• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.36 no.1 s.102
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• pp.38-47
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• 2003

The water quality of the Pyeongtaek Reservoir and its main streams has been eval uated far water pollution state in March, June, September and December,2000. The following are the findings: $NH_4$ accounts for the majority of TN in the inflow streams. In the reservoir, TN and $NH_4$ are the more present in the winter season and less in the summer season, with $1.6{\sim}2.4$ times of $NO_3$ and $5.3{\sim}11.4$ times of $NO_2$ found in December and June compared with other seasons. The concentration of each component is different between streams: $NH_4$ among inorganic nitrogen has the highest concentration in the upstream, and $NO_3$ is more prevalent in the downstream. SRP accounts for $25{\sim}69%$ of TP in the stream. Unlike N component, P component in the reservoir rapidly decreases from upstream toward downstream, except in the summer. Average SRSi slightly increases in the fall, i.e., immediately after rainfall. In the streams, the average concentration of chlorophyll-a ranges from 9 to $33{\mu}g/l$, and is relatively high in the downstream. In contrast, in the reservoir, it is the highest in the upstream where $NH_4$ and SRP are frequently found. In particular, diatom and cryptomonad algae are bloomed in March, and blue-green algae in September; their maximum values are $108{\mu}g/l$ and $130{\mu}g/l$, respectively. Considering the concentration of N and P nutrients, pollution loads can affect the Pyeongtaek Reservoir in the downstream in this order: Ansong Stream

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.102-109
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• 2016

The sustainability of Iris koreana, a rare and endemic plant designated by the Korea Forest Service, is threatened due to artificial factors such as habitats loss and climate change etc. and internal factors such as changes in biological properties of the habitats etc. but conservation biology research has not been performed in South Korea. The objective of this study is to establish the species conservation strategies by analyzing the characteristics of their habitats, including: 1) Population characteristics, and 2) habitat analysis of the vegetation and abiotic environments. From April to May, 2015, population characteristics [density (stems $m^{-2}$), flowering rate (%) and leaf area size ($cm^2$)] in I. koreana habitats such as Buan1~6 (BA1~6), Jangseong1~2 (JS1~2) and vegetation characteristics (phytosociological research and ordination analysis), and abiotic environments [soil temperature ($^{\circ}C$), soil humidity (%), transmitted light ($mol{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}d^{-1}$) and canopy openness (%)] were measured. I. koreana was mainly distributed at elevation 50 to 150 m and 2 to $11^{\circ}$ slope. Slope direction was shown as 90 to $193^{\circ}$. The average degree of canopy openness was 11.9%. It showed the highest at BA2 (17.5) and the lowest at JS1 (7.7). The average degree of transmitted light was $6.3mol{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}d^{-1}$. It showed the highest at BA2 (10.1) and the lowest at JS1 (3.6). Population density showed average 25.8 (stems $m^{-2}$). It showed the highest at JS2 (19.7) and the lowest at JS1 (9.3). flowering stems showed average 16.9 (stems). It showed the highest at BA3 (35) and the lowest at BA5 (4). Leaf area size was average $94.1cm^2$.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.499-506
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• 2013

To estimate the effect of algae to particulate organic matter in the upper regions of brackish Lake Sihwa, temporal and spatial variations of particulate organic carbon (POC) and phytoplankton pigments (chlorophyll a; Chl-a, pheophytin-a; Pheo-a), and their relationships were studied at seven sites of the brackish regions from March to October 2005 and 2006. POC concentration varied from 1.0 to $76.6mgL^{-1}$ (mean $7.4mgL^{-1}$), with maximal concentrations occurring in the middle parts of the study area in spring of 2005 and 2006. Concentrations of Chl-a and Pheo-a varied from 1.3 to $942.9{\mu}gL^{-1}$ (mean $71.0{\mu}gL^{-1}$) and $1.4{\sim}1,545.5{\mu}gL^{-1}$ (mean $59.9{\mu}gL^{-1}$), respectively, and corresponded closely with variation in POC. During the study period Pheo-a concentration was 44.2% of total Chl-a, implying that non-living or inactive phytoplankton is also the important part of phytoplankton-derived POC in brackish regions of Lake Sihwa. From the positive linear relationships between POC and phytoplankton pigments (POC with Chl-a (r=0.93), total Chl-a (r=0.88), and Pheo-a (r=0.81)), it is suggested that phytoplankton was a significant component of POC in the upper regions of brackish Lake Sihwa. On the other hand, the ratios of POC/Chl-a and POC/total Chl-a (Chl-a+Pheo-a) were 82.9 and 35.9, respectively. The ratio of POC/total Chl-a is similar to those reported in previous studies, including 40~60 in estuaries. This study suggests that Pheo-a concentration is considered in estimation of POC concentration from phytoplankton pigments in aquatic systems with high content of Pheo-a, like an upper region of blackish Lake Sihwa.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.215-224
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• 2013

