• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.163-173
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• 2015

The occurrence of wild boars (Sus scrofa Linnaeus) and reports of wildlife-vehicle conflicts (i.e., road-kill) involving them have increased in natural forest regions of Korea. In the past few decades, many wildlife passages have been constructed to reduce vehicle collisions involving wildlife species. However, few studies have assessed the habitat suitability of target wildlife species when locating the construction sites of wildlife passages. Target species rarely use wildlife passages if built in an inappropriate location. Therefore, a quantitative habitat model is required to find suitable sites for wildlife passages that can connect the fragmented forest patches of wildlife habitats in Korea. In this study, the wild boar was selected as the target species, and six environmental variables (percentage of Quercus forest, slope aspect, distance to roads, water accessibility, forest stand age and density) were measured. The habitat model for wild boars was developed with a Delphi survey, and habitat suitability maps were delineated for the provinces of Gangwon-do and Jeollanam-do. In this study, 298 and 64 boars were observed in Gangwon-do and Jeollanam-do, respectively. Observations of wild boars derived from the second nationwide natural environmental survey were used to evaluate the habitat model. Habitat suitability maps that superimposed existing road networks suggested that wild boar habitats were severely fragmented in both provinces, particularly in Gangwon-do. To connect the fragmented habitats and prevent wildlife-vehicle collisions, this study proposes 11 and 5 wildlife passage sites in Gangwon-do and Jeollanam-do, respectively.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.19-27
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• 2008

Ecosystem fragmentation by human intervention breaks down the biosphere habitat. Wildlife corridors connect biosphere habitats to maintain ecosystem continuity and provide animals with connecting routes. In Korea, there are 17 existing wildlife corridors on highways (as of December, 2006. Korea Freeway Corporation). There are 24 highway routes, 2,923km of highway(as of December, 2004. Korea Freeway Corporation). However, wildlife corridors are not enough and roadkill increases every year, so we need to construct additional wildlife corridors on highways. This study proposes a new approach to the location of wildlife corridors on highways, using a comprehensive analysis method for main location elements, and applies it to a study area. First, it examines traditional approaches to location of wildlife corridors through literature review and field study to analyze the present conditions of existing wildlife corridors. Then, it developes a comprehensive analysis method for the location of wildlife corridors. (1) Field investigation : investigate planting, water bodies and so on. (2) Roadkill analysis : roadkill counts, locations, time, and so on. (3) Monitoring : animal traces were surveyed and sensor cameras were installed to determine target species. (4) Simulation for animal movement : most probable wildlife dispersal was simulated by a computer software. (5) A new comprehensive approach overlays all analysis on a map and determines the location of proposed new wildlife corridors. In conclusion, it proposes an over-bridge type wildlife corridor in Dalnaenae Hill (413-414km from Busan) and an underpass type near the entrance to Gwanhyun temple way (415-416km from Busan). This new approach based on roadkill data, computer simulation of wildlife dispersal, monitoring of animals, and site analysis, may contribute to better location of wildlife corridors on highways.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Veterinary Pathology Conference
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• 2005.11a
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• pp.51.1-52
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• 2005

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.62-69
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• 2008

This study was conducted in order to recommend forest-based wildlife protection areas in Chung-nam Province using several basic habitat conditions. The conditions used in this study were the forest patch size with the potential to keep wildlife animals safe, the distance from water sources, and the availability of food for wildlife. The fractal dimension index was also used to find the edge line dynamics, which can influence on habitat conditions for edge species. The natural conservation management indices including a forest map (indicating the level of forest age), a slope map, and an elevation map were used to find the forest patches with enough space for wildlife to live on. Water resources and their buffer areas were considered as factors to protect the space as an ecological corridor. Deciduous trees and trees mixed with deciduous trees and conifers were chosen to provide wildlife animals their food. In total, 525 forest patches were chosen and recommended for the wildlife protection area. Five of these forest patches were recommended as wildlife protection areas managed by the provincial government. The other 520 forest patches were recommended to protect local wildlife animals and be managed by each county or city. These forest patches were located around the Geum-buk and Geum-nam mountains, and the forest patches are important resources as habitats to keep wildlife in the area. An ecological network consists of these separate forest patches with the ecological integration. A fractal dimension index was used to divide forest patches into several categories in order to find how patches are shaped. The forest patches with longer edges or more irregular shapes have a much higher possibility of being inhabited by various types of edge species. Through comparison of the wildlife protection areas recommended in this study to the current wildlife protection areas, we recognized that the current wildlife protection areas need boundary adjustments in order for wildlife animals to survive by themselves with water sources and food.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.251-255
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• 2019

Wildlife is a bio-indicator of environmental pollution by antimicrobial resistant bacteria or genes, however, there is no information on antimicrobial resistance in wildlife-origin bacteria. This study aimed to investigate the normal microbiota of staphylococci and their antimicrobial resistance in wildlife that did not take any antimicrobials. After sampling and bacterial isolation/identification, antimicrobial resistance profiles were examined by broth microdilution test, Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion test and mecA genetargeted PCR. Of 90 isolates from wildlife, 83 were coagulase-negative staphylococci while only 7 were coagulase-positive staphylococci. Methicillin-resistance was found in 63 (70%) isolates and 35 of 90 (38.9%) isolates were multidrug-resistant staphylococci. When considering that all of the animals did not take any medication or contacted any medical device before the sampling, the results indicate significantly high prevalence of antimicrobial resistance in wild environments. Further study would be necessary to investigate the transmission route of antimicrobial resistance.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.189-196
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• 2023

