• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.39 no.5
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• pp.426-437
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• 2013

Objective: Gotjawal refers to a special geographical designation found in Jeju Province, Korea, where vegetation forms over a rocky area. Due to the important ecological value of Gotjawal, international concern about such areas is growing. However, only limited information is available regarding environmental contamination of Gotjawal. This study was conducted in order to investigate the levels of contamination and associated ecotoxicological effects of surface water bodies in Gotjawal. Methods: Surface water samples were collected at three sampling sites in two Gotjawal areas and were analyzed for several pharmaceuticals and pesticides in consideration of the potential sources of contamination. The ecotoxicity of the samples was measured using water fleas (Daphnia magna and Moina macrocopa) and zebrafish (Danio rerio). In addition, effects on the gene transcription of zebrafish were investigated following exposure to the samples. Results: Nine pharmaceuticals were detected in the samples, but none of the target pesticides were detected. Following acute exposure to two surface water samples, the survival of waterfleas was significantly reduced, but reproduction was not affected. In zebrafish, time-to-hatch was delayed and fry survival was decreased in some samples. On the other hand, at the transcriptional level, there were no genes significantly influenced by exposure to the samples. Conclusion: This is the first study investigating environmental contamination in Gotjawal areas and associated ecotoxicities. Further studies are warranted to identify the cause of acute Daphnia toxicity and to determine potential consequences of longer-term exposure in Gotjawal areas.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.49-62
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• 1993

Structure of intertidal algal communities of the islands on the South Sea of Korea was studied in summer of 1987 and 1988. The area includes Manjedo, Ch'ujado, Kwantaldo, Munsom, Yosodo, Komumdo, Soridi, Yokchido, Pijindo and Hongdo. Three biologically distinct zones, were commonly recognized in the intertidal bulk of the all examined islands. In the high intertidal zone, only a few species showing thin, tubular and sheet like forms were observed, and the most abundant species was Gloiopeltis spp.. Corallina pilulifera, Hizikia fusiformis and Chondria crassicaulis were most abundant species of the mid intertidal zone, which was formed near the mean sea level. The structure of the low intertidal zone was much more complex than the high and mid, the most abundant species were Laurencia spp. and Sargassum sagamianum. All of the coarsely branched and articulated calcareous species were distributed below mean sea level.

• ALGAE
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.139-153
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• 2012

The re-examination of morphological and anatomical characters of Laminaria appressirhiza and L. inclinatorhiza collected from different localities in the Sea of Okhotsk was performed. Despite their commercial and ecological importance to the region they have not been comprehensively reviewed since their first description in 1970. Our results show that some original diagnostic key characters (e.g., shape of holdfast, shape of sporangial sori, and dissection of blade) are not stable and have deviations from the type morphology when plants grow in different environments. In L. inclinatorhiza, the sporangial sori development occurred differently to the pattern indicated in original species description as they did not develop simultaneously on both sides of the blade. Instead, the sporangial sori outlines on both sides of the blade did not coincide at first and only became coincident later. Also, a deep-water population of L. inclinatorhiza with an unusual and interesting morphology, growing at depths of 15-25 m on opened rocky coasts in Taujskaya Bay (northern part of the Sea of Okhotsk) was found. The stable diagnostic key characters to distinguish these two species are the cone-like, multilayered, very thick and massive holdfast (in L. inclinatorhiza) and rolled margins of blades, lamellar rosette-like part of thallus, and sporangial sori developing only on one side of the blade (in L. appressirhiza). The ecological characteristics, distribution, and abundance of both species in the Sea of Okhotsk are discussed. Both species are perennial and widely distributed in the region. L. appressirhiza is more often found as a subdominant species among other kelps, forming maximum biomass and density of 7-9 kg and 8-25 plants per $1m^2$, respectively. L. inclinatorhiza sometimes forms local mono-species communities with maximum biomass and density of 10-12 kg and 10-15 plants per $1m^2$, respectively.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.57-69
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• 2011

