• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.72-81
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• 2012

We investigated the effects of acid mine drainage (AMD) from abandoned coal mines on benthic macroinvertebrate communities in the upper reaches of the Nakdong River from May to October in 2009. Qualitative and quantitative sampling (Surber sampler: $50{\times}50$ cm; mesh size, 0.2 mm) was conducted at 7 study sites and 3 control sites in the study area. We thus sampled 117 species belonging to 53 families, 15 orders, 6 classes, and 5 phyla; the Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera group (EPT-group) represented the majority of the benthic macroinvertebrate community (71 species; 64.5%). In the quantitative sampling, a total of 11,575 individuals belonging to 58 species of benthic maroinvertebrates were sampled from the study sites (Sites 1-7), whereas 2,844 individuals belonging to 79 species were sampled from the control sites (Sites A-C). Tolerant species such as oligochaetes, $Epeorus$ $pellucidus$, $Baetis$ $fuscatus$, Hydropsychidae species, and Chironomidae species were predominant in the study sites. The community indices for the study sites, such as MacNaughton's dominance index (DI) (mean${\pm}$SD, $0.52{\pm}0.21$; range, 0.33-0.85) and the Shannon diversity index ($H^{\prime}$) ($2.06{\pm}0.60$; 1.06-2.57), were different from those for the control sites (DI: $0.29{\pm}0.07$, 0.22-0.35; $H^{\prime}$: $3.13{\pm}0.14$; 3.03-3.30). In the study sites, shredders and scrapers were scarce, whereas gathering-collectors (mainly Chironomidae species) were relatively abundant, as were clingers and burrowers. The detrended correspondence analysis (DCA) and similarity analyses showed that benthic macroinvertebrate communities in the study sites were clearly separated from those of the control sites, with the greatest dissimilarity being noted at the uppermost study site (Site 1), which is located close to an abandoned coal mine. The Korean saprobic index (KSI) and the ecological score using benthic macroinvertebrates (ESB) showed that the uppermost study site (Site 1) was ${\alpha}$-mesosaprobic or heavily polluted, whereas other study sites were in a fair or relatively good condition.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.138-152
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• 2014

The objective of the study survey was to determine the effect of marine sand extraction on community composition and rate of recolonization of the meiobenthos following cessation of mining activities. Because of meiobenthic distribution in nature, high abundance, intimate association with sediments, fast reproduction, benthic larva period, sensitivity to pollution and rapid life histories, meiobenthos are widely regarded as ideal organisms to study the potential ecological indicator of natural and anthropogenic stresses. The community structure of meiobenthos was studied at seven stations within sandy tidal and sub tidal zones in Jangbongdo in the Yellow Sea, Korea from Aug. 2006 to Dec. 2007. Meiobenthic samples were collected by three core samples, with a 3.6 cm in diameter, from each sediment sample taken with a Smith-McIntyre Grab. It was found that sand mining often causes complete removal of the sediment and the damage to the habitats of meiobenthos. This study in the effect showed that sand mining resulted in a reduction in total abundance and biomass of meiobenthos in mining area. The finding of this study further showed that initial restoration of abundance and biomass within one year of the cessation of sand mining.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.66-75
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• 2014

This study aims to understand environmental factors that determine spatial distribution of macrozoobenthic community in the southern area (ca 100-500 m depth) of East Sea, Korea, known as a candidate site for carbon storage under the seabed. From sixteen locations sampled in the summer of 2012, a total of 158 species were identified, showing density of $843indiv/m^2$ and biomass of $26.2g\;WW/m^2$, with increasing faunal density towards biologically higher diverse locations. Principal component analysis showed that a total of 33 environmental parameters were reduced to three principal components (PC), indicating sediment, bottom water, and depth, respectively. As sand content was increasing, number of species increased but biomass decreased. Six dominant species including two bivalve species favored high concentrations of ${\Omega}$ aragonite and ${\Omega}$ calcite, indicating that the corresponding species can be severely damaged by ocean acidification or $CO_2$ effluent. Cluaster analysis based on more than 1% density dominant species classified the entire study area into four faunal assemblage (location groups), which were delineated by characteristic species, including (A) Ampelisca miharaensis, (B) Edwardsioides japonica, (C) Maldane cristata, (D) Spiophanes kroeyeri, and clearly separated in terms of geography, bottom water and sediment environment. Overall, a discriminant function model was developed to predict four faunal assemblages from five simply-measured environmental variables (depth, sand content in sediment, temperature, salinity and pH in bottom water) with 100% accuracy, implying that benthic faunal assemablages are closed linked to certain combinations of abiotic factors.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.46-56
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• 2012

