The wildlife of South Korea includes 8,271 plant species, 18,117 animal species and 3,528 species of fungi and others. [1] 30,000 species are known to exist in South Korea, but it is estimated that there are more than 100,000 species. [2]
South Korea has complex terrain and is surrounded by water on three sides. Therefore, South Korea has various climate zones and high precipitation, and leading to a diversity of wildlife. [3]
In South Korea, there are 18,117 species of animals, including 1,528 species of vertebrate, 13,025 species of insect and 3,564 species of other invertebrates. [1]
Article 2 of the Wildlife Conservation and Management Act discusses endangered wild animals in South Korea. [4] [5] There are 246 endangered animals in South Korea, [6] with numerous species in need of urgent conservation measures. [7] Endangered wild animals in South Korea include:
Harmful wild animals are wild animals which damage property or endanger people. [14]
Harmful wild animals in South Korea include
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In South Korea, there are 8,271 species of plants, consisting of 4,662 vascular plant species and 3,609 non-vascular plant species. [1] Wild plants in South Korea include species native to Korea such as Pentactina . Despite the biodiversity, ecosystems in South Korea are unstable because of land development. 67 km2 of forest disappear each year, accounting for 0.1% of all South Korean forests. [21]
Korea can be divided largely into three biozones by plant distribution: warm-temperate forest, temperate forest and subalpine forest. Evergreen broad-leaved trees grow in warm-temperate forests. Warm-temperate forests in Korea includes the southern coastal region, Jeju Island and several islands of the southern sea which are under 35°N.
Some of the species here include Quercus myrsinaefolia , Quercus acuta , Quercus salicina , Daphniphyllum macropodum , Castanopsis cuspidata , Ligustrum foliosum nakai, Machilus thunbergii .
Ulleungdo: A sort of trees which reseed with Mt. Seonginbong as a center based on approximately 600 m altitude. Altitudes below 600 m have wild plants in the Southern province that are magnolia, Euonymus japonicus , Camellia japonica , Hedera rhombea , Ardisia japonica , Vitex rotundifolia and others. An altitude of 600 m or above has Fagus crenata and Sorbus commixta . [22]
Jejudo can be divided into coast vegetation and mountain vegetation. Coast vegetation consists of Sinomenium acutum , Machilus thunbergii , Daphniphyllum macropodum , Camellia japonica , Vitex rotundifolia , Centella asiatica . Reynoutria elliptica , Hydrangea serrata , Eleutherococcus senticosus , Aconitum napiforme , Schisandra repanda and others. [22]
South Korea is dominated by temperate forests, which takes up 85% of its territory. Land between the Korean Demilitarized Zone and the northern part of 35°N belong to this . Common species in temperate forest are Carpinus laxiflora , Carpinus tschonoskii and Quercus mongolica . A subalpine forest exists in the Kaema Plateau in North Korea or south-central's higher mountains. Picea jezoensis , Pinus pumila , Abies nephrolepis , Larix gmelinii and Abies holophylla can be found there. [22]
The southern part of temperate forest is contained in a region 37°N at the west coast, 38°N at the east coast and inner land's temperate forest that is a southern part of 36.5°. There are common bamboo, Acer palmatum , Carpinus laxiflora and others. In Jirisan mountain, there are Hemerocallis fulva , Picea jezoensis, Cornus officinalis , Rhododendron mucronulatum , Abies koreana , Eleutherococcus senticosus , Aconitum chiisanense , Angelica gigas and others. In Mt. Deogyusan, there are Aconitum uchiyamai , Sorbus commixta , Acanthopanax sessiliflorus , Cimicifuga simplex and others. In the coast district, there are Camellia japonica , Euonymus japonicus , Daphniphyllum macropodum , Camellia sinensis and others. [22]
