• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.183-189
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• 2012

In this study, the cellular protective effect and antioxidative property of peanut sprout root extracts were investigated. Cellular protective effects of peanut sprout root extracts on the rose-bengal sensitized photohemolysis of human erythrocytes were investigated. The ethyl acetate fraction of extracts exhibited a cellular protective effect in a concentration dependent manner. Particularly, the aglycone fraction of extracts showed prominent cellular protective effects in a concentration range (5~50 ${\mu}g/mL$). They are more effective than that of (+)-${\alpha}$-tocopherol, known as a lipid peroxidation chain blocker. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging activities ($OSC_{50}$) of peanut sprout root extracts on ROS generated in $Fe^{3+}$-EDTA/$H_2O_2$ system were investigated using the luminol-dependent chemiluminescence assay. The ethyl acetate fraction of extracts ($OSC_{50}$; 1.59 ${\mu}g/mL$) showed a similar ROS scavenging activity compare with that of L-ascorbic acid (1.50 ${\mu}g/mL$), known as a strong antioxidant. On the other hand, the order of free radical (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydraxyl, DPPH) scavenging activity ($FSC_{50}$) was (+)-${\alpha}$-tocopherol > 80% MeOH extract > aglycone fraction > ethyl acetate fraction. These results indicate that peanut sprout root extracts can function as an antioxidant in biological systems, particularly skin exposed to solar UV radiation by scavenging $^1O_2$ and other ROS, and to protect cellular membranes against ROS.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.35 no.3 s.99
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• pp.160-171
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• 2002

The impact of summer monsoon on water quality of the lower Nakdong River was evaluated during the summer (June-August) in 1997. Several limnological variables were measured in the interval of $1{\sim}3$ day using an automatic monitoring system (Hydrolab $Recorder^{TM}$) to detect water quality changes caused by rainfall on onehour basis. During the monsoon period (from late June to mid July), 5 times of major rainfall events of >50 mm were recorded in the river basin. Dynamic changes of water quality were observed during the monsoon, and the first rainfall event (June$25{\sim}27$) had a significant influence on the water quality at the lower part of the river. All Parameters were largely changed due to the first rain event, and the changed level was maintained until the end of monsoon period. Nutrient concentrations and turbidity increased and values of the other parameters were declined as a result of water dilution. This rainfall event, Changma, is a meteorological phenomenon caused by the East-Asian monsoon climate. The magnitude and frequency of the rainfall during the early monsoon play an important role in change of water quality and ecosystem characteristics of large river systems.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.35 no.3 s.99
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• pp.145-151
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• 2002

The effect of low pH on physiological changes was studied with the acidophilic green alga, Clamydomonas acidophila, UTCC 122. The growthrates (${\mu}$) were identical, $0.5{\sim}0.7\;day^{-1}$, at pH 3.7${\sim}$6.7 and no significantly different (ANOVA, p =0.134), showing cell volume reduced gradually as they were growing, whereas that at pH 2.7 was falling to zero and cell volume increased dramatically. Chlorophyll a concentration of the cultures incubated for one day was $191{\sim}255\;pg\;cell^{-1}$, after then it declined from $60{\sim}103\;pg\;cell^{-1}$ at pH 3.7${\sim}$6.7 except $210\;pg\;cell^{-1}$ at pH 2.7, which was directly related with cell volume. External carbonic anhydrase (CA) activity was varied from1.1 to$3.7{\times}10^{-4}\;E.U.\;mm^{-2}$, showing the gradualincrease during culture, except at 2.7 and pH 5.7. However there was not found any relationship among the pH gradient cultures. CA molecular mass of C. acidophila was 29 kBa, and concentration of that was identical in all cultures. The proteins of 41 kDa and 63 were not or very　faintly expressed in low pH cultures, in contrast that of 17 kDa more expressed. In this work, we found that C. acidophila could live optimally within a wide range of acidic pH, and 17 kDa of unidentified protein might be concerned with tolerating in low acid environment.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.36 no.2 s.103
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• pp.124-138
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• 2003

