• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.216-237
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• 2017

Thermal effluent of the hot spring has long been a field of interest in the relationship between temperature gradient and freshwater algae in geology, limnology and aquatic ecology throughout the world. On the other hand, many artificial hot springs have been developed in Korea, but the research on them has not been still active. This study was performed every month from December 2015 to September 2016, to elucidate the spatiotemporal effects of thermal wastewater effluent (TWE) on the ecosystem of benthic algal assemblage in four stations(BSU (upstream), HSW (hot spring wastewater outlet), BSD1~2 (downstream)) of the upstream reach of the Buso Stream, a tributary located in the Hantan River basin. During the survey, the influencing distance of temperature on TWE was <1.0 km, and it was the main source of N P nutrients at the same time. The effects of TWE were dominant at low temperature and dry season (December~March), but it was weak at high temperature and wet season (July~September), reflecting some seasonal characteristics. Under these circumstances, the attached algal communities were identified to 59 genera and 143 species. Of these, the major phylum included 21 genera 83 species of diatoms(58.0%), 9 genera 21 species of blue-green algae (14.7%) and 25 genera 32 species of green algae (22.4%), respectively. The spatiotemporal distribution of them was closely related to water temperature ($5^{\circ}C$ and $15^{\circ}C$) and current ($0.2m\;s^{-1}$ and $0.8m\;s^{-1}$). In the basic environment maintaining a high water temperature throughout the year round, the flora favoring high affinity to $PO_4$ in the water body or preferring stream habitat of abundant $NO_3-PO_4$ was dominant. As a result, when compared with the outcomes of previous algal ecology studies conducted in Korea, the Buso Stream was evaluated as a serious polluted state due to persistent excess nutrient supply and high thermal pollution throughout the year round by TWE. It can be regarded as a dynamic ecosystem in which homogeneity (Summer~Autumn) and heterogeneity (Winter~Spring) are repeated between upstream and downstream.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.402-411
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• 2008

Grazing effects of two freshwater shellfish, Unio douglasiae (UNIO) and Cipangoplaudina chinese malleata (CCM), on the hibernal diatom communities in eutrophic water was examined in a laboratory. Two animals having different feeding types used in the study were collected from Keum River (Boryeong, Korea), acclimatized in the artificial management system in a laboratory over at least one month, and starved in a laboratory for 2 days before the experiment. Experimental waters, which dominated by Synedra ulna-Scenedesmus sp. (ca. 80%), was collected from eutrophic lake, Lake Ilgam (Seoul) in Feb., 19, 2008 at AM 10:00, and used in the study after the filtration with 1 mm Nylon mesh. Feeding experiments were largely divided into three kinds of animal treatments; five densities of UNIO (U0, U1, U2, U3, U4) and CCM (C0, C1, C2, C3, C4), and four combined densities of two shellfish (M0, M1, M2, M3). U0 and C0 were control (no addition of UNIO or CCM), U1 or C1 (each animal density at 0.5 ind. $L^{-1}$), U2 or C2 (1.0 ind. $L^{-1}$), U3 or C3 (1.5 ind. $L^{-1}$), and U4 or C4 (2.0 ind. $L^{-1}$), respectively. Four combined treatments were consisted of M0 (no animals), M1 (U1+C3), M2 (U2+C2), and M3 (U4+C1), respectively. Under the presence of animal, the concentration of Chl-a and algal abundance were clearly decreased with the increase of UNIO density and the treated time, while in combined group a strong decrease of algal density showed with the increase of UNIO density. Total phytoplankton density shifted as the similar patterns to that of Chl-a concentration (r=0.6527, p<0.0001), however, there showed the differences following a species. There were strong decreases of dominant species Synedra ulna, Scenedesmus sp., Ankistrodesmus falcatus in UNIO treatment group, Diatoma vulgare in combined group, while Cryptomonas ovata in high density of CCM increased about 20% in algal density. Grazing rates (GRs) based on the concentration of Chl-a was depend on the kind of shellfish and treatment time; a strong feeding of CCM showed in the initial stage, and four hours later, UNIO and combined group with high UNIO density showed the high GRs. Interestingly, faeces production of shellfish was highest in combined group with high density of CCM, while their size over 60 ${\mu}m$ was much higher in production magnitude than that less 60 ${\mu}m$. Collectively, these results suggest that two domestic shellfish and its combined treatment have a strong potential as an effective biological controller of diatom bloom in cold eutrophic waters.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.219-230
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• 2012