This study was conducted to determine genetic diversities of Eimeria spp. detected from wildlife. From January 2020 to December 2021, molecular analysis was conducted for Eimeria spp. detected from wildlife rescued in Jeonbuk province, Korea. Polymerase chain reaction targeting 18 s rRNA gene for Eimeria spp. detected from 8 domestic pigeon (Columba livia domestica), 1 Oriental turtle dove (Streptopelia orientalis), 1 Eurasian eagle owl (Bubo bubo), 1 Azure-winged magpie (Cyanopica cyanus), 1 Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus), and 1 raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides) was conducted for phylogenetic analysis. Domestic pigeon and Oriental turtle dove were bound to the same cluster. In addition, carnivorous Eurasian eagle owl and poultry were bound to the same cluster. These results suggest that Eimeria spp. can be shared between similar species regardless of species along the food chain, suggesting that wild birds could be carriers of Eimeria spp. in Korea.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.763-771
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• 2010

The rapid increase of wildlife passage installation since the late 2000s was aimed to reduce roadkill caused by habitat fragmentation and losses related to road construction, but wildlife-vehicle collisions are now still occurred even near the wildlife passage area. This is the reason that the effectiveness of wildlife passage have not been evaluated in combination with absence of monitoring data and management strategy of the wildlife passage. The AHP method are used, in this study, to identify the evaluation factors affecting the effectiveness of the present 367 wildlife passages in a mitigation measures to reduce road effects on wildlife species. Ten evaluation factors are derived from third levels in the AHP analysis. Priority setting to identify appropriate management strategies in first level is selected among four second levels on facility, environment, wildlife species and management tool. The AHP analysis suggested that neighboring environments are the most important factor at the second level, and passage structure, harmony with natural surroundings, wildlife occurrence and monitoring of the passage are also important factors at the third levels. In summary, effective measurements of wildlife passage management is based on managing the passage with neighboring topography and natural surrounding. This is useful to establish wildlife passage management strategy in order to reduce the negative effects of roads on wildlife species.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.70-82
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• 2000

This is a study to generate a theoretical base for the development of wildlife corridor as a solution to the problems of wildlife population size reduction and declining bio-diversity resulting from the fragmented habitats caused by road constructions. This study seeks to examine and define techniques in very aspect of wildlife corridor including planning, site selection, design and development, and maintenance through an actual application. The results of this study are as follows. 1) The wildlife corridor should be developed in an approach supplementing a landscape ecological approach and a restoration ecological approach bilaterally. To this end, systematic methodology and process are required. 2) It was restored an ecosystem as close as possible go to the forest ecosystem before road development. In addition, in order to allow it to function as an ecological corridor, topography restoration, stream development, and ecological plantation were implemented. 3) The result of monitoring activities that continued for one year since the development confirmed the migration and inhabitation of a number of animals including small mammals. It is judged that it functions as a corridor in fragmented habitats as initially expected. 4) Through continuous monitoring in the future, the effects of corridor development on ecological restoration need to be reviewed in a long-term perspective. There is also a need to develop and refine a comprehensive maintenance plan for wildlife corridors and their surroundings. Based on such study results, actual data on the development of wildlife corridor should be accumulated. In follow-up studies, after continuous monitoring for a long period of time, the effects of wildlife corridor development should be evaluated comprehensively and wildlife corridor applicable to Korea should be standardized by correcting disclosed problems.

• ALGAE
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.181-192
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• 2011

Ballasting and deballasting of shipping vessels in foreign ports have been reported worldwide as a vector of introduction of non-native aquatic plants and animals. Recently, attention has turned to ballast water as a factor in the global increase of harmful algal blooms (HABs). Many species of microalgae, including harmful dinoflagellate species, can remain viable for months in dormant benthic stages (cysts) in ballast sediments. Over a period of four years, we surveyed ballast water and sediment of ships docked in two ports of Tampa Bay, Florida, USA. Sampling conditions encountered while sampling ballast water and sediments were vastly different between vessels. Since no single sample collection protocol could be applied, existing methods for sampling ballast were modified and new methods created to reduce time and labor necessary for the collection of high-quality, qualitative samples. Five methods were refined or developed, including one that allowed for a directed intake of water and sediments. From 63 samples, 1,633 dinoflagellate cysts and cyst-like cells were recovered. A native, cyst-forming, harmful dinoflagellate, Alexandrium balechii (Steidinger) F. J. R. Taylor, was collected, isolated, and cultured from the same vessel six months apart, indicating that ships exchanging ballast water in Tampa Bay have the potential to transport HAB species to other ports with similar ecologies, exposing them to non-native, potentially toxic blooms.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.176-179
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• 2018

To restore the connectivity of fragmented habitats, 415 wildlife crossings have been built between 1998 and 2014 in South Korea. However, their effect on wildlife conservation is still in doubt. As a first step to examine the effectiveness, our study aims to assess compliance with the guideline for wildlife crossing construction and management, developed by the Ministry of Environment Korea that provides fundamental information to understand the status and the problem of wildlife crossings in Korea and thus to provide practical guidance for the improvement. According to our survey, the Korea National Park Service complied with the guideline best (62.5%) while local government followed the guideline least (46.1%). In addition, the compliance rate was the highest for wildlife crossings in national roads (53.6%) followed by highways (53.2%) and local and municipal roads (52.2%). For the overpass wildlife crossings, the compliance rates for installation of an escaping facility in the drainage and prevention of pedestrian and vehicle access were particularly low. In case of underpass wildlife crossings, small ditches for amphibians and reptiles were not sufficient, and the linkage between wildlife fences and underpass were weak. In order to ensure the effectiveness of wildlife crossings, the effort to increase the compliance rate with the guideline is critical, and mandating the guideline could be a practical way to enforce the compliance.