• ALGAE
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.361-373
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• 2020

The community dynamics of benthic diatoms in the hypersaline environment are investigated to advance our understanding how salinity impacts marine life. Diatoms were sampled in the two salterns encompassing salt Ponds, ditches, and seawater reservoirs (n = 11), along the salinity gradient (max = 324 psu), and nearby tidal flats (n = 2). The floral assemblages and distributions across sites and stations showed great variations, with a total of 169 identified taxa. First, not surprisingly, higher diversity of benthic diatoms was found at natural tidal flats than salterns. The saltern diatoms generally showed salinity dependent distributions with distinct spatial changes in species composition and dominant taxa. Biota-environment and principal component analysis confirmed that salinity, mud content, and total nitrogen were key factors influencing the overall benthic community structure. Some dominant species, e.g., Nitzschia scalpelliformis and Achnanthes sp. 1, showed salinity tolerance / preference. The number of diatom species at salinity of >100 psu reduced over half and no diatoms were found at maximum salinity of 324 psu. The highest salinity for the observed live diatoms was 205 psu, however, a simple regression indicated a theoretical salinity threshold of ~300 psu on the survival. Finally, the indicator species were identified along the salinity gradient in salterns as well as natural tidal flats. Overall, high species numbers, varying taxa, and euryhaline distributions of saltern diatoms collectively reflected a dynamic saltern ecosystem. The present study would provide backgrounds for biodiversity monitoring of ecologically important microalgal producers in some unique hypersaline environment, and elsewhere.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.143-151
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• 2022

Background: After the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP) accident, biological alterations in the natural biota, including morphological changes of fir trees in forests surrounding the power plant, have been reported. Focusing on the terminal buds involved in the morphological formation of fir trees, this study developed a method for estimating the absorbed radiation dose rate using radionuclide distribution measurements from tree organs. Materials and Methods: A phantom composed of three-dimensional (3D) tree organs was constructed for the three upper whorls of the fir tree. A terminal bud was evaluated using Monte Carlo simulations for the absorbed dose rate of radionuclides in the tree organs of the whorls. Evaluation of the absorbed dose targeted ¹³¹I, ¹³⁴Cs, and ¹³⁷Cs, the main radionuclides subsequent to the FDNPP accident. The dose contribution from each tree organ was calculated separately using dose coefficients (DC), which express the ratio between the average activity concentration of a radionuclide in each tree organ and the dose rate at the terminal bud. Results and Discussion: The dose estimation indicated that the radionuclides in the terminal bud and bud scale contributed to the absorbed dose rate mainly by beta rays, whereas those in 1-year-old trunk/branches and leaves were contributed by gamma rays. However, the dose contribution from radionuclides in the lower trunk/branches and leaves was negligible. Conclusion: The fir tree model provides organ-specific DC values, which are satisfactory for the practical calculation of the absorbed dose rate of radiation from inside the tree. These calculations are based on the measurement of radionuclide concentrations in tree organs on the 1-year-old leader shoots of fir trees. With the addition of direct gamma ray measurements of the absorbed dose rate from the tree environment, the total absorbed dose rate was estimated in the terminal bud of fir trees in contaminated forests.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.98-105
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• 2023

This paper studies the effects of global climate change on Gyeonggi Bay and appropriate adaptation strategies. Located along the west coast of Korea, Gyeonggi Bay is renowned as one of the five most important global tidal flats (wetlands). Due to climate change in Gyeonggi Bay, the water temperature is predicted to increase by 1.44 ℃ by the year 2100, the salinity to decrease by 1.1 PSU, the sea level to rise by 35.2 cm, and approximately 150.5 km² of the coast to be submerged due to the rising sea levels. Adaptation strategies to combat negative impacts of climate change on the ecological environment of Gyeonggi Bay include 1) supporting the self-adaptation capability of Gyeonggi Bay's natural environment to be sustainable, and 2) protecting lowlands adjacent to tidal flats and low-lying areas of the coast against human involvement to reserve more space for upslope shifts of biota with rising sea levels.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.26 no.2B
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• pp.161-170
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• 2006

A tracer test technique using a radioisotope was proposed to investigate pollutant mixing characteristics in rivers. The main advantages of radioisotope as a tracer in field tests are that it can be detected easily, and that its detection range is quite large. Also, using the radioisotope, the amount sorbed by the bed material and the biota may be a minimum. Field tracer tests were conducted at seven different sites in natural rivers with various meandering pattern. Based on the acquired data, the behavior of the tracer cloud in the intermediate-field was examined two-dimensionally, and dispersion coefficients were calculated using several evaluation methods. Results revealed that the tracer cloud was transported skewed to the outer bank and dispersion coefficients in bends were larger than those in straight reaches.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2024

