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{{Short description|Flora and Fauna of Korea}}
{{Short description|Flora and fauna of Korea}}
The wildlife of [[Korea]] belongs to the [[Palearctic realm]]. Native or [[endemic]] species of the [[Korean Peninsula]] include [[Korean hare]], [[Water deer|Korean water deer]], [[Korean field mouse]], [[Korean brown frog]], [[Korean pine]] and [[Picea koraiensis|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]].<ref>{{cite news| url = http://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/wilderness-resources/stories/threat-to-korean-wildlife-in-scariest-place-on-earth| title = Threat to Korean wildlife in 'scariest place on Earth'| work = [[Mother Nature Network|MNN]]| date = Sep 9, 2012| accessdate = 26 October 2013| url-status = dead| archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20131114050133/http://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/wilderness-resources/stories/threat-to-korean-wildlife-in-scariest-place-on-earth| archivedate = 14 November 2013}}</ref> Overall, DMZ is home to about 70 mammalian species, more than 300 birds and about 3,000 plants.<ref name="Foran">{{cite book | last =Foran | first=Racquel | title =North Korea| publisher =ABDO | year =2013 | page = 34 | isbn =161783632X}}</ref>
The wildlife of [[Korea]] belongs to the [[Palearctic realm]]. Native or [[endemic]] species of the [[Korean Peninsula]] include [[Korean hare]], [[Water deer|Korean water deer]], [[Korean field mouse]], [[Korean brown frog]], [[Korean pine]] and [[Picea koraiensis|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]].<ref>{{cite news| url = http://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/wilderness-resources/stories/threat-to-korean-wildlife-in-scariest-place-on-earth| title = Threat to Korean wildlife in 'scariest place on Earth'| work = [[Mother Nature Network|MNN]]| date = Sep 9, 2012| accessdate = 26 October 2013| url-status = dead| archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20131114050133/http://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/wilderness-resources/stories/threat-to-korean-wildlife-in-scariest-place-on-earth| archivedate = 14 November 2013}}</ref> Overall, DMZ is home to about 70 mammalian species, more than 300 birds and about 3,000 plants.<ref name="Foran">{{cite book | last =Foran | first=Racquel | title =North Korea| publisher =ABDO | year =2013 | page = 34 | isbn =978-1617836329}}</ref>


At the same time the populations of [[bear]]s, [[lynx]]es, [[tiger]]s, wolves, [[dhole]]s and [[leopard]]s, which once inhabited the Korean Peninsula, are presently very rare or extirpated, and likewise large ungulates (with the exceptions of roe deer, water deer and wild boar) are uncommon.<ref name="Salter">{{cite book | last1 =Salter | first1 =Christopher|last2=Gritzner|first2=Charles| title =North Korea| publisher =Infobase Publishing | year =2007 | page = 25 | isbn =1438105266 }}</ref> The local wildlife sustained some damage during the [[Japanese occupation of Korea|Japanese occupation]] in 1910–1945 and subsequent [[Korean War]], particularly due to overhunting of tigers.<ref>{{cite web | url =http://www1.korea-np.co.jp/pk/072nd_issue/98120204.htm| title = Korea Inside Out: Forestry & Fauna|publisher =The People's Korea|accessdate = 26 October 2013}}</ref>
At the same time, the populations of [[bear]]s, [[lynx]]es, [[tiger]]s, [[wolf|wolves]], [[dhole]]s and [[leopard]]s, which once inhabited the Korean Peninsula, are presently very rare or extirpated, and likewise large ungulates (with the exceptions of roe deer, water deer and wild boar) are uncommon.<ref name="Salter">{{cite book | last1 =Salter | first1 =Christopher|last2=Gritzner|first2=Charles| title =North Korea| publisher =Infobase Publishing | year =2007 | page = 25 | isbn =978-1438105260 }}</ref> The local wildlife sustained major damage during the [[Japanese occupation of Korea|Japanese occupation]] in 1910–1945 and subsequent [[Korean War]], particularly due to overhunting of tigers.<ref>{{cite web | url =http://www1.korea-np.co.jp/pk/072nd_issue/98120204.htm| title = Korea Inside Out: Forestry & Fauna|publisher =The People's Korea|accessdate = 26 October 2013}}</ref>


==By region==
==By region==
Line 8: Line 8:


