• Ocean Science Journal
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.223-230
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• 2007

To understand the origin and biogeochemistry of the organic matter in surface sediments of Lake Shihwa and Lake Hwaong, organic nitrogen, inorganic nitrogen, labile organic carbon, and residual organic carbon contents as well as stable isotope ratios for carbon and nitrogen were determined by KOBr-KOH treatment. Ratios of organic carbon to organic nitrogen $(C_{org}/N_{org})$ (mean = 24) were much higher than ratios of organic carbon to total nitrogen $(C_{org}/N_{tot})$ (mean= 12), indicating the presence of significant amounts of inorganic nitrogen in the surface sediments of both lakes. Stable isotope ratios for organic nitrogen were, on average, $5.2\%_{\circ}$ heavier than ratios of inorganic nitrogen in Lake Shihwa, but those same ratios were comparable in Lake Hwaong. This might be due to differences in the origin or the degree of degradation of sedimentary organic matter between the two lakes. In addition, stable isotope ratios for labile organic carbon were, on average, $1.4\%_{\circ}$ heavier than those for residual organic carbon, reflecting the preferential oxidation of $^{13}C$-enriched organic matter. The present study demonstrates that KOBr-KOH treatment of sedimentary organic matter can provide valuable information for understanding the origin and degradation state of organic matter in marine and brackish sediments. This also suggests that the ratio of $(C_{org}/N_{org})$ and stable isotope ratios for organic nitrogen can be used as indexes of the degree of degradation of organic matter.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.279-284
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• 2009

In order to understand food sources-metabolism for the pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas), the stable isotope ratios of carbon (${\delta}^{13}C$) and nitrogen (${\delta}^{15}N$) of its gut, gill, and muscle as well as potential food sources (particulate organic matter, sedimentary organic matter, benthic microalgae, seagrass detritus) were determined in Dongdae Bay. Average ${\delta}^{13}C$ and ${\delta}^{15}N$ values reflect that oysters primarily fed on sedimentary organic matter as opposed to suspended organic matter during summer and winter seasons. However, the relatively enriched $^{15}N$ values of particulate organic matter (>$250{\mu}m$) and sedimentary organic matter in the summer may be due to the photosynthetic incorporation of $^{15}N$-enriched nitrogen (DIN) or the spawning events of bivalves. Specific oyster tissues (gut, gill, and muscle) revealed different metabolic pathways, which were determined through analysis of ${\delta}^{13}C$ and ${\delta}^{15}N$ in each organ. The present results suggest the determination of carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes to be a useful approach in ecological research related to the food sources- metabolism of Crassostrea gigas.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.175-184
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• 2013

Organic carbon and total nitrogen stable isotope ratios of suspended materials were determined at 3 stations (from Mongtan Bridge to Youngsan river estuary barrage) (n=6, each) from November 2008 to August 2009, in order to understand the origin of particulate organic matter at the Estuary of Youngsan River. Allochthonous organic matter, ammonia-N and silicate were increased after heavy rain (in August). Carbon isotope ratios were significantly different between stations in November and August, and it was possible to determine the origin of organic matter. The heavier nitrogen isotope ratios, as well as higher phosphate concentrations, were found in November than other sampling times. Livestock wastewater and farmland input was likely the main causes of these high values. In addition, YS3 station, the nearest site to estuary barrage, appears to be affected by a substantial amount of livestock wastewater and farmland input, considering that nitrogen isotope ratios were heavier than those at the upper sites. These results suggest that the analysis of stable isotope ratios is a simple but useful tool for the determination of organic matter origin in aquatic environments.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.195-200
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• 2017

