• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.476-491
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• 2017

The water spider (Argyroneta aquatica), a rare member of its species, is one of the few insects known to live under water all over the world. In Korea, the water spider can be found only in the Eundae-ri, Yeoncheon, Gyeonggi province, where they are designated as a natural monument. However, loss of habitat is obvious, as the Eundae-ri wetland undergoes hydrarch succession. Loss of habitat has a direct impact on the water spider population. Thus protective measures for the water spider are needed to preserve the water spider habitat. In this study, a sweeping and visual survey of insect species was conducted in the water spider habitat from May to September 2015. The characteristics of each one of the different insect species and the community features were analyzed in this study. A total of 3,929 insects representing 276 species from 13 orders collected for the analysis. The most frequently collected insects from the Order Hemiptera represented 24.2% of total species and 82.3% of the total number of insects. Community analyses showed dominance, diversity, evenness, and richness indices of 0.23, 2.27, 0.41, and 31.2, respectively. Compared with the previous survey data, these results showed that reduction of the spider's wetland habitat caused the most commonly collected insects to adapt and spread to the surrounding terrestrial environment.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.296-306
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• 2021

Elasticity is a statistical technique that interprets the changing pattern of another variable according to a change in one variable as a quantitative numerical value and provides more information than correlation analysis and is widely used in climate change research. In this study the elasticity was calculated and sensitivity analysis was performed using air temperature and water quality data of the major tributaries of the Nakdong River. In addition the confidence interval for the elasticity was calculated using the T-Test and the validity of the elasticity was examined. The strength of elasticity shows high strength in the order of summer>fall>spring>winter and the direction shows regional characteristics with both negative and positive elasticity. After performing hierarchical cluster analysis on monthly observation data they were classified into 5 clusters and the characteristics of each cluster were visually analyzed using a parallel coordinate graph. The direction and intensity of the air temperature elasticity show regional characteristics due to the relatively high population density and complex influencing factors such as sewage treatment plants, small-scale livestock houses and agricultural activities. In the case of TP it shows great regional variability according to the circulation of nutrients in the ecosystem caused by algae growth and death according to temperature changes. Since the air temperature elasticity of the major tributaries of the Nakdong River is over weak and is valid at the significance level of 5%, it was analyzed that there is a change in water quality according to the air temperature change.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.95-101
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• 2019

In tidal flats that lack plants, methane ($CH_4$) fluxes are both positive (gas emission) and negative (gas "sinking") in nature. The levels of methanotroph populations significantly affect the extent of $CH_4$ sinking. This preliminary study examined $CH_4$ flux in tidal flats using a circular closed-chamber method to understand the effects of macroinvertebrate burrowing activity. The chamber was deployed over decapods (mud shrimp, Laomedia astacina and crab, Macrophthalmus japonicus) burrows for ~ 2 h, and the $CH_4$ and $CO_2$ concentrations were continuously monitored using a closed, diffuse $CH_4/CO_2$ flux meter. We found that Laomedia astacina burrow (which is relatively long) site afforded higher-level $CH_4$ production, likely due to diffusive emission of $CH_4$ in deep-layer sediments. In addition, the large methanotrophic bacteria population found in the burrow wall sediments has $CH_4$ oxidation (consumption) potential. Especially, nitrite-driven anaerobic oxidation of methane (AOM) may occur within burrows. The proposed $CH_4$-oxidation process was supported by the decrease in the ${\delta}^{13}C$ of headspace $CO_2$ during the chamber experiment. Therefore, macroinvertebrate burrows appear to be an important ecosystem environment for controlling atmospheric $CH_4$ over tidal flats.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.125-131
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• 2019