The present paper deals with a research of life form and vegetation of the plants extant in the habitat of endangered Parnassius bremeri in Uiseong, Gyeongsangbuk-do with a view to restore their habitat and create substitute habitats. The research found that there are a total of 130 vascular plants including 47 families, 96 genera, 113 species, 1 subspecies and 16 varieties. In terms of their life form, hemicryptophytes (H) is the majority of dormancy form with 41 species or 31.54%, while $R_5$ is majority of radicoid form with 72 species or 55.38%, gravitational disseminule form ($D_4$) is majority among the disseminule forms with 68 species or 52.31% and erect type (e) is majority of growth form with 57 species or 43.85%. Major constituents of the habitat are Sedum kamtschaticum, Selaginella tamariscina, Orostachys japonica, Arundinella hirta, Cymbopogon tortilis var. goeringii, Themeda triandra var. japonica, Carex humilis, Indigofera kirilowii, Imperata cylindrica var. koenigii, Festuca ovina, Artemisia capillaris, etc., all of species which are in the initial stage of succession and show simultaneously features characteristic of vegetation on the rock. In the habitat 1. Sedum kamtschaticum- Selaginella tamariscina community and Pinus densiflora community are distributed whereas, in the habitat 2. Sedum kamtschaticum-Selaginella tamariscina community, Sedum kamtschaticum-Carex humilis community, Sedum kamtschaticum-Cymbopogon tortilis var. goeringii community and Sedum kamtschaticum-Imperata cylindrica var. koenigii community are growing and in the habitat 3. Sedum kamtschaticum-Selaginella tamariscina community, Selaginella tamariscina community, Sedum kamtschaticum-Indigofera kirilowii community and Quercus acutissima community are seen distributed there, too. Typical of food plants growing in the habitat is Sedum kamtschaticum, found mostly in the rocky area and its surroundings. Absorption plants are those that usually bloom in the season when imagoes emerge. From the research, it becomes evident that the blooming season of Sedum kamtschaticum, obviously a food plant, corresponds exactly to the emergence timing of imagoes. Cirsium japonicum var. ussuriense, Rosa multiflora, Erigeron annuus, Spiraea prunifolia var. simpliciflora are found to belong to these plants.

• Neurospine
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.353-361
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• 2018

Objective: This study is aimed to investigate whether surgical strategies for adult spinal deformity (ASD) treatment differed among Korean physicians. Methods: This study is retrospective questionnaire-based study. ASD is challenging to manage, with a broad range of clinical and radiological presentations. To investigate possible nationality- or ethnicity-related differences in the surgical strategies adopted for ASD treatment, the International Spine Study Group surveyed physicians' responses to 16 cases of ASD. We reviewed the answers to this survey from Korean physicians. Korean orthopedic surgeons (OS) and neurosurgeons (NS) received a questionnaire containing 16 cases and response forms via email. After reviewing the cases, physicians were asked to indicate whether they would treat each case with decompression or fusion. If fusion was chosen, physicians were also asked to indicate whether they would perform 3-column osteotomy. Retrospective chi-square analyses were performed to investigate whether the answers to each question differed according to training specialty or amount of surgical experience. Results: Twenty-nine physicians responded to our survey, of whom 12 were OS and 17 were NS. In addition, 18 (62.1%) had more than 10 years of experience in ASD correction and were assigned to the M10 group, while 11 (37.9%) had less than 10 years of experience and were assigned to the L10 group. We found that for all cases, the surgical strategies favored did not significantly differ between OS and NS or between the M10 and L10 groups. However, for both fusion surgery and 3-column osteotomy, opinions were divided regarding the necessity of the procedures in 4 of the 16 cases. Conclusion: The surgical strategies favored by physicians were similar for most cases regardless of their training specialty or experience. This suggests that these factors do not affect the surgical strategies selected for ASD treatment, with patient clinical and radiological characteristics having greater importance.