• 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.37 no.3 s.108
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• pp.344-354
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• 2004

A pilot study was performed from September 2000 to April 2004 to examine the feasibility of the wetland-pond system for the agricultural reuse of reclaimed water. The wetland system was a subsurface flow type, with a hydraulic residence time of 3.5 days, and the subsequent pond was 8 $m^3$ in volume (2 m ${\times}$ 2 m ${\times}$ 2 m) and operated with intermittent-discharge and continuous flow types. The wetland system was effective in treating the sewage; median removal efficiencies of $BOD_5$ and TSS were above 70.0%, with mean effluent concentrations of 27.1 and 16.8 mg $L^{-1}$, respectively, for these constituents. However, they did often exceed the effluent water quality standards of 20 mg $L^{-1}$. Removal of T-N and T-P was relatively less effective and mean effluent concentrations were approximately 103.2 and 7.2 mg $L^{-1}$, respectively. The wetland system demonstrated high removal rate (92 ${\sim}$ 90%) of microorganisms, but effluent concentrations were in the range of 300 ${\sim}$ 16,000 MPN 100 $mL^{-1}$ which is still high for agricultural reuse. The subsequent pond system provided further treatment of the wetland effluent, and especially additional microorganisms removal in addition to wetland-pond system could reduce the mean concentration to 1,000 MPN 100 $mL^{-1}$ from about $10^5$ MPN 100 $mL^{-1}$ of wetland influent. Other parameters in the pond system showed seasonal variation, and the upper layer of the pond water column became remarkably clear immediately after ice melt. Overall, the wetland system was found to be adequate for treating sewage with stable removal efficiency, and the subsequent pond was effective for further polishing. This study concerned agricultural reuse of reclaimed water using natural systems. Considering stable performance and effective removal of bacterial indicators as well as other water quality parameters, low maintenance, and cost-effectiveness, wetland- pond system was thought to be an effective and feasible alternative for agricultural reuse of reclaimed water in rural area.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.37 no.3 s.108
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• pp.332-343
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• 2004

This study was conducted to test a possibility of water quality improvement using a filter-feeding bivalve (Corbicula leana). In mesocosm scale (width ${\times}$ length ${\times}$ depth: 3 m ${\times}$ 3 m ${\times}$ 0.5 m), we investigated the changes of dissolved nutrient and particulate matter including both abiotic and biotic seston. Short term (16 days) mesocosm experiment was conducted in two stages: the first stage for 8 days and consecutive 8 days of the second stage. Both treatment and control mesocosm were switched over by translocating mussels from the treatment mesocosm to the control, at 8th days since the start of the experiment. This design made it possible to compare mussel effect on the water quality change more clearly. The high mortality of mussel was observed in the treatment of the first stage, but it decreased rapidly and stabilized on the 8th day to less than< 4 ind $day^{-1}$. Chl. a concentration in the treatment mesocosm of the first and second stage decreased to 71 and 88% of initial concentration, respectively, and suspended solids decreased to 70 and 77%. At those times, average filtering rate were 0.46 and 0.61 mL AFDW $mg^{-1}$ $hr^{-1}$, respectively. Both $NH_3-N$ and dissolved total phosphorus (DTP) concentrations increased with the mussel mortality. $NH_3-N$ concentration was positively correlated with the mussel mortality, while DTP concentration showed negative correlation with it. After translocating mussel from the treatment to the control, $NH_3-N$ concentration significantly increased compared with that of initial control. Although DTP concentration also increased, there was no significant difference relative to that of initial control. These results suggest that application of this filter-feeding bivalve in a eutrophic reservoir could be a potential tool to improve water quality if mussels could acclimatize successfully in early stage of the introduction.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.37 no.3 s.108
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• pp.319-331
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• 2004

This study was conducted to evaluate the ecological impact of freshwater bivalve (Corbiculidae) on plankton communities in experimental enclosure systems (2 m ${\times}$ 2 m ${\times}$ 2 m). During the acclamation period of one month, cyanobacteria, including Microcystis viridis and Microcystis aeruginosa, dominated in both control and treatment enclosures with no noticeable density difference. After the addition of 100 mussels, dominant species of phytoplankton shifted from Microcystis to Scenedesmus in concert with slight decrease in the cell density and the increase of N/P ratio. However, cell density in the control quickly increased, accompanied with changes of dominant species to Oscillatoria spp. With the introduction of additional 500 musseles in the treatment enclosure, dominant phytoplankton species in both enclosures were replaced with Selenastrum spp. and Cryptomonas sp. In the initial stage, the total zooplankton abundance in the control was higher than that of treatment, but it was reversed after the addition 100 mussels. After mussel density increased up to 600 indivisuals, zooplankton density in the treatment decreased with dominance of small taxa, such as rotifers and nauplius. However, abundance and carbon biomass of large zooplankton, such as Bosmina longirostris and Diacyclops thomasi were maintained in a high level compared with those of control. During the study period, Chl. a concentration in mussel treatment and control increased with DIP and $NH_3-N$, respectively. Due to the increase of $NH_3-N$, especially after the introduction of additional 500 mussels, nitrogen limitation did not occur in the treatment enclosure in contrast with strong nutrient limitation occurred in the control. These results indicate that filter-feeding Corbicula could exert important impact on nutrient recycling and plankton community structure in a freshwater ecosystem, through direct feeding and competition for the same food resource as zooplankton on one hand, and through alteration of nutrient availability on the other.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.108-114
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• 2015

