• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.169-177
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• 2010

Ecological risk assessment (ERA) has been used to establish environmental quality standards or evaluate ecological risk in site-specific areas. The scope of ERA was expanded based on regions, and the concept of regional-scale ecological risk assessment was recently introduced in developed countries. In the present study, regional ERA approaches of relative risk model (RRM), contaminants in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems (CATS) model, and procedure for ecological tired assessment of risks (PETAR) in advanced countries were extensively investigated. Regional ERA was compared with traditional ERA process. Stressors, receptor and response in traditional ERA were replaced with sources of stressors, habitats, and ecological impacts, respectively in regional ERA. This study introduces the concept and assessment process of regional ERA, and provides a wide perspective how the relative ERA could be applied in Korean ecosystem.

• Journal of Photoscience
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.17-20
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• 2002

We have cloned a cDNA for an opsin (Boceropsin) from the silkworm larval brain which was suggested to contain the photoperiodic receptor. Its deduced amino acid sequence was composed of 381 amino acids and included amino acid residues highly conserved in insect visual pigments. This opsin belonged to the long wavelength photoreceptor group of insect opsins, and are presumed to be photoperiodic receptor. RT-PCR analysis revealed that Boceropsin mRNA is expressed in the larval brain, but not in the subesophageal (Sg) and thoracic ganglion. Immunohistochemical analyses demonstrated that Boceropsin protein is present bilaterally in some defined cells localized in the brain of the Bombyx larva. Boceropsin was considered not to be involved in the circadian photoreception, because carotenoids are not indispensable for the photoreception and formation of circadian rhythms in the silkworm.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.151-156
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• 1998

the phytotoxic effects of volatile substances emitted from the tomato plant (Lycopersicon esculentum) on receptor plants such as Bidens bipinnata, Plantago asiatica, Lactuca sativa, Eragrositis ferruginea and Achyranthes japonica were investigated. Bolatile substances from the leaves inhibited seedling growth of receptor plants in the laboratory tests. The inhibition response varied with the concentration of compounds. To identify the phytotoxic compounds from tomato plant a GC/MS method was employed. Forth compounds, such as trans-2-hexeal, linalool, phenylacetaldehyde, methlsalicylic acid and tetradecanaic acid were identified from the essential oil of tomato plants. The findings suggest that the tomato plant may have allelopathic potential.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.1-9
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• 2012

The purpose of ecological risk assessment in soil ecosystem is to protect ecological receptors and to provide a scheme of efficient management for soil contaminants. Developed countries have already prepared the methodologies of ecological risk assessment by considering their soil properties, land use, and ecological receptors. In this study, we compared the soil ecological risk assessment processes in the similarity and differences in methodology. Four countries, except for USA, adjusted the toxicological data for ecological risk assessment, based on their representative soil properties because the soil properties affect toxic effects to ecological receptors. The soil ecological risk assessment methodology of Netherlands and UK was based on 'Technical guidance document on risk assessment (TGD)' of European Chemical Bureau (ECB). Australia, USA, and Canada developed their autonomous methodology. In the Netherlands, UK, Australia, and Canada, they employed the species sensitivity distribution (SSD) approach if sufficient toxicity data are available. The USA determined the ecological soil screening level by obtaining the geometric mean of toxicological data for three species. Furthermore, all countries consider secondary poisoning in their soil ecological risk assessment. The latest risk assessment methodology of soil ecosystem that this study investigated can be used to explore what Korea needs to develop the Korean ecological risk assessment methodology of soil ecosystem in the future.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.11-16
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• 2018

For Odontamblyopus lacepedii with small and turbid eyes, the gross structure and histology of the olfactory organ, which is important for its survival and protection of the receptor neuron in estuarial environment and its ecological habit, was investigated using a stereo, light and scanning electron microscopes. Externally, the paired olfactory organs with two nostrils are located identically on each side of the snout. These nostrils are positioned at the anterior tip of the upper lip (anterior nostril) and just below eyes covered with the epidermis (posterior nostril). Internally, this is built of an elongated olfactory chamber and two accessory nasal sacs. In histology, the olfactory chamber is elliptical in shape, and lined by the sensory epithelium and the non-sensory epithelium. The sensory epithelium of a pseudostratified layer consists of olfactory receptor neurons, supporting cells, basal cells and lymphatic cells. The non-sensory epithelium of a stratified layer has swollen stratified epithelial cells and mucous cells with acidic and neutral sulfomucin. From these results, we confirmed the olfactory organ of O. lacepedii is adapted to its ecological habit as well as its habitat with burrows at the muddy field with standing and murky waters.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.307-310
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• 2004

