• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.85-88
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• 2013

Bioassessment is the use of biosurvey data, most commonly for benthic macroinvertebrates and fish, to obtain information about the health of waters in a region. In rivers, bioassessment results are used to evaluate biological condition and trends, to establish relationships between stressors and impairments, and to guide and evaluate management actions.

• Proceedings of the Zoological Society Korea Conference
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• 1994.10a
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• pp.125.2-125
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• 1994

No Abstract, See Full Text

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.32 no.8
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• pp.795-801
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• 2010

The acute toxicity of arsenic compounds was assessed and compared using following four bioassays; bioluminescence activity of the recombinant strain RB1436, germination of four different seeds, ${\alpha}$-glucosidase activity produced by Bacillus lichemiformis, acute genetic revertant mutation using mutant strain Salmonella typhimurium. Different sensitivities were observed among tested bioassays, but generally the toxicity by arsenite was greater than that of arsenate. Among tested four seeds, sensitivities of Lactucus and Raphanus were greater than others, and these two seed types were appeared as proper type for bioassay. High revertant mutation ratio (5.1) was observed with 1 mg/L arsenite, indicating high mutagenicity. The sensitivity of ${\alpha}$-glucosidase activity on arsenic compounds was much lower than other methods. The evaluation of interactive toxic effects using various bioassays may comprise a useful tool for the bioassessment of environmental pollutants.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.1-14
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• 2016

This study was conducted to develop a Benthic macroinvertebrates streambed index (BMSI) based on the response of the community to the substrate type of streambed. Analyzing the seasonal (Spring and Fall) data (11,367 sampling units) surveyed and collected during 2008~2014 at 960 sites in South Korea, we estimated the lithophility of 191 taxa. BMSI was composed of the lithophilic value, indicator weight value and individual abundance frequency. It showed an extremely significant correlation (r = -0.8, p<0.001) with the mean grain size (in phi-value) of the streambed.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.261-271
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• 2015

Toxicity results of metals, nanoparticles (NPs), and soils contaminated with metals were introduced on this review. Following methods were used: seed germination, bioluminescence, enzyme activity, and mutation. In general, different sensitivities were observed, depending on types of bioassays and pollutants. Among tested seeds, sensitivities of Lactucus and Raphanus were greater than others. Of single metal exposure, effect by As(III) was greater than others, and high revertant mutation ratio (5.1) was observed at 1 mg/L arsenite, indicating high mutagenicity. No general pattern was observed on the effect of metal mixture, but synergistic effect was observed with seeds. In case of soils, no correlation was observed between total metal contents and toxicity. Toxicity of NPs was observed as follows: CuO > ZnO > NiO > $TiO_2$, $Fe_2O_3$, $Co_3O_4$. Especially, no considerable effects were observed by $TiO_2$, $Fe_2O_3$, and $Co_3O_4$ under tested concentration (max. 1,000 mg/L). The evaluation results of interactive toxic effects using various bioassays may comprise a useful tool for the bioassessment of various environmental pollutants.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.22-30
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• 2015

For the preliminary investigations of the bioclogging on groundwater artificial recharge system, studies for conditions and analytical methods of biofilm formation on sediments were performed. Based on the tested results, following conditions were determined for biofilm formation on batch process: optimum period for biofilm formation (30 days), the proper inoculating water (pond water), medium (minimum salt medium with 0.1% yeast extract). Procedures for the measurement of ATP and DHA were also determined. Biomass extract was used for ATP measurement, while sediment itself for DHA. Effects of metals on the biofilm formation were investigated under the determined conditions. Different sensitivities and orders were found depending on tested metals and measurement methods. In general, biomass measurement by ATP and viable cell count showed higher sensitivity than that of DHA. Following toxicity orders were also appeared for ATP and viable cell: Cu ≈ Cd > As(III).

