• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.5 no.5
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• pp.67-75
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• 2002

This study was carried out to introduce current status to discuss erosion control strategy for the conservation of stream valley ecosystem. To restore stream valley ecosystem, we should establish restoration plans to keep the original shape of stream. It is necessary to use environmentally sound materials with conservation of valley stability. Valley construction for erosion control works should be evaluated continuously based on concepts of conservation and development of stream valley ecology. It is categorized in point of the important of class of stream valley conservation ahead planning and constructure. We suggest that the development of stream valley construction needs to prevent mass movement of soil sediments. In addition, it is established the basal strategy to protect macro and micro aquatic organisms in stream valley ecosystem.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.804-812
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• 2011

To prevent the overflow of various harmful chemicals, it is necessary to modify the chemical management system with an expansion to institutionally regulated substances. This modification should be preceded by selection of the priority chemicals, with a diverse chemical ranking system (CRS) applied to select the chemicals in developed countries. In Korea, a systematic CRS was used in a project related to soil and groundwater, however, it is inadequate to compare soil and groundwater CRS to that of surfacewater. In this study, a priority chemical ranking system for surfacewater was proposed through the analysis of international and domestic CRS cases. This was then applied to 161 chemicals to derive the priority list of harmful chemicals. As a result, Chemical RAnking of surFacewater polluTants (CRAFT) is presented for the protection of human health and the aquatic ecosystem from surfacewater pollutants. The components of CRAFT are the human health toxicity, aquatic ecosystem toxicity and reliability assessment factors. Three lists were derived from the 161 priority harmful chemicals for the protection of human health, aquatic ecosystem or both. It is expected that this result can be useful to prioritize harmful chemicals for the protection of human health and the aquatic ecosystem from Korean surfacewater.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.459-467
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• 2015

Understanding of a carbon storage in a regional scale ecosystem is a very important data for predicting change of global carbon cycle. Therefore, the real data collected in the various ecosystems are a very useful for enhancing accuracy of model prediction. We tried to estimate total accumulated ecosystem carbon in Deogyusan National Park (DNP) with naturally well preserved ecosystem. In DNP, vegetations were classified to four main communities with Quercus mongolica community (12,636.9 ha, 54.8%), Quercus variabilis community (2,987.0 ha, 13.0%), Pinus densiflora community (5,758.0 ha, 25.0%), and Quercus serrata community (402.9 ha,1.7%). Biomass and soil carbons were estimated by the biomass allometric equations based on the DBH and carbon contents of litter and soil (0~30 cm) layers collected in 3 plots ($30cm{\times}30cm$) in each community. The biomass and soil carbons were shown as high value as 1,759,000 tC and 7,776,000 tC, respectively, in Quercus mongolia community in DNP area. In Quercus mongolica, Quercus variabilis, Quercus serrata, Pinus densiflora communities, the accumulated ecosystem carbon were shown 9,536,000 tC, 1,405,000 tC, 147,000 tC, 346,000 tC, respectively. Also, the total ecosystem carbon was estimated with 11,434,000 tC in DNP.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.23 no.9
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• pp.1279-1286
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• 2013

Particle size and metal species are important to both soil microbial toxicity and phytotoxicity in the soil ecosystem. The effects of CuO and ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) and microparticles (MPs) on soil microbial toxicity, phytotoxicity, and bioaccumulation in two crops (Cucumis sativus and Zea mays) were estimated in a soil microcosm. In the microcosm system, soil was artificially contaminated with 1,000 mg/kg CuO and ZnO NPs and MPs. After 15 days, we compared the microbial toxicity and phytotoxicity by particle size. In addition, C. sativus and Z. mays were cultivated in soils treated with CuO NPs and ZnO NPs, after which the treatment effects on bioaccumulation were evaluated. NPs were more toxic than MPs to microbes and plants in the soil ecosystem. We found that the soil enzyme activity and plant biomass were inhibited to the greatest extent by CuO NPs. However, in a Biolog test, substrate utilization patterns were more dependent upon metal type than particle size. Another finding indicated that the metal NP uptake amounts of plants depend on the plant species. In the comparison between C. sativus and Z. mays, the accumulation of Cu and Zn by C. sativus was noticeably higher. These findings show that metal oxide NPs may negatively impact soil bacteria and plants. In addition, the accumulation patterns of NPs depend on the plant species.