==Fauna==
==Fauna==
⚫
The [[Eastern great egret|white heron]] has long been a symbol of local nature imagery and poetry.<ref name="Salter"/> The Korean Peninsula accommodates 515 reported species of birds, which, as of 2011, was about 4% of the world total.<ref name="s&d">{{cite magazine | url =http://www.sciencediplomacy.org/perspective/2013/engaging-north-korea-through-biodiversity-protection| title = Engaging North Korea through Biodiversity Protection |magazine =Science & Diplomacy|author=Peter H. Raven|date=2013-09-09|access-date= 26 October 2013}}</ref> Plains are inhabited by migratory [[waterfowl]] and [[crane (bird)|cranes]]. The open countryside is inhabited by the [[common pheasant]]. South Korean wetlands support over one million wintering [[duck]]s and [[geese]].
{{see also|Tiger in Korean culture}}
⚫
Korean fauna originates in ecosystems that can be seen in China, and are particularly abundant in birds nowadays, like White Heron, which has been a symbol of local nature imagery and poetry.<ref name="Salter"/> The Korean Peninsula accommodates 515 reported species of birds, which as of 2011 is about 3–5% of the world total.<ref name="s&d">{{cite magazine | url =http://www.sciencediplomacy.org/perspective/2013/engaging-north-korea-through-biodiversity-protection| title = Engaging North Korea through Biodiversity Protection |magazine =Science & Diplomacy|author=Peter H. Raven|date=2013-09-09|access-date= 26 October 2013}}</ref> South Korea has about 370 bird species, of which about fifty species are permanent residents and the rest are migratory. Plains are inhabited by migratory [[waterfowl]] and [[crane (bird)|cranes]]. The open countryside is inhabited by the [[common pheasant]]. South Korean wetlands support over one million wintering [[duck]]s and [[geese]].


[[Carnivora]]n animals include [[weasel]]s, [[badger]]s and [[marten]]. Northern part of the Korean Peninsula is home to [[antelope]]s and [[raccoon dog]]s.
[[Carnivora]]ns include [[weasel]]s, [[badger]]s and [[marten]]. The northern part of the Korean Peninsula is home to [[antelope]]s and [[raccoon dog]]s.


Aquatic fauna includes about 212 species of [[freshwater fish]].<ref name="noaa">{{cite web | url =http://www.lib.noaa.gov/retiredsites/korea/endangered_species/endangered.htm| title = Endangered fish in Korea |publisher =[[NOAA]]| accessdate = 26 October 2013}}</ref> Four species of them received the status of Natural Monument Fish – [[Anguilla marmorata|marbled eel]], [[spotted barbel]], [[Brachymystax lenok|Manchurian trout]] and [[golden mandarin fish]].<ref name="noaa"/> The Korean Peninsula has a significant number of native freshwater fish species, which includes [[Korean taimen]], [[Coreobagrus|Korean stumpy bullhead]], [[Korean spotted hopper]], [[Liobagrus mediadiposalis|south torrent catfish]] and [[black shiner]].<ref name="lnt">{{cite web | url =http://lntreasures.com/koreasouth.html| title = South Korea |publisher =Living National Treasures| accessdate = 26 October 2013}}</ref> Endemic marine fauna includes [[Korean skate]] and [[Sebastes schlegelii|Korean rockfish]].<ref name="lnt"/>
Aquatic fauna includes about 212 species of [[freshwater fish]].<ref name="noaa">{{cite web | url =http://www.lib.noaa.gov/retiredsites/korea/endangered_species/endangered.htm| title = Endangered fish in Korea |publisher =[[NOAA]]| accessdate = 26 October 2013}}</ref> Four species of them received the status of Natural Monument Fish – [[Anguilla marmorata|marbled eel]], [[spotted barbel]], [[Brachymystax lenok|Manchurian trout]] and [[golden mandarin fish]].<ref name="noaa"/> The Korean Peninsula has a significant number of native freshwater fish species, which includes [[Korean taimen]], [[Coreobagrus|Korean stumpy bullhead]], [[Korean spotted hopper]], [[Liobagrus mediadiposalis|south torrent catfish]] and [[black shiner]].<ref name="lnt">{{cite web | url =http://lntreasures.com/koreasouth.html| title = South Korea |publisher =Living National Treasures| accessdate = 26 October 2013}}</ref> Endemic marine fauna includes [[Korean skate]] and [[Sebastes schlegelii|Korean rockfish]].<ref name="lnt"/>

