• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.1-17
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• 2001

The flora, vegetation structure, distribution of the vascular plants, physico-chemical characteristics of sediment, and nutrient contents of palnts were investigated in the ten disturbed and undisturbed wetlands around the littoral zone of Namgang, Jinju-si, Gyongsangnam-do, Korea from August 7 to August 15 in 1999. 217 taxa of the vascular plants distributed into 2 formas, 26 varieties, 189 species belong to 142 genera under 52 families were sampled or recorded. Dominant species of the undisturbed and the disturbed area were Persicaria thunbergii and Ambrosia artemisiifolia var. elatior, of which importance values were 13.86, and 15.81, respectively. Among 26 species of the naturalized plants, importance value of Ambrosia artemisiifolia var. elatior was highest as 9.54. The ranges of species diversity indices (H') were 1.370~1.819, and highest in the site 1 of the undisturbed area. The ranges of eqitability (J') were 0.779~0.902, and highest in the site 8 of the disturbed area. The ranges of community similarity indices ($CC_s$) were 0.341~0.578 among the ten wetlands, and highest between site 1 and site 2 which were the undisturbed area. The ranges of sediment properties such as pH, conductivity, organic matter, total phosphorus, and total nitrogen were 5.17~7.35, $24.67{\sim}74.33{\mu}mhocm^{-1}$, 1.09~3.82%, 0.0008~0.0034 mg/100g, and 0.06~0.15%, respectively. Nutrient contents of plants such as total nitrogen and total phosphorus were 1.52~2.65% and $0.010{\sim}0.039mg100g^{-1}$, respectively. It was recommended that the establishment of the conservation area was necessary to ensure the habitat for wild life and to maintain the diversity of the vascular hydrophytes and hygrophytes.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.508-519
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• 2017

There have been many studies on monitoring of biodiversity changes and preservation of Gwangneung Forest Biosphere Reserve (GFBR) in South Korea in recognition of the rare ecosystem that has been preserved for a long period. However, there are few studies on diversity and community characteristics of benthic macroinvertebrates as an indicator of stream health of GFBR. The purpose of this study was to assess the water quality of Bongseonsa Stream that penetrated through Gwangneung Forest and the nearby torrents by analyzing the benthic macroinvertebrates community during April to September 2016. The investigation collected a total of 114 species of benthic macroinvertebrates belonging to 56 families, 17 orders, 8 classes, and 5 phyla from the Bongseonsa Stream and Kwangneung Stream. Ephemeroptera and Trichoptera were the largest groups in species diversity with 30 species (32.3%) and 16 species (17.2%), respectively, and Tubificidae sp., Baetis fuscatus, Antocha KUa, and Cheumatopsyche brevilineata, which usually habit in contaminated streams, appeared frequently. Among the feeding function groups, the gatherers and hunters appeared relatively frequently, and the shredders and scrapers appeared frequently in the torrents. Among the habitat oriented groups, the clingers and burrower appeared more frequently and represented the microhabitats in the shallow areas. The result of the analysis of benthic macroinvertebrates community showed that the dominant index was $0.48{\pm}0.10$ in average while it was lowest with 0.33 in GS 8 of the Gwangneung Forest torrent and highest in BS 1 of Bongseonsa Stream. The diversity and richness indices were inversely proportional to the dominant index and were 2.53 and 4.22, respectively, in GS 8 where the dominant index was low. The result of the analysis of community stability showed that area I, which had high resistance and restoration, was high in Bongseonsa Stream while the area III, which had low resistance and restoration, was high in Gwangneung Forest, indicating that the water system in Gwangneung Forest had a wider distribution of specifies sensitive to agitation. The biological water quality assessment showed ESB of $50.88{\pm}17.69$, KSI of $1.11{\pm}0.57$, and BMI of $78.55{\pm}11.05$. GS 8 of Gwangneung Forest torrent was judged to be the highest priority protective water area with the best water environment and I class water quality with ESB of 63, KSI of 0.55, and BMI of 89.9. On the contrary, BS 1 of Bongseonsa Stream was judged to be the high priority improvement area that had the lowest water quality rating of III with ESB of 25, KSI of 2.13, and BMI of 62.7. Although the diversity of water beetle was higher in the water system of nearby Bongseonsa Stream than the water system inside the Gwangneung Forest, the annual community structure appeared to have distinct differences.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.549-556
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• 2017

