• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.287-295
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• 2015

Akinete germination potential and algal growth potential (AGP) using Anabaena circinalis were investigated September 2014 and March 2015 at the three sites (PD-1, PD-2 and PD-3) of Lake Paldang. Nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations were higher at PD-2 than at PD-1 and PD-3. TSI (TN) values at the three field sites were in the range of 65~85, which were the level of eutrophic or hypereutrophic state. TSI (TP) also showed high values (49~68), which were the level of mesotrophic or eutrophic state. Akinete germination potential was higher at PD-2 with increased nutrient (nitrogen and phosphorus), and algal growth potential also increased with nutrient enrichment.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.385-395
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• 2011

The adjustment processes and responses of a series of mining pits by sand or gravel mining were investigated by laboratory experiments. The filling processes of the two pits were affected by the bars developed in the upstream of the channel. However, the bars were not developed and the bed was degradated in the downstream of the pits due to little sediment flow, which was trapped in the pits. The submerged angle of repose in the pits was nearly constant when the pits were being filled. After the filling processes of the pits were finished, the pit was speedily filled with sediment, and the bed was aggradated and migrated with speed. However, the angle of repose decreased. As the distance between the upstream pit and the downstream pit increased, the bed of the pit downstream was tailcutted and degradated. The migration speed of the pit decreased. However, the dimensionless pit depth increased as the distance between the pits increased. The dimensionless pit depth increased with time.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.364-372
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• 2011

The pale chub (Zacco platypus) is generally found in Asian countries, such as Korea, Japan, and China. Nevertheless, very little information exists about the genes involved in the metabolism of xenobiotics in this species. This species is useful in monitoring the environmental impact on various pollutants in freshwater as a sentinel fish species. We cloned the full-length cDNA sequence of xenobiotic metabolizing cytochrome P450 1A (CYP1A) gene from Z. platypus and characterized it. Tissue distribution and timedependent induction of CYP1A were studied by real-time RT-PCR. Induction pattern of CYP1A was studied by exposing the fish to an arylhydrocarbon receptor agonist, ${\beta}$-naphthoflavone (BNF). The liver showed the highest level of expression in basal state as well as BNF- treated fish. However, appreciable levels of expression were also recorded in Gill and kidney and the least level of expression was observed in the eye. The results of the time-course study revealed an induction in the liver, brain, and gills after 6 h and 12 h in most of the tissues. This study provides an insight into the xenobiotics metabolizing system of Z. platypus and offers baseline information for further research related to biomarker, stress, and adaptive response of this ecologically important fish species in the freshwater environment.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.374-381
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• 2009

Ecological instream flow was quantitatively calculated based on the river characteristics and fish habitat in the downstream of Yongdam Reservoir. The river bed and width did not change from 1988 before the am construction to 2004 after the dam construction, but the bed sediment size was attenuated a little in 2004. According to result that investigate fishes, 4 family 11 species including Acheilognathus koreensis were collected. Among them, Zacceo koreanus of cyprinidae was dominant, and Coreoleuciscus splendidus did sub-dominant. The habitat suitability indexes were estimated for two fish species Zacco koreanus and Coreoleuciscus splendidus using Physical Habitat Simulation System (PHABSIM) considering the river characteristics. In Gamdong and Daeti sites, the optimal ecological flow for Z. koreanus and C. splendidus were $13.90\sim12.60\;m^3\;s^{-1}$ and $15.50\sim11.60\;m^3\;s^{-1}$, respectively. In contrast, the optimal flow for the two species in Bunam site were $7.00\;m^3\;s^{-1}$. The ecological instream flow in the downstream of Yongdam Reservoir was between normal and high flow rate.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.303-316
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• 2009

Benthic macroinvertebrate communities collected from eight different streams in South Korea were analyzed to compare community and biological indices across different levels of water pollution. The Self-Organizing Map (SOM) was utilized to provide overview on association of the proposed indices. The sample sites were accordingly clustered according to the gradient of pollution on the SOM. While the general trends of the indices were commonly observable according to different levels of pollution, the detailed differences among the indices were also illustrated on the SOM. The conventional diversity and evenness indices tended to be high even though the water quality state was poor representing relatively weak gradient at polluted sites, while the index presenting the saprobic degree such as family biotic index showed the stronger gradient at the polluted area and was robust to present the gradient. Our results also confirmed the general characterization of two indices: The Shannon index is more strengthened by the number of species occurring at the sample sites, while the Simpson index is more influenced by the degree of evenness among the species. The patterning based on the SOM was efficient in comparatively characterizing the proposed indices to present ecological states and water quality.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.394-403
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• 2009

