• Nutritional Sciences
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.3-10
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• 2000

The present study was aimed at investigating the nutritional and physiological significance of rice bran as a source of dietary fiber as compared to pectin and wheat bran. The parameters for comparison included hypertrophy and morphology of intestines, stool weights and villus marker enzyme activity. For 6 weeks, 10 Sprague Dawley male rats were given one of six experimental diets: 1% cellulose control (CC), 5% pectin (P5), 5% rice bran(RB5), 10% rice bran(RB10), 5% wheat bran (WB5) or 10% wheat bran (WB10) based on the level of dietary fiber. Among experimental groups, food efficiency ratio and body weight gain was comparable. RB10 increased cecal and colonic tissue weights and content weights of cecum and colon as much as P5 did. Stool weight was positiviely correlated with colonic tissue weight (r=0.727, P<0.001), with colonic content weight(r=0.647, P<0.001). Small intestine length increased most in the P5 group, followed by the RB10 group. The scanning electron micrograph of jejunal villi from rice bran groups showed a leaf-shaped, smooth and regular pattern, whereas that of CC group produced a rather long shape. The wheat bran groups showed an irregular leafshaped pattern, and the pectin group typically produced leaf-shaped villi with surface damage. The activities of villus marker enzymes (maltase and sucrase) were higher in the bran-fed rats than in the control or pectin-fed rats. The results indicate than not only dietary fiber amounts but also fiber sources are closely related to the physiology and morphology of the large and small intestines in rats. Rice bran exerted effects on fecal output and trophic effects on the intestines similar to those of pectin.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.22-30
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• 2019

Background: Piton du Milieu (PdM) impounding reservoir is suspected to be eutrophic based on the elevated level of orthophosphate and nitrate. Water supplies from three adjacent rivers are primarily thought to contribute to the nutrient enrichment of the reservoir. It is also suspected that there is leaching of orthophosphate, nitrate and organic matter into the rivers during rainfall events and also as a result of anthropogenic activities within the catchment area. The aim of this study was to ascertain the impact of nutrient loading on the water quality of PdM water and on the population of freshwater microalgae in the reservoir. The enumeration and identification of algae from PdM were performed by differential interference contrast microscopy. Dissolved oxygen (DO) and pH were determined by electrometric methods, whereas nutrient levels, silica and total organic carbon (TOC) were determined by instrumentation techniques. Results: Annual mean orthophosphate, nitrate and total organic carbon input from the three feeders within the catchment area of PdM reached levels as high as 0.09 mg/L, 0.4 mg/L and 2.62 ppm respectively. Over a 12-month period, mean TOC concentration in the reservoir was 2.32 ppm while the mean algal cell count was 4601 cells/mL. The dominant algal species identified were Oscillatoria, Cyclotella, Navicula and Cosmarium. Conclusion: This study highlights the trophic state of the reservoir water and clearly points to the need for constant monitoring in order to avoid the occurrence of an impending harmful algal bloom.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.27 no.12
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• pp.1279-1290
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• 2018

Sea gulls are high trophic level consumers in the coastal environment, and thus, which have been widely used to monitor contamination biomagnified through a food web. However, such monitoring studies using sea gulls have been rare in the Korean literature. The National Environmental Specimen Bank chose eggs of a black-tailed gulls (Larus crassirostris) to serve as an environmental specimen for the long-term monitoring of the coastal ecosystem affected by terrestrial pollutants. Black-tailed gull eggs were collected from Baengnyeongdo, Hongdo and Uleungdo, and their DDTs and total mercury content were determined. The highest concentration of ${\Sigma}DDTs$ was $231.6{\pm}106.1{\mu}g/kg$ wet in Baengnyeongdo, followed by $230.0{\pm}123.8{\mu}g/kg$ wet in Ulleungdo, and $117.7{\pm}18.3{\mu}g/kg$ wet in Hongdo. In addition, total mercury was detected at $414.5{\pm}97.6{\mu}g/kg$ wet in Ulleungdo, $363.9{\pm}123.6{\mu}g/kg$ wet in Hongdo, and $237.5{\pm}42.3{\mu}g/kg$ wet in Baengnyeongdo. Relatively high concentrations of the target pollutants were recorded in specimens from Ulleungdo. Additional comprehensive and prolonged studies are required to elucidate spatial and temporal patterns of contamination in black-tailed gull eggs with regard to monitoring contaminant trends in eggs and prey.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.281-288
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• 2018