Background: The natural ratios of carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and sulfur (S) stable isotopes can be varied in some specific living organisms owing to various isotopic fractionation processes in nature. Therefore, the analysis of C, N, and S stable isotope ratios in ginseng can provide a feasible method for determining ginseng authenticity depending on the cultivation land and type of fertilizer. Methods: C, N, and S stable isotope composition in 6-yr-old ginseng roots (Jagyeongjong variety) was measured by isotope ratio mass spectrometry. Results: The type of cultivation land and organic fertilizers affected the C, N, and S stable isotope ratio in ginseng (p < 0.05). The ${\delta}^{15}N_{AIR}$ and ${\delta}^{34}S_{VCDT}$ values in ginseng roots more significantly discriminated the cultivation land and type of organic fertilizers in ginseng cultivation than the ${\delta}^{13}C_{VPDB}$ value. The combination of ${\delta}^{13}C_{VPDB}$, ${\delta}^{15}N_{AIR}$, or ${\delta}^{34}S_{VCDT}$ in ginseng, except the combination ${\delta}^{13}C_{VPDB}-^{34}S_{VCDT}$, showed a better discrimination depending on soil type or fertilizer type. Conclusion: This case study provides preliminary results about the variation of C, N, and S isotope composition in ginseng according to the cultivation soil type and organic fertilizer type. Hence, our findings are potentially applicable to evaluate ginseng authenticity depending on cultivation conditions.

• ALGAE
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.349-357
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• 2017

Korean mariculture Undaria pinnatifida was collected during the months of January, February, March, and December of 2010, as well as from January of 2011 to investigate the changes in the carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios (${\delta}^{13}C$ and ${\delta}^{15}N$) and heavy metal with respect to it growth and to identify the factors that influence such changes. The blades of U. pinnatifida showed ${\delta}^{13}C$ and ${\delta}^{15}N$ in the range (mean) of -13.11 to -19.42‰ (-16.93‰) and 2.99 to 7.57‰ (4.71‰), respectively. Among samples with the same grow-out period, those that weighed more tended to have higher ${\delta}^{13}C$ suggesting a close association between the carbon isotope ratio and growth rate of U. pinnatifida. Indeed, we found a very high positive linear correlation between the monthly average ${\delta}^{13}C$ and the absolute growth rate in weight ($r^2=0.89$). Nitrogen isotope ratio tended to be relatively lower when nitrogen content in the blade was higher, probably due to the strengthening of isotope fractionation stemming from plenty of nitrogen in the surrounding environment. In fact, a negative linear correlation was observed with the nitrate concentration in the nearby seawaters ($r^2=0.83$). Concentrations of Cu, Cd, Pb, Cr, Hg, and Fe in the blades showed a rapid decrease in their concentration per unit weight in the more mature U. pinnatifida. Specifically, compared to adult samples, Cu, Hg, and Pb were concentrated by 30, 55, and 73 folds, respectively, in the young blades. Therefore, U. pinnatifida tissue ${\delta}^{13}C$ is as an indirect indicator of its growth rate, while ${\delta}^{15}N$ values and heavy metal concentrations serve as tracers that reflect the environmental characteristics.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.96-104
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• 2018

Stable isotope approach for aquatic ecology and environmental sciences has been introduced as very useful technique since 1980s and also has been applied to investigate various issues in aquatic ecology and environmental study last 10 years in Korea. Especially carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios have been mainly used to understand food web energy flow and ecosystem structure. In addition, nitrogen isotope ratio has been applied for nitrogen cycle and source identification as well as biomagnification studies. However, large temporal or spatial variations of nitrogen isotope ratio of primary producer have been found in many aquatic environments, and it is regarded as the critical problems to determine trophic level of aquatic animals. Recently, the compound specific isotope analysis of nitrogen within individual amino acids has been developed as an alternative method for trophic ecology. This article introduces the progress history of stable isotope application in aquatic ecology and environmental sciences, and also suggests new direction based on future prospects in stable isotope ecology and environmental study.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.300-306
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• 2012

This study reports the stable carbon and nitrogen isotope of mummy, the preserved human time capsule from Joseon Dynasty. The stable isotopic composition of biological tissue is expected to be a direct and constant function of diet because the stable isotope ratios do not decay or change in abundance through time. Over the past three decades, stable carbon and nitrogen isotope analysis has been extensively applied for archaeological topics. However, this is the first case in Korean mummy to extract palaeodietary information using stable isotope analysis. We extracted isotopic information from bone collagen and hair keratin, which reflects the lifetime average diet and short-term diet, respectively. The average values of ${\delta}^{13}C$ and ${\delta}^{15}N$ values are -19.0‰ and 11.4‰ (bone collagen), and -21.3‰ and 14.3‰ (hair keratin). Stable carbon isotope shows a mainly $C_3$-based diet from cradle to grave. On the other hand, there is significant difference in stable nitrogen isotope which implies a relatively enriched diet before death. We expect this study opens up a potential to understand the palaeodietary lifestyle in Joseon Dynasty.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.53 no.5
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• pp.293-297
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• 2009

