• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.195-200
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• 2017

Background: The natural ratios of carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and sulfur (S) stable isotopes can be varied in some specific living organisms owing to various isotopic fractionation processes in nature. Therefore, the analysis of C, N, and S stable isotope ratios in ginseng can provide a feasible method for determining ginseng authenticity depending on the cultivation land and type of fertilizer. Methods: C, N, and S stable isotope composition in 6-yr-old ginseng roots (Jagyeongjong variety) was measured by isotope ratio mass spectrometry. Results: The type of cultivation land and organic fertilizers affected the C, N, and S stable isotope ratio in ginseng (p < 0.05). The ${\delta}^{15}N_{AIR}$ and ${\delta}^{34}S_{VCDT}$ values in ginseng roots more significantly discriminated the cultivation land and type of organic fertilizers in ginseng cultivation than the ${\delta}^{13}C_{VPDB}$ value. The combination of ${\delta}^{13}C_{VPDB}$, ${\delta}^{15}N_{AIR}$, or ${\delta}^{34}S_{VCDT}$ in ginseng, except the combination ${\delta}^{13}C_{VPDB}-^{34}S_{VCDT}$, showed a better discrimination depending on soil type or fertilizer type. Conclusion: This case study provides preliminary results about the variation of C, N, and S isotope composition in ginseng according to the cultivation soil type and organic fertilizer type. Hence, our findings are potentially applicable to evaluate ginseng authenticity depending on cultivation conditions.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.179-188
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• 2016

This paper presents a new information on animal husbandry practice in the Baekje period using stable isotope analysis of 17 animal bones excavated from the Pungnaptoseong Fortress. Stable carbon isotope evidence implies that wild animals such as deer and pigs had mainly $C_3$-based diet whereas domestic cattle and horses might have consumed more $C_4$ plants. In addition, we propose one potential that domestic pigs show higher nitrogen isotope values in comparison with wild boar because they were possibly fed by humans.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.242-251
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• 2012

To investigate foodweb of aquatic ecosystem in the Tamjin River, carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes ratios of aquatic organisms, as well as environmental indicators based on the water, were determined in this study. Various organisms such as fishes (Coreoperca kawamebari, Zacco platypus, Cobitis lutheri, and Pungtungia herzi) and periphyton (epilithon and epiphyte), and particulate- and coarse particulate organic matters (POM and CPOM) were collected in upper (Tamjin River, Yuchi Stream, and Omcheon Stream) and lower (TJ-1~TJ-5) reaches of Jangheung Dam. The nitrate concentration and ${\delta}^{15}N$ signature of POM and organisms (invertebrates and fish) were found to be more enriched toward the downstream section of the river. It was determined that allochthonous matter occurring from a tributary alters the chemical character of water, as well as the isotopic signature of organisms contained therein. Attached algae (ephilithon) were identified as a base component of the benthic foodchain further downstream.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.29 no.11
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• pp.1089-1098
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• 2020

To assess the trophic function of an artificial macroalgal habitat, we compared the stable carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios of two amphipods (Caprella sp. and Ampithoe sp.) and their potential food sources in a transplanted macroalgal habitat (Grateloupia asiatica) with those in a natural habitat. There were no significant differences in the isotopic values of both consumers and their potential food sources between the transplanted and natural habitats. Such isotopic similarities between the two sites indicate a comparable resource consumer relationship. Additionally, our results showed similar isotopic niche areas and high dietary overlap (>65%) of the two amphipods between the transplanted and natural sites, suggesting that the transplanted habitat plays ecological roles similar to the natural habitat. Overall, isotopic assessment can provide information on the trophic function of diverse transplanted macroalgal habitats and improve post-monitoring efforts in the management of artificial ecosystems.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.427-439
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• 2013

