• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.39
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• pp.39-58
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• 2006

This study reviews recent shell midden studies in Korea. With more interest in biological materials, recent shell midden studies have attempted to reconstruct palaeoenvironment, and understand subsistence economy, the formation processes and function of sites and past culture. Especially, one of the major topics in prehistoric Korean shell midden studies is the transitional process from hunter-gatherer to farmer. To solve these questions related with shell middens, new sampling strategies and excavation techniques have been adopted. Analytical methods combined with scientifical technologies also have been introduced to shell middle studies. These methods indude stable isotope analyses(Oxygen isotope and Carbon and Nitrogen isotope analyses) and growth-line analysis, etc.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.319-326
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• 2014

Fish community was investigated in eutrophic Jeondae agricultural reservoir from April to November 2012. The food web structure of major fish species of Jeondae reservoir showed that due to serious organic pollution, the hyper-eutrophic condition with high chemical oxygen demand (COD), chlorophyll-a (Chl-a), total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP), as estimated by stable isotope analysis. Total of 679 individuals were collected from the reservoir, and 9 species were identified. Interestingly, Lepomis macrochirus and Hemiculter eigenmanni known as less sensitive to pollution and water quality deterioration, dominated the reservoir, and their relative abundances were 38% and 27%, respectively. Further, the analysis of the stomach contents revealed that main food source of dominant L. macrochirus was high amount of zooplankton, which includes copepoda and cladocera, while Cyprinidae species mainly consumed organic particles with zooplankton preys. Stable isotope analysis also suggested that L. macrochirus, Carassiusauratus, Pseudorasboraparva, and H. eigenmanni are major zooplantivorous group in the Jeondae Reservoir.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.19 no.4 s.50
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• pp.383-392
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• 2006

Calcium carbonate stone deterioration has been intensified in urban area, mainly due to the action of atmospheric pollutant. Samples from the black surface layer were examined under petrographic and scanning electron microscope, coupled with energy dispersive X-ray analyser X-ray fluorescence and X-ray diffraction analysis was also carried out for chemical composition and mineral phase analysis, respectively. Moreover, sulphur isotope ratio was measured, in order to identify the origin of sulphate compounds in the black surface layer. Optical and electronic petrographic analysis indicated that gypsum and Quartz were contained in the black surface layer and led to microcracks. Microstructure and chemical composition analysis showed that the interface between black layer and original stone is not black but its characteristic is similar to black layer The results indicated that during deterioration process the black layer can be expanded gradually into the interface by adsorption of atmospheric pollutants. The sulphur isotope analysis demonstrates that there are different origins of the sulphur component in black surface layer.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.66-70
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• 2018

Preliminary investigation and analysis of the effectiveness of controlling the number of ecosystem disturbance fishes residing in Togyo reservoir using the native carnivorous fish species were performed. The data were collected from August 2011 to November 2016. The release of native carnivorous fish species was carried out from the end of May, 2012 to the end of July, 2016, considering fishing ban period of Siniperca scherzeri. The comparative abundance of Lepomis macrochirus was found to be 12.8% in the first year and increased a little bit after releasing the native carnivorous fish. However, it decreased to 3.9% in the last year showing a value of less than 5%. On the other hand, the Micropterus salmoides populations tended to increase after the release of native carnivorous fish species. This seems to be the result of the segregation of habitat by interspecific competition with S. scherzeri. The M. salmoides moved from inside of the lake to edges, and to influent tributaries. Stable isotope analysis showed that Channa argus had the highest levels of nutrition, S. scherzeri and M. salmoides were in competition, and L. macrochirus was used as a feed source for released species. Changes of the fish community in the Togyo reservoir was represented by the rank abundance curves based on the results of the fish fauna. As a result, the fish group in incoming tributaries are somewhat disturbed after the release of the native carnivorous species. Similarly, the fish group in the reservoir were disturbed as well but it's gradually stabilizing afterwards. Therefore, the control of the ecosystem disturbance species using the native carnivorous fish of Korea is effective and helps to stabilize the fish community in the lake.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.55 no.1
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• pp.305-321
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• 2022

