• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.232-241
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• 2010

Epilithic diatom communities and water quality were monitored to evaluate the ecological impact of the inflow of Wonju-stream passing through the urban area in the Seom River Watershed. We selected the 14 sampling stations (5 main stream sites and 9 tributary sites), and collected diatom and water samples between October 2007 and September 2008, on the seasonal basis. The results indicate that most water quality parameters showed the site-specific patterns over the study, except for water temperature and dissolved oxygen. The levels of water quality parameters were highest at the site of Wonju stream, whereas the lowest in the upstream sites, and intermediate or gradually decreased in the downstream sites of the Seom river. One species, Achnanthes convergens, showed the highest biomass and frequency over the sites, while three saprophilous species-Navicula goeppertiana, Navicula subminuscula, Nitzschia palea were appeared only in Wonju Stream and other polluted sites. According to trophic diatom index (TDI) values, which were highly correlated with nutrients and EC, the study sites were classified into three classes: upstream and tributary (Class A and B), Wonju Stream (Class D), and mixed zone and downstream (Class C). A cluster analysis supported the result of TDI classification. Therefore, Wonju-stream located in populated urban area exerted the adverse ecological effects on the epilithic diatom community and water quality of the lower Seom River System, although its severity gradually decreased downstream.

• Journal of Environmental Policy
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.25-56
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• 2006

We reviewed and compared nationwide surveys conducted in advanced countries (i.e., Japan, Germany, USA, and UK) with those in Korea, including the third Nationwide Survey of Natural Environments, which began in 2006 and will proceed until 2010. Based on this comparative analysis, we suggest alternatives to the nationwide survey of natural environments that are suited to Korea. Given the focus on species abundances and distributions in previous nationwide surveys in Korea, surveys of habitats, ecosystems, and ecoregions are required to more effectively protect biological resources in Korea. Furthermore, their spatial distributions should be mapped using periodical satellite images and aerial photographs. In particular, satellite images can be used to survey species, habitats, and ecosystems. Natural resources monitoring and management specialists are needed to collect various data and improve survey results. The participation of community volunteers is also important to develop an awareness in local residents of natural environment conservation. Independent survey institute (i.e., a 'National Ecosystem Institute') should be established to develop a database and survey scheme for species, habitats, and ecosystems throughout Korea. Moreover, the survey institute could develop natural environmental policy through the data analysis to meet the objectives of the Convention on Biological Diversity. The establishment of a survey institute will allow the completion of a natural environment survey that considers various factors, including physical habitat conditions. This will allow us to detect subtle changes in species abundance and spatial distributions and provide accurate and timely information on natural environments.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.421-430
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• 2015

This study was carried out to understand the ecological variations of macrobenthos communities by construction dikes in the subtidal zone of Chonsu Bay. This study analyzed the distribution of benthos, the dominant species, spatial and temporal changes of benthos communities and benthic pollutions in the subtidal zone of Chonsu Bay. A total of 252 species of subtidal macrobenthos with a density of $681ind./m^2$ were studied. In all the seasons, the species diversity was found to be higher near the mouth of the bay. For all the seasons of the year, Lumbrineris japonica was found to be the most dominant species. These dominant species were found to have positive correlations with species diversity and sedimentary parameters such as organic content in sediments. Dominant species of benthos as well as species composition and diversity showed spatial and temporal distribution patterns.Benthic Pollution Index (BPI) values estimated for the stations near the embankment were in the 4~5 levels, which indicates that the organic matter has been polluted. And as for the stations near the mouth of the bay, the BPI values were in the 1~3 levels, which indicates that the organic matter has been relatively less polluted. According to the SAB-curve analysis, the number of transitional point stations became less in the mouth of the bay.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.402-409
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• 2006

