• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.251-264
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• 2013

There are some factors affecting the shorebirds in selecting a coastal inland roost site where they have to stay during the high tide when the entire intertidal zone is covered with water. We investigated eight species (Eastern Curlews Numenius madagascariensis, Green Shanks Tringa nebularia, Bar-tailed Godwits Limosa lapponica, Grey Plovers Pluvialis squatarola, Dunlins Calidris alpine, Whimbrels Numenius phaeopus, Eurasian Curlews Numenius arquata and Terek Sandpipers Xenus cinereus) to identify the spatial and temporal variability in coastal inland roost use in the area and the factors influencing the use. We considered the area and length of the standing water in the roost site, temperature, wind speed, the time of migration and the intensity of disturbance. As a result, number of individuals and type of species using the roost site varied across spatial and temporal scales. And the factors affecting the roost use was species-specific. The roost site of the study area was a closed shrimp farm however, it has been converted to a Salicornia herbacea, a salt marsh plant, farm recently. In a situation where coastal inland roost site is needed, we hereby describe a resolution for the juxtaposition of shorebirds and farming.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.52-62
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• 2008

By analyzing specific plant distributions and physicochemical characteristics of topsoil in a reclaimed dredging area, baseline data was found of natural landscape planting sites, and developing dredged fill ground. The reclaimed dredging area is five different stands (1, 2, 3, 4 and 5) which were examined in this research. They are located from sea level to 15 meters in altitude and exhibited typical characteristics of the salt marsh in Gwangyang Bay. Species with high constancy in the vegetation on the reclaimed soil were classified into four stages. A total of 12, 15, 22, 27 and 35 different plant species were found and also increased in stands 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, respectively. Moving from stand 1 to 5, halophytes decreased and non-halophytes increased. Desalination at each stage of the reclaimed dredging area was a driving force affecting the performance and distribution of halophytes and non-halophytes. Overall, 35 quadrats of soil were selected and analyzed for specific physicochemical characteristics of topsoil between O${\sim}$20cm. Results of the physicochemical analysis such as altitude, slope, vegetation and kind of reclaimed dredging soil, exhibited irregular increases or decreases. As survey areas moved from stand 1 to 4, desalination areas, soil acidity, electric conductions, content of salinity, available phosphorus, potassium, chlorine, calcium, and magnesium indicated decreasing patterns; however, total nitrogen, silt, and clay content increased. Cluster analysis and PCA by environmental data within the stands clearly showed five distinct vegetation patterns on the tested reclaimed area. These results indicate that the differences of performance and distribution of vegetation are due to the SAR in the reclaimed soil and related to the natural survival strategy at the given hostile habitat.

• Journal of the Korean Geographical Society
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.321-338
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• 2014

This study aims to identify spatial distribution of estuarine wetlands in Korea, and to assess temporal variation of the wetlands in the last few decades. Widely known in environmental and coastal management, watershed-based regions which composed with Han-river(western and eastern parts), Keum-river, Yeoungsan-river, Seomjin-river, Nakdong-river, and Jeju, are analyzed to evaluate temporal change of estuarine wetlands in the 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s, through the land-cover map. Results show that estuarine wetlands dramatically decreased in Han-river(western part), Keum-river, Yeoungsan-river that estuarine circulation have been interrupted with man-made structures such as dyke and drainage. But, estuarine wetlands surrounded by forests and grasslands has been relatively less damaged. Habitat diversity providing healthy estuary ecosystem is lower in interrupted estuaries than circulated estuaries, which are composed of tidal-flat, open water, salt marsh, rocky coasts and sandy shoreline. This study indicates that spatial distribution and temporal variation of estuarine wetlands are different with estuary type and region, so estuary type with seven regions can be applied to provides a framework for estuary management strategies and to establish estuary restoration plans.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.196-203
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• 2004

To understand the geochemical processes in the Han River Estuary, distributions and behaviors of nutrients, dissolved organic matters, and uranium were investigated and analyzed during estuarine tidal mixing in June 2000 and February 2001. The distribution of inorganic nutrients showed very dynamic distributional patterns implying an apparent nitrification process and a concave non-conservative mixing along the salinity gradient. Dissolved organic carbon was high in the upstream region and decreased sharply in the low salinity region of around 5 psu. The 3-D fluorescence characteristic of dissolved organic matter showed two distinct fluorophores in the study area. Biomacromolecules originated mainly from the indigenous biochemical processes and geomacromolecules from terrestrial humic materials. In the study area, the distribution of geomacromolecule showed a concave non-conservative property along the salinity gradient presumably due to the flocculation and removal processes in the estuary. Meanwhile, distribution of the dissolved uranium, mainly in the form of stable uranium carbonate complex, also showed a concave non-conservative property along the salinity gradient in the Han River Estuary. From this study, the removal rate of dissolved uranium in the Han River Estuary was estimated to be about 7.1 ton per year.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.161-168
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• 2007