We clarified the background for establishment of vegetation by comparing the spatial distribution maps of vegetation and substrate on a gravel bar in the Bangtae stream located on Inje-gun of Gangwon-do, the central eastern Korea. The total vegetation coverage was higher in the interior and lower in the marginal parts of the gravel bar. Spatial distribution of vegetation on the longitudinal section of the gravel bar tended to be arranged in the order of shrub, subtree, and tree dominated vegetation types from the front (upstream) toward the rear (downstream) parts. Coverage of the herbaceous plants was higher in the central and rear parts and lower in the front and right parts of the gravel bar. Vegetation height was higher in the rear part and became lowered as move toward the front part. Substrate was distributed in the order of boulder, gravel, sand, and boulder from the front toward the rear parts. Ordination of stands based on vegetation data was arranged in the order of annual plant, perennial herb, shrub, and tree dominated vegetation as move from the right to the left parts on the axis I. Species richness was higher in the order of Pinus densiflora community, Phragmites japonica community, Salix gracilistyla community, Fraxinus rhynchophylla community, annual plant dominated vegetation, and Prunus padus for. padus community based on the species rank-abundance curve. The order based on the Shannon's index was some different; diversity of Phragmites japonica community and Salix gracilistyla community, which showed higher dominance degree, were low differently from species richness. In conclusion, it was evaluated that the gravel bar newly established toward the upstream and vegetation dynamics of the gravel bar seemed to follow ecosystem mechanisms of succession. As were shown in the above results, the Bangtae stream corresponded to the upstream and thereby particle size of substrate was big. Therefore, they move by rolling and are accumulated for the upstream. Vegetation types were arranged in the order of woodland, shrub-land and grassland from the rear toward the front parts of the gravel bar and thereby reflected the formation process of the bar. However, the gravel bar is disturbed frequently by not only the running water but also the suspended sand as the dynamic space. Such disturbances cause habitat diversity and consequently led to high biodiversity.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.561-569
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• 2013

This study examines locational environment factors that may affect the vegetation structure in the forests of Naejang National Park. To that end, we selected LAI (Leaf Area Index), diameter at breast height, and tree height as structural variables as well as altitude above sea level, gradient, slope direction, soil moisture, topographic location, and amount of solar radiation as locational environment factors, using the method of canonical correlation analysis in order to find out correlation between them. As to the simple correlation between the locational environment factors and structural variables, the correlation coefficient was relatively low (0.6). The values of LAI, measured along the ridge with higher altitudes, decreased as the soil moisture and solar radiation increased. However, LAI increased as the gradient increased and the slope direction faced the north (farther from the east). In respect of the diameter at breast height, the diameter decreased as the altitude and gradient increased. But the diameter increased as the moisture and solar radiation increased. The tree height decreased as the moisture increased and the site was closer to the ridge. These various correlations show a variety of locational environment factors in the national park, implying that the structural variables are affected by complex locational environment factors. This study conducted a canonical correlation analysis on locational environment factors which may affect the vegetation structure, and the result showed that LAI increased and tree height & diameter at breast height decreased as the solar radiation & moisture decreased and altitude increased. Although more factors that may affect vegetation structure (e.g. climate) should be taken into account, this study is significant in that the vegetation structure, which can adapt to more unfavorable conditions in terms of solar radiation, moisture, and higher altitudes, could be inferred in a statistical way. The results of this study, especially the locational environment factors based on DEM, can be used for assessing diversity of vegetation structure in a forest and for monitoring the structure in a national park on a regular basis so as to establish more effective maintenance plans of a park.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.38 no.4 s.114
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• pp.482-493
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• 2005