The abuse of methamphetamine (MA) is one of the most serious drug abuses in Asia. And, the prevention of precursor production for abuse drug is one of the most effective drug control system. Isotope ratio analysis at natural abundance levels have been used to establish the environmental source or the geographic origin of various biological and nonbiological materials. Ephedrine, the precursor of MA, is produced by one of three methods; extraction from Ephedra plants, full chemical synthesis or via a semi-synthetic process involving the fermentation of sugar, followed by amination. We investigated the origin of ephedrine and pseudoephedrine based on the carbon and nitrogen values for nineteen pharmaceutical powder materials (PPMs) obtained from pharmaceutical company in Korea by stable isotope ratio mass spectrometry coupled to an elemental analyser (EA-IRMS). The carbon delta values for the ephedrine and pseudoephedrine were -24.21~-22.72 (mean=-23.72) $^{\cir}/_{\circ\circ}$ and -23.79~-22.71 (mean=-23.48) $^{\cir}/_{\circ\circ}$. The nitrogen delta values were 3.51~5.55 (4.43) $^{\cir}/_{\circ\circ}$ and 2.24~8.22 (5.42) $^{\cir}/_{\circ\circ}$. These results indicate that PPMs are semi-synthetic products. Therefore the origins of ephedrine(natural, semi-synthetic or synthetic) could be discriminated by using carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios. we are sure tat this stable isotope ratio analysis can discriminate the origins of precursors of methamphetamine.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.39-44
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• 2013

Origin authenticity of the animals used as food has always been a major concern to consumers around the world. In the past twenty years, a stable isotope ratio has been used for origin authentication. In this study, pork samples, both local and imported, were collected from the major markets from all around South Korea and analyzed for stable isotope ratios of nitrogen (${\delta}^{15}N$‰) and carbon (${\delta}^{13}C$‰), using Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry (IR-MS). A total of 599 samples with 335 Korean and 264 imported from 13 countries within America and Europe were investigated in accordance to the standard established methods for isotope ratio analysis. The results showed a significant variation related to the origin of the samples, explaining the difference in the feeding styles of the pork in each country. The stable isotope ratio values of carbon (${\delta}^{13}C$‰) were found in the decreasing order of: America ($-15.55{\pm}1.01$‰)>Korea ($-19.62{\pm}0.89$‰)>Europe ($-24.79{\pm}1.35$‰). Canada was having ${\delta}^{13}C$ ratio of $-22.87{\pm}0.92$‰, which is very low in the region of America and very close to Europe (-23.78 to -27.17‰). For nitrogen ${\delta}^{15}N$‰ the order was: America ($4.92{\pm}0.71$‰)>Europe ($4.54{\pm}0.66$‰)>Korea ($3.69{\pm}0.54$‰), with a slight variation among countries in each region studied. From the results it was concluded that the stable isotope ratio of the pork samples from different countries provide enough information about the origin and is therefore a potential tool which can be employed for origin authentication.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.242-251
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• 2012

To investigate foodweb of aquatic ecosystem in the Tamjin River, carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes ratios of aquatic organisms, as well as environmental indicators based on the water, were determined in this study. Various organisms such as fishes (Coreoperca kawamebari, Zacco platypus, Cobitis lutheri, and Pungtungia herzi) and periphyton (epilithon and epiphyte), and particulate- and coarse particulate organic matters (POM and CPOM) were collected in upper (Tamjin River, Yuchi Stream, and Omcheon Stream) and lower (TJ-1~TJ-5) reaches of Jangheung Dam. The nitrate concentration and ${\delta}^{15}N$ signature of POM and organisms (invertebrates and fish) were found to be more enriched toward the downstream section of the river. It was determined that allochthonous matter occurring from a tributary alters the chemical character of water, as well as the isotopic signature of organisms contained therein. Attached algae (ephilithon) were identified as a base component of the benthic foodchain further downstream.