• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
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• v.54 no.9
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• pp.705-718
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• 2021

Climate change has a significant impact on vegetation growth and terrestrial ecosystems. In this study, the possibility of ecological drought was investigated using satellite remote sensing data. First, the Vegetation Health Index was estimated from the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index and Land Surface Temperature provided by MODIS. Then, a joint probability model was constructed to estimate the possibility of vegetation-related drought in various precipitation/evaporation scenarios in forest areas around 60 major ASOS sites of the Meteorological Administration located throughout Korea. The results of this study show the risk pattern of drought related to forest vegetation under conditions of low atmospheric moisture supply or high atmospheric moisture demand. It also identifies the sensitivity of drought risks associated with forest vegetation under various meterological drought conditions. These findings provide insights for decision makers to assess drought risk and develop drought mitigation strategies related to forest vegetation in a warming era.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.112-121
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• 2020

Organic pollution due to coastal development increases the distribution of organic pollution indicators (OPI) and disturbs benthic ecosystems by increasing the number of organic pollution indicators dominant in the target area. However, there is a little researches on the organic pollution levels of benthic ecosystems in subtidal target coast of all over Korea. Therefore, this study analyzed the distribution of macrobenthos in subtidal around the coast development sites of EIA, confirmed the distribution of OPI, and produced the benthic health index-map (organic pollution level) of all coasts of Korea. The benthic health index of the sites was calculated using the density of each OPI, and the image program was used for the benthic health index-map. Organic pollution levels varied by projects for EIA and OPI. Lumbrineris sp. was found to be dominant throughout the coast and correlated with the benthic health index in Korea. Through this study, we will be able to confirm the future organic pollution level in the subtidal ecosystems of the project for EIA through the results of research to macrobenthos in subtidal for EIA. In addition, the distribution of Lumbrineris sp. OPI can be used as an indicator to indirectly evaluate the organic pollution level of the development site.

• Proceedings of the Korea Water Resources Association Conference
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• 2017.05a
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• pp.90-90
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• 2017

물리서식처 분석 하천에서 유량에 따른 수심, 유속, 기층 등의 물리서식처 조건의 변화가 서식처 적합도에 미치는 영향을 수치모의를 통하여 분석하는 방법이다. 기존 물리서식처 분석은 어류를 중심으로 수생태계 평가 및 생태유량산정 등의 다양한 하천관리 문제에 적용되었다. 어류의 경우 수생태계의 최상위 포식자이며 상대적으로 모니터링하기에 용이하고 수생태계에 빠르게 반응하고 이동 및 이주가 단기간에 나타나는 특징이 있다. 또한 상업 및 레크리에이션으로의 활용도가 높기 때문에 사회적인 이목이 어류로 집중되었다. 따라서 많은 연구들이 어류를 중심으로 물리서식처 분석을 실시하였으며, 저서무척추 동물에 대한 분석은 미흡한 실정이다. 저서무척추 동물은 어류의 중요한 먹이원이자 수생태계의 건강성을 나타내는 중요한 지표로 활용되고 있으므로, 수생태계의 통합 및 먹이사슬의 보존을 위하여 저서무척추 동물에 대한 물리서식처 평가는 중요하다. 이 연구의 목표는 하천에서의 저서무척추동물의 군집을 평가할 수 있는 서식처모형을 제시하는데 있다. 이를 위해 저서무척추 동물을 서식기능군에 근거한 기는무리, 붙는무리, 헤엄치는 무리, 굴파는 무리로 분류하여 서식처 적합도 지수를 제하고 보철거 사례에 적용하여 모형의 검증성을 확인하였다.

• Proceedings of the Korea Water Resources Association Conference
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• 2021.06a
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• pp.115-115
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• 2021