The purpose of this study was to investigate the change of spatial distribution of Korean fir (Abies koreana E. H. Wilson) in Mt. Hallasan for the past 10 years. We examined the distribution and crown density between 2006 and 2015 and analyzed the elevation, direction, and regional characteristics. The total area of Korean fir was 626.0ha in 2015, which declined by 112.3ha accounting for 15.2% for the past 10 years compared to 738.3ha in 2006. For the past 10 years, the area of moderately dense Korean fir with the crown density of 41% to 70% decreased by 72.6ha while the area of dense Korean fir with the crown density of 71% or more deceased by 21.3ha. The area with an elevation between 1,510m and 1,600m showed the largest change, accounting for 32.6% of the total declining area. Regarding the distribution by the direction, the area in the southeastern direction decreased by 23.4ha while the area in the southeast and northeast centered on the eastern direction decreased by 62.3ha, which accounted for 55.5% of the total area. Regarding the change of the distribution of Korean fir forest area by the region, the decrease of the area from the Jindallaebat to the top of the mountain was the largest at 84.6ha, or 71.8% of the total decreased area. The Yeongshil Trail area decreased by 25.3ha or 21.5% of the total while the Keundurewat area decreased by 8.0ha or 6.8%. On the contrary, the Bangaeoreum area increased by 5.6ha. The results indicate the large decrease of area of Korean fir forest centered on a particular location of Mt. Hallasan. Considering the changes according to the elevation, direction, and regional characteristics, it can be attributed to increasing frequency of abnormal climates such as typhoons and droughts.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.216-237
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• 2017

Thermal effluent of the hot spring has long been a field of interest in the relationship between temperature gradient and freshwater algae in geology, limnology and aquatic ecology throughout the world. On the other hand, many artificial hot springs have been developed in Korea, but the research on them has not been still active. This study was performed every month from December 2015 to September 2016, to elucidate the spatiotemporal effects of thermal wastewater effluent (TWE) on the ecosystem of benthic algal assemblage in four stations(BSU (upstream), HSW (hot spring wastewater outlet), BSD1~2 (downstream)) of the upstream reach of the Buso Stream, a tributary located in the Hantan River basin. During the survey, the influencing distance of temperature on TWE was <1.0 km, and it was the main source of N P nutrients at the same time. The effects of TWE were dominant at low temperature and dry season (December~March), but it was weak at high temperature and wet season (July~September), reflecting some seasonal characteristics. Under these circumstances, the attached algal communities were identified to 59 genera and 143 species. Of these, the major phylum included 21 genera 83 species of diatoms(58.0%), 9 genera 21 species of blue-green algae (14.7%) and 25 genera 32 species of green algae (22.4%), respectively. The spatiotemporal distribution of them was closely related to water temperature ($5^{\circ}C$ and $15^{\circ}C$) and current ($0.2m\;s^{-1}$ and $0.8m\;s^{-1}$). In the basic environment maintaining a high water temperature throughout the year round, the flora favoring high affinity to $PO_4$ in the water body or preferring stream habitat of abundant $NO_3-PO_4$ was dominant. As a result, when compared with the outcomes of previous algal ecology studies conducted in Korea, the Buso Stream was evaluated as a serious polluted state due to persistent excess nutrient supply and high thermal pollution throughout the year round by TWE. It can be regarded as a dynamic ecosystem in which homogeneity (Summer~Autumn) and heterogeneity (Winter~Spring) are repeated between upstream and downstream.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.353-368
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• 2016

This study surveyed the diversity and distributional characteristics of benthic macroinvertebrates and freshwater fish during the period from April to October, 2015 in Seonun Mountain Provincial Park. As a result, a total of 78 species of benthic macroinvertebrates belonging to 50 families, 16 orders, and four phyla were observed in Seonun stream; additionally, 25 species of freshwater fish belonging to six families were identified in all the investigated sites. Among benthic macroinvertebrates, Ephemeroptera(13 spp.: 22.81%) was the largest group in terms of species richness. In the FFGs, gathering-collectors(30 spp.: 36.14%) were relatively larger as represented by Ephemeroptera that usually inhabit fast flowing streams. In the HOGs, clingers(23 spp.: 29.49%) and burrowers(17 spp.: 21.79%) were the dominant groups. For both EPT ratio and ESB index, site 8 appeared to be the highest with 44.44% and 72 marks respectively, while the sites 4 and 9 showed relatively lower rates and indices. According to the results of evaluation, site 8 needs to be designated as the highest protection area while the sites 4 and 9 may be designated as target areas for preferential improvement. According to the analysis of fish community, the dominant species was Zacco teminchkii(333 inds.: 36.80%), and the dominant index was the lowest(0.24) and diversity index was the highest(1.81) at site 8, which therefore represents a stable freshwater fish community. In this survey, six Korean endemic species were identified: Ephemera separigata, Neoperla coreensis, Rhodeus uyekii, Squalidus gracilis majimae, Microphysogobio yaluensis, and Iksookimia koreensis. Also, three species belonging to the management of exportable group(Davidius lunatus, E. separigara, N. coreenis) were observed. Two habitat specific species: Thraulus grandis and Anguilla marmorata, were found for the first time in Gochang area and marked on the Korean distribution map through discussion.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.471-480
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• 2008