The central part of temperate forest contains 39°N at the west coast, 40°N at the east coast and inner land's temperate forest that include between a southern part of 38° boundary line (38th parallel north) and Northern Limit Line of south temperate forest. There are Quercus dentatomongolica , Acer pictum subsp. mono, Betula costata , Zanthoxylum planispinum and others. In Seoraksan Mountain, there are Hemerocallis dumortieri , Ampelopsis brevipedunculata , Rhododendron brachycarpum , Rhododendron fauriae and others. In Odaesan Mountain, there are Astilbe chinensis , Berberis koreana , lily of the valley and others. In Chiaksan Mountain, there are Codonopsis lanceolata , Lactuca indica , Hieracium umbellatum , Aconitum and others. In Mt.Taebaeksan, there are Juniperus chinensis , Taxus cuspidata , Juniperus rigida , Pinus densiflora , Viola diamantica Nakai, Trientalis europaea , Arisaema erubescens and others. In Cheonmasan Mountain, there are Juniperus chinensis , Taxus cuspidata , Juniperus rigida , Draba nemorosa L., Eranthis stellata Maxim, Hepatica asiatica Nakai, Adonis amurensis , Heloniopsis koreana and others. In Mt.Sobaeksan, there are Iris rossii , Hylomecon and others. In Woraksan Mountain, there are Actinidia arguta , Thymus quinquecostatus , Rubus coreanus and others. In Mt.Songnisan, there are Leonurus japonicus , Angelica gigas and others. In Juwangsan mountain, there are Staphylea pinnata , Jeffersonia , Fraxinus rhynchophylla , Rhododendron schlippenbachii and others. In the islands of the west coast, there are Machilus thunbergii , Camellia japonica , Epimedium koreanum , Scopolia japonica , Berberis koreana , Valeriana fauriei , Cornus officinalis , Schisandra chinensis and others. [22]
The northern part of the temperate forest is in between a north limit of central temperate forest and boundary line(38th parallel north). There are Betula platyphylla , Pinus koraiensis , Acer komarovii , Ligularia fischeri , Rhododendron aureum , Epimedium koreanum , rhubarb, Viola mandshurica , Lithospermum erythrorhizon and others. [22]
In South Korea, boreal forests do not exist in the lowlands.[ citation needed ] However, subalpine coniferous forest is found in highland or mountainous district in South Korea. Part of Hallasan, part of Seoraksan, fir forest of Jirisan and Gotjawal Forest in Jeju Province are the subalpine forests in South Korea. At an altitude of 1200 m–1500 m in Hallasan, there is a coniferous forest which consists of pine, juniper, a Korean fir. Fruticeta is formed in 1500 m–1700 m and the alpine zone spread out above 1850 m. South-facing slopes have more mild weather than north-facing slopes. Therefore, its height extends a little more on the south side. [23] [24] [25] [26]
Endangered wild plants are divided into first grade and second grade. [27]
First grade endangered wild plants refers to species of plant in which the number is significantly reduced by natural causes or artificial factors. The species are selected by the minister of environment after a prior consultation with the minister of central administration organization. First grade endangered wild plants refer to the following species:
Second grade endangered wild plants are species of plant in which the number is significantly reduced by natural causes or artificial factors. These plants have the possibility of becoming extinct in the foreseeable future. The species are selected by the Minister of Environment:
The Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) is the unmanned strip of land that exists between North and South Korea. [56] It has been a representation of the two nations' tensions for over 50 years and it is a contributing factor of the events that led to the Korean War in 1950. [56] Since the Armistice between the two nations, the ecosystem of the area has reverted to its natural state due to the lack of human interference; the DMZ and Civilian Control Zone (CCZ) (a buffer to the DMZ) encompass many rivers and an abundant amount of diverse ecosystems along with substantial amounts of plant, mammal, fish and bird species, many of which are globally endangered. [56]
Over 5,000 species of plants and animals have been identified as living in the DMZ, including a significant amount which are considered protected on the endangered species list. [57] These endangered species living in the DMZ include: Siberian musk deer, white-naped crane, red-crowned crane, Asiatic black bear, cinereous vulture and the long-tailed goral. [57]
The DMZ and the CCZ are bordered by land mines which leave the areas untouched by humans. This untouched habitat is significant for persevering the East Asia flyway system of migratory birds from Russia to Australia. The white-naped crane and red-crowned crane populations are most affected. [56]
