• Journal of Marine Bioscience and Biotechnology
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.52-61
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• 2019

Over the past few decades, microalgae-based biotechnology conjugated with innovative CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genetic engineering has been attracted much attention for the cost-effective and eco-friendly value-added compounds production. However, the discharge of reproducible living modified organism (LMO) into environmental condition potentially causes serious problem in aquatic environment, and thus it is essential to assess potential environmental risk for human health. Accordingly, in this study, we monitored discharged genetically modified microalgae (GMM) near the research complex which is located in Daejeon, South Korea. After testing samples obtained from 6 points of near streams, several green-colored microalgal colonies were detected under hygromicin-containing agar plate. By identification of selection marker genes, the GMM was not detected from all the samples. For the lab-scale environmental risk assessment of GMM, acute toxicity test using rotifer Brachionus calcyflorus was performed by feeding GMM. After feeding, there was no significant difference in mortality between WT and transformant Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. According to further analysis of horizontal transfer of green fluorescence protein (GFP)-coding gene after 24 h of incubation in synthetic freshwater, we concluded that the GFP-expressed gene not transferred into predator. However, further risk assessments and construction of standard methods including prolonged toxicity test are required for the accurate ecological risk assessment.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2010

Monitoring toxicity levels in specific biological compartments is necessary to evaluate the ecotoxicological risk associated with soil environmental pollution. Gene expression, as potential biomarker, is increasingly used as rapid early warning systems in environmental monitoring and ecological risk assessment procedures. Various representative species are currently used for the purpose of assessing soil toxicity, however, investigations on toxicological assessments using endpoint based on gene-level have been limited. In this review, we will present the current trends in organisms and endpoints used in soil toxicity study and report gene expression related to toxicity using soil organism, and C. elegans as promising organisms for this approach.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.99-109
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• 2012

Litterfall dynamics in forests are assessed by estimating biomass production and decomposition. However, there have been few studies on how litter dynamics impact the health and management of ecosystems. Here, a new approach to measure and assess ecosystem function is presented based on conventional methods using littertraps, litterbags, and the mass on the forest floor. To assess the status of litter dynamics, the decay rate (k) was estimated from a litterbag experiment, and removal rates ($k_i$) were determined from mass balance on the forest floor at 21 sites on three mountains in South Korea. The $k_3$ (organic mass ratio of $O_i$ and $O_e+O_a$ + A horizons in November) values in an equilibrium state in South Korea were within the range of $k{\pm}0.174$ when considering the annual variation of litterfall production. This study also suggests that sampling sites for these types of studies should be in the middle, not at the ends, of steady slopes on the forest floor.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.224-235
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• 2023

An analytical method was developed for the determination of phenol (P) and the seven substituted phenols in water samples and fish tissue samples collected from three streams located in eastern Gangwon State in spring and summer. The phenols were extracted and then derivatized to phenyl acetates using acetic anhydride. The derivatives were subsequently identified and quantified using gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. P and 4-nitrophenol (4NP) were found at relatively high levels in water, ranging from below the method detection limit (MDL) to 3.32 ㎍/L and from < MDL to 4.91 ㎍/L, respectively. P and 4NP were also the dominant compounds in the fish tissue, ranging from < MDL to 407 ㎍/kg and from < MDL to 870 ㎍/kg, respectively. Phenol concentrations were significantly higher in spring than in summer. The ecological risk quotient calculated for P was higher than 4NP but not high enough to pose any risk of adverse effects to fish health.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.370-378
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• 2007

The objective of this research was to diagnose integrative ecological health in Bansuk Stream, one of the tributaries of Gap Stream, using the fish assemblage during July 2006${\sim}$April 2006. For this research, we selected six sampling sites and applied some approaches such as the Index of Biological Integrity (IBI), Qualitative Habitat Evaluation Index (QHEI), and necropsy-based Health Assessment Index (HAI). The stream health condition, based on the IBI values, averaged 24 (n= 18, range: $10{\sim}46$), indicating "poor${\sim}$fair" condition according to the criteria of US EPA (1993). Physical habitat condition, based on the QHEI, averaged 116 (n=6, range: $77{\sim}139$), indicating "fair${\sim}$good" condition. Values of IBI were more correlated with 3 metrics of instream cover ($M_1$, r=0.553, p=0.017, n=18), flow/velocity ($M_3$, r=0.627, p=0.005, n=18), and riffes/bends ($M_7$, r=0.631, p=0.005, n=18) than other metrics. Value of HAI in the control was zero (i.e., excellent condition), while the values in the T1 and T2 treatments were 5 (range: 0${\sim}$30) and 50 (range: 40${\sim}$80), respectively. The maximum values of IBI (46) were coincided with zero of HAI. Thus, these approaches seem to be a good tool for a diagnosis and evaluations of stream ecosystem health.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.737-747
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• 2006

Ministry of Environment (MOE) of Korea has been implementing the water quality management policy to focus on the control of organic matters (BOD and COD) for 28 years since 1978 when the water quality standards had been established. However, the government and the public have begun to recognize the necessity of creating the best water environment for people and aquatic life, and also formulating the various measures of water pollution, Consequently, MOE of Korea is establishing the basic plan of water environment management, with the vision of "Clean Water, Eco River 2015." The major targets of water environment management plan are to maintain ecosystem health and to protect water quality from various hazardous substances in water bodies. In order to achieve the major targets, it is essential to amend the water quality standards, which bring about the systematic management of various pollutants and healthy ecosystem. Introduction of the new techniques of water environment assessment is also prerequisite to maintain sustainable water environment. These can be accomplished under the consideration of following suggestions in environmental quality standards. First, several criteria should be complemented in water quality standards; they include the improvement of the current water quality classification system, the strengthening and supplement of relevant parameters considering human health in the standards, the introduction of biotic indices, and management standards on eutrophication. Secondly, it should be considered to introduce the biological water quality standards using biotic indices and the management standards for sediments. Lastly, it needs to introduce or develop an ecological status classification which could be used in the assessment of the water environment as a whole.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.37 no.4 s.109
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• pp.462-468
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• 2004

