• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.110-122
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• 2012

This study examined the benthic diatom community distribution, land cover/use and water quality in relation to stream shape complexity (SSC) in the Seom River watershed. SSC showed a significant relation to the riparian land cover/use pattern and also water quality variables of the studied streams. Streams with high stream shape complexity (HSC) appeared to have a high proportion of forest and farmland, while streams having a low stream shape complexity (LSC) appeared to have high proportion of city. Streams with lower SSC showed higher nutrients concentration in the stream waters. Benthic diatom species composition and dominant species appeared to be similar regardless of SSC differences among the studied streams, while the variation of diatom density was manifested with SSC. The relative abundance of dominant benthic diatoms varied with SSC. Saprophilic diatoms were dominant in the streams of LSC, while saproxenic diatoms were dominant in the streams of HSC. During the evaluation of biological water quality using the benthic diatom indices, Trophic Diatom Index (TDI) and Diatom Assemblage Index to organic water pollution (DAIpo), the streams of LSC generally showed poorer water quality than those of MSC (Middle stream shape complexity) and HSC. In particular, BOD, TP, and $PO_4$-P showed significant relationships with DAIpo. In conclusion, shape complexity of streams in the Seom River watershed showed a close relation with benthic diatom distribution. This relation seemed to primarily be resulted from the effect of proximate factors, such as water quality, which might be affected by the land use types determining the degree of SSC.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.116-126
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• 2014

To evaluate the relationship between dynamics of Cyanobacterial bloom and rainfalls, a monthly monitoring of water quality and phytoplankton from the three serial lakes (Lake Ui-am, Lake Chung-pyeong and Lake Pal-dang) in the North Han River System were examined 12 times from May 2012 to March 2013. A dense bloom of cyanobacterium Anabaena spp., was occurred over three lakes in the summer season of 2012. In Lake Ui-am, the Anabaena population appeared in June, showed a peak in July (43,850 cells $mL^{-1}$) and disappeared in November 2012. In Lake Chung-pyeong and Lake Pal-dang, Anabaena population commonly appeared in July, showed the peaks (31,648 cells $mL^{-1}$ and 7,136 cells $mL^{-1}$, respectively) in August, and entirely disappeared in September 2012. Over the three lakes, the phytoplankton community was commonly dominated by diatoms before Monsoon, cyanobacteria during Monsoon, and diatoms after Monsoon, respectively, indicating a Monsoon-dependent succession. A correlation analysis revealed that dynamics of Anabaena population was strongly related with rainfall (r=0.72, r=0.83, r=0.88, P<0.01 for three lakes), and partly with nutrients, inflow and outflow of lakes. Therefore, this study indicates that the outbreak and destruction of Anabaena bloom in North Han River System between 2012 and 2013 was impacted by rainfalls. However, a high density of cyanobacteria in Lake Ui-am remained after Monsoon, and thus, may paroduce bad-order and toxins from phytoplankton.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.551-560
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• 2013

Environmental factors and epilithic diatom communities in the lower streams near the harbor region of South Korean peninsula were examined during no monsoon period in May 2013. The sampling of water and epilithic diatoms was conducted at both streams, 19 regulated streams (RS) that there are one or several dams constructed in the river system, and 19 un-regulated streams (US) that there are no dams within the river. A cluster analysis based on the number of species and abundance of epilithic diatoms through the stations, divided into three groups such as groups I (mainly US), II (mixed with US and RS) and III (mainly RS), respectively. Group I showed that water quality is good and high diversity of diatom, while Group II and III was water quality is relatively poor, but not differed in biomass of diatom from Group I. In addition, Group II that had high conductivity, nitrogen and phosphorus, was the lowest in diatom diversity among them. Dominant species were Nitzschia palea (17%) and Navicula seminuloides (11%) in Group I, Nitzschia inconspicua (19%) and Navicula perminuta (9%) in Group II, and Nitzschia inconspicua (15%) and Nitzschia palea (14%) in Group III, respectively. These taxa were widely distributed in brackish water, and not closely related with specific water quality, like eutrophic water. However, the groups II and III belonged to RS, had not only little biomass, but bad water quality such as high concentrations of nutrient and chlorophyll-a. Therefore, to determine the effect of dam construction on the lower water ecosystem, the planktonic algae, which can occur algal bloom in the estuary, also was considered to be a parallel investigation.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.33 no.4 s.92
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• pp.366-373
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• 2000

