• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.307-321
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• 2018

Fish fauna and lentic ecosystem health assessment in freshwater were analyzed in the two reservoirs (Uirim Reservoir(Ur) and Solbangjuk Reservoir(Sr)) of the Jecheon City during May-September 2017. Total numbers of the species and genus (7 family) sampled were 21 and 16, respectively. Cyprinidae was most dominant taxa, which accounted for 11 species (52.4%) of the total species, and the relative abundance, based on the number of individuals, was 318 individuals (46.2%). Subdominant families were taxa of Centrachidae (2 species; 264 ind. (38.4%). The dominant species, based on the relative abundance, were Squalidus chankaensistsuchigae(22.7%). Subdominant species were Lepomis macrochirus(19.5%, 134 ind.) and Micropterus salmoides(18.9%, 134 ind.). Trophic state index of Korea ($TSI_{KO}$), based on chemical oxygen demand (COD), total phosphorus (TP) and chlorophyll-a (CHL),ranged mesotrophic state. The purpose of this study was to apply a multi-metric model of Lentic Ecosystem Health Assessments (LEHA) for environmental impact assessments of two reservoirs and assessed the ecological health model values. Trophic composition's metrics showed that tolerant species (56.8%, 98.3%) and omnivore species (43.9%, 65.6%) dominated the fish fauna in the two reservoirs (Ur and Sr) of Jecheon City, indicating a biological degradation in the aquatic ecosystem. The relative proportions of Micropterus salmoides, also showed greater than 16.3% (Ur), 31.1% (Sr) of the total, indicating a ecological disturbance. The average value of LEHA model was 22 (Ur) and 12 (Sr) in the reservoirs, indicating a "poor condition (Ur)" and "very poor condition (Sr)" by the criteria of MOE (2014).

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.210-218
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• 2018

Background: Soil respiration (Rs) is a major factor of the absorption and accumulation of carbon through photosynthesis in the ecosystem carbon cycle. This directly affects the amount of net ecosystem productivity, which affects the stability and sustainability of the ecosystem. Understanding the characteristics of Rs is indispensable to scientifically understand the carbon cycle of ecosystems. It is very important to study Rs characteristics through analysis of environmental factors closely related to Rs. Rs is affected by various environmental factors, such as temperature, precipitation, soil moisture, litter supply, organic matter content, dominant plant species, and soil disturbance. This study was conducted to analyze the effects of micro-topographical differences on Rs in forest vegetation by measuring the Rs on the ridge and southern slope sites of the broadly established Quercus mongolica forest in the central Korean area. Method: Rs, Ts, and soil moisture data were collected at the southern slope and ridge of the Q. mongolica forest in the Mt. Jeombong area in order to investigate the effects of topographical differences on Rs. Rs was collected by the closed chamber method, and data collection was performed from May 2011 to October 2013, except Winter seasons from November to April or May. For collecting the raw data of Rs in the field, acrylic collars were placed at the ridge and southern slope of the forest. The accumulated surface litter and the soil organic matter content (SOMC) were measured to a 5 cm depth. Based on these data, the Rs characteristics of the slope and ridge were analyzed. Results: Rs showed a distinct seasonal variation pattern in both the ridge and southern slope sites. In addition, Rs showed a distinct seasonal variation with high and low Ts changes. The average Rs measurements for the two sites, except for the Winter periods that were not measured, were $550.1\;mg\;CO_2m^{-2}h^{-1}$ at the ridge site and $289.4\;mg\;CO_2m^{-2}h^{-1}$ at the southern slope, a difference of 52.6%. There was no significant difference in the Rs difference between slopes except for the first half of 2013, and both sites showed a tendency to increase exponentially as Ts increased. In addition, although the correlation is low, the difference in Rs between sites tended to increase as Ts increased. SMC showed a large fluctuation at the southern slope site relative to the ridge site, as while it was very low in 2013, it was high in 2011 and 2012. The accumulated litter of the soil surface and the SOMC at the depth range of 0~5 cm were $874g\;m^{-2}$ and 23.3% at the ridge site, and $396g\;m^{-2}$ and 19.9% at the southern slope site. Conclusions: In this study, Rs was measured for the ridge and southern slope sites, which have two different results where the surface litter layer is disturbed by strong winds. The southern slope site shows that the litter layer formed in autumn due to strong winds almost disappeared, and while in the ridge site, it became thick due to the transfer of litter from the southern slope site. The mean Rs was about two times higher in the ridge site compared to that in the southern slope site. The Rs difference seems to be due to the difference in the amount of litter accumulated on the soil surface. As a result, the litter layer supplied to the soil surface is disturbed due to the micro-topographical difference, as the slope and the change of the community structure due to the plant season cause heterogeneity of the litter layer development, which in turn affects SMC and Rs. Therefore, it is necessary to introduce and understand these micro-topographical features and mechanisms when quantifying and analyzing the Rs of an ecosystem.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.39 no.3 s.117
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• pp.390-401
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• 2006