식생은 증발산, 강우, 토양 수분 등 다양한 수문기상 요인과 밀접한 관계가 있기 때문에 식생의 상태는 가뭄 발생 시 물 부족에 매우 큰 영향을 받는다. 가뭄에 따른 식생의 변화와 영향을 파악하기 위해서는 식생-기후의 피드백을 이해해야 한다. 식생과 기후변수의 상호관계를 묘사하고 결합 확률을 구성하는 것은 식생-기후의 피드백을 이해하는데 적절하다. Copula 함수는 모든 변수를 연결하는 이점을 가지기 때문에 다양한 확률 변수를 결합하는 강력한 접근방법으로, copula를 통한 확률론적 접근방법은 수문 기상 스트레스에 대한 식생의 반응을 효과적으로 조사할 수 있다. 이에 따라 본 연구에서는 copula 기반의 식생-기후의 상호관계를 통해 가뭄 발생 시 식생이 받을 수 있는 영향을 정량화하고자 한다. 이를 위해 위성 자료를 활용한 식생건강성지수(Vegetation Health Index, VHI)와 위성관측된 강수 및 잠재증발산 자료를 적용하여 높은 공간 해상도에서 한국 전역의 식생 가뭄 가능성을 추정하고자 하였다. 강수 및 잠재증발산 자료를 통해 다양한 가뭄지수를 산정하고, copula 결합 이론을 기반으로 VHI와 가뭄지수 간의 이변량 결합 확률모델이 제안된다. 이에 조건부 확률을 적용하여 다양한 가뭄 시나리오에서 식생의 가뭄 가능성을 추정하고, 가뭄에 취약한 지역을 공간적으로 분석하고자 한다. 이를 통해 가뭄 스트레스에 따른 식생 변화와 생태학적 가뭄의 공간적 특성을 효과적으로 파악할 수 있을 것으로 기대된다.

• Ecology and Resilient Infrastructure
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.227-235
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• 2019

This study monitored Daecheong 1-bo, Daecheong-stream, which carried out the project in 2014, from 2015 to 2016. The technology applied to the stream was evaluated using Periphytic Algae to check contamination indicators and ecological health of the area with an integral river-bed protection using non-toxic materials. The water quality of the monitoring section was confirmed to be above the river environment standard (II), and it was confirmed that the Saproxenic taxa of the river bed protection were higher than the upper and downstream sections. The TDI, which is an index of attachment algae, was shown in the average 51.03 and 52.15 for the pilot project sections in 2015 and 2016, confirming that the index is of the "normal" grade. This is the other sections in the upstream and downstream sections showed higher than "bad", which is thought to have a positive effect on the habitat of the river ecosystem components, especially the microbial population in river bed protection.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.393-401
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• 2013

The objectives of this study were to analyze structures of fish community and the ecological health using a multi-metric fish model, the Index of Biological Integrity (IBI) in the Backje Weir of Geum River during two periods namely before-the-fishkill ($B_f$) and after-the-fishkill ($A_f$). The total number of fish species observed were 32 and among them 10 species (35%) were Korean endemic species. The exotic species observed were 3 which decreased by 0.4% after-the-fishkill ($A_f$). The dominant species were Opsariichthys uncirostris amurensis (13%) at the Bf period and Squalidus japonicus coreanus (17%) at the Af period in the Backje Weir. At after the fishkill ($A_{f-I}$) total biomass was about 10 times lower than the biomass before-the-fishkill ($B_f$). The biomass of Carassius auratus decreased 98% after-the-fishkill and as time passed by the biomass recovered to nearly 100%. Similar decrease in the biomass occurred in the population of Opsariichthys uncirostris amurensis, while Rhinogobius brunneus population increased. According to the structure analysis of fish community, species richness index, evenness index and species diversity index were high but after-the fishkill, the values of indices decreased. Tolerant species (64%) dominated the fish community, and the sensitive species (2%) were rare, indicating the degradation of the ecosystem. According to analysis of the multi-metric model (IBI), the mean model value of the fish community in Backje Weir was estimated as 17.5 indicating a "fair condition".

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.56 no.1
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• pp.45-56
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• 2023

In stream ecosystem assessment, RIVPACS, which makes a simple but clear evaluation based on macroinvertebrate community, is widely used. In this study, a preliminary study was conducted to develop a RIVPACS-type model suitable for Korean streams nationwide. Reference streams were classified into two types(upstream and downstream), and a prediction model for macroinvertebrates was developed based on each family. A model for upstream was divided into 7 (train): 3 (test), and that for downstream was made using a leave-one-out method. Variables for the models were selected by non-metric multidimensional scaling, and seven variables were chosen, including elevation, slope, annual average temperature, stream width, forest ratio in land use, riffle ratio in hydrological characteristics, and boulder ratio in substrate composition. Stream order classified 3,224 sites as upstream and downstream, and community compositions of sites were predicted. The prediction was conducted for 30 macroinvertebrate families. Expected (E) and observed fauna (O) were compared using an ASPT biotic index, which is computed by dividing the BMWPK score into the number of families in a community. EQR values (i.e. O/E) for ASPT were used to assess stream condition. Lastly, we compared EQR to BMI, an index that is commonly used in the assessment. In the results, the average observed ASPT was 4.82 (±2.04 SD) and the expected one was 6.30 (±0.79 SD), and the expected ASPT was higher than the observed one. In the comparison between EQR and BMI index, EQR generally showed a higher value than the BMI index.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.172-186
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• 2022

