• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.212-220
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• 2018

Ecological and ecosystem database is becoming very necessary to understand origins and relationship between human and nature and also to minimize disturbance caused by human activities. An ecological information portal can play important roles as a computing system to collect knowledge, distributed research findings and separated data from researchers. In this study, we designed and developed ecological information portal service (EcoBank 1.0) for collecting and providing ecological information for diverse classes of stakeholders. To reach the goal, we had reviewed related and comparable ecological database portals to design conceptual structure of EcoBank system including database management framework. Then, we developed some functions of ecosystem analysis for each stake-holders (researchers, general public and policy makers). As a result of this study, we successfully designed of EcoBank system covering the functions of Digital Object Identifier(DOI) publishing and data quality management process. Also, we (1) applied ecological indices for calculating biodiversity by administrative boundary for policy makers, (2) provided statistical information of econature map for general public and distribution characteristics of species for researchers. To make a successful establishment of EcoBank, we have to collect and build up related database and offer various and reliable ecological data consistently. We expect that the successful construction of EcoBank will help not only to accomplish sustainable development goals but also to raise the welfare of ecosystem in Korea.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.124-127
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• 2009

The aim of this study is to evaluate the estrogenic activity of Cucurbita pepo seed extract which includes ${\beta}-sitosterol$ and other phytosterols. Sample was extracted from Cucurbita pepo seed by supercritical carbondioxide method and resuspended with ethanol. Estrogenic activity was measured by recombinant yeast assay which detects estrogenic activity using recombinant yeast with high level of estrogenic receptor. However, estrogenic activity of pumpkin seed extract was not found in this study. Based on this data, pumpkin seed extract will not cause estrogenic disturbance.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.389-403
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• 2011

Studies on effects of human action on the destruction of ecosystems and changes in biodiversity are being processed actively from the view point of landscape ecology. This study investigated present distribution status of the naturalization plant by disturbance of natural ecosystem which could be seen on 35 rural villages in Korea. The study made a landuse map on the study area then quantified the landscape ecologic characteristic using landscape index based on this landuse map. Correlation between landscape index on the study area and distribution characteristic of naturalization plant was analyzed. The landscape index was calculated by FRAGSTATS, a spatial analysis program, and naturalization index and urbanization index were used in the distribution characteristic of naturalization plant. As a result, naturalization index and patch density, naturalization index and edge density, naturalization index and area-weighted mean shape index were shown as having positive correlation, and naturalization and core area percentage of landscape, naturalization index and mean core area were displayed as having negative correlation.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.366-377
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• 2010

We surveyed 553 middle school students living in Incheon using questionnaires to compare their food behaviors and snack intake patterns according to weight groups based on BMI. Mean BMI was 20.3 for males and 19.6 for females. The rate of underweight, normalweight and overweight students was 33.3, 51.7, and 15.0%, respectively. Compared to the other two groups, the overweight students perceived their body shape more accurately (p<0.01). Regarding the reasons for skipping dinner, the most frequent answer by the underweight students was 'because of snacks', while that of the overweight students was 'to lose weight' (p<0.01). The normalweight students were found to eat a Korean traditional type breakfast more frequently than the other weight groups (p<0.05). The overweight female group was more likely to overeathabitually, whereas the normalweight and underweight groups tended to overeat when they were under stress (p<0.05). As for the amount of the snack intake, the overweight male students replied that they eat quite a lot of snacks. As a conclusion, the problems found in the underweight group were unbalanced diet and the disturbance of regular meal patterns due to inappropriate snack intake. The problems shown in the overweight group were overeating due to habit or stress, fast eating speed and large amount of snack intake.