The objective of this research was to evaluate an sampling effect of fish species and individual number on sampling techniques of electrofishing and conventional capture methods of cast net and kick net in 38 stream sites sampled during June - September, 2005. For the study, sampling gears were categorized as three types of electrofishing method (EM), conventional sampling technique (CM), and the combined technique (CT) of the electrofishing and the conventional method to compare statistical differences. Major differences of species composition between the CM and EM method were found in some benthic species of Misgurnus mizolepis and Iksookimia koreensis along with lithophilic species of Pungtungia herzi. These species were predominated in the EM rather than the CM, indicating that conventional sampling can underestimate the abundance of benthic or lithophilic species. In contrast ,individual number of typical water column species such as Zacco platypus and Zacco temmincki were more sampled by the CM, so that these fish populations were community overestimated. Also, t-tests on the types of sampling gear from various watersheds of Chogang Stream, Yugu Stream, Daejeon Stream, and Gap Stream showed that total individual numbers and species number in each stream were significantly (t values = 2.806-6.896, p values<0.05, n = 5-14) greater in the CT than the CM. Similar statistical significance (p<1.001, n = (10-24) on sampling seasons were observed during the monsoon and postmonsoon. These results indicate that if the electrofishing is not added to the conventional gears, the abundance of fish population and community can be underestimated and some benthic or lithophilic species may be excluded from the analysis, resulting in overall errors including sampling, fish fauna, and final judgement of community abundance. Overall our results strongly suggest that new application of electrofishing method along with the conventional sampling gears reduce sampling bias on underestimation of the real fish populations and communities.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.33 no.4 s.92
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• pp.374-379
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• 2000

To elucidate the degradation mechanisms of organic materials in Lake Paldang, oxygen consuming rates in the water column, high molecular weight (HMW) organic materials and aggregates were analyzed. Also the chlorophyll a concentrations and environmental factors were measured three times in 1999. The concentrations of chlorophyll a ranged $5.5{\sim}14.2\;mg/m^3$ with the highest peak of $57.7\;mg/m^3$ at the surface water in April. Chlorophyll a concentration of aggregates retrieved from traps in 5 m and 20 m depths in May were 2779.5, $9044.8\;mg/m^3$, respectively. Those vlaues were more than 6 times higher compared with other months, and more than 49 times higher than water column chlorophyll a. Oxygen consuming rates of water column were in the narrow range of $0.4{\sim}0.5\;mg\;O_2\;l^{-1}\;day^{-1}$. HMW organic materials were using only small amount of oxygen, $0.01{\sim}0.04\;mg\;O_2\;l^{-1}\;day^{-1}$. The aggregates retrieved from 5 m depth by sediment trap consumed the oxygen in the range of $0.48{\sim}0.69\;mg\;O_2\;l^{-1}\;day^{-1}$, while aggregates collected from 20 m depth, 0.88 to $1.04\;mg\;O_2\;l^{-1}\;day^{-1}$. With these results, the HMW appeared not to be degraded in the water column, instead they seemed to be concentrated and affected the sediment oxygen demand.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.53-61
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• 2014

The origin of particulate organic matter (POM) and food web structure were investigated in Shingu reservoir based on stable isotope analysis from pre-monsoon (July) to post-monsoon (September) 2007. According to the depth in Shingu reservoir, the $^{13}C$ and $^{15}N$ values of POM for pre-monsoon period were nonsignificant distinction, while it was significant variation after rainfall period. The ${\delta}^{13}C$ values of POM in premonsoon period ranged from -25.1‰ to -26.1‰ in whole water column, but the ${\delta}^{13}C$ values of POM in post-monsoon period showed relatively wide range between -23.2‰ and -27.5‰. The apparently lighter values (average -27.5‰) in near bottom water (7 m water depth) demonstrate that POM in high turbid water in post-monsoon period may be derived from the outside terrestrial plants (allochthonous) through heavy rainfall during the summer monsoon period. After rainfall period, $^{13}C$ and $^{15}N$ values of D. brachyurum showed -23.3‰ and 12.2‰, respectively, while B. longirostris showed -27.1% and 8.7%, respectively. It suggested that D. brachyurum mainly feed on POM in autochthonous organic matter pool, but B. longirostris mainly consumed POM in allochthonous organic matter pool after rainfall period. Carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios were markedly different among secondary consumers. The carp (C. carpio) and catfish (S. asotus) were in the higher trophic level and crucian carp (C. auratus) and mudfish (M. mizolepis) were in the lower trophic level. $^{13}C$ and $^{15}N$ values of Z. platypus didn't significantly changed between before and after rainfall period. But P. parva and C. auratus apparently changed the $^{13}C$ and $^{15}N$ values after rainfall period. It is suggested that P. parva and C. auratus seem to feed allochthonous food source while Z. platypus depend on autochthonous food source.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.153-175
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• 2016