The stone chamber tomb in Eungpyeong-ri, Buyeo, is a joint tomb that contains the bodies of two individuals. This paper investigates the relationship between the buried persons and the characteristics of the stone chamber tomb. Based on the geographical location, relics, and the excavated human bones, it was determined that the tomb was built during the Sabi Period of the Baekje Dynasty and that the buried individuals were most probably residents of high stature or government officials. To study the excavated bones, the remains were carefully collected and conservation was carried out. Before collecting samples from the human bones for the analytical research, the results of near-infrared analysis were used to collect the samples for the isotope analysis and DNA analysis. The most important issue when handling the excavation site was the reinforcing agent and the concentration of the agent used. In situations like this, Paraloid B-72 is the most suitable agent. When the shape of human bones was difficult to distinguish from the soil, conservation was performed using X-ray and CT imaging data. The same chemical used for the reinforcement of the site was used to complete a minimum level of conservation to the surface areas where the conservation treatment of removing foreign substances, the reinforcement areas, and bonded areas were carried out. The collagen yield from the sample obtained at selected position was 3.8% to 6.1%. The results of analyzing the stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen found in the extracted collagen showed that the stable isotope ratios came out to δ¹³C -18.3‰±0.1‰, -19.0‰±0.1‰ for EBW and δ¹⁵N 10.7‰±0.5‰, 10.6‰±0.1‰ for EBE. It is believed the two individuals consumed small amounts of minor cereals, mainly from C₃ plants, and protein was obtained from eating terrestrial animals. What's more, the deviations in data obtained from the two individuals were so small that it could be inferred that the individuals ate similar foods. Considering the preservation state of the sample, amplifying DNA for the DNA analysis would have been very difficult since the amount of surviving DNA was so deficient. For DNA analysis, it is anticipated that the results could be derived by applying improved extraction methods that will be developed in the future. In this research, any association between scientific analysis(DNA and stable isotope ratio) and near-infrared spectroscopy was difficult to establish. Further research is needed on the utilization of near-infrared analysis for gathering samples from human bones.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.40-46
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• 2013

The isotope ratios of $^{13}C/^{12}C$ and $^{18}O/^{16}O$ for a sample in a mass spectrometer are measured relative to those of a pure $CO_2$ reference gas (i.e., laboratory working standard). Thus, the calibration of a laboratory working standard gas to the international isotope scales (Pee Dee Belemnite (PDB) for ${\delta}^{13}C$ and Vienna Standard Mean Ocean Water (V-SMOW) for ${\delta}^{18}O$) is essential for comparisons between data sets obtained by other groups on other mass spectrometers. However, one often finds difficulties in getting well-calibrated standard gases, because of their production time and high price. Additional difficulty is that fractionation processes can occur inside the gas cylinder most likely due to pressure drop in long-term use. Therefore, studies on laboratory production of pure $CO_2$ isotope standard gas from stable solid calcium carbonate standard materials, have been performed. For this study, we propose a method to extract pure $CO_2$ gas without isotope fractionation from a solid calcium carbonate material. The method is similar to that suggested by Coplen et al., (1983), but is better optimized particularly to make a large amount of pure $CO_2$ gas from calcium carbonate material. The $CaCO_3$ releases $CO_2$ in reaction with 100% pure phosphoric acid at $25^{\circ}C$ in a custom designed, evacuated reaction vessel. Here we introduce optimal procedure, reaction conditions, and samples/reactants size for calcium carbonate-phosphoric acid reaction and also provide the details for extracting, purifying and collecting $CO_2$ gas out of the reaction vessel. The measurements for ${\delta}^{18}O$ and ${\delta}^{13}C$ of $CO_2$ were performed at Seoul National University using a stable isotope ratio mass spectrometer (VG Isotech, SIRA Series II) operated in dual-inlet mode. The entire analysis precisions for ${\delta}^{18}O$ and ${\delta}^{13}C$ were evaluated based on the standard deviations of multiple measurements on 15 separate samples of purified $CO_2$. The pure $CO_2$ samples were taken from 100-mg aliquots of a solid calcium carbonate (Solenhofen-ori $CaCO_3$) during 8-day experimental period. The multiple measurements yielded the $1{\sigma}$ precisions of ${\pm}0.01$‰ for ${\delta}^{13}C$ and ${\pm}0.05$‰ for ${\delta}^{18}O$, comparable to the internal instrumental precisions of SIRA. Therefore, we conclude the method proposed in this study can serve as a way to produce an accurate secondary and/or laboratory $CO_2$ standard gas. We hope this study helps resolve difficulties in placing a laboratory working standard onto the international isotope scales and does make accurate comparisons with other data sets from other groups.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.623-633
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• 2007

