• Journal of the korean society of oceanography
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.222-233
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• 2004

Using nitrogen as the limiting nutrient, the default version of a microplankton-detritus model linked chlorophyll concentration to the autotroph nitrogen. However, phosphorus dynamics were added to simulate the results of a microcosm experiment. Using standard parameter values with a single value of microheterotroph fraction in the microplankton taken from the observed range, the best simulation successfully captured the main features of the time-courses of chlorophyll and particulate organic carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus, with root-mean-square error equivalent to 29% of particulate concentration. A standard version of microbiological model assumes complete internal cycling of nutrient elements; adding a term for ammonium and phosphate excretion by microheterotrophs did not significantly improve predictions. Relaxing the requirement for constant microheterotroph fraction resulted in an autotroph-heterotroph model AH, with dynamics resembling those of a Lotka-Volterra predator-prey system. AH fitted the microcosm data worse than did MP, justifying the suppression of Lotka-Volterra dynamics in MP. The paper concludes with a discussion of possible reasons for the success of the simple bulk dynamics of MP in simulating microplankton behaviour.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.51-60
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• 2016

This study was conducted to examine litter fall, litter decomposition, and a short-term nutrient (C, N, P, K, Ca, and Mg) status for one year at various levels of basal area (21.4, 27.0, 30.8, 37.0, 42.1, and 46.7 m² ha^-1) in approximately 40-yearold red pine (Pinus densiflora S. et Z.) stands in the Hwangmaesan mountain forest in Korea. Monthly fluxes of litter fall components such as needles, broad leaves, branches, bark and total litter fall followed a similar pattern at various levels of basal area. Mean annual needle, bark and total litter fall fluxes were positively correlated with increased basal area (p<0.05), but the woody litter such as branches and cones was not correlated with basal area. Carbon and K concentrations of needle litter were negatively correlated with increased basal area, while nutrient (C, N, P, K, Ca, and Mg) fluxes were positively correlated with the basal area treatments. Remaining mass, N and P concentration and remaining N and P stocks in decomposing needle litter were not affected by the basal area. However, the concentration and stocks remaining of K, Ca, and Mg from decomposing litter were positively correlated with increased basal area during the initial three months of decomposition. The results indicate that basal area has an impact on nutrient cycles through change in litter fall and litter decomposition processes; thus, the dynamics of nutrient cycles based on a stand scale could differ considerably with different levels of basal area in red pine stands.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.376-384
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• 2019

Background: Nutrient release during litter decomposition was investigated in Vitex doniana, Terminalia avecinioides, Sarcocephallus latifolius, and Parinari curatellifolius in Makurdi, Benue State Nigeria (January 10 to March 10 and from June 10 to August 10, 2016). Leaf decomposition was measured as loss in mass of litter over time using the decay model W_t/W₀ = e-^{kd t}, while $Kd=-{\frac{1}{t}}In({\frac{Wt}{W0}})$ was used to evaluate decomposition rate. Time taken for half of litter to decompose was measured using T₅₀ = ln ²/k; while nutrient accumulation index was evaluated as $NAI=(\frac{{\omega}t\;Xt}{{\omega}oXo})$. Results: Average mass of litter remaining after exposure ranged from 96.15 g, (V. doniana) to 78.11 g, (S. lafolius) in dry (November to March) and wet (April to October) seasons. Decomposition rate was averagely faster in the wet season (0.0030) than in the dry season (0.0022) with P. curatellifolius (0.0028) and T. avecinioides (0.0039) having the fastest decomposition rates in dry and wet seasons. Mean residence time (days) ranged from 929 to 356, while the time (days) for half the original mass to decompose ranged from 622 to 201 (dry and wet seasons). ANOVA revealed highly significant differences (p < 0.01) in decomposition rates and exposure time (days) and a significant interaction (p < 0.05) between species and exposure time in both seasons. Conclusion: Slow decomposition in the plant leaves implied carbon retention in the ecosystem and slow release of CO₂ back to the atmosphere, while nitrogen was mineralized in both seasons. The plants therefore showed effectiveness in nutrient cycling and support productivity in the ecosystem.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.115-120
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• 2004

Coarse woody debris (CWD, $\ge$ 5 cm in maximum diameter) is an important functional component, especially to nutrient cycling in forest ecosystems. To compare mass and nutrient dynamics of CWD in natural oak forests, a two-year study was conducted at Quercus serrata and Q. variabilis stands in Yangpyeong, Kyonggi Province. Total CWD (snag, stump, log and large branch) and annual decomposition mass (Mg/ha) were 1.9 and 0.4 for the Q. serrata stand and 7.5 and 0.5 for the Q. variabilis stand, respectively. Snags covered 72% of total CWD mass for the Q. variabilis stand and 42% for the Q. serrata stand. Most of CWD was classified into decay class 1 for both stands. CWD N and P concentrations for the Q. variabilis stand significantly increased along decay class and sampling time, except for P concentration in 2002. There were no differences in CWD N concentration for the Q. serrata stand along decay class and sampling time. However, CWD P concentration decreased along sampling time. CWD N and P contents (kg/ha) ranged from 3.5∼4.7 and 0.8∼1.3 for the Q. serrata stand to 22.8∼23.6 and 3.7∼4.7 for the Q. variabilis stand. Nitrogen and P inputs (kg/ha/yr) into mineral soil through the CWD decomposition were 0.7 and 0.3 for the Q. serrata stand and 1.6 and 0.3 for the Q. variabilis stand, respectively. The number of CWD and decay rate were main factors influencing the difference in CWD mass and nutrient dynamics between both stands.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.469-478
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• 2006

