depth and restoration of paddy field into riparian zone with diverse shrubs are required to increase the bird diversity in the Mangyeong rived.

A questionnaire survey of Amur gorals in the DMZ of Gangwon province, South Korea

This questionnaire survey was conducted to obtain basic information about the Amur goral with the cooperation and assistance of the Korean army in the demilitarized zone (DMZ) of Gangwon province, South Korea in June 2004. Most of the Amur gorals were observed for less than 30 minutes at one time and they formed groups of 2–4 individuals. They appeared mostly in spring and summer, preferred deciduous and mixed forests, and were found in stony slopes, grasslands and valleys. To understand the ecology of Amur gorals, further research on the behaviour and habitat use pattern is necessary. However, there is still no monitoring system for Amur gorals in the DMZ. The development of an action plan based on field data is needed for the conservation and protection of that species in the Korean DMZ.

Characteristics of bird communities between slope and valley in natural deciduous forest, South Korea

Bird communities were surveyed in natural deciduous forest of both slope area and valley area at Mt. Gyebangsan (37°40′ 30″ N, 128°30′1″ E), Gangwon Province, South Korea in winter, spring, summer and autumn from September 2000 to November 2001. The investigating results showed that there existed differences in the bird species composition, richness, bird species diversity, guild structure between slope area and valley aree, and the vertical forest structure, especially coverage of understory, and diameter at breast height (DBH) distribution also had significant difference between the two study areas. The differences in habitat structure between the areas are very likely to have influences on how birds used the available habitat.

Characteristics of Attitudinal Bird Community in Mt. Seoraksan National Park

본 연구는 설악산국립공원에 서식하고 있는 조류군집의 계절적, 고도별 분포 현황을 조사, 분석하고 조류군집의 특성을 파악하기 위해 오색-대청봉과 백담사-대청봉 지역에서 2001년 5월부터 10월까지의 기간동안 실시되었다. 2개 조사 지역에서 쇠박새, 쇠솔새, 진박새, 동고비 등이 전체 고도별 구간에서 고르게 분포하고...This study was conducted to clarify the characteristics of attitudinal bird communities in Mt. Seoraksan National Park from May to Oct. 2004. Marsh tit Parus palustris, Arctic warbler Phylloscipus borealis, coal tit Parus ater and Eurasian nuthatch Sitta europaea evenly distributed in almost elevational ranges. Goshawk Accipiter gentilis, black grouse Tetrao tetrix, white-lumped swift Apus pacificus, Siberian rubythroat Luscinia calliope, red-flanked bluetail Tarsiger cyanurus, dusky warbler Phylloscopus fuscatus, yellow-browned warbler Phylloscopus inornatus, siskin Carduelis spinus and rook Corvus frugilegus were only observed in high altitude area. Distribution pattern of birds in Mt. Seoraksan National Park showed differences by elevation. There was difference in attitudinal distribution pattern of birds in Mt. Seoraksan National Park. It seems that habitat preference or selection is different in each species. Attitudinal habitat preference of each bird species need further studies.

Characteristics of vegetation structure in breeding area of Siberian rubythroat (Luscinia calliope) in Daecheongbong peak, Mt. Seoraksan national park, South Korea

Most of forest birds have the characteristics for habitat selection. The purpose of this study is to clarify the vegetation structure in breeding area of Siberian rubythroat (Luscinia calliope). In Daecheongbong peak, Mt. Seoraksan national park, South Korea from May to August, 2001, breeding population of Siberian rubythroat and the dominant species in breeding area of Siberian rubythroat (Luscinia calliope) were surveyed by line transect method along the ridge in the Daecheongbong peak area. Number of individuals and location of song posts were observed and recorded. According to the survey results, the study area was classified into high, middle and low density areas. Those birds selected the forest area of dominant species for Erman’s birch and dwarf Siberian pine as habitat and preferred the shrubs area with the lower height and higher coverage.