The Nakdong Estuary has experienced hydraulic and topographic changes over the last century, which have had negative effects of habitat loss and fragmentation. The population of Scirpus planiculmis, a major food plant for wintering birds in Nakdong Estuary, has decreased over the last decade. To identify factors that influence S. planiculmis population, 6 short core samples (about 30cm) were collected in June and August, 2018. The sand percentage was over 80% in every samples and the average sediment salinity in June and August were $17.8{\pm}1.12psu$ and $18.4{\pm}1.83psu$, respectively. ${\delta}^{13}C$ of sediment cores varied from -25.4‰ to -22.6‰ which fall within the estuarine particulate organic matters. In cores collected in Eulsuk area, the highest ${\delta}^{13}C$ values were observed at the surface (0~1cm) indicating inputs of marine POM (particulate organic matter) to the Nakdong Estuary. No significant difference between vegetation and non-vegetation stations was observed in every items we investigated which might indicate that the physicochemical environment of vegetation area is almost same as that of non-vegetation area. Therefore, the high sand percentage and sediment salinity of Nakdong Estuary might affect the reduction in S. planiculmis population.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.25-37
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• 2022

Climate change is becoming increasingly unpredictable. This has led to changes in various systems such as ecosystems, human life and hydrological cycles. In particular, the recent unpredictable climate change frequently causes extreme droughts and torrential rains, resulting in complex water resources disasters that cause water pollution due to inundation and retirement rather than primary disasters. SWAT was used as a watershed model to analyze future runoff and pollutant loads. The climate scenario analyzed the RCP4.5 climate scenario of the Meteorological Agency standard scenario (HadGEM3-RA) using the normal quantitative mapping method. Runoff and pollutant load analysis were performed by linkage simulation of climate scenario and watershed model. Finally, the results of application and verification of linkage model and analysis of future water quality change due to climate change were presented. In this study, we simulated climate change scenarios using artificial neural networks, analyzed changes in water temperature and turbidity, and compared the results of dams with artificial neural network results through W2 model, a reservoir water quality model. The results of this study suggest the possibility of applying the nonlinearity and simplicity of neural network model to Hapcheon dam water quality prediction using climate change.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.248-256
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• 2023

ESG, which stands for Environmental, Social, and Governance, becomes a keyword in managing a company as it becomes an "indicator" that judge companies. Since the environment has suffered so much damage for economic development, it is now to reflect the enormous environmental costs of the future in the management standard rather than the immediate financial benefits at the expense of the environment. Compared to the days when corporate social responsibility (CSR) was discussed, ESG management has improved significantly as it requires practice beyond the declarative level, but the level of consideration for the environmental field is still not high. There may be many backgrounds, but the biggest problem may be the lack of understanding for other fields. Accordingly, this study aims to inform corporates of the need for investment in the environmental field by explaining ESG reviewed in the environmental field and ESG management required in the environmental field. Furthermore, another purpose is to inform them that ESG management is a win-win strategy that can have a meaningful effect not only in the environmental field where investment is received but also in terms of companies by explaining the benefits that companies can gain through this. To reach this goal, this study proposed a method of restoring a damaged ecosystem based on corporate investment, evaluating its effects based on carbon absorption capacity, and using it as a means of carbon neutrality practice as well as ESG management performance of a company.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.267-273
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• 2023

Algae are an important component of the ecosystem. However, the excessive growth of cyanobacteria has various harmful effects on river environments, and diatoms affect the management of water supply processes. Algal monitoring is essential for sustainable and efficient algae management. In this study, an object detection model was developed that detects and classifies images of four types of harmful cyanobacteria used for the criteria of the algae alert system, and one diatom, Synedra sp.. You Only Look Once(YOLO) v8, the latest version of the YOLO model, was used for the development of the model. The mean average precision (mAP) of the base model was analyzed as 64.4. Five models were created to increase the diversity of the input images used for model training by performing rotation, magnification, and reduction of original images. Changes in model performance were compared according to the composition of the input images. As a result of the analysis, the model that applied rotation, magnification, and reduction showed the best performance with mAP 86.5. The mAP of the model that only used image rotation, combined rotation and magnification, and combined image rotation and reduction were analyzed as 85.3, 82.3, and 83.8, respectively.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.379-385
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• 2023

EDue to climate change and urbanization, the localized heavy rainfall frequently exceeded a design storm rainfall and flood damage has occurred in South Korea. The concept of addressing sustainable river management and environmental and social issues through Nature-based Solutions (NbS) is gaining attention as it seeks to resolve these issues through ecosystem services. Therefore, in this study, the flood reduction effect by river management using NbS was quantitatively analyzed for the Hwang River, which is directly downstream of Hapcheon Dam, South Korea. Floodplain excavation and dyke relocation, which are methods of the NbS, were applied to the flood risk area of the Hwang River. As a result of analyzing the flood level of the river through the unsteady flow analysis of HEC-RAS, we obtained flood level reduction by 8 cm at the confluence of the Nakdong River. The results of this study can be expected to be sufficiently utilized as a basis for use as a management plan through NbS rather than the river management with grey infrastructure.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.160-167
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• 2024

