• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.99-111
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• 2011

To estimate the effects of limitation nutrients for phytoplankton growth and its influences on short-term variations of a winter phytoplankton community structure, we investigated the abiotic and biotic factors of surface and bottom waters at 20 stations of inner and offshore areas from 6 to 7 February in Gwangyang Bay, Korea. Also, several algal bio-assay studies were conducted to identify any additional nutrient effects on phytoplankton assemblage using surface water for the assay. The dominant species in the bay was diatom Skeletonema costatum, which occupied more than 70% of total species in most stations (St.1-16) of the inner bay. According to a cluster and multidimensional scaling (MDS) analysis based on phytoplankton community data from each station, the bay was divided into three groups. The first group included stations from the south-western parts of Myodo lsland, which can be characterized as a semien-closed eutrophic area with high phytoplankton abundance. The second group included most stations from the north-eastern part of Myodo lsland, influenced indirectly by surface water currents from offshore of the bay. The standing phytoplankton crops were lower than those of the first group. The other cluster was restricted to samples collected from offshore of the bay. In the bay, silicon (Si) and phosphorus (P) were not a major limiting factor for phytoplankton production. However, since the DIN: DIP and DSi: DIN ratios clearly demonstrated that there were potential stoichiometric N limitations, nitrogen (N) was considered as a limiting factor. Based on the algal bio-assay, in vivo fluorescence values in N (+) added experiments were higher compared to control and P added experiments. Our results suggested that nitrogen may act as one of the most important factors in controlling primary production during winter in Gwangyang Bay.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.285-291
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• 2000

To investigate the variations of physicochemical factors and microbial populations in seven stations at water region of Gangjin bay, nutritive salts, water temperature, transparency, suspended solid, salinity, COD, DO, pH, heterotrophic bacteria, fungi and fecal coliform were analysed four times from February to October, 1999. Total fecal coliform and heterotrophic bacterial population during investigation periods ranged 16.1~166.0 CFU/ml and $5.0{\times}10^3$~$13.1{\times}10^3$CFU/ml, respectively. Stational mean values of these bacterial population showed higher densities at the inlet of fresh water inflow than those of other stations. When the aspects of abiotic and biotic parameters measured were analyzed, ecosystem of Gangjin bay was regulated by factors such as inflow of fresh water, nutrient salts, salinity and variation of water temperature during four seasons.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.41 no.8
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• pp.781-798
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• 2018

Plants have evolved strategies to cope with drought stress by maximizing physiological capacity and adjusting developmental processes such as flowering time. The WOX13 orthologous group is the most conserved among the clade of WOX homeodomain-containing proteins and is found to function in both drought stress and flower development. In this study, we isolated and characterized OsWOX13 from rice. OsWOX13 was regulated spatially in vegetative organs but temporally in flowers and seeds. Overexpression of OsWOX13 (OsWOX13-ov) in rice under the rab21 promoter resulted in drought resistance and early flowering by 7-10 days. Screening of gene expression profiles in mature leaf and panicles of OsWOX13-ov showed a broad spectrum of effects on biological processes, such as abiotic and biotic stresses, exerting a cross-talk between responses. Protein binding microarray and electrophoretic mobility shift assay analyses supported ATTGATTG as the putative cis-element binding of OsWOX13. OsDREB1A and OsDREB1F, drought stress response transcription factors, contain ATTGATTG motif(s) in their promoters and are preferentially expressed in OsWOX13-ov. In addition, Heading date 3a and OsMADS14, regulators in the flowering pathway and development, were enhanced in OsWOX13-ov. These results suggest that OsWOX13 mediates the stress response and early flowering and, thus, may be a regulator of genes involved in drought escape.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.134-145
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• 2023

