• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.203-213
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• 1998

To investigate impacts of waste disposal on the marine environment for 9 years since dumping activity commenced in the Yellow Sea, chemical analysis of seawater has been done in and around the ocean dumping site. Results show that biogeochemical changes have occurred locally in the dumping area compared with the reference area, resulting in low dissolved oxygen saturation, low pH, and high accumulation of nutrients in the bottom layer. According to cluster analysis, chemical environment of the study area can be largely divided into surface layer and bottom layer, and again the bottom layer can be divided into that of dumping area where nutrients are accumulated and that of reference area. Low pH, low dissolved oxygen, high COD and accumulation of nutrients mainly characterize the dumping area. Average concentration of total inorganic nitrogen in the bottom layer below the thermocline has increased from $3.7{\mu}M$ to $9.5{\mu}M$, 250% accumulation in the dumping area since 1988. Therefore, the present results clearly show that the dumping site of Yellow Sea has received excessive sewage input beyond the environmental assimilatory capacity during the last decade. It may result in serious aggravation of seawater quality and basic ecosystem, and devastation of overall fishing grounds of Yellow Sea in the near future.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.97-107
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• 2015

Wetlands constitute a transitional zone between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems and have unique characteristics such as frequent inundation, inflow of nutrients from terrestrial ecosystems, presence of plants adapted to grow in water, and soil that is occasionally oxygen deficient due to saturation. These characteristics and the presence of vegetation determine physical and chemical properties that affect decomposition rates of organic matter (OM). Decomposition of OM is associated with activities of various extracellular enzymes (EE) produced by bacteria and fungi. Extracellular enzymes convert macromolecules to simple compounds such as labile organic carbon (C), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and sulfur (S) that can be easily taken up by microbes and plants. Therefore, the enzymatic approach is helpful to understand the decomposition rates of OM and nutrient cycling in wetland soils. This paper reviews the physical and biogeochemical factors that regulate extracellular enzyme activities (EEa) in wetland soils, including those of ${\beta}$-glucosidase, ${\beta}$-N-acetylglucosaminidase, phosphatase, arylsulfatase, and phenol oxidase that decompose organic matter and release C, N, P, and S nutrients for microbial and plant growths. Effects of pH, water table, and particle size of OM on EEa were not significantly different among sites, whereas the influence of temperature on EEa varied depending on microbial acclimation to extreme temperatures. Addition of C, N, or P affected EEa differently depending on the nutrient state, C:N ratio, limiting factors, and types of enzymes of wetland soils. Substrate quality influenced EEa more significantly than did other factors. Also, drainage of wetland and increased temperature due to global climate change can stimulate phenol oxidase activity, and anthropogenic N deposition can enhance the hydrolytic EEa; these effects increase OM decomposition rates and emissions of $CO_2$ and $CH_4$ from wetland systems. The researches on the relationship between microbial structures and EE functions, and environmental factors controlling EEa can be helpful to manipulate wetland ecosystems for treating pollutants and to monitor wetland ecosystem services.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.289-300
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• 2013

In this study, two types of wetland plants, Eichhornia crassipes (a floating plant) and Ceratophyllum demersum (a submerged plant) were introduced to wetland mesocosms to understand how the water properties of wetlands such as pH, dissolved oxygen content, water temperature, oxidation reduction potential, and nutrient concentrations are affected by different types of wetland plant. The floating plant lives on the water surface and can block light penetration; it exhibited the lowest water temperature and temperature difference between lower and upper layers. After the addition of contaminants, the dissolved oxygen (DO) concentration decreased abruptly but recovered continuously in all mesocosms; especially the submerged plants, which photosynthesize in water, showed the largest increases in DO and diel periodicity DO, as well as in pH value. The oxidation-reduction potential in both water and sediment were affected by the presence of wetland plants and plant type and the results suggest that various aspects of wetland biogeochemistry are affected by the presence and type of wetland plants. The total nitrogen and phosphorous concentrations in water decreased in the following order: Water only < Water + Soil < Floating Plants < Submerged Plants. Although both floating and submerged plants can control algal concentrations, the effect was more prominent for floating plants.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.20 no.1 s.51
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• pp.47-60
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• 2007

While sedimentological researches on Western coastal tidal flats of Korea have been much pelformed previously, mineralogical and biogeochemical studies are beginning to be studied. The objectives of this study were to investigate mineralogical characteritics of the inter-tidal flat sediments and to explore phase transformation of iron(oxyhydr)oxides and biomineralization by metal-reducing bacteria enriched from the inter-tidal flat sediments from Muan, Jeollanam-do, Korea. Inter-tidal flat sediment samples were collected in Chungkye-myun and Haeje-myun, Muan-gun, Jeollanam-do. Particle size analyses were performed using the pipette method and sedimentation method. The separates including sand, silt and clay fractions were examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and X-ray diffiaction (XRD). After enriching the metal-.educing bacteria from the into,-tidal flat sediments, the bacteria were used to study phase transformation of the synthesized iron (oxyhydr)oxides and iron biomineralization using lactate or glucose as the electron donors and Fe(III)-containing iron oxides as the electron accepters. Mineralogical studies showed that the sediments of tidal flats in Chung]rye-myun and Haeje-myun consist of quartz, plagioclase, microcline, biotite, kaolinite and illite. Biogeochemical researches showed that the metal-reducing bacteria enriched from the inter-tidal flat sediments reduced reddish brown akaganeite and mineralized nanometer-sized black magnetite. The bacteria also reduced the reddish brown ferrihydrite into black amorphous phases and reduced the yellowish goethite into greenish with formation of nm-sized phases. These results indicate that microbial Fe(III) reduction may play one of important roles in iron and carbon biogeochemistry as well as iron biomineralization in subsurface environments.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.151-163
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• 2003