Most of the surveys of periphyton carried out for environmental and ecosystem health assessment of streams have considered the impact made on their fixative substrates (stones, rocks, sand, silt, clay and other abiotic matters), but there has been virtually no research that considered moving substrates. This study attempted to make an analysis and assessment of the habitat environments of the microalgae attached to the skin surfaces of fish living in small streams, with a focus on their species composition and community structure. The dominant fish in the this survey were Zacco temmincki and Zacco platypus, which are usually found in the streams, and rivers, and they accounted for 62% and 19%, respectively, in relative abundance. Substrates of fish, a representative organism with the trait of moving a long distance, show a marked contrast with those of organisms fixed at a certain place. Characteristics of both the upstream and the downstream reach well reflected in the microalgae attached to the skin surface of fishes, of which diatoms took the major composition. The result of this observation is considered to be useful to provide basic data in assessment of stream health. Also it may be suggested as a biological tool for the assessment of aquatic environment in the future.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.27-41
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• 2016

This study was performed to investigate the community structure and health assessment of macrobenthic assemblages in Geoje-Hansan Bay, Southern Coast of Korea. Macrobenthos were collected by van Veen grab sampler at May (spring) and August (summer) 2013. The total species number and mean density were 300 species $7.6m^{-2}$ and $1,994ind.\;m^{-2}$, respectively. The major dominant species were the polychaetes Lumbrineris longifolia ($299{\pm}164ind.\;m^{-2}$), Aphelochaeta monilaris ($100{\pm}57ind.\;m^{-2}$), the bivalve Musculista senhousia ($91{\pm}96ind.\;m^{-2}$) and the polychaete Praxillella affinis ($80{\pm}66ind.\;m^{-2}$). From the community statistics [cluster analysis and nonmetric multidimentional scaling (NMDS) ordination], the macrobenthic community was distinguished into two groups of inner bay (farming ground of near Sandal Island) and channel station(from Hansan Island to Chubong Island) group. In this study, the ecological status was assessed by four biotic indices Shannon's H', the ATZI Marine Biotic Index (AMBI), multivariate-AMBI (M-AMBI) and the Environment Conservation Index (ECI). The ecological status of the macrobenthic community in Geoje-Hansan Bay were poorer in the inner bay station than in the channel station. The results of the present study showed that three biotic indices (Shannon's H', M-AMBI and ECI) were valid as an index for evaluating the ecological status than the AMBI.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.491-503
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• 2014

This study was performed to investigate the community structure and health assessment of macrobenthic assemblages in Garorim Bay, West Coast of Korea. Macrobenthos were collected by van Veen grab sampler at May(spring) and July(summer) 2012. A total of 247 species occurred and mean density was $1,625\;ind.\;m^{-2}$, both of which were dominated by annelid polychaetes(120 species and $1,241m^{-2}$). Dominant species were the polychaetes Ampharete arctica, Lumbrineris longifolia, Mediomastus californiensis and Euclymene oerstedi, with a density of 445(${\pm}1,837\;ind.\;m^{-2}$), 103(${\pm}148\;ind.\;m^{-2}$), 55(${\pm}83\;ind.\;m^{-2}$) and 50(${\pm}104\;ind.\;m^{-2}$), respectively. The study area was divided into 3 station group based on the cluster analysis and nMDS ordination. These assemblage were : 1)the group 1 and 2 were associated with coarse sediment dominated stations and 2)the group 3 was connected with a mixed and fine sediment dominated stations group. The BPI and AMBI index were applied to assess the benthic ecological status. The ecological status of the Garorim Bay was "good status(slightly polluted)" to "high status(normal)" at most sampling stations during spring and summer. In conclusion, the two marine biotic index calculated shown that the Garorim Bay had a good ecological status.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.272-286
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• 2014

This study was performed to investigate the community structure and health assessment of macrobenthic assemblages in Cheonsu Bay, West Coast of Korea. Total species number was 224 and mean density was $1,940ind./m^2$, both of which were dominated by polychaete worms (111 species and $1,213ind./m^2$). In terms of density, the major dominant species were the bivalve Theora fragilis ($280{\pm}213ind./m^2$), the polychaetes Heteromastus filiformis ($254{\pm}218ind./m^2$), Lumbrineris longifolia ($216{\pm}41ind./m^2$), Mediomastus californiensis ($158{\pm}97ind./m^2$) and the amphipod Eriopisella sechellensis ($167{\pm}100ind./m^2$). As a result of community statistics (cluster analysis and nMDS ordination), the macrobenthic community structure was classified two major groups (inner and mouth of bay) and two stations (station 2 near Ganwol dyke in spring and summer). The Benthic Pollution Index (BPI) and AZTI's Marine Biotic Index (AMBI) were applied to assess the benthic ecological status. During the sampling periods, the BPI Index values varied between 11 (bad status) and 92 (high status). On the other hand, the AMBI Index values was ranged between 1.34 (good status) and 4.39 (poor status). In conclusion, in terms of the mean BPI and AMBI Index values, the ecological status of Cheonsu Bay were moderate status (ecotone stage) and good status, respectively.