• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.11-14
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• 2006

In this study we attempted to develop a novel genomic method to selectively isolate target functional microbial genomes from environmental samples. For this purpose, stable isotope probing (SIP) was applied in selectively isolating organic pollutant-assimilating populations. When soil microbes were fed with $^{13}C-labeled $ biphenyl, biphenyl-utilizing cells were incorporated with the heavy carbon isotope. The heavy DNA portion was successfully separated by CsCl equilibrium density gradient. And the diversity in the heavy DNA was sufficiently reduced, being suitable for the current DNA microarray techniques to detect biphenyl-utilizing populations in the soil. In addition, we proposed a new way to get more genetic information by combining this SIP method with selective metagenomic approach. The increased selective power of these new DNA isolation methods will be expected to provide a good quality of new genetic information, which, in turn, will result in development of a variety of biomarkers that may be used in assessing ecotoxicology issues including the impacts of organic hazards, and antibiotic-resistant pathogens on human and ecological systems.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.102-106
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• 2006

The phytoestrogens including isoflavones (genistein, daidzein, biochanin A, formononetin, and glycitein), coumestrol, and lignans (secoisolariciresinol, matairesinol, and anhydrosecoisolariciresinol) were quantified in edible sea vegetables from Korea. Sea vegetable samples were collected based on domestic consumption data. After hydrolysis of phytoestrogen glycosides in prepared samples, aglycones of phytoestrogens were extracted with diethyl ether and analyzed with isotope dilution gas chromatography-mass spectrometry in selected ion monitoring mode (ID-GC-MS-SIM). Total samples included 19 samples representing eight species. Most of the samples showed rather low concentrations, ranging from not determinated to $79.2\;{\mu}g/kg$ for isoflavones and from 106.4 to $694.8\;{\mu}g/kg$ for lignans. The daily intake of phytoestrogen from sea vegetables, estimated from the present data and domestic consumption data, was about $0.13\;{\mu}g/day$ for isoflavones and $2.0\;{\mu}g/day$ for lignans. When we compared these results with those from legumes, sea vegetables would not be considered the major source of phytoestrogens in the Korean diet.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.102-112
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• 2022

This study investigated dietary habits and intra- and inter-specific food resource partitioning of co-occurring walleye pollock (Gadus chalcogrammus) and Pacific cod (G. macrocephalus) from the waters off the north-eastern coast of South Korea using stomach contents and stable isotopes (δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N) analyses. Both species are mesopelagic carnivores that consumed mainly benthopelagic crustaceans, but teleosts were also abundant in the diet of Pacific cod. Non-metric multidimensional scaling (nMDS) ordination and permutational multivariate analysis of variance (PERMANOVA) of dietary data revealed significant intra- and inter-specific dietary differences, i.e., food resource partitioning. Nitrogen stable isotope values (δ¹⁵N) were similar between walleye pollock and Pacific cod, but carbon stable isotope values (δ¹³C) were significant different, suggesting different trophic positioning. Canonical analysis of principal coordinate (CAP) ordination plot further demonstrated that differences in the type and range of prey ingested by the two species contributed such an inter-specific difference in the diet compositions. Ontogenetic changes in diet compositions were evident. As walleye pollock, they preyed more upon carid shrimps and cephalopods, but no such trend was observed in the diets of Pacific cod. While stable isotope values indicated that large-sized specimens of both species were significantly enriched in ¹⁵N relative to smaller conspecifics thus supporting these data. Consequently, in this study, both methodologies, i.e., stomach contents and stable isotope analyses, provided evidence of inter- and/or intra-specific dietary segregations and trophic niche partitioning between co-occurring walleye pollock and Pacific cod off eastern Korean waters.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.175-184
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• 2013

Organic carbon and total nitrogen stable isotope ratios of suspended materials were determined at 3 stations (from Mongtan Bridge to Youngsan river estuary barrage) (n=6, each) from November 2008 to August 2009, in order to understand the origin of particulate organic matter at the Estuary of Youngsan River. Allochthonous organic matter, ammonia-N and silicate were increased after heavy rain (in August). Carbon isotope ratios were significantly different between stations in November and August, and it was possible to determine the origin of organic matter. The heavier nitrogen isotope ratios, as well as higher phosphate concentrations, were found in November than other sampling times. Livestock wastewater and farmland input was likely the main causes of these high values. In addition, YS3 station, the nearest site to estuary barrage, appears to be affected by a substantial amount of livestock wastewater and farmland input, considering that nitrogen isotope ratios were heavier than those at the upper sites. These results suggest that the analysis of stable isotope ratios is a simple but useful tool for the determination of organic matter origin in aquatic environments.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.471-487
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• 2013

This review paper was written to provide background information as well as future application for aquatic ecologists interested in using stable isotope. Stable isotope techniques has proved to be an extremely useful to elucidate a lot of environmental and ecological problems. Stable isotopes have been used as possible tracers to identify sources, to quantify relative inputs in a system. When utilized carefully, stable isotope tools provides apparent advantages for the scientists to find out the processes of material cycles in various environments and energy flows in natural ecosystems.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.245-252
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• 2018

