• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.239-251
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• 2011

To compare the different water environments in the Jigsaw stream (st. 1, 2) and Jujin stream (st. 3, 4) crossing over the Byeonsan-Bando and Seonunsan parklands, the physico-chemical factors and the species compositions of epilithic diatoms were analyzed from March 2009 to February 2010. The mean values of conductivity (681.1 ${\mu}S\;cm^{-1}$), suspended solids (27.83 mg $L^{-1}$), biological oxygen demand (3.15 mg $L^{-1}$), total nitrogen (3.24 mg $L^{-1}$), total phosphorus (0.24 mg $L^{-1}$) and chlorophyll-${\alpha}$ (12.99 mg $m^{-3}$ ) in Jujin stream were significantly higher than each element in Jigsaw stream. Eighty taxa were classified into 73 species and seven varieties belonging to 24 genera, eight families, three suborders and two orders in Jigsaw stream. Eighty eight taxa were classified into 81 species and seven varieties belonging to 22 genera, seven families, three suborders and two orders in Jujin stream. Biological water quality assessments revealed that Jigsaw stream was ${\beta}$~${\alpha}$-oligosaprobic and Jujin stream was ${\beta}$-mesosaprobic. Dominant and diversity indices were indicated from 0.25~0.81 and from 1.73~4.14 in Jigsaw stream, respectively, and from 0.29~0.64 and from 2.72~4.02 in Jujin stream, respectively. Jujin stream was more eutrophic than those of Jigsaw stream. The different water environments between the two streams could be due to the different ecosystems of the neighboring basins of each stream crossing over in the mountain. Further studies should investigate the water environments of two streams by continuous and regular monitoring to analyze the different ecosystem mechanisms.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.437-450
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• 2010

Ecological influences of indigenous freshwater bivalve Unio douglasiae on the water quality and epilithic diatom community was examined with artificial stream (AST), which constructed in a laboratory daily receiving the eutrophic lake water. For the colonization of new periphyton community, forty commercial slide glasses were deposited as a substrate into the lowest part of each AST. Prior to 1 week, the AST was operated to induce the freely-colonization of the algal community in the absence of mussels. After the mussels was introduced at 435 indiv. $m^{-2}$ between step 1 and step 5, the passed water and substrates were daily collected to analysis the change of water quality and lotic and lentic algae abundance for 10 days. Compared to the control, turbidity (60.0% of control), suspended solids (62.5%), and chlorophyll-$\alpha$ (72.2%) in mussel-passed waters were decreased significantly, while a strong increase of ammonia (up to 800% of control) was companied with the decrease of dissolved oxygen (19.5% of control) and total phosphorus (23.9%), respectively. On average, the concentrations of suspended solids (67.0% of control) and chlorophyll-$\alpha$ (89.4%) in mussel-treated substrates were remarkably increased, however algal abundance in its water simultaneously decreased. These results indicate that incidentally or purposely mussel introductions can decrease organic matter of the stream and increase transparency of stream water, however, mussel-mediated nutrient and pseudofeces release may stimulate the adverse growth of periphyton or phytoplankton community in the lower stream or reservoir.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.970-979
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• 2012

The purpose of study was to analyze the ecological health of the Namcheon Stream using Index of Biotic Integrity(IBI) Qualitative Habitate Evaluation Index(QHEI) and Water quality condition. Diatom samples were collected from ten sampling sites in the stream at total four times in 2006 and 2007. To assess ecological health of the stream, it was used modify metrics proposed by USEPA(1999). IBI values of the stream averaged 23 which was judged as a "fair". Physical habitate evaluation analysis showed that QHEI values in the stream averaged 57 indicating a "poor" condition. Water quality condition in the stream averaged "II" indicating a "a little good" condition In conclusion, ecological health of the Namcheon Stream was "fair" condition that means habitate minimally disturb in the aquatic environment and relatively good water quality. Especially, St. 6 St. 7, St. 8, and St. 9 showed that QHEI values in the stream averaged 47 indicating a "poor" condition. St. 6 exists mostly to interfere with the flow of the river piers and artificial beams around. They are also serious disturbance at riverbed structure in aquatic ecosystems. St. 10 was good about habitate condition however, it was disturbance of aquatic ecosystems due to nutrient. It is suggest that St. 10 needs to be managed for nutrient inflows.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.55 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2022

An estuary is an area where a freshwater river or stream meets the ocean. Even before the importance of the value of estuaries was recognized, the estuary was lost because of large-scale conversion by draining, filling, damming, and dredging. In South Korea, 643 estuaries are located, and the total area is 3,248,300 ha, accounting for 32.5% of the total area of South Korea. Over 35% of Korean estuaries are closed estuaries which are only temporally connected with the sea, either permanently or periodically. Since 2008, in order to preserve the estuary ecosystem and solve major issues in the estuary by accumulating knowledge about the estuarine ecosystem, the Ministry of Environment of Republic of Korea has been conducting the "Estuarine Ecosystem Monitoring and Assessment Project". At 668 sites of 325 estuaries, epilithic diatom, benthic macroinvertebrate, fish, and vegetation are investigated, and the habitat condition of each site is evaluated using the newly developed biotic index. More than 100 researchers annually record 2,097 species of estuaries according to the standardized survey guidelines over the past 14 years and provide strictly managed data necessary for establishing estuaries conservation policies. As a result of bibliometric analysis of 1,195 research articles related to the monitoring and assessment of the estuarine ecosystem, research on pollutants such as heavy metals and sediment control have recently been conducted. "Estuarine Ecosystem Monitoring and Assessment Project" is an ecological monitoring type of long-term mandated monitoring that is usually focused on identifying trends. Although it is difficult to identify the mechanism influencing a change in an ecosystem through long-term mandated monitoring, providing empirical data for supporting evidence-based policy, decision-making, and the management of ecosystems. In order to increase the efficiency of the project, research to investigate the relationship between sediments and pollutants and organisms can be conducted at specific estuaries or sites to compensate for the shortcomings of mandatory monitoring.