• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.603-617
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• 2018

This study surveyed the diversity and community characteristics of benthic macroinvertebrates and freshwater fish, which are the main animal classifications in a hydro ecosystem, from May to September 2017 in the western plains of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). The results showed a total of 125 species of benthic macroinvertebrates belonging to 66 families, 19 orders, and four phyla in the streams and wetlands. Among benthic macroinvertebrates, Coleoptera (27 spp.: 21.60%) was the largest group in terms of species richness followed by Odonata (26 spp.: 20.80%), non-Insecta (22 spp.: 17.60%), and Hemiptera (11 spp.: 8.80%) occupying in the lentic area. Of the feeding function groups (FFGs), predators (51 spp.: 56.67%) showed a relatively larger presence, indicating the dominance of hygrophilous invertebrates that usually inhabit the freshwater wetlands or ponds. Of the habitat oriented groups (HOGs), climbers (33 spp.: 24.44%) and burrowers (17 spp.: 12.59%) were the dominant groups. This observation is typical in a slow flowing habitat and can lead to the disturbance of the ecosystem due to cannibalism among predators. Cannibalism can be caused by stress induced by various population and environmental factors. For the ecosystem services benchmark (ESB) value, site 13 appeared to be the highest with 82 marks while other sites showed relatively lower rates and indices (III water quality class with ${\alpha}$-mesosaprobic). The analysis result of stability factors showed that almost all sites were evaluated to be the I characteristic group with high resilience and resistance or the III characteristic group that was sensitive to environmental disturbance and formed uneven and unstable communities. Of the freshwater fishes, 46 species (3,405 individuals) belonging to 39 families and 18 orders were identified in all the investigated sites. Among them, Cyprinidae (30 spp.: 65.2%) was the largest group, and Zacco koreanus was identified as the dominant species (728 individuals, 21.4%). The survey of freshwater fish communities found both stable communities (sites 7 and 13) with low dominant index (0.39) and high diversity index (2.29) and unstable communities (sites 2, 3, 8, and 10) in opposite tendency. This survey found five Korean endemic species, 17 species belonging to the export controlled species, two endangered species level II (Lethocerus deyrollei and Cybister chinensis), and rare species (Dytiscus marginalis czerskii) among benthic macroinvertebrates. The survey also found an invasive species, Ampullarius insularus, which was distributed throughout the whole area and thus can continuously disturb the ecosystem in the western plain area in the DMZ. Of freshwater fish, one natural monument (Hemibarbus mylodon) and three endangered species level II (Acheilognathus signifer, Gobiobotia macrocephalus, and G. brevibarba) were observed. The survey also found four introduced species (Pomacea canaliculate, Carassius cuvieri, Lepomis macrochirus, Micropterus salmoides) in the western DMZ area, indicating the need for the protection and conservation measures.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.410-420
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• 2015

In order to estimate the influence of environmental factors on zooplankton communities in lentic freshwater ecosystems, 20 reservoirs and wetlands were monitored by season in 2013. A total of 109 species of zooplankton were identified during the study period. Zooplankton assemblage showed a different distribution in its density and diversity in accordance with the seasons. In particular, the density of zooplankton (98 species and 603ind. L-1) was the most in autumn when compared to the other seasons. In order to effectively analyze zooplankton distribution that are affected by various environmental factors, a Self-Organizing Map (SOM) was used, which extracts information through competitive and adaptive properties. A total of 11 variables (8 environment factors and 3 groups of zooplankton) were patterned on to the SOM. Based on a U-matrix, four clusters were identified from the model. Among zooplankton communities, rotifer displayed a positive relationship with water temperature, and cladocerans and copepod were positively related to conductivity, chlorophyll a, and nutrient factor (i. e. TN and TP). In contrast, high dissolved oxygen appeared to have a negative effect on zooplankton distribution. Consequently, the SOM results depicted a clear pattern of zooplankton density clusters partitioned by environmental factors, which play a key role in determining the seasonal distribution of zooplankton groups in lentic freshwater ecosystem.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Marine Environment & Energy
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.248-254
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• 2009

Budgets of fresh water, salt, DIP and DIN in the Youngsan river estuary were estimated seasonally in order to clarify the characteristics of material cycling and flux of nutrients with a simple box model. Inflow volumes of freshwater into system was approximately $36.481{\times}10^6{\sim}663.634{\times}10^6m^3/month$ and existing water mass of freshwater in system calculated by salt budget was approximately $2.515{\times}10^6{\sim}5.812{\times}10^6m^3$. Mean residence time of freshwater was calculated to be about 0.26~2.03 day. water exchange $1,248{\times}10^6{\sim}9,489{\times}10^6m^3/month$ assumed with salinity between estuary and adjacent ocean. Inflow mass of DIN and DIN were approximately 76.63~1,149.91 ton/month and 2.91~61.22 ton/month, respectively. Residence times of DIP and DIN were calculated to be 0.45~1.10 day and 0.28~1.92 day, respectively. The ratio of water residence time versus DIP, DIN residence time was calculated that freshwater residence time was longer than DIP, DIN residence time except for summer season. Thus, We assume that circulation of Nutrients in the system will happen rapidly except for summer season. Specially DIP in Winter could assume to outer input source existence because of seawater inflow in system and high DIP concentration in open sea.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.181-192
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• 2014

