• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.536-544
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• 2017

This study was carried out to find out the physiological activity effect of Sicyos angulatus L. extract which is known as an ecosystem disturbance plant and confirm the availability as a functional cosmetic material. Total polyphenol and flavonoid contents were measured, and DPPH radical scavenging, intracellular ROS, and its inhibitory effect on the expression Nitric oxide of and COX-2 were evaluated. The content of polyphenol and flavonoid was found to be 3.079 mg(CA)/100g and 72 mg(Q)/100g of Sicyos angulatus L. extract and antioxidant activity through high radical scavenging activity was confirmed. ~Significant cytotoxicity was not observed up to a concentration of $100{\mu}g/mL$ in RAW 264.7 cells and HDF cells and concentration-dependent inhibition of ROS production in HDF cells, inhibition of high NO production and inhibition of COX-2 protein expression in RAW 264.7 cells were confirmed. Through these results, we found the possibility of use as a functional cosmetic material with excellent antioxidant effect and antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects through inhibition of intracellular ROS generation, inhibition of NO generation, and inhibition of COX-2 protein expression.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Geographic Information Studies
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.22-34
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• 2004

An artificial disturbance like fragmentation in watershed forest has impacted a sustainability of watershed ecosystem, therefore this research quantified the landscape structure in the Geumho river watershed using landscape indices and GIS. Landscape indices were calculated from the forest distributed maps for 24 subwatersheds. Three common factors, which explained about 85% of the variation in the original data, were extracted by a factor analysis. The fragmentation gradient in forest landscape, which was calculated from the factor scores, was correlated with proportion of urban land (r=0.827, p<0.01, $R^2$=0.685), elevation (r=-0.637, p<0.01) and slope gradient (r=-0.593, p<0.01). The result of the study presented that the methodology and the values of landscape indices to assess the structural patterns of forest landscape for the Geumho river watershed management. Future research will be directed towards the detection of impacts of landscape patterns and their changes on the integrity of watershed environments.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.282-293
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• 2020

This study investigated a long-term variation trend of water quality, fish compositions, and ecological health conditions in the Gwanpyeong stream located in the nearby Daejeon metropolitan city to understand the impact of urban development projects on the aquatic ecosystem. The sampling was made in four surveys (2009, 2010, 2016, 2019) before and after urbanization. The urban development was conducted in 2008, resulting in the stream's ecological disturbance, and the stream restoration was conducted in 2012. Thus, stream monitoring was conducted to analyze the ecological trends before and after the restoration. The multi-metric models for Fish Assessment Index(FAI) and necropsy-based Health Assessment Index(HAI) were applied in the fish community and organ-level, respectively, to assess the ecological health of the stream. Minimum turbidity and chlorophyll-a(Chl-a) occurred in the mid-stream(St. 2), and this was probably due to rapid current velocity in the riffle zone. We collected 18 fish species, and the dominant species was Zacco platypus (40.6%). In 2016 immediately after the stream restoration, the relative proportions of sensitive species and insectivore species were the highest along with highest values in the species diversity and species richness index, resulting in the best condition in the ecological health, based on FAI model values. However, the ecological health, based on the FAI, became worse in the latest survey conducted in 2019. The analysis of the HAI model based on the organ-level approach showed skin erosion in the fish of upper stream, kidney defects in downstream, and the liver and gill defects observed in all sites, indicating that the anatomical health was also affected.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.278-286
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• 2012

This study was examined for information of management of bluegill, Lepomis macrochirus which is disturbance species of underwater ecosystem in Korea. Research of bluegill population was investigated spring-summer and autumn periods in the Han river system from 2009 to 2012. Bluegill inhabited mostly lakes, and restrictedly lived at still area in downstream. The range of relative abundance were 0.2~18.2% in individual number and 0.2~40.0% in biomass and it was subdominant or superiority species for the most part of the lakes. Population structure were analyzed r-strategy in Lake Soyang and Paldang and K-strategy in Lake Uiam and Cheongpyeong. But Lake Chungju was estimated transition period from K-strategy to r-strategy. Condition factor and body weight-total length relations were presented favorable condition. For the nesting, bluegill was formatted the group. And the water depth and the distance from shore were mean 56.3 cm and 191.9 cm respectively in nesting ground. Diameter and depth of nests were mean 42.4 cm and 9.7 cm respectively. These results are available for research of population dynamics and reproductive ecology of bluegill.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.902-910
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• 2012

