• Applied Microscopy
• /
• v.34 no.2
• /
• pp.103-111
• /
• 2004

Fresh specimens of the aquatic macrophyte, Spirodela polyrhiza, have been examined employing scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Observations revealed the occurrence of microbial colonization during development. Submerged parts of the small, free-floating S. polyrhiza body exhibited a variety of microorganisms such as bacteria, cyanobacteria, and diatoms throughout their development. However, immature and/or young plants normally demonstrated much less microbial colonization compared to mature plants. During the study, heavy colonization by the microorganisms was routinely encountered at maturity, especially in the fully developed abaxial fronds and root caps. The mucilaginous layer was shown along the root caps, and the microorganisms appeared to be either clustered or attached to this layer. In contrast, only moderate degrees of colonization were observed in the root, and little to no colonization was observable in the adaxial frond surface. Transmission electron microscopy clearly demonstrated the microbial colonization to be external in the S. polyrhiza specimen examined in the current study. The association between the microorganisms and S. polyrhiza has been considered non-harmful, as no frond senescence and almost no mechanical penetration of the plant by the microorganisms were noticed during the study.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
• /
• v.28 no.4
• /
• pp.188-195
• /
• 2010

The Abundance of zooplankton was studied in the pelagic and the littoral zone in four shallow reservoirs along with the Nakdong river basin of S. Korea. In the pelagic zone, there was a higher zooplankton density ($477.5{\pm}312.4$ ind. $L^{-1}$) than in the littoral zone during our study period (t=2.337, p<0.05). Overall, Rotifers were the most abundant group in the studied reservoirs. However, there are no significant correlations between the pelagic and the littoral zone in physical and chemical parameters. In the pelagic and the littoral zone, zooplankton density usually increased with increasing density of aquatic plants in the littoral zone. However, this study showed different trends. Although macrophyte abundance was higher in the littoral zone than in the pelagic zone, zooplankton abundance was higher in pelagic zone. Moreover, when macrophytes (Trapa japonica and Spirodela plyrhiza) covered the complete water surface of the reservoir, zooplankton abundance was higher. It appears that comparisons between the pelagic and the littoral zone give important cues on the selection of habitats by zooplankton. It is assumed that a higher density of aquatic plants does not always imply a higher density of zooplankton in the littoral zone. Furthermore, when the water surface was covered with aquatic plants, the zooplankton communities showed the highest density in the pelagic zone. These results imply that habitat selection of the zooplankton community (Rotifers) is influenced by aquatic plant density with an associated decrease in predation pressure during summer.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
• /
• v.29 no.4
• /
• pp.296-304
• /
• 2011

This study was carried out to investigate the relation between water quality and structure of the aquatic ecosystem in the Lake Gachang from February to December in 2010. The annual mean COD (Chemical Oxygen Demand) in Lake Gachang was 3.5 mg $L^{-1}$, indicating, level II of environmental standards and the trophic state was mesotrophic. The seasonal succession of phytoplankton showed that Bacillariophyceae was mostly dominant species throughout the year except August. In case of zooplankton, rotifers dominate in the most seasons, but copepod (Nauplii) in August. The macrophyte plants showed diverse species composition consisted of 9 varieties, 77 species, 64 genera, 34 families and 24 orders. Surveyed species of macroinvertebrates were classified into 1 phyla, 2 classes, 4 orders, 7 families, 9 species. The macroinvertebrates showed FFG (Functional Feeding Groups) such as GC (Gathering-Collector) and SH (Shedder). A total of 42 species of fish was collected including $Zacco$ $koreanus$ and $Coreoperca$ $herzi$. In this study, we investigated environmental factors including pollutant source, load, water quality and distribution characteristics of biota such as phytoplankton, zooplankton, macrophyte plants, macroinvertebrates, fish.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.38 no.3
• /
• pp.375-381
• /
• 2015

