• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.48 no.3
• /
• pp.153-167
• /
• 2015

In order to understand the relationship between the distribution of epilithic diatoms and the habitual environments, land-use, water qualities, and epilithic diatoms were studied at 141 sampling sites in the midwestern stream of Korean peninsula (Geum river, Mangyeong river, Dongjin river, and Sapgyo river). The total 183 diatom taxa was appeared in the study, while the dominant species were found to be Nitzschia palea (10.9%) and Achnanthes convergens (8.4%). Based on the abundance of epilithic diatoms, a cluster analysis results indicate that the sampling sites divided the sampling sites into 4 groups (G) at the 25% level. In term of geographic and aquatic environments, G-I and -II accounted for the upper and mid streams of the Geum river, and had large forest areas and good in water quality. G-III accounted for farmland and urban, and high concentration nutrient levels (TN and TP) and electric conductivity. G-IV accounted for mostly farmland, and high levels in turbidity, BOD, nutrient and electric conductivity. CCA results showed that the saproxenous taxa Meridion circulare was the indicator species of G-I, which strongly influenced by altitude and forests. In G-II, the indifferent taxa Navicula cryptocephala was influenced by Chl-a, AFDM, and DO. In G-III and -IV, the indifferent taxa Fragilaria elliptica and saprophilous taxa Aulacoseira ambigua were influenced by electric conductivity, turbidity, and nutrient counts. Meanwhile, random forest results showed that the predicting factor of indicator species appearance in G-I, -II, and -III was found to be electric conductivity whereas in G-IV it was found to be turbidity. Collectively, the distribution of diatoms in the midwestern of Korean peninsula was found to depend more on the land-use and its subsequent water qualities than the inherent characteristics of the aquatic environment.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.48 no.3
• /
• pp.147-152
• /
• 2015

Nitrogen (N) loading from domestic, agricultural and industrial sources can lead to excessive growth of macrophytes or phytoplankton in aquatic environment. Many studies have used nitrogen stable isotope ratios to identify anthropogenic nitrogen in aquatic systems as a useful method for studying nitrogen cycle. In this study to evaluate the precision and accuracy of Kjeldahl processes, two reference materials (IAEA-NO-3, N-1) were analyzed repeatedly. Measured the ${\delta}^{15}N-NO_3$ and ${\delta}^{15}N-NH_4$ values of IAEA-NO-3 and IAEA-N-1 were $4.7{\pm}0.2$‰ and $0.4{\pm}0.3$‰, respectively, which are within recommended values of analytical uncertainties. Also, we investigated spatial patterns of ${\delta}^{15}N-NO_3$ and ${\delta}^{15}N-NH_4$ in effluent plumes from a waste water treatment plant in Han River, Korea. ${\delta}^{15}N-NO_3$ and ${\delta}^{15}N-NH_4$ values are enriched at downstream areas of water treatment plant suggesting that dissolved nitrogen in effluent plumes should be one of the main N sources in those areas. The current study clarifies the reliability of Kjeldahl analytical method and the usefulness of stable isotopic techniques to trace the contamination source of dissolved nitrogen such as nitrate and ammonia.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.48 no.2
• /
• pp.95-107
• /
• 2015

In order to identify long-term trends of water quality parameters in Lake Kyeongpo, Mann-Kendall test, Sen's slope estimator and linear regression were applied on data, with 15 parameters from three different sites and rainfall, monitored once in every two months from March to November during 1998~2013. Seasonal variation analysis only used Mann-Kendall test and Sen's slope estimator. Analysis result showed that salinity, transparency and nutrient variables (total phosphorus, dissolved inorganic phosphorus, total nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, ammonia nitrogen) were only parameters having statistically significant trend. In linear regression analysis, salinity (surface and bottom layer of all sites) and transparency (only at site 1), were figured out with statistically significant increasing trend, while in non-parametric statistical method, salinity and transparency in all sites (surface, middle, deep) were figured out with statistically significant increasing trend. Water quality parameters showing statistically significant decreasing trends were dissolved oxygen (surface layer of site 1 and bottom layer of sites 2 and 3), total phosphorus (sites 1 and 2), dissolved inorganic phosphorus, total nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen and ammonia nitrogen in the linear regression analysis and, dissolved oxygen (bottom layer of all sites), total phosphorus, dissolved inorganic phosphorus, total nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen and ammonia nitrogen in the non-parametric method. Seasonal trend analysis result showed that salinity, turbidity, transparency and suspended solids in spring, salinity, transparency, nitrate nitrogen and suspended solids in summer and temperature, salinity, transparency and suspended solids in fall were the variables depending on the season with increasing trends. In general, rainfall during the research period showed decreasing trend. The significant reduction trends of nutrients in Lake Kyeongpo were believed to be related to lagoon restoration and water management project run by Gangneung city and under-water wear removal, but further detailed studies are needed to know the exact causes.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.40 no.3
• /
• pp.379-386
• /
• 2007