This study has been carried out to determine the effects of disturbances from wild boar grubbing on the functions of ecosystem. The experiments was performed in Mt. Jumbong of Long-term Ecological Research Sites of the Ministry of Environment. We measured soil physical properties, soil respiration($CO_2$), microbial biomass C, and soil enzyme activities from both disturbed and control plots. The disturbance sites were divided into two parts, mounds and pits. Soil organic matter contents were highest value at the control plots and lowest at the pit plots, respectively at 20.22% and 15.52%. The soil bulk densities were highest at the pit plots. Soil microbial biomass C and $CO_2$ evolution were significantly higher at the control plots compared to the disturbed plots. The results were positively correlated with soil organic matter contents. The cellulase activity and invertase activity in the soil showed similar pattern as the microbial biomass C and $CO_2$ evolution results. The cellulase activity and invertase activity in the soil were positively correlated with soil microbial biomass C. Soil organic matter contents seemed to affect the soil enzyme activities. The nitrate reductase activities were highest at the pit plots, which showed positive correlation with soil bulk density. The study results showed that the grubbing disturbances by wild boars induced the changes in soil properties, which affected soil microbial activities.

• Weed & Turfgrass Science
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.111-119
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• 2018

This study was carried out to investigate the differences in germination and growth of Quamoclit coccinea Moench under various temperatures, seeding depths, and levels of shading and soil moisture for effective weed management. Seed dormancy of Q. coccinea Moench was over 1 year; best results were obtained when seeds were soaked in sulfuric acid for 15 minutes in order to break the dormancy. Germination rates of Q. coccinea Moench ranged from 69 to 73% at $25-35^{\circ}C$ and 26% at $15^{\circ}C$. The germination rates ranged from 70-84% at 2, 3, 5, 7, and 8 cm of seeding depths. In addition, the germination rates were 7% and 13% at 12 cm and 15 cm of seeding depths, respectively, and showed normal growth at the both seeding depths. Q. coccinea Moench showed a high germination rate regardless of shading levels, but shoot fresh weight varied depending on the level of shading as follows: 20%>no shading=shading 35%>shading 50%>shading 75%=shading 90%. Q. coccinea Moench did not germinate when soil had a saturation rate of either 30% or 100%. However, 60-83% of seeds germinated with optimal growth when soil had saturation rates of 60% and 80%.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.114-126
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• 2020

Bloom-forming toxic cyanobacteria Microcystis spp. are common in the summer season in temperate freshwater ecosystems. Often, it leads to the degradation of water quality and affects the quality of drinking water. In a previous study, NQ (naphthoquinone) compounds were shown to be effective, selective, and ecologically safe algicides for Microcystis spp. blooms. To analyze the superiority of developed NQ derivatives, we conducted a microcosm experiment using clay, which is frequently used in South Korea. Similar to previous studies, the NQ 40 and NQ 2-0 compounds showed high algicidal activities of 99.9% and 99.6%, respectively, on Microcystis spp. at low concentrations (≥1 μM) and enhanced phytoplankton species diversity. However, when treated with clay, a temporary algicidal effect was seen at the beginning of the experiment that gradually increased at the end. In addition, treatment with the NQ compounds did not affect either the abiotic or biological factors, and similar trends were observed with the control. These results showed that the NQ 2-0 compound was more effective, with no ecosystem disturbance, and more economical than the currently used clay. These results suggest that NQ 2-0 compound could be a selective, economically and ecologically safe algicide to mitigate harmful cyanobacterial blooms in the field.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.665-679
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• 2015