Carbon cycling and productivity within Weno Island of Micronesia enclosed by the coral reef may be likely self-maintained and insignificantly affected by the open ocean. Therefore, it is important to understand the role of the mangrove known as providing the organic matter and habitats for many organisms in this enclosed area. In order to trace the nutritional source of fauna (mostly invertebrates) in the mangrove forest of Weno island, we analyzed the fatty acid (FA) and carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes of potential nutritional sources (mangrove leaf & pneumatophore, seagrass leaf & root, surface sediment, and particulate organic matter (POM) in water) and consumers (4 gastropods and anomura). The mangrove and seagrass contained the abundance of 18:2${\omega}$6, and 18:3${\omega}$3, whereas FAs associated with phytoplankton and bacteria were accounted for a high proportion in the surface sediment and POM. FA composition of consumers was found to be similar to those of the surface sediment, mangrove, and seagrass. These were also confirmed through the mixing model of stable isotope for contribution of nutritional sources to consumers. Overall results with the feeding types of investigated mangrove fauna indicate that investigated mangrove fauna obtained their nutrition from the various sources, i.e. the mangrove for Littorina cf. scabra, the microalgae for Strombus sp., and omnivorous Pagurus sp. and Terebralia cf. palustris. However, it is obvious that the nutrition of most species living in the mangrove ecosystem is highly dependent on the mangrove, either directly or indirectly. More detail food-web structure and function of the mangrove ecosystem would be established with the analysis of additional fauna and flora.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.102-112
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• 2022

This study investigated dietary habits and intra- and inter-specific food resource partitioning of co-occurring walleye pollock (Gadus chalcogrammus) and Pacific cod (G. macrocephalus) from the waters off the north-eastern coast of South Korea using stomach contents and stable isotopes (δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N) analyses. Both species are mesopelagic carnivores that consumed mainly benthopelagic crustaceans, but teleosts were also abundant in the diet of Pacific cod. Non-metric multidimensional scaling (nMDS) ordination and permutational multivariate analysis of variance (PERMANOVA) of dietary data revealed significant intra- and inter-specific dietary differences, i.e., food resource partitioning. Nitrogen stable isotope values (δ¹⁵N) were similar between walleye pollock and Pacific cod, but carbon stable isotope values (δ¹³C) were significant different, suggesting different trophic positioning. Canonical analysis of principal coordinate (CAP) ordination plot further demonstrated that differences in the type and range of prey ingested by the two species contributed such an inter-specific difference in the diet compositions. Ontogenetic changes in diet compositions were evident. As walleye pollock, they preyed more upon carid shrimps and cephalopods, but no such trend was observed in the diets of Pacific cod. While stable isotope values indicated that large-sized specimens of both species were significantly enriched in ¹⁵N relative to smaller conspecifics thus supporting these data. Consequently, in this study, both methodologies, i.e., stomach contents and stable isotope analyses, provided evidence of inter- and/or intra-specific dietary segregations and trophic niche partitioning between co-occurring walleye pollock and Pacific cod off eastern Korean waters.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.39-44
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• 2013

Origin authenticity of the animals used as food has always been a major concern to consumers around the world. In the past twenty years, a stable isotope ratio has been used for origin authentication. In this study, pork samples, both local and imported, were collected from the major markets from all around South Korea and analyzed for stable isotope ratios of nitrogen (${\delta}^{15}N$‰) and carbon (${\delta}^{13}C$‰), using Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry (IR-MS). A total of 599 samples with 335 Korean and 264 imported from 13 countries within America and Europe were investigated in accordance to the standard established methods for isotope ratio analysis. The results showed a significant variation related to the origin of the samples, explaining the difference in the feeding styles of the pork in each country. The stable isotope ratio values of carbon (${\delta}^{13}C$‰) were found in the decreasing order of: America ($-15.55{\pm}1.01$‰)>Korea ($-19.62{\pm}0.89$‰)>Europe ($-24.79{\pm}1.35$‰). Canada was having ${\delta}^{13}C$ ratio of $-22.87{\pm}0.92$‰, which is very low in the region of America and very close to Europe (-23.78 to -27.17‰). For nitrogen ${\delta}^{15}N$‰ the order was: America ($4.92{\pm}0.71$‰)>Europe ($4.54{\pm}0.66$‰)>Korea ($3.69{\pm}0.54$‰), with a slight variation among countries in each region studied. From the results it was concluded that the stable isotope ratio of the pork samples from different countries provide enough information about the origin and is therefore a potential tool which can be employed for origin authentication.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.50-64
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• 2019