This study was conducted to understand the phytoplankton-zooplankton trophic linkage in Lake Paldang ecosystems (Paldang Dam and Kyungan Stream) from April to December 2005. Zooplankton were filtered as two size groups (microzooplankton (MICZ): 60{\sim}20\;{\mu}m$, macrozooplankton (MACZ): >$200\;{\mu}m$), and their clearance rates and C-fluxes on phytoplankton were measured. Grazing experiments were performed in the laboratory with the different zooplankton densities (0, 2, 4, 8x of ambient density, n=2). Diatoms, such as Aulacoseira and Cyclotella were dominant phytoplankton taxa at both sites. Among phytoplankton communities, total carbon biomass of phyflagellates was much higher than others at both sites. Rotifers numerically dominated zooplankton community, while cladocerans dominated carbon biomass. Both phytoplankton and zooplankton density and biomass were high in spring, but decreased markedly after summer monsoon season. plankton biomass at Kyungan Stream was significantly higher than that of Paldang Dam. Zooplankton clearance rate and amount of C-flux were relatively high in the spring and then decreased after summer at both sites. Seasonal change of C-flux was similar to that of zooplankton biomass (P<0.001, n=7). MACZ clearance rate and C-flux were higher than those of MICZ. Water residence time and physical disturbance in summer appeared to affect zooplankton grazing on phytoplankton at the study sites. Our results indicate phytoplankton were an important energy source for zooplankton in Lake Paldang ecosystem. Furthermore, C-flux of plankton food web is affected by not only biological components but also physical parameters.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.556-565
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• 2010

Community analysis based on functional feeding groups of benthic macro invertebrates at Wangpi-cheon was assessed with the result of four field survey from October, 2007 to May, 2008. A total 138 species of benthic macro invertebrates in 58 families, 16 orders, 6 classes, and 4 phyla were collected during the field surveys. The result of EPT index value showed high value of 61.59% and it means that the stream ecosystem of Wangpi-cheon is very clear and healthy. In this study the functional feeding groups in Wangpi-cheon were divided into two groups. First, Scrapers and Collectors-Gathering group which is normally dominant in midstream showed higher dominance in main stream than tributary. Second, shredders group showed higher dominance in tributary than main stream like as the general characteristics of upriver. With the result of cluster analysis based on the similarity index, the study areas could be grouped into a natural area(A group) and an artificial disturbance area(B group; site 8 and 11) where embankment, bank and levee had been built near by. And also, the natural area(A group) was classified into two groups which had the characteristic of main(site 1, 2, 3, 4 and 7) stream and tributary(site 5, 6, 9 and 10) respectively.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.35 no.9
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• pp.666-674
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• 2013

Physical disturbance, which induces a lack of flow rate, frequently occurs in freshwater ecosystem. Due to this, it is required to provide a new fish shelter to resolve. We installed a pilot scale test-bed to scrutinize the relationship between water level and the influence of fish shelter. The proposed ADP (artificial deep pool) is a fish shelter which composed of concrete materials. From the monitoring results in test-bed, it was observed that the population of fish was the highest at the 0.5 m in depth from the water level of experimental pond. But it was more appropriate for shallow water level (<0.3 m) to conserve the total number of fish by increasing the number per unit area despite of lower inner temperature and DO than outer environment. Therefore, inner of ADP was more efficient lentic system for fish to live due to higher WCS, OS, SS, and TS. In addition, there was a relative abundance of WCS fish species such as Acheilognathus koreensis (A. koreensis), Carassius carassius (C. carassius). Considered these results, it is suggested that ADP is appropriate to use for fish shelter and habitat for the fishes in lentic ecosystem.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.951-963
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• 2009

The community structure and ecological characteristics of fish community in Lake Paldang were investigated from May to September 2008. During the survey period, 53 species belonging to 13 families were collected. Dominant species was Squalidus japonicus coreanus representing 81.8% of total number and 25.7% of total biomass of collected fish and subdominant species was Lepomis macrochirus representing 3.3% of total number and 18.9% of total biomass of collected fish. There were 20 Korean endemic species (38% of collected species number) including Cottus koreanus and 4 exotic species (7.5%) including Micropterus salmoides. The similarity analysis of fish communities among water areas of Lake Paldang using UPGMA showed that fish community of North-Han River was similar to that of South-Han River area and was different from that of Gyeongan River area. Long-term variation of fish community from 1972 to present study in Lake Paldang showed decrease of the species numbers after dam construction until 1994, and gradual increase from 1996 to present study indicating the disturbance of lentic system by dam construction in the 1980s. The increase of species number in the late 2000s may results in part from the increase of survey sites of successive studies. L. macrochirus which was designated as a domestic ecosystem-disturbing alien species with wide food niche have shown more than 20% of relative abundance since 1996 indicating the adverse effect on not only fish community but also aquatic ecosystem food web of Lake Paldang.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.463-476
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• 2014

