• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.1-15
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• 2014

Amphibians play a pivotal role in the ecosystem as a mediator between aquatic and terrestrial environment. Currently they are directly exposed to a variety of chemicals in the aquatic environment throughout their life cycle. Azole fungicides have been widely used in medical applications and agricultural activities. The direct exposure of azole fungicides causes an alarming situation for various ecosystem. Recently, teratogenesis and endocrine disruption by azole fungicides have been reported in amphibians. In an effort to provide the current information for amphibian toxicity of azole fungicides and to make the guidelines for safe usage of azole-based materials, the effects of azole fungicides including imidazole, triazole, thiazole, oxazole, and pyrazoleon on early development, differentiation and reproduction of amphibians were reviewed.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.116-121
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• 2021

This study is the first official report on the wild habitats of alien species, Yellow-spotted Amazon River Turtle (Podocnemis unifilis) in Republic of Korea. On July 24, 2020, two P.unifilis were observed basking on rocks at 33°30'20.08"N 126°38'0.23"E, Waheul-ri, Jocheon-eup, Jeju-si, Jeju. One individual had a yellow spots on the head where as the other contains black spot. Our observatory site is close to road and easy access to people. Thus, these individuals were believed to be released in the pond after raising as pets. Recently, the number of alien turtles identified in wild(etc. lake, resevoir) is increasing, which is predicted to damage the aquatic ecosystem due to the inflow of exotic turtles. So, it is necessary to improve the people's awareness of alien species through citizen science projects and environmental education. We suggest that research on habitat adaptation, reproduction and management through continuous monitoring is needed in the future.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.54 no.2
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• pp.180-187
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• 2021

This study was conducted to investigate the reproductive characteristics of the Neon damselfish Pomacentrus coelestis in Chuuk lagoon (7°27' N, 151°53' E), Micronesia, Equatorial Pacific Ocean. The specimens used in this study were collected from August 2009 to September 2010 from around the coral reef area at a depth of 3-10 m in the northwest coast of Weno Island. Overall, 228 individuals were collected over 14 months from this area, of which 115 were females and 108 were males. Among 108 males, 30 were found to be hermaphrodites and the sex of 5 individuals could not be determined. The overall sex ratio was approximately 1.06:1 (female:male), and the ratio of sexually active individuals was 0.79:1. The gonadosomatic index (GSI) fluctuated and showed the highest value of 8.43±1.21 in December 2009 and the lowest value of 3.36±0.71 in September 2009 in sexually active females. Males showed the highest GSI value of 2.64±0.93 in June 2010 and the lowest value of 0.35±0.06 in July 2010. Based on the fluctuation of GSI, the trends in the appearance of monthly sexually active individuals, and biopsy of the gonads, P. coelestis was found to be a hermaphrodite species of protogynous type and is considered to be reproductively active throughout the year.

• Journal of People, Plants, and Environment
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.469-483
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• 2021

Background and objective: If the Nelumbo nucifera spreads in a wetland at a high density, it can have considerable positive and negative ecological effects on habitats. For this reason, it is necessary to precisely investigate the impacts of its rapid proliferation. This study was conducted to propose the distribution and management of N. nucifera, which can cause the degradation of wildlife habitats due to the rapid spread of internal and external environmental factors that may affect the Junam wetland ecosystem. Methods: For the investigation and analysis of physical and ecological characteristics, factors of the abiotic environment such as general weather conditions, topography and water depth structure, and soil and water quality analysis, and bioenvironment characteristics such as changes in the N. nucifera community distribution were evaluated. To assess whether the differences in the soil depth and physicochemical characteristics between the N. nucifera community and the aquatic plant community are statistically significant, a One-way ANOVA was executed. Results: N. nucifera was presumably introduced in approximately 2007 and observed at a prevalence of only 0.8% in 2009, but had expanded to 11.1% in 2014. After that, the area was increased to 19.3% in 2015 and 40.0% in 2017, about twice that of the previous survey year. The rapid diffusion of an N. nucifera colony can have adverse effects on wildlife habitats and biodiversity at Junam Wetland. To solve these problems, four management methods can be proposed; water level management, mowing management, installation of posts and removal of lotus roots. Control of the N. nucifera community using these methods was judged to be suitable for cutting and water level management when considering expansion rate, water level variation, and wildlife habitat impacts. Conclusion: As the biotic and abiotic environmental factors are different for each wetland, it is necessary to determine the timing and method of management through a detailed investigation.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.55 no.4
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• pp.449-454
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• 2022