Nonylphenol (NP) has been well known as a major substance of surfactant and/or estrogenic environmental hormone. We tested toxic effects of nonylphenol on the population growth and development of aquatic organism such as algae (Microcystis aeruginosa), heterotrophic nanoflagellate (Diphylleia rotans), micro- (Brachionus calyciflorus) and macro-zooplankton (Daphnia magna) among eutrophic water food-web constituents. Dosage of NP treatment were 4 to 5 grades, according to each organism's tolerance based on pre-experiments; algae (0.01, 0.05, 0.10, 1.00 mg $L^{-1}$) Diphylleia rotans (0.5, 1,2. 5,6, 10 ${\mu}g\;L^{-1})$, Brachionus calyciflorus (0.1, 0.5, 1, 2.5, 5 ${\mu}g\;L^{-1}$), and Daphnia magna (0.5, 1, 5, 10, 50 ${\mu}g\;L^{-1}$), respectively. Toxic effects were measured by the changes of biomass of each organism after NP treatment. All experiments were triplication. As suggested, the higher concentration of NP treatment, the stronger inhibited the population growth of all organisms tested. In view of toxicity, a variety of concentration of NP showed a significant growth inhibition to organism; algae to 0.05 $mg\;L^{-1}$, D. rotans and B. calyciflorus to 1.0 ${\mu}g\;L^{-1}$, and D. magna to 5.0 ${\mu}g\;L^{-1}$, respectively. The $EC_{50}$ of each organism to the nonylphenol are as follows; 3. calyciflorus (2.49 ${\mu}g\;L^{-1}$), D. rotans (3.49 ${\mu}g\;L^{-1}$), D. magna (7.61 ${\mu}g\;L^{-1})$, and M. aeruginosa (47 ${\mu}g\;L^{-1})$. NP toxic effects on the development of zooplankton like egg production showed some differences in treatment concentration between Brachionus calyciflorus ${0.1{\sim}1NP{\mu}g\;L^{-1})$ and Daphnia magna $(0.5{\sim}5NP\;{\mu}g\;L^{-1})$. These results suggest that a strong growth inhibition of predator or grazer by the nonylphenol can stimulate the algal growth, or can play important role in evoking the nuisance algal bloom in eutrophic water with enough nutrients.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.42 no.2
• /
• pp.260-269
• /
• 2009

Hwabuk Dam has been under construction to reduce flood damage in Nakdong River watershed and to supply stable water for middle area of Gyeongbuk Province. Therefore, fish investigation in up and downstream of the dam was conducted from 2004 to 2008 in order to determine any negative effect on fish community due to dam construction and to use as fundamental data for conserving species diversity and maintaining stream health. According to data analysis on water quality, temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, suspended solids, and total E-coli had seasonal variation, but they did not significantly differ in sites. However, biological and chemical oxygen demand, chlorophyll-a, nitrogen, and phosphorus representing organic matter and nutrient concentration were higher in upper site and decreased to lower site so that they differed by site. Concentration of arsenic among the heavy metals was less than 0.05 mg $L^{-1}$, which is regulated for protection of human health in water quality standard, except for 0.092 mg $L^{-1}$ in June 2005. During the study period, the total number of fish caught from the 6 sites was 10,263 representing 7 families 19 species. Among them, dominant and subdominant species were Korean chub (Zacco koreanus, 62.5%) and Chinese minnow (Rhynchocypris oxycephalus, 10.6%) which inhabit mostly in mid and upper streams, Korea. Among the 19 species, Korean endemic species were 9 species (47.4%) including Korean slender gudgeon (Squalidus gracilis majimae), Korean dark sleeper (Odontobutis platycephala), and Korean shiner (Coreoleuciscus splendidus). There was several individuals of the $1^{st}$-class endangered species, Naktong nose loach (Koreocobitis nahtongensis), caught in 2005${\sim}$2007, and no introduced species of fish was found in entire sampling period. According to result of community analysis, dominance index decreased toward lower site, but diversity and richness indices increased toward lower site. The equation of length-weight relationship on the dominant species was TW=0.000003$(TL)^{3.2603}$. The parameter b in the equation was greater than 3.0 indicating good nutritional condition in the populations. Compared to populations of Korean chub in other streams, the population in Hwabuk Dam watershed had higher mean of condition factor by size indicating better growth rate. With fish fauna and multi-metric health assessment model in each sampling attempt, index of biotic integrity (IBI) was evaluated and it resulted mostly in good (26${\sim}$35) and excellent (36${\sim}$40) condition in all sites, and the mean of IBI was the highest in site 5. The results indicate that it is very important to study not only environmental impact assessment with fish composition but also stream health assessment in order to conserve healthy aquatic ecosystem.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.42 no.2
• /
• pp.200-211
• /
• 2009