• Ecology and Resilient Infrastructure
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.145-159
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• 2020

Wetlands are vulnerable to biological invasion by alien species, because they function as sinks that accumulate excess water, sediments, nutrients, and other contaminants from the surrounding watersheds by disturbance. In this study, to understand the status and characteristics of the alien plants based on the type of wetlands, we classified 24 ecologically outstanding wetlands and analyzed the status of alien flora. A total of 130 alien plants were found in the wetlands, accounting for 11% of the total plant species. Among them, the Asteraceae species was the most diverse, with 40 species. Erigeron annuus and Oenothera ordorata had the highest frequency of occurrence. The species richness of alien plants in the riverine and lacustrine wetlands (average: 30 species) was higher than that in the mountainous palustrine wetlands (average: 10 species). The same results were found in the naturalization index, urbanization index, and ratio of annuals and biennials, which indicate the degree of artificial interference. In the cluster analysis, the riverine and lacustrine wetlands were combined, and only the mountainous palustrine wetlands were separated. The number of alien plants is remarkably low in the mountainous palustrine wetlands, and it is considered to be the influence of Erigeron strigosus, Symphytum officinale, and Bilderdykia convolvulus, not found in the other types of wetlands. In particular, invasive alien plants such as Aster pilosus, Ambrosia trifida, Sicyos angulatus, Ambrosia artemisiifolia var. elatior were found intensively in the riverine wetlands. Therefore, it is considered that a methodical management is urgently required considering the dispersal of alien plants in the riverine and lacustrine wetlands with high artificial interference.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.242-254
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• 2010

Streams changed by artificial factor those support positive functions but also negative function to humanbeing. Time and pathway exceed the lost of structure and negative function appearing as disturbance. Therefore, it is desirable to prepare right situation to break of a vicious circle. Stream ecology was evaluated with using ichthyofauna during three years at the three disturbed sites and reference sites in Nakdong River. Forty-one species belonging three orders and ten families were identified in six surveying sites of Nakdong River during 2007~2009. Korean endemic species (14 species, 34.1%) and alien (3 species, 7.3%) were identified in Nakdong River ichthyofauna. Species number, species diversity, ecosystem structure and habitat variability of ecosystem were applied to evaluate stream ecosystem. In view of three year comprehended data at six sites; numeric instability appeared Andong Dam and Naeseongcheon sites worse than Gamcheon and reference site, otherwise more numeric diversity appeared Gamcheon and reference site than Andong Dam and Naeseongcheon. As a result of integration, sand stream including downstream of Andong dam, Naeseongcheon and Gamcheon has been having more diversified biodiversity and habitat diversity than those in the pebble stream.

• Ecology and Resilient Infrastructure
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.83-92
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• 2022

The 2020 summer extreme flood severely disturbed the riparian ecosystem of the Seomjin River. Some trees were killed by the flood impact, whereas others have recovered through epicormic regeneration after the disturbance. At the same time, several tree individuals newly germinated. This research aimed to explain the recovery of the riparian ecosystem by spatial proximity between each tree individual of different characteristics, such as "dead", "recovered", and "newly germinated". A spatial point pattern analysis based on K and g-functions revealed that the newly germinated trees and the existing trees were distributed in the spatially clumping patterns. However, further detailed analysis revealed that the new trees were statistically less attracted to the recovered trees than the dead trees, implying competitive interactions hidden in the facilitative interactions. Habitat amelioration by the existing trees positively affected the growth of the new trees, while "living" existing trees were competing with the new trees for resources. This research is expected to provide new knowledge in this era of rapid climate change, which likely induces stronger and more frequent natural disturbance than before. Environmental factors have been widely used for ecosystem modeling, but species interactions, represented by the relative spatial distribution of plant individuals, are also valuable factors explaining ecosystem dynamics.