This study was conducted to investigate the characteristics of breeding bird community in relation to altitude and vegetation in Jirisan National Park. The survey was carried over 4 study sites by point counts method to figure out habitat environment and breeding bird community from March to August in 2006. The study results are summarized as follows: Total 32 species were recorded, and 27 species and density of 37.31 ea/ha in low altitude mixed forest, 23 species and 34.99 ea/ha in low altitude deciduous forest, 18 species and 23.95 ea/ha in high altitude mixed forest, 19 species and 20.21 ea/ha in high altitude deciduous forest, respectively. Eleven species were observed only in the low altitude sites, 4 species were observed only in the high altitude sites. Number of species and density were high in the low altitude sites, and they were high in the mixed forests. In nesting guild analysis, the low altitude sites are similarly found species number of three types but canopy nesting species in the high altitude sites are advent less. In foraging guild analysis, the species number of canopy foraging appeared most highly in all study sites. In the difference analysis of each species density. Four species which are showed the difference in the low altitude sites, owing to vegetation. Long-tailed Tit(Aegithalos caudatus) and Great tit(Parus major) are difference because of difference in volume of canopy layer, and Coal Tit(Parus ater) was difference because of coniferous forest preference quality. Four species(Hazel Grouse, Winter Wren, Pale Thrush, Yellow-throated Bunting) which are showed the difference of the density in the high altitude sites because of thick growth of the bush layer. Ten species which are showed the difference in study sites, owing to altitude. Oriental Cuckoo(Cuculus saturatus), Winter Wren(Troglodytes troglodytes), Siberian Blue Robin(Luscinia cyane), Arctic Warbler(Phylloscopus borealis), Coal Tit(Parus ater), and Yellow-throated Bunting(Emberiza elegans) appeared highly in the high altitude sites, Pale Thrush(Turdus pallidus), Long-taild Tit(Aegithalos caudatus), Varied Tit(Parus varius), and Eurasian Nuthatch(Sitta europaea) appeared highly in the low altitude sites. It seems that bush layer coverage volume and canopy layer total coverage volume do influences on the breeding bird community, because the bush layer was thick growth, and canopy layer coverage volume was difference. It would be needed the management and maintenance of bush layer coverage volume and canopy layer with multi-layer structure to increase foliage height diversity and total coverage volume for the protection and management of bird community in Jirisan National Park.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.163-172
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• 2007

In this study, fish fauna and stream characteristics were surveyed during October-November 2003 in 31 small streams, which are small sub-tributaries of Geum River. The small streams were classified into 4 types of steep mountainous (SM), mountainous-flatland (MF), flat land (FL), and agricultural watercourse (AW) streams, and their types were categorized by features of stream width, water depth, bottom substrate, riparian vegetation, and landuse patterns. The fishes collected during this survey were identified 4 families and 8 species. Dominant family was Cyprinidae, and the most dominant species was Rhynchocypris oxycephalus with 73% (419 individuals) of the total. Only one species of R. oxycephalus was observed in the all five steep mountainous streams, which was surrounded by 100% forest area and had no point-and non-point pollution sources. The observed frequency of R. oxycephalus (as a relative proportion of species) showed a significant positive correlation (r=0.754, p<0.001, n=31) with the substrate composition of bedrock and boulder, indicating that the species prefer the bedrock and boulder rather than the sand or small pebble. Evidently, all five steep mountainous streams were judged as excellent condition (1st rank) according to the criteria of biological water quality, the Ministry of Environment, Korea. This result was accord with a general tendency of the species in most upper stream of the Koreas streams. One family and one species were found at the steep mountainous types and 4 families 6 species were at the mountainous-flatland. Four families 8 species were found at the flat land, which showed most diverse habitat, and 2 families 2 species were collected agricultural watercourse. These study results of 1st-order streams suggest that R. oxycephalus was considered as one of 1st rank ecological indicator species, and that the dominant area should be protected from various pollutions and disturbances.