This paper aimed to analyze the relationship between alga3 bloom patterns and hydrological, limnological data which were collected from major reservoirs in Korea for 8 years (1990${\sim}$1997). Water temperature of river-type reservoirs showed wider seasonal fluctuations than that of lake-type. pH of lake-type reservoirs was low in winter season but high in summer season. In contrast, river-type reservoirs showed high pH in spring and autumn seasons as well, and very low in summer season. COD of lake-type reservoirs and Paldang reservoir was lower (2${\sim}$3 mg/L) than that of Geumgang and Nagdonggang reservoirs (6${\sim}$9 mg/L). Dissolved oxygen (DO) of river-type reservoirs was higher than that of lake-type reservoirs. Seasonal fluctuation pattern of DO saturation in river-type reservoirs was high (80 ${\sim}$100%) and remained relatively constant whereas lake-type reservoirs showed the highest level (93%) in late spring or early summer, which gradually decreased entering winter season(46${\sim}$06%). And monthly variation of DO saturation showed inverse proportion to water volume in lake-type reservoirs. Nutrients concentration in river-type lake is higher than lake-type. Seasonal fluctuation of nutrients (T-N, T-P) in lake-type reservoirs was relatively small than that of river-type reservoirs. Annual mean N/P mass ratio of lake-type reservoirs was higher than that of river-type. Transparency tended to related with the suspended solid concentration in river-type reservoirs. Algal bloom of lake-type and river-type reservoirs occurred at any time except rainfall and winter periods. And it dominated in summer and early autumn, respectively. Algal bloom of river-type reservoirs was higher than that of lake-type. Relationship between rainfall and chlorophyll- a in lake-type reservoirs was relatively high, however river-type reservoirs showed insignificant.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.129-138
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• 2015

Forest vegetation of Geumsusan (1,016.0 m) and Doraksan (964.4 m) in Woraksan National Park is classified into mountain forest vegetation. Mountain forest vegetation is subdivided into deciduous broad-leaved forest, mountain valley forest, coniferous forest, riparian forest, afforestation and other vegetation. Including 77 communities of mountain forest vegetation and 5 communities of other vegetation, the total of 82 communities were researched; mountain forest vegetation classified by physiognomy classification are 37 communities deciduous broad-leaved forest, 16 communities of mountain valley forest, 8 communities of coniferous forests, 1 community of riparian forest, 15 afforestation and 5 other vegetation. As for the distribution rate for surveyed main communities, Quercus variabilis and Quercus mongolica communities account for 33.031 percent of deciduous broadleaved forest, Cornus controversa community takes up 29.142 percent of mountain valley forest, Pinus densiflora community holds 64.477 percent of mountain coniferous forest holds. In conclusion, minority species consisting of Quercus variabilis, Quercus mongolica, Pinus densiflora, Quercus serrata and Cornus controversa are distributed as dominant species of the uppermost part in a forest vegetation region in Woraksan National Park. In addition, because of vegetation succession and climate factors, numerous colonies formed by the two species are expected to be replaced by Quercus variabilis, Quercus mongolica, Cornus controversa and Fraxinus mandshurica which are climax species in the area.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.153-167
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• 2015