Toxin production and low digestibility of cyanobacteria are known to cause low exploitability of cyanobacteria by zooplankton. In this study, we compared relative tolerance and compatibility of zooplankton taxa in eight eutrophic lakes, exposed to frequent cyanobacterial blooms, uring the summer season of 1999. Microcystis, Anabaena, Oscillatoria and Phormidium were common cyanobacteria in all lakes. with relatively lower $NO_3-N$ concentration (<0.2 mgN/l) and TN/TP ratio (<20), compared with other lakes where colonial cyanobacteria dominated. Rotifers were dominant zooplankton in most lakes, and among them, Keratella, Polyarthra and Hexathra were common. The laboratory feeding experiment showed that relative copepods that greatly decreased (90%) after 4 day when cyanobacteria were used as the food source of zooplankton, while rotifers gradually increased with the change of dominant taxa from Keratella through Pompholyx to Monostyla. These results suggest that rotifers may be capable of coexisting with cyanobacteria by exploiting them for the food source.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.53 no.3
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• pp.229-240
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• 2020

In this study, the results of fish assemblage survey for 16 reservoirs in the Yeongsan·Seomjin-River watershed were presented with fish assemblage characteristics analysis in relation to reservoir size. The survey method including number of sampling sites was followed the "Biomonitoring survey and assessment manual" of the Ministry of Environment/National Institute of Environmental Research (MOE/NIER), and the reservoirs were categorized as three size groups, small, medium or large reservoirs, based on the MOE/NIER as well. Total 13 family classified into 44 species were collected from 2018 (7 reservoirs) to 2019 (9 reservoirs), and the dominant and subdominant species were Hemiculter eigenmanni (Relative abundance, RA, 32.9%) and Lepomis macrochirus (RA, 31.4%), respectively. As a result of the analysis in relation to the reservoir size, the average (±standard deviation) number of species of the small, medium and large reservoirs were 11±2.9, 14.3±2.1, 22.7±0.6, respectively, which showed positive correlation with the reservoir size. Total 6 fish assemblage characteristics(number of species, number of individuals, richness index, herbivorous fish ratio, carnivorous fish ratio, exotic fish ratio) showed significant differences between the each reservoir size groups (P<0.05). As a result of cluster analysis, 16 reservoirs were clustered into 5 groups with 60% similarity, and the each reservoirs seems to be clustered depends on the distance from each other, watershed and their historical geology rather than size. These results are baseline information for the understanding of fish assemblage in Korean reservoirs, important for establishing management policy of reservoirs in the Yeongsan·Seomjin-River watershed.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.38 no.2 s.112
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• pp.196-206
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• 2005

The fish community in the mid-upper region of Gam Stream was examined seasonally from 2001 to 2003 in order to perform an environmental impact assessment prior to a construction of Gamcheon Multipurpose Dam. Additional investigation was conducted in August 2004 to confirm the fish fauna reported and to examine the ecological characteristics of Zacco temminckii population. The total number of fish caught from the study sites was 1,081 fish representing 5 families 14 species. There were 6 Korean endemic species including Coreoleuciscus splendidus, Squalidus gracilis majimae, Microphysogobio yaluensis, Liobagrus mediadiposalis, Coreoperca herzi and Odontobutis platycephala, but no endangered or vulnerable species were found. Length-weight relation, condition factor (K) and relative condition factor (Kn) of Zacco temminckii were compared by the study sites and stream. The equations based on length-weight relation in Buhang and Gam Streams were TW\;=\;0.000004TL^{3.2357}$ and TW\;=\;0.000002TL^{3.3566}$, respectively indicating the fish in Gam Stream became more rotund as length increases. The condition factor (K) and relative condition factor (Kn) against total length of Zacco temminckii at two streams indicated that the fish (>70 mm) in Cam Stream (mean K and Kn= 1.116, 1.21 respectively) had better nutritional condition than those in Buhang Stream (mean K and Ln = 1.046, 1.14 respectively). The results were corresponded with natural disturbances such as drought and intensive rainfall from 2001 to 2003 followed by human activities such as stream repair works. Therefore, it is considered to perform environmental impact assessment with not only confirmation of fish composition but also examination of ecological characteristics in population- level.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.382-393
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• 2009

The objectives of this study were to characterize long-term annual and seasonal trophic state of Topjeong Reservoir using conventional variables of Trophic State Index (TSI) and to determine the empirical relations between the trophic parameters. For the analysis, we used water quality dataset of 1995$\sim$2007, which is obtained from the Ministry of Environment, Korea and the number of parameters was 9. Annual ambient mean values of TN and TP were 1.78 mg $L^{-1}$ and 0.03 mg $L^{-1}$, respectively and TN : TP ratios averaged 76, indicating that this system was nitrogen-rich hypertrophic, and was probably phosphorus-limitation for algal growth. Therefore, nitrogen varied little with seasons and years, and total phosphorus (TP) varied depending on season and year. Monsoon dilutions of TP occurred in August and monthly fluctuations of suspended solid (SS) was similar to those of chlorophyll-$\alpha$ (CHL). Annual mean values of BOD and $COD_{Mn}$ were 1.61 mg $L^{-1}$ and 4.23 mg $L^{-1}$, respectively and the interannual values were directly influenced by the intensity of annual rainfall. There were no significant differences in the trophic variables between the two sampling sites. Mean values of Trophic State Index (TSI, Carlson, 1977), based on TN, TP, CHL, and SD (Secchi depth), turned out as eutrophic state, except for the TN (hypertrophic). Regression analyses of log-transformed seasonal CHL against TP and TN showed that variation of the CHL was explained 37% by the variation of TP ($R^2$=0.37, p<0.001, r=0.616), but not by TN ($R^2$=0.03, p>0.05). Regression coefficient of $Log_{10}$CHL vs $Log_{10}SD$ was 0.330 (p<0.003, r=0.580), indicating that transparency is regulated by the organic matter in the system. Results, data suggest that one of the ways controlling the eutrophication would be a reduction of phosphorus from the watershed.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.60-70
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• 2018

