Climate change significantly impacts the distribution and habitat suitability of insects, particularly those highly sensitive to environmental fluctuations. This study evaluated the habitat changes of 12 climate-sensitive insect species in South Korea under shared socioeconomic pathways (SSP) scenarios, SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5, using random forest (RF) models. Bioclimatic variables, including annual mean temperature (BIO1) and annual precipitation (BIO12), were identified as key contributors to habitat suitability changes. The model demonstrated high predictive accuracy, with receiver operating characteristic (ROC) values exceeding 0.8 for five species, such as Papilio helenus and Argynnis hyperbius, while six species, including Sympetrum pedemontanum elatum, exhibited lower predictability due to data distribution challenges. The results revealed that SSP2-4.5 allowed more stable or expanding habitats for certain species, such as Argynnis hyperbius and Lampides boeticus, where habitat areas significantly increased by 2070. In contrast, SSP5-8.5 showed drastic habitat reductions for most species, including Camponotus kiusiuensis and Sympetrum pedemontanum elatum, with some habitats shrinking by over 90% by 2090. The study underscores the importance of climate variables, with temperature and precipitation consistently influencing habitat changes across species. This research provides critical insights into the ecological risks posed by climate change and emphasizes the necessity of mitigation strategies. While some species demonstrate adaptive potential under moderate scenarios, others face severe vulnerabilities under extreme climate conditions. These findings offer valuable guidance for biodiversity conservation and policy-making, highlighting the need for integrated approaches that account for non-climatic factors such as land-use changes.
Wetlands are transitional zones between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems and are among the most nutrient-rich and productive ecosystems on Earth. This study analyzed the topographical and ecological characteristics of mountain wetlands in Gyeongsangnam-do to provide essential data for their conservation and management. The results indicated that mountain wetlands in Gyeongsangnam-do are primarily distributed in areas with slopes ranging from 5° to 15°. Bog (M1) and fen (M2), which possess significant ecological value, were found to be situated in areas over 700 m above sea level. In contrast, swamp (M4) was distributed across a wider range of altitudes and slopes, with some wetlands exhibiting signs of ecological degradation due to anthropogenic disturbances. These findings can serve as critical data for developing management plans aimed at the sustainable conservation of mountain wetlands.
Wetlands offer numerous benefits, including improving water quality, providing habitats for wildlife, and storing water. They are areas where water either covers the soil or is just below the surface for extended periods. Wetlands play a crucial role in maintaining environmental balance and ecological stability. In South Korea, the Wetlands Conservation Act was established in 1999 to protect these vital ecosystems and their biodiversity. The law defines inland wetlands as lakes, ponds, swamps, rivers, and estuaries. However, the boundaries of these areas are often unclear, creating challenges for conservation and research. This ambiguity complicates effective management and the implementation of necessary protective measures. This study utilized topographic and aerial images to gather spatial information about inland wetlands and assess their areas. It identified the boundaries of inland wetlands in South Korea, revealing a total area of 3,833.452 km2, which is 3.8% of the country’s total land area. The classified the spatial data, showing that vegetated areas cover 1,355.666 km2, or 35.4% of the total area, with woody plants covering 102.987 km2 and herbaceous plants 1,252.679 km2. Non-vegetated areas account for 2,477.786 km2, or 64.6%, with open water 2,206.615 km2, natural land 160.995 km2, artificial land 72.343 km2, and Agricultural land 37.833 km2. Clearly defining wetland boundaries is essential for effective conservation and protection. Accurate boundary definitions facilitate legal protection and help prevent damage to wetlands. The results provide quantitative data that can inform future wetland conservation planning and management. And enhance our understanding of the size and changes in South Korea’s inland wetlands, supporting their preservation and protection.
The National Institute of Ecology in Seocheon, Chungcheongnam-do, exhibits and studies Korea’s diverse ecosystems to communicate the importance of biodiversity conservation to the general public. The site faces the challenge of preserving the natural environment while ensuring visitor convenience. This requires systematic data collection to quickly detect and respond to threats from pests and natural disasters. In this study, high-resolution orthoimages were acquired to monitor ecological changes using unmanned aerial vehicles. Images were captured through flights monthly from March to July 2024. Digital elevation models and orthoimages were generated to identify dead trees and assess areas of damage caused by heavy rainfall. The study covered an area of 998,655 m2, and the image resolution was 3.6 cm/pixel. The orthophotos were useful in identifying plant pest damage. They also helped evaluate damage caused by rain, showing that the total area of damage was 29,384 m2, mainly due to soil erosion. Furthermore, it is expected that the accumulation of such unmanned remote sensing image data can also be applied to the safety management of various natural conservation areas and public facilities.
In this study, spatial distribution analysis was conducted on the landforms that appear within the 1st grade area using the ecology and nature map of 2023. As a result, a total of 97 landforms including tidal flat and incised meander were identified as unit landforms, and a total of 1,490 sites were distributed. The spatial distribution by administrative region was highest in Gangwon-do with 273 sites (12.8%), and by unit landform, cliff (173 sites), stream cliff (129 sites), and sea cliff (100 sites) were the most distributed. These landforms are cliffs found in mountainous, riverine, and coastal areas, respectively, and are characterized by their high geomorphological conservation value due to their large scale and geometric shape compared to other terrains. In terms of spatial distribution by landform type, stream landforms (501 sites, 33.6%) accounted for the largest proportion, and there were 24 units landforms. The results obtained can be utilized for future designation of expanded ecosystem protection areas or ecosystem monitoring surveys, along with continued landform conservation.
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The Gomso Bay tidal flat is located between Buan-gun and Gochang-gun in Jeollabuk-do, Korea; it is a semi-closed bay in an area where tides prevail over waves. Tidal flats are mainly found south of Gochang-gun, and the main stream located north of the tidal flats is about 15 m deep and 900 m wide at low tide. Limited direct sampling is necessary for analyzing the geological environment of intertidal tidal flats, depending on the expected ebb-tide time and the number of survey items allowed for tidal flat access. This study assessed field measurement and laboratory analysis items for obtaining and establishing geological environment data to use of sediment type data in a pilot research area in the Gomso Bay tidal flat. Thirty sites were examined on June 22 and 24, 2021 (survey time about 3.5 hours for the 2 days). The field measurements were the sample date (year/month/day/hour/minute), ellipsoid height using a real-time kinematics global positioning system (RTK GPS) (m), shear strength (kg/cm2), and Munsell color. Samples for particle size (phi, Φ), specific density, porosity (%), moisture content (%), total organic carbon (%), total carbon (%) and total nitrogen (%) were placed in zipper bags and polypropylene (PP) bottles. The sedimentary phases were classified following Folk and Ward (1957), the organic matter was characterized based on particle size analysis and each experimental result was verified. In the future, a geological environment characteristics dataset based on this pilot study will be used as basic data to assess changes in the tidal flat topography and sedimentation environment. It should be useful data for research, tidal flat environment conservation management and free open data for users of related researchers.
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The aim of this study conducted to collect and produce survey data on the distribution status of benthic macroinvertebrates in the Wangpi-cheon Basin (2017), which has been designated and managed as an Ecological Landscape Conservation Area (2005). A total 153 species of benthic macroinvertebrates in 74 families, 18 orders, 8 classes and 5 phyla were collected including 8 Endemic Species of Korea and 16 Out-of-the-country Transportation Permit Required Species. The dominant species was Simulium sp. (16.1 %), and the subdominant species was Chironomus sp. (7.4 %).