It was found that seed germination and seedling growth of selected species were inhibited by phytotoxic substance released from fir trees. The aqueous extracts of leaves caused significant inhibition in the seed germination of the receptor plants, Whereas seed germination of some species was not inhibited in extracts of leaves, but seedling elongation of the receptor plants was also decreased by the aqueous extract. Dry weight growth was slightly increased in lower concentration of the extract, while that was proportionally inhibited by higher concentration of the extracts. Chemical substances of fir trees were shown the biological toxicity. The GC method was employed for analysis of phytotoxic chemicals and sixteen chemical substances were identified such as benzoic, phenylacetic, etc. Also 33 volatile substances were identified from the fir tree. These chemical compounds are assumed the substances related to allelopathic potential of Abies holophylla plant species.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.161-170
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• 1989

To verify allelopathic effects of Artemisia princeps var. orientalis, a number of laboratory experiments have been performed. Aqueous extracts of leaves, stems and roots of the above species inhibited the seed germination and seedling growth of experimental species, receptor plants. In general, the higher was the concentration of the extracts, the lower was the germination and the growth ratio. Volatile substances released from leaves of the donor plants also inhibited the seed germination and the radicle elongation of receptor plants. Therefore, to find out the inhibitory substances emitted from the wormwood, gas chromatography was employed. As a result of the analysis, 17 KDICical substances were isolated from the leaves and most of them were identified as phenolic compounds.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.323-329
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• 2000

The allelopathic effects of volatile substances from Chamaecyparis obtusa (S. et Z.) Endl. were examined on the germination and seedling growth of some plant species, and on the population growth of some microorganisms. The germination and seedling growth of the receptor plants were suppressed more severely by leaf and fruit essential oils than by those of other parts. Colonial growth of fungi was severely inhibited by essential oils extracted from leaves and fruits. The development of root hairs of the receptor plants was also severely inhibited by the essential oils. The cortical cells at the root tips of Lactuca sativa L. treated with essential oils showed contraction of the cytoplasm, resulting in plasma membranes becoming detached from the cell walls and the cells metamorphosing irregularly. Accumulation of lipid granules inside the contracted cytoplasm and degeneration of mitochondrial cristae were also observed.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.51-57
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• 2016

The histology and anatomy of the olfactory organ in Luciogobius guttatus was investigated using a light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The paired olfactory organs in the dorsal part of the snout are situated in between the upper lip and the eyes. They consist of two nostrils, one anterior and the other posterior openings, and a single olfactory cavity. The anterior nostril, an incurrent opening, forms a short tubular structure from the skin. The posterior nostril, an excurrent opening, forms a circular structure opened to the exterior. The distributional pattern of the sensory epithelium is a continuous type. The sensory epithelium with numerous-motile cilia is made up of receptor cells, supporting cells, basal cells, and mucous cells. In contrast, the non-sensory epithelium is comprised of stratified epithelial cells and two types of mucous cells, acidic and neutral cells. The cilia number of the receptor cell is in range of 3 to 4 units. Such results in L. guttatus may reflect its ecological habit and microhabitat in the tidal zone with a periodic tide.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.28-34
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• 2016

The anatomy and histology of the olfactory organ in Favonigobius gymnauchen was investigated using a stereo microscopy, light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The paired olfactory organs in the dorsal snout are set in between the upper lip and the eyes. These organs are composed of two openings (anterior nostril with a tubular structure and posterior nostril), a single olfactory cavity, two nasal sac (ethmoidal and lacrimal sacs), olfactory nerve and olfactory bulb. The distributional pattern of the sensory epithelium is a only one type (continuous type). This epithelium is made up of the receptor cell, supporting cell and basal cell. The receptor cell has a only one type (ciliated receptor cell with 3~4 cilia). The non-sensory epithelium is built of the stratified epithelial cells and has mucous openings on the surface. Such an olfactory organ in F. gymnauchen may be considered to reflect its ecological habitat as a shallow water or tidal pool in the coastal zone.