• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• 제44권1호
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• pp.1-7
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• 2020

Background: Fish body size is a major determinant of freshwater trophic interactions, yet only a few studies have explored the relationship between the fish body size and trophic interactions in river upstream. In this study, we investigated the relationship between the body size and trophic position (TP) of Coreoperca kawamebari (Temminck & Schlegel, 1843) in an upstream of the Geum River. Results: A stable isotope analysis (based on δ¹⁵N) was used to determine the TP based on the body size of C. kawamebari. The regression analysis (n = 33, f = 63.840, r² = 0.68) clearly showed the relationship between the body length and TP of C. kawamebari. The TP of C. kawamebari was clearly divided by body size into the following classes: individuals of size < 10 cm that feed on insects and individuals of size > 10 cm feed on juvenile fish. This selective feeding is an evolutionarily selective tendency to maximize energy intake per unit time. Furthermore, the diet shift of C. kawamebari was led by different spatial distributions. The littoral zone was occupied by individuals of size < 10 cm, and those of size > 10 cm were mainly in the central zone. The littoral zone can be assumed to be enriched with food items such as ephemeropterans and dipterans. Conclusion: The TP of C. kawamebari, as a carnivorous predator, will have a strong influence on biotic interactions in the upstream area of the Geum River, which can lead to food web implication.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• 제37권4호
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• pp.185-194
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• 2014

Seasonal monitoring was implemented to understand the influence of macrophyte bed structure on the composition and trophic interaction of aquatic organisms (algae, zooplankton, macro-invertebrate, and fish) in a shallow wetland (Upo Wetland, South Korea). Distinct division of the plant assemblage (reed zone and mixed plant zone) was observed. The reed zone was composed solely of Phragmites communis, whereas the mixed plant zone comprised a diverse macrophyte assemblage (Salvinia natans, Spirodela polyrhiza, Trapa japonica, Ceratophyllum demersum, and Hydrilla verticillata). Most of the aquatic organisms were more abundant in the mixed plant zone than in the reed zone, and this was positively associated with the seasonal development of macrophyte cover. Stable isotope analysis showed seasonal interactions among aquatic organisms. The majority of aquatic animal (zooplankton, Odonata, and Ephemeroptera) were dependent on epiphytic particulate organic matter (EPOM), and the dependence on EPOM gradually increased toward autumn. Interestingly, Lepomis macrochirus consumed Ephemeroptera and zooplankton in both macrophyte zones, but Micropterus salmoides depended on different food items in the reed zone and the mixed plant zone. Although, M. salmoides in the reed zone showed food utilization similar to L. macrochirus, it consumed Odonata or small L. macrochirus in the mixed plant zone. Based on these results, it appears that differences in the structure of the two macrophyte zones support different assemblages of aquatic organisms, strongly influencing the trophic interactions between the aquatic organisms.

• 한국수산과학회지
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• 제38권3호
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• pp.184-195
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• 2005

A preliminary quantitative model of the trophic structure in Gwangyang bay, Korea was obtained using ECOPATH and data from relevant studies to date in the region. The model integrates and analyzes biomass, food spectrum, trophic interactions and the key trophic pathways of the system. The bay model comprises 9 groups of benthic primary producer, phytoplankton, zooplankton, benthos, bivalve, pelagic fish, demersal fish and piscivorous fish. The total system throughput was estimated at $2.4\;kgWW/m^2/yr$, including a consumption of $41\%$, exports of $9\%$, respiratory flows of $24\%$ and flows into detritus of $26\%$. All of which originate from primary producers measured at $52\%$ and detritus of $48\%$. The total biomass was seen to be high compared to the levels of Somme, Delaware, Chesapeake Bays and Seine Estuary. This seems to be possibly due to artificial bivalve aquaculture and overestimation of benthos and benthic primary producer groups. The deviation can be calibrated by neglecting aquaculture and decreasing the habitat area for the groups. The trophic network of the bay shows a low level of recycling and organization as indicated by Finn's cycling index $3.3\%$, Ascendancy $3.1\;kgC/m^2/yr$ bits, Capacity $5.1\;kgC/m^2/yr$ bits and Redundancy $2.2\;kgC/m^2/yr$ bits. A high relative ascendancy of $62\%$ and a low internal relative ascendancy of $18\%$ indicate the system is not fully organized and stable towards disturbances, depending upon external connections. Although the model should be continuously provided with field data and calibrated further in depth, this study is the first trophic model applied to the region. The model can be a useful tool to understand the ecosystem in a quantitative manner.

