• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.657-668
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• 2014

Under Korea's Enforcement Decree of the Framework Act on Environmental Policy amended in 2013, total organic carbon (TOC) is newly added as water quality parameter to assess organic pollution in water and aquatic ecosystem. To meet the TOC requirement and improve quality of effluent discharged into public watershed, it is also necessary to develop standards for TOC in effluent from public sewage treatment works (PSTWs). In this study, we reviewed the characteristics and removal efficiency of TOC in influent and effluent of PSTWs. The study found that phosphorus treatment process removed not only soluble phosphorus but also a portion of TOC remaining after the secondary treatment process. TOC concentration in effluent from PSTWs operated in tandem with industrial wastewater treatment work was higher due to influx of insoluble substances from the industrial wastewater treatment work. In order to lay a foundation for the management of TOC from PSTWs, it is necessary to carry out research on TOC from different perspectives. For example, studies on the generation mechanism of TOC and the impact of TOC on drinking water resources, assessment of effluent qualities through monitoring, and development of measures to control TOC for the preservation of aquatic ecosystem are needed.

• Journal of Fisheries and Marine Sciences Education
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.1444-1458
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• 2016

The expansion of high-density aquaculture in the limited waters has caused a wide variety of problems. The problems include environmental problems nearby aquaculture sites, growth rate of aquatic organisms, quality decline of farmed fish and price fall in the market. The phenomenon of aquaculture industry happens in not only inshore but also offshore. Therefore, the fisheries authorities have been changing their policy paradigms from mass production to sustainable production based on ecosystem. Other countries, however, focusing on relieving poverty and providing protein from fish production have not recognized the degree of seriousness. When it comes to enhancing the problems, National Institute of Fisheries Science has been developing the technology of Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) to reduce and to prevent contaminants from fish and aquaculture sites, remained feed from fish farming process. In long-terms of view, the system is one of the most sustainable fishery production methods based on ecosystem. As integration of nutrient feed system from aquatic organisms is firmly established, the earlier mentioned problems will be diminished gradually. In term of the substantiality, this study was conducted. The research on management system for IMTA also has been incorporated. This study also investigated the features and current status of IMTA and demonstrated the developed management system and direction for the future advancement.

• 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 Environmental Biology
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.634-649
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• 2020

Recently, stream longitudinal connectivity has been a topic of investigation due to the frequent disconnections and the impact of aquatic ecosystems caused by the construction of small and medium-sized weirs and various artificial structures (fishways) directly influencing the stream ecosystem health. In this study, the international and domestic research trends of the longitudinal connectivity in aquatic ecosystems were evaluated and the applicability of fish-based longitudinal connectivity models used in developed countries was analyzed. For these purposes, we analyzed the current status of research on longitudinal connectivity and structural problems, fish monitoring methodology, monitoring approaches, longitudinal disconnectivity of fish movement, and biodiversity. In addition, we analyzed the current status and some technical limitations of physical habitat suitability evaluation, ecology-based water flow, eco-hydrological modeling for fish habitat connectivity, and the s/w program development for agent-based model. Numerous references, data, and various reports were examined to identify worldwide longitudinal stream connectivity evaluation models in European and non-European countries. The international approaches to longitudinal connectivity evaluations were categorized into five phases including 1) an approach integrating fish community and artificial structure surveys (two types input variables), 2) field monitoring approaches, 3) a stream geomorphological approach, 4) an artificial structure-based DB analytical approach, and 5) other approaches. the overall evaluation of survey methodologies and applicability for longitudinal stream connectivity suggested that the ICE model (Information sur la Continuite Ecologique) and the ICF model (Index de Connectivitat Fluvial), widely used in European countries, were appropriate for the application of longitudinal connectivity evaluations in Korean streams.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.55 no.2
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• pp.707-716
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• 2023

The influence of waste technological waters of thermal and fast reactors of Beloyarsk NPP (Russia) on the accumulation of ⁶⁰Co, ⁹⁰Sr and ¹³⁷Cs in macrophytes and ichthyofauna of the cooling pond has been studied. Critical radionuclides, routes of their entry into the ecosystem and periods of maximum discharge of radioisotopes into the cooling pond have been determined. It is shown that the technology of electricity generation at the Beloyarsk NPP, based on fast reactors, has a much smaller effect on the release of artificial radionuclides into the environment. Therefore, during the entire period of monitoring studies (1976-2019), the decrease in the specific activity of radionuclides of NPP origin in macrophytes was 13-25800 times, in ichthyofauna 1.5-44.5 times. The maximum discharge of artificial radionuclides into the Beloyarsk reservoir was noted during the period of restoration and decontamination work aimed at eliminating the emergencies at the AMB reactors of NPP. The factors influencing the accumulation of artificial radionuclides in the components of the freshwater ecosystem of the Beloyarsk cooling pond have been determined, including: the physicochemical nature of radioisotopes, their concentration in surface water, the temperature of the aquatic environment, the trophicity of the reservoir, the species of hydrobionts.