Yearly mean temperature in the 29 lakes surveyed ranges from 12.6 (Suncheon) to 13.9℃ (Mokpo), the lowest in −2.7℃ (January) and the highest in 25.9℃ (July). Monthly mean the amount of rainfall recorded the highest of 336.7 mm in August and the lowest with 4.9 mm in January. A total of 424 species of phytoplankton were identified. They were 157 Chlorophyceae, 161 Bacillariophyceae, 39 Cyanophyceae, and 67 other algal taxa. The phytoplankton diversity were low in stream type reservoirs such as Guemho, Youngsan and Youngam. The population density of phytoplankton ranged from 19 to 53,161 cells/ml. Annual mean of total zooplankton abundance in 45 sites was 369±827 ind./L (n=180). Rotifers were the most common taxa and their relative abundance was high (65~77%). The benthic microinvertebrate fauna of 10 reservoirs of Jeonnam province were 71 species of 61 genera of 44 families of 16 orders of 7 classes of 4 phyla. Aquatic insects of Phylum Arthropoda were 50 species of 44 genera of 28 families of 6 orders. The number of individuals was 6,132. Diptera was highiest (41.3%), and Ephemeroptera (31.0%), Trichoptera (17.5%), Anellida (3.8%), Mollusca (3.3%), Crustacea (0.4%). Large hydrophytes were identified 32 taxa, 2 varieties 30 species 26 genera and 20 families. Especially, Jijung and Juam lakes require management such as physical remove of this ecosystem disturbance field plants. Fishes were identified total 44 taxa, such as 25 Cyprinidae (56.8%), 8 Cobitidae (17.0%), 3 Gobiidae (6.4%), 2 Bagridae (4.3%), 2 Osmeridae (4.3%), 2 Odontobutidae (4.3%), 2 Centrachidae (4.3%), 1 Siluridae (2.1%), and 1 Centropomidae (2.1%). A pale chub was dominant species (18.9%).

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.371-378
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• 2014

The subject of this study is the Gongchon-cheon which is one of the largest streams in Incheon and is closely related to lives of citizen. Comparative analysis is made on the changes of the environment and the ecological condition of Gongchon-cheon after the stream naturalization construction which is completed in July 2009. From the results of the survey, 32 species in 2004, 22 species in 2009 and 46 species in 2010 have been recorded. The number of the species decreased from 2004 to 2009 due to the disturbance of the river environment, and it increased in a short time from 2009 to 2010 because of the recovery of the environment. It demonstrates the stream naturalization construction providing enough environments (dikes and rapids) for the benthic macro invertebrates. The result of the present study is similar with the river's biology index, ESB index, and KSI index, and also it is similar with the pattern of the appearance, which illustrates that the species decreased during the naturalization construction, and increased after the stabilization since the finish of the naturalization construction, and it has been confirmed that the naturalization construction provides the better environment for the inhabitation of organisms.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.327-334
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• 2017

The flood pulse in streams enhances the biodiversity and ecosystem services of the channel-floodplain ecosystems by exchanging water, nutrients, sediments and organisms. However, the lateral connectivity in most streams of Korea has been disrupted by the levee constructions for the purpose of flood control and land use of floodplains. To compare the characteristics of floodplain vegetation according to existence of lateral connectivity in streams, we investigated the geomorphological and soil environmental factors and structures and distribution of vegetation in the floodplains connected and isolated by levee to the channel in Cheongmi Stream, Seom River, Hwangguji Stream, Mangyeong River, Gomakwon Stream, and Boseong River, Korea. In comparison of soil environments, moisture and clay contents were higher in the isolated floodplain than in the connected floodplain. According to the result of principal component analysis (PCA) using environmental data, the environments of the connected floodplain and the isolated floodplain were separated by soil moisture contents, soil texture and distribution altitude of the vegetation. The results of detrended correspondence analysis (DCA) using vegetation data showed that the isolated floodplain was dominated by the hydropythic communities of diverse life form and that the connected floodplain was dominated by the hygrophytic communities that endure disturbance. In conclusion, it is thought that the vegetation of the floodplain changed to the lentic wetland vegetation dominated by diverse hydrophytes as the floodplain was isolated from the channel by artificial levees.