Salicornia herbacea L. (Chenopodiaceae: S. herbacea) is a salt marsh plant, which has long been prescribed in traditional medicines for the treatment of intestinal ailments, nephropathy, and hepatitis in Oriental countries. In order to elucidate the mechanisms of this herb, we conducted an anti-oxidative activity, the inhibition of nitric oxide (NO) production, and the suppression of the pro-inflammatory cytokine genes, with the solvent-extracts of S. herbacea. We found that both ethyl acetate and n-butanol tractions showed potent anti-oxidative effects in comparison to other fractions using xanthine oxidase assay with $IC_{50}$ values of $66.0{\pm}0.5\;{\mu}g/ml$ and $82.5{\pm}3.8\;{\mu}g/ml$, respectively. In addition, both ethyl acetate and n-butanol fractions showed more electron donating activity (EDA) than other tractions, according to DPPH (2, 2-Diphenyl-lpicrylhydrazyl radical) assay. The EDA of ethyl acetate fraction ($IC_{50}$ values of $117.5{\pm}3.8\;{\mu}g/ml$) is more significant than that of n-butanol fraction ($IC_{50}$ values of $375.0{\pm}12.5\;{\mu}g/ml$). Among potential anti-oxidative tractions, ethyl acetate traction dose-dependently suppressed lipopolysaccharide (LPS, $0.1\;{\mu}g/ml$)-induced nitric oxide (NO) production in RAW264.7 cell, while n-butanol did not. As expected, ethyl acetate fraction suppressed the expression of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) in RAW264.7 cell stimulated by $0.1\;{\mu}g/ml$ of LPS. Moreover, the ethyl acetate traction suppressed the expression of interleukin-1 $(IL)-1{\beta}$ and granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) mRNA in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. Therefore, these results suggest that S. herbacea may have anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory activities by modulating radical-induced toxicity and various pro-inflammatory responses.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.117-132
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• 2004

Despite its significance in understanding ecological structure and biogeochemical element cycles, there have been few studies on the microbial mineralization of organic matter and mineralization pathway in the intertidal flat of Korea. We measured anaerobic mineralization of organic matter and sulfate reduction rate, and evaluated the significance of sulfate reduction in total anaerobic carbon respiration at the southern part of Ganghwa Island. Depth-integrated carbon mineralization rate down to 6 cm depth ranged from 41.9 to $89.4mmol\;m^{-2}d^{-1}$, which accounted for approximately 216 tons of organic matter mineralization in entire intertidal flat area of Ganghwa($300km^2$). The results indicated that capacity for the organic matter mineralization in the Ganghwa tidal flat is comparable to highly productive salt marsh environments. Mineralization rates in the sediment amended with acetate were 2~5 times higher than in unamended sediment. The results implied that microbial mineralization was limited by the availability of organic substrates, and the organic matter mineralization capacity seems to be higher than estimated at ambient organic substrate level. Depth-integrated sulfate reduction rates within 6 cm depth of the sediment ranged from 20.7 to $45.1mmol\;SO{_4}^{2-}m^{-2}d^{-1}$, and sulfate reduction was mostly responsible for organic matter remineralization. It should be noticed that the increase of $H_2S$ in the sulfate reduction dominated tidal flat may result in the decrease of biological diversity.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.189-196
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• 2015

Bacterial diversity was studied in the rhizosphere of Suaeda japonica Makino, which is native to Suncheon Bay in South Korea. Soil samples from several sites were diluted serially, and pure isolation was performed by subculture using marine agar and tryptic soy agar media. Genomic DNA was extracted from 29 pure, isolated bacterial strains, after which their 16S rDNA sequences were amplified and analyzed. Phylogenetic analysis was performed to confirm their genetic relationship. The 29 bacterial strains were classified into five groups: phylum Firmicutes (44.8%), Gamma proteobacteria group (27.6%), Alpha proteobacteria group (10.3%), phylum Bacteriodetes (10.3%), and phylum Actinobacteria (6.8%). The most widely distributed genera were Bacillus (phylum Firmicutes), and Marinobacterium, Halomonas, and Vibrio (Gamma proteobacteria group). To confirm the bacterial diversity in rhizospheres of S. japonica, the diversity index was used at the genus level. The results show that bacterial diversity differed at each of the sampling sites. These 29 bacterial strains are thought to play a major role in material cycling at Suncheon Bay, in overcoming the sea/mud flat-specific environmental stress. Furthermore, some strains are assumed to be involved in a positive interaction with the halophyte S. japonica, as rhizospheric flora, with induction of growth promotion and plant defense mechanism.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.27 no.6 s.122
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• pp.355-361
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• 2004