Stable isotope and biomarker analyses were carried out for the organic sediments from the exploratory wells in the Jeju Basin in order to understand the characteristics of organic matter. Organic matter in Geobuk-1, Okdom-1, JDZ VII-1 and VII-2 well is predominantly originated from land plants rather than marine algae according to carbon $({\delta}^{13}C_{org})$ and nitrogen $({\delta}^{15}N_{org})$ isotopic compositions. In the Geobuk-1, geochemical characteristics such as carbon $({\delta}^{13}C_{org})$, nitrogen ($({\delta}^{15}N_{org})$ and TOC contents are obviously changed by the depth 2,400 m, which is likely due to the change of origin of organic matter, sedimentary process or sedimentary environments. Analysis of the saturated fraction of the bitumen suggests the contribution of migrated oil to the indigenous bitumen from the samples 2,509, 2,833 and 3,163 m of the JDZ YII-1 and 3,253 m of the Geobuk-1 well. However, this characteristics can be derived from the contribution of the original organic matter. Based on the biomarker analysis, the samples from the Okdom-1 and Geobuk-1 appear to represent sedimentary organic matter of similar composition, that is rotatively immature, and which was probably deposited in the fluvio-deltaic setting with minor offshore marine influence. The samples from JDZ VII-1 appear to have been deposited in a more terrestrially dominated setting.

• The Journal of the Petrological Society of Korea
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2001

A small of carbonate rocks and spatially-associated ultramafic rocks uniquely occur in the ulsan iron-serpentine mine of the sourtheastern Kyungsang basin. The study of field geology, core drilling data and stable isotope analysis suggest that the carbonate rocks are carbonatite formed from the melt reflecting intrusive natures. Based on this study, the geology of the Ulsan iron-serpentinite mining area consists of Cretaceous sedimentary, volcanic, granitic ultramafic and carbonate rocks in ascending order. The carbonate and ultramafic rocks show concentric and ellipsoidal shapes at the outcrop and a funnel shape in the cross sectional view. Carbon and oxygen stable isotope analysis show a bimodal pattern rather than a typical mantle pattern, which may indicate that the melt was a secondary melt generated within the crus not in the mantle directly. The uprising of ultramafic melts would have melted lime-contained rocks forming a secondary carbonate melt in the upper crus. Then, the intrusion of the ultramafic melts would have melted lime-contained rocks forming a secondary carbonate melt in the upper crust. Then, the intrusion of the ultramafic melt was followed by the intrusion of the carbonate melt along deep-seated fractures. Well-developed major fractures in this area, fluid inclusion characteristics of the carbonate rocks, the spatial relation between the ultramafic and carbonate rocks and stable isotope data support interpreting the Ulsan carbonate rocks as carbonatite.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.427-439
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• 2013

Carbon cycling and productivity within Weno Island of Micronesia enclosed by the coral reef may be likely self-maintained and insignificantly affected by the open ocean. Therefore, it is important to understand the role of the mangrove known as providing the organic matter and habitats for many organisms in this enclosed area. In order to trace the nutritional source of fauna (mostly invertebrates) in the mangrove forest of Weno island, we analyzed the fatty acid (FA) and carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes of potential nutritional sources (mangrove leaf & pneumatophore, seagrass leaf & root, surface sediment, and particulate organic matter (POM) in water) and consumers (4 gastropods and anomura). The mangrove and seagrass contained the abundance of 18:2${\omega}$6, and 18:3${\omega}$3, whereas FAs associated with phytoplankton and bacteria were accounted for a high proportion in the surface sediment and POM. FA composition of consumers was found to be similar to those of the surface sediment, mangrove, and seagrass. These were also confirmed through the mixing model of stable isotope for contribution of nutritional sources to consumers. Overall results with the feeding types of investigated mangrove fauna indicate that investigated mangrove fauna obtained their nutrition from the various sources, i.e. the mangrove for Littorina cf. scabra, the microalgae for Strombus sp., and omnivorous Pagurus sp. and Terebralia cf. palustris. However, it is obvious that the nutrition of most species living in the mangrove ecosystem is highly dependent on the mangrove, either directly or indirectly. More detail food-web structure and function of the mangrove ecosystem would be established with the analysis of additional fauna and flora.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.65-75
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• 2021

We investigated hydrochemical and stable isotope characteristics of groundwater in a large agricultural plain, the Honam plain, to evaluate the adequacy of agricultural water supply. For preliminary assessment for the area, we collected 23 groundwater samples from domestic wells and conducted hydrochemical and water stable isotope analysis. Groundwater in the study area is mainly Ca-HCO3 type resulting from water-rock interactions. Stable oxygen and hydrogen isotopic compositions indicated that recharge water is derived from precipitation while some sampling sites had evaporation signatures. Irrigation water quality using sodium absorption ratio and salinity hazard showed most of the groundwater samples were found to be suitable for irrigation. The groundwater in the southwestern part of the study area was affected by both seawater intrusion and agricultural activities, indicating a higher possibility of groundwater contamination near the coastal areas. Elevated concentrations of nitrate and phosphate ions in the groundwater are considered to be influenced by anthropogenic activities such as fertilizer application. It is expected that this study would be able to provide preliminary information on groundwater quality for agricultural water supply in the Mangyeong-Dongjin watershed.