Benthic macroinvertebrates were investigated in Hoeongseong Lake region from March to October 2010, Korea. Macroinvertebrate communities, composition of the functional feeding groups, habitiat oriented groups and the biological water quality were assessed above and below Hoeongseong Dam in the lake region. Six sites, two (St.1~2) above the lake, two (St. 3~4) into the lake, and two (St. 5~6) below the dam, were selected for quantitative (Surber sampler $30cm{\times}30cm$, mesh size 0.2 mm) and qualitative (Hand net) samplings of benthic macroinvertebrates. As a result, a total of 83 species belonging to 43 families, 17 orders, 8 classes, and 5 phyla were recognized. The EPT-group (50 spp. : 60.24%) that is major taxa or EPT-group plus Diptera (61 spp. : 73.49%) occupied most of benthic macroinvertebrates community. Based on quantitative sampling, the number of benthic maroinvertebrates above the lake was 2,399 individuals including 54 species, 28 families, 11 orders, 4 classes, and 4 phyla, whereas 510 individuals including 16 species, 12 families, 7 orders, 4 classes, and 3 phyla in the lake and 626 individuals including 62 species, 33 families, 13 orders, 6 classes, and 4 phyla below the dam were collected respectively. Dominance index was the highest, with 0.82-0.93 ($0.87{\pm}0.05$) in Hoeongseong lake (St. 3-4), diversity index was 3.04-3.16 ($3.10{\pm}0.06$), evenness index was 0.79-0.85 ($0.82{\pm}0.03$), and richness index was 7.27-8.52 ($7.90{\pm}0.63$), which were relatively higher below the dam sites. In the functional feeding groups, collector-gatherers and collector-filterers were the highest in the whole sites, and predators (Micronecta sedula) was appeared highly in the lake. Moreover, swimmers, burrowers, and clingers were considerably occupied in all collecting sites. The result of the DCA, similarity analysis, and MRPP were well reflective of the composition of lake and stream macroinvertebrates. ESB indicate that the lake sites were evaluated heavily polluted under priority improvement waters. Also, Semisulcospira gottschei, Ecdyonurus kibunensis, Epeorus pellucidus, Rhoenanthus coreanus, Stenelmis sp., and Cheumatopsyche brevilineata are considered as an indicator species above and below Hoeongseong Lake, whereas Macrobrachium nipponense and Micronecta sedula are indicated in the lake.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.500-509
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• 2021

This study investigated the characteristics of a macrobenthos community and sediment environment and assessed the health of tidal flats along the west coast of Korea. A survey was conducted from Ganghwa-do to Mokpo, Jeollanam-do in April (spring) and August (summer) 2017, and April (spring) 2018. The sediment grain sizes in the Chungcheongnam-do region were coarser, and the sediment in the Gyeonggi-do·Incheon, Jeollanam-do, and Jeollabuk-do regions were finer. A total of 140 macrobenthic species were collected from this study and using a cluster similarity analysis of the macrobenthos community, they were divided into four groups. Group2 was associated with Manila clam farm stations, and Ruditapes phillipinarum, Nephtys polybranchia and Lumbrineris nipponica were dominant. Group4 included some sites with finer sediment composed relatively, and Eteone longa and Nemertea unid. appeared at a high frequency. From the health assessment of the western tidal flat, the ISEP and BHI indices had a "High status," and the AMBI index had a "Good status." In conclusion, the tidal flats along the west coast of Korea have good ecological health. However, pollution indicator species such as Theora lata and Capitella capitata have appeared in some areas. Therefore, periodic administration and interventions are necessary to prevent deterioration of the tidal flat environment.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.56 no.1
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• pp.57-69
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• 2023

