• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.55 no.4
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• pp.259-273
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• 2022

Interactions between species in a community are very complex, and they are visualized and analyzed through a food web in simple way. Food web is a network of species connected by trophic links showing energy flow from prey to predator. Various models were developed to characterize the food web in ecosystems. In this study, we classified food web models to static models such as Ecopath and dynamic models such as AQUATOX. We presented characteristics of several different types of food web models in each category, and reviewed their applications used in aquatic ecosystems. Finally, we presented issues to be considered to develop food web models.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.669-675
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• 2003

To increase fishery resources in coastal waters, juvenile fish and bivalves are artificially released every year in Korea. This study provides a methodology to estimate an optimal release quantity based on the carrying capacity of the receiving basins. Carrying capacity was defined by E.p. Odum's theory of ecosystem development as the upper limit of biomass, where total system respiration equals total primary production. The Ecopath trophic ecological model was used to determine carrying capacity in the surfzone ecosystem of Bangjukpo on the southern coast of Korea. Using a top-down control method, various biomasses of fish groups were given to the simulation, with primary production constant and no catch. The results showed that biomass of selected fish groups increased by two orders of magnitude, yielding a five-fold increase in overall consumer biomass. The resultant values are 10 times higher than those estimated in open seas. This can be explained by higher primary production in the Bangjukpo surfzone ecosystem. This method can be used for strategic releases and ecosystem management, particularly when based on an ecological background.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.38 no.3
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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.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.292-302
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• 2008

The purpose of this study was to analyze the trophic structures and the energy flows in the lower reaches of the Nakdong River using the Ecopath model (Walter et al., 1997). The sampling and analyses were carried out at 6 sampling sites of the lower reaches of the Nakdong River on May and November in 2007. Total of 9 groups detritus, macrophytes, phytoplankton, zooplankton, zoobenthos, Cyprinus carpio, Hemibarbus labeo, Micropterus salmoides and other fishes were considered to assess the trophic relationship, energy flows and interactions among them in the study. As a result, it was concluded that the lower reaches of the Nakdong River was consisted of producers (Detritus, Macrophytes, Phytoplankton), primary consumers (Zooplankton, Zoobenthos, Cyprinus carpio, Hemibarbus labeo, Other fishes) and secondary consumer (Micropterus salmoides). The total system throughput was estimated at 2.7 kg m$^{-2}$ year$^{-1}$ including a consumption of 52%, exports of 9.1%, respiratory flows of 18.0% and flows into detritus of 20.9%. MTI (mixed trophic impacts) analysis demonstrated that Pseudobagrus fulvidraco had positive impact on Cyprinus carpio, Carassius cuvieri and Carassius auratus. On the other hand, other fishes had negative impact on Cyprinus carpio, Carassius cuvieri and Carassius auratus. Also, all the functional groups except detritus had a negative impact on themselves.

• Journal of Fisheries and Marine Sciences Education
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.513-525
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• 2017

In the estimation of the exploitable carrying capacity (ECC) in the Korean water of the East China Sea, two approaches, which are the ecosystem modeling method (EMM) and the holistic production method (HPM), were applied. The EMM is accomplished by Ecopath with Ecosim model using a number of ecological data and fishery catch for each species group, which was categorized by a self-organizing mapping (SOM) based on eight biological characteristics of species. In this method, the converged value during the Ecosim simulation by setting the instantaneous rate of fishing mortality (F) as zero was estimated as the ECC of each group. The HPM is to use surplus production models for estimateing ECC. The ECC estimates were 4.6 and 5.1 million mt (mmt) from EMM and HPM, respectiverly. The estimate from the EMM has a considerable uncertainty due to the lack of confidence in input ecological parameters, especially production/biomass ratio (P/B) and consumption/biomass ratio (Q/B). However, ECC from the HPM was estimated on the basis of relatively fewer assumptions and long time-series fishery data as input, so the estimate from the HPM is regarded as more reasonable estimate of ECC, although the ECC estimate could be considerd as a preliminary one. The quality of input data should be improved for the future study of the ECC to obtain more reliable estimate.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.747-759
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• 2011

The purpose of this study was to compare the trophic structures and the energy flows in the Lake Namyang and the lower reaches of the Nakdong River using the Ecopath model. The sampling and analyses were carried out at 6 sampling sites of the Lake Namyang and the lower reaches of the Nakdong River respectively on March and November in 2007. As a result, the Lake Namyang was consisted of producers(Detritus, Macrophytes, Phytoplankton), primary consumers(Zooplankton, Zoobenthos, Carassius cuvieri, Carassius auratus, Other fishes) and secondary consumer(Cyprinus carpio, Pseudobagrus fulvidraco) and the lower reaches of the Nakdong River was consisted of producers(Detritus, Macrophytes, Phytoplankton), primary consumers (Zooplankton, Zoobenthos, Cyprinus carpio, Hemibarbus labeo, Other fishes) and secondary consumer (Micropterus salmoides). The food-chain length of the Lake Namyang was relatively short when compared with the lower reaches of the Nakdong River. The shortness of food-chain length in the Lake Namyang could be attributed to the low biomass of the top predators. The total system throughput of the lake Namyang was estimated at 14.3 kg $m^{-2}\;year^{-1}$ including a consumption of 39.0%, exports of 21.0%, respiratory flows of 12.0% and flows into detritus of 28.0% and the total system throughput of the lower reaches of the Nakdong River was estimated at 2.8 kg $m^{-2}\;year^{-1}$ including a consumption of 52.0%, exports of 9.1%, respiratory flows of 18.0% and flows into detritus of 20.9% in the lower reaches of the Nakdong River.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.180-195
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• 2011