The composition changes of litters were investigated to figure out the effects of the decomposition of Humulus japonicus on nutrient circulation and decomposition process in the riverine wetlands: Tan stream and Amsa-dong. Litterbags (mesh size 1 mm and 5 mm) were installed to monitor mass and nutrient changes of 5 types of litters: H. japanicus only, Miscanthus sacchariflarus only, Phragmites communis only, mixed litters including H. japonicus, and mixed litters without H. japonicus for 7 months. It was shown that k (decay rate) of the H. japanicus ($2.68{\sim}3.12$) was higher than that of M. sacchariflorus ($1.83{\sim}2.16$) and P. communis ($0.02{\sim}1.18$). The mass and organic remainings of the mixed litters including H. japonicus at Tan stream were $47.0{\sim}55.1%\;and\;47.0{\sim}54.9%$ and those of the litterbags without H. japanicus were $49.2{\sim}65.4%\;and\;47.1{\sim}57.5%$, respectively. This result indicated that the nutrient circulation was faster at H. japanicus community than others. Ca, Na, Mg, K, P, C, N and H contents reduced to around $40{\sim}80%$ of original. However, Na concentration increased up to $407{\sim}584%$ at 100 days and decreased to $248{\sim}498%$ at the end of the experiment. Decomposition rates were similar between 1 mm and 5mm mesh size litterbags and this implies that plant litters in studied areas decomposed mainly by microbes rather than small animals. This study revealed that the fast growth of H. japonicus was resulted from fast decomposition in part: positive feedback of nutrient cycling.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.87-93
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• 2003

Litterfall and litter decomposition represent a major contribution to the carbon and nutrient inputs in a forest ecosystem. We measured litterfall quantity and nutrient dynamics in decomposing litter for two years at the Kwangneung broadleaf natural forest (DK site) in Korea. Litterfall was collected in circular littertraps (collecting area : 0.25 $m^2$) and mass loss rates and nutrient release patterns in decomposing litter were estimated using the litterbag technique employing 30 cm ${\times}$ 30 cm nylon bags with 1.5 mm mesh size. Total annual litterfall was 5,627 kg/ha/yr and leaf litter accounted for 61 % of the litterfall. The leaf litter quantity was highest in Quercus serrata, fallowed by Carpinus laxiflora and C. cordata, etc., which are dominant tree species in the site. Mass loss from decomposing leaf litter was more rapid in C. laxiflora and C. cordata than in Q. serrata litter. About 77% of C. laxiflora and 84% of C. cordata litter disappeared, while about 48% in Q. serrata litter lost over two years. Lower mass loss rates of Q. serrata litter may be attributed to the difference of substrate quality such as lower nutrient concentrations compared with the other litter types. Nutrient concentrations (N, P, Mg) of three litter types except for potassium (K) increased compared with initial nutrient concentrations of litter over the study period. Compared with Q. serrata litter, nutrients (N, P, K, Ca, Mg) in C. laxiflora and C. cordata litter were released rapidly. The results suggest that litter mass loss and nutrient dynamic processes among tree species vary considerably in the same site conditions.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.88 no.2
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• pp.266-272
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• 1999

Aboveground biomass and nutrient contents of a 31-year-old pitch pine(Pinus rigida) and a 31-year-old Japanese larch(Larix leptolepis) plantations were measured in the Chungbu Forest Experiment Station, Kyunggi Province. Aboveground biomass was 170.2ton/ha in the pitch pine and 87.2ton/ha in the Japanese larch plantations. Aboveground biomass difference between both plantations was due to the difference of stand density. Aboveground biomass in both plantations was allocated as follows : stemwood>branch>stembark>needle. The concentrations of all nutrients(N, P, K, Ca, Mg) were generally higher in the Japanese larch needle than in the pitch pine because of high nutrient uptake characteristics of larch compared with pine tree species. The nutrient concentration in different tree tissues in both tree species decreased in the order of needle>branch>stembark>stemwood. Nutrient contents of aboveground biomass were : N, 335.9 ; P, 40.4 ; K, 121.4 ; Ca, 188.6 ; Mg, 93.8kg/ha in the pitch pine plantation, while nutrient contents in the Japanese larch plantation were : N, 226 ; P, 11.5 ; K, 72.9 ; Ca, 75.7 ; Mg, 37.1kg/ha. The nitrogen use efficiency calculated as the biomass produced by one unit of nitrogen was higher in the pitch pine than in the Japanese larch plantations. This result suggests that pine with high nitrogen use efficiency could be adapted in lower site productivity area compared with larch tree species.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.35-47
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• 2011