In order to understand the relationship between the distribution of epilithic diatoms and the habitual environments, land-use, water qualities, and epilithic diatoms were studied at 141 sampling sites in the midwestern stream of Korean peninsula (Geum river, Mangyeong river, Dongjin river, and Sapgyo river). The total 183 diatom taxa was appeared in the study, while the dominant species were found to be Nitzschia palea (10.9%) and Achnanthes convergens (8.4%). Based on the abundance of epilithic diatoms, a cluster analysis results indicate that the sampling sites divided the sampling sites into 4 groups (G) at the 25% level. In term of geographic and aquatic environments, G-I and -II accounted for the upper and mid streams of the Geum river, and had large forest areas and good in water quality. G-III accounted for farmland and urban, and high concentration nutrient levels (TN and TP) and electric conductivity. G-IV accounted for mostly farmland, and high levels in turbidity, BOD, nutrient and electric conductivity. CCA results showed that the saproxenous taxa Meridion circulare was the indicator species of G-I, which strongly influenced by altitude and forests. In G-II, the indifferent taxa Navicula cryptocephala was influenced by Chl-a, AFDM, and DO. In G-III and -IV, the indifferent taxa Fragilaria elliptica and saprophilous taxa Aulacoseira ambigua were influenced by electric conductivity, turbidity, and nutrient counts. Meanwhile, random forest results showed that the predicting factor of indicator species appearance in G-I, -II, and -III was found to be electric conductivity whereas in G-IV it was found to be turbidity. Collectively, the distribution of diatoms in the midwestern of Korean peninsula was found to depend more on the land-use and its subsequent water qualities than the inherent characteristics of the aquatic environment.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.147-152
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• 2015

Nitrogen (N) loading from domestic, agricultural and industrial sources can lead to excessive growth of macrophytes or phytoplankton in aquatic environment. Many studies have used nitrogen stable isotope ratios to identify anthropogenic nitrogen in aquatic systems as a useful method for studying nitrogen cycle. In this study to evaluate the precision and accuracy of Kjeldahl processes, two reference materials (IAEA-NO-3, N-1) were analyzed repeatedly. Measured the ${\delta}^{15}N-NO_3$ and ${\delta}^{15}N-NH_4$ values of IAEA-NO-3 and IAEA-N-1 were $4.7{\pm}0.2$‰ and $0.4{\pm}0.3$‰, respectively, which are within recommended values of analytical uncertainties. Also, we investigated spatial patterns of ${\delta}^{15}N-NO_3$ and ${\delta}^{15}N-NH_4$ in effluent plumes from a waste water treatment plant in Han River, Korea. ${\delta}^{15}N-NO_3$ and ${\delta}^{15}N-NH_4$ values are enriched at downstream areas of water treatment plant suggesting that dissolved nitrogen in effluent plumes should be one of the main N sources in those areas. The current study clarifies the reliability of Kjeldahl analytical method and the usefulness of stable isotopic techniques to trace the contamination source of dissolved nitrogen such as nitrate and ammonia.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.379-386
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• 2007

Nonylphenol (NP) has been well known as a major substance of surfactant and/or estrogenic environmental hormone. We tested toxic effects of nonylphenol on the population growth and development of aquatic organism such as algae (Microcystis aeruginosa), heterotrophic nanoflagellate (Diphylleia rotans), micro- (Brachionus calyciflorus) and macro-zooplankton (Daphnia magna) among eutrophic water food-web constituents. Dosage of NP treatment were 4 to 5 grades, according to each organism's tolerance based on pre-experiments; algae (0.01, 0.05, 0.10, 1.00 mg $L^{-1}$) Diphylleia rotans (0.5, 1,2. 5,6, 10 ${\mu}g\;L^{-1})$, Brachionus calyciflorus (0.1, 0.5, 1, 2.5, 5 ${\mu}g\;L^{-1}$), and Daphnia magna (0.5, 1, 5, 10, 50 ${\mu}g\;L^{-1}$), respectively. Toxic effects were measured by the changes of biomass of each organism after NP treatment. All experiments were triplication. As suggested, the higher concentration of NP treatment, the stronger inhibited the population growth of all organisms tested. In view of toxicity, a variety of concentration of NP showed a significant growth inhibition to organism; algae to 0.05 $mg\;L^{-1}$, D. rotans and B. calyciflorus to 1.0 ${\mu}g\;L^{-1}$, and D. magna to 5.0 ${\mu}g\;L^{-1}$, respectively. The $EC_{50}$ of each organism to the nonylphenol are as follows; 3. calyciflorus (2.49 ${\mu}g\;L^{-1}$), D. rotans (3.49 ${\mu}g\;L^{-1}$), D. magna (7.61 ${\mu}g\;L^{-1})$, and M. aeruginosa (47 ${\mu}g\;L^{-1})$. NP toxic effects on the development of zooplankton like egg production showed some differences in treatment concentration between Brachionus calyciflorus ${0.1{\sim}1NP{\mu}g\;L^{-1})$ and Daphnia magna $(0.5{\sim}5NP\;{\mu}g\;L^{-1})$. These results suggest that a strong growth inhibition of predator or grazer by the nonylphenol can stimulate the algal growth, or can play important role in evoking the nuisance algal bloom in eutrophic water with enough nutrients.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.85-94
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• 2009