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.759-770
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• 1998

biotic indices scoring with the benthic macroinvertebrates were assessed as pollution monitoring tools in the north branch of the Han River system, Korea. We investigated the temporal variability of water quality at unpolluted, moderately polluted and heavily polluted sites using several biotic indices and assessed appropriate biological monitoring indices for lotic systems in Korea. The following biotic and chemical indices were employed in order to compare their applicability to the lotic systems : Trent Biotic Index (TBI), Chandler's Biotic Index-Average Score per Taxon (CBI-ASPT), Modified Biological Monitoring Working Party Score System-Average Score per Taxon (BMWP-ASPT), Hilsenhoff's biotic Index (BI) and Family-level Biotic Index (FBI) models for biotic analyses and National Sanitation foundation's Water Quality Index (NSFWQI) and comprehensive Chemical Pollution Index (Pb/n) for chemical analyses of water quality. Index and score values were compared with each other and with 24 water chemistry parameters. All biotic indices were significantly auto-correlated (p<0.001) and BI and FBI/ROK among them were highly correlated (r=0.84). BI and BMWP-ASPT models were also highly correlated with NSFWQI, while TBI values showed high correlation with the Pb/n. The BI and BMWP-ASPT were highly correlated with the most water chemistry parameters. We conclude that the BI model, which includes indicator species and abundance of taxa, is best suited for the bioassessment of lotic systems in Korea. For rapid field-based assessments, FBI/ROK and BMWP-ASPT models are also appropriate.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.136-142
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• 2012

Various factors affecting on the bioassay were investigated. Experiments with a low mixture ratio (cell to toxicant solution) of 0.5 : 9.5 (v/v) produced observable bioluminescence intensity for assay. Both sodium lactate and potassium nitrate stimulate bioluminescence activity; 2.6~4.0 times of control. Distilled water and MSM, which gave non significant effects on the bioluminescence activity, were determined as proper diluent or extract solutions. A wide range of toxic responses of metals and organics were observed. In general, organics were much less sensitive than metals. Samples collected from eleven sites showed the bioluminescence activity ranging from 29 to 111% of the control. Significant correlation between toxicity and total metal contents was not observed, but the toxicity of two groups, sorted based on the contaminated arsenic concentration in soils, was 44% and 20%, showing considerable differences.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.796-804
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• 2006

The objective of this research was to develop ecological multi-metric models using natural fish assemblages for a diagnosis of current stream health condition, and apply the model to nationwide lotic ecosystems of the Geum River, the Youngsan River, and the Sumjin River. The ecological stream health model was based on the index of biological integrity (IBI), which was originally developed in North American streams by Karr (1981), and the Rapid Bioassessment Protocol (RBP), which was scientifically established by the US EPA (1999). The metric numbers and metric attributes were partially changed for the regional applications, so the scoring criteria was modified for the assessment. Overall, metric values, based on the IBI calculations, reflected conventional water quality characteristics, based on nutrient regime, and agreed with results of staticeco-toxicity tests. Some stations impaired in terms of stream health were identified by the IBI approach, and also major key stressors affecting the stream health were identified by additional evaluations of physical habitats. Our preliminary results suggested that biological integrity in stream ecosystems was largely disturbed by habitat degradation as well as chemical pollutions. This new approach would be used as a key tool for ecological restorations and species conservations in the degraded aquatic ecosystems in Korea and applied for elucidating major causes of ecological disturbances. Ultimately, this approach provides us an effective management strategy of stream ecosystems through establishments of ecological networks in various watersheds.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.514-536
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• 2018

GPI (Group Pollution Index) using 29 indicator groups of Korean benthic macroinvertebrates was proposed in 1992, a higher category taxa-level index developed for rapid field assessment of organic water pollution. This study was performed to revise the assessment scheme of GPI based on taxonomic performance and ecological information accumulated since 1992. The original GPI was renamed SBMI (Simple Benthic Macroinvertebrates Index), and SBMI was based on saprobic valency of 26 indicator groups composed of higher category taxa (mainly family ~ phylum) excluding some genus or species-level taxa. SBMI revealed highly significant correlation with concentration of 5-day biochemical oxygen demand ($BOD_5$) (correlation coefficient r = 0.78, n = 569 sites), total suspended solids (r = 0.69), and total phosphorus (r = 0.77). Also, SBMI revealed strong correlation with Shannon-Weaver's species diversity (r = -0.85), Margalef's species richness (r = -0.85), and McNaughton's dominance (r = 0.83). Determination coefficient of SBMI to concentration of water quality items and values of community indices such as species diversity was 3 ~ 8 % and approximately 11 ~ 14 % higher than that of GPI, respectively. Correlation between SBMI and water quality factors or community indices such as species diversity did not reveal much difference compared to that of species-level indices, such as BMI (Benthic Macroinvertebrates Index) and ESB (Ecological Score of Benthic Macroinvertebrates). SMBI is a simple-qualitative index with higher category taxa easily identified, and is applicable for rapid field assessment of water environment impairment.