• 환경생물
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• 제42권2호
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• pp.207-218
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• 2024

Food webs have received global attention as next-generation biomonitoring tools; however, it remains challenging because revealing trophic links between species is costly and laborious. Although a link-extrapolation method utilizing published trophic link data can address this difficulty, it has limitations when applied to construct food webs in domestic streams due to the lack of information on endemic species in global literature. Therefore, this study aimed to develop a link extrapolation-based food web model adapted to Korean stream ecosystems. We considered taxonomic similarity of predation and dominance of generalists in aquatic ecosystems, designing taxonomically higher-level matching methods: family matching for all fish (Family), endemic fish (Family-E), endemic fish playing the role of consumers (Family-EC), and resources (Family-ER). By adding the commonly used genus matching method (Genus) to these four matching methods, a total of five matching methods were used to construct 103 domestic food webs. Predictive power of both individual links and food web indices were evaluated by comparing constructed food webs with corresponding empirical food webs. Results showed that, in both evaluations, proposed methods tended to perform better than Genus in a data-poor environment. In particular, Family-E and Family-EC were the most effective matching methods. Our model addressed domestic data scarcity problems when using a link-extrapolation method. It offers opportunities to understand stream ecosystem food webs and may provide novel insights into biomonitoring.

• 환경생물
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• 제26권4호
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• pp.292-302
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• 2008

본 연구는 Ecopath 모델을 이용하여 유수생태계인 낙동강 하류 생태계의 영양구조와 에너지 흐름을 알아보고자 하였다. 이를 위해 2007년 갈수기(5월)와 풍수기(8월)에 낙동강 하류 삼랑진 일대의 6개 지점에서 조사를 실시하였으며, 어류의 각 어종별 밀도와 자원량 자료를 위해 2007년 3월에서 11월까지 매달 2회씩 조사를 실시하였다. 낙동강 하류 생태계는 수온이 $20.9\sim31.4^{\circ}C$, 전기전도도 $135\sim364{\mu}s\;cm^{-1}$, 용존산소 $9.0\sim10.5mg\;L^{-1}$, pH는 10.4$\sim$10.7, TOC 2.3$\sim$2.7 mg L$^{-1}$, DOC 2.2$\sim$2.6 mg L$^{-1}$, 수심 0.5$\sim$9.0 m, 투명도 0.3$\sim$0.5 m등의 범위를 보이는 것으로 조사되었다. 낙동강 하류 생태계는 크게 3단계 즉, 생산자와 1차 소비자, 2차 소비자로 나누어지는 영양단계를 보였다. 생산자에 해당하는 생물군은 유기패설물, 식물플랑크톤, 대형수생식물이었고, 1차 소비자는 동물플랑크톤, 저서동물, 잉어, 누치, 기타어류 등이었으며, 2차 소비자는 배스였다. 낙동강 하류 생태계의 총에너지량은 2.7 kg m$^{-2}$로 나타났으며, 52.0%는 섭식으로, 9.1%는 이출, 18.0%는 호흡, 20.9%는 유기쇄설물로 전환되는 것으로 나타났다. 또한, 혼합영양영향(MTI)결과 최고포식자로 추정된 배스의 생체량 증감은 배스와 기타 어류에게는 음의 효과를, 누치와 잉어, 저서동물, 동물플랑크톤, 식물플랑크톤 등에게는 양의 효과를 직 간접적으로 미치는 것으로 나타났으며, 각 그룹의 생체량증가는 각 생물그룹별 생체량을 감소시키는 음의 효과를 보이는 것으로 나타났다.

• 생태와환경
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• 제49권3호
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• pp.228-235
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• 2016

화학물질의 유입은 수생생태계에 유해한 영향을 미치는 주요 인자 중의 하나로, 수생태계에 미치는 화학물질의 영향을 보다 정확하게 평가하기 위해서는 서로 다른 영양단계의 생물군집들의 생물학적 상호작용을 고려한 군집 수준의 독성시험이 요구된다. 하지만 현재 제시되고 있는 마이크로코즘 및 메소코즘을 이용한 군집 수준의 독성평가 시험 방법은 너무 복잡하고, 기존의 종 수준에서 얻어진 정보와의 직접적 비교가 어렵다. 본 연구에서는 독성시험 표준 생물인 녹조류 Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata와 물벼룩 Daphnia magna를 이용하여 화학물질의 독성을 생산자와 소비자의 상호작용을 고려한 군집 수준에서 평가할 수 있는 간단한 bi-trophic 마이크로코즘 시험 방법과 이에 대한 생물군집의 적정 조건을 제시하고자 하였다. 마이크로코즘 시험계 및 물벼룩 배양의 경우, $5{\times}10^5cells\;mL^{-1}$ 이상의 P. subcapitata (생산자) 농도를 설정하는 것이 적절할 것으로 분석되었다. 장기 독성시험을 고려할 경우, 물벼룩 (소비자)은 태어난 지 24시간이 되지 않은 미성숙 개체로 구성하여 마이크로코즘 시험을 시작하면 성체 및 혼합 개체군이 보다 안정적으로 유지되는 것으로 나타났다. 이와 같은 bi-trophic 마이크로코즘 시험계는 오염원에 의한 생산자-소비자의 생물학적 상호작용의 교란 정도를 평가하고, 수생태계에 대한 위험요소평가를 종 수준의 평가에서 군집수준의 평가로 확대할 수 있는 적절한 시험 방법으로 판단된다.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제28권5호
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• pp.831-838
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• 2018