The amphibians serve as environmental indicator species warning of threats from pollution and development, and information regarding their body condition and surrounding habitat can be utilized as crucial indicators for assessing ecosystem health. The objective of this study was to investigate the differences in body condition and the climate environments according to the season and sex of Class II endangered Kaloula borealis. A total of 53 surveys were conducted from June to October 2018, targeting frogs inhabiting the Godeok-dong area of Gangdong-gu, Seoul. Using the weight and length of each individual, the body condition index (SMI, Scaled mass index) was calculated. Results showed a total capture of 396 individuals, consisting of 235 males and 161 females. Females exhibited longer SVL and greater weight compared to males, with higher body condition indices. Monthly body condition indices were lower for males in June, while no differences were observed between males and females from July to September. Among the climate environments where females and males appeared, environmental variables related to precipitation and humidity showed differences. These research findings are deemed crucial for providing fundamental information to ascertain suitable habitats for Kaloula borealis and selecting alternative habitats due to developmental impacts in the future.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.603-617
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• 2018

This study surveyed the diversity and community characteristics of benthic macroinvertebrates and freshwater fish, which are the main animal classifications in a hydro ecosystem, from May to September 2017 in the western plains of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). The results showed a total of 125 species of benthic macroinvertebrates belonging to 66 families, 19 orders, and four phyla in the streams and wetlands. Among benthic macroinvertebrates, Coleoptera (27 spp.: 21.60%) was the largest group in terms of species richness followed by Odonata (26 spp.: 20.80%), non-Insecta (22 spp.: 17.60%), and Hemiptera (11 spp.: 8.80%) occupying in the lentic area. Of the feeding function groups (FFGs), predators (51 spp.: 56.67%) showed a relatively larger presence, indicating the dominance of hygrophilous invertebrates that usually inhabit the freshwater wetlands or ponds. Of the habitat oriented groups (HOGs), climbers (33 spp.: 24.44%) and burrowers (17 spp.: 12.59%) were the dominant groups. This observation is typical in a slow flowing habitat and can lead to the disturbance of the ecosystem due to cannibalism among predators. Cannibalism can be caused by stress induced by various population and environmental factors. For the ecosystem services benchmark (ESB) value, site 13 appeared to be the highest with 82 marks while other sites showed relatively lower rates and indices (III water quality class with ${\alpha}$-mesosaprobic). The analysis result of stability factors showed that almost all sites were evaluated to be the I characteristic group with high resilience and resistance or the III characteristic group that was sensitive to environmental disturbance and formed uneven and unstable communities. Of the freshwater fishes, 46 species (3,405 individuals) belonging to 39 families and 18 orders were identified in all the investigated sites. Among them, Cyprinidae (30 spp.: 65.2%) was the largest group, and Zacco koreanus was identified as the dominant species (728 individuals, 21.4%). The survey of freshwater fish communities found both stable communities (sites 7 and 13) with low dominant index (0.39) and high diversity index (2.29) and unstable communities (sites 2, 3, 8, and 10) in opposite tendency. This survey found five Korean endemic species, 17 species belonging to the export controlled species, two endangered species level II (Lethocerus deyrollei and Cybister chinensis), and rare species (Dytiscus marginalis czerskii) among benthic macroinvertebrates. The survey also found an invasive species, Ampullarius insularus, which was distributed throughout the whole area and thus can continuously disturb the ecosystem in the western plain area in the DMZ. Of freshwater fish, one natural monument (Hemibarbus mylodon) and three endangered species level II (Acheilognathus signifer, Gobiobotia macrocephalus, and G. brevibarba) were observed. The survey also found four introduced species (Pomacea canaliculate, Carassius cuvieri, Lepomis macrochirus, Micropterus salmoides) in the western DMZ area, indicating the need for the protection and conservation measures.