The effect of the variation of aeration time on the removal of organics, nitrogen and phosphorus using synthetic wastewater was investigated in sequencing batch reactors (SBRs) which included DNPAOs and DNGAOs. The cycling times in four SBRs were adjusted to 12 hours and then included different aerobic times as 1 hr, 2.5 hr, 4 hr and 5.5 hr, respectively. Four SBR systems have been operated and investigated for over 40 days. Average TOC removal efficiencies were about 71 % in all SBRs. The $NH_4^+$-N removal efficiency was increased as the increase of aeration time. After changing aeration time, the total nitrogen removal efficiencies of SBRs were shown as 35 %, 85 %, 75 % and 65 %, respectively. Higher phosphorus release and uptake were occurred as the decrease of the aeration time. After all, the overall phosphorus removal efficiency decreased and the deterioration of phosphorus removal was occurred when aeration time was over 4 hr. Denitrification in aerobic conditions was observed, which showed the presence of DNPAOs and DNGAOs. In batch experiments, PAOs were shown as the most important microorganisms for the phosphorus removal in this experiment, and the role of DNGAOs was higher than that of DNAPOs for the nitrogen removal.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.97 no.5
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• pp.492-500
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• 2008

Since vegetation significantly influences on soil carbon and nutrient storage, vegetation change has been focused on terrestrial carbon and nutrient cycling studies. In this study we investigated soil carbon and major nutrient capitals at the abandoned fields, which had different vegetation composition: a three year abandoned field ($AGR_3$), two ten years abandoned fields ($PD_{10}$ dominant with Pinus densiflora and Fraxinus rhynchophylla and $PM_{10}$ dominant with Populus maximowiczii), and an over sixty years forest ($FOR_{60}$). which were located at Hongcheon-gun, Kangwon-do, South Korea. Both main effects for organic matter (%) were significant: shallow soil > deep soil and $FOR_{60}=PM_{10}$ > $AGR_3=PD_{10}$. Nitrogen concentrations at $PM_{10}$ were the highest, while the lowest at $PD_{10}$. Available phosphorus concentrations were the highest at $PD_{10}$, which were over 10 times of site $FOR_{60}$ and $AGR_3$ at 0-10 cm soil depth. The average organic matter ($173Mg\;ha^{-1}$) and nitrogen contents ($10Mg\;ha^{-1}$) of $PM_{10}$ and $FOR_{60}$ were higher than those of $AGR_3$ and $PD_{10}$ by 57% and 42%, respectively. The available phosphorus contents above 30 cm mineral soil at $PD_{10}$ ($3.8Mg\;ha^{-1}$) and $PM_{10}$ ($1.3Mg\;ha^{-1}$) were over 120 times and 40 times more than at $FOR_{60}$. Calcium ($3.7Mg\;ha^{-1}$) and magnesium contents ($2.8Mg\;ha^{-1}$) at $FOR_{60}$ were twice or three times higher than at other sites. Organic matter amounts in 0-10 cm and 10-30 em soil had significant positive relationships with nitrogen, calcium, and magnesium contents, but not available phosphorus and potassium contents. This study could not identify the effect of chronological factor and vegetation composition on soil carbon and nutrient capital owing to diverse topography as well as limited study sites. However, this study suggests the accuracy of investigation for regional carbon and nutrient sequestration can be achieved by considering the period of abandoned time on the fields and the land use types. These results may suggest the benefits of forest restoration for soil carbon and nutrient accumulation in marginal agricultural lands in South Korea.

• The Korean Journal of Malacology
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.27-33
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• 2001

The Ovarian developmental phases of the reproductive cycle of Rapana venosa can be classified into five successive stages by histological study: early active stage (September to February), late active stage (December to April), ripe stage (March to July), partially spawned stage (May to August), and recovery stage (June to September). To understand the characteristics of nutrient storage and utilization in the digestive gland cells with ovarian developmental phases, we examined the digestive gland - which is the major nutrient supply organ associated with ovarian development of the female purple shell - by biochemical methods. Total protein contents in the digestive gland tissues increased in March (late active stage) and reached the maximum in May (ripe and partially spawned stages), and then their levels sharply decreased in July (partially spawned and recovery stages). Total lipid contents in the digestive gland tissues reached the maximum in January (early active stage). Thereafter, their levels rapidly decreased from May (ripe and partially spawned stages) and reached a minimum in July (partially spawned and recovery stages). The total DNA contents did not significantly change regardless of the different developmental stages of the ovary. However, it was also found from biochemical analysis that changes in total RNA content follow the same seasonal cycling to protein. These results indicate that the digestive gland is an important energy storage and supply organ in purple shells, and that the nutrient contents of the digestive gland change in response to gonadal energy needs.