• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.36 no.4 s.105
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• pp.413-419
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• 2003

The water quality and algal communities in the Daechung Reservoir, Korea, were monitored from summer to autumn in 1999 and 2001. Although the average weekly precipitations during June and July were very similar in 1999 and 2001, they were much different during August and September, the so-called blooming season. The rainfall in 1999 increased about 70% after late August, whereas it decreased to the one-fifth level in 2001. The higher concentrations of chlorophyll- a, phycocyanin, and cyanobacteria were observed in 2001, which resulted in the dense algal bloom. In addition, in 2001, the cyanobacterial percentage remained above 80% during the investigation period, and the cyanobacteria were exclusively composed of Microcystis spp. Conversely, there was no report on the algal bloom in 1999. However, the peak bloom seasons were the same for both years, from late August to early September, irrespective of the amount of precipitation. These results suggest that the magnitude and duration of rainfall before bloom season are important factors determining the extent of cyanobacterial bloom in this system.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.36 no.4 s.105
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• pp.420-426
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• 2003

During a three-year study (2000-2002), dramatic changes in the phytoplankton biomass and high transparency were repeatedly observed during mid-spring in the lower part of the Nakdong River. Rotifers (Brachionus, Keratella, Polyarthra) , sharply increased toward the middle and end of spring. As hydrologic retention time increased (to near 20 days) and water temperature increased from $10^{\circ}C$ to > $20^{\circ}C$ toward the end of spring, small cladocerans noticeably increased. Once phytoplankton biomass passed their peak stage in the mid-spring, a short period (one or two weeks) of relatively low phytoplankton biomass and high Secchi transparencies occurred. Grazing by the zooplankton was highest in spring, thus, it seems that high grazing activities of zooplankton grazing regulated phytoplankton dynamics in the river. The results indicate that the role of zooplankton grazing in controlling the phytoplankton biomass becomes more important during the spring when river water is relatively stagnant.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.36 no.4 s.105
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• pp.427-433
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• 2003

We provided diagnostic characters of the adult and larval stages of two co-inhabiting species of ephemerid burrowing mayflies, Ephemera orientalis and E. sachalinensis (new record to South Korea) (Ephemeroptera: Ephemeridae), in Korean streams. E. sachalinensis (mean${\pm}$sd body length male adult 18.44${\pm}$0.70 mm, female adult 21.46${\pm}$0.45 mm) is larger in body length than E. orientalis (male adult 13.92${\pm}$0.04 mm, female adult 15.27 ${\pm}$ 0.48 mm), and can be distinguished by male genitalia, forewing markings, and stripes on the abdominal terga Vl-lX. The mature larvae of E. sachalinensis differ from those of E. orientalis in having a deeper and more divergent head frontal process. Their body size distributions and additional ecolegical findings are discussed.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.37 no.1 s.106
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• pp.106-111
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• 2004

Fecal coliform bacteria is one of the most common cause of water quality impairments in Virginia, USA. Instream concentrations of fecal coliform (FC) bacteria were routinely monitored to assess surface water quality of the Polecat Creek watershed. Median concentration in water samples collected from 1995 to 2000 ranged from 80 cfu/100 mL to t 70 cfu/100 mL, while geometric mean concentrations ranged from 81 cfu/100 mL to 141 cfu/100 mL. The dilution and deposition by Lake Caroline may cause to lower FC concentration at monitoring site QPB, as compared FC concentration at QPD. Higher in-stream FC concentration occurred during the summer period(June-August), and lower concentration typically occurred during the winter period (December-February). This is due to more cattle in streams, and greater survival and regrowth of FC bacteria under warmer condition. The findings of this study can be helpful in planning the water quality monitoring program to avoid the inaccurate assessment of water quality due to the timing of sample collection.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.37 no.1 s.106
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• pp.122-129
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• 2004

In an effort to develop the biomarker for monitoring the contamination of xenoestrogen in the freshwater environment of Korea, reverse transcription-polymerasechain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis of vitellogenin (VTG) gene expression was optimized in Hearisarsus Iaseo, Based on the homology of the VTG cDNA sequences between the common carp and zebra fish, a set of PCR primers for VTG mRNA amplification for H; labo was designed. VTG mRNA level in livers from female and male fishes was analyzed by RT-PCR following single injection of 17 beta estradiol($E_2$ 10 mg $kg^{-1}$ B.W.). As an internal control, beta actin mRNA was amplified. One us of total liver RNA was subjected to RT-PCR. In female the amount of PCR productof VfC gradually increased in the range from 16 to 34 cycles of amplification. On the contrary, in control male, PCR product first detected at 32 cycles of amplification and linearly increased up to 40 cycles of amplification. In $E_2$ injected male liver, the VTC mRNA level was similar to that in the female. Taken together, this result suggests that liver of male H. labo expresses minute amount of VTG mRNA which are2-l6 equivalent of female and that induction of VTG mRNA occurs in male liver after estrogen treatment. In conclusion, the optimized protocol for RT-PCR analysis of VTG mRNA expression in liver of male H. labo will provide the environmental monitoring method for the xenoestrogen contamination in the rivers in Korea.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.37 no.1 s.106
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• pp.70-77
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• 2004