This area is also home to many other endangered species of birds and mammals, including the Asian black bear, [58] who is considered threatened on the endangered species list due to people harvesting their stomach bile and using it for Chinese herbology. [59]
The importance of wildlife conservation and undisturbed habitats is recognized by many, including the South Korean Ministry of Environment, [57] which wishes to keep the DMZ untouched by people in order to safeguard biodiversity. [58]
The Han River ecosystem is endangered because the water flow changed due to water blocking construction at Ilsan Bridge. Deposition of materials in the river caused environmental damage. The Korean Association for the Protection of Wild Birds claimed to remove the structure, which possibly destroyed the natural ecology and caused the bank to overflow. [60]
The Nakdong River Basin Environmental Office set up an unmanned camera and successfully captured images of the wildlife. In the video, wild animals are seen moving around the alpine wetland and displayed various actions such as hunting and marking their territories. Martens that were observed at this time were selected as endangered animals and they were apex predators in South Korea. The video has great importance to scientific research as it is the first to document the wildlife in real time. In addition, it offers scientists and government officials the opportunity to reconsider the preservation of the alpine climate. [61]
The Nearctic realm is one of the eight biogeographic realms constituting the Earth's land surface.
The Magellanic subpolar forests are a terrestrial ecoregion of southernmost South America, covering parts of southern Chile and Argentina, and are part of the Neotropical realm. It is a temperate broadleaf and mixed forests ecoregion, and contains the world's southernmost forests.
Temperate rainforests are rainforests with coniferous or broadleaf forests that occur in the temperate zone and receive heavy rain.
Cornus nuttallii, the Pacific dogwood,western dogwood, or mountain dogwood, is a species of dogwood tree native to western North America. The tree's name used by Hul'q'umi'num'-speaking nations is Kwi’txulhp.
Jeju Island is South Korea's largest island, covering an area of 1,833.2 km2 (707.8 sq mi), which is 1.83 percent of the total area of the country. Alongside outlying islands, it is part of Jeju Province.
The environment of South Korea is the natural environment of South Korea, which occupies the southern half of the Korean peninsula. Environment - current issues: air pollution in large cities; water pollution from the discharge of sewage and industrial effluents; acid rain; drift net fishing.
The Jeju Volcanic Island and Lava Tubes is a World Heritage Site in South Korea. It was inscribed as one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 2007 because of the Geomunoreum Lava Tube System and the exhibition of diverse and accessible volcanic features which are considered to demonstrate a distinctive and valuable contribution to the understanding of global volcanism.
Rhododendron calendulaceum, the flame azalea, is a species of Rhododendron. It is a deciduous shrub that grows up to 120–450 cm tall. This species of Rhododendron is native to the Appalachian Mountains in the eastern United States, ranging from southern Pennsylvania and Ohio to northern Georgia. It may be extirpated from Pennsylvania and Alabama. It occurs naturally in mixed deciduous forests and is typically found in woodland slopes and mountain balds in the Appalachians, where it prefers dry and rocky mountain woods. The inflorescences of Rhododendron calendulaceum are visited by many animals such as bees, butterflies, hummingbirds and small mammals. It is a popular cultivated plant due to its bright yellow, orange or red flowers.
The wildlife of Cambodia is very diverse with at least 162 mammal species, 600 bird species, 176 reptile species, 900 freshwater fish species, 670 invertebrate species, and more than 3000 plant species. A single protected area, Keo Seima Wildlife Sanctuary, is known to support more than 950 total species, including 75 species that are listed as globally threatened on the IUCN Red List. An unknown amount of species remains to be described by science, especially the insect group of butterflies and moths, collectively known as lepidopterans.
