Change of Avifauna Following Restoration and Management in Cheonggye Stream, Seoul, Korea

Abstract

This study was conducted between 2006 and 2010 and evaluated the changes in avifauna following the restoration of Cheonggyecheon (Stream) to propose appropriate methods of management. The result of the 5 year study recorded a total of 46 species and 1,465 individuals (maximum count). Important dominant species included the domestic pigeon (Columba livia), the most dominant species at 43.8% dominance, followed by the tree sparrow (Passer montanus) (18.2%), parrotbill (Paradoxornis webbianus) (8.9%), spot-billed duck (Anas poecilorhyncha) (4.2%) and the mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) (4.2%). Avifauna of Cheonggyecheon (Stream) exhibited an increase until 2008, then showed a decrease, and this may be caused by the high carrying capacity of Cheonggyecheon (Stream). In terms of the avifauna of individual sections, the number of species and individuals, species diversity and species richness increased nearing downstream, and upstream sites (St. 1 - St.3) displayed a high level of similarity. Water birds were observed in an especially high level in the downstream region. This may be caused by the fact that the upstream region is characterized by narrow stream width, fast water flow and confined space suitable for habitation, and the fact that downstream includes larger and more diverse habitats compared to upstream. As management measures, the upstream region requires the maintenance of shrubs using revetment, and the downstream region requires the addition of resting grounds for water birds and the expansion of emerging plant colonies within revetment.