• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.133-143
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• 2015

Freshwater macrophytes improve the structural heterogeneity of microhabitats in water, often providing an important habitat for zooplankton. Some studies have focused on the overall influence of macrophytes on zooplankton, but the effects of macrophyte in relation to different habitat characteristics of zooplankton (e.g., epiphytic and pelagic) have not been intensively studied. We hypothesized that different habitat structures (i.e., macrophyte habitat) would strongly affect zooplankton distribution. We investigated zooplankton density and diversity, macrophyte characteristics (dry weight and species number), and environmental parameters in 40 shallow wetlands in South Korea. Patterns in the data were analyzed using a self-organizing map (SOM), which extracts information through competitive and adaptive properties. A total of 20 variables (11 environmental parameters and 9 zooplankton groups) were patterned onto the SOM. Based on a U-matrix, 3 clusters were identified from the model. Zooplankton assemblages were positively related to macrophyte characteristics (i.e., dry weight and species number). In particular, epiphytic species (i.e., epiphytic rotifers and cladocerans) exhibited a clear relationship with macrophyte characteristics, while large biomass and greater numbers of macrophyte species supported high zooplankton assemblages. Consequently, habitat heterogeneity in the macrophyte bed was recognized as an important factor to determine zooplankton distribution, particularly in epiphytic species. The results indicate that macrophytes are critical for heterogeneity in lentic freshwater ecosystems, and the inclusion of diverse plant species in wetland construction or restoration schemes is expected to generate ecologically healthy food webs.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.153-163
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• 2009

This study was carried out to offer ecological restoration plan of local streams by analyzing the vegetation and flora around four local streams (Pungchoncheon, Namchangcheon, Ganggicheon, Woncheoncheon) in Namwon. Flora and vegetation investigation was done at April 2007 to August 2007, and June 2009. The 194 of vascular plants were identified which contain 53 families, 143 genera, 194 species. The Family frequencies arranged by the order of Family Compositae (14.4%), Family Gramineae (13.4%) Family Leguminosae (6.7%) and Family Polygonaceae (5.2%). The naturalized plants were listed as 33 species, and their naturalization ratio and urban index were found to be 17.0%, and 12.2%, respectively. In this study a total of 21 relev$\acute{e}$s collected and analyzed. 6 plant communities are differentiated : Riverine softwood forests (Phragmites japonica-Salix gracilistyla community), Perennial herb vegetations on lotic water zone (Phragmites japonica community, Phalaris arundinacea community), Perennial herb vegetations on lentic water zone (Persicaria thunbergii-Typha orientalis community, Phragmites communis community), Annual or biennial vegetations on waterside (Persicaria thunbergii community). Species showing the higer value in the plant communities were Persicaria thunbergii, Phragmites japonica, Artemisia princeps, Humulus scandens, Bidens frondosa, Oenanthe javanica, Agropyron tsukusinense var. transiens, Stellaria aquatica, and Lactuca indica var. laciniata.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.104-110
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• 2010

Eutrophication is a well-known phenomenon in lentic habitats, however it is receiving increasing attention in shallow streams of Korea due to the increase of periphyton to a nuisance level. In this study temporal and spatial variation in periphyton standing crop and nutrient concentrations were surveyed in the upper reach of the Han River (the Inbuk Stream) that used to be a pristine rural stream until 1980s. Chlorophyll-a concentration per unit surface area of bottom substrate was examined monthly for one year period at nine sites along the Inbuk Stream together with environmental factors such as phosphorus, nitrogen, and water velocity. The standing crop of periphytic algae ranged from $4{\sim}242mgChl.a/m^2$ with a median of $55mgChl.a/m^2$, often exceeding the nuisance level criterion. Along the stream periphyton increased significantly from $39{\pm}48mgChl.a/m^2$ to $94{\pm}49mgChl.a/m^2$ after merging of a tributary in an intensive agricultural basin with high phosphorus concentrations. Seasonally periphyton biomass was highest in autumn (median $171{\pm}76mgChl.a/m^2$) from October through December when water flow velocity was low (median $0.4{\pm}0.3m/s$), while it was higher in flood season (median $1.2{\pm}0.4m/s$) and freezing season (median $0.2{\pm}0.3m/s$) was lower. The result shows that this rural stream often shows characteristics of eutrophication according to periphyton standing crop and it may be regulated by phosphorus and water velocity.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.728-735
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• 2017