In this study, we investigated the physiochemical characteristics of temporal estuarine environment formed during the summer flood season (consecutive rainy days with average 50 mm day$^{-1}$ precipitation) in the coastal area of South Sea of Korea. The freshwater from the Seomjin River was characterized by lower temperature, salinity and pH, and high concentrations of COD and nutrients. In the summer flood season, such peculiar Somejin-River freshwater was dispersed southward along the coast of Yeosubando-Dolsando-Geumodo, form-ing temporal estuarine environment (defined as "Coastal Pseudo-Estuary" in this study) throughout the entire study area (as far as 60 km from the Seomjin River mouth). Compared to the winter dry season, the DIN/DIP ratio was almost doubled (16-36) during the summer flood season. This excessive nitrate supply during the summer flood season was probably due to nitrogenous fertilizer. Distribution and behaviors of physiochemical factors in this coastal pseudo-estuarine environment were controlled not only by the runoff of the Seomjun River (physical mixing of river water with seawater) but also by the biogeochemical estuarine processes which are mostly similar to those of the river estuary.r estuary.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.643-655
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• 2011

This study addresses the periphytons along the Bukhan river stream and examines the biological indices that represents the river and estimate water quality assessment. Bukhan river in 4 major watershed streams (Bukchon-Hangeychon, Narinchon, Inbukchon, and Soyang river) was selected in 9 points. Land use pattern along the streams showed marked differenced in agriculture areas and forest areas. Lower Soyang streams showed blue-green algae and green algae also appeared in evenly pattern. Thus, the pollution source, biomass and distribution are somewhat correlated, and BOD, SS, biodiversity, and evenness showed a similar pattern. This situation can lead to conclusion of oligotrophic lake with good condition. Therefore, current biological index and is not so desirable for stream degree standard water quality and nutrient level.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.115-132
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• 2009

We defined a dam as a wetland for assessing wetland functions of man made dam. We compared Boryung dam with Upo wetland by HGM assessment. Hydrologic functions of Boryung dam are not good at short term water storage, but good at long term water storage. Biogeochemical functions of Boryung dam are about 50% of Upo wetland's functions. Boryung dam is a good wetland as a plant habitats and animal habitats. But functions as a habitat for birds were not good. With this study we look forward to making clear merits and demerits of Boryung dam’s functions as a wetland.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.25-37
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• 2014

To understand the degradation processes of organic matter related to sulfate reduction by Sulfate Reduction Bacteria (SRB) in the tidal flat sediments of Hwang-do and Sogeun-ri, Tae-an Peninsula in Chungnam-do, biogeochemical characteristics were analyzed and highlighted using specific microbial biomarkers. The organic geochemical parameters (TOC, ${\delta}^{13}C_{org}$, C/N ratio, long-chain-n-alkane) indicate that most of the organic matter has been derived from marine phytoplankton and bacteria in the fine-grained sediment of Sogeun-ri, although terrestrial plant components have occasionally been incorporated to a significant degree in the coarse-grained sediment of Hwang-do. The concentration of sulfate in pore water is a constant tendency with regard to depth profile, while methane concentration appears to be slightly different with regard to depth profile at the two sites. Especially, the sum of bacteria fatty acid (a-C15:0 + i-C15:0 + C16:1w5) confirms that the these concentrations in Sogeun-ri are related to the degradation of Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene and Xylene (BTEX) compounds from the crude oil retained in the sediments as a result of the Hebei Spirit oil-spill accident in 2007. The methane-related microbial communities as shown by lipid biomarkers (crocetane, PMI) are larger in some sedimentary sections of Hwang-do than in the Sogeunri tidal flat. These findings suggest that methane production by microbiological processes is clearly governed by SRB activity along the vertical succession in organic-enriched tidal flats.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.263-270
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• 2012

Two kinds of uranium species, oxidized uranium(VI) and reduced uranium(IV), were prepared to be interacted with goethite and montmorillonite to identify sorption characteristic of uranium species, which are very sensitive to the redox-reaction. The reduced uranium was prepared by diluting a substantial uranium(IV) that was concomitantly produced during a sulfate reduction via a sulfate-reducing bacterium. The sorption amount of uranium(IV) by the minerals was relatively lower than that of uranium(VI) because the aqueous uranium(IV) had fine colloidal forms to cause its weak adsorption onto the mineral surfaces. We found that the uranium(IV) phase has a nano-colloid character by the transmission electron microscope, suggesting that the uranium species possibly migrating with the flow of groundwater in underground environments can be the colloidal uranium(IV) as well as the ionic uranium(VI).

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.31 no.10
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• pp.839-844
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• 2009

This research investigates the importance of the microbial metabolic pathways such as denitrification, iron reduction, and methanogenesis, in the degradation of organic matters of the sediments. There are statistically significant differences( P < 0.05) in the rates of denitrification, iron reduction, and methanogenesis according to the location: Site A has no plant, Site B is dominated by Scirpus, and Site C is dominated by Phragmites. Among them, Site C showed different methanogenesis rate depending on the sediments depth. The organic matter content increased from Site A to Site C. Site A had the smallest organic matter content whereas it showed the largest denitrification rate and iron reduction rate. Site C had the largest methanogenesis rate. Denitrification is the dominant pathways based on the assumption that anaerobic degradation of organic matter is mainly carried out through denitrification, iron reduction, and methanogenesis.