We surveyed 23 sites of Jinhae Bay in spring and summer 2010 in order to study the correlation between the variation of environmental factors, including salinity, temperature, and nutrients and the characteristics of phytoplankton community structures in summer stratification. Phytoplankton biomass was high in the surface water in summer; however, it was very low in the bottom water. The results showed a negative correlation between chlorophyll a (chl. a) and nutrients (silicate, nitrate, nitrite, ammonium, and phosphate) or nutrients ratio in summer; however, there was mostly a positive correlation between chl. a and these nutrients in spring. This inconsistent correlation between spring and summer was attributed to the phytoplankton community, because a diverse phytoplankton community has different nutrient uptake abilities. In addition, the results of CCA (canonical correspondence analysis) showed a negative correlation between phosphate and dominant species, including Chaetoceros spp., Skeletonema costatum-like spp., and Pseudo-nitzschia delicatissima in summer, but a strong positive correlation between DIN (dissolved inorganic nitrogen) and the dominant species, including Cryptomonas spp. and Pseudo-nitzschia multistriata in spring. Consistently, the dominant algal species in summer showed a relatively smaller size cells compared with those in spring, suggested that it may have related with the low nutrient levels at surface layer due to strong stratified water column of summer.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.379-399
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• 2008

Spatial-temporal variations in physiochemical water qualities (temperature, salinity, DO, SPM, POC and nutrients) of surface and bottom waters were investigated along the mid-western coastal area (Taean Peninsula to Gomso Bay) of Korea. Spatial distribution patterns of temperature and salinity were mostly controlled by the physical mixing process of freshwater from Geum River and/or Gyunggi Bay with nearby coastal water. A strong tidal front is formed off Taean Peninsula during spring and summer. Seasonal variations in nutrient concentrations, lower in spring and summer and higher in fall and winter, are primarily regulated by magnitude of phytoplankton occurrence rather than freshwater loadings into the bay. Based on seasonal and spatial variability of physicochemical parameters, water quality of the study area can be divided into four water masses; Gyunggi Bay-influenced Water Mass (GBWM), Geum River-influenced Water Mass (GRWM), Yellow Sea Bottom Cold Water Mass (YSBCWM) and Cheonsu Bay Water Mass (CBWM). Water quality of the GBWM (Taean Peninsula coastal area), which has relatively low salinity and high concentrations of nutrients, is strongly controlled by the Gyunggi Bay coastal water, which is under influence of the Han River freshwater. In this water mass, the mixed layer is always developed by strong tidal mixing. As a result, a tidal front is formed along the offshore boundary of the mixed layer. Such tidal fronts probably play an important role in the distribution of phytoplankton communities, SPM and nutrients. The GRWM, with low salinity and high nutrients, especially during the flood summer season, is closely related to physiochemical properties of the Geum River. During the flood season, nutrient-enriched Geum River water mass extends up to 60 km away from the river mouth, potentially causing serious environmental problems such as eutrophication and unusual and/or noxious algal blooms. Offshore (<$30{\sim}40m$ in water depth) of the study area, YSBCWM coupled with a strong thermocline can be identified in spring-summer periods, exhibiting abundant nutrients in association with low temperature and limited biological activity. During spring and summer, a tidal front is formed in a transition zone between the coastal water mass and bottom cold water mass in the Yellow Sea, resulting in intensified upwelling and thereby supplying abundant nutrients to the GBWM and GRWM. Such cold bottom water mass and tidal front formation seems to play an important role in controlling water quality and further regulating physical ecosystem processes along mid-western Korean coastal area.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.33 no.4 s.92
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• pp.319-327
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• 2000

