• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.233-241
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• 2008

Functional feeding groups (FFGs) of benthic macroinvertebrates are guilds of invertebrate taxa that obtain food in similar ways, regardless of their taxonomic affinities. They can represent a heterogeneous assemblage of benthic fauna and may indicate disturbances of their habitats. The proportion of different groups can change in response to disturbances that affect the food base of the system, thereby offering a means of assessing disruption of ecosystem functioning. In this study, we used benthic macroinvertebrate communities collected at 650 sites of 23 different water types in the province of Overijssel, The Netherlands. Physical and chemical environmental factors were measured at each sampling site. Each taxon was assigned to its corresponding FFG based on its food resources. A multilayer perceptron (MLP) using a backpropagation algorithm, a supervised artificial neural network, was applied to evaluate the influence of environmental variables to the FFGs of benthic macroinvertebrates through a sensitivity analysis. In the evaluation of input variables, the sensitivity analysis with partial derivatives demonstrates the relative importance of influential environmental variables on the FFG, showing that different variables influence the FFG in various ways. Collector-filterers and shredders were mainly influenced by $Ca^{2+}$ and width of the streams, and scrapers were influenced mostly with $Ca^{2+}$ and depth, and predators were by depth and pH. $Ca^{2+}$ and depth displayed relatively high influence on all four FFGs, while some variables such as pH, %gravel, %silt, and %bank affected specific groups. This approach can help to characterize community structure and to ecologically assess target ecosystems.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.100-105
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• 2005

Two species of fish and five species of marine invertebrate showed different tolerances to the toxicity of composite slag and bituminaus coal. Especially, Hemicentrotus pulcherrimus and young Haliotis discus hannai displayed marked differences in tolerance from. H. pulcherrimus and young H. discus hannai showed lethal effects at higher concentrations than those concentrations of the composite slag in the 1.0 and $0.4\%$ range, respectively. H. pulcherrimus showed no lethal effects at a lower concentration of $1.0\%$ composite slag and some differences in the rate of oxygen consumption with this concentration of composite slag. The lethal effects of bituminous coal on marine and fisheries organisms, even with higher concentrations, were not observed. At a higher concentration than that of 500 mg/L (ppm) of bituminous coal, decrease effects appeared in the rate of oxygen consumption of the experimental organisms. Taking into consideration that the experimental concentration of composite slag and bituminous coal were impracticable in the ocean, the results of this experiment suggest that composite slag and bituminous coal pose no real threat to marine or fisheries organisms.

• Proceedings of the Korean Environmental Health Society Conference
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• 2005.06a
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• pp.345-350
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• 2005

Acute toxicities of five pharmaceutical products were evaluated with aquatic microbes, invertebrates, and fish. The test pharmaceuticals, i.e., cimetidine, carbamazepine, diltiazem, acetaminophene, and metformin have been often detected in aquatic environment, but theire cological hazard on receptors of various trophic levels has seldom been evaluated. In the present study, we conducted acute toxicity assays with a marine bacterium, Vibrio fischeri, an invertebrate, Daphnia magna, and a fish, Japanese medake (Oryzias latipes). In general, D. magna, showed the most sensitive response to the test chemicals. Diltiazem exhibited the lowest EC50 value after 96 hr of exposure at 7.6 mg/L, followed by cimetidine >acetaminophen > metformin = carbamazepine in an order of decreasing susceptibility. With the fish, diltiazem and carbamazepine showed the 96 hr EC50 values at 14.1${\sim}$35.4 mg/L while acetaminophen, cimetidine, and metformin did not cause 50% mortality at 100 mg/L. Similar pattern was noted with the Microtox Assay, with which the median effective concentrations for acetaminophen, cimetidine, and metformin were found at the range between 301.8 and 755.4 mg/L. Carbamazepine and diltiazem exposure to the microbes resulted in EC50 values around 50 mg/L. Predicted no effect concentrations (PECs) of these pharmaceuticals derived from the EC5O values obtained from this study, and predicted environmental concentrations (PECs) obtained from available literatures were utilized to estimate ecological risks of the test compounds. No test pharmaceuticals resulted in risk quotients (PEC/PNEC) greater than 1, which suggests no serious potential ecological concerns. It should be noted however that further studies including the refinement of PEC derivation, identification and toxicity assessment of the metabolites and/or their interactions with other stressors may be warranted to better understand the environmental consequences of the residual pharmaceutical discharge to the waterway.

