• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.55-70
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• 2004

The wetland ecosystem is a complex products of various erosion force, accumulation as water flows, hydrogeomorphic units, seasonal changes, the amount of rainfalls, and other essential element. There is no single, correct, ecologically sound definition for wetlands because of the diversity of wetlands and the demarcation between dry and wet environments occurs along a continuum, but wetland plays various ecosystem functions. Despite comprehensive integration through classification and impact factors there is still lacking in systematic management of wetlands. Classification system developed by the USFWS(1979) is hierarchical progresses from systems and subsystems at general levels to classes, subclasses, dominance types, and habitat modifiers. Systems and subsystems are delineated according to major physical attributes such as tidal flushing, ocean-derived salts, and the energy of flowing water or waves. Classes and subclasses describe the type of substrate and habitat or the physiognomy of the vegetation or faunal assemblage. Wetland classes are divided into physical types and biotic types. For the wise management of wetlands in Korea, this study was carried out to examine methodology of USFWS classification system and discuss its application for Korean wetland hydrogeomorphic units already known. Seven wetland types were chosen as study sites in Korea divided into some different types based on USFWS system. Three wetland types belonging to palustrine system showed no difference between Wangdungjae wetland and Mujechi wetland, but Youngnup of Mt. Daeam was different from the former two types at the level of dominant types. This fact means that setting of classification system for management of wetland is needed. Although we may never know much about the wetland resources that have been lost, there are opportunities to conserve the riches that remain. Extensive inventory of all wetland types and documentation of their ecosystem functions are vital. Unique and vulnerable examples in particular need to be identified and protected. Furthermore, a framework with which to demonstrate wetland characteristics and relationships is needed that is sufficiently detailed to achieve the identification of the integrity and salient features of an enormous range of wetland types.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.47-60
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• 2020

To assess the characteristics of phytoplankton community structures related to environmental factors, seasonal surveys were conducted in the vicinity of Dokdo. In 2019, phytoplankton of four phyla and 69 species were observed. During winter, unidentified nanoflagellates dominated, with an average of 3.19×10⁴ cells L^-1. In spring, unidentified nanoflagellates occupied about 50% of the composition and a variety of dinoflagellates appeared. The summer phytoplankton population showed very low abundance. In autumn, various species of Chaetoceros appeared, along with diatoms, such as Bacteriastrum spp., Guinardia striata, and Pseudo-nitzschia spp. In addition, tropical species Amphisolenia sp. and Ornithocercus sp. were observed in both 2018 and 2019. The diversity was high in the summer of 2018 and the winter of 2019 and the characteristics of each index varied. Cluster analysis was divided into four groups according to species and population characteristics regardless of the season. The stratification of spring was particularly weak. In the autumn of 2018, the water mass was stabilized in the same way as in the summer, which is considered a suitable condition for phytoplankton growth. However, in 2019, the water masses were mixed, resulting in a low population. In a phytoplankton comparison, the dominant group showed seasonal differences, except for summer when the population was low, and the difference was most pronounced in autumn. Therefore, the waters surrounding Dokdo have different environmental and ecological characteristics from the East Sea, but the seasonal characteristics of each year are considered to be different depending on the topography, various currents, the island effect, and other factors.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.161-172
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• 2018

A mixed farming system that includes organic rice production and freshwater fish farming is being called into attention in Korean agricultural industry and rural areas in order to improve farm management and environmental conservation. This study was conducted to evaluate the environmental and ecological value of such mixed farming practices. Expert assessment and rapid assessment method (RAM) of wetland evaluation were employed for this study. Experts have responded that biodiversity conservation including amphibian and reptile habitat (2.39), aquatic insect habitat (2.36), Fishery habitat (2.34), vegetation diversity (2.13), avian habitat (2.05), and experience and education were the most important function of mixed farming. The wetland function evaluation conducted using modified RAM indicated that rice-fish mixed system showed improvements in most of the evaluated functions, compared to the conventional rice paddies. The overall wetland function of rice paddies in rice-fish mixed system was greatly improved as compared with the conventional rice paddies. Rice paddies are known to play an important role in biodiversity maintenance, and provide ecosystem services such as climate modulation and carbon reduction. Rice-fish mixed system of farming may not only improve various ecosystem services of rice paddies, but may increase farm income through value added fish farming, as well as promotion of social services such as education and maintenance of tradition. Additional research is needed for quantitative analysis of the values gained from the most improved wetland function when mixed farming system is actually put into practice, and to utilize the results in advertising of the organic rice, and in various sectors such as food, education and direct payment policy.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.121-129
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• 2014

