• Title/Summary/Keyword: habitat environments

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Ecological Health Assessments, Conservation and Management in Korea Using Fish Multi-Metric Model (어류를 이용한 한국의 하천생태계 건강성 평가)

  • An, Kwang-Guk;Lee, Sang-Jae
    • Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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    • v.51 no.1
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    • pp.86-95
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    • 2018
  • The objective of this study was to describe the development and testing of an initial ecological health assessment model, based on the index of biological integrity (IBI) using fish assemblages, before establishing the final and currently used model for ecological health assessment, conservation and management of freshwater fish in Korea. The initial fish IBI model was developed during 2004~2006 and included 10 metrics, and in 2007 the final IBI 8-metric model was established for application to streams and rivers in four major Korean watersheds. In this paper, we describe how we developed fish sampling methods, determined metric attributes and categorized tolerance guilds and trophic guilds during the development of the multi-metric model. Two of the initial metrics were removed and the initial evaluation categories were reduced from six to four (excellent, good, fair, poor) before establishing the final national fish model. In the development phase, IBI values were compared with chemical parameters (BOD and COD as indicators of organic matter pollution) and physical habitat parameters to identify differences in IBI model values between chemical and physical habitat conditions. These processes undertaken during the development of the IBI model may be helpful in understanding the modifications made and contribute to creating efficient conservation and management strategies for stream environments to be used by limnologists and fish ecologists as well as stream/watershed managers.

Benthic Environment and Macrofaunal Community Changes During the Dike Construction in Saemangeum Subtidal Area, Korea (새만금 방조제공사로 인한 조하대 환경과 저서동물 군집 변화)

  • An, Soon-Mo;Lee, Jae-Hac;Woo, Han-Jun;Koo, Bon-Joo;Lee, Hyung-Gon;Yoo, Jae-Won;Je, Jong-Gil
    • Ocean and Polar Research
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    • v.28 no.4
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    • pp.369-383
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    • 2006
  • The Saemangeum project is one of the biggest reclamation efforts in Korea and may cause coastal ecosystem change due to altered environments and habitat loss. Since February 2002, benthic environment and community structure in the Saemangeum studied area were studied to assess the influence of the project on macrofaunal community. The result of seasonal study from February, 2002 to August 2005 is reported here. Overall, changes of species numbers and dominant species of benthic animals in the periods before (1988) and after $(2002{\sim}2005)$ the Saemangeum dike construction were not evident both inside and outside the dike. However, local environmental and community change were noted The partial completion of Saemangeum dike $(4^{th}\;dike)$ in June 2003 altered water circulation and sediment deposition patterns both inside and outside the dike. Fine sediment was accumulated inside and outside the $4^{th}$ dike while coarse sediment dominated near the main channel (Sinsi gate). Benthic community resl)ended to the altered sediment type in these areas. Species number and diversity in both site was low compared to other sites. The dominant species in these areas were composed of the benthos that had not commonly occurred in the Saemangeum subtidal area.

Ecological Characteristics and Planting Plan by Location Enviornment of Vegetation for Construction of Environmentally Friendly Golf Course - Focused on Cheongdo-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-do - (환경친화적 골프장 조성을 위한 식생입지환경별 생태적 특성과 식재방안 - 경상북도 청도군을 중심으로 -)

  • You, Ju-Han
    • Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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    • v.11 no.4
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    • pp.75-90
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    • 2008
  • The golf course has many problems that are a pollution of river, a extinction of habitat by destructing a forest and a simplication of species composition. Therefore, this study was carried out to examine the ecological characteristics of vascular plants in construct-reserved site of golf course. The results were as follow. The vascular plants were summarized as 342 taxa; 86 families, 231 genera, 295 species, 42 varieties and 5 forma. In the results by the location environments of vegetation, Salix caprea community and wetland species like Persicaria thunbergii were appeared in the swamp. Especially, S. caprea will be made use of promoting a landscape. In the stream, Stephanandra incisa community has a functions like an ecological axis and a corridor of wild animals. The planting technique will be applied to using Atractylodes japonica and Ainsliaea acerifolia in the lower part of Pinus densiflora and Quercus mongolica. Because Rhododendron schlippenbachii and Convallaria keiskei grew by layer in Q. variabilis community, this will be made use of natural vegetation model. The rare plants were 2 taxa; Aristolochia contorta and Iris ensata var. spontanea. To preserve their community, we will prohibit a development and remove a threatening factor. The endemic plants were 4 taxa; Salix caprea, Clematis trichotma, Spiraea prunifolia for. simpliciflora and Weigela subsessilis. The naturalized plants were 19 taxa; Rumex crispus, Bildedykia dumetora and so on. To establish the quantitative management plan, we will obtain a ecological information about a naturalized plants in accumulating by season, community and land use pattern.