A mathematical modeling program called Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) developed by USDA was applied to Kyongan stream watershed. It was run under BASINS (Better Assessment Science for Integrating point and Non-point Sources) program, and the model was calibrated and validated using KTMDL monitoring data of 2004${\sim}$2008. The model efficiency of flow ranged from very good to fair in comparison between simulated and observed data and it was good in the water quality parameters like flow range. The model reliability and performance were within the expectation considering complexity of the watershed and pollutant sources. The results of pollutant loads estimation as yearly (2004${\sim}$2008), pollutant loadings from 2006 were higher than rest of year caused by high precipitation and flow. Average non-point source (NPS) pollution rates were 30.4%, 45.3%, 28.1% for SS, TN and TP respectably. The NPS pollutant loading for SS, TN and TP during the monsoon rainy season (June to September) was about 61.8${\sim}$88.7% of total NPS pollutant loading, and flow volume was also in a similar range. SS concentration depended on precipitation and pollution loading patterns, but TN and TP concentration was not necessarily high during the rainy season, and showed a decreasing trend with increasing water flow. SWAT based on BASINS was applied to the Kyongan stream watershed successfully without difficulty, and it was found that the model could be used conveniently to assess watershed characteristics and to estimate pollutant loading including point and non-point sources in watershed scale.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.42 no.2
• /
• pp.183-191
• /
• 2009

This study was to evaluate ecological health of Dongjin River in October 2007. The ecological health assessments was based on the Index of Biological Integrity (IBI), Qualitative Habitat Evaluation Index (QHEI), and water chemistry. For the study, the models of IBI and QHEI were modified as 8 and 11 metric attributes, respectively. We also analyzed spatial patterns of chemical water quality over the period of 2005${\sim}$2008, using the water chemistry dataset, obtained from the Ministry of Environment, Korea. In Dongjin River, values of IBI averaged 19 (n=3), which is judged as a "Fair" condition after the criteria of Barbour et al. (1999). There was a distinct spatial variation. IBI score at Site 1 was estimated as 28, indicating a "Good" condition whereas, IBI at Site 2 and Site 3 were as 18 and 12, indicating "Fair" and "Poor" condition, respectively. Habitat analysis showed that QHEI values in the river averaged 117 (n=3), indicating a "Fair${\sim}$Good" condition after the criteria of Barbour et al. (1999). Values of BOD and COD averaged 2.3 mg $L^{-1}$ (scope: 0.1${\sim}$8.9 mg $L^{-1}$) and 5.5 mg $L^{-1}$ (scope: 1.8${\sim}$12.6 mg $L^{-1}$), respectively during the study. Total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) averaged 2.7mg $L^{-1}$ and 0.127mg $L^{-1}$, respectively, and the nutrients showed large longitudinal gradients between the upper and lower reach. Overall, dataset of IBI, QHEI, and water chemistry showed that river health was a gradual decline at upstream to downstream. So, Dongjin River should be protected from habitat disturbance and chemical pollutions.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.42 no.1
• /
• pp.85-94
• /
• 2009