Marine algal flora and community structure were seasonally investigated at four sites in the vicinity of the Igidae on the southern east coast of Korea from May 2010 to February 2011. A total of 66 species including 9 of Chlorophyta, 14 of Phaeophyta, 43 of Rhodophyta were found during the survey period. Among these species, 16 species were found throughout the year. Seasonal mean biomass in wet weight was 123.6 (spring), 2,061.6 (summer), 412.0 (autumn), 678.9 (winter) $g{\cdot}m^{-2}$. Maximum biomass was recorded in summer($2,061.6g{\cdot}m^{-2}$), and minimum was recorded in spring($123.6g{\cdot}m^{-2}$). Spatial maximum and minimum species number were recorded at station 3 and 4(50 species) and at station 1(47 species). At station 1, 2 directly exposure on Yongho and Daeyeon cheon (stream) run off, and discharge from Nambu sewage treatment plants near coastal area, species diversity was relatively low and dominant species were similar throughout four seasons. The R/P, C/P and (R+C)/P value reflecting flora characteristics were 3.07, 0.64 and 3.71, respectively. The flora investigated could be classified into six functional groups such as coarsely branch form 39.39 %, sheet form 30.30 %, thick leather form 13.64 %, filamentous form 12.12 %, crustose form 3.03% and jointed calcareous form 1.52 % during survey period. The number of marine algae species in Igidea were 96 species at 1996 to 1997 and 66 species at 2010 to 2011, respectively. The change of seaweed species is due to the pollution loaded from sewage treatment plant and stream. We thus recommend that the positive maintenance control method like sewage treatment, for the protection of seaweed bed should be proceeded to near coastal area.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.52 no.2
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• pp.126-135
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• 2019

We carried out a literature review of fish food sources research in the coast - estuary areas of Korean peninsula for the last fifty years(1969~2018). A total of 101 research papers were reviewed, of which 81 were published in domestic journals, 7 were puliched in domestic reports and 14 were published in international journals. When divided into the decade periods, 21 papers (19.4%) between 1990 and 1999 and 26 papers (24.1%) between 2000 and 2009, and 42 papers (48.1%) were published in 2010 and 2018, respectively. When divided into the survey area by a bearing (East sea, South-East sea, South Sea, and West Sea), 65 papers(69.1%) were carried out in the South Sea. Followed by 13 papers (13.8%) in the East Sea and 8 papers (8.5%) in the West Sea and the South-East Sea, respectively. The surveyed area was dominant in Gwangyang Bay (18 papers; 24.3%), followed by Gadeok-do (8 papers; 10.8%). Of the diversity indices, 14 indices were used to calculate the ecological status. The dominant indices were IRI(Index of relative importance), Pi(Prey-specific abundance) followed by E (electivity index) and Bi (dietary breadth index). A total of 11 statistical methods were used to find feeding strategy. The correlation analysis and Bray-Curtis similarity matrix were applied most frequently. In terms of ecological research topics, the papers focused on seasonal or spatial differences before 2000. Since 2000, specifically, the international journal papers have been published based on competition, sympatric, niche overlap and other ecological topics.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.263-276
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• 2024

Fish community characteristics and the influence of sampling gear were investigated in Lake Singal, South Korea, from August 2020 to October 2021. The employed sampling gears included a kick net, cast net, gill net, and fyke net, which are commonly utilized within the lake. Across three survey stations, a total of 18 fish species from seven families, comprising 3,501 individuals and contributing to a total biomass of 117,670 grams, were identified. Dominance among species was assessed based on individual count and biomass. Pseudorasbora parva was the most abundant, constituting 29.9% of the total catch, followed by Zacco platypus (25.1%) and Micropterus salmoides (19.3%). In terms of biomass, Carassius auratus was predominant, accounting for 45.1%, followed by Cyprinus carpio (17.4%) and M. salmoides (14.3%). Among the sampled species, three were identified as endemic to Korea: Squalidus japonicus coreanus, Cobitis nalbanti, and Odontobutis interrupta. Additionally, four exotic species were recorded, including M. salmoides and Lepomis macrochirus, both classified as invasive alien species, along with C. cuvieri and a variant of Cyprinus carpio (nudus type). Analysis of the average standard length (SL) and body weight (BW) revealed significant size variations among species. P. parva, the dominant species, measured 60 ± 24.1 mm (SL) and weighed 4.4 ± 3.42 g (BW). The subdominant species, Z. platypus, exhibited an SL of 82 ± 17.6 mm and a BW of 10.4 ± 7.27 g. M. salmoides, another dominant species, registered 96 ± 25.1 mm (SL) and 24.9 ± 96.02 g (BW), while C. auratus measured 125 ± 77.3 mm (SL) and weighed 168 ± 336.5 g (BW). In terms of gear-specific performance, the kick net captured eight species from three families, totaling 302 individuals with a biomass of 1,269 g. The cast net was more effective in coastal zones, collecting 11 species from four families, amounting to 948 individuals and 31,343 g of biomass. The gill net yielded the highest biomass, capturing 13 species from four families with 682 individuals weighing 69,695 g. The fyke net recorded the highest species diversity and number of individuals, capturing 15 species from seven families, totaling 1,569 individuals and 15,362 g of biomass. The fyke net proved most efficient in species and individual counts, whereas the gill net was superior for biomass collection. Conversely, the kick net demonstrated effectiveness in collecting small benthic species in coastal areas.