The transmission of solar light according to the distribution of chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM) was measured in the Pacific Arctic Ocean. The Research Vessel Araon visited the ice-covered East Siberian and Chukchi Seas in August 2016. In the Arctic, solar [ultraviolet-A (UV-A), ultraviolet-B (UV-B), and photosynthetically active radiation (PAR)] radiation reaching the surface of the ocean is primarily protected by the distribution of sea ice. The transmission of solar light in the ocean is controlled by sea ice and dissolved organic matter, such as CDOM. The concentration of CDOM is the major factor controlling the penetration depth of UV radiation into the ocean. The relative CDOM concentration of surface sea water was higher in the East Siberian Sea than in the Chukchi Sea. Due to the distribution of CDOM, the penetration depth of solar light in the East Siberian Sea (UV-B, $9{\pm}2m$; UV-A, $13{\pm}2m$; PAR, $36{\pm}4m$) was lower than in the Chukchi Sea (UV-B, $15{\pm}3m$; UV-A, $22{\pm}3m$; PAR, $49{\pm}3m$). Accelerated global warming and the rapid decrease of sea ice in the Arctic have resulted in marine organisms being exposed to increased harmful UV radiation. With changes in sea ice covered areas and concentrations of dissolved organic matter in the Arctic Ocean, marine ecosystems that consist of a variety of species from primary producers to high-trophic-level organisms will be directly or indirectly affected by solar UV radiation.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.52 no.3
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• pp.231-244
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• 2019

Zooplankton is essential biological assemblage in understanding the structure and function of aquatic ecosystems, since it plays as a linkage between primary producers and higher trophic level organisms such as fish. Although zooplankton has planktonic characteristics, the sampling and treatment methods for its community analyses are more complicated and variable compared with phytoplankton due to its high diversity in body size and species-specific depth selection behaviors. In the present paper, we reviewed representative classical methods for field sampling and treatments of freshwater zooplankton in relation with quantification of its community structure, and suggested appropriate methods depending on various research objectives.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.73-79
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• 2021

The feeding habits of Chub mackerel Scomber japonicus were investigated using 329 specimens collected from coastal waters of the South Sea of Korea. S. japonicus is mainly a piscivore, consuming small fish such as Engraulis japonicus (%RI: 81.0 %). The diet of Chub mackerel also includes small quantities of thaliaceans, euphausiids, and amphipods. We calculated the trophic level as 3.92 for S. japonicus. The dietary composition of S. japonicus did not show significant differences with size, but differed with season. As the body size of S. japonicus increased, the mean weight of prey within the stomach (mW/ST) increased (One-way ANOVA, P<0.05).

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.54 no.6
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• pp.1052-1057
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• 2021

The diet composition of common flying squid Todarodes pacificus was studied using 1,084 specimens collected through trawl and jigging from June 2018 to June 2020 in the East Sea of Korea. The mantle length (ML) of the collected individuals ranged from 13.6 to 31.1 cm. Todarodes pacificus is a carnivore. In the study area, T. pacificus was observed feeding mainly on fish and cephalopods, in addition to small quantities of crustaceans. The calculated trophic level value for T. pacificus was 4.10. Small individuals (ML, <18.0 cm) mainly fed on cephalopods, while intermediate (ML, 18.0-23.0 cm) and large (ML, ≥23.0 cm) individuals fed mainly on fish and occasionally on cephalopods. Overall, as the body size of T. pacificus increased, the mean weight of the consumed prey increased (one-way ANOVA, P<0.05).