The objectives of this study were to analyze the fish community structures and distribution characteristics of fisheries resources in the Osip Stream and Wangpi Stream, fishery resources protection areas. For the study, we conducted fish samplings four times in the two streams from April to October 2019. In Osip Stream and Wangpi Stream, we sampled 31 species and 29 species and the dominant species were Zacco platypus (28.6%) and Squalidus multimaculatus(41.7%), respectively. According to the life type of fish species, primary freshwater species were collected 18 species(58.1%) and 21 species(72.4%), and migration fishes were sampled 4 species (12.9%) and 6 species (20.7%) in Osip Stream and Wangpi Stream, respectively. Fisheries resources species showed high relative abundance in June, and the fish biomass was highest in October. As a results of comparing the previous studies with this study, both rivers showed high biodiversity and were found to maintain stable populations of fishes. According to analysis of tolerance guilds, the proportion of tolerant species, based on the number of individuals, was composed of 14.4% and 1.1% in Osip Stream and Wangpi Stream, respectively. This very low ratio of tolerant species confirmed that both streams have very good physiochemical environment conditions. From the above results, it was judged that the fishery resource protection areas of Osip Stream and Wangpi Stream have high ecological function and preservation value. For sustainable use and management of fishery resource protection areas of Osip Stream and Wangpi Stream, it is suggested that biological disturbance management, fish discharge projects considering environmental capacity, efforts to improve the habitat environment, and establishing a fishery resource protection areas management system were necessary as considerations.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.224-238
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• 2022

North Korea has actively participated in the international community related to environmental agreements. It has proposed various environmental policies internally since the Kim Jong-un regime. In particular, it emphasizes activities related to climate change response, the Sustainable Development Goals, and the conservation of ecosystems including forests and wetlands. In this study, a new security cooperation plan was proposed with an understanding of the climate crisis and environmental regime as a starting point. To this end, trends and recent activities for climate-environment cooperation in the international community and on the Korean Peninsula were analyzed. In addition, North Korea's conditions for cooperation on the Korean Peninsula, technology demand, and the projected future environment of the Korean Peninsula were dealt with. Ultimately, through advice of experts, we were able to discover cooperation agendas by sector and propose short-term and long-term environmental cooperation strategies for the Korean Peninsula based on them. In this study, conditions and directions for cooperation in fields of climate technology, biological resources, air/weather, water environment, biodiversity, renewable energy, bioenergy, and so on were considered comprehensively. Among 21 cooperation agendas discovered in this study, energy showed the largest number of areas. Renewable energy, forest resources, and environmental and meteorological information stood out as agendas that could be cooperated in the short term. As representative initiatives, joint promotion of 'renewable energy' that could contribute to North Korea's energy demand and carbon neutrality and 'forest cooperation' that could be recognized as a source of disaster reduction and greenhouse gas sinks were suggested.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.108-128
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• 2002

In order to investigate the ecological characteristics of phytoplankton communities around a nuclear power plant in Gori coastal waters of the South East Sea, Wolseong and Uljin coastal waters of the East Sea and Younggwang coastal waters of the Yellow Sea, the standing crops and chlorophyll-$\alpha$ concentrations of phytoplankton were studied during 1992~1996 and the relationships between standing crops and environmental variables were analyzed. The concentrations of nitrogenous nutrients were on average 0.101, 0.094, 0.072 and 0.108mg/$\ell$ and those of phosphorus were on average 0.007, 0.008, 0.006 and 0.009mg/$\ell$ in Gori, Wolseong, Uljin and Younggwang, respectively. The N:P ratios were highly variable, ranging from 3.2 to 57.3, from 3.1 to 109.0, from 2.6 to 102.0 and from 1.0 to 165.0 in Gori, Wolseong, Uljin and Younggwang, respectively. The concentrations of suspended solids were on average 18.7, 16.7, 11.6 and 52.7mg/$\ell$ and transparencies were on average 3.8, 5.4, 7.9 and 0.7 m in Gori, Wolseong, Uljin and Younggwang, respectively. Total standing crops of phytoplankton averaged 710,659, 687,508, 656,245 and 1,278,173cells/$\ell$ in Gori, Wolseong, Uljin and Yaunggwang, respectively. The standing crops of microplankton(>20${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$) averaged 357,546, 333,638, 276,407 and 592,975cells/$\ell$ those of nanoplankton(<20${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$) averaged 353,113, 353,870, 379,838 and 574,563cells/$\ell$ in Gori, Wolseong, Uljin and Younggwang, respectively. While standing crops of diatoms were averaged 282,009, 284,710, 238,758 and 574,563 cells/$\ell$, those of dinoflagellates were averaged 46,079, 35,401, 32,906 and 16,749 cells/$\ell$ in Gori, Wolseong, Uljin and Younggwang, respectively. The seasonal standing crops of diatoms in Gori, Wolseong and Uljin were higher in Spring than other seasons, but were lower in Summer than other seasons in Younggwang. The seasonal standing crops of dinoflagellates in Gori and Younggwang were higher in Summer than other seasons, but were higher in Autumn than other seasons in U]jin. Average of chlorophyll-$\alpha$ concentrations ranged from 2.16 to 4.28$\mu\textrm{g}$/$\ell$ in 4 study areas with the highest concentration occurred in Younggwang. Indices of species diversity ranged from 2.11 to 2.24 in 4 study areas. While community structures of phytoplankton were unstable during winter and stable during summer in Gori, Wolseong and Uljln coastal waters, those of phytoplankton were stable during winter and summer than during spring and autumn in Yaunggwang. The analysis results of Pearson product moment correlation coefficient between standing crops and environmental variables showed that distributions of standing crops were affected by transparencies, suspended solids, and some nutrient(N $O_3$$^{[-10]}$ -N, P $O_4$$^{3-}$-P), even though the degree of influences were a little different according to the season and the surveyed zone.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.311-322
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• 2008