In Korea, the chemical oxygen demand($COD_{sed}$) in freshwater sediments has been measured by the potassium permanganate method used for marine sediment because of the absence of authorized analytical method. However, this method has not been fully verified for the freshwater sediment. Therefore, the use or modification of the potassium permanganate method or the development of the new $COD_{sed}$ analytical method may be necessary. In this study, two modified $COD_{sed}$ analytical methods such as the modified potassium permanganate method for $COD_{Mn}$ and the modified closed reflux method using potassium dichromate for $COD_{Cr}$ were compared. In the preliminary experiment to estimate the capability of the two oxidants for glucose oxidation, $COD_{Mn}$ and $COD_{Cr}$ were about 70% and 100% of theoretical oxygen demand(ThOD), respectively, indicating that $COD_{Cr}$ was very close to the ThOD. The effective titration ranges in $COD_{Mn}$ and $COD_{Cr}$ were 3.2 to 7.5 mL and 1.0 to 5.0 mL for glucose, 4.3 to 7.5 mL and 1.4 to 4.3 mL for lake sediment, and 2.5 to 5.8 mL and 3.6 to 4.5 mL for river sediment, respectively, within 10% errors. For estimating $COD_{sed}$ recovery(%) in glucose-spiked sediment after aging for 1 day, the mass balances of the $COD_{Mn}$ and $COD_{Cr}$ among glucose, sediments and glucose-spiked sediments were compared. The recoveries of $COD_{Mn}$ and $COD_{Cr}$ were 78% and 78% in glucose-spiked river sediments, 91% and 86% in glucose-spiked lake sediments, 97% and 104% in glucose-spiked sand, and 134% and 107% in glucose-spiked clay, respectively. In conclusion, both methods have high confidence levels in terms of analytical methodology but show significant different $COD_{sed}$ concentrations due to difference in the oxidation powers of the oxidants.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.23 no.8
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• pp.697-706
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• 2002

Authigenic siderite grains, ranging 100 to 250-${\mu}$m in diameter, are abundant in an about 8,600-year-old sediment layer in Namyang Bay, west coast of Korea. The siderites exhibit the aggregated spherulitic morphology with well-developed rhombs on the grain surfaces. They consist mostly of FeCO$_3$ (average, 65%) and MnCO$_3$ (average, 22%) with low Mg/Ca ratio (less than 0.4) in their bulk composition. A series of compositional ternary discrimination diagrams, together with high Mn and low Mg contents, show that only meteoric porewater was involved in siderite precipitation, assuming that depositional environment of host sediment is an organic-rich freshwater system. Considering a series of results such as radiocarbon age, authigenic Mn-rich siderite and lithological features, siderite-hosting sediment (unit Tl) is interpreted as freshwater swamp or bog deposition, infilling the topographic depressions that locally existed before the formation of mid-to-late Holocene tidal deposits. Center-to-margin compositional variation within individual grain is very systematic; Mn and Ca decrease towards the margin of a siderite grain, while Fe and Mg increase. It suggests that the spherulitic siderites were precipitated in this sedimentary layer in a series during the early diagenesis of MnOx-FeOx reduction under steady-state.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.738-749
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• 2016

To understand the characteristics of the spatio-temporal distribution of phytoplankton after barrage construction in the Nakdong River Estuary, this study investigated relevant environmental parameters and phytoplankton status based on bi-monthly samples collected from the Nakdong River Estuary itself from February 2013 to December 2015. Environmental parameters did not differ significantly across these years but did vary between zones and seasons. The results suggested that the upper zone was dominated by fresh-water diatoms, green algae, and blue-green algae, whereas the lower zone was mostly dominated by dinoflagellates. The presence of Stephanodiscus spp., Asterionellopsis formosa, and Microcystis spp. in the upper zone was related to the inflow of freshwater discharge by artificial control of dyke gates. The dominant phytoplankton species in this zone were dependent on temperature, wind speed, DIP, and DIN, while those in the lower zone were mostly dependent on nutrients and wind speed. In addition, at the lower zone, there were negative correlations between Prorocentrum donghaiense, DIN, and wind speed, with its abundance being higher during the summer than other seasons. Analysis of temporal variations did not indicate any significant differences in the upper zone but did reveal variations among seasons at the lower zone. Except in 2014, the lower zone could be divided into periods dominated by diatoms (October-April) and dinoflagellates (June-August). These results suggest that the characteristics of the phytoplankton community were influenced by changes in the inflow of freshwater species and nutrients given the difference in the range affected by freshwater discharge.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.402-410
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• 2013