This study examines the operational effectiveness of a Convection Current Aeration System (CCAS) in reservoir. CCAS was run from June, 2008 when the thermocline begun forming in the reservoir. This paper reviews the influence of stratification, dissolved oxygen dynamics and temperature in the lake's natural state from June to October 2008. The survey was done on a week basis. Upwelling flow effects a radius of $7{\sim}10m$ at a surface directly and was irrelevant to the strength of thermocline. On the other hand, it was affected the number of working days, and strength of thermocline at vertical profiles of the reservoir. Longer CCAS run, the deeper was the vertical direct flow area. However it didn't break the thermocline during summer season of 2008. The operating efficiency of the CCAS in the reservoir depends on hydraulics and meteological conditions. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) is a very useful tool for evaluating the operating efficiency of fluid dynamics. The geometry for CFD simulation consists of a cylindrical vessel 25 m radius and 40 m height. The CCAS is located in center of domain. The non-uniform tetrahedral meshes had a bulk of the geometry. The meshes ranged from the coarse to the very fine. This is attributed to the cold water flowing into the downcomer and rising, creating a horizontal flow to the top of the CCAS. The result of CFD demonstrate a closer agreement with surveyed data for temperature and flow velocity. Theoretical dispersion volume were calculated at 8m depth, 120 m diameter working for 30 days and 10 m depth, 130 m diameter working for 50 days.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.9-18
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• 2009

The objectives of this study were to evaluate seasonal and interannual variations of water quality and nutrient input (N, P) in Junam Reservoir, a nesting waterbody of migratory birds, over 10 years during 1998$\sim$2007 along with dynamic relations of trophic parameters using empirical models. Concentrations of COD averaged 7.8 mg $L^{-1}$ during the study, while TN and TP were $1.4\;mg\;L^{-1}$ and $83{\mu}g\;L^{-1}$, respectively, indicating an eutrophic-hypereutrophic state. Values of monthly COD had strong positive relations (r=0.669, p<0.001) with conductivity, indicating that summer rainfall resulted in an ionic dilution of the reservoir water by rainwater and contributed better water quality. One-way ANOVA tests showed significant differences (F=$5.2{\sim}12.9$, p<0.05) in TN and TP between the before and after the bird migration. In other words, nutrient levels were greater in the absence of migratory birds than in the presence of the migratory birds, suggesting a no-effect on nutrient inputs by the birds. Also, one-way ANOVA indicated no significant differences (F=$0.37{\sim}0.48$, p>0.05) in $NO_{3^-}N$ and $NH_{3^-}N$ between the before and after the birds migration. Linear empirical models using trophic parameters showed that algal biomass as CHL, had significant low correlations with TN ($R^2$=0.143, p<0.001, n=119) and TP ($R^2$=0.192, p<0.001, n=119). These results suggest that influences of nutrients on the CHL were evident, but the effect was weak. This fact was supported by analysis of Trophic State Index Deviation (TSID). Over 70% in the observed values of "TSI (CHL)-TSI (SD)" and "TSI (CHL)-TSI (TP)" were less than zero, suggesting a light limitation on the CHL by inorganic suspended solids.