Daecheong Reservoir has suffered eutrophication and water-blooms by blue-green algae from initial impoundment, and algae alert system (AAS) was introduced in 1997. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of rainfall and hydrological factors in increase or decrease variability of green-tide and prolonged AAS, studied and analyzed the current situation of AAS has been operating for 19 years (1997~2015) in Daecheong Reservoir. The total issued number of AAS was 46 times, the most frequent period in August and September were 22 times (752 days) and 16 times (431 days), respectively, it accounted for 82.6%. Many number and frequency during this period were significantly associated with rainfall, various discharge and water level. Rainfall and hydrological events are associated with the rainy season of monsoon-Changma and the typhoon, it was concentrated in June~September, total rainfall in this period accounted for 69.9% of the annual rainfall. An increase in inflows was dependent on the intensity, frequency and the amount of rainfall. Accounted for 68.4% of the total annual inflow, it was a time when the most rapidly changing hydrological variability in the reservoir. The total outflow was closely related to rainfall, and compared the distinctive characteristics of hydropower generation and watergate-spillway discharge. In addition, the upreservoir zone of Daecheong Reservoir could be vulnerable to green-tide by regulating discharge of the upstream dam. The issue of AAS was strongly related to the with and without of watergate-spillway discharge. The watergate-spillway discharge had a total of 25 times, it was maximum 17 days from July to September in the year. And the opening times and each duration of the watergate were 1~4 times and the range of 3~37 days, respectively. When the watergate opened, the issue of AAS was maintained to 13 years and the movement of water bodies and green-tide was great about five times than that of non-open, had a profound effect on prolonged AAS within reservoir. In Daecheong Reservoir, Chusori (CHU) area of the So-ok Stream was still showing serious symptoms green-tide levels in the summer, but Janggye (JAN) waters of the main reservoir was pointed out that more important. AAS will be operated by an absolutely consider the rainfall and hydrological effects around the watergate-spillway discharge. The measures of green-tide will be included in the limnological studies more suited to the characteristics of the watershed and reservoir of the our country. Finally, from now on, we will prepare the systematic management and guidelines for vulnerable zone water-blooms that are the source within the reservoir before the monsoon rather than waiting for the arrival of green-tide on the operating stations of AAS.

• Journal of Environmental Policy
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.31-55
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• 2005

Dangsan forests and Rural Community Forests(RCF) have been historical assets for the rural communities of more than 40,000 in Korea and they have provided an identity through the cultural heritage. The Dangsan forests and the RCF are parts of a unique cultural landscape in the rural areas as components of stream landscape. In many cases, the Dangsan forests and the RCF are located close to stream corridors. The objective of this study was to understand the function of the Dangsan forests and the RCF on stream water quality and to evaluate its ecological landscape values. Through the consideration of international concensus and domestic government policy for close-to-nature stream, we could find out that Dangsan forests and RCF's have close relationship with the close-to-nature streams. The water quality of the streams close to the Dangsan forests and the RCF are maintained with local culture. It is also compared to the streams located where Dangsan forests and the RCF are absent. Eight study sites were selected. Water samples were collected at three different locations at each study site. Water samples were analyzed for temperature, pH, total P, total N, dissolved oxygen, EC, BOD, COD and SS. Aquatic invertebrates were observed as water quality indicator species. The results showed that the number of aquatic invertebrate species, GPI, DO, EC, BOD, and SS were significantly improved in stream water due to the presence of the Dangsan forests and the RCF. The role of Dangsan forests and the RCF was evident in the conservation of stream landscape and rural culture as well as in maintaining stream water quality. The management schemes of the streams with Dangsan forests and the RCF's are also suggested.