We investigated the influence of summer rainfall on Pectinatella magnifica colonies in lotic ecosystems. Of the examined substrate materials, branches and aquatic macrophytes supported more colonies of P. magnifica than that by stones or artificial materials. The influence of rainfall on P. magnifica colonies differed in accordance with the type of substrate material at each study site. In the Geum River, little difference was noted in the number of P. magnifica colonies on branches before ($mean{\pm}SE$, $24{\pm}7.3$ individuals) and after rainfall ($20{\pm}8.4$ ind.); other substrate types supported fewer colonies of P. magnifica after rainfall. In contrast, in the Miryang River, rainfall had minimal effect on the number of P. magnifica colonies supported by macrophytes ($13{\pm}3.8$ and $12{\pm}4.3$ ind., respectively). Artificial material was more abundant in the Banbyeon Stream where it was able to support more colonies of P. magnifica. We found that the structure of different substrates sustains P. magnifica following rainfall. In the Miryang River, free-floating and submerged plants with a relatively heterogeneous substrate surface were the dominant macrophytes, whereas in the Geum River, simple macrophytes (i.e., emergent plants) were dominant. Therefore, we conclude that the substrate type on which P. magnifica grows plays an important role in resisting physical disturbances such as rainfall.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
• /
• v.24 no.6
• /
• pp.772-780
• /
• 2010

The golden apple snail-Pomacea canaliculata was an alien species and introduced into Korea as table use in 1983. This species is possible pest in direct seeded rice paddy in Korea. We investigated the effects of this exotic snail on the macrophytes and the water quality in water canal. Also, the basic life cycle of this species and the overwintering ecology in Chungnam and Jeonbuk province were elucidated. A survey of natural water canal in Korea showed that high densities of the snail were associated with absences of macrophytes-Hydrilla verticillata, Ceratophyllum demersum, Spirodela polyrhiza and Lemna perpusilla. Experiments in water tank also demonstrated that the golden apple snail can cause the loss of macrophytes, and increase the EC(Electric conductivity), COD(Chemical oxygen demand), T-N(Total nitrogen) and T-P(Total phosphorus) in water.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
• /
• v.32 no.4
• /
• pp.425-439
• /
• 2018

W investigated the environmental factors and inhabiting biota such as macrophytes and zooplankton in 43 sites located on Jeju Island from May and June 2017 to evaluate the spread and ecosystem risk of dotted duckweed (landoltia punctata) which was recently found for the first time in Jeju Island. Dotted duckweeds were found in a total of 18 sites which tended to show low biomass of aquatic macrophyte species other than the dotted duckweed. We conducted a pattern analysis using SOM (Self-Organizing Map), which extracts information through competitive and adaptive properties, to analyze the effect of inhabiting biota on aquatic macrophytes such as the dotted duckweed and environmental factors. The SOM analysis showed that the inhabiting biota such as the zooplankton affected the biomass of aquatic macrophytes than they did the environmental factors. In particular, the biomass of dotted duckweed was positively related to plant-attached species (Alona, Chydorus, and Pleuroxus). Considering that low density of aquatic macrophytes covers the streams and wetlands on Jeju Island because of irregular water source and sharp change of water depth, the dotted duckweeds are likely to play an essential role as the vital habitat for micro-biota including zooplankton in wetlands and streams on Jeju Island. Furthermore, considering that organic matters are utilized as the primary food source in the areas occupied by dotted duckweed, dotted duckweeds have the role of being both habitat and food source. Although the dense growth of dotted duckweed adversely affects growth and development of some aquatic plants due to the shadow effect, it is due to the dominance of floating plants on the water surface should not be regarded as the risk of the dotted duckweed. In conclusion, the dotted duckweeds have spread and settled in most of the water systems on Jeju Island, their impact on inhabiting biota and the aquatic environment was minor. It is necessary to monitor the distribution and spread of dotted duckweeds in the inland areas outside of Jeju Island in the future.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
• /
• v.28 no.5
• /
• pp.510-515
• /
• 2014

Duckweed (Lemna perpusilla J. Torrey) is a typical floating aquatic macrophyte that has been used for evaluating phytotoxicity of toxicants. In this study, we evaluated the responses of duckweed to PAHs and ammonium as toxicants that frequently affect the growth of plants in polluted industrial and agricultural areas. As the duckweed is growing in aquatic environment, the PAHs and ammonium were incorporated into nutrient solution and the fronds were cultured hydroponically. Frond growth was responded differentially to the concentration and type of PAHs. The severe inhibition of frond growth was observed in the treatment of fluorene. Fluoranthene and pyrene, however, showed weak inhibition of frond growth. The latter PAHs that showed weak inhibition did not reduced frond number at the low concentration of 30 ppm. Pigment contents were also responded differentially. Phenanthrene and fluorene reduced chlorophyll content more strongly than fluoranthene and pyrene. Carotenoids, well-known antioxidative compound, was relatively increased at the low concentration of PAHs up to 30 ppm by the treatment of fluoranthene and pyrene, suggesting an increased antioxidative activity in fronds. Ammonium treatment showed higher inhibitory effect even low concentration of 3 mM.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.29 no.6
• /
• pp.565-572
• /
• 2006