Korea's aquatic invertebrate biodiversity needs to be studied extensively.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Kotov |first1=Alexey A. |last2=Jeong |first2=H.G.I. |last3=Lee |first3=W. |date=2012-07-04 |title=Cladocera (Crustacea: Branchiopoda) of the south-east of the Korean Peninsula, with twenty new records for Korea |journal=[[Zootaxa]] |volume=3368 |issue=1 |pages=50-90 |doi=10.11646/zootaxa.3368.1.4 |issn=1175-5326 |doi-access=free}}</ref> Some groups of the [[water flea]]s are cryptic species or species flocks.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Kotov |first1=Alexey A. |last2=Garibian |first2=Petr G. |last3=Bekker |first3=Eugeniya I. |last4=Taylor |first4=Derek J. |last5=Karabanov |first5=Dmitry P. |date=2020-06-17 |title=A new species group from the ''Daphnia curvirostris'' species complex (Cladocera: Anomopoda) from the eastern Palaearctic: taxonomy, phylogeny and phylogeography |journal=[[Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society]] |volume=191 |issue=3 |pages=772–822 |doi=10.1093/zoolinnean/zlaa046 |issn=0024-4082 |doi-access=}}</ref>


The number of insects in the Korean Peninsula is estimated at about 12,300 species.<ref name="s&d"/>
The number of insects in the Korean Peninsula is estimated at about 12,300 species.<ref name="s&d"/>


==Flora==
==Flora==
[[File:Aralia cordata var. continentalis 02.JPG|thumb|Aralia cordata var. continentalis 02]]
[[File:Aralia cordata var. continentalis 02.JPG|thumb|''Aralia cordata'' var. ''continentalis'']]
{{see also|Korean garden}}
The Korean Peninsula is home to about 3,034 species of [[vascular plants]], which belong to 217 [[Family (biology)|families]], 1,045 [[genera]] and 406 [[infraspecific taxa]]. Korean forests include evergreen pines and deciduous trees – [[maple]], [[birch]], [[Populus|poplar]], [[oak]], [[Fraxinus|ash]] and [[elm]]. Common [[fruit trees]] include [[apple]], [[pear]], [[peach]], [[apricot]], [[plum]], [[persimmon]] and [[Chinese quince]]. High mountains feature exclusively [[alpine plants]]. Southern coastal areas harbour [[citrus]] plants. Several hundreds plant species are considered [[Medicinal plants|medicinal]]. ''[[Hibiscus syriacus]]'' is the [[national flower]] of South Korea.
The Korean Peninsula is home to about 3,034 species of [[vascular plants]], which belong to 217 [[Family (biology)|families]], 1,045 [[genera]] and 406 [[infraspecific taxa]]. Korean forests include evergreen pines and deciduous trees – [[maple]], [[birch]], [[Populus|poplar]], [[oak]], [[Fraxinus|ash]] and [[elm]]. Common [[fruit trees]] include [[apple]], [[pear]], [[peach]], [[apricot]], [[plum]], [[persimmon]] and [[Chinese quince]]. High mountains feature exclusively [[alpine plants]]. Southern coastal areas harbour [[citrus]] plants. Several hundreds plant species are considered [[Medicinal plants|medicinal]]. ''[[Hibiscus syriacus]]'' is the [[national flower]] of South Korea.


Line 32: Line 32:
{{Portal|Environment|Ecology}}
{{Portal|Environment|Ecology}}
*[[List of mammals of Korea]]
*[[List of mammals of Korea]]
*[[List of non-passerine birds of Korea]]
*[[List of birds of Korea]]
*[[List of amphibians of Korea]]
*[[List of amphibians of Korea]]
*[[List of reptiles of Korea]]
*[[List of reptiles of Korea]]

Latest revision as of 17:18, 23 February 2024

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.[1] Overall, DMZ is home to about 70 mammalian species, more than 300 birds and about 3,000 plants.[2]

At the same time, the populations of bears, lynxes, tigers, wolves, dholes and leopards, which once inhabited the Korean Peninsula, are presently very rare or extirpated, and likewise large ungulates (with the exceptions of roe deer, water deer and wild boar) are uncommon.[3] The local wildlife sustained major damage during the Japanese occupation in 1910–1945 and subsequent Korean War, particularly due to overhunting of tigers.[4]

By region

[edit]

Divided by the DMZ, wildlife of Korean peninsula can be further divided into wildlife of North Korea and wildlife of South Korea.

