• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.352-362
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• 2022

Photosynthesis and respiration of seagrasses are mainly controlled by water temperature. In this study, the photosynthetic physiology and respiratory changes of the Asian surfgrass Phyllospadix japonicus, which is mainly distributed on the eastern and southern coasts of Korea, were investigated in response to changing water temperature (5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30℃) by conducting mesocosm experiments. Photosynthetic parameters (maximum photosynthetic rate, P_max; compensation irradiance, I_c; and saturation irradiance, I_k) and respiration rate of surfgrass increased with rising water temperature, whereas photosynthetic efficiency (α) was fairly constant among the water temperature conditions. The P_max and I_k dramatically decreased under the highest water temperature condition (30℃), whereas the I_c and respiration rate increased continuously with the increasing water temperature. Ratios of maximum photosynthetic rates to respiration rates (P_max : R) were highest at 5℃ and declined markedly at higher temperatures with the lowest ratio at 30℃. The minimum requirement of H_sat (the daily period of irradiance-saturated photosynthesis) of P. japonicus was 2.5 hours at 5℃ and 10.6 hours at 30℃ for the positive carbon balance. Because longer H_sat was required for the positive carbon balance of P. japonicus under the increased water temperature, the rising water temperature should have negatively affected the growth, distribution, and survival of P. japonicus on the coast of Korea. Since the temperature in the temperate coastal waters is rising gradually due to global warming, the results of this study could provide insights into surfgrass responses to future severe sea warming and light attenuation.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.24-30
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• 2020

To assess the wetland systems' capability to reduce fine dust, we used an artificial wetland module of small-sized greenhouse (70cm W × 70cm L × 60cm H) which creates a closed system. Experiment was performed twice using four species in each experiment. Non-plantation, one species, or two species condition was created in each mesocosm. We measured air quality, primarily PM2.5 and PM10 at the initial open mesocosms and 1hr later since mesocosms were closed. The dry weight of vegetation was measured at the 2nd experiment. The decreased amount of PM2.5 and PM10 was 13.7±1.3 and 13.2±1.3 ㎍·m^-3hr^-1 in wetland condition and 15.0±1.4 and 13.8±1.5 ㎍·m^-3hr^-1 in dryland condition, respectively. In 2^nd experiment, the decreased amount of PM 2.5 and PM 10 in wetland condition was 13.7±1.3 and 9.2±1.5 ㎍·m^-3hr^-1, 15.0±1.4 and 8.8±1.4 ㎍·m^-3hr^-1 in dryland condition, respectively. Wetland showed higher removal effect due to its high productivity leading to more effective absorption of particulate matter. Furthermore, the aquatic characteristics of wetland system and high humidity helped purifying the air quality. This can be seen as another value of wetlands, which can be presented as one of the solutions to the problem of fine dust.