The feeding behavior of 1-year-old silver carp, Hypophthalmichthys molitrix (Val.) on phytoplankton species in a shallow hypertrophic lake was studied from 22 May to 18 September, 1997. Over the experimental period, the filter-pore sizes of the fish, the total biomass of the phytoplankton and the water temperature in each enclosure changed little with time. The fish biomass in each enclosure increased with time, while their percentage of weight gain correlated negatively to the stocking density, due perhaps to competition for prey. An analysis of gut contents of silver carp showed a strong similarity between the algal communities in the foregut and the water, and was significant for the fish enclosure with a low density (p<0.05). The presence of silver carp rarely suppressed the abundance of phytoplankton such as Oscillatoria, Anabaena and Melosira even at high ingestion levels. There were weak relationships between the IU values of each phytoplankton and the selectivity of fish on them (r = 0.001, p>0.5). There was no doubt that the silver carp fed unselectively when cyanobacteria populations were high, even though the selectivity index for diatoms was slightly higher than those for cyanobacteria, green algae and cryptomonads. Improvements in methodologies are needed to clearly understand and generalize the feeding behavior of silver carp.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.9-15
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• 2012

Worldwide development of harmful algal blooms causes serious problem for public health and fisheries industries. To evaluate the algicidal impact on the harmful algae bloom species in aquatic ecosystems of coast, a new algicide thiazolidinedione derivative (TD49) were tentatively examined in the growth stages (i.e., lag, logarithmic and stationary phase) of rapidophyceae $Heterosigma$ $akashiwo$, $Chattonella$ $marina$ and $Chattonella$ sp..Three strains could easily destroy in the lag phase due to relatively weak cell walls than those of the logarithmic and stationary phase. It is thought that inoculation of TD49 substances into initial or developmental natural blooms with a threshold concentration ($2{\mu}M$) can maximize the algicidal activity. Also, bio-chemical assays revealed that the algicidal substances from all culture strains were likely to be extracellular substances because those cells have easily destroyed in cell walls. On the other hand, natural zooplankton communities were influenced within the exposure experiments of $2{\mu}M$, which is showed the maximum algcidal activity of tested organisms. These results indicate that although the TD49 substance is potential agents for the control of $H.$ $akashiwo$, $C.$ $marina$ and $Chattonella$ sp. in the enclosed eutrophic bay and coastal water, more detailed research of acute toxicity effect on high trophic organism in marine ecosystems need to be conducted.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.116-127
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• 2013

At weekly intervals, we monitored continuous changes in water quality by constructed floating wetland equipped with the four different filter media (sponge, volcanic stone, activated carbon and magnesium hydroxide) in a eutrophic lake from March 2011 to May 2012. We also investigated phyto- and zooplankton communities both in the influent and the effluent water through the floating wetland. Over a 10-month time period, average turbidity (66%), suspended solids (79%) and chlorophyll-a (80%) concentrations were remarkably reduced in the effluent water compared to the influent (P<0.001). The average removal rates of $NO_2-N$ and $NH_3-N$ were 24% and 20%, respectively (P<0.05). The average removal rates of $NO_3-N$ and TN were less than 10% (P>0.05). On the other hand, the average removal rates of $PO_4-P$ and TP were more than 65% (P<0.01). Interestingly, the abundance of phytoplankton in the effluent was decreased about 2.6 times compared to that of the influent, whereas the abundance of zooplankton in the effluent was increased about 3.5 times compared to that of the influent. Overall, particulate matters (SS, Chl-a and TP) and dissolved nutrients ($NO_2-N$, $NH_3-N$ and $PO_4-P$) were particularly reduced at high rates. Therefore, application of our constructed floating wetland in a eutrophic lake improved the water quality and demonstrated a potential for algal bloom mitigation.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.46-56
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• 2017