The fish fauna and community structures were investigated at 15 stations in the midupper region of the Seomjin River watershed from August in 2008 to April in 2009. During the studying period, 42 species belonging to 11 families were collected. Dominant family in the all sites was Cyprinidae (28 species, relative abundance: 66.7%) during the study. Total of 42 species (primary freshwater: 40 species, peripheral freshwater: 2 species) were found with the primary freshwater fishes being the highest. Dominant species was Zacco platypus (22.3%), and subdominant species was Coreoferea herzi (10.8%). Also, Pseudogobio esocinus (9.0%) and Carassius auratus (5.8%) were numerous. There were 17 Korean endemic species (40.5%), including Rhodeus ocellatus, Acheilgnathus koreensis, A. somjinensis, Coreoleuciscus splendidus and Sarcocheillichthys variegatus wakiyae. Among them, Acheilgnathus somjinensis was identified for designation required to protect under a wildlife category. In conclusion, we could define that the Seomjin River watershed has a very good water conditions as habitat of fish.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.319-331
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• 2013

Recent climate change, which is mostly ascribed to anthropogenic activities, is believed to be a major factor leading to biodiversity decreases and ecosystem service deteriorations. I have reviewed recent studies on climate change effects for many ecological processes involved with plants, in order to improve our understanding of the nature of ecological complexity. Plants in general have better growth and productivity under high levels of $CO_2$, although the long term effects of such $CO_2$ fertilizers are still controversial. Over the last 30 years, the Earth has been greening, particularly at higher latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere, perhaps due to a relaxation of climatic constraints. Human appropriation of net primary productivity (NPP), which corresponds up to 1/3 of global NPP, is ultimately responsible for climate change and biodiversity decreases. Climate change causes phenological variations in plants, especially in regards to spring flowering and fall leaf coloring. Many plants migrate polewards and towards higher altitudes to seek more appropriate climates. On the other hand, tree mortality and population declines have recently been reported in many continents. Landscape disturbance not only hinders the plant migration, but also makes it difficult to predict the plants' potential habitats. Plant and animal population declines, as well as local extinctions, are largely due to the disruption of species interactions through temporal mismatching. Temperature and $CO_2$ increase rates in Korea are higher than global means. The degree of landscape disturbances is also relatively high. Furthermore, long-term data on individual species responses and species interactions are lacking or quite limited in Korea. This review emphasizes the complex nature of species responses to climate change at both global and local scales. In order to keep pace with the direction and speed of climate change, it is urgently necessary to observe and analyze the patterns of phenology, migration, and trophic interactions of plants and animals in Korea's landscape.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.96-104
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• 2018

Stable isotope approach for aquatic ecology and environmental sciences has been introduced as very useful technique since 1980s and also has been applied to investigate various issues in aquatic ecology and environmental study last 10 years in Korea. Especially carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios have been mainly used to understand food web energy flow and ecosystem structure. In addition, nitrogen isotope ratio has been applied for nitrogen cycle and source identification as well as biomagnification studies. However, large temporal or spatial variations of nitrogen isotope ratio of primary producer have been found in many aquatic environments, and it is regarded as the critical problems to determine trophic level of aquatic animals. Recently, the compound specific isotope analysis of nitrogen within individual amino acids has been developed as an alternative method for trophic ecology. This article introduces the progress history of stable isotope application in aquatic ecology and environmental sciences, and also suggests new direction based on future prospects in stable isotope ecology and environmental study.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.470-477
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• 2017

The aims of this study were to analyze the physico-chemical factors and the characteristics of epilithic diatom community from 15 sites of the Naeseongcheon and tributaries located in the upper region of the Nakdong river from May to October 2016. The biological water quality was assessed using DAIpo and TDI. A total of 163 diatom taxa were identified with 2 orders, 3 suborders, 9 families, 35 genera, 145 species, 16 varieties and 2 forms. Cocconeis placentula var. lineata appeared at every examined sites. Achnanthes lanceolata, Nitzschia fonticola, Nitzschia inconspicua and Reimeria sinuata were common taxa of the Naeseongcheon. Nitzschia inconspicua and Achnanthes minutissima were major dominant species. As a result of the CCA, Electrical conductivity and total nitrogen concentration were important factors determining the diatom species composition. In the result of the biological assessment using DAIpo, the Naeseongcheon was rated at class B with an average of 62.38. In the result of assessment using TDI, the Naeseongcheon was rated at class C with an average of 66.12.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.478-482
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• 2017

In order to identify key nations and bird species of conservation concern we described multinational collaborations as defined using network analysis linked by birds that are found in all nations in the network. We used network analysis to assess the patterns in bird occurrence for 10,422 bird inventories from 244 countries and territories. Nations that are important in multinational collaborations for bird conservation were assessed using the centrality measures, closeness and betweenness centrality. Countries important for the multinational collaboration of bird conservation were examined based on their centrality measures, which included closeness and betweenness centralities. Comparatively, the co-occurrence network was divided into four groups that reveal different biogeographical structures. A group with higher closeness centrality included countries in southern Africa and had the potential to affect species in many other countries. Birds in countries in Asia, Australia and the South Pacific that are important to the cohesiveness of the global network had a higher score of betweenness centrality. Countries that had higher numbers of bird species and more extensively distributed bird species had higher centrality scores; in these countries, birds may act as excellent indicators of trends in the co-occurrence bird network. For effective bird conservation in the world, much stronger coordination among countries is required. Bird co-occurrence patterns can provide a suitable and powerful framework for understanding the complexity of co-occurrence patterns and consequences for multinational collaborations on bird conservation.