• Ecology and Resilient Infrastructure
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.64-79
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• 2015

We investigated the tidal current, hydrographic data, and benthic environment of major sea cucumber (Holothuroidea, de Blainville, 1834) habitats in Baengnyeongdo, Jindo and Uljin to understand the optimal environmental or ecological habitat for sea cucumbers. The three study areas were characterized by a cold-water mass of temperatures ranging $12{\sim}18^{\circ}C$, with an active circulation between the surface and deep waters. According to an analysis of the tidal current map, a strong flow velocity of $100{\sim}120cm\;s^{-1}$ appeared in Baengnyeongdo and Jindo. The three sea cucumber habitats showed the common characters of a bottom sediment composed of sand-silt, a diverse seaweed colony and benthic organisms, and boulders and rocks which provide a hideout for the organisms. We aimed to draw the optimal habitat condition for sea cucumbers in Korea, and the result showed that the low water temperature, rapid water flow, active vertical mixing between surface and deep waters, bottom composed by sand-silt, large rocks, and diverse seaweed colony and benthic organism were important factors. The optimal habitat for Juvenile sea cucumbers was the intertidal areas characterized by a muddy bottom, reef, and seaweed. The optimal habitat for adult sea cucumbers was characterized by a place where sand and mud are mixed, and the body size of the sea cucumber was proportional to water depth, and the relatively large boulders and rocks compared to the intertidal area.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.421-430
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• 2015

This study was carried out to understand the ecological variations of macrobenthos communities by construction dikes in the subtidal zone of Chonsu Bay. This study analyzed the distribution of benthos, the dominant species, spatial and temporal changes of benthos communities and benthic pollutions in the subtidal zone of Chonsu Bay. A total of 252 species of subtidal macrobenthos with a density of $681ind./m^2$ were studied. In all the seasons, the species diversity was found to be higher near the mouth of the bay. For all the seasons of the year, Lumbrineris japonica was found to be the most dominant species. These dominant species were found to have positive correlations with species diversity and sedimentary parameters such as organic content in sediments. Dominant species of benthos as well as species composition and diversity showed spatial and temporal distribution patterns.Benthic Pollution Index (BPI) values estimated for the stations near the embankment were in the 4~5 levels, which indicates that the organic matter has been polluted. And as for the stations near the mouth of the bay, the BPI values were in the 1~3 levels, which indicates that the organic matter has been relatively less polluted. According to the SAB-curve analysis, the number of transitional point stations became less in the mouth of the bay.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.884-894
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• 2015

To examine the relationship between microphytobenthos biomass and the condition index of Ruditapes philippinarum (manila clam), field observations were conducted seasonally at the tidal flats of Jeongsanpo and Hwangdo, Taean, Korea from February to November, 2012. A total of 122 species of microphytobenthos were identified over the study period with 85 species (30-45 species in season) at Jeongsanpo and 92 species (32-57 species) at Hwangdo. Chlorophyll a concentrations and cell number of microphytobenthos were $79.75mg/m^2$ and $3,255cells/cm^2$ at Jeongsanpo, and $151.50mg/m^2$ and $15,943cells/cm^2$ at Hwangdo, respectively. The dominant species were slightly different: Cylindrotheca closterium, Fallacia forcipata, Fogedia sp., Gyrosigma sp., and Navicula sp. at Jeongsanpo and C. closterium, Detonula pumila, Diploneis sp., Navicula sp. and Merismopedia sp. at Hwangdo tidal flat. Paralia sulcata was the representative species based on cell number at the two study sites. The number of microphytobenthos identified from the digestive organs of manila clams seasonally varied from 18 to 31 species at Jeongsanpo and dominant genus were Amphora, Navicula, Nitzschia and Paralia sulcata. At Hwangdo, the species number of microphytobenthos found in the digestive organs of manila clams were in the range of between 19 and 25 species in season and the dominant genus were Actinocyclus, Amphora, Coscinodiscus, Diploneis, Gyrosigma, Navicula, and Diploneis. The condition index of manila clams were greater at Hwangdo (0.57) than at Jeongsanpo (0.42). Present results could support that the condition index of manila clams is positively correlated with the species richness and chlorophyll a contents of microphytobenthos.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.666-677
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• 2019