Background: Available publications (e.g., theses, scientific reports, books and papers) about the elements of the Egyptian biodiversity during 2000-2018 were collected in a progress scientific report. The publications reported in this bibliography were collected from various sources including: site of the Egyptian Universities Libraries Consortium Portal, accounts of the biodiversity specialists on Research gate, direct contact with the national experts of the Egyptian biodiversity, libraries of some universities and research centers and others. The elements of the Egyptian biodiversity are classified into different categories. Results: Up till now, a total of 20,521 species were recorded in Egypt, of which insects have the highest contribution (48.7%), followed by fungi (12.1%) and vascular plants (11.5%). In a descending order, each of amphibians, viruses, reptiles, mammals, cyanobacteria, bryophytes, and bacteria have a minor contribution (< 1%). Based on the available data, Egyptian biodiversity contributes 1.3% of the world biota, although its area contributes only 0.7% of the world area. At a global scale, the most represented groups are algae (12.22% of the world figure), followed by cyanobacteria (6.08%) and birds (4.70%). On the other hand, the less represented are amphibians (0.14% of the world figure), flora (0.84%) and insects (1.00%). Conclusions: Some suggestions are recommended for preparing a phytoplankton checklist based on the rich available publications; further studies should be carried out on the lichen biodiversity in order to prepare acceptable verified checklist for this important group. In addition, paleo-biologists should work together to publish a book dealing with the Egyptian paleo-biology, such studies will lead to high ranking the Egyptian biodiversity.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.111-124
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• 2003

Processes that cause immobilization of contaminants in soil are of great environmental importance because they may lead to a considerable reduction in the bioavailability of contaminants and they may restrict their leaching into groundwater. Previous investigations demonstrated that pollutants can be bound to soil constituents by either chemical or physical interactions. From an environmental point of view, chemical interactions are preferred, because they frequently lead to the formation of strong covalent bonds that are difficult to disrupt by microbial activity or chemical treatments. Humic substances resulting from lignin decomposition appear to be the major binding ligands involved in the incorporation of contaminants into the soil matrix through stable chemical linkages. Chemical bonds may be formed through oxidative coupling reactions catalyzed either biologically by polyphenol oxidases and peroxidases, or abiotically by certain clays and metal oxides. These naturally occurring processes are believed to result in the detoxification of contaminants. While indigenous enzymes are usually not likely to provide satisfactory decontamination of polluted sites, amending soil with enzymes derived from specific microbial cultures or plant materials may enhance incorporation processes. The catalytic effect of enzymes was evaluated by determining the extent of contaminants binding to humic material, and - whenever possible - by structural analyses of the resulting complexes. Previous research on xenobiotic immobilization was mostly based on the application of $^{14}$ C-labeled contaminants and radiocounting. Several recent studies demonstrated, however, that the evaluation of binding can be better achieved by applying $^{13}$ C-, $^{15}$ N- or $^{19}$ F-labeled xenobiotics in combination with $^{13}$ C-, $^{15}$ N- or $^{19}$ F-NMR spectroscopy. The rationale behind the NMR approach was that any binding-related modification in the initial arrangement of the labeled atoms automatically induced changes in the position of the corresponding signals in the NMR spectra. The delocalization of the signals exhibited a high degree of specificity, indicating whether or not covalent binding had occurred and, if so, what type of covalent bond had been formed. The results obtained confirmed the view that binding of contaminants to soil organic matter has important environmental consequences. In particular, now it is more evident than ever that as a result of binding, (a) the amount of contaminants available to interact with the biota is reduced; (b) the complexed products are less toxic than their parent compounds; and (c) groundwater pollution is reduced because of restricted contaminant mobility.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.311-317
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• 2007

This study was conducted to determine the geographical distribution and habitat for Rana catesbeiana and Trachemys scripta elegans in order to obtain the current basic data on biota needed for establishing a database on non-indigenous species(NIS) in Jeju-do and to develop management plans applicable to Jeju, starting from March 2005 until May 2006. As a result of an inspection, it was found that the habitat for R. catesbeiana in Jeju includes Hankyeong-myeon, Daejeong-eup, and Ahndeok-myeon. These areas are all located on the western side of Jeju-do, and considered to have favorable conditions for R. catesbeiana to inhabit. Thus, it is unlikely that the population of R. catesbeiana will possibly decrease; what's worse, there exists even a risk that it could not only expand to other regions but also do damage to the population of native insecta, fishes, amphibians and reptiles, so this terrible species ought to be exterminated. More than 92 individuals of T. scripta elegans species were found to inhabit in 15 ponds around Jeju Island. T. scripta elegans. as the topmost predator, could destruct the pond ecosystem, and also cause a problem of water pollution due to its excrement. Counter-measures against T. scripta elegans could include publicity activities encouraging self-control of the release of captive T. scripta elegans, extermination plans using its ecological habits, and sign-posting publicizing its hazard to healthy ecosystem at the areas with high population density of T. scripta elegans or at its habitats with high foot traffic, together with the continuous management of NIS(none-indigenous species).

