• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.254-263
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• 2007

The objective of this study was to evaluate biological water quality using fish assemblages in Nakdong River watershed. We selected 6 sites along the main axis of the river and evaluated the Index of Biological Integrity (IBI), Qualitative Habitat Evaluation Index (QHEI) and chemical water quality during July 2004${\sim}$March 2006. For the study, we applied the 10 metric IBI model, which was developed for national biological water quality criteria. Nakdong River's IBI value averaged 20.8 (n=14) during the study which means poor biological water quality. Physical habitat health at all sites, based on QHEI model, was measured as 110, indicating fair${\sim}$good condition. The habitat health varied depending on the locations sampled. Habitat health in sites 1 and 6 was judged as good, while the health in sites 3 and 4 was $poor{\sim}fair$. Especially, we found the metric values of $M1{\sim}M5$, M7, M10 were low in sites 3 and 4 compared to other sites. In these sites, thus, habitat restoration of substrate composition, riffles, and bank vegetation may be necessary. In the mean time, chemical water quality, based on BOD, COD, TSS, and nutrients, had no large spatial and temporal variations. Overall data analysis indicated that site 3 was largely impacted by the polluted-tributary, Keumho River and the downstreams showed better water quality due to the dilution of the polluted river water by Nam River and Hwang River.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.32-38
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• 2016

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of the natural river conservation work and to find remedies for them, targeting Jangsu-cheon with high frequency of use by citizens among the rivers in Incheon Metroplitan City, Korea; for this, this study conducted investigations and analyses of Jangsu-cheon completed in December, 2008. As a result of investigating 3 spots for the water system of Jangsu-cheon over a total of 3 years (2009, 2010, 2014), it was found that benthic macro-invertebrates of a total of 3 phyla, 5 classes, 11 orders, 26 families, 56 species, and 980 specimens were distributed there. When they were analyzed by year, 18 families and 30 species in 2009, right after the natural river conservation work, and 22 families and 37 species in 2010, 2 years after the work, were found, with 7 species increasing in number; after that, as a result of the investigation in 2014, 22 families and 38 species were found, which tells the river has entered the stabilization stage since the recovery in 2010.Therefore, this study could identify: the water environment of the river was improved due to the natural river conservation work for Jangsu-cheon; in addition, Jangsu-cheon showed good ecological environment due to the continuous maintenance of the good wetlands in Incheon Grand Park in the upper area of the river; and the natural river conservation work of Jangsu-cheon created positive effects.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.283-293
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• 2008

The objectives of the study were firstly to provide fundamental data for establishment of total maximum daily load (TMDL) management in Ulsan City, and secondly to make practical application of stream health assessment with tolerance range by each species when physiochemical and fish investigations were carried out together. A total of 44 sites in Taehwa River, Hoiya River, Dong Stream, and Cheongryang Stream were selected to monitor water qualities seasonally and fish investigation was performed in August 2006. Among the parameters of water quality, biological oxygen demand (BOD) and dissolved oxygen (DO) related to respiration, total nitrogen (T-N) and total phosphorus (T-P) related to nutrient and eutrophication, and total suspended solids (TSS) and $NH_4$-N were compared with vertical box plot by 8 dominant species. According to the fish investigation, 12 families 33 species were found including endangered species (Pungitius kaibarae) and introduced species (Lepomis macrochirus, Micropterus salmoides), and appearance rate of Korean endemic species was greater in Taehwa River (29.2%) than others. As the results of tolerance range by species, Zacco koreanus, Rhynchocypris oxycephalus, Iksookimia longicorpa, and Squalidus gracilis majimae had limited low range by water quality parameters indicating preference of good water quality. Whereas, Carassius auratus and Pseudorasbora parva were found downstream and urban-streams which were exposed from frequent inflow of pollutants. It concludes that the results help distinguishing sensitive, intermediate, and tolerant species when we evaluate stream health assessment with fish, and further making practical application for conservation and restoration of aquatic ecosystem.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.106 no.2
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• pp.130-149
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• 2017

The subalpine zone which is vulnerable to climate change could be functioning as a habitat for northern plant species especially in the Korean peninsula. In this study, classification of phytosociological community type and investigation on flora of vascular plants of Daecheongbong area in Mt. Seorak were carried out in order to provide a basic information for an ecological restoration and management of the vegetation through community ecological approach. Vegetation data were collected from 31 of quadrates from May to October, 2016. We analyzed vegetation types with phytosociological method, importance value with Curtis & McIntosh method, CCA using PC-ORD program tool, and flora of vascular plants. As a result, the forest vegetation was classified into Abies nephrolepis community. The community was divided 3 groups such as Pinus pumila group, Rhododendron brachycarpum group and Angelica decursiva group. Therefore, the vegetation had 3 kinds of units. The differential species group, it was classified into total of 7 species group units including Thuja koraiensis and Smilacina bicolor differential species group. The mean importance percentage (MIP) in VU 1 was shown Pinus koraiensis (24.1), A. nephrolepis (23.6) and Betula ermanii (10.5), and in VU 2, it was P. koraiensis (26.2), A. nephrolepis (20.8) and B. ermanii (10.5), and in VU 3, it was P. koraiensis (22.2), A. nephrolepis (16.4), B. ermanii (13.5) in the order, respectively. As for importance values of P. koraiensis and A. nephrolepis representative competition species, were different at each layers. The former (46.7) was higher than the latter (26.1) in tree layer, but the latter was higher than the former in subtree and, shrub and herb layers of VU 1. VU 2 and VU 3 also indicated the same tendency. P. pumila group and A. decursiva group were shown to have positive correlation with altitude and present species, respectively. The designated as the endemic plant was 11 taxa and, as the rare plant 24 taxa and 62.5% of vascular plant was northern plant species. It is necessary to continue further long-term monitoring of 3 vegetation units, IV of main competition species (P. koraiensis and A. nephrolepis) with stratum and main specific species (rare plants and endemic plants) considering vegetation science and, population and community ecology approaches.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2011