In order to understand the distribution of organic matter and heavy metal concentrations in the surface sediments of fishery resources protection areas (FRPAs), we measured the grain size, ignition loss (IL), chemical oxygen demand (COD), acid volatile sulfide (AVS), and concentrations of heavy metals (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Pb, and Zn) in the surface sediments collected at 54 stations of 5 FRPAs (Gamak Bay, Yeoja Bay, Deukryang Bay, Wando coast, and Youngkwang coast) in the southwestern coast of Korea in February 2017. The surface sediments consisted of fine sediment such as mud, with 2.9~8.8Ø (7.4±0.1Ø) of mean grain size. The average concentrations of IL, COD, and AVS in the sediments were 4.63±0.96 %, 13.0±3.1 mgO₂/g·dry, and 0.092±0.124 mgS/g·dry, respectively, and were lower for sediments from the Youngkwang coast than those from other FRPAs. The average concentrations of heavy metals in the sediment were 7.5±0.9 mg/kg for As, 0.04±0.02 mg/kg for Cd, 70.2±9.7 mg/kg for Cr, 15.3±2.8 mg/kg for Cu, 3.3±0.5 % for Fe, 0.014±0.003 mg/kg for Hg, 25.0±6.0 mg/kg for Pb, and 99±14 mg/kg for Zn, respectively, and were relatively higher for sediments in the inner bays than those from the outer bays and coasts. Based on the assessment of sediment samples using the sediment quality guidelines (SQGs), the pollutant load index (PLI), and the ecological risk index (ERI), the surface sediments of FRPAs in the southwestern coast of Korea do not appear to be polluted by heavy metals, suggesting that the heavy metal concentrations in the sediments would not adversely impact aquatic and benthic organisms.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.52 no.3
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• pp.179-191
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• 2019

Heavy metals in stream water and sediments around industrial complex were studied in order to assess the contamination and to identify the potential source of metals. High variability has been observed for both dissolved and particulate phases in stream water with coefficient of variation (CV) ranging from 1.3 to 2.8. The highest metal concentrations in both phases were observed in Gunja for Ni and Cu, in Jungwang for Zn and Pb and in Shiheung for Cd, respectively. These results indicate that the different metal sources could be existing. The concentrations of the heavy metals in sediments decreased in the order of Cu>Zn>Pb>Cr>Ni>As>Cd>Hg, with mean of 2,549, 1,742, 808, 539, 163, 17.1, 5.8, $0.07mg\;kg^{-1}$, respectively. Mean of metal concentrations(except for As) in sediments showed the highest values at Shiheung stream comparing with other streams. In sediments, the percent exceedance of class II grade that metal may potentially harmful impact on benthic organism for Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb was about 57%, 62%, 84%, 60%, 68%, 81% for all stream sediments, respectively. Sediments were classified as heavily to extremely polluted for Cu and Cd, heavily polluted for Zn and Pb, based on the calculation of Igeo value. About 59% and 35% of sediments were in the categories of "poor" and "very poor" pollution status for heavy metals. Given the high metal concentrations, industrial wastes and effluents, having high concentrations of most metals originated from the manufacture and use of metal products in this region, might be discharged into the stream through sewer outlet. The streams receive significant amounts of industrial waste from the industrial facilities which is characterized by light industrial complexes of approximately 17,000 facilities. Thus, the transport of metal loads through streams is an important pathway for metal pollution in Shihwa Lake.

• 한국해양학회지
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.77-90
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• 1995

The sedimentary environments and biostratigrapy of the tidal sediments off the Mankyung-Dongjin River estuary were studied based on sedimentary facies and diatom assemblage analysis. Sediment facies from the five vibracores are mainly clay, silt, and sand facies. The clay and silty sediment facies are more dominant than the sandy facies, and contain diatom frustules. The frequency of the diatom frustules are rate to common, but not found in sandy sediment facies. Bigeneric structures such as burrow and non-bigeneric primary sedimentary structures such as laminated sand and mud or silt and mud couplets, flaser bedding, ripple-cross lamination are found in several stratigraphic levels of the sedimentary sequences. A total of 219 species and varieties, belonging to 61 genera has been identified in the present study. Among them, paralia sulcata is the most abundant species about 30 to 50% of the total diatom frustules. Another predominant species are Cyclotella striata. Thalassionema nitzschioides. Actinoptychus undulatus. Delphineis surirella, Raphoneis amphiceros. Most of the diatoms occurred in this study area are marine, marine-brackish water, and brackish water species, and are benthic and tychopelagic or meroplanktonic species. Also, most of the species are coastal to littoral and littoral to inner neritic species. The occurrences of freshwater species, about 1 to 5% is higher than that of the Namyang Bay tidal sediments. The ecological properties of the diatoms occurred in the study area and primary sedimentary structure such as flaser bedding ripple cross bedding indicate that the deposits are formed under coastal or littoral to subeditorial environments such as tidal zone which was subjected to the influenced of stream water and was more strongly influenced by temperate to warm water than cold water. The sedimentary environments have not been changed distinctively during the time of deposition. The vertical distribution pattern of diatoms in the study area is studied by Q-mode cluster Analysis using spss/pc+ (ver.4.0). The results show that the three cores (GE-3, GE-11, GE-12) are divided into two diatom assemblages, respectively. Biostratigraphic correlation using the data of Q-mode Cluster Analysis are attempt in this study.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.380-389
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• 2007

Stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes were analyzed in suspended particulate organic matter, macroalgae and macrobenthic invertebrates in order to determine the importance of primary organic matter sources in supporting food webs of rocky subtidal and intertidal macroalgal beds in the Korean coasts. Investigations were conducted at the inter tidal sites within Gwangyang bay, a semi-enclosed and eutrophicated bay, and the subtidal sites of the east coast, a relatively oligotrophic and open environment, in May and June 2005. Water-column suspension feeders showed more negative $\delta^{13}C$ values than those of the other feeding guilds, indicating trophic linkage with phytoplankton and thereby association with pelagic food chains. In contrast, animals of the other feeding guilds, including interface suspension feeders, herbivores, deposit feeders, omnivores and predators, displayed relatively less negative $\delta^{13}C$ values than those of the water-column suspension feeders and similar with that of macroalgae, indicating exclusive use of macroalgae-derived organic matter and association with benthic food chains. Most the macrobenthic species were considered to form strong trophic links with benthic food chains. In addition, the distribution of higher $\delta^{15}N$ values in macrobenthic consumers and macroalgae at the intertidal sites of Gwangyang Bay than those at the subtidal sites of the east coast suggests that anthropogenic nutrients may enhance the macroalgal production at the intertidal sites and in turn be incorporated into the particular littoral food web in Gwangyag Bay. These results confirm the dominant role of macroalgae in supporting rocky subtidal and intertidal food webs in the Korean coasts.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.694-706
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to offer the raw data for conservation and restoration of aquatic ecosystem by surveying and analysing a water quality, sediment, benthic macroinvertebrate, fish and hydrophyte in Junam reservoir. In the result of analysing the water quality, pH was 8.2~8.4, 6.0~7.5mg/${\ell}$ in COD, 10.0~10.3mg/${\ell}$ in SS, 8.3~11.5mg/${\ell}$ in DO, 0.1mg/${\ell}$ in T-P and 1.2~1.3mg/${\ell}$ in T-N. In case of the sediments, Cd was 0.47~0.52mg/kg, 7.08~7.43mg/kg in Cu, 0.22~0.32mg/kg in As, 0.02~0.03mg/kg in Hg, 6.20~7.45mg/kg in Pb, 32.80~39.70mg/kg in Ni, 513.0~543.0mg/kg in F and 137.0~140.0mg/kg in Zn. $Cr^{6+}$ was not detected. The benthic macroinvertebrates were 432 individuals including 3 phyla, 5 classes, 9 orders, 26 families, 33 genera and 39 species, and the ecological score of benthic macroinvertebrate community(ESB) was 25. The fishes were 8 families and 14 species, and the invasive alien species were 2 taxa including Micropterus salmoids and Lepomis macrochirus. The hydrophytes were 63 taxa including 28 families, 42 genera, 56 species, 1 subspecies and 6 varieties. The emergent plants were 38 taxa(60.3%), 5 taxa(7.9%) in floating-leaved plants and each 10 taxa(15.9%) in free-floating plants and submerged plants.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.537-545
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• 1996

A population study on the sternaspid polychaete Sternaspis scutata (Ranzani) was conducted in Chinhae Bay, Korea, from lune 1987 to May 1990. Sternaspis scutata was chiefly distributed in the mouth area of the bay, and its distributional delimitation remained unchanged all the year round. Abundance of this species appeared to be related to the organic carbon content of the sediment. It was relatively high in the area where the organic content of the sediment was between 2.0 and $4.0\%(mean\;3.8{\pm}1.11)$ with mean grain size of $8.75\phi$. The relationship between the length of the ventral plate and the body wet weight is Wt=13.2752 $L^{2.7984}(R^2=0.962)$. Therefore, the length of ventral plate can be used as an indicator of body growth of this species. The growth curves fitted to yon Bertalanffy equations for ventral plates and weights are $L_{t}=5.235(1-e^{-0.3625(t-0.4047)})$ and $W_{t}=1364.1(1-e^{-0.3625(t-0.4047)})^{2.7984}$, respectively. Size frequency histograms showed that the settlement occurred during all the year round with its peak in summer.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.106-118
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• 2013

Monthly variation in species composition of shallow water fish in Cheonsu Bay were determined using samples collected by a beach seine in the shallow water at Namdang beach from April 2010 to March 2011. The species composition were compared to the data obtained in 1885~86 and in 1993, and factors affecting the long-term change in species composition were analyzed. Fish collected during the study were 25 species, 2,194 individuals and 16,762 g. Chelon haematocheilus were predominated in abundance, accounting 68.5% in the number of individuals. A few number of fish were collected during the cold months from November to April. Abundance was high from July to September by a large catch of juveniles of pelagic fish. Species composition in 1993 did not differ significantly from that in 1985~86 although Fabonigobius gymnauchen living in the fine sediments were increased in abundance. Abundance increase of this gobiid fish was considered to be related to the sedimentation of fine particles due to weakened water circulation after dike construction. The number of species and catch amount in 2010~11 were significantly decreased comparing to those of the former periods; especially in pelagic fish and benthic fish, but C. haematocheilus were greatly increased in abundance. C. haematocheilus is an estuarine fish being able to survive in relatively poor quality of water. This increase seems to be related to fish larvae from the culture net cages recently installed in the inner bay. Recent decrease in abundance of shallow water fish suggested that water quality has been gradually getting poor and recently attained over a critical level for the nursery function of fish.