The objectives of the study were to analyze chemical water quality and physical habitat characteristics in the urban streams (Miho and Gap streams) along with evaluations of fish community structures and ecosystem health, throughout fish composition and guild analyses during 2006$\sim$2007. Concentrations of BOD and COD averaged 3.5 and 5.7 mg L$^{-1}$, in the urban streams, while TN and TP averaged 5.1 mg L$^{-1}$ and 274 ${\mu}g$ L$^{-1}$, indicating an eutrophic state. Especially, organic pollution and eutrophication were most intense in the downstream reach of both streams. Total number of fish was 34 species in the both streams, and the most abundant species was Zacco platypus (32$\sim$42% of the total). In both streams, the relative abundance of sensitive species was low (23%) and tolerant and omnivores were high (45%, 52%), indicating an typical tolerance and trophic guilds of urban streams in Korea. According to multi-metric models of Stream Ecosystem Health Assessments (SEHA), model values were 19 and 24 in Miho Stream and Gap Stream, respectively. Habitat analysis showed that QHEI (Qulatitative Habitat Evaluation Index) values were 123 and 135 in the two streams, respectively. The minimum values in the SEHA and QHEI were observed in the both downstreams, and this was mainly attributed to chemical pollutions, as shown in the water quality parameters. The model values of SEHA were strongly correlated with conductivity (r=-0.530, p=0.016), BOD (r=-0.578, p< 0.01), COD (r=-0.603, p< 0.01), and nutrients (TN, TP: r>0.40, p<0.05). This model applied in this study seems to be a useful tool, which could reflect the chemical water quality in the urban streams. Overall, this study suggests that consistent ecological monitoring is required in the urban streams for the conservations along with ecological restorations in the degradated downstrems.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Traditional Landscape Architecture
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.60-72
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• 2019

The purpose of this study was to identify detailed factors that affect visitor satisfactions of the plants on display, environments of pedestrian road and facility of each theme garden by conducting a survey of visitors to Jade Garden. The 400 data including 100 copies per theme garden were used for statistical analysis. The statistical techniques used in the survey analysis include multi-regression analysis, t-test, and analysis of variance(ANOVA). As a result of the analysis, most of theme gardens tended to have the greatest impact on the satisfaction of the plants on display and the lowest level of facility satisfaction. According to detailed factors analysis of the satisfaction of plants on display satisfaction of plant diversity and the method of plant display were most affected in most of the theme gardens. Among them, promoting the satisfaction of plant diversity is necessary to plant various species, but in case of Ginkgo Maze Garden, a type of tree community as one tree(Ginkgo biloba), the satisfaction of plants diversity did not show a rising-up value. Therefore, it was confirmed that the appropriate degree of plants diversity depends on the theme or environment of the garden. In the case of the pedestrian-road-satisfaction, the width of the pedestrian road was the most affected, It was analyzed that whether the point of intersection can be easily available during peak season has a significant impact on the satisfaction of visitors. In the case of facility satisfaction, it was analyzed that the presence of rest and convenience facilities had the most direct influence on visitors, so the facility diversity had the greatest influence. Therefore, it is necessary to more systematically categorize and consider the influential detailed factors such as plants diversity and methods of plant display, width of pedestrian road and facilities diversity for the management and development of the arboretum.