Management and Analysis on Ecological Characteristics of the Swamp in Forest - Focused on Southern Parts of Gyeongsangbuk-do - (산림 저습지의 생태적 특성분석 및 관리방안 - 경상북도 남부지역을 중심으로 -)

  • You, Ju-Han;Ra, Jung-Hwa;Jung, Sung-Gwan;Cho, Hyun-Ju
    • Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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    • v.11 no.2
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    • pp.75-86
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    • 2008
  • The wetlands have functions those were retention of diverse biota, purification of water quality, control of climate and flood, eco-tourism and supply of agricultural water, and that was the ecosystem of high biodiversity as the zone of transition between inland and water. Therefore, this study showed the conservation and management plan by analyzing in the abiotic and biotic environment of forest swamp, Gyeongsangbuk-do. The results were as follows. Examining the management plan of the abiotic environment, there will need to establish the hydrological plan in continuous expediting the supply of water to maintain a humid soil of swamp, and to try to find the organic farming, use of low toxic agrichemicals and so on to prevent occurring a non-point source pollutants. To prevent changing the flowing of ground water and inflow of earth and sand in modifying the land character, there will be needed to restrict the construction of farmland and slope around swamp. To manage the biotic environment, there needed to offer the habitat by removing the regular interval and individual of a dead tree, and to improve the growth environment of vegetation. Because the naturalized plants disturb the natural vegetation, they will be removed. The afforested trees like Robinia pseudoacacia and Amorpha truticosa will be renewed to prevent the heterogeneity of landscape ecology, and the active conservation plan on wetland species will be established. As this study was carried out to study on the partial swamp, Gyeongsanbuk-do, the ecological environments distributing a swamp in Korea show a some problem. In the future, the study will accomplish to study the accurately and objectively ecological environment and management of a swamp by analyzing the extensive sites.

Development of an Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay Using Vitellin for Vitellogenin Measurement in the Pale Chub, Zacco platypus

  • Lim, Eun-Suk;Lee, Eun Hee;Kim, Myung Hee;Han, Chang-Hee;Lee, Sung-Kyu;Kim, Jiwon
    • Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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    • v.28
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    • pp.16.1-16.8
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    • 2013
  • Objectives Fish vitellogenin (VTG) is produced in the female liver during oogenesis through the estradiol cycle and produced in the male liver by endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) such as alkylphenols. In this study, we propose that the VTG concentration in the pale chub could be detected using monoclonal antibodies and polyclonal antibodies against vitellin (Vn) in a VTG enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) system. Methods Monoclonal antibodies and polyclonal antibodies were produced using the Vn extracted from the matured ovum of the ovary. The VTG was extracted from the plasma of the male pale chub. The Vn and VTG were confirmed by measuring the molecular weight of their proteins using sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and the specificity of the antibodies was checked through western blotting methods. The assay system was validated with respect to optimal assay concentrations, specificity, recovery, and intra- and inter-assay variations. Results The Vn consisted of two protein bands with apparent molecular weights of 64 and 37 kDa. The SDS-PAGE indicated protein weights of 146 and 77 kDa in the VTG. The assay range was 15.6 ng/mL to 2,000 ng/mL, and the value of the intra- and inter-assay variations were within 10.0% and 14.7%, respectively. The recovery rate was $99.5{\pm}5.5%$. Conclusions A sandwich ELISA was developed that could be used to qualify the VTG of pale chub in screening for EDCs. Pale chub is an ideal species for observing estrogen activity in the environment because of its extensive habitat and extensive food chain. The ELISA developed here would be more favorable than those for other species for determining the effect of long-term food chain accumulation of EDCs in aquatic environments.