A balanced trophic model for Sinjido marine ecosystem was constructed using ECOPATH model and data obtained 1994 in the region. The model integrates available information on biomass and food spectrum, and analyses ecosystem properties, dynamics of the main species populations and the key trophic pathways of the system, and then compares these results with those of other marine environments. The model comprises 17 groups of benthic algae, phytoplankton, zooplankton, gastropoda, polychaeta, bivalvia, echinodermata, crustacean, cephalopoda, goby, flatfish, rays and skates, croaker, blenny, conger, flatheads, and detritus. The model shows trophic levels of 1.0~4.0 from primary producers and detritus to top predator as flathead group. The model estimates total biomass(B) of 0.1 $kgWW/m^2$, total net primary production(PP) of 1.6 $kgWW/m^2/yr$, total system throughput(TST) of 3.4 $kgWW/m^2/yr$ and TST's components of consumption 7%, exports 43%, respiratory flows 4% and flows into detritus 46%. The model also calculates PP/TR of 0.012, PP/B of 0.015, omnivory index(OI) of 0.12, Fin's cycling index(FCI) of 0.7%, Fin's mean path length(MPL) of2.11, ascendancy(A) of 4.1 $kgWW/m^2/yr$ bits, development capacity(C) of 8.2 $kgWW/m^2/yr$ bits and A/C of 51%. In particular this study focuses the analysis of mixed trophic impacts and describes the indirect impact of a groupb upon another through mediating one based on 4 types. A large proportion of total export in TST means higher exchange rate in the study region than in semi enclosed basins, which seems by strong tidal currents along the channels between islands, called Sinjido, Choyakdo and Saengildo. Among ecosystem theory and cycling indices, B, TST, PP/TR, FCI, MPL and OI are shown low, indicating the system is not fully mature according to Odum's theory. Additionally, high A/C reveals the maximum capacity of the region is small. To sum up, the study region has high exports of trophic flow and low capacity to develop, and reaches a development stage in the moment. This is a pilot research applied to the Sinjido in terms of trophic flow and food web system such that it may be helpful for comparison and management of the ecosystem in the future.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.750-763
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• 2018

This study conducted 10 sampling sites survey 4 times to determine the trophic structure and energy flow of marine ecosystems for Uljin marine ranching area, Korean East Sea from March to October 2013. Based on the ecological characteristics of biological species, one used the non-Metric Multidimensional Scaling method based on the similarity of species. A total of 19 classified species groups formed categories including, top predators, seabirds, large pelagic fishes, small pelagic fishes, rockfishes, pleuronectiformes, benthic fishes, semi-benthic fishes, cephalopods, benthic feeders, epifauna, bivalves, abalone, Cnidaria, zooplankton, benthic algae, microalgae, phytoplankton and detritus. The biomass, production/biomass, consumption/biomass, diet composition data of each species groups to input data used in Ecopath mode estimated the trophic structure and energy flow of marine ecosystems in the Uljin marine ranching area. One estimated each species groups on the trophic level from 1 to 5.687. The sum of all consumption was estimated at $229.7t/km^2/yr$ and the sum of all exports was as estimated $3,432.4t/km^2/yr$. Total system throughput was at $6,796.2t/km^2/yr$, and the sum of all production was estimated at $3,613.1t/km^2/yr$. Net system production according to these results was estimated at $3,490.3t/km^2/yr$ and total biomass (excluding detritus) was estimated at $167.3t/km^2/yr$ in the Uljin marine ranching area.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.389-401
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• 2003

The changes in structure and abundance of taxon or species groups in the East Sea ecosystem were compared between pre- and post-Climatic Regime Shift (CRS) occurred in the mid 1970s using an ECOPATH model. Although the East Sea ecosystem consisted of primary producers, primary consumers, secondary consumers and terminal consumers most species groups were classified as secondary consumers. The mean trophic level between pre- and post-CRS increased from 3.09 during the pre-CRS period to 3.28 during the post-CRS period. Total biomass of the species groups in the East Sea ecosystem increased by $9\%$ due to the CRS, and total catch increased by $48\%.$ The most significant differences between pre- and post-CRS models occurred at the mid/high trophic levels occupied by fishes and cephalopods. Relative contribution of the different species groups to the total energy flow was calculated for the trophic level III. As a result, the status by the dominant species in the East Sea ecosystem shifted from cephalopods to walleye pollock due to the CRS. Relative contribution of 5 species, which were commercially important, such as Pacific saury, Pacific sardine, filefish, walleye pollock and sandfish in trophic level III, were also changed due to the CRS. Finally, the CRS turned out to cause large variations in biomass and catch of fisheries resources as well as the status and role of the major species.