Single - and combined effects of a domestic freshwater bivalve Unio douglasiae (7.6~8.6 cm in shell length) and zooplankton Daphnia magna (1~2 mm in body size) were examined to understand whether they inhibit the growth of harmful cyanobacterial bloom (i.e. Microcystis aeruginosa) in a eutrophic lake. The experiments were triplicated with twelve glass aquaria (40 L in volume); three aquaria without mussel and zooplankton, served as a control, three zooplankton aquaria (Z, density=40 indiv. $L^{-1}$), three mussel aquaria (M, density=0.5 indiv. $L^{-1}$), and three mussel plus zooplankton aquarium (ZM, density=40 indiv.Z $L^{-1}$ plus 0.5 indiv.M/L), respectively. Algal growth inhibition (%) calculated as a difference in the concentration of chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) before and after treatment. Chl-a in all aquaria decreased with the time, while a greatest algal inhibition was seen in the ZM aquaria. After 24 hrs of incubation, Chl-a concentration at the mid-depth (ca. 15 cm) in ZM aquaria reduced by 90.8% of the control, while 63.2% and 79.8% in Z and M aquaria, respectively. Interestingly, during the same period, the surface Chl-a was diminished by 51.9% and 65.4% relative to the control in Z and ZM aquaria, while 27.4% of initial concentration decreased in M aquarium, respectively. These results suggest that 1) this domestic freshwater filter-feeding bivalve plays a significant role in the control of cyanobacterial bloom (M. aeruginosa), and 2) the combination with zooplankton and mussel has a synergistic effect to diminish them, compared to the single treatment of zooplankton and mussel.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.176-187
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• 2015

In this study, we hypothesized that the size of wintering crane population would change due to the climate factors. We assumed that wintering population size would differ by climate values in January, which is the coldest period in year. Especially, White-naped cranes were able to choose wintering site between Cheorwon and other alternative place where snow coverage had low influence, differing from Red crowned cranes. For this reason, we predicted the population size of White-naped cranes would fluctuate according to the extent of snow coverage in Cheorwon. Therefore we used snow coverage data based on MODIS and climate data from KMA (Korea Meteorological Administration) that are generally used. We analyzed the crane's population size in Cheorwon in January from 2002 to 2014. The temperature in the Cheorwon increased from 2002 to wintering period in 2007~ 2008 and went down, showing the lowest temperature in 2011~ 2012. With this phenomenon, warmth index showed the similar pattern with temperature. Amount of newly accumulated snow (the amount of snow that fallen from 0:01 am to 11:29 pm in a day) was low after 2002, but rapidly increased in 2010~ 2011 and 2011~ 2012. The area of snow coverage rapidly declined from 2002 to 2005~ 2006 but suddenly expanded in wintering period in 2009~ 2010 and 2010~ 2011. Wintering population size of the White-naped cranes decreased as snow coverage area increased in January and the highest correlation was found between them, compared to the other climatic factors. However, the number of individuals of Red crowned cranes had little relationship with general climate factors including snow cover range. Therefore it seems that population size of the Red crowned crane varied by factors related with habitat selection such as secure roosting site and area of foraging place, not by climatic factors. In multiple regression analysis, wintering population of White-naped cranes showed significant relationship with logarithmic value of snow cover range and its period. Therefore, it suggests that the population size of the White-naped crane was affected by snow cover range n wintering period and this was because it was hard for them to find out rice grains which are their main food items, buried in snow cover. The population size variation in White-naped cranes was caused by some individuals which left Cheorwon for Izumi where snow cover had little influence on them. The wintering population in Izumi and Cheorwon had negative correlation, implying they were mutually related.

• 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.48 no.2
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• pp.95-107
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• 2015

In order to identify long-term trends of water quality parameters in Lake Kyeongpo, Mann-Kendall test, Sen's slope estimator and linear regression were applied on data, with 15 parameters from three different sites and rainfall, monitored once in every two months from March to November during 1998~2013. Seasonal variation analysis only used Mann-Kendall test and Sen's slope estimator. Analysis result showed that salinity, transparency and nutrient variables (total phosphorus, dissolved inorganic phosphorus, total nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, ammonia nitrogen) were only parameters having statistically significant trend. In linear regression analysis, salinity (surface and bottom layer of all sites) and transparency (only at site 1), were figured out with statistically significant increasing trend, while in non-parametric statistical method, salinity and transparency in all sites (surface, middle, deep) were figured out with statistically significant increasing trend. Water quality parameters showing statistically significant decreasing trends were dissolved oxygen (surface layer of site 1 and bottom layer of sites 2 and 3), total phosphorus (sites 1 and 2), dissolved inorganic phosphorus, total nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen and ammonia nitrogen in the linear regression analysis and, dissolved oxygen (bottom layer of all sites), total phosphorus, dissolved inorganic phosphorus, total nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen and ammonia nitrogen in the non-parametric method. Seasonal trend analysis result showed that salinity, turbidity, transparency and suspended solids in spring, salinity, transparency, nitrate nitrogen and suspended solids in summer and temperature, salinity, transparency and suspended solids in fall were the variables depending on the season with increasing trends. In general, rainfall during the research period showed decreasing trend. The significant reduction trends of nutrients in Lake Kyeongpo were believed to be related to lagoon restoration and water management project run by Gangneung city and under-water wear removal, but further detailed studies are needed to know the exact causes.

• 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.