In order to elucidate the ecophysiological characteristics of coastal plants, we collected them on salt marsh and sand dune, and analyzed inorganic ($Na^+,\;K^+,\;Mg^{2+},\;Ca^{2+}$) and organic solutes (soluble carbohydrate, glycine betaine). Chenopodiaceous plant species (Atriplex gmelini, Salicornia europaea, Salsola collina, Suaeda glauca, Suaeda japonica) showed a tendency to accumulate inorganic ions such as $Na^+\;and\;Cl^-$ instead of $K^+$. However, Chenopodium serotinum which lives in ruderal habitat contained more $K^+$ and less $Na^+$ than the other Chenopodiaceous plants. Most Chenopodiaceous plant species maintained very low level of soluble $Ca^{2+}$ and relatively low concentration of carbohydrates and showed high concentration of glycine betaine which is among the most effective known compatible solutes in the leaves of plant under drought and saline conditions. On the other hand, plant species which belong to Gramineae (Ishaemum anthephoroides, Phragmites communis, Zoysia sinica) and Cyperaceae (Carex kobomugi, Carex pumila) absorbed $K^+$ selectively and excluded $Na^+\;and\;Cl^-$ effectively regardless of habitat conditions, and they accumulated more soluble carbohydrate as osmoticum than Chenopodiaceous plants. These results suggested that physiological characteristics such as high storage capacity for inorganic ions (especially alkali cations, chloride) and the accumulation of glycine betaine in chenopodiaceous plants and $K^+$-preponderance, an efficient regulation of ionic uptake (exclusion of $Na^+\;and\;Cl^-$) and the accumulation of soluble carbohydrate in monocotyledonous plants enable them to grow dry and saline habitats.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.573-580
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• 2006

A sediment core from the Cheollipo arboretum ($36^{\circ}$ 47' 57'N, $126^{\circ}$ 09' 04') was studied for pollen analysis in order to reconstruct postglacial vegetational change and environmental changes around the central western region of the Korean Peninsula. The record shows four pollen assemblage zones: Zone CHL-I, Quercus stage (ca. 9,300$\sim$6,200 yr BP): zone CHL-II, Quercus-Pinus stage (ca. 6,200$\sim$4,600 yr BP); zone CHL- III, Pinus-Quercus stage (ca. 4,600$\sim$1,160 yr BP): zone CHL-IV and Pinus stage (ca. 1,160 yr BP-present). During the 9,300$\sim$8,500 yr BP, the early Holocene, researchers have guessed a piece of cool-temperate norihern/altimontane mixed coniferous and deciduous broad-leaved forest. Between 8,500$\sim$4,600 yr BP the Quercus dominated the landscape of study area and the established dates of this typical cool-temperate central/montane deciduous broad-leaved forest vegetation might be ca. 6500 yr BP, and then the Pinus developed around the site at ca. 5,700 yr BP. The abrupt increase of Pinus and NAP (non-arboreal pollen) after ca. 1,100 yr BP indicates the vegetation changes due to human activities. From the dynamics of the Chenopodiaceae pollen indicating salt marsh and freshwater pollen flora such as Typha, Trapa, Nymphoides and so forth, we suggest that the tidal flat was altered into freshwater lake around 6,500 yr BP.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Marine Environment & Energy
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.3-15
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• 2003

Recently more than 450 incidents of oil spill a year have occurred in nearshore of Korea, which caused unmeasurelable losses in fisheries and severe damage in marine ecosystem. Two approaches remain paramount in any response to marine oil spill : the enhancement of natural dispersion of the oil by using dispersants, and mechanical recovery using booms and skimmers. A technique currently receiving fresh attention is the enhancement of the natural bioremediation of oil through the application of micro-organisms and/or nutrient. Oil, like many natural substances, will biodegrade over a period of time into simple compounds such as carbon dioxide, water and biomass. Bioremediation is the term used to describe a range of processes which can be used to accelerate natural biodegradation. More specifically biostimulation is the application of nutrients, and bioaugremetation or seeding is the addition of microbes specially selected to degrade oil. Bioremediation is an economically attractive method for the clean-up of oil-contaminated area. Bioremediation has been demonstrated to be an effective oil spill countermeasure for use in cobble, sand beach, salt marsh, and mud flat environment.