Environmental Characteristics and Nature-friendly Planning Strategies for an Urban Stream - The Case of Chuncheon's Gongji Stream - (도시하천의 환경특성과 친자연적 계획전략 - 춘천시 공지천을 대상으로 -)

  • Jo Hyun-Kil;Ahn Tae-Won
    • Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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    • v.34 no.3 s.116
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    • pp.1-11
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    • 2006
  • This study analyzed characteristics of natural and human environments in Chuncheon's Gongji stream, and suggested nature-friendly planning strategies for self-purification of water quality, biodiversity improvement and conservative waterfront recreation. The environmental analysis included streambed structures, floodplain soils, water quality, vegetation, wildlife, and human facilities. Natural colonization of vegetation for the middle section of the study stream was obstructed by a straightened concrete revetment of baseflow channel, and vehicle movement and concrete parking lots across the floodplain. These human disturbances also deteriorated the naturalness of the stream landscape and limited habitation of bird species. However, natural sedimented wetlands in half of the channel width for the lower section of the stream contributed to a desirable vegetational landscape and greater bird occurrence. Based on BOD measurements, water quality of the stream fell under class $II{\sim}III$ of the stream water-quality standard, but it was worse around sewage outlets due to incomplete sewage collection especially during the dry season. Dominant fish species included typical inhabitants of good water-quality streams that are tolerant of adverse habitat changes. Nature-friendly planning strategies were established based on analysis of the environmental characteristics. They focused on not merely spatial zoning and layout divided into four zones - preservation, partial preservation, conservation and use -, but close-to-nature channel revetment techniques, natural water-purification facilities, biotope diversification, and water-friendly recreation and circulation. Strategies pursued both renewal of stream naturalness and hydraulic stability of streamflow by minimizing transformation of natural channel micro-topography and biotope, and by reflecting natural traces of streambed structures such as revetment scour and sedimentation.

Human-Induced Vibrations in Buildings

  • Wesolowsky, Michael J.;Irwin, Peter A.;Galsworthy, Jon K.;Bell, Andrew K.
    • International Journal of High-Rise Buildings
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    • v.1 no.1
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    • pp.15-19
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    • 2012
  • Occupant footfalls are often the most critical source of floor vibration on upper floors of buildings. Floor motions can degrade the performance of imaging equipment, disrupt sensitive research equipment, and cause discomfort for the occupants. It is essential that low-vibration environments be provided for functionality of sensitive spaces on floors above grade. This requires a sufficiently stiff and massive floor structure that effectively resists the forces exerted from user traffic. Over the past 25 years, generic vibration limits have been developed, which provide frequency dependent sensitivities for wide classes of equipment, and are used extensively in lab design for healthcare and research facilities. The same basis for these curves can be used to quantify acceptable limits of vibration for human comfort, depending on the intended occupancy of the space. When available, manufacturer's vibration criteria for sensitive equipment are expressed in units of acceleration, velocity or displacement and can be specified as zero-to-peak, peak-to-peak, or root-mean-square (rms) with varying frequency ranges and resolutions. Several approaches to prediction of floor vibrations are currently applied in practice. Each method is traceable to fundamental structural dynamics, differing only in the level of complexity assumed for the system response, and the required information for use as model inputs. Three commonly used models are described, as well as key features they possess that make them attractive to use for various applications. A case study is presented of a tall building which has fitness areas on two of the upper floors. The analysis predicted that the motions experienced would be within the given criteria, but showed that if the floor had been more flexible, the potential exists for a locked-in resonance response which could have been felt over large portions of the building.