Recently, quantitative analyses of food web structure based on carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes are widely applied to environmental assessments as well as ecological researches of various ecosystems, particularly rivers and streams. In the present study, we analyzed carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios of POM (both planktonic and attached forms), zooplankton, benthic macroinvertebrates and fish collected from 6 sites located at Nakdong River. Samples were collected from upstream areas of 5 weirs (Sangju, Gangjeong-Goryeong, Dalseong, Hapcheon-Changnyeong, and Changnyeong-Haman Weirs) and one downstream area of Hapcheon-Changnyeong Weir in dry season (June) and after rainy season (September). We suggested ranges of their carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios and calculated their trophic levels in the food web to compare their temporal and spatial variations. Trophic levels of organisms were relatively higher in Sangju Weir located at upper part of Nakdong River, and decreased thereafter. However, the trophic levels were recovered at the Changnyeong-Haman Weir, the lowest weir in the river. The trophic level calculated by nitrogen stable isotope ratios showed more reliable ranges when they were calculated based on zooplankton than POM used as baseline. The suggested quantitative ecological information of the majority of biological communities in Nakdong River would be helpful to understand the response of river food web to environmental disturbances and can be applied to various further researches regarding the quantitative approaches for the understanding food web structure and function of river ecosystems as well as restoration.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.99 no.3
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• pp.353-358
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• 2010

In this study, we investigated the relationship of tree-ring growth with total nitrogen content, and stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes from the core samples of Pinus koraiensis (35-year-old). Annual ring width showed significant positive correlations with the ${\delta}^{13}C$ (P=0.003). The total nitrogen content (P=0.024), and the ${\delta}^{13}C$ content was also correlated with total nitrogen content (P=0.038), indicating that the growth of P. koraiensis was stimulated as the contents of both ${\delta}^{13}C$ and total nitrogen were increased. On the other hand, the less the ${\delta}^{15}N$ content and the C/N ratio were, the larger the annual ring width was. Moreover the families with relatively better growth performance contained the higher levels of ${\delta}^{13}C$ in the xylem compared to other families. These results suggest that the ${\delta}^{13}C$ and total nitrogen contents are the important determinants in the growth performance of P. koraiensis.

• Proceedings of the Korea Water Resources Association Conference
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• 2023.05a
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• pp.247-247
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• 2023

Coastal lagoons play a crucial role in water exchange, water quality, and biodiversity. It is essential to monitor and understand the dynamics of hydrogeochemistry in lagoon water and its groundwater to preserve and sustainably manage the groundwater-dependent ecosystems like coastal lagoons. This study investigated the spatial and temporal hydrogeochemical characteristics of coastal lagoon (Songjiho) and groundwater on the east coast of Korea. The concentrations of major ions, water isotopes, and nutrients (nitrogen and dissolved organic carbon) in lagoon water and groundwater were periodically monitored for one year. The study revealed that major ions and total dissolved solids (TDS) concentration were higher at deeper depths of aquifers and closer to the coastal area. The hydrogeochemical characteristics of coastal lagoon and groundwater chemistry were classified into two types, Ca-Mg-HCO₃ and Na-Cl, based on their spatial location from inland to coastal area. Moreover, the hydrogeochemical characteristics of coastal lagoons and groundwater varied significantly depending on the season. During the wet season, the increased precipitation and evaporation lead to changes in water chemistry. As a result, the total organic carbon (TOC) of coastal lagoons increases during this season, likely due to increased runoff by rainfall whereas the variation of chemical compositions in the lagoon and groundwater were not significant because there is reduced precipitation, resulting in stable water levels and during the dry season. The study emphasizes the impact of spatial distribution and seasonal changes in precipitation, evaporation, and river discharge on the hydrogeochemical characteristics of the coastal aquifer and lagoon system. Understanding these impacts is crucial for managing and protecting coastal lagoons and groundwater resources.