The wildlife of Japan includes its flora, fauna, and natural habitats. The islands of Japan stretch a long distance from north to south and cover a wide range of climatic zones. This results in a high diversity of wildlife despite Japan's isolation from the mainland of Asia. In the north of the country, north of Blakiston's Line, there are many subarctic species which have colonized Japan from the north. In the south there are south-east Asian species, typical of tropical regions. Between these areas lies the temperate zone which shares many species with China and Korea. Japan also has many endemic species that are found nowhere else in the world, making it home to many endangered/rare species.
The black wood pigeon or Japanese wood pigeon is a species of bird in the family Columbidae. It is found in East Asia along shorelines of the Pacific's Korea Strait, Philippine Sea and East China Sea. It is believed to be the largest representative of the genus, Columba, and has a weight of around 550 grams (1.2 lb) and an overall length of 43 cm (17 in). Its natural habitats are temperate forests and subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. The species is in decline owing to habitat loss, habitat degradation, deforestation and hunting. This wood pigeon is endemic to the laurel forest habitat.
The Northern Triangle temperate forests is a temperate broadleaf and mixed forest ecoregion of thick forest covering the mountains of northern Myanmar.
The environment of Korea is the natural environment of the Korean peninsula. Some environmental conditions are relatively uniform throughout Korea, while others differ by region, and particularly between the peninsula's two countries: North Korea and South Korea.
Gotjawal Forest is a naturally formed forest located on the middle slopes of Halla Mountain, Jeju Island in South Korea. It covers the rocky area of ʻaʻā on Jeju Island off the southwestern coast of South Korea. Due to the geographical feature, the region remains largely undisturbed by people. The Gotjawal Forest is an enclave of the Southern Korea evergreen forests ecoregion, and is a favorite place of the Jeju locals.
The wildlife of Russia inhabits terrain that extends across 12 time zones and from the tundra region in the far north to the Caucasus Mountains and prairies in the south, including temperate forests which cover 70% of the country. Russia's forests comprise 22% of the forest in the world as well as 33% of all temperate forest.
The Southern Korea evergreen forests is a temperate broadleaf and mixed forests ecoregion at the southern end of the Korean Peninsula.
The wildlife of Korea belongs to the Palearctic realm. Native or endemic species of the Korean Peninsula include Korean hare, Korean water deer, Korean field mouse, Korean brown frog, Korean pine and Korean spruce. The Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) with its forest and natural wetlands is a unique biodiversity spot, which harbours 82 endangered species such as the red-crowned crane, Amur leopard and the Siberian tiger. Overall, DMZ is home to about 70 mammalian species, more than 300 birds and about 3,000 plants.
Prunus × nudiflora is a Korean native cherry tree originating from Jeju Island. It is a distinct species from Japanese native Yoshino cherry. King cherry is a rare plant and listed as an endangered species. As of April 2017, 194 king cherry trees were growing around Mt. Halla in Jeju Island. According to Gen-ichi Koidzumi, king cherry is erroneously believed to be discovered by a French missionary Émile Joseph Taquet although what he discovered was a different species.
Hatila Valley National Park is a national park in Artvin Province in northeastern Turkey. It consists of a steep-sided river valley at the eastern end of the Kaçkar Mountains. The area is close to the Black Sea and has a Mediterranean climate with warm summers, cool winters and plentiful rainfall throughout the year. The valley provides habitats for a diverse community of plants and animals.
South Korea, also known as Republic of Korea, is a nation located in East Asia. It is a part of the wider Korean Peninsula, with East, West, and South parts of the nation facing the sea. Numerous wildlife exist on the Korean Peninsula. The characteristics of the wild mammals in Korea is that despite South Korea's small territory, there are many medium and large sized animals. It is natural characteristic that medium and large sized animals require large land and vast amount of food to survive. The characteristic of fauna in South Korea follows the regional aspect that the nation is connected to the wider Eurasian continent, resulting, surviving mammals to also have continental elements.