• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.218-231
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• 2012

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the physico-chemical water quality, trophic and tolerance guilds in the control ($C_o$) and impacted streams of the abandoned mine, along with the ecological health, using a multimetric health model and physical habitat conditions of Qualitative Habitat Evaluation Index (QHEI), during the period of three years, 2005~2007. Also, eco-toxicity ($EE_t$) enclosure tests were conducted to examine the toxic effects on the outflows from the mine wastewater, using the sentinel species of Rhynchocypris oxycephalus, and we compared the biological responses of the control ($C_o$) and treatment (T) to the effluents through a Necropybased Health Assessment Index ($N_b$-HAI). Tissue impact analysis of the spleen, kidney, gill, liver, eyes, and fins were conducted in the controlled enclosure experiments (10 individuals). According to the comparisons of the control ($C_o$) vs. the treatment (T) in physicochemical water quality, outflows from the abandoned mine resulted in low pH of 3.2, strong acid wastewater, high ionic concentrations, based on an electrical conductivity, and high total dissolved solid (TDS). Physical habitat assessments, based on Qualitative Habitat Evaluation Index (QHEI) did not show any statistical differences (p>0.05) in the sampling sites, whereas, the $M_m$-EH model values in a multimetric ecological health ($M_m$-EH) model of the Index of Biological Integrity (IBI), using fish assemblages, were 16~20 (fair condition) in the control and all zero (0, poor condition) in the impacted sites of mine wastewater. In addition, in enclosure eco-toxicity ($EE_t$) tests, the model values of $N_b$-HAI ranged between 0 and 3 in the controls during the three years, indicating an excellent~good condition (Ex~G), and were >100 (range: 100~137) in the impacted sites, which indicates a poor condition (P). Under the circumstances, organ tissues, such as the liver, kidney, and gills were largely impaired, so that efficient water quality managements are required in the outflow area of the abandoned mine watershed.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.15 no.2 s.69
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• pp.225-230
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• 2005

The aim of this study was to examine the fluctuation in phytoplankton assemblages with regarding to environmental conditions and nutrients, which were surveyed quarterly over the fours seasons (February, May, July, and October). In turn, an understanding of biological effects should provide insights into a wide range of initiated Cochlodinium blooms in Narodo. Sampling was carried out throughout 2001 on the coasts of Busan (St. 1), Yeosu (St. 2), Narodo (St. 3), Kohung (St. 4), and Kwangdo (St. 5). The maximum surface water temperature was recorded in July, and it ranged from 20 to $22^{\circ}C$. Salinity showed no great variation, which maintained itself in the range of 29-34 psu. The maximum surface salinity was recorded in February, which was about 34 psu. The chlorophyll $\alpha$ concentration of the surface water ranged from 0.01 to $1.3\;{\mu}g\;1^{-1}$. The concentrations of $NH_{4}-N $ were persistently high from February to October; in particular, the peak was observed at St. 1 in February and May (0.15 and $0.19\;{\mu}mol\;1^{-1}$, respectively), while it was detected at St. 2 in July and October (0.22 and $2.2\;{\mu}mol\;1^{-1}$ respectively). Similar trends to those for $NH_4-N $ were observed in the concentrations of $NO_{2}-N$ and $NO_{3}-N$. In contrast to nitrogen, a distinct peak of $NO_{4}-P$ at St. 3, 4, and 5 was observed throughout year $(0.01-0.1\;{\mu}mol\;1^{-1}$ except for October. At St. 1 encounter a peak of cell number of 30,000 and $13{\times}10^3$ cells $1^{-1}$, respectively, in July and October. During the period of this study, the majority of the taxa were diatoms. The dinoflagellates were rather abundant after February, in particular at St. 3, 4, and 5 which attained an abundance of $10\~20\%$without marked fluctuation during the period of this study. At St. 3, the highest average cell width, $178.11\;{\mu}m$, was recorded: the highest cell length, $337.72\;{\mu}m$, was measured in July. Consequently, dinoflagellates bloom in July at Narodo influenced by warm water current are not only associated with a desirable development of cell morphometric characteristics, but also with the health growth of C. polykrikoides. During the period of this study, warm water currents caused an increased water temperature in Narodo, but did not change the amount of nutrients.