We investigated developmental stages of embryo and early life history of the Korean indigenous fish, the northern loach, Cobitis pacifica in 2009 in order to understand fundamental knowledges for conservation of this species. Eggs were obtained after hormones injections (LHRH-a, HCG) and were artificially fertilized by the dry method. The embryo was spherical, separative demersal, faint white, and averaged $1.09{\pm}0.04\;mm$ (n=20) in diameter. The hatching of the embryo took place in about 48 hours after fertilization under water temperature of $21.0{\sim}24.0^{\circ}C$ and the newly hatched larvae averaged $2.87{\pm}0.05\;mm$ (n=20) in total length (TL). Four days after hatching, the larvae grew up to $6.86{\pm}0.10\;mm$ (n=10) in TL and york sac absorption, mouth and anus opening were shown. Fourteen days after hatching, most of fin-rays appeared at $10.71{\pm}0.34\;mm$ (n=10) in TL and color spots on the body surface were attained. Twenty six days after hatching, the larvae grew up to $14.88{\pm}0.45\;mm$ (n=10) in TL, and all their fin-rays were formed. Therefore, according to current study regarding the morphological development of Cobitis pacidica, the conversion from larval to juvenile stages occurred at 26 days after hatching. Eighty days after hatching, the larvae were $33.3{\pm}1.25\;mm$ (n=10), and their body shape and color pattern were similar to adult fish. In this study, embryonic development and early life history of the northern loach, Cobitis pacifica show morphological characteristics of Cobitidae family. We expected that our results can be used as an fundamental knowledges for restoration study of indigenous fish species.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.39 no.2 s.116
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• pp.198-208
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• 2006

This research was to apply a multi-metric approach, so called the Index of Biological Integrity (IBI) as a tool for biological evaluations of water environments, to a wadable stream. For the study, we surveyed 5 sampling locations in Kap Stream during August 2004 ${\sim}$ September 2005. We also compared the biological data with long-term water quality data, obtained from the Ministry of Environment, Korea and physical habitat conditions based on the Quantitative Habitat Evaluation Index (QHEI). We used ten metric systems for the IBI model to evaluate biological stream health. Overall IBI values in Kap Stream averaged 24 (range: 20${\sim}$30, n=5), indicating a "fair ${\sim}$ poor" conditions according to the modified criteria of Karr (1981) and US EPA(1993). Exclusive of 4th survey, average IBI values at the upstream reach (S1 ${\sim}$ S3)and downstream reach (S4 ${\sim}$ S5) were 20 and 24, respectively. However, in 4th survey the averages were 21 and 20 in the upstream and downstream reaches, respectively. This difference was larger in the upstream than in the downstream because of physical condition disturbed during summer monsoon. Values of the QHEI varied from 75(fair condition) to 148 (good condition) and values of QHEI in the S3 were significantly (P=0.001, n=5) lower than other sites. Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) were greater by 3 ${\sim}$ 8 fold in the downstream than in the upstream reach. We believe that present IBI approach applied in this study may be used as a key tool to set up specific goals for restoration of Kap Stream.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.95-107
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• 2015

In order to identify long-term trends of water quality parameters in Lake Kyeongpo, Mann-Kendall test, Sen's slope estimator and linear regression were applied on data, with 15 parameters from three different sites and rainfall, monitored once in every two months from March to November during 1998~2013. Seasonal variation analysis only used Mann-Kendall test and Sen's slope estimator. Analysis result showed that salinity, transparency and nutrient variables (total phosphorus, dissolved inorganic phosphorus, total nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, ammonia nitrogen) were only parameters having statistically significant trend. In linear regression analysis, salinity (surface and bottom layer of all sites) and transparency (only at site 1), were figured out with statistically significant increasing trend, while in non-parametric statistical method, salinity and transparency in all sites (surface, middle, deep) were figured out with statistically significant increasing trend. Water quality parameters showing statistically significant decreasing trends were dissolved oxygen (surface layer of site 1 and bottom layer of sites 2 and 3), total phosphorus (sites 1 and 2), dissolved inorganic phosphorus, total nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen and ammonia nitrogen in the linear regression analysis and, dissolved oxygen (bottom layer of all sites), total phosphorus, dissolved inorganic phosphorus, total nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen and ammonia nitrogen in the non-parametric method. Seasonal trend analysis result showed that salinity, turbidity, transparency and suspended solids in spring, salinity, transparency, nitrate nitrogen and suspended solids in summer and temperature, salinity, transparency and suspended solids in fall were the variables depending on the season with increasing trends. In general, rainfall during the research period showed decreasing trend. The significant reduction trends of nutrients in Lake Kyeongpo were believed to be related to lagoon restoration and water management project run by Gangneung city and under-water wear removal, but further detailed studies are needed to know the exact causes.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.110 no.3
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• pp.341-354
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• 2021