Benthic macroinvertebrates are important ecological and environmental indicators as primary or secondary consumers, and therefore are widely used in the evaluation of aquatic environments. However, there are no comprehensive river ecosystem monitoring surveys that link the major physicochemical water quality items with benthic macroinvertebrates in urban streams. Therefore, this study investigated the distribution characteristics of benthic macroinvertebrates and physicochemical water quality items (17 items) in Yangjaecheon and Yeouicheon from 2019 to 2020. At the same time, by applying Spearman's rank correlation analysis and nonmetric multidimensional scaling (nMDS) analysis in the water quality data and biotic index, we tried to provide basic data for diagnosing the current status of river ecosystems in major urban rivers in Seoul. Based on the study results, a total of 39 species and 3,787 individuals were identified in Yangjaecheon, the water quality(based on BOD, TOC, and TP) of Yangjaecheon was higher than Grade Ib(good), and the BMI using benthic macroinvertebrates appeared as Grade C(normal) at all the sites. In Yeouicheon, a total of 51 species and 4,199 individuals were identified, the water quality(based on BOD, TOC, TP) was higher than Grade Ib(good) similar to Yangjaecheon, and the BMI of both Upstream and Saewon bridge was Grade B(good), while Yeoui bridge was Grade C(normal). Overall, analysis results for the distribution of benthic macroinvertebrates by a nonmetric multidimensional scaling method showed no significant difference between the two streams (p=0.1491). Also, significant environmental variables related to benthic macroinvertebrates distribution were determined as water temperature and DO. On the other hand, the results of the correlation analysis between biotic index and major water quality items confirmed that R1 and BMI could be used for on-site urban river water quality evaluation.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.184-199
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• 2022

Freshwater soundness can be broadly divided into the health of river ecosystems and social services for human water use, that is, water welfare. In this study the ecological soundness and water welfare index of rivers were calculated, and the freshwater comprehensive soundness was analyzed using the quadrant model for 14 basins in the Geum River basin. As for the ecological soundness of the river, the area upstream of the dam (based on Daecheong Dam) was evaluated as 'good', and the area downstream of the dam was evaluated as 'bad'. On the other hand as for water welfare, the area downstream of the dam with a large population was in a relatively 'good' condition, and the area upstream of the dam had a relatively 'poor' level of water welfare. In terms of freshwater comprehensive soundness, it was found that the basins of Mujunamdaecheon, Bocheongcheon and Daecheongdam showed good ecological soundness and water welfare, and the Geumganggongju, Nonsancheon and Geumganhagueon basins were all poor. The Gapcheon basin showed good results in 2014 due to continuous investment and systematic management. Therefore, it is necessary to find ways to utilize it for other watersheds through benchmarking.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.145-153
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• 2013

It is a global trend that the water management policy is shifting from a water quality-oriented assessment to the aquatic ecosystem-based assessment. The majority of aquatic ecosystem assessment systems were developed solely based on physicochemical factors (e.g., water quality and bed structure) and a limited number of organisms (e.g., plankton and benthic organisms). Only a few systems use plants for a health assessment, although plants are sensitive indicators reflecting long-term disturbances and alterations in water regimes. The development of an assessment system is underway to evaluate and manage lakes as ecosystem units in the Korean Ministry of Environment. We reviewed the existing multivariate health assessment methods of other leading countries, and discussed their applicability to Korean lakes. The application of multivariate assessment methods is costly and time consuming, in addition to the correlation problem among variables. However, a single variable is not available at this moment, and the multivariate method is an appropriate system due to its multidimensional evaluation and cumulative data generation. We, therefore, discussed multivariate assessment methods in three steps: selecting metrics, scoring metrics and assessing indices. In the step of selecting metrics, the best available metrics are species-related variables, such as composition and abundance, as well as richness and diversity. Indicator species, such as sensitive species, are the most frequently used in other countries, but their system of classification in Korea is not yet complete. In terms of scoring metrics, the lack of reference lakes with little anthropogenic impact make this step difficult, and therefore, the use of relative scores among the investigated lakes is a suitable alternative. Overall, in spite of several limitations, the development of a plant-based multivariate assessment method in Korea is possible using mostly field research data. Later, it could be improved based on qualitative metrics on plant species, and with the emergence of further survey data.