Fauna

[edit]

The white heron has long been a symbol of local nature imagery and poetry.[3] The Korean Peninsula accommodates 515 reported species of birds, which, as of 2011, was about 4% of the world total.[5] Plains are inhabited by migratory waterfowl and cranes. The open countryside is inhabited by the common pheasant. South Korean wetlands support over one million wintering ducks and geese.

Carnivorans include weasels, badgers and marten. The northern part of the Korean Peninsula is home to antelopes and raccoon dogs.

Aquatic fauna includes about 212 species of freshwater fish.[6] Four species of them received the status of Natural Monument Fish – marbled eel, spotted barbel, Manchurian trout and golden mandarin fish.[6] The Korean Peninsula has a significant number of native freshwater fish species, which includes Korean taimen, Korean stumpy bullhead, Korean spotted hopper, south torrent catfish and black shiner.[7] Endemic marine fauna includes Korean skate and Korean rockfish.[7]

Korea's aquatic invertebrate biodiversity needs to be studied extensively.[8] Some groups of the water fleas are cryptic species or species flocks.[9]

The number of insects in the Korean Peninsula is estimated at about 12,300 species.[5]

Flora

[edit]
Aralia cordata var. continentalis

The Korean Peninsula is home to about 3,034 species of vascular plants, which belong to 217 families, 1,045 genera and 406 infraspecific taxa. Korean forests include evergreen pines and deciduous trees – maple, birch, poplar, oak, ash and elm. Common fruit trees include apple, pear, peach, apricot, plum, persimmon and Chinese quince. High mountains feature exclusively alpine plants. Southern coastal areas harbour citrus plants. Several hundreds plant species are considered medicinal. Hibiscus syriacus is the national flower of South Korea.

The flora of North Korea has over 100 endemic species of vascular plants.[10]

Preservation

[edit]

A member of the Convention on Biological Diversity since 1994, South Korea has 298 protected areas, of which 289 are IUCN-categorized. The country joined IUCN in 2006. Hallasan National Park was designated by UNESCO as a Biosphere Reserve in 2002, a World Natural Heritage in 2007, and a Global Geopark in 2010, making the associated Jeju Island the only place on Earth to receive all three UNESCO designations in the field of natural sciences.[11] In 1963 Korea Association for the Conservation of Nature was established.[citation needed] In 1997 the non-profit organization International Aid for Korean Animals was founded to promote animal protection and humane treatment.[citation needed] Animal Rescue Korea, an English-language internet resource, helps animals in South Korea.[citation needed]

North Korea adopted a Ten Year Plan for Afforestation/Reforestation to revive two million hectares of degraded forests.[citation needed]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Threat to Korean wildlife in 'scariest place on Earth'". MNN. Sep 9, 2012. Archived from the original on 14 November 2013. Retrieved 26 October 2013.
  2. ^ Foran, Racquel (2013). North Korea. ABDO. p. 34. ISBN 978-1617836329.
  3. ^ a b Salter, Christopher; Gritzner, Charles (2007). North Korea. Infobase Publishing. p. 25. ISBN 978-1438105260.
  4. ^ "Korea Inside Out: Forestry & Fauna". The People's Korea. Retrieved 26 October 2013.
  5. ^ a b Peter H. Raven (2013-09-09). "Engaging North Korea through Biodiversity Protection". Science & Diplomacy. Retrieved 26 October 2013.
  6. ^ a b "Endangered fish in Korea". NOAA. Retrieved 26 October 2013.
  7. ^ a b "South Korea". Living National Treasures. Retrieved 26 October 2013.
  8. ^ Kotov, Alexey A.; Jeong, H.G.I.; Lee, W. (2012-07-04). "Cladocera (Crustacea: Branchiopoda) of the south-east of the Korean Peninsula, with twenty new records for Korea". Zootaxa. 3368 (1): 50–90. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.3368.1.4. ISSN 1175-5326.
  9. ^ Kotov, Alexey A.; Garibian, Petr G.; Bekker, Eugeniya I.; Taylor, Derek J.; Karabanov, Dmitry P. (2020-06-17). "A new species group from the Daphnia curvirostris species complex (Cladocera: Anomopoda) from the eastern Palaearctic: taxonomy, phylogeny and phylogeography". Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 191 (3): 772–822. doi:10.1093/zoolinnean/zlaa046. ISSN 0024-4082.
  10. ^ "North Korea". Living National Treasures. Retrieved 26 October 2013.
  11. ^ "Ethnopharmacological survey of medicinal plants in Jeju Island, Korea". Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine. Retrieved 26 October 2013.
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