• 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.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.351-360
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• 2004

To investigate latitudinal variations in the zooplankton community along the meridian line ($5^{\circ}N-12^{\circ}N$, $131.5^{\circ}W$), we measured temperature, salinity, nitrate, chlorophyll-a and zooplankton at depths above 200 m from July $10^{th}$ to $25^{th}$, 2003. For comparative analysis, data of the physico-chemical properties and chl-a were matched to the two sampling depths (surface mixed layer and thermocline depth-200 m) of zooplankton. Latitudinal differences in the mesozooplankton distribution were mainly influenced by divergence formed at a boundary line formed by currents of opposing directions, consisting of North Equatorial Current (NEC) and North Equatorial Counter Current (NECC). High concentrations of chl-a south of $9^{\circ}N$, caused by equatorial upwelling related nutrients, is thought to be affected by the role of this divergence barrier, supported by relatively low concentrations in waters north of $9^{\circ}N$. The latitudinal differences of the chl-a were significantly associated with the major groups of zooplankton, namely calanoid and cyclopoid copepods, appendicularians, ostracods, chaetognaths, invertebrate larvae, and others. And temperature significantly affected the latitudinal variation of radiolarians, siphonophores, salps and immature copepods. The latitudinal differences in the two factors, temperature and chl-a, which explained 71.0% of the total zooplankton variation, were characterized by the equatorial upwelling as well as the divergence at $9^{\circ}N$. The physical characteristics also affected the community structure and abundance of zooplankton as well as average ratios of cyclopoid versus calanoid copepods. The abundance of dominant copepods, which were consistent with chl-a, were often associated with the carnivorous zooplankton chaetognaths, implying the relative importance of bottom-up regulation from physical properties to predatory zooplankton during the study period. These results suggested that latitudinal distribution of zooplankton is primarily controlled by current-related divergences, while biological processes are of secondary importance in the northeastern Equatorial Pacific during the study period in question.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.47 no.5
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• pp.459-473
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• 2014

The recent mass appearances of jellyfish in Korea have caused economic and social damage, as they plague swimmers and fishermen. However, jellyfish have high economic and nutritional value, and contain low levels of calories and hydrolysates. Thus, jellyfish are a natural, healthy food that can improve high blood pressure, bronchitis, and a multitude of other diseases. Here, we present research on the ecology, classification, bloom, damage caused, food component characterization, and tissues of jellyfish, with the aim of facilitating further study. Research on use of jellyfish as salted products, and for collagen and qniumucin would also be valuable. A jellyfish body is classified into three parts: the body, termed the umbrella; the oral arm; and the tentacle. Jellyfish are planktonic marine members of a group of invertebrate animals comprising the classes Schypozoa (phylum Cnidaria) and Cuboza. In Korea in 2012, jellyfish damage resulted in decreases of annual catch and commercial value estimated at 177 and 141 billion won, respectively. Because concentrations of heavy metals are below the safety limits for seafood, dried jellyfish appear to be safe raw materials for food. The proximate compositions of Nemopilema nomurai and Aurelia aurita were 97.1% and 96.5% moisture, 0.9% and 1.2% crude proteins, undetected and 0.1% crude lipids, and 1.7% and 1.8% ash, respectively. According to their total contents of essential, total, and non-essential amino acids, jellyfish gonads were deemed good-quality protein. Because the major functional components of jellyfish are collagen and qniumucin, jellyfish can be used salted, or these components of healthy diets can be extracted from them. For more effective use of jellyfish, unit costs should be decreased and safety guaranteed. Additionally, dehydrators attached to conveyor belts should be developed. Since jellyfish can be used throughout the year, they should be listed in the Korean Food Standards Codex as a food source.

