• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.54-69
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• 2022

We conducted a field survey from 2018 to 2020 to analyze the spatial distribution of phytoplankton communities at 13 stations in the East Sea. The diatom Chaetoceros curvisetus appeared as the dominant species in winter, and small flagellates less than 20 ㎛ prevailed in all seasons except winter. The seasonal average range of the micro (>20 ㎛), nano (20 ㎛≥Chl-a>3 ㎛), and picophytoplankton (≤3 ㎛) was 20.6-26.2%, 27.1-35.9%, and 40.8-49.0%, respectively. The composition ratio of nano and picophytoplankton was high at the surface mixed layer from spring to autumn when the water columns were strongly stratified. Especially, the stability of the water mass was increased when the summer surface water temperature was higher than that of the previous year. As a result, the nutrient inflow from the lower layer to the surface was reduced as the ocean stratification layer was strengthened. Therefore, the composition ratio of nano and picophytoplankton was the highest at 77.9% at the surface mixed layer. In conclusion, the structure of the phytoplankton community in the East Sea has been miniaturized, which is expected to form a complex microbial food web structure and lower the carbon transfer rate to the upper consumer stage.

• Journal of Marine Life Science
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.18-24
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• 2016

Since April 2012, doctor fish in the breeding tank and in the quarantine tank in Hanwha Aquaplanet Yeosu Aquarium have been dying, accompanied by diffuse bleeding around the mouth, in the chin, and at the bottom of the abdomen. In this study, the cause of death would be examined through the bacteriological study of doctor fish and the rearing water quality in the aquarium. The water quality and the bacterial counts of the rearing water in the exhibit tank and in the quarantine tank were analyzed once a week, starting from August to November 2014. Water quality was measured based on the following data: temperature was in the range of 24.5~26.8℃, pH at 6.77~7.94, DO at 6.15~8.61 ppm, ammonia at 0~0.93 ppm, nitrite at 0.009~0.075 ppm, and nitrate at 1.1~40.9 ppm. Studies revealed that the differences in these water quality factors were not related to the death of doctor fish. Bacterial counts in the rearing waters of Garra rufa slightly increased to 10³~10⁴ CFU/ml, just before the death of the doctor fish. Twelve strains of bacteria were isolated from the dead fish and rearing waters. The isolates were identified as Aeromonas veronii, Citrobacter freundii, Pseudorhodoferax aquiterrae, Shewanella putrefaciens, and Vibrio anguillarum on the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequences. The most dominant species was C. freundii, which showed medium sensitivity to florfenicol and norfloxacin, and was resistant to amoxacillin, doxycycline, oxytetracycline, tetracycline, and trimethoprim. Ten isolates were confirmed to be pathogenic to the doctor fish. Doctor fish infected with C. freundii and S. putrefaciens showed high mortality in the experimental groups. These results indicate that the variation in bacterial numbers in the rearing water was related to the death of doctor fish. C. freundii and S. putrefaciens were directly implicated in causing the death of doctor fish in the aquarium.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.325-332
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• 2008

To characterize the initiation, propagation and termination of Cochlodinium polykrikoides blooms in the southeast coastal waters of Korea, 2007, we have analyzed the data set of phytoplankton composition, physical and chemical water properties, and meterological data. The development of C. polykrikoides bloom in 2007 can be summarized in three steps. The first stage from middle of July to end of August was characterized by an unusually persistent and strong southerly wind. C. polykrikoides blooms established already by the strong wind in the middle of south coastal waters were advected intermittently into the study area. Accordingly, highly variable cell densities of C. polykrikoides were observed. At the second stage a favorable growing conditions for C. polykrikoides was developed, which was directed by changes in wind direction from south to northeast and thus enhanced transportation of offshore waters into inshore (August 8 to 30). C. polykrikoides bloom occurred through typical mechanism and showed high cell density. The last stage was represented by disappearance of C. polykrikoides. Typoon 'Nari' carrying heavy rain brought an unfavorable habitat to C. polykrikoides. Low saline condition formed in coastal water due to typoon effects continuously drove the dominant species to diatoms and flagellates which were prevailing over C. polykrikoides in this circumstances(from the middle of September). These stepwise processes could be the causative mechanism of the extraordinarily persistent C. polykrikoides bloom observed in southeast coastal water of Korea, 2007.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.272-281
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• 2023