Many restoration projects are underway to revive disturbed streams. In order to achieve successful stream restoration, a variety of microhabitats should be created to promote biological diversity. Research on biological classification of microhabitats is essential for biological diversity. However, research on classification using only physical environmental factors has been carried out. The purpose of this study is to classify and quantify the microhabitat of the stream by using macroinvertebrates systematically. In this study, eight wadeable streams and four non-wadeable streams were surveyed to identify the benthic macroinvertebrates in these various microhabitats. Among the physical environmental factors (current velocity, water depth, substrate), the particle size of the substrate was the most influential factor in the emergence of the Habitat Orientaion Groups. Among the HOGs, clinger and burrower were highly correlated with physical environment factors and showed the opposite tendency. The distribution of clinger and burrower according to the physical environmental factors showed two tendencies based on the current velocity (0.3 m/s) and water depth (0.4 m). In addition, the particle size of the substrate showed three trends (${\leq}-5.0$, -5.0 < mean diameter ${\leq}-2.0$, > -2.0). Based on the abundance tendency of these two HOGs, the microhabitats were classified into nine types, from a eupotamic microhabitat to a lentic microhabitat. Classification of the microhabitats using HOGs can be employed for creating microhabitats to promote biological diversity in future stream restoration plans.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.325-335
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• 2015

Concerns about water quality in the Nakdong River have been raised because the Nakdong River will change from a lotic environment to a lentic environmental due to the installation of eight weirs to be constructed as part of the Four Major Rivers Restoration Project. The rapid urbanization and industrialization of the middle and the lower reaches of Nakdong River causes the indiscreet discharge of uncleanly living sewage and industrial wastewater. And the water quality of lower reaches of Nakdong River is getting seriously worse. Owing to the water shortage of Nakdong River and the closing of reaches because of the estuary dyke in the dry season, the velocity of a moving fluid is almost accumulated under 0.03m/sec. Then a pollutant is piled up on the bottom of the river. Polluted sediment is formed and nutrition level of water is increased more and more. The eutrophication state propagated to dark brown or green from eutrophication often comes out. Therefore in this study, we measured Chl. a of chlorophyll sensor (YSI6600V2) and aceton extraction through field observation in the Nakdong River and Samrangjin. And we evaluated the reliability of chlorophyll sensor. In correlation analysis between chlorophyll sensor and aceton extraction, it shows high relation in general. And it also shows high relation among the chlorophyll sensor and aceton extraction of the dominant diatom (Skeletonema costatum), Dinophyta (Prorocentrum minimum) in the Nakdong River estuary by laboratory analysis results.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.65-73
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• 2009

We investigated characteristics of channel morphology, flora and vegetation distribution at the main and the abandoned channels of the Hwangguji Stream and the Cheongmi Stream. The analysis of aerial photographs and old topographical maps showed that the abandoned channels were made by cut-off from the main channel due to the construction of artificial levee. The total number of species and percentage of exotic plants at the main channels were higher than those at the abandoned channels. At the abandoned channel, the percentage of species number of hydrophytes and hygrophytes was higher than those at the main channels in the both stream. The results of principal component analysis (PCA) showed that the floral structure between at the main and the abandoned channel was more similar in the Hwangguji Stream than that in the Cheongmi Stream. The relative distribution areas of hydrophytes and hygrophytes at two abandoned channels were much higher than those at the main channels in the both stream. The dominant plant was an emergent macrophyte, Zizania latifolia at two abandoned channels. Therefore, flora and vegetation at the abandoned channel showed more hydric and lentic characteristics and provided diversity on the landscape level.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.378-391
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• 2012

The objective of this study was to determine temporal patterns and longitudinal gradients of water chemistry at eight artificial reservoirs and ten streams within the Han-River watershed along the main axis of the headwaters to the downstreams during 2009~2010. Also, we evaluated chemical relations and their variations among major trophic variables such as total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), and chlorophyll-a (CHL-a) and determined intense summer monsoon and annual precipitation effects on algal growth using empirical regression model. Stream water quality of TN, TP, and other parameters degradated toward the downstreams, and especially was largely impacted by point-sources of wastewater disposal plants near Jungrang Stream. In contrast, summer river runoff and rainwater improved the stream water quality of TP, TN, and ionic contents, measured as conductivity (EC) in the downstream reach. Empirical linear regression models of log-transformed CHL-a against log-transformed TN, TP, and TN : TP mass ratios in five reservoirs indicated that the variation of TP accounted 33.8% ($R^2$=0.338, p<0.001, slope=0.710) in the variation of CHL and the variation of TN accounted only 21.4% ($R^2$=0.214, p<0.001) in the CHL-a. Overall, our study suggests that, primary productions, estimated as CHL-a, were more determined by ambient phosphorus loading rather than nitrogen in the lentic systems of artificial reservoirs, and the stream water quality as lotic ecosystems were more influenced by a point-source locations of tributary streams and intense seasonal rainfall rather than a presence of artificial dam reservoirs along the main axis of the watershed.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.382-394
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• 2008