Beehive (Hexagrid), New Innovated Structural System for Tall Buildings

  • Nejad, Peyman Askari
    • International Journal of High-Rise Buildings
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    • v.5 no.4
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    • pp.251-262
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    • 2016
  • Tall Buildings have been one of the most prominent symbols of economic growth for nearly a century. Yet, in the aftermath of the tragedies of September 11, "signature" Tall buildings have become the focus of much debate. The structural systems today are undergoing a major evolution to address the ability of providing flexibility in the design and use of the building together with sustainability (Green) and cost-effective system. This paper describes a new invented structural system, evolutionary structural analysis and design of Tall buildings, which involves the entire analysis process, including conceptual and design stages and comparison with the existing Tall building. This study presents an new innovative structural system, Beehive (Hexagrid), for Tall buildings. The final results are achieved by modeling an 80 story Tall building with the optimized angle and topology of hexagon members by using a computer analysis, ETABS finite element analysis. The objective function of this system is to use one structural system in order to both maximize Eigen frequency for resisting dynamic responses and minimize mean compliance for static responses. Finite element analysis is carried out by using standardized materials. Optimal Hexagrid topologies with the highest stiffness are finally determined to resist both static and dynamic behaviors. Holistic design integration approaches between structures and facades to save energy for environmental control are studied. Innovative design ideas to control structural motion as well as to utilize that motion to harness energy are discussed. Considering abundant emergence of tall buildings all over the world in recent years, the importance of the studies presented in this paper cannot be overemphasized for constructing more sustainable built environments.

Holocene Paleoenvironmental Changes and Characteristic of Diatom Distribution in Upo Wetland of Korea (우포늪의 홀로세 동안 퇴적환경 변화 및 돌말류 분포 특성)

  • Lee, Hoil;Lee, Sang Deuk;Lee, Jin-Young;Lim, Jaesoo;Kwon, Daeryul;Park, Mirye;Yun, Suk Min
    • Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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    • v.53 no.2
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    • pp.109-137
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    • 2020
  • Upo Wetland is the largest riverine wetland in Korea which has been inscribed on the Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance in 1998. In this study, sedimentological study was carried out in order to understand the environmental changes in Upo Wetland during the Holocene. The drilling work for recovering the Quaternary sediments was conducted on the inner part (UPW17-01, UPW17-02, and UPW17-03) and the outer part (UPL17-01, UPL17-02) of the Upo Wetland. The recovered sediments are commonly characterized by gravel-dominated deposits in the lower part and silty clay-dominated deposits in the middle to upper parts respectively, which are seemed to be changed from fluvial to palustrine/lacustrine environments around 4,000 cal yr BP. In order to establish the Holocene diatoms distribution from Upo Wetland, we identified 63 diatom taxa. Of these, 14 species were new records for Korea: Gomphonema consector, Gomphonema jadwigiae, Hantzschia abundans, Luticola pseudomurrayi, Luticola spauldingiae, Neidium suboblongum, Ninastrelnikovia gibbosa, Oricymba rhynchocephala, Pinnularia borealis var. lanceolata, Pinnularia latarea, Pinnularia paliobducta, Pinnularia saprophila, Sellaphora laevissima, Stauroneis pseudoschimanskii. All identified diatom species are illustrated by high-quality scanning electron microscopic and light microscopic microphotographs. The ecological habitat for all taxa are presented.

Embossed Structural Skin for Tall Buildings

  • Song, Jin Young;Lee, Donghun;Erikson, James;Hao, Jianming;Wu, Teng;Kim, Bonghwan
    • International Journal of High-Rise Buildings
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    • v.7 no.1
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    • pp.17-32
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    • 2018
  • This paper explores the function of a structural skin with an embossed surface applicable to use for tall building structures. The major diagrid system with a secondary embossed surface structure provides an enhanced perimeter structural system by increasing tube section areas and reduces aerodynamic loads by disorienting major organized structure of winds. A parametric study used to investigate an optimized configuration of the embossed structure revealed that the embossed structure has a structural advantage in stiffening the structure, reducing lateral drift to 90% compared to a non-embossed diagrid baseline model, and results of wind load analysis using computational fluid dynamics, demonstrated the proposed embossed system can reduce. The resulting undulating embossed skin geometry presents both opportunities for incorporating versatile interior environments as well as unique challenges for daylighting and thermal control of the envelope. Solar and thermal control requires multiple daylighting solutions to address each local façade surface condition in order to reduce energy loads and meet occupant comfort standards. These findings illustrate that although more complex in geometry, architects and engineers can produce tall buildings that have less impact on our environment by utilizing structural forms that reduce structural steel needed for stiffening, thus reducing embodied $CO^2$, while positively affecting indoor quality and energy performance, all possible while creating a unique urban iconography derived from the performance of building skin.