Ecosystem observatories are burgeoning globally in an endeavour to detect national and global scale trends in the state of biodiversity and ecosystems in an era of rapid environmental change. In this paper we highlight the additional importance of regional scale outcomes of such infrastructure, through an introduction to the Great Western Woodlands TERN (Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network) SuperSite, and key findings from three gradient plot networks that are part of this infrastructure. The SuperSite was established in 2012 in the 160,000 km² Great Western Woodlands region, in a collaboration involving 12 organisations. This region is globally significant for its largely intact, diverse landscapes, including the world's largest Mediterranean-climate woodlands and highly diverse sandplain shrublands. The dominant woodland eucalypts are fire-sensitive, requiring hundreds of years to regrow after fire. Old-growth woodlands are highly valued by Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities, and managing impacts of climate change and the increasing extent of intense fires are key regional management challenges. Like other TERN SuperSites, the Great Western Woodlands TERN SuperSite includes a core eddy-covariance flux tower measuring exchanges of carbon, water and energy between the vegetation and atmosphere, along with additional environmental and biodiversity monitoring around the tower. The broader SuperSite incorporates three gradient plot networks. Two of these represent aridity gradients, in sandplains and woodlands, informing regional climate adaptation and biodiversity management by characterising biodiversity turnover along spatial climate gradients and acting as sentinels for ecosystem change over time. For example, the sandplains transect has demonstrated extremely high spatial turnover rates in plant species, that challenge traditional approaches to biodiversity conservation. The third gradient plot network represents a 400-year fire-age gradient in Eucalyptus salubris woodlands. It has enabled characterisation of post-fire recovery of vegetation, birds and invertebrates over multi-century timeframes, and provided tools that are directly informing management to reduce stand-replacing fires in eucalypt woodlands. By building regional partnerships and applying globally or nationally consistent methodologies to regional scale questions, ecological observatories have the power not only to detect national and global scale trends in biodiversity and ecosystems, but to directly inform environmental decisions that are critical at regional scales.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.310-323
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• 2024

The purpose of this study was to understand the vegetation structure and ecological characteristic of Bulgapsan(Mt.) Provincial Park by setting up and surveying 64 plots(100m²). The analysis using the TWINSPAN and DCA techniques found seven community groups: Pinus densiflora-Quercus variabilis community, P. densiflora-P. rigida-Q. serrata community, Q. variabilis-Carpinus tschonoskii community, Q. aliena-Q. variabilis-Cornus controversa community, Q. aliena-Platycarya strobilacea community, Broad-leaved miced community and Q. variabilis community. The result of vegetation community structure analysis showed that P. densiflora community and deciduous Quercus spp. community were in competition, and succession to Quercus spp. community was expected. In the case of other broad-leaved forests, the current status is expected to be maintained. But continuous monitoring is required in areas where Neolitsea sericea and Cephalotaxus appear, which grow naturally in warm temperate forest and southern temperate vegetation zone. Species diversity by communities are confirmed to be highest at 2.6654 in the actively competitive P. densiflora-P. rigida-Q. serrata community, and the lowest in the Deciduous broad-leaved forests community at 1.2548. The results of the tree rings and annual growth analysis showed that dominant trees had an average age of more than 37~87 years. Among them, N. sericea designated as a natural monument was 48~56 years old.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.335-344
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• 2023

Community composition and abundance of aquatic invertebrates are important for ecological functions. Community characteristics of insects and gastropods were compared in five regions to investigate the effect of geological factors in surveys conducted between June and August to analyze seasonal changes in invertebrate communities. Underwater traps were used to obtain a constant collection effect. Insect communities were dominated by Hydrochara affinis, Rhantus suturalis and Sigara nigroventralis, and nMDS analysis demonstrated the separation of their communities by region. H. affinis and Sternolophus rufipes were not found in Haenam and Cheolwon, respectively. The results showed the effects of regional temperature on the distribution of aquatic insects. Pomacea canaliculata, Hippeutis cantori and Austropeplea ollula were dominant in the gastropod community. The seasonal variation in the abundance of P. canaliculata was the most pronounced, and its abundance in August was 38.2 times higher than in June. The abundances of several species including Hippeutis cantori were negatively correlated with that of P. canaliculata. These results suggest that P. canaliculata is a pivotal factor that drives seasonal changes in gastropod community.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.396-406
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• 2024

We carried out a field survey to analyze the spatial distributions of phytoplankton communities at 15 stations in the Yellow Sea in 2019. Diatoms exhibited a high appearance rate in winter and spring, whereas small flagellates(<20 ㎛) showed a high appearance rate in summer and autumn. This change in the phytoplankton-community structure may be ascribed to low nutrient concentrations in the area, especially of phosphate, which was below the detection limit, seriously hampering the phytoplankton growth. The composition ratio of picophytoplankton was high in the surface mixed layer in summer and autumn when the water columns exhibited strong stratification. Redundancy analysis revealed strong negative correlations between nutrients (NO₃^-, PO₄^3-) and water depth. In conclusion, the reduction in nutrients in the surface mixed layer owing to the strengthening of stratification in summer and autumn creates favorable conditions for the growth of relatively small phytoplankton with low nutrient requirements, leading to a shift towards a smaller phytoplankton-community structure.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.86 no.2
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• pp.223-232
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• 1997