This study examined the decomposition of blades and culms of aquatic emergent plant species, Zizania latifolia, Phragmites communis and Typha angustata, which were the most frequent in Lake Paldang. The experiment was carried out from July to December, 2005 in fresh water of lake Paldang using litter bag method. The litter bags had 1.2 mm mesh size and were suspended at 1 m depth of water surface. Remaining mass of blades and culms of each species after 97 days was 21.2% and 22.6% of initial mass in Z. latifolia, 32.5% and 56.4% in P. communis and 44.7% and 38.1 % in T. angustata, respectively. The plant tissue having high N concentration and low C/N exhibited the faster decay rate than the others. However, the tissue of high content of lignin, cellulose, lignin:N, and cullulose:N showed a slow decomposition rate. Water temperature was the most effective environmental factor on the emergent macrophyte litter decomposition in aquatic ecosystems. According to the water temperature, DO, $NO_3^-$-N, and total phosphate concentration were changed in the linear way. The mass loss of plant tissue of emergent macrophytes showed positive relationship with P concentration in water. The experiments on the decomposition of the litter using different mesh sized litter bag did not show significant differences between them. The results suggest that the decomposition of emergent macrophytes in fresh water of lake Paldang, which showed features of lentic and lower part of a stream, was affected by microbial activities better than the micro-invertebrates such as shredders.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
• /
• v.18 no.1
• /
• pp.77-82
• /
• 1999

Three floating islands have been constructed for water quality improvement for a polluted irrigation reservoir. Each floating island consists of 10 segments. Each segment hay an area of $16m^2$(4×4m) and is made of wood frames and floats(polystyrene foam). We planted three species of aquatic macrophytes(Typha angustifolia, Zizania latifolia, and Phragmites australis) in floating island on June, 1998. They grew very well without death. We would like to evaluate Phragmites australis is the most suitable aquatic macrophyte that could be planted in a floating island because it maintained the best balance of its root and shoot among them. During their grown period, net primary productivity of Typha angustifolia was $962gDM/m^2$, Zizania latifolia was $1,115gDM/m^2$, and Phragmites australis was $523gDM/m^2$. From these data, it would be estimated to 5.0Kg uptake of nitrogen by aquatic macrophytes and phosphorus 0.8Kg in 3 floating islands. The floating islands worked well as a habitat of fish and prawns. Many kinds of insect lived on the floating islands. The floating island has not only the function of water quality treatment but also several advantages: improvement of landscape and species diversity; low cost of maintenance; low technology; unnecessary of energy; less susceptible to variations in pollutant loading. It could be evaluated a good measure of water quality improvement for an irrigation reservoir. However, it should be intensively studied to develop more light, strong, durable and low-priced frames for efficient floating islands.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
• /
• v.17 no.4
• /
• pp.407-414
• /
• 1999

Distribution of biota and removal efficiency of organic matter in natural wetland systems were examined from June to October 1998. The aquatic macrophyte communities were consisted of 13 families and 22 species. The composition of occurrence species were as follows: Phragmites communis Trinius are 35%, Persicaria thunbergii Nakai are 19%, Typha angustifolia L. are 17%, Bidens tripartita L. are 16%, Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) Beauv. are 12% and others are l％. The fauna collected from 5 sites consisted of total 6 classes of macroinvertebrates. The composition of occurrence classes were as follows: Insecta are 76%, O1igochaeta are 19%, Gastrapoda are 4％ and others are 1%. These included 18 families, 7 orders of Insects. The larve and mosquito and midges were found in wetlands. Preventive strategies are needed for the suppression of mosquito at the stage of wetland planning and design. In wetland, removal efficiency of dissolved organic carbon is low because of primary production and the background level of DOC in the wetland discharge seems to be 5 mgC/1, but those of BOD was ca. 50%. Wetlands receiving water of low concentration can not work as purification field.