Trophic interactions of introduced biocontrol fungi with soil animals can be a key determinant in the fungal proliferation and activity. This study investigated the trophic interaction of an introduced biocontrol fungus with soil nematodes. The biocontrol fungus Trichoderma harzianum ThzID1-M3 and the fungivorous nematode Aphelenchoides sp. (10 per gram of soil) were added to nonsterile soil, and microbial populations were monitored for 40 days. Similar results were obtained when the experiment was duplicated. ThzID1-M3 stimulated the population growth of indigenous nematodes (p < 0.05), regardless of whether Aphelenchoides sp. was added. Without ThzID1-M3, indigenous nematodes did not increase in number and the added Aphelenchoides sp. nematodes almost disappeared by day 10. With ThzID1-M3, population growth of nematodes was rapid between 5 and 10 days after treatment. ThzID1-M3 biomass peaked on day 5, dropped at day 10, and then almost disappeared at day 20, which was not influenced by the addition of nematodes. In contrast, a large quantity of ThzID1-M3 hyphae were present in a heat-treated soil in which nematodes were eliminated. Total fungal biomass in all treatments peaked on day 5 and subsequently decreased. Addition of nematodes increased the total fungal biomass (p < 0.05), but ThzID1-M3 addition did not affect the fungal biomass. Hyphae of total fungi when homogenously distributed did not support the nematode population growth; however, hyphae of the introduced fungus did when densely localized. The results suggest that soil fungivorous nematodes are an important constraint on the hyphal proliferation of fungal agents introduced into natural soils.

• ALGAE
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• 제28권4호
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• pp.297-305
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• 2013

There is increasing interest in the relationships between marine bacteria and red tide organisms. Some bacteria are known to kill red tide organisms, and may be responsible for accelerating the termination of red tides. Thus, certain algicidal bacteria have been proposed for the control of red tides. Meanwhile, many red tide organisms are known to feed on marine bacteria. The roles of marine bacteria and red tide organisms are therefore reversible. In Korean waters, the killing of red tide organisms by algicidal bacteria, and also the feeding of red tide organisms on marine bacteria have been extensively investigated. The findings of such studies may influence the conventional view of red tide dynamics, and also planktonic food webs. Here, we review the species and concentrations of algicidal bacteria that kill red tide organisms in Korean waters, as well as the ingestion rate and grazing impact of red tide organisms on marine bacteria. Furthermore, we offer an insight into the ecological roles of these 2 components in marine planktonic food webs.

• 생태와환경
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• 제46권3호
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• pp.319-331
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• 2013

Recent climate change, which is mostly ascribed to anthropogenic activities, is believed to be a major factor leading to biodiversity decreases and ecosystem service deteriorations. I have reviewed recent studies on climate change effects for many ecological processes involved with plants, in order to improve our understanding of the nature of ecological complexity. Plants in general have better growth and productivity under high levels of $CO_2$, although the long term effects of such $CO_2$ fertilizers are still controversial. Over the last 30 years, the Earth has been greening, particularly at higher latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere, perhaps due to a relaxation of climatic constraints. Human appropriation of net primary productivity (NPP), which corresponds up to 1/3 of global NPP, is ultimately responsible for climate change and biodiversity decreases. Climate change causes phenological variations in plants, especially in regards to spring flowering and fall leaf coloring. Many plants migrate polewards and towards higher altitudes to seek more appropriate climates. On the other hand, tree mortality and population declines have recently been reported in many continents. Landscape disturbance not only hinders the plant migration, but also makes it difficult to predict the plants' potential habitats. Plant and animal population declines, as well as local extinctions, are largely due to the disruption of species interactions through temporal mismatching. Temperature and $CO_2$ increase rates in Korea are higher than global means. The degree of landscape disturbances is also relatively high. Furthermore, long-term data on individual species responses and species interactions are lacking or quite limited in Korea. This review emphasizes the complex nature of species responses to climate change at both global and local scales. In order to keep pace with the direction and speed of climate change, it is urgently necessary to observe and analyze the patterns of phenology, migration, and trophic interactions of plants and animals in Korea's landscape.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제27권1호
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• pp.25-33
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• 2019

Mesenchymal stem cells are classified as multipotent stem cells, due to their capability to transdifferentiate into various lineages that develop from mesoderm. Their popular appeal as cell-based therapy was initially based on the idea of their ability to restore tissue because of their differentiation potential in vitro; however, the lack of evidence of their differentiation to target cells in vivo led researchers to focus on their secreted trophic factors and their role as potential powerhouses on regulation of factors under different immunological environments and recover homeostasis. To date there are more than 800 clinical trials on humans related to MSCs as therapy, not to mention that in animals is actively being applied as therapeutic resource, though it has not been officially approved as one. But just as how results from clinical trials are important, so is to reveal the biological mechanisms involved on how these cells exert their healing properties to further enhance the application of MSCs on potential patients. In this review, we describe characteristics of MSCs, evaluate their benefits as tissue regenerative therapy and combination therapy, as well as their immunological properties, activation of MSCs that dictate their secreted factors, interactions with other immune cells, such as T cells and possible mechanisms and pathways involved in these interactions.