In this study, to identify ichthyofauna of the Seomjin River, which has no barrage at estuary, and to estimate effect of estuary barrage, fish sampling was conducted at 16 study sites in mainstream of the Seomjin River from 2010 to 2012. A total of 54 species classified into 17 families were collected. Cyprinidae was the dominant family and Zacco platypus (relative abundance, RA: 47.8%) was identified as the dominant species. In total, 17 Korean endemic species (31.5%) were collected, and it is higher than the average endemic rate of Korean peninsula (22.5~25.9%). Although the relative abundance of exotic species (1.1%) was low, it is higher than the past studies (2002: 0.0%, 2009: 0.4%). Dominance index of freshwater region (St.4~St.16) was relatively higher than estuary (St.1~St.3), because Z. platypus showed high relative abundance at freshwater region. But diversity and evenness index showed contradictory results, as estuary was higher than freshwater region. The ratios of sea fish, peripheral freshwater fish and economic fish, and diversity index are higher than the Nakdong River, the Yeongsan River and the Geum River. In conclusion, to conserve the value of the Seomjin River ichthyofauna, continuous monitoring is necessary.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.54 no.6
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• pp.699-707
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• 2021

Hwajinpo Lagoon, located on the eastern coast of Korea, is a unique environment where freshwater and saltwater are mixed. Systematic management of the lagoon is required because it is a biodiversity-rich and area of high conservation value. The existing environment of the lagoon was evaluated by identifying the distribution of the groundwater level and groundwater flow characteristics. In addition, hydrogeochemical fluctuations were analyzed to determine the effect of seawater intrusion into the aquifer. The results demonstrate that the freshwater-saltwater interface is distributed throughout the aquifer and rises when water of the lagoon evaporates due to prolonged periods of low rainfall and high temperature, thereby increasing the possibility of seawater inflow through groundwater. As for the ionic delta properties (difference between the measured and theoretical concentration of mixed waters), it was estimated that the cation-exchange and precipitation reactions occurred in the aquifer due to seawater intrusion. The ratio of seawater mixed at each point was calculated, using oxygen isotopes and chloride as tracers, resulting in an average of 0.3 and a maximum of 0.87. The overall seawater mixing ratio appears to be distributed according to the distance from the coast. However, some of the results were deviated from the theoretical expectations and reflected the characteristics of the nearby aquifers. Further research on seasonal changes and simulation of seawater intrusion mechanisms is required for specific analysis.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.661-672
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• 2017

Endophytic fungi are present in host plants and contribute to resistance to biotic and abiotic stress. Aquatic plants are living in aquatic environment such as saltwater or freshwater and exposed more water stress than other land plants. In this study, we investigated 4 wetlands in Jeju and collected 11 aquatic plants. Exogenous microbes were removed by preprocessing of plants and endophytic fungal strains were isolated from the plants. We isolated 126 fungal strains from Namsaengi-pond, 22 fungal strains from Sujangdong-marsh, 44 fungal strains from Yongsu-reservoir and 32 fungal strains from Gangjeongcheon. The fungal strains were identified using internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region and analyzed the phylogeny and diversity. Endophytic fungi isolated from plants of Namsaengi-pond were classified to 30 genera, 19 families, 12 orders, 7 classes and 4 phyla. Endophytic fungi of Sujangdong-marsh were classified to 11 genera, 11 families, 6 orders, 5 classes and 4 phyla. Endophytic fungi of Yongsu-reservoir were classified to 13 genera, 12 families, 7 orders, 5 classes and 4 phyla. Endophytic fungi isolated from Gangjeongcheon were classified to 9 genera, 7 families, 5 orders, 2 classes and 1 phyla. Overall, they were divided 40 genera and Alternaria, Colletotrichum and Fusarium were isolated from 4 sites in common. By investigating the endophytic fungi in aquatic plants, it is for baseline data that determination of diversity and the ecological distribution of endophytic fungi.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.115-125
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• 2001

To examine the movement of the freshwater discharged artificially into the estuary during ebbing period in the Keum River dike we observed surface salinity variations in three stations along the estuary channel in May 1998 and July 1997 and surface temperature and salinity along the ferry-route between Kunsan and Changhang during eighteen days in July 1999. Based upon the typical features of observed salinity variation, we analyzed the excursion and decay processes of the discharged water. When freshwater is discharged, the low-salinity water forms strong salinity front over the entire estuary width, which basically moves forth and back by tidal modulation along the channel, producing the sudden change of surface salinity with the front passage. Salinity distribution along the channel, which is deduced from time variation of mean salinity over the estuary width, after one tidal period from gate operation suggests that diluted low-salinity water is trapped to the front and surface salinity increases gradually toward the upstream region. This frontal distribution of salinity is interpreted to be produced by the sudden gate operation supplying and stopping of freshwater within about two hours. Daily repeat of freshwater discharge produces separation (double front) or merge between decaying and new-generated fronts depending on dike-gate opening time, and the front decays with salinity increasing if the freshwater supply is stopped more than two days. In addition, the observed fluctuations and deviations in surface salinity variation is explained in terms of the differences of fronts intensity, their transition time and temporal salinity front running along the channel, which can be generated due to artificial gate-operation for the discharging time and water volume in the estuary dike.