Stable isotope tracers were first applied to evaluate the Microcystis cell assimilation efficiency of bivalves, since the past identification method has been limited to tracking the changes of each chl-a, clearity, and nutrient. The filter-feeders (Sinanodonta woodiana and Unio douglasiae) were assessed under the condition of cyanobacteria (Microcystis aeruginosa) blooms through an in mesocosm experiment using $^{13}C$ and $^{15}N$ dual isotope tracers. chl-a concentration in the treatment mesocosm was dramatically decreased after the beginning of the second day, ranging from 116 to $66{\mu}g\;L^{-1}$. In addition, the incorporated $^{13}C$ and $^{15}N$ atom % in the S. woodiana bivalve showed higher values than U. douglasiae bivalves. The results demonstrate that U. douglasiae has less capacity to assimilate toxic cyanobacteria derived from diet. Our results therefore also indicate that S. woodiana can eliminate the toxin more rapidly than U. douglasiae, having a larger detoxification capacity.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.452-458
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• 2017

The nitrogen isotope value in both ammonium and nitrate ion were determined at 9 stations during both June and August 2016, in order to understand the origin of DIN at the Han river. ${\delta}^{15}N-NO_3$ and ${\delta}^{15}N-NH_4$ values in 8 stations (CP, SB, MHC, P4, SJ, SBC, P2, SC) were no significant variation. However ${\delta}^{15}N-NO_3$ and ${\delta}^{15}N-NH_4$ values in KK (Kyeongan stream) showed significant different in comparison with 8 stations, with an apparent increase of nitrogen isotope values. These results indicate that antropogenic nitrogen source influence on KK station. Also the ${\delta}^{13}C$ and ${\delta}^{15}N$ isotope ratio of phytoplankton (Diatom and Cyanobacteria) in KK (Kyeongan stream) showed heavier values, compared to other study stations. These results indicate that nitrogen isotope value in phytoplankton effects by different nitrogen source in study sites. These results suggest that the analysis of stable isotope ratios is a simple but useful tool for the identification of dissolved inorganic nitrogen origin in aquatic environments.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.56 no.4
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• pp.339-347
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• 2023

Dissolved organic matter (DOM) is a key component in the biogeochemical cycling in freshwater ecosystem. However, it has been rarely explored, particularly complex river watershed dominated by natural and anthropogenic sources, such as various effluent facility and livestock. The current research developed a new analytical method for TOC/TN (Total Organic Carbon/Total Nitrogen) stable isotope ratio, and distinguish DOM source using stable isotope value (δ¹³C-DOC) and spectroscopic indices (fluorescence index [FI] and biological index [BIX]). The TOC/TN-IR/MS analytical system was optimized and precision and accuracy were secured using two international standards (IAEA-600 Caffein, IAEA-CH-6 Sucrose). As a result of controlling the instrumental conditions to enable TOC stable isotope analysis even in low-concentration environmental samples (<1 mgC L^-1), the minimum detection limit was improved. The 12 potential DOM source were collected from watershed, which includes top-soils, groundwater, plant group (fallen leaves, riparian plants, suspended algae) and effluent group (pig and cow livestock, agricultural land, urban, industry facility, swine facility and wastewater treatment facilities). As a result of comparing characteristics between 12 sources using spectroscopic indices and δ¹³C-DOC values, it were divided into four groups according to their characteristics as a respective DOM sources. The current study established the TOC/TN stable isotope analyses system for the first time in Korea, and found that spectroscopic indices and δ¹³C-DOC are very useful tool to trace the origin of organic matter in the aquatic environments through library database.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.334-342
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• 2016

In this study, we explain the environmental variables that mainly influence the spatial and seasonal pattern of Galerucella nipponensis in 38 wetland and stream located at mid-low Nakdong River. G. nipponensis were found at total of 32 wetland, was strongly positively correlated with the biomass of Trapa japonica (t=2.173, $r^2=0.013$, p<0.05). In result of seasonal distribution during 3 years, the largest density of G. nipponensis adult were observed in summer (7~8 months), egg and larva was recorded in only early spring (4~5 months). Rainfall were negatively related with the seasonal distribution of G. nipponensis. They were more abundant in dry season (2015 year) than rainy seasons(2013~2014 year). Stable isotope analysis showed that the G. nipponensis consumed as food source no submerged leaf of T. japonica than other plant. However, utilization of T. japonica on Galerucella nipponensis were not influence to plant biomass and/or species composition in vegetated bed. Those considered as adaptive strategies for sustainable habitat maintenance that because T. japonica use as not only food source but also their lives for G. nipponensis.

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.12 no.5
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• pp.231-237
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• 2007

The microbial eco-physiology has been the vital key of microbial ecological research. Unfortunately, available methods for direct identity of microorganisms and for the investigation of their activity in complicated community dynamics are limited. In this study, metagenomics was considered as a promising functional genomics tool for improving our understanding of microbial eco-physiology. Its potential applications and challenges were also reviewed. Because of tremendous diversity in microbial populations in environment, sequence analysis for whole metagenomic libraries from environmental samples seems to be unrealistic to most of environmental engineering researchers. When a target function is of interest, however, sequence analysis for whole metagenomic libraries would not be necessary. For this case, nucleic acids of active populations of interest can be selectively gained using another cutting-edge functional genomic tool, SIP (stable isotope probing) technique. If functional genomes isolated by SIP can be transferred into metagenomic library, sequence analysis for such selected functional genomes would be feasible because the reduced size of clone library may become adequate for sequencing analysis. Herein, integration of metagenomics with SIP was suggested as a novel functional genomics approach to study microbial eco-physiology in environment.