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.56 no.5
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• pp.728-733
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• 2023

The diet composition of octopus Octopus vulgaris was studied using 392 specimens collected from January to December 2020 in the coastal waters of Yeosu, Korea. The body weight ranged from 86.4 to 3,645.4 g. The most important prey item in the diet of O. vulgaris was decapods, which constituted 43.9% in ranking index (%RI). The second largest prey item was Pisces (%RI=27.9%), and cephalopods (%RI=21.8%) constituted the third largest prey item. The average trophic level of O. vulgaris was 3.97±0.59. Ontogenetic changes were significant among size classes (<400 g, 400-800 g, ≥800 g). The small size class (<400 g) mainly fed on decapods, whereas the medium (400-800 g) and large size (≥800 g) classes mainly fed on cephalopods and Pisces, respectively. The dietary composition varied significantly with season.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.577-588
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• 1995

The chemical constituents for the seawater and sediment were measured to evaluate pollution in the sea around Pusan Harbor in winter, n992. The average value of trophic state index (TSI) was 19.4 at the outside of Buk Harbor, 50,4 at the inside of Buk Harbor, 56,3 at the Nam Harbor and 5,0 at the Kamchun Harbor. The high correlation found in salinity-nutrients diagram with AOU suggested that the enrichment of nutrients in Pusan Harbor during winter was mainly due to the influx of terrestrial effluents and partially by regenerated nutrients from suspended organic matters in the water column. The mean values of total ignition loss (TIL), COD and total sulfide in the surface sediments were$12.1\%$, 17.5 mg/g.dry wt. and 1.18 mg/g.dry wt. respectively. The highest level of those parameters was shown mostly at the inside of Buk Harbor. The mean concentration of total organic carbon (TOC), total organic nitrogen (TON), and total phosphorus were 24.9 mg/g.dry wt., 1.3mg/g.dry wt. and 0.69 mg/g. dry wt., respectively, Both of the highest level for TOC and total phosphorus have found at the Nam Harbor. On the other hand, the Highest level for TON was found at the inside of Buk Harbor. The TOC/TON atomic ratio with a range of 10.2-60.2 (mean value of 22.5) strongly indicated the active role of the input from the terrestrial organic pollutants.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.53-61
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• 2014

The origin of particulate organic matter (POM) and food web structure were investigated in Shingu reservoir based on stable isotope analysis from pre-monsoon (July) to post-monsoon (September) 2007. According to the depth in Shingu reservoir, the $^{13}C$ and $^{15}N$ values of POM for pre-monsoon period were nonsignificant distinction, while it was significant variation after rainfall period. The ${\delta}^{13}C$ values of POM in premonsoon period ranged from -25.1‰ to -26.1‰ in whole water column, but the ${\delta}^{13}C$ values of POM in post-monsoon period showed relatively wide range between -23.2‰ and -27.5‰. The apparently lighter values (average -27.5‰) in near bottom water (7 m water depth) demonstrate that POM in high turbid water in post-monsoon period may be derived from the outside terrestrial plants (allochthonous) through heavy rainfall during the summer monsoon period. After rainfall period, $^{13}C$ and $^{15}N$ values of D. brachyurum showed -23.3‰ and 12.2‰, respectively, while B. longirostris showed -27.1% and 8.7%, respectively. It suggested that D. brachyurum mainly feed on POM in autochthonous organic matter pool, but B. longirostris mainly consumed POM in allochthonous organic matter pool after rainfall period. Carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios were markedly different among secondary consumers. The carp (C. carpio) and catfish (S. asotus) were in the higher trophic level and crucian carp (C. auratus) and mudfish (M. mizolepis) were in the lower trophic level. $^{13}C$ and $^{15}N$ values of Z. platypus didn't significantly changed between before and after rainfall period. But P. parva and C. auratus apparently changed the $^{13}C$ and $^{15}N$ values after rainfall period. It is suggested that P. parva and C. auratus seem to feed allochthonous food source while Z. platypus depend on autochthonous food source.