The objective of this study was to analyze temporal trends of water chemistry and spatial heterogeneity between the dam site (Daecheong Reservoir, S1) and the downstream (S2$\sim$S4) using water quality dataset (obtained from the Ministry of Environment, Korea) during 2000$\sim$2007. Water quality, based on eight physical and chemical parameters, varied largely depending on the years, sampling sites, and the discharge volume. Conductivity and nutrients (TN and TP) showed a decreasing trend in the downstream (S4) rather than the dam site during the monsoon. Spatial variation increased toward downstream (S4) from Daecheong Reservoir (S1). Also, BOD and COD increased toward downstream. Because of input of nutrient and pollutant nearby S1, lentic ecosystem in monsoon, BOD and COD were slightly increased. whereas relatively decreased in S4, lotic ecosystem in monsoon, by dilution effect of nutrient and pollutant by discharge from upper dam, S1. Spatial variation of SS increased toward downstream (S4) by the side of Daecheong Reservoir (S1). Based on the dataset, efficient water quality management in the point source tributary streams is required for better water quality of downstream. Monthly characteristics of DO showed the lowest value in the monsoon that tend to increase water temperature. DO was lowest in October at S1 because turbid water, input to the Daecheong Reservoir in the monsoon affect to the postmonsoon period. In contrast, water temperature increased toward summer monsoon, in spite of some differences showed between S1 and S4 environment. Overall, the characteristics of water quality in downstream region have close correlation with discharge amount of Daecheong Reservoir. Thus, those characteristics can explain that discharge control of upper dam mainly affect to the water quality variation in downstream reach.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.219-228
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• 2015

To secure water resources, dams are normally constructed on the upper - middle part of streams, and it generates physical disturbances such as habitat alteration and stream fragmentation. Such construction can restrict movement of aquatic organisms, especially for freshwater fish which is one of top predator in aquatic ecosystem, and cause genetic fragmentation and community change. In this study, to investigate impact of habitat alteration after dam construction on freshwater fish, we monitored fish community changes, and compared fish fauna between dam reservoir and inflows. Additionally, movement characteristics and habitat boundaries of four species were identified by radio telemetry method. The study was conducted in the Gunwi Dam which was constructed in December 2010. Radio telemetry was applied to Pungtungia herzi, Zacco platypus (living lotic and lentic), Silurus asotus (lentic preferred species) and Zacco koreanus (lotic preferred species). The number of species was remarkably decreased (4 family, 10 species) comparing with before the dam construction (7 family, 15 species). Specifically, Coreoleuciscus splendidus, Niwaella multifasciata, Liobagrus mediadiposalis, Coreoperca herzi and Odontobutis platycephala that inhabit in the lotic environment were not collected in the study area. A total of 8 species were caught in both the dam reservoir and tributaries except 2 species (C. auratus and S. asotus). Sorenson's similarity between the reservoir and its tributaries was high (0.842). All of the radio tagged species stayed in the reservoir except S. asotus which moved to the tributary. These species mainly utilized the shallow littoral zone as a habitat. These results could be useful as a baseline data for efficient management of fishes in lakes.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.185-195
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• 2022

This study conducted a survey over spring and autumn from 2014 to 2020 to confirm the ecological characteristics of the size of streams and habitats, centering on the ecological landscape conservation area, and a total 256 species of benthic macroinvertebrates in 105 families, 25 orders, 8 classes, and 5 phyla appeared. In terms of appearance species, by region, the rate of appearance of Ephemeroptera and Trichoptera was high in regions consisting of lotic area and the rate of appearance of Coleoptera and Odonata was high in regions consisting of lentic areas. When comparing the population of Ephemeroptera-Plecoptera-Trichoptera (EPT) groups by region, they were classified into three groups: upstream area, mainstream area, and lentic areas, and it was confirmed that the population ratio of EPT changed as it moved from upstream to downstream. As the stream order increased, the number of species and populations increased. The Shredder group (SH) tended to decrease as the size of stream increased(r=0.9925), and the Collector-Filtering (CF) tended to increase as the size of stream increased(r=0.9319). It was confirmed that the Scraper (SC) replaced each other between species with the same ecological status as it went downstream from upstream, and it is thought that the SC did not differ significantly by stream order. In order to maintain a healthy ecosystem in the designation and management of ecological landscape conservation areas, it is necessary to consider ecological factors such as competition and physico-chemistry factors such as water quality and substrate conditions. Therefore, if the competent authority designated survey areas including buffer areas that include streams and physical habitats of various sizes, it will be advantageous to the conservative area and securing more biological resources.