The oxygen consumption rate (OCR) based on the water temperature and body size of the sea squirt Halocynthia roretzi was examined to provide quantitative information about the metabolic response of the species. OCRs were measured using a closed flow-through respirometer at four different water temperatures (10, 15, 20 and 25℃) and two different body sizes (21.4±1.1 g and 150.5±1.3 g, wet weight) with triplicates of each treatment. OCR increased as water temperature increased at both body sizes, but decreased as body size increased regardless of the water temperature (P<0.001). The effect of body size evaluated as a power function ranged from 0.8055 to 0.8884. The highest Q₁₀ values in the small and large size groups ranged from 15 to 20℃ and 20 to 25℃, respectively. The metabolic daily energy loss rate via respiration at all tested temperatures ranged from 56.2 to 106.1 J g^-1 d^-1 in the small-size group and from 44.5 to 92.0 J g^-1 d^-1 in the large-size group. Our results indicate that the metabolic response of H. roretzi highly depends on fluctuating water temperature at a given life stage.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.329-342
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• 2023

Turbid water and suspended sediment (SS) load are having negative consequences such as water quality degradation and ecological damage, thus necessitating the establishment of management guidelines to reduce their impact. The present work investigates the spatio-temporal distribution of fish species and the effects of turbid water from 2011-2016 in the upper reaches of Soyang-Dam. The family Cyprinidae is the largest population in the study area, among which Zacco platypus and Zacco koreanus are the dominant species. The diversity of species is relatively abundant in the upper watershed, while the seasonal effect on the population distribution remains unclear. Using two main common components of the empirical orthogonal function (EOF) analysis, the distribution characteristics of 27 species at five survey sites are revealed. Zacco koreanus is found to be predominant at the upstream A-Naerincheon, while Zacco platypus and Rhinogobius brunneus are found to be predominant at the upstream B-Bukcheon. Disturbance of an aquatic ecosystem has a relatively greater impact in the downstream, as-compared to the upper area-the high proportion of forest area is decreased whereas that of agricultural and urbanized areas is increased. The patterns of representative species are changed according to the mid- to long-term effects of turbid water and SS. Accordingly, the significant correlation between the SS load and fish distribution EOF analysis indicates that it should be considered as a potential alternative that can overcome the limitations of impact assessment on turbid water to the Fish Assessment Index (FAI). A comprehensive study examining the long-term effects of SS load to the fish ecosystems with a systematic statistical analysis of sufficiently accumulated data at the national level is needed as future research.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.25 no.12
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• pp.589-600
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• 2022

Longline fishery targeting tunas and tuna-like species is known to produce a significant amount of catch not only for the target species, but also for ecologically related species like sharks, marine turtles, sea birds and marine mammals. Recognizing this seriousness, tuna related regional fisheries management organizations (t-RFMOs) have established conservation and management measures (CMMs) to reduce bycatch and/or interaction with ecosystem vulnerable species including sea turtles and are obliged to implement bycatch mitigation measures and guidelines on safe release to their member countries. Along with development and strengthening of those measures, various case studies have been conducting to verify the effectiveness of bycatch mitigation for ecologically related species. This study examines the background and progress on developing CMMs of t-RFMOs and regulation programs of the United States related to sea turtles, which have recently become one of the main issues, and reviews case studies on sea turtle bycatch mitigation measures to find out the effectiveness of reducing bycatch rate and impacts to the fisheries. In order to respond the consultation process on certification determination with the United States, it was confirmed the current status of implementation on related measures conducted by Korean tuna longline fishery based on scientific observer data and survey for captains. Even though all Korean tuna longline fleets belong to the deep-set longline fishery (100-300m), which is not subject to the obligation of those mitigation measures, they are voluntarily implementing both measures, use of circle hook and whole finfish bait, regardless of which RFMO's Convention area they operate. And the national regulatory and management programs for sea turtle bycatch prevention adopted by Republic of Korea seems to be comparable in effectiveness to that of the United Stated. However, Korea needs to take preemptive measures in establishing sustainable fisheries, including the protection of the marine ecosystem and environment, as stronger requests are anticipated to be made by the international community on this matter.

• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
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• v.54 no.9
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• pp.719-730
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• 2021

The objective of this study is to develop the water quality and aquatic ecosystem model for Andong lake using SWAT-WET (Soil and Water Assessment Tool-Water Ecosystem Tool) and to evaluate the applicability of WET. To quantify the pollutants load flowing into Andong lake, a watershed model of SWAT was constructed for Andong Dam basin (1,584 km²). The calibration results for Dam inflow and water quality loads (SS, T-N, T-P) were analyzed that average R² was more than 0.76, 0.69, 0.84, and 0.60 respectively. The calibrated SWAT results of streamflow and nutrients concentration was used into WET input data. WET was calibrated and validated for water temperature, dissolved oxygen, and water quality concentration (T-N, T-P) of Andong lake. The WET calibrated results was analyzed that PBIAS was +19%, -13%, +4%, and +26.5% respectively and showed that it was simulated to a significant level compared with the observation data. The observed dry weight (gDW/m²) of zoobenthos was less than 0.5, but the average value of simulation was analyzed to be 0.8, which is because the WET model considers zoobenthos with a broader concept. Although accurate calibration is difficult due to the lack of observed data, SWAT-WET can analyze the effects of environmental change in the upstream watershed on the lake based on long-term simulation based on watershed model. Therefore, the results of this study can be used as basic data for managing the aquatic environment of Andong lake.

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.11 no.5
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• pp.277-284
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• 2006

The genetic toxicity of environmental pollutants, namely, nonylphenol (NP), bisphenol A (BPA) and chloropyriphos (CP) was investigated in aquatic sentinel species, freshwater crustacean, Daphnia magna, and larva of aquatic midge, Chironomus tentans, using Comet assay. Physiological effect of such pollutants was also investigated by studying the specimens' rates of reproduction, growth and survival. Acute toxicity results showed that, as expected, Daphnia was more sensitive than Chironomus to chemical exposure. The order of acute toxicity was CP > NP > BPA in D. magna and NP > CP > BPA in C. tentans. BPA may exert a genotoxic effect on D. magna and C. tentans, given that DNA strand breaks increased in both species exposed to this compound, whereas NP- and CP-induced DNA damage occurred only in C. tentans. In vivo genotoxic data obtained in aquatic sentinel species could provide valuable information for freshwater quality monitoring. The experiments with NP-exposed D. magna showed that the pollutant has long-term effects on reproduction, whereas no short-term effect on DNA integrity was found, being an example of a false-negative result from the biomarkers perspective. This result could be interpreted that other mechanism than genetic alteration might be involved in NP-induced reproduction failure in D. magna. False-positive results from the genotoxic biomarker obtained in BPA-exposed D. magna and in NP-exposed C. tentans make it difficult to use DNA integrity as an early warning biomarker. However, as the mere presence of genotoxic compounds, which are potentially carcinogenic, is of high concern to human and ecosystem health, it could also be important to rapidly and effectively detect genotoxic compounds in the aquatic system in ways that do not necessarily accompany a higher level of alteration. Considering the potential of D. magna and C. tentans as bioindicator species, and the importance of genotoxic biomarkers in ecotoxicity monitoring, DNA damage in these species could provide useful information for environmental risk assessment.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.113-127
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• 2009

This study was designed to present a river model with an aim at restoring the ecosystem and improving the landscape along the urban rivers on the basin of the Namhan river, a core life channel for the National Capital region. The revelation of botanical status, transition trend and correlation of plants might lead to providing the urban river restoration projects and ecological river formation projects with basic data for a model of ideal aquatic ecology and landscape. The outcomes of this study could be summed up as follows: 1. Communities of Juglans mandshurica, Cornus controversa and Fraxinus mandshurica constitute the main portion of flora at or around uppermost branch streams of the River Namhanis harbored mainly in and around small brooks 2. Typical terrestrial forest communities formed around the River Namhan are composed mainly of Larix leptolepis, Pinus rigida, planned forestation of Pinus koraiensis, Quercus acutissima, Quercus variabilis and Pinus densiflora. 3. The analysis into terrestrial environment of plant communities showed a high content of $P_2O_5$, typical communities found in the artificially disturbed land Finally, it seems also desirable to continue to make every exertion to explore the relationship between fluvial and terrestrial ecologies with a purport of building up a model of natural streams in urban area based on the surveyed factors for plant life, forest communities, soil and landscape and, moreover, on the forecasting for overall influences derived from the relation upon the ecosystem.