The riverine wetlands located in the riverside bring about social conflicts through confrontation between flood control value through flood control project and ecological preservation value of riverine wetland. In this study, we identified the importance of both values through analysis of economic feasibility of flood control and ecological values of riverine wetland, and tried to suggest management plans for riverine wetland considering both of flood control safety and ecological preservation through these results. For this, we calculated the expected annual flood damage of Imjin River using the multi-dimensional flood damage analysis(MD-FDA), and calculated the total value of riverine wetland using the contingent valuation method(CVM) to estimate preservation value of riverine wetland. The result of the analysis shows that the Imjin River needs flood control project and the ecological preservation of riverine wetland is also important. Therefore, the establishment of the management plan for protecting riverine wetland is also needed. As a result, the Imjin riverine wetland was classified as the area where sedimentation continues to take place, and the flood water level to rise. On the basis of the analyzed results, it is judged that the Imjin River needs flood control for public safety and ecological consideration for ecosystem preservation in the river improvement project. So, the stepwise river improvement is desirable to protect riverine wetland and minimize ecosystem disturbance. The results is expected to be made good use as the basic study for establishment of institutional river management plans considering flood control project and riverine wetland preservation in the future.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.228-236
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• 2008

The purpose of this study was to evaluate fish metric attributes using a model of Lentic Ecosystem Health Assessment (LEHA) and apply the model to the dataset sampled from six sites of Namyang Reservoir during October 2005$\sim$May 2006. The model was composed of 11 metries and the metric attributes were made of physical, chemical and biological parameters. Trophic composition's metrics showed that tolerant species ($M_3$, 80%) and omnivore species ($M_4$, 92%) dominated the fish fauna, indicating a biological degradation in the aquatic ecosystem. The metric of $M_7$, relative proportions of exotic species, also showed greater than 8% of the total, indicating a ecological disturbance. The average value of LEHA model was 24.3 (n= 12) in the reservoir, indicating a "poor condition" by the criteria of An and Han (2007). Spatial variation based on the model values was low (range: $21{\sim}26$), and temporal variation occurred due to a monsoon rainfall. Electrical conductivity (EC) and tropic state index of chlorophyll-$\alpha$ [TSI(CHL)] was greater in the premonsoon than the postmonsoon.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.39 no.4 s.118
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• pp.424-434
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• 2006

This study investigates bacteria-zooplankton grazing link and factors affecting their grazing relationship at trophically different two sites (Paldang Dam and Kyungan Stream) of Lake Paldang Ecosystem from April to December, 2005. Zooplankton were divided into two size groups; microzooplankton (MICZ) : 60-200 ${\mu}m$ and macrozooplankton (MACZ): >200 ${\mu}m$), and their grazing rates on bacteria were conducted for each size group separately. Bacterial abundance and seasonal change pattern were similar between two sites. MICZ, mostly rotifers (e.g., Brachionus, Keratella, Polyathra) were numerically dominant at both sites, while carbon biomass was highest in cladocerans. Zooplankton biomass was higher at the Kyungan Steam site compared to Paldang Dam site, and their high biomass during spring decreased as they were passing through the storm events in summer season at both sites. Zooplankton clearance rate (CR) was high in spring and autumn while low in summer at Paldang Dam site. However, zooplankton CR was high during the summer at Kyungan Stream site. Bacterial C-flux was high in spring and autumn when MACZ (esp. cladecerans) developed at a high biomass level at both sites. Overall, MACZ community CR and carbon flux (C-flux) were higher than those of MICZ, and the degree of difference between them was higher at Kyungan Stream site. Short hydraulic residence time and physical disturbance caused by summer storm event appeared to affect the zooplankton grazing on bacteria at both sites. The results of this study indicate that bacteria are potentially important carbon source of zooplankton, and that both biotic (e.g,, prey and predator taxa composition and abundance) and physical parameters appear to alter energy transfer in the planktonic food web of this river-reservoir hybrid system.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.55-65
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• 2018

This study was conducted to clarify diet items and predatory behavior of American bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus) according to the sex, maturity and season from April to September 2014 at Gahang wetland of Changnyeong-gun, Gyeongsangnamdo province, Korea. We examined the stomach contents of L. catesbeianus using a gastrectomy technique and identified the contents to a genus or species. The examination showed that large and heavy individual of L. catesbeianus fed on larger amounts of food. However, there were no statistically significant differences in predation amount according to the sex and maturity of L. catesbeianus. The main diet item of during the study period was mostly Insecta (average population rate of 65.5%), followed by Crustacea (13.5%) and Gastropoda (7.9%). The most preferred diet item of L. catesbeianus was Muljarus japonicus. Surprisingly, L. catesbeianus also foraged Parus major, Apodemus agrarius, and Crocidura lasiura. Ths findings showed that L. catesbeianus directly disturbed the wetland ecosystem. We expect the results will be the important reference data for checking the impact of L. catesbeianus, which is designated as invasive species by the Ministry of Environment, on wetland ecosystem.