This study examines the operational effectiveness of a Convection Current Aeration System (CCAS) in reservoir. CCAS was run from June, 2008 when the thermocline begun forming in the reservoir. This paper reviews the influence of stratification, dissolved oxygen dynamics and temperature in the lake's natural state from June to October 2008. The survey was done on a week basis. Upwelling flow effects a radius of $7{\sim}10m$ at a surface directly and was irrelevant to the strength of thermocline. On the other hand, it was affected the number of working days, and strength of thermocline at vertical profiles of the reservoir. Longer CCAS run, the deeper was the vertical direct flow area. However it didn't break the thermocline during summer season of 2008. The operating efficiency of the CCAS in the reservoir depends on hydraulics and meteological conditions. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) is a very useful tool for evaluating the operating efficiency of fluid dynamics. The geometry for CFD simulation consists of a cylindrical vessel 25 m radius and 40 m height. The CCAS is located in center of domain. The non-uniform tetrahedral meshes had a bulk of the geometry. The meshes ranged from the coarse to the very fine. This is attributed to the cold water flowing into the downcomer and rising, creating a horizontal flow to the top of the CCAS. The result of CFD demonstrate a closer agreement with surveyed data for temperature and flow velocity. Theoretical dispersion volume were calculated at 8m depth, 120 m diameter working for 30 days and 10 m depth, 130 m diameter working for 50 days.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.42 no.1
• /
• pp.9-18
• /
• 2009

The objectives of this study were to evaluate seasonal and interannual variations of water quality and nutrient input (N, P) in Junam Reservoir, a nesting waterbody of migratory birds, over 10 years during 1998$\sim$2007 along with dynamic relations of trophic parameters using empirical models. Concentrations of COD averaged 7.8 mg $L^{-1}$ during the study, while TN and TP were $1.4\;mg\;L^{-1}$ and $83{\mu}g\;L^{-1}$, respectively, indicating an eutrophic-hypereutrophic state. Values of monthly COD had strong positive relations (r=0.669, p<0.001) with conductivity, indicating that summer rainfall resulted in an ionic dilution of the reservoir water by rainwater and contributed better water quality. One-way ANOVA tests showed significant differences (F=$5.2{\sim}12.9$, p<0.05) in TN and TP between the before and after the bird migration. In other words, nutrient levels were greater in the absence of migratory birds than in the presence of the migratory birds, suggesting a no-effect on nutrient inputs by the birds. Also, one-way ANOVA indicated no significant differences (F=$0.37{\sim}0.48$, p>0.05) in $NO_{3^-}N$ and $NH_{3^-}N$ between the before and after the birds migration. Linear empirical models using trophic parameters showed that algal biomass as CHL, had significant low correlations with TN ($R^2$=0.143, p<0.001, n=119) and TP ($R^2$=0.192, p<0.001, n=119). These results suggest that influences of nutrients on the CHL were evident, but the effect was weak. This fact was supported by analysis of Trophic State Index Deviation (TSID). Over 70% in the observed values of "TSI (CHL)-TSI (SD)" and "TSI (CHL)-TSI (TP)" were less than zero, suggesting a light limitation on the CHL by inorganic suspended solids.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.42 no.1
• /
• pp.1-8
• /
• 2009

This study used a mesocosm which presumes movement of the nutrient (especially $PO_{4^-}P$) in the wetland. After setting up the mesocosm inside the wetland and adding the $PO_{4^-}P$, observed the movement of the $PO_{4^-}P$ every hour. We analyzed the variables which had the possibility of affecting $PO_{4^-}P$ concentration in the wetland-flora, absorbing rate of algae, settling rate, release rate. Immediately after adding $PO_{4^-}P$, the concentration of the TP in water column at each mesocosm was 0.48, 12.4, 20.4, $23.6\;mg\;L^{-1}$, after 21 days they were 0.6, 1.92, 6.97 and $6.94\;mg\;L^{-1}$ respectively. The concentration of the TP in water column at the mesocosm decreased on average 73.7%. The concentration of the $PO_{4^-}P$ inside reed, algae and sediment in the mesocosm was increased from $0.73mg\;gDW^{-1}$, $3.81mg\;gDW^{-1}$, $466.1mg\;kg^{-1}$ to $0.83mg\;gDW^{-1}$, $4.57mg\;gDW^{-1}$ and $813.3mg\;kg^{-1}$ respectively. Algae is more sensitive than reeds in absorption of the nutrient. TP removal by settling was highest. Budgeting of TP indicated that P moved from particulates in the water column to sediment and algae. Immediately after adding $PO_{4^-}P$, water column (24.2%) and sediment (49.0%) dominated TP storage, with algae (10.3%) and reed (16.4%) holding smaller proportions of TP. After 21 days, Sediment (59.0%) and algae (17.9%) dominated TP storage, with water column (7.1%) and reed (15.8%) holding smaller proportions of TP. Estimation of phosphate movement using mesocosms is an appropriate method because wetlands have many controlling factors. Analysed data can be compared to background data for wetland construction and management.