One hundred Sixty two quadrats were sampled from natural forests, in Kangwon-do and Kyungsangbuk-do. On the basis of Mueller-Dombois & Ellenberg method, field survey, which accounts for the characters of the species structure of Pinus densiflora community and Quercus mongolica community, was carried out between 1991 and 1994. To analyze the data, CCA ordination and D.B.H, analysis were used. 1. DBH analysis showed that Pinus densiflora community is likely replacing Quercus mongolica or Quercus variabilis community. DBH analysis also showed that Quercus mongolica - Lindera obtusiloba community balances among the Quercus mongolica, Fraxinus rhynchophylla, and Tilia amurensid in the canopy, and that Quercus mongolica-Abies nephrolepis community, mixed forest balances among the Quercus mongolica, Pinus koraiensis, and Abies nephrolepis in the canopy. In general, Quercus mongolica seems to remain as a dominant species. 2. A certain correlation seems to exist between nutrients types and Pinus densiflora community. Quercus mongolica prefered to grow in the medium elevation area that has medium level of total nitrogen, organic matter, and C.E.C. Pinus densiflora, Quercus serrata and Quercus variabilis were found in the low elevation area that has low level of total nitrogen, organic matter, and C.E.C. 3. There seemed to be a certain correlation between nutrients types and Quercus mongolica community. Quercus mongolica and Acer pseudosieboldianum was distributed in the slope area that has medium level of $Mg^{{+}{+}}$, $Ca^{{+}{+}}$, and C.E.C., while Abies nephrolepis, Taxus cuspidata and Pinus koraiensis in the high elevation and ridge area that has low level of $Mg^{{+}{+}}$, $Ca^{{+}{+}}$, and C.E.C. Carpinus laxiflora and Abies holophylla were found in the medium elevation area that has medium level of $Mg^{{+}{+}}$, $Ca^{{+}{+}}$, and C.E.C., while Kalopanax pious, Carpinus cordata and Acer truncatum in the moderately moist and valley area that has high level of $Mg^{{+}{+}}$, $Ca^{{+}{+}}$, and C.E.C. Pinus densiflora and Fraxinus rhynchophylla seemed to prefer the slightly dry, low elevation and ridge area.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.81-91
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• 2016

This study was performed to investigate and monitor changes in aquatic ecological communities, particularly benthic macroinvertebrates from the upper reaches to the down reaches of Songchu valley before the project of Songchu valley translocation initiates. We aimed to verify the translocation effects of the valley on the aquatic macroinvertebrate communities. A field investigation was conducted over three rounds from November 2012 to August 2013. A total of four sites were selected: one to represent the control site (St. 1), two for the translocation sites (St. 2, 3), and one for the downstream sites (St. 4). Our quantitative sampling revealed that the total number of benthic macroinvertebrates were 3,805, which belong to 62 species, 32 families, 9 orders, 5 classes and 4 phyla. As a result of the community analysis at the control site, dominant index was 0.52(${\pm}0.16$), diversity index was 1.95(${\pm}0.44$), evenness index was 0.81(${\pm}0.04$), and richness index was 2.25(${\pm}0.85$). Thus, the community structure was found to be relatively stable. For the EPT ratio of species and individuals that appeared, the control site showed the highest values at 67.60(${\pm}5.66$)% and 66.30(${\pm}2.06$)% respectively, but its value became lower towards the downstream sites. Upon the statistical analysis of the functional feeding groups, it was found that gathering-collectors and filtering-collectors increased toward the downstream sites while shredders decreased. From the point of habitat-oriented group evaluation, sprawlers decreased and burrows increased toward the downstream sites. According to the analysis using Korea Saprobic Index (KSI), the control site is categorized as grade A with average value at 0.75(${\pm}0.10$). However, the grade gradually falls from A to B toward the lower reaches, as the KSI value increases at the translocation and downstream sites.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.236-243
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• 1991

A field experiment was conducted during the growing season of 1985 to determine the effects of slope orientation, north and south facing exposures and three different altitudes, 800, 1,000 and 1,200m a.s.1. on the dry matter yield, forage quality and botanical composition of alpine pasture. 1. Total dry matter yield of alpine pasture was influenced by slope orientation and altitude. An average forage yield of both exposures at 1,000m a.s.1. was 9,301kg/ha compared with 10,274kg/ha at 800m a.s.1. and the productivity express in relative percentage decreased by 9.5% per 200m attitudinal increase. 2. An average forage yield of both altitudes, 800 and 1,000m a.s.1. on the south facing exposure was 21.5% higher than that on the north exposure. 3. Crude protein concentration of forage grown on both exposures was lowest at 800m a.s.1. increasing gradually as the altitude increased, but crude fiber concentration decreaced in a manner opposite to that of crude protein. 4. Forage grown on the north facing exposure had a higher concentration of crude protein than that grown on the south facing exposure at the same altitude, but lower concentraion of crude fiber. 5. Orchardgrass and timothy were two main species on both exposures at 800m a.s.1. but timothy was only dominant species at 1,000 and 1,200m a.s.1. and performed well up to 1,200m a.s.1. in alpine area. The economic production limit of orchardgrass would be about 800m a.s.1. in the alpine pasture. 6. No soil property differences were found between the north and south facing exposures as well as three different altitudes in the alpine pasture. It seemed that the previous pasture fertilization of the experimental field completely overshadowed any soil property differences from slope orientation and altitude.