Home range and habitat use of translocated endangered species, Cottus koreanus , in South Korea.

The home range and characteristics ofCottus koreanuswere investigated using passive integrated transponder (PIT) telemetry in the Gulji Stream, Korea, where the target species was artificially translocated. After release, tagged individuals moved up to 78 m away from the release site in search of proper habitats. The average distance moved until settlement was 17.1 m. The observed home range of settled individuals had longitudinal sections of 9.9 ± 3.6 m and surface areas of 7.2 ± 2.7 m2. This is comparable to congeneric species that inhabit similar ecological habitats. Once individuals had settled, they rarely moved from that site except during the spring season. The typical microhabitat characteristics of the sites where the released individuals settled are: water depth of 5–10 cm, water velocity of 0.1–0.3 m s−1, and the size of boulders and cobbles of 10–20 cm in diameter. This study of translocatedC. koreanusindividuals provides detailed information about habitats that can be used for effective habitat restoration and successful translocations attempts of this species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]