| Title |
Development and Application of Korean Thermality Index (KTI) for Biological Assessment on Climate Change |
| Authors |
공동수 ( Dongsoo Kong ) ; 김진영 ( Jin Young Kim ) ; 손세환 ( Se Hwan Son ) ; 오민우 ( Min Woo Oh ) ; 최아름 ( Ah Reum Choi ) ; 변명섭 ( Myeong Seop Byeon ) |
| Keywords |
Altitude; Benthic macroinvertebrates; Climate change; Indicator species; KTI |
| Abstract |
The purpose of this study was to develop a Korean thermality index based on the distribution patterns of benthic macroinvertebrates according to altitude and latitude. Analyzing seasonal data (4,583 sampling units) surveyed and collected during 2007~2011 at 846 sites in South Korea we estimated thermal valency thermal value and indicator weight value of 208 species. Among them 40 species in 6 orders (Decapoda 1 species Collembola I species Ephemeroptera 5 species Plecoptera 17 species Diptera 3 species Trichoptera 13 species) were selected as the candidate indicator species sensitive and vulnerable to warmth along with climate change. KTI and Benthic macroinvertebrate index were tested at three clean streams (Hangye stream Buk stream and Bangtae stream). KTI showed significant differences according to altitude and water temperature whereas the saprobity index BMI showed little differences. This result means that KTI can be applicable to assess the impact of water temperature independently of organic of pollutants. |