• Ecology and Resilient Infrastructure
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.73-84
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• 2023

The objective of this study was to evaluate biodiversity and natural habitat environment of freshwater ecosystem. Our aim was therefore to produce a set of biodiversity and habitat indicators based on multi-parameters of water quality and biodiversity by analyzing the characteristics of the results by indicators. We selected four indicators a) anthropogenic disturbance, b) habitat diversity, c) biodiversity, d) ecosystem structure. The fishes cohabiting with Brachymystax lenok tsinlingensis were Rhynchocypris kumgangensis and Zacco koreanus. As a result of the anthropogenic disturbance evaluation, it was analyzed that vegetation embankment showed a more stable environment in the tributary than the main stream, and other disturbance was not confirmed As a result of the habitat diversity evaluation, it was analyzed that habitat evaluation index showed a high score of 200 more on average, showing an optimal habitat condition. As a result of the biodiversity evaluation, it was analyzed as a clean habitat condition with a high proportion of sensitive species, abundant dissolved oxygen, and little pollutants. As a results of the ecosystem structure, the ecological health condition metrics and appearance of endangered species showed large score deviation, but it was analyzed that the stream ecosystem health was generally excellent. There was a slight correlation between the habitat environment and the results of the nature habitat evaluation according to the appearance of the B. lenok tsinlingensis.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.279-289
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• 2012

This study conducted a comparative analysis of benthic macroinvertebrate communities in the Fosu and Benya lagoons in Ghana, based on the anthropogenic effect on the two lagoons. Salinity, oxygen, temperature, conductivity, turbidity and pH were measured, invertebrate richness and species densities were determined. The AZTI Marine Biotic Index (AMBI) and multivariate statistics were used to determine the different responses of fauna to pollution. The fauna were categorized into five ecological groups based on the degree of tolerance of the different species to pollution: disturbance-sensitive species; disturbance-indifferent species, disturbance-tolerant species, second-order opportunistic species; and first-order opportunistic species. The Fosu Lagoon supported more pollution tolerant species, whereas the Benya Lagoon had more species that were sensitive to organic enrichment under relatively unpolluted conditions. Chironomus sp., which is adapted to virtually anoxic conditions, was the most abundant in the Fosu Lagoon whereas Nemertea sp. was the most abundant in the Benya Lagoon. The numerical and relative abundance (%) of all 7 taxa in the Fosu Lagoon was 1,359 and 92.35%, respectively. The numerical and relative abundance (%) of all 34 taxa in the Benya Lagoon was 2,459 and 87.52%, respectively. Expectedly, the level of dissolved oxygen in the less saline Fosu Lagoon was higher than that in the more saline Benya Lagoon. The reduced photoperiod and photosynthetic activities of aquatic plants might account for this trend. There is a need to implement comprehensive monitoring and management initiatives for sustaining the ecological health of coastal lagoons in Ghana in order to support the many people that depend upon these ecosystems for their livelihood.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.207-225
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• 2013

Current ecological stream restoration is focusing on recovery of physical characteristic and ecological functions of individual stream. For effective stream restoration, the relationship between stream environment and riparian flora should be investigated. The purpose of this study is to analyze the relationship between disturbance of hydromorphological structures and naturalized plants ratio in small to mid-sized streams. For the study sites, Gwanpyeong stream, Dongdal stream, and Yongchoo streams were chosen as 'reference stream' while, Gunnam stream, Anchang stream, and Hwa stream were chosen as 'damaged stream'. The hydromorphological structures of streams were evaluated with LAWA and flora of the streams were completely enumerated to calculate naturalized plants ratio. The result showed that there was a significant correlation between the outcome of LAWA and naturalized plants ratio(r=0.675, p<0.01). The result of factor analysis of LAWA identified three factors, 'River front and land use', 'River bed materials and structures', and 'Crossing structure and bar'. Among the factors of hydromorphological structures given by the result of factor analysis, 'river front and land use' and 'bed materials and structures' have statistically significant relationship with naturalized plants ratio($R^2$=0.470, p<0.01). Given this results, quantitative analysis on the relationship between disturbance of hydromorphological structures of streams and naturalized plants ratio could provide some essential information for stream restoration. Also, as this study figured out major factors of hydromorphological structures that affect naturalized plants ratio, it might help monitor ecological states and current problems of small and mid-sized streams.