• Proceedings of the Korea Water Resources Association Conference
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• 2008.05a
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• pp.1300-1304
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• 2008

The fact that soil loss causing to increase muddy water and devastate an ecosystem has been appearing upon a hot social and environmental issues which should be solved. Soil losses are occurring in most agricultural areas with rainfall-induced runoff. It makes hydraulic structure unstable, causing environmental and economical problems because muddy water destroys ecosystem and causes intake water deterioration. One of three severe muddy water source areas in Soyanggang-dam watershed is Jawoon-ri region, located in Hongcheon county. In this area, many cash-crops are planted at illegally cultivated agricultural fields, which were virgin forest areas. The purpose of this study is to estimate soil loss with current land uses (including illegal cash-crop cultivation) and soil loss reduction with land use conversion from illegal cultivation back to forest. In this study, the Sediment Assessment Tool for Effective Erosion Control (SATEEC) ArcView GIS system was utilized to assess soil erosion. If the illegally cultivated agricultural areas are converted back to forest, it is expected to 17.42% reduction in soil loss. At the Jawoon-ri region, illegally cultivated agricultural areas located at over 30% and 15% slopes take 47.48 ha (30.83%) and 103.64 ha (67.29%) of illegally cultivated agricultural fields respectively. If all illegally cultivated agricultural fields are converted back to forest, it is expected that 17.41% of soil erosion and sediment reduction, 10.86% reduction with forest conversion from 30% sloping illegally agricultural fields, and 16.15% reduction with forest conversion from 15% sloping illegally agricultural fields. Therefore, illegally cultivated agricultural fields located at these sloping areas need to be first converted back to forest to maximize reductions in soil loss reduction and muddy water outflow from the Jawoon-ri regions.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.250-258
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• 2022

Background: To assess the carbon sequestration capacity and net ecosystem productivity (NEP) of Quercus glauca forests, we analyzed the net primary productivity (NPP), carbon storage, and carbon emission of soil in a Q. glauca forest on Jeju Island (South Korea) from 2016 to 2018. Results: The average carbon stock in the above- and below-ground plant biomass was 223.7 Mg C ha^-1, while the average amount of organic carbon fixed by photosynthesis was 9.8 Mg C ha^-1 yr^-1, and the average NPP was 9.6 Mg C ha^-1 yr^-1. Stems and branches contributed to the majority of the above- and below-ground standing biomass and NPP. The average heterotrophic carbon emission from the soil was 8.7 Mg C ha^-1 yr^-1, while the average NEP was 1.1 Mg C ha^-1 yr^-1. Although the carbon stock, carbon absorption, and soil respiration values were higher than those reported in other oak forests in the world, the NEP was similar or lower. Conclusions: These results indicator that Q. glauca forests perform the role of a large carbon sink through the CO₂ absorption in the plants in terms of carbon balance. And it is judged to be helpful as data for assessment of carbon storage and flux in the forests and mitigation of elevated CO₂ in the atmosphere.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.341-351
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• 2019

Background: Standing biomass, litter production, rate of litter decomposition, amount of litter on forest floor, and amount of soil organic carbon distribution were investigated from March 2016 to November 2018 in order to evaluate the ecosystem value through organic carbon distribution in the Pinus densiflora forest at Namsan, Seoul Metropolitan City. Results: The amount of organic carbon in the Pinus densiflora forest was 261.09 ton C ha^-1 during the research period, and fixed organic carbon in plant through net photosynthesis was 3.2 ton C ha^-1 year^-1. The organic carbon in plant was 62.77 ton C ha^-1 (24.04%), in litter on the forest floor was 3.65 ton C ha^-1 (1.40%), and in soil was 194.67 ton C ha^-1 (74.56%). The value of plant, litter on forest floor, and soil organic carbon distribution were each 6,277,000 won ha^-1, 365, 000 won ha^-1, and 19,467,000 won ha^-1. The value per ton of fixed organic carbon in plant through net photosynthesis was 320,000 won ha^-1 year^-1 and the value of ecosystem services stored in carbon in the Namsan forest ecosystem was about 26.1 million won ha^-1 for 3 years. Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that the pine forests of Namsan rapidly decompose leaves due to the high atmospheric temperature and accumulate a large amount of organic carbon in the soil to provide climate control regulatory service function.