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.365-380
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• 2017

Rapid changes in the flora of exotic species are ecological problems that cause the alteration of national and regional biota. The purpose of this study is to identify the reality of neophyte flora currently inhabiting in Korea. Having analyzed a total of 151 studies published up until 2016, we found the qualitative and quantitative gaps among the preceding studies due to the lack of rigorousness on the application of the spatial and temporal level of exotic species and academic terminology. In this study, the neophyte is defined as the flora introduced temporarily after the Enlightenment in Korea (late 19th century) and spatially in the Eastern Asiatic Province of the Takhtajan's floral region instead of a country boundary. A total of 326 taxa of 184 genera of 39 families were identified and analyzed for their distributional origin and habitat characteristics. Approximately 87% (285 taxa) was a component of the single-layered herb vegetation, and a total of 211 taxa originated from Europe and North America which are the same temperate biome as Korea. The wetland vegetation components were much fewer with 21 taxa, but they included a large number of invasive alien species that caused critical deterioration in the habitat structure and function of aquatic ecosystems. Ecological approaches to exotic species categories such as Ephemerophyten and Apophyten have emerged.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.996-1008
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• 2016

Effects of substrate types (bedrock and boulder habitat) on the community structures of benthic biota (macroalgae, macrobenthos) were monthly examined at Sinheung in Jeju Island, Korea, from Feb. to Nov. 2015. Species diversity of seaweeds and macrobenthos was greater at bedrock sites with 57 and 102 species than at boulder sites having 42 seaweeds and 67 macrobenthos. Average annual biomass of seaweeds was $1,601.13g\;wet\;wt./m^2$ at bedrock site and $448.85g\;wet\;wt./m^2$ at boulder site. Ecklonia cava was the most dominant species, occupying 62.64% ($1,002.93g/m^2$)of total biomass at bedrock. Amphiroa anceps was the most dominant species and subdominant species was Ecklonia cava, Grateloupia angusta, Peyssonnelia capensis and Meristotheca papulosa at boulder site. Density and biomass of macrobenthos were estimated to be $106.9indivi./m^2$ and $871.93g/m^2$, respectively at bedrock site and they were $64.6indivi./m^2$ and $984.28g/m^2$ at boulder site. The dominant macrobenthos species based on biomass were Turbo comutus (36.40%), Astralium haematragum (19.18%) and Anthocidaria crassispina (13.61%) at bedrock site and they were Alveopora japonica (54.13%) and Psammocora profundacella (24.28%) at boulder site.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.19-26
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• 2015

Pre-monsoon dynamics of zooplankton community were investigated in the estuary of the Tamjin River flowing into the Doam Bay of the southern coast of Korea. Monthly sampling was carried out to collect zooplankters at five sites in the estuary and the river during the period between March and June 2014. Dissolved oxygen contents were low between $5.0{\sim}7.0mgL^{-1}$ in the estuary and high, 7.0~11.0, in the river. Water temperature increased gradually from 12.0 to $28.0^{\circ}C$ and pH fluctuated between the range 7.4~8.8, respectively. A total of 85 taxa consisted of 25 species of rotifer, 30 kinds of copepod, 8 species of cladoceran, six kinds of aquatic insect larvae, four kinds of decapod and two kinds of Cirripedia larvae and Polychaeta larvae and one kind of Amphipoda, Ispopoda, Appenidicularia, Nematoda and Cnidaria, and Nocticluca scintillans was occurred. Brackish copepods distributed at almost all studied sites with freshwater zooplankters being restricted to upper waters of the river. Monthly succession of Acartia spp. was observed in the estuary with the occurrence of A. hudsonica in March and April then A. omori in May and June. Zooplankton abundance showed to vary from 450 to $87,818ind\;m^{-3}$ due to the explosion of copepodite and copepod nauplius in the estuary. Species diversity indices varied between 0.6~2.3 and generally low in the estuary and high in the river. Sea water input into the river seems to affect the river biota for more than some kilometers of the upper waters of the Tamjin River.