• Journal of Species Research
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• v.6 no.spc
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• pp.227-246
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• 2017

A study of the Cladocera (Crustacea: Branchiopoda) from the Korean Peninsula resulted in the checklist of Jeong et al. (2014). Several sampling campaigns conducted by our team since 2014, with the framework of the programs supported by the National Institute of Biological Resources (NIBR), have resulted in a considerable increase in the number of water bodies studied in South Korea. In this report, seven new records for the Korean Peninsula are provided: (1) Macrothrix vietnamensis Silva-Briano, Dieu and Dumont, 1999; (2) Disparalona chappuisi (Brehm, 1931); (3) Pleuroxus(Picripleuroxus) quasidenticulatus (Smirnov, 1996); (4) Acroperus africanus Neretina and Kotov, 2015; (5) Alona ossiani herricki Sinev, 2013; (6) Coronatella trachystriata (Chen, Zhang and Liu, 1994); (7) Leydigia louisi Jenkin, 1934. Most of these taxa belong to the southern thermophilic complex. In addition several populations of Pleuroxus (Picripleuroxus) denticulatus Birge, 1879 and Pseudochydorus globosus (Baird, 1843) were re-studied, and their presence in Korea is confirmed. Through increased collection efforts and the application of molecular methods we are confident that more new records of Korean fauna will be published in the near future.

• Water Engineering Research
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.131-147
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• 2005

Today, a trend that tries to return the artificial space of a river to a natural one is expanding. But in Korea, which lies in the monsoon climate zone, rivers endure flood damage every year. Moreover, climatic change from global warming causes severe variations in precipitation patterns. Until recently, river restoration practices in Korea have followed partial restoration. These restorative treatments transformed artificial structures of the stream to natural ones and introduced natural vegetation by imitating natural or semi-natural streams. Treatment transformed the riparian structure and increased the diversity of micro-topography and vegetation. Furthermore, restoration recovered species composition, increased species diversity, and inhibited the establishment of exotic species. In particular, the Suip stream, which was left to its natural process for approximately 50 years, recovered its natural features almost completely through passive restoration. An urban stream, the Yangjae, and a rural stream, the Dongmoon, were restored partially by applying ecological principles. On the contrary, technological treatment applied to recover flood damage induced species composition far from the natural vegetation and decreased species diversity. Additionally, this treatment increased exotic species. The same results were found also in benthic invertebrate and fish fauna. The above-mentioned results reflect the importance of ecological considerations in river management.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.7-15
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• 2003

Di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), is a widely used plasticizer known to be a suspected endocrine disrupter, but its exact effects on aquatic organisms are not yet known. When Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes) were exposed from the time of hatching to 3 months of age to an aqueous DEHP solution at nominal concentrations of 1, 10, and 50 $\mu\textrm{g}$/l, DEHP treated female fish showed distinct reproductive effect. And the midge (Chironomus riparius.). an aquatic invertebrate, was exposed to DEHP to evaluate the effects on reproductive processes via sediment toxicity. The test endpoints included emergence, sex ratio, fecundity, and the viability of F1 offspring egg ropes. The result implied that the normal developmental and/or reproductive processes in C. riparius had been disrupted when exposed to DEHP, the effect also being displayed in the next generation. In summary, DEHP hinders the development of reproductive organs in the female Japanese medaka and C. riparius.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.130-141
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• 2016

This study was conducted to elucidate the structure of river ecosystem in the watershed of the Seom River and Hoengseong Reservoir located in Hoengseong of Kangwon Province from February to October 2007. Topics of the survey were mainly rainfall, discharge, water quality in abiotic factors and attached algae, benthic macroinvertebrates, fish, birds and mammals of flora and fauna in a biotic factors, respectively. Specifically, the Seom River could be seen as a typical flow rate of the stream is controlled to the effect of the dam. Basic water qualities were great to seasonal effects, it was relatively clean. Diatom Achnanthes, Cymbella, Gomphonema, and Navicula were distributed predominantly in the periphytic algae. Benthic macroinvertebrates were mostly aquatic insects and freshwater shellfish, the aquatic insects were abundant Ephemeroptera and Trichoptera. Freshwater fish was the dominant Zacco platypus, fish species varied toward the downstream. Birds were mainly observed in four species, and species Egretta garzetta, which was distributed in a wide area of the Seom River. In mammals, Lutra lutra of Mustelidae was identified that the number of inhabit widely. In aspects of the ecological trophic level, the Seom River was maintained at a relatively stable state in the producer and the consumer relationship. The results of this study will expected to be utilized as a useful data for understanding the structure and function of the lotic and lentic ecosystems.