Background: The flowering and fruiting periods play an important role in biological processes. The deciduous dipterocarp forest is an important forest type in Thailand, however the phenological studies are still limited, particularly in different plant life forms. Thus, the present study focused on the flowering and fruiting phenology of herbs, climbers, shrubs, and trees in the deciduous dipterocarp forest at Lampang province of Northern Thailand. Field visits were made to record plant life forms and observe reproductive phenological events at monthly intervals from November 2018 to October 2019 and September to December 2020. Results: The phenological observations were based on 126 species of 45 families and 102 genera. Flowering and fruiting periods showed similar patterns in herbaceous plants, climbers, and shrubs. Most of these species produced flowers and fruits from the end of the rainy season (October) to the winter season (November-January). Whereas most of flowering and fruiting trees were found from the summer season (March-April) to the beginning of the rainy season (May-June). Most of the dry-fruited species occurred during the dry period (winter and summer seasons), while the majority of fleshy-fruited species dominated in the wet period (rainy season). The statistical analysis supported the phenological patterns of flowering and fruiting in the present study. There were significant negative correlations between the number of flowering and fruiting species and temperature. The number of flowering and fruiting species is significantly impacted by the interaction between seasons and plant life forms. Conclusions: Plant life form seems to be the important factor that affects the different phenological patterns in the studied plants. The abiotic and biotic factors play major roles in reproductive phenology. However, long-term study and in-depth phenological observations are necessary for better understanding.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.489-497
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• 2015

To reveal the spatial and temporal variability in the distribution, growth, and maturation of skipjack tuna Katsuwonus pelamis in the western tropical Pacific, we compared two El $Ni{\tilde{n}}o$-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) signals and the sea surface temperature (SST) in the main fishing area with fishery and biological data. An index of skipjack tuna distribution was calculated using Korean purse seine fishery data from 1985 to 2003. Biological data for skipjack tuna were collected monthly from Korean catches during the 1994-2003 period. The catch was more closely related to the SST in the main fishing area than to the ENSO signals. However, cross-correlated function analysis showed delayed interactions between abiotic and biotic factors. The El $Ni{\tilde{n}}o$ events preceded the eastward movement of the fishing center by 2-3 months. El $Ni{\tilde{n}}o$ had a positive effect on the skipjack tuna catch, and the change in the Southern Oscillation Index (SOI) preceded the catch fluctuation by ca. 5-7 months. In addition, negative El $Ni{\tilde{n}}o$ effects on gonad maturation and the mean length of skipjack tuna were detected with time lags of 12 and 7 months, respectively. The length frequency indicated that the regime-specific growth pattern at each discrete period seemed to be related to the ENSO.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.281-291
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• 2016

Bloom of small centric diatom Stephanodiscus is quite occasional in winter season in temperate freshwater ecosystems. It often leads to degradation of water quality and affects the quality of supplied drinking water. In a previous study, we have found that naphthoquinone (NQ) 4-6 derivate is an effective tool for efficient mitigation of natural S. hantzschii blooms. In the present research, polylactide (PLA) and agar foam were used as immobilized agent for NQ 4-6 to improve the efficiency of NQ 4-6 compound releasing process for its application under various field conditions. Mesocosm experiments at 10 ton scale suggested that the abundance of S. hantzschii was continuously increased in the control and upon treatment of the mesocosm with immobilized NQ 4-6 from PLA and agar foam. Their algicidal activities were 78.8% and 77.1%, respectively, on S. hantzschii after 10 days. In the mesocosm experiments, the dynamics of biotic (bacteria, HNFs, ciliates, zooplankton) and abiotic (water temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, conductivity, nutrients) factors remained unaffected. They exhibited similar trends in the control and treatment groups. Therefore, the immobilized NQ 4-6 from PLA and agar foam has potential to be used as an alternative algicidal substance to effectively mitigate natural S. hantzschii blooms under various field conditions. In addition, it not only can be used to control S. hantzschii, but also is an effective technique. The immobilized NQ 4-6 showed stable controlled release in desired system.