A large part of Gapyeong is occupied by Korean pine (Pinus koraiensis) and Japanese larch (Larix kaempferi) plantations. Abies holophylla stands are scattered throughout Gapyeong, but little information on their distribution is available. This study explored the potential of succession from planted species to native A. holophylla in plantations. Trees were inventoried and regeneration of A. holoplhylla and stand management history were examined in Korean pine, Japanese larch, and A. holophylla-dominated stands. The importance percentage of A. holophylla was the highest among species with a range of 36.1% to 79.1% in all stands and the density of A. holophylla in understory (DBH <2 cm or <1.3 m height) ranged from 50 to 5,820 trees ha^-1. Non-metric multidimensional scaling classified stands into four types, AN, AP, AM, and P. The AN type showed a reverse J-shape DBH distribution, which was similar to that in natural A. holophylla stands. Both AP and AM types included Korean pine plantations with A. holophylla seed trees within stands. For AP, A. holophylla competed with planted species in overstory and deciduous broadleaved species in understory. The AM type was once thinned from below, thus stem density in the mid DBH classes was lower than upper or lower DBH classes. The P type consisted of plantations without A. holophylla seed trees. However, understory regeneration of A. holophylla was abundant through seed supply from A. holophylla in adjacent stands. Plantations with A. holophylla seed trees within or in adjacent stands showed vigorous natural regeneration of A. holophylla, highlighting the potential for succession from planted species to native A. holophylla in the Gapyeong area. Further studies can help develop techniques to restore plantations to native species-dominated natural stands using ecological succession.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.49-60
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• 2021

We examined the flow characteristics by direct runoff and base flow in a headwater stream during observed 59 rainfall events of flood season (June~September) from 2017 to 2020 yrs. Total precipitation ranged from 5.0 to 400.8 mm, total runoff ranged from 0.1 to 176.5 mm, and runoff ratio ranged from 0.1 to 242.9% during the rainfall events. From hydrograph separation, flow duration in base flow (139.3 days) was tended to be longer than direct runoff (78.3 days), while the contribution of direct runoff in total runoff (54.2%) was greater than base flow (45.8%). The total amount and peak flow of direct runoff and base flow had the highest correlation (p<0.05) with total precipitation and duration of rain among rainfall and soil moisture conditions. Dominant rainfall events for the total amount and peak flow of base flow were generated under 5.0~200.4 and 10.5~110.5 mm in total precipitation. However, when direct runoff occurred as dominant rainfall events, total amount and peak flow were increased by 267.4~400.8 and 169.0~400.8 mm in total precipitation. Therefore, the unique aspects of our study design permitted us to draw inferences about flow characteristic analysis with the contribution of base flow and/or direct runoff in the total runoff in a headwater stream. Furthermore, it will be useful for the long-term strategy of effective water management for integrated surface-groundwater in the forested headwater stream.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.733-743
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• 2020

We estimated the carbon storage of coal mines reclaimed using Betula platyphylla (BP), Pinus koraiensis (PK), and Pinus spp. (PS, Pinus densiflora, Pinus rigida, and Pinus thunbergii). The carbon storage of tree biomass (TB), forest floor(FF), mineral soil (MS), and the total forest were quantified. Reclaimed sites were located in Gangwon-do, Gyeongsangbuk-do, and Jeollanam-do; reclamation was conducted at various times in each region. The carbon storage (ton C ha^-1) in FF (BP: 3.31±0.59, PK: 3.60±0.93, PS: 4.65±0.92), MS (BP: 28.62±2.86, PK: 22.26±5.72, PS: 19.95±3.90), and the total forest(BP: 54.81±7.22, PK: 47.29±8.97, PS: 45.50±6.31) were lower than that of natural forests (NF). The carbon storage in TB was lower in BP (22.57±6.18) compared to NF, while those in PK(21.17±8.76) and PS (20.80±6.40) were higher than in NF. While there were no significant differences in the carbon storage of TB, FF, and the total forest among tree species, results from MS showed a significant difference among species. TB and the total forest carbon storages in all sites increased after reclamation. Soil pH and cation exchange capacity values in BP and PS were lower than in NF. Amounts of labile carbon, available phosphate, and microbial biomass carbon in reclaimed sites were less than half of NF. There are a number of methods that could increase the reclamation efficiency. Applications of lime or organic fertilizers, as well as tillage operations, may improve soil properties in reclaimed coal mines. Additionally, pruning and thinning would increase tree growth thereby increasing carbon storage.