Although microorganisms are, in fact, the most diverse and abundant type of organism on Earth, the ecological functions of microbial populations remains poorly understood. A variety of bacteria including marine Vibrios encounter numerous ecological challenges, such as UV light, predation, competition, and seasonal variations in seawater including pH, salinity, nutrient levels, temperature and so forth. In order to survive and proliferate under variable conditions, they have to develop elaborate means of communication to meet the challenges to which they are exposed. In bacteria, a range of biological functions have recently been found to be regulated by a population density-dependent cell-cell signaling mechanism known as quorum-sensing (QS). In other words, bacterial cells sense population density by monitoring the presence of self-produced extracellular autoinducers (AI). N-acylhomoserine lactone (AHL)-dependent quorum-sensing was first discovered in two luminescent marine bacteria, Vibrio fischeri and Vibrio harveyi. The LuxI/R system of V. fischeriis the paradigm of Gram-negative quorum-sensing systems. At high population density, the accumulated signalstrigger the expression of target genes and thereby initiate a new set of biological activities. Several QS systems have been identified so far. Among them, an AHL-dependent QS system has been found to control biofilm formation in several bacterial species, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Aeromonas hydrophila, Burkholderia cepacia, and Serratia liquefaciens. Bacterial biofilm is a structured community of bacterial cells enclosed in a self-produced polymeric matrix that adheres to an inert or living surface. Extracellular signal molecules have been implicated in biofilm formation. Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain NT1(traR, tra::lacZ749) and Chromobacterium violaceum strain CV026 are used as biosensors to detect AHL signals. Quorum sensing in lactic acid bacteria involves peptides that are directly sensed by membrane-located histidine kinases, after which the signal is transmitted to an intracellular regulator. In the nisin autoregulation process in Lactococcus lactis, the NisK protein acts as the sensor for nisin, and NisR protein as the response regulator activatingthe transcription of target genes. For control over growth and survival in bacterial communities, various strategies need to be developed by which receptors of the signal molecules are interfered with or the synthesis and release of the molecules is controlled. However, much is still unknown about the metabolic processes involved in such signal transduction and whether or not various foods and food ingredients may affect communication between spoilage or pathogenic bacteria. In five to ten years, we will be able to discover new signal molecules, some of which may have applications in food preservation to inhibit the growth of pathogens on foods.

• Journal of the Korean association of regional geographers
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.757-774
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• 2004

This paper is to reclassify systematically the functions of urban river: that is, water supply, land management, transportation and energy source as social and economic function; formation of geomorphic surface, water-side landscape, community constitution and boundary and separation between regions as spatial function; and drainage of waste water, purification, habitation, and weather regulation as ecological function. On the basis of this reclassification, it can be argued that the socio-economic functions (eg. water supply) of the river among the functions of the river have been strongly mobilized in the process of modernization, while the spatial function and ecological function of urban river have been ignored. The Kumho river which flows through Daegu and the adjacent area has made a great contribution to the modem development process of the river basin area, but as a result of a selective development of a specific function of the river, that is the social and economic function, it now suffers from the lack of instream flow and is deprived of its original functions with the water pollution and degradation. Moreover the Daegu region seems no longer possible to develop on the dependence of the river. In order to overcome this kind of social and environmental crisis, this paper is to suggest both some principles and main evaluating indicators to restore the original and comprehensive functions of the river, and important measures to make the co-evolution of the city and the river possible.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.122-131
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• 2010

This paper introduces the concept of a virtual ecosystem and reports the following three mathematical approaches that could be widely used to construct such an ecosystem, along with examples: (1) a molecular dynamics simulation approach for animal flocking behavior, (2) a stochastic lattice model approach for termite colony behavior, and (3) a rule-based cellular automata approach for biofilm growth. The ecosystem considered in this study consists of artificial organisms and their environment. Each organism in the ecosystem is an agent that interacts autonomously with the dynamic environment, including the other organisms within it. The three types of model were successful to account for each corresponding ecosystem. In order to accurately mimic a natural ecosystem, a virtual ecosystem needs to take many ecological variables into account. However, doing so is likely to introduce excess complexity and nonlinearity in the analysis of the virtual ecosystem's dynamics. Nonetheless, the development of a virtual ecosystem is important, because it can provide possible explanations for various phenomena such as environmental disturbances and disasters, and can also give insights into ecological functions from an individual to a community level from a synthetic viewpoint. As an example of how lower and higher levels in an ecosystem can be connected, this paper also briefly discusses the application of the second model to the simulation of a termite ecosystem and the influence of climate change on the termite ecosystem.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.235-258
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• 2006