The distribution of benthic macroinvertebrates was investigated at 1,157 sites of 7 main water systems in Korea, including 442 sites of Han River system (Namhan River, Bukhan River, Han River main stream, Anseongcheon, etc.), 305 sites of Nakdong River system (Nakdong River, Hyeongsan River, Taehwa River, etc.), 199 sites of Geum River system (Geum River, Sapgyocheon, Mangyeong River, Dongjin River, etc.) 102 sites of Seomjin River system (Seomjin River), 102 sites of Yeongsan River system (Yeongsan River, Tamjin River, etc.), and 7 sites of Jeju stream system. A total of 151 families were found in the whole survey sites, including 141 families in Han River, 122 in Nakdong River, 115 in Geum River, 106 in Seomjin River, 113 in Yeongsan River, and 50 in Jeju. Chironomidae (20.8%) was the most dominant species in Korea, followed by Hydropsychidae (17.1%), Baetidae (12.6%), Tubificidae (10.3%), Heptageniidae (8.6%), Ephemerellidae (6.3%), Asellidae (2.7%), Leptophlebiidae (2.4%), Planariidae (1.7%), and Tipulidae (1.6%). Substrates compositions consisted of large sand (22.6%), large gravel (18.4%), silt (10.5%), and boulder (8.2%). The mean stream width was 133.5 m and the mean watercourse width was 61.7 m. The mean water depth and velocity were 30.2 cm and $33.1cm\;s^{-1}$, respectively. Results of cluster analysis based on distributional characteristics of benthic macroinvertebrates were divided into six groups according to the frequency of benthic macroinvertebrate taxa which appeared in the study area. Finally, altitude, current velocity and substrate composition were the most influencial factors determining the distribution patterns of macroinvertebrate communities.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.174-189
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• 2012

The objective of this study was to determine the weight-length relations and condition factor (K) of Zacco platypus, along the trophic gradients from oligotrophic to eutrophic state in six reservoir ecosystems ($B_aR$, $Y_yR$, $J_yR$, $G_pR$, $Y_dR$, and $M_sR$), during 2008~2010. The species was selected as a sentinel species for the study, due to its wide distribution and wide trophic gradient. The analysis of trophic state index (TSI), based on total phosphorus (TP) and chlorophyll-a (Chl-a), indicated that reservoirs of $Y_yR$ and $B_aR$ were classified as to be in an oligotrophic state (30~40), the $J_yR$ and $G_pR$ as mesotrophic (40~50), and the $Y_dR$ and $M_sR$ as eutrophic state (50~70). Total 47 species and 26,226 individuals were sampled from 6 reservoirs and sensitive species dominated in the oligotrophic reservoirs ($Y_yR$ and $B_aR$). In the mean time, the tolerant speciesdominated the community in the mesotrophic ($J_yR$ and $G_pR$) and eutrophic ($Y_dR$ and $M_sR$) reservoirs. Regression analysis of body weight, against the total length, indicated that the regression coefficient (b value) was lower in the oligotrophic reservoir (2.77~2.79) than the mesotrophic (3.07~3.17) and eutrophic reservoirs (3.15~ 3.21). This result suggests that the population growth rate Zacco platypus reflected the trophic gradients of the reservoirs. The analysis of condition factor (K) against the total length showed positive slopes (b>3.0) in mesotrophic and eutrophic reservoirs, and a negative slope (b<3.0) in oligotrophic reservoir. The variation of the regression slope of "b" in Z. platypus was accounted for 79.7% [$b=0.012{\times}TSI(TP)+2.395$, p=0.017] by the variation of TSI (TP) and 82.2% [$b=0.013{\times}TSI(Chl-a)+2.36$, p=0.013] by the variation of TSI (Chl-a). The proportion of DELT abnormality increased as the trophic state increases in the reservoirs. The overall data suggest that the growth of the fish populations, based on the length-weight relations and condition factor, reflected the trophic state of nutrient and phytoplankton biomass of the reservoir waters. Thus, in spite of the tolerant characteristics of Z. platypus, hypertrophic states might negatively affect the health of the population.

• 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.