The Youngsan River estuary was physically changed by the construction of a sea embankment at near the mouth of estuary. Weirs were also constructed recently in the freshwater zone and it was reported that algal blooms occur more frequently. The freshwater introduced into saltwater zone from sluice gates of the embankment affects water quality but it has not been addressed that how the freshwater inputs influence the health of marine ecosystem. In this study, we used the data of water properties and phytoplankton communities collected at three stations for 4 days including before the freshwater discharge, during the discharge and after 1 and 2 days of discharge events. WQI(water quality index), TRIX (trophic status index) and P-IBI(phytoplankton index of biotic integrity) were used to evaluate the ecosystem health and long-term data were also utilized to determine the criteria for P-IBI. The results showed that grades of the ecosystem health assessed by the indices were low at the station near the gates and increased as downstream. However, the temporal pattern of grades was different depending on methods. Grades of WQI and TRIX decreased during the discharge and restored after the discharge whereas the grades of P-IBI decreased slightly even after the discharge. This suggests that P-IBI is more applicable to estuarine systems where experience extreme change of water properties than WQI and TRIX since P-IBI includes phytoplankton that can respond quickly to the change.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.16-25
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• 2014

To identify distribution of epilithic diatom assemblages and the relationship between diatoms and water chemistry, samples were collected twice a year from 2008 to 2012, from at 6 streams in Jeju Island, South Korea. A total of 171 diatom taxa were identified, and Achnanthes lanceolata, Gomphonema pumilum, Melosira varians, Navicula minima and Nitzschia palea were dominantly observed. BOD ranged 0.0~1.6 mg $L^{-1}$, TN 0.230~13.240 mg $L^{-1}$ (average 4.432 mg $L^{-1}$), TP 0.020~0.316 mg $L^{-1}$ (average 0.092 mg $L^{-1}$), and N/P rate ranged 2.5~178.5. Average of epilithic algal chlorophyll-a and AFDM were 1.1 ${\mu}gcm^{-2}$ and 0.6 mg $cm^{-2}$, respectively. According to BOD standard, the water qualities of study area sites were at 'Good' level. However, the healthiness levels assessed from DAIpo and TDI were 'Fair' to 'Poor'.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.174-187
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• 2008

In an effort to identify structure and function of microbial loop in Paldang reservoir, we monitored environmental and biological factors at Kyungan stream (station K), Paldang dam (station P) and the confluence of North and South Han River (station M) from March to December, 2005. DOC concentration was higher in March to May and November than the others. Nutrient concentration in station K detected relatively higher than that of two stations. Both of phosphate and silicate gradually increased at all stations until September, after then decreased. The highest Chl-$\alpha$ concentration was observed at all stations in April, and November. The carbon biomass of bacteria and HNF were relatively higher in March, May and August than the others, whereas that of the ciliate showed no significant difference in monthly fluctuation. Nevertheless, the significant relationships revealed between ciliate (P<0.001) and HNF (P<0.05) and bacterial density. Tintinnopsis cratera, Didinium sp., Vorticella sp., Paramecium sp. and Strombidium sp. were dominant species in ciliate community. The dominant species of phytoplankton were Stephanodiscus hantzschii and Cyclotella meneghiniana at almost stations in Spring, Summer and Autumn. However, Aulacoseira granulata accounted for >95% of phytoplankton biomass at station P and M in Autumn. The carbon biomass of zooplankton was highest at station P and M in June, and relatively higher biomass observed at all stations in August, October and November. Diaphanosoma brachyurum and Bosmina longirostris were dominant in stations P and M of June and in all stations of October and November, respectively. The maximum growth (A. granulata: $0.17\;d^{-1}$, S. hantzschii: $0.14\;d^{-1}$) and grazing rate (A. granulata: 1.93 preys $d^{-1}$, S. hantzschii: 1.63 preys $d^{-1}$) of Bosmina longirostris revealed in algal preys as Aulacoseira granulata and Stephanodiscus hantzschii. In conclusion, these results suggest that bacteria and phytoplankton can play the most crucial source as prey within microbial food chain in Spring and Summer and grazing food chain in Autumn, respectively.