• Journal of Korean Elementary Science Education
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.399-411
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• 2020

This study aims to explore how elementary students perceive and approach the issue of plastic debris in marine habitats by examining students' perspectives on the ecosystem and environmental solutions. The study was conducted to 143 Grade Four elementary school students in Seoul. After implementing two class-units on plastic waste, students' constructed responses on the problem of and solutions to plastic debris in marine habitats were collected. Data were analyzed through semantic network analysis and the keywords were visualized to reflect their relationships. Furthermore, students' responses on how they perceive environmental problems were further analyzed based on the following analysis criteria: students' perspectives on the ecosystem, the level of complexity of food chain(s), and the scope of their perspective. Also, student responses on environmental solutions were classified to be either at a personal or social level. Through semantic network analysis, keywords identified for students' perceptions on the problem were the sea, plastic, debris, animals, living things, humans, extinction, while keywords extracted for the solutions were plastic, debris, recycling, disposable, and I. Based on the analysis criteria, it was found that students were well aware of the food chain concept, could perceive the ecosystem as having comprised of both biotic and abiotic factors, and could approach the problem beyond the scope of the marine environment. Also, most students mentioned the solutions only at a personal level. Based on the findings, implications on how to move forward in educating environmental issues related to the ecosystem in science education is further discussed.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.78-86
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• 2010

The classification of biotope type in major Korean cities was made based on the land use concept rather than the ecological concept of the land as the habitat of biological communities. Therefore, biotope type need to be reclassified according to ecological concerns and regional characteristics. This study attempts to clearly define various critical concepts regarding the classification of biotope type, such as classification hierarchy, classification criteria, classification factor, classification indicator, classification key, and classification standard. Furthermore, it also attempts to suggest the ways to improve the classification system of biotope type by sampling the cases of major Korean cities. The classification system of biotope type is required to have a coherent system that provides basic guidelines, standards and hierarchy with regard to biotic, abiotic and anthropotic factors, as well as classification indicators and classification keys.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.42 no.5
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• pp.395-401
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• 2009

The smectite-illite (SI) reaction is a ubiquitous process in siliciclastic sedimentary environments. For the last 4 decades the importance of smectite to illite (S-I) reaction was described in research papers and reports, as the degree of the (S-I) reaction, termed "smectite illitization", is linked to the exploration of hydrocarbons, and geochemical/petrophysical indicators. The S-I transformation has been thought that the reaction, explained either by layer-by-layer mechanism in the solid state or dissolution/reprecipitation process, was entirely abiotic and to require burial, heat, and time to proceed, however few studies have taken into account the bacterial activity. Recent laboratory studies showed evidence suggesting that the structural ferric iron (Fe(III)) in clay minerals can be reduced by microbial activity and the role of microorganisms is to link organic matter oxidation to metal reduction, resulting in the S-I transformation. In abiotic systems, elevated temperatures are typically used in laboratory experiments to accelerate the smectite to illite reaction in order to compensate for a long geological time in nature. However, in biotic systems, bacteria may catalyze the reaction and elevated temperature or prolonged time may not be necessary. Despite the important role of microbe in S-I reaction, factors that control the reaction mechanism are not clearly addressed yet. This paper, therefore, overviews the current status of microbially mediated smectite-to-illite reaction studies and characterization techniques.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.98-106
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• 2011

In order to investigate water quality factors controlling chlorophyll-$a$ concentrations, the by-daily monitoring was conducted from February to November 2010 in 4 stations of Masan Bay. Seasonal variability in physico-chemical factors was mainly controlled by freshwater loading as a result of precipitation: chemical oxygen demand, suspended solids and nutrient concentrations rapidly increase during the heavy rainy season, whereas they decrease in the dry season. From late winter to mid spring, phosphorus and silica sources relative to Redfield ratio were probably functioned as limiting factor for phytoplankton flourishing in surface waters, but nitrogen concentration during mid-spring to autumn might be responsible for the increase of phytoplankton biomass. The multiple regression analysis revealed that variations in chlorophyll-$a$ concentration may be strongly correlated with changes of water temperature, chemical oxygen demand, dissolved inorganic phosphorus in spring, and salinity, chemical oxygen demand and precipitation in summer. Consequently, in the Masan Bay, a heavy rainfall event is an important factor to determine changes of biotic and abiotic factors, and in addition the dynamics of chlorophyll-$a$ concentration are strongly affected by changes of hydrological factors, especially water temperature, precipitation and nutrients.