New Confirmation of 49 Invertebrate Species Habitats
Strengthening Cooperation for Biodiversity and Natural Ecosystem Conservation
The National Institute of Biological Resources in the Honam region, under the Ministry of Environment, announced on the 25th that it has newly identified 49 species of invertebrates through a joint biodiversity survey conducted with the Korea National Park Service in the special protection zone of Sangbaekdo Island, a national park.
This survey was conducted as part of the collaborative system established among affiliated organizations under the Ministry of Environment's Nature Conservation Bureau. It is significant that the National Institute of Biological Resources in the Honam region, which specializes in the biodiversity of islands and coastal areas, and the Korea National Park Service, which leads natural ecosystem conservation, jointly carried out the survey.
The National Honam Biodiversity Institute and the Korea National Park Service conducted a joint biodiversity survey on Sangbaekdo Island, a special protected area of the national park. Photo by the National Honam Biodiversity Institute
Sangbaekdo Island is located in the central area of the South Sea of Korea and has high biodiversity due to the influence of the Kuroshio Current. The Korea National Park Service designated Sangbaekdo as a special protection zone within a national park in 2016 to protect biological habitats, and the Cultural Heritage Administration designated Sangbaekdo as a natural heritage site (natural scenic spot) in 2011 to preserve the natural ecosystem and protect cultural assets.
In the joint survey conducted in July, 47 species of marine invertebrates that had not been previously recorded on Sangbaekdo and two nationally protected species (Dunhanjin coral and long-branched sea pine) were newly discovered. This is a new record beyond the 96 species of invertebrates related to Sangbaekdo listed in the "Checklist of Invertebrates (excluding insects) in Island Areas" published last year by the National Institute of Biological Resources in the Honam region.
The specimens collected during the survey will undergo taxonomic review and be prepared and preserved as confirmed specimens, which will serve as important basic data for biodiversity conservation research and the establishment of national biological sovereignty.
Yoo Kang-yeol, Director of the Island Biological Research Division at the National Institute of Biological Resources in the Honam region, stated, "This joint survey is a successful example of inter-agency cooperation for the conservation of biodiversity in island and coastal areas and sustainable biological resource research. We will continue to strengthen cooperative systems with universities, related organizations, and researchers and conduct systematic research."
Meanwhile, the results of this study are expected to be used as important data for expanding domestic biodiversity research and establishing biological resource conservation policies.
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