• Journal of Animal Environmental Science
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.71-80
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• 2011

Trickling filter has been extensively studied for the domestic wastewater treatment especially for the small scale plants in rural area. The purpose of this research is to survey the physical and microbial characteristics of wood chip media and the removal efficiency of animal wastewater using wood chip trickling filter system. The trickling filtration system comprises a filtration bed packed with wood chip media having a particle dia. of 5~7cm. The method comprises natural air from the bottom of the bed. The system also comprises a control mechanism including a time a constant discharge pump for controlling supply of the wastewater into the bed. The following conclusions were obtained from the results of this research. 1. The specific surface area of wood chip was 0.4123 $m^2$/g, pore volume was 0.0947 $cm^3$/g, density was 0.49 g/$cm^3$. It has forms of parallelogram and oblong which have numerous small pore space. This wood chip has been good condition for microorganism's habitat, having very larger specific surface area by complex the three dimension structure of cellulose at wood's major ingredients. 2. The total counts of in attached aerobic microbes were ranged from $10^6$ to $10^8$ CFU/g, and anaerobes microbial numbers were from $10^4$ to $10^7$. The aerobic microbial numbers appeared to be much more than those of anaerobic microbial numbers. 3. The average efficiency of $BOD_5$ and CODcr were 74.5% and 51.5%, respectively. The removal efficiency of T-N and T-P were 61.4%, 56.2%, respectively. But SS removal levels remain 19.3%.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.69-78
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• 1996

This study was done to investigate the enzyme-histochemical localization and characteristics of alkaline and acid phosphatase related with metabolism in sparganum and adult of Spirometrn erinacei. By the enzyme-histochemical assay, the alkaline and acid phosphatases were localized in the tegument and subtegumental musculature of sparganum and adult, but not in the parenchyma. The activities of alkaline phosphatase were stronger in the tegument than in the subtegumental musculature, and activities of acid phosphatase were stronger in the tegument of adults than those of sparganum. The 2 isozymes of alkaline and acid phosphatases were separated from s-sparganum (from snake) and r-sparganum (from experimentaly infected rats) respectively but 4 isozymes of Alp and 3 isoxymes of Acp were separated from adult worms by electrophoresis. In isogyme Alp, the 661)a was the common isozyme, but 130 kDa isozyme of Acp was the common isozyme in spargana and adult worms. By isoelectrofocusing, 4 isozymes (PI 7.9, 7.7, 6.5 and 6.3) and 2 isozymes (PI 7.9 and 7.7) of alkaline phosphatase were separated from adults and spargana respectively. In the stability against heat, activity of alkaline phosphatase was denatured perfectly after heating at 90℃ for 40 seconds. The optimum pH and temperature for activity of alkaline phosphatase were about pH 10 and 50℃, respectively. The maximum activity (unit) of alkaline phosphatase was 22.0 in s- sparganum,25.0 in r-sparganum and 215.0 in adult worms, so that the maximum activity was revealed higher in adults than spargana. As the result from above, we observed that alkaline and acid phosphatases were functioned mainly in the tegument and subtegumental musculature , and the isoxymes of phosphatase were activated differently according to habitat of the parasites. The spargana and adult worms carry out the pafasitism by adapting thenlselves to parasitic circumstance loth these emxymes.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.59-68
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• 1996

This study investigated the enzyme histochemical localization and characteristics of lactate (LDH) and malate dehydrogenase (MDH) related with the oxidation-reduction metabolism in the sparganum and adult of 5. erinacei. By enzyme histochemical assay, activity of LDH was strong in the tegument and subtegumental muscle layers of the adult and sparganum. Activity of MDH was strong in the tegument of the sparganum and subtegumental muscle layers of the adult. However it was weak in the tegument of the adult. By electrophoresis, 45 kDa band was major and common in LDH of adults and spargana. The 150 kDa molecule was the major and common band in MDH of adults and r -spargana (from experimentally infected rats) . By isoelectrofocusing, isoelectric points (Pl) or 4 MDH isogyme from adult worm were 6.0.6.5, 6.7 and 7.1, respectively. Pl 6.0 was the major band. The active range of pH for MDH was about pH 6-8 and the optimum pH was pH 7 The effective temperature on the MDH was about $30^{\circ}C$∼$50^{\circ}C$ and the optimum temperature was about 40℃ in spargana md adult worm. In the stability against heat, when MDH was heated at 85℃ for 10 seconds, the activity was denatured perfectly. Maximum activity or MDH was 19.4 unit in the s-sparganum (from snakes), 24.5 unit in the r-sparganum (from rats) and 108.0 unit in the adult worm. The maximum activity was higher in adults than in spargana. The present result showed us that the nutrients absorbed through the tegument were transferred into inner tissues and were utilized as the source of metabolism. According to the habitat of the parasite, the isozymes of LDH and MDH are activated differently, and by this different activation the sparganum and adult can adapt themselves to parasitic circumstances.