• Asian Journal of Turfgrass Science
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.303-309
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• 1997

The investigation was cycle of aluminum of surface soil elements in dynamic grassland ecosystems at a steady state in a Zoysia japonica and a Miscanthus sinensis ecosystem in Mt. Kwanak, Korea. Average amounts of total storage for aluminum in Z japonica and M. sinensis grasslands were 8,426mg /$m^2$ and 7,849mg /$m^2$ respectively. Decay constants estimated on the base of experimental and mathematical model, were 0.04 in Z japonica grassland, and 0.08 in M. sinensis grassland. Half time to decay aluminum of litter soils were 17.33 years in Z japonica grass-land, and 8.66 years in Al. sinensis grassland. 95% decay times in Z japonica, and in M. sinensis grassland were 75.0 years and 35.0 years respectively. Needed times to lose almost all of elements in Z japonica and M. sinensis grassland were 125.0 years, and 62.50 years respectively. The metals were losed more rapidly in M. sinensis than in Z japonica grassland. The cycle of aluminum was investigated to be related with soil acidity. Key words: Cycle of aluminum, Zoysia japonica. Miscanthus sinensis, Mt. Kwanak, Decay constants, Soil acidity.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.1211-1215
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• 2012

Terrestrial ecosystem are a strong sink of carbon. Forest ecosystem, one of them, has been expected to play an important role in climate changing process by absorbing atmospheric carbon dioxide. On the other hand, agricultural ecosystem that consists mainly of annual crops is regarded as poor contributor to carbon accumulation, because its production (carbon hydrate) is decomposed into carbon at a short period, which is emitted to the atmosphere. However, it is thought that fruit tree plays a great role in decreasing atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration, same as forest. Net ecosystem exchange of $CO_2$ (NEE) was measured to estimate carbon fixation capacity using an eddy covariance (EC) system method in 2 years from 2005 to 2006 at an apple orchard in Uiseong, Gyeongbuk. Average air temperature values were higher in 2006 than in 2005 during the dormant season, and lower by about $5^{\circ}C$ over the growing season causing visible cold injuries. Accordingly, we investigated long-term exchange of carbon to determine how much difference of carbon fixation capacity was shown between 2006 and 2005 in terms of environmental and plant variables such as NEE, leaf area index (LAI), and Albedo. NEE was $4.8Mg\;C\;ha^{-1}yr^{-1}$ in 2005 and $4.7Mg\;C\;ha^{-1}yr^{-1}$ in 2006, respectively. Low temperature after July in 2006 decreased LAI values faster than those in 2005. Meanwhile, Albedo values were higher after July in 2006 than in 2005. These results show that the low temperature after July in 2006 apparently affected apple growth.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.15-18
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• 2010

Mangroves are special plant communities that live along intertidal zones in tropical and subtropical areas. They are regarded as one of the most important types of natural ecosystem in the world because of the many ecosystem functions that they perform, of which water purification is the most complex. Mangrove ecosystems are conducive to the deposition and retention of heavy metals. So it is important to understand the impact of heavy metals on mangrove ecosystems, and especially on soil subsystems. We examined the levels of heavy metals in the soil of mangroves in the Dongzhaigang Mangrove National Nature Reserve. Dongzhaigang, the first mangrove nature reserve established in China, is located south of Haikou in Hainan Island and encompasses $33.37\;km^2$, of which mangroves comprise $20.56\;km^2$. To assess the impact of human activities, we collected a large number of soil samples in four sampling areas (the protection station, the harbor, a tour area, and Yeboluo island) in the study area. We measured the concentrations of Cu, Pb, Zn and Cd in the soil samples using the spectra of polyatomic molecules. The average concentrations of Cu, Pb, Zn and Cd were $5.04\;{\mu}g/g$, $10.36\;{\mu}g/g$, $20.06\;{\mu}g/g$ and $0.06\;{\mu}g/g$, respectively, and the heavy metal concentrations were lowest in the protected area, highest in the harbor, and intermediate in Yeboluo Island and the tour area. The heavy metal concentrations in the soil collected from different sample plots are related not only to the physical and chemical properties of the soil, but also to the heavy metal emitted by nearby pollution sources. Our analysis indicates that tourist boats are the main pollution sources in the study area.