• Proceedings of the Korea Society of Environmental Toocicology Conference
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• 2003.05a
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• pp.158-159
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• 2003

Fluoranthene, a common polycyclicaromatic hydrocarbon (PAH), exhibits phototoxicity which may affect aquatic organisms. The eventual goal of this study is to develop a biomarker used in monitoring abnormal behaviors of Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes) as a model organism caused by hazardous chemicals that are toxic and persistent in the ecosystem. In this study, we investigated neural toxicity of fluoranthene in Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes) which was correlated with its behaviors.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.55 no.3
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• pp.185-200
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• 2022

The risk of various hazardous substances in aquatic environment comprises not only the concentration of substances in the environmental medium but also their accumulation in fish through complex food web and the health risks to humans through the fish. In Korea, the monitoring of residual toxicant in aquatic ecosystems began in 2016 following the enforcement of the Acts on registration and evaluation for the management of chemicals used in daily life (consumer chemical products), and attention has been paid to potentially hazardous substances attributed to them. Recently, studies have been carried out to investigate the distribution of these hazardous substances in the ecosystem and calculate their emission factors. These include the accumulation and transport of substances, such as detergents, dyes, fragrances, cosmetics, and disinfectants, within trophic levels. This study summarizes the results of recently published research on the inflow and distribution of hazardous substances from consumer chemical products to the aquatic environment and presents the scientific implication. Based on studies on aquatic environment monitoring techniques, this study suggests research directions for monitoring the residual concentration and distribution of harmful chemical substances in aquatic ecosystems. In particular, this study introduces the directions for research on trophic position analysis using compound specific isotope analysis and trophic magnification factors, which are needed to fulfill the contemporary requirements of selecting target fish based on the survey of major fish that inhabit domestic waters and assessment of associated health risk. In addition, this study provides suggestions for future biota monitoring and chemical research in Korea.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.565-572
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• 2016

While there have been great demands on improving domestic water pollution issues, the necessity for real time monitoring of particular drug residues in water resources has been raised since drug residues including antibiotics could provoke new trains of drug-resistant bacteria in water environments. Among many different types of drugs used for pharmaceutical treatment, antibiotics are considered to be one of the most hazardous to our ecosystem since they can rapidly promote the spreading of drug-resistant bacteria in water environments. In this mini-review, we will highlight recent developments made on creating in-situ sensing platforms for the fast monitoring of antibiotic residues in aquatic environmental samples focusing on optical and electrochemical techniques. Related recent technology developments and the resulting economy effects will also be discussed.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.55 no.3
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• pp.251-257
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• 2022

Monitoring and assessing aquatic ecosystems using the behavior of organisms is essential for sustainable ecosystem management. Oligochaetes, which inhabit various freshwater ecosystems, are frequently used to evaluate the environmental conditions of freshwater ecosystems. Tubifex tubifex (Müller, 1774) (Oligochaeta, Tubificidae) is tolerant to organic pollution and has been used to evaluate the toxicity of toxicants, including heavy metals. We studied the behavioral responses of T. tubifex to three different copper concentrations (0.1, 0.5, and 1.0 mg L^-1). The specimens were exposed to copper in an observation cage containing 150 mL of dechlorinated water. Movement behavior (diameter, speed, acceleration, meander, and turning rate) was continuously observed for two hours before and after the copper treatments. After the treatments, the diameter shrank and showed rapid twisting movement under all the copper conditions. The turning rate had a positive correlation with meander and acceleration both before and after treatment at all three concentrations, whereas speed and meander had a negative correlation. Length and turning rate also showed a negative correlation. The correlation coefficient between speed and acceleration in the highest copper concentration changed from positive before treatment (r=0.64) to negative (r= -0.52) after treatment. Our results present the possibility of using behavioral parameters to detect copper contamination in freshwater ecosystems.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.34-41
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• 2012

The variation of dissolved oxygen (DO) was monitored with high frequency by an automatic data-logging sensor in a eutrophic urban stream (the Anyang Stream) located in a metropolitan area of Seoul, South Korea. In general, DO showed the diel variation of increase in daytime and decrease at night, implying that primary production is a major mechanism of oxygen supply in this ecosystem. The fluctuation of oxygen was determined by rainfall. DO depletion was most obvious after a rainfall resulting in an anoxic condition for a day, which is thought to be caused by scouring of periphyton and organic ooze at the stream bottom. Seasonally DO was higher in winter and frequently depleted in warm seasons. DO depletion was often at a dangerous level for fish survival. Fish survey showed that little fish was living at the study site and oxygen depletion may be the major stress factor for aquatic animals. From the results it can be suggested that a high frequency monitoring of oxygen should be established for the proper assessment of aquatic habitats and better management strategy.