In order to the epilithic diatom community and an assessment of water quality with diatom assemblage index of organic water pollution (DAlpo) in the middle reaches of the Nakdong River, the samples were collected from nine sampling stations on May, July, September, November, 2002 and on January 2003. A total 162 taxa was identified from this study, which were classified into 139 species and 23 varieties belonging to 33 genera. Achnanthes minutissima, Navicula subminuscula, Navicula viridula var. rostellata, Nitzschia inconspicua and Nitzschia palea indentified in every stations and examination for the whole periods. A total of 12 taxa was dominant species at any station at least one more times. In this study, average DAlpo was 30.90 ${\sim}$ 44.61 and the saprobic level was estimated ${\beta}$-mesosaprobic in the middle reaches of the Nakdong River.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.193-200
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• 2007

The objective of this study was to estimate uncertainty of online TOC analyzer in water quality monitoring system. A procedure for the estimation of measurement uncertainty of total organic compounds (TOC) based on the ISO approach is presented. It is based on a mathematical model that involves 4 input parameters (standardization, sensitivity, solute effect and representativeness). In this study, a major problem in estimating the uncertainty of online TOC analyzer was the solute effect. It was strongly depends on organic materials. So homogeneity of the sample is the most important consideration. Modified concentration and combined standard uncertainty was $4.71{\pm}0.36$ mg $L^{-1}$ by model modified in this study.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.143-148
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• 2007

The introduced exotic species has often caused severe problems to the native ecosystem. One of such species is the freshwater fish gengorobuna (Carassius cuvieri) introduced from Japan. The first step to assess harmful effects of this species on the Korean freshwater ecosystem is to discriminate it from the most similar native crucian carp (Carassius auratus). Because traditional morphological identification often gives unreliable results due to their highly similar phenotype, a new more efficient method is needed. For this purpose, molecular markers produced by the efficient one-step PCR method using three primers (DDF, DDR and DDR1) were developed and tested in the present study. This molecular marker will play an important role in monitoring fish community of Korean freshwater ecosystem.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.40-49
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• 2007

For effective watershed management, we must understand the complex and dynamic relationships of land uses and water quality. Despite numerous studies investigated the relationships between water quality and land use, there are increasing concerns on the geographical variation and lack of spatial integrations in previous studies. We investigated the relationships between land use and water quality characteristics in the Hwa-Sung estuarine reservoir watershed in Korea, which has spatially integrated land uses. The spatial variations of these relationships were also examined using zonal analysis. Water quality parameter were correlated positively with residential and forest and negatively with paddy and upland especially during base flow in the near buffer zone. During storm flow, correlation between land use and water quality was less apparent. Population and livestock density was correlated well to water quality parameter than just number of population and livestock. Relationships across zones, distinguished by distances from streams, were inconsistent and erratic, suggesting that the relationships between remote land uses and water quality may be affected more significantly by sub-basin characteristics than by the land use itself. The watersheds studied are mainly non-urban and their land uses are similar to typical watershed of other estuarine reservoirs, therefore, the correlation developed in this study might be helpful to manage other watersheds of estuarine reservoir. This methodology could be applied to other areas where the watershed characteristics are not significantly different from the study area.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.490-498
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• 2012

This study demonstrates the investigation of zooplankton communities (e.g. rotifers, cladocerans and copepods) and environmentally related driving factors (e.g. elevation, area size, water depth, types of dike construction, and bottom substrates). We hypothesized that zooplankton community structure and composition would be influenced by ambient driving forces in different scales of the irrigation ponds (Dumbeong). A total of 66 zooplankton species/groups (56 rotifers, 9 cladocerans, 1 copepods) were found and identified at 45 Dumbeong of Goseong region (i.e. Goseong-gun) in 2011. The rotifers occupied 84.9% of the total zooplankton abundance. We could categorize a clear separation of zooplankton communities into 4 different patterns based on cluster analysis. Zooplankton diversities in Dumbeongs were lower than those in natural ponds or wetlands. In addition, community structure of zooplankton was also simpler and had a broken stick distribution based on SHE analysis. Species composition in each Dumbeong was not significantly discriminated each other. The result of canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) pinpointed that significant influential variables upon zooplankton community were dissolved oxygen percent saturation, pH, and Dumbeong's material. This study indicated that morphological type of the Dumbeong and its water quality could determine the community structure of zooplankton. Furthermore, the connectivity between ambient habitats and materials could be necessary to be rigorously considered in respect to producing the Dumbeongs to subsidize alternative habitats for wetland ecosystem in freshwater landscape.