Process of Wetland Loss in the Lower Nakdong River, South Korea

Abstract

Abstract. The historical distribution of wetlands, the process of wetland loss, and the factors responsible for it in South Korea during the past century were investigated to identify trends in wetland loss. Numerous wetlands were lost because of human activities associated with economic development, such as agricultural development, industrialization, and urbanization. The process of wetland loss and alternation were categorized into five types. (1) Wetlands were directly lost by reclamation and development of agricultural land. (2) Levees were constructed on wetlands to prevent flood damage to agricultural land. (3) Houses for farmers were built on the wetlands after reclamation. (4) Roads constructed as infrastructure for farms fragmented the wetlands into small parts. (5) Factories were built on wetlands and paddy fields.

The Use of Winter Water Temperature and Food Composition by the Copepod Cyclops vicinus (Uljanin, 1875) to Provide a Temporal Refuge from Fish Predation

“…The Upo Wetlands are divided into four large and small wetlands (Upo, Mokpo, Sajipo, and Sojibeol), of which Upo (1.28 km 2 ) is larger than the combined area of the other three wetlands (1.05 km 2 ). In the past, the Upo Wetlands were intermittent wetlands with very large water level changes depending on flooding in Topyeong Stream; however, it has maintained its current form and water depth since the construction of an embankment [ 43 ]. The water depth of the Upo Wetlands ranges from 0.2 m in the littoral zone to 1.2 m in the center.…”

Peer Review #1 of "The influence of surrounding land cover on wetland habitat conditions: a case study of inland wetlands in South Korea (v0.1)"

“…Floodplain wetlands have decreased globally (e.g., in Europe and North America: up to a 90% loss; Australia: about a 50% loss), and more than half of the area was lost due to conversion to agricultural fields and dam construction (Kingsford, 2000;Tockner & Stanford, 2002). In South Korea, most of the floodplain wetlands were lost due to the construction of levees at a high elevation and the conversion of land to agricultural fields (Im et al, 2017). Recently, sixteen large weirs were newly built in the four major rivers and floodplains, further modifying the hydrologic condition of major river systems (Im et al, 2015).…”

The influence of surrounding land cover on wetland habitat conditions: a case study of inland wetlands in South Korea

“…Floodplain wetlands have decreased globally (e.g., in Europe and North America: up to a 90% loss; Australia: about a 50% loss), and more than half of the area was lost due to conversion to agricultural fields and dam construction (Kingsford, 2000;Tockner & Stanford, 2002). In South Korea, most of the floodplain wetlands were lost due to the construction of levees at a high elevation and the conversion of land to agricultural fields (Im et al, 2017). Recently, sixteen large weirs were newly built in the Table 3 Multinomial logistic regression model of wetland condition rankings with characteristics of surrounding environments.…”

“…The agricultural conversion constituted the largest part of wetland loss during the 1930s in South Korea. Reclamations for the construction of roads and industrial complexes were rapidly increased in the late 1980s (Im et al, 2017). About 60% of floodplain wetlands developed in the lower Nakdong River disappeared in the last 90 years.…”