The monitoring of vegetation and water quality before(2003), during(2004) and after(2005) the restoration work of Cheonggye Stream indicated that $BOD_5$ concentration before the project averaged 51.1mg/L and that both the inflow of water from Hang River and the funnel of subway station water into the stream lowered the $BOD_5$ to 3.3mg/L, improving its water quality to the third grade. Species of plants slightly increased from 121 to 132 after the restoration. Specifically, perennial plant comprised 35.6%, an increase from 24.8% recorded before the restoration. Phragmites communis and Zoysia japonica communities were observed as the introduction vegetation. However, Humulus japonicus and Erigeron canadensis communities, which were classified into the first grade according to the vegetation conservation classification, were found to be still prevailing though they were dominant community before the restoration, meaning that the ecological condition of plants had not changed very significantly. An the other hand the water quality of the reference reach was classified into the first grade based on $BOD_5$, which implies the water quality of the section was better than the project reaches. Besides the section had more diverse plant species which numbered 154, and furthermore, the rate of immigrated plants comprised 13% which was lower than 28.8% recorded by the project sections. The project reaches are considered to be inferior to the reference section in terms of ecological condition. The effectiveness of the stream restoration cannot be determined only by such short-term investigation as was conducted in this study, and it is considered that the effectiveness of the restoration of Cheonggye Stream can be determined only if investigations in other major factors are conducted over the long-term period.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.42 no.6
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• pp.111-123
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• 2014

The city square is an important public open space for people. Being used for various activities, such as community gatherings, open markets, concerts, political rallies, and other events, many types of city squares are represented in a city. Nevertheless, most city squares are planned uniformly, lacking consideration for visitor behavior and use satisfaction. The study investigated the design factors and subcomponents influencing user satisfaction with different types of city squares. This study focused on the general city square in Seoul, including the grand public place (i.e. Gwanghwamun Square) and the neighborhood park (i.e. Geumbit Square). The data were analyzed using factor analysis, linear regression and fuzzy theory. The results of the study are as follows: first, five design factors of satisfaction with city squares are identified (Amenity, Usability, Spatial components, Culture, and Comfortableness). Second, Amenity, Comfortableness, and spatial components significantly affect user satisfaction with Gwanghwamun in that order. On the other hand, in Geumbit Square, Comfortableness, Amenity, Usability and Spatial components affect user satisfaction in a significant way, in that order. Third, cleanliness, a subcomponent of amenity, was ranked highest using the fuzzy theory function for satisfaction with Gwanghwamun Square. Otherwise, the prevalence of plants was ranked the highest on the Geumbit Square survey. The study compared design factors influencing satisfaction in the public grand place and the neighborhood park. The results have implications for designing and planning city squares to the satisfaction of their visitors.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.43 no.5
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• pp.549-559
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• 2005

Sustainable industrial development which can minimize an ecological effect by the mankind exertion is recently interested due to an environmental contamination and a resource exhaustion problem. An eco-industrial park (EIP) is a community of manufacturing and service businesses seeking enhanced environmental and economic performance through collaboration in managing environmental and resource issues, including energy, water, and materials. EIP developments which improve a production plant within an eco-friendly greenfield and design a new industrial ecosystem are accomplished recently, which can efficiently re-use the waste and resources from each company within EIP. In this review, the outside and domestic case studies of EIP and cornerstone technologies to develop the EIP, such as energy integration, waste reuse, mass flow analysis, water pinch, and life cycle assessment, are summarized.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.110 no.4
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• pp.590-600
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• 2021

This study compared the stand structure of Abies koreana forests between Mt. Jirisan and Mt. Hallasan by analyzing DBH distribution, stem vitality, crown structure, importance value, species diversity, and DCA. The data were acquired through the national long-term ecological research project conducted by the Ministry of Environment. In the comparison of DBH class distribution, the stem density of A. koreana with DBH < 20 cm was higher in Mt. Hallasan than that in Mt. Jirisan; however, the stem density of A. koreana with DBH > 20 cm was higher in Mt. Jirisan than that in Mt. Hallasan. For A. koreana stem vitality, the ratio of alive standing was higher in Mt. Jirisan (72.0%) than in Mt. Hallasan (60.7%), whereas the ratio of alive leaning was higher in Mt. Hallasan (10.2%) than in Mt. Jirisan (1.1%). A. koreana stand in Mt. Jirisan was a mature stand with four evenly developed and distinct layers, whereas the tree layer in Mt. Hallasan was less than 10 m and the stand had three layers without a subtree layer. Mt. Hallasan's importance value of A. koreana was 39.4% higher than Mt. Jirisan's importance value of 26.6%. The species diversity of the A. koreana community of Mt. Jirisan was 2.52 times higher than that of Mt. Hallasan, which was 1.58. DCA results revealed that the average distance between Mt. Jirisan and Mt. Hallasan was relatively distinguished, and the degree of scattering of species composition of Mt. Jirisan was relatively dense compared with that of Mt. Hallasan.