• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.179-195
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• 2004

The trophic state of the coastal waters of the southern part of Korea was assessed using biogeochemical data obtained from the National Marine Environmental Monitoring Program conducted by the National Fisheries Research and Development Institute for six years. The trophic state of different areas, analyzed by non-metric multi-dimensional scaling (MDS) analysis, could divide the areas into three groups. Masan Bay, with suboxic water masses and/or the highest concentrations of dissolved inorganic nitrogen and phosphorus occurred, was assessed as being in a hypertrophic state. Ulsan Bay, Onsan Bay, Busan and Jinhae Bay, located near strong point sources, were in a eutrophic state. Other areas, including Tongyong, Yosu, Mokpo and Jeju island, were evaluated as being in a mesotrophic state. During 1997 to 2002, the average values of excess nitrogen, which is the difference between the measured dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) and the corrected DIN using the Redfield ratio, were positive at Ulsan, Onsan, and Busan, where there were inflows from polluted rivers. In contrast, those were negative values in Haengam Bay, Gwangyang Bay and nearby Yosu. This suggests that the limiting element for phytoplankton growth differed among sites. The time series data of excess nitrogen showed gradual decrease over time in the hypertrophic waters, but the opposite trend in the mesotrophic waters. This indicated that the ratio of nitrogen to phosphate varied according to the trophic state of the coastal waters. The enrichment of organic matter in sediment in eutrophic waters would disturb the normal pattern of biogeochemical cycling of nitrogen and phosphate. In order to assess the condition of the coastal environment, the benthic boundary layer should be considered.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.162-170
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• 2011

In order to assess the inorganic and organic pollutents characteristics in marine water, we investigated COD (Chemical Oxygen Demand), Chlorophyll a and Escherichia coli during four seasons at 20 stations of Gwangyang Bay and at 23 stations of Jinhae Bay, Korea. The bay is divided into three zones in Gwangyang and four zones in Jinhae respectively, based on the pollutent levels. In Gwangyang Bay, the high concentration (mean 4.7 mg $L^{-1)$) of COD was recorded during spring season at Zone I, which can be characterized as a semi-enclosed eutrophic area (St. 1~9). Also, Chl. a concentrations were high at Zone I (mean 14.0 ${\mu}g\;L^{-1}$). The colony of E. coli were detected during summer season at Zone II, which is influenced by Seomjin River water. The E. coli may have been entered from the river water in a large pulse during rainy season. On the other hand, E. coli was kept low levels during four seasons at the Zone III, which is influenced indirectly by surface water currents from offshore of the bay. In Jinhae Bay, the high COD and Chl. a were shown during all seasons at Zone I, which is characteristed by semi-enclosed eutrophic area of Masan and Haengam bays. The Zone I also had been shown relatively high E. coli concentration in all seasons. In constrast, other three zones did not show seasonal characteristics of the E. coli concentrations. The present study suggests that E. coli concentrations can be significantly elevated in eutrophic semi-enclosed area.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.101-110
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• 2013

In order to classify the trophic state and environmental quality of marine coastal system, an approach using the characteristics and biochemical composition in the sediments can be available. This research, including 25 coastal bay, belong to 131 stations, was carried out along the south coasts of Korea in February 2007. Type of sediment, total ogranic carbon, total nitrogen, phytopigments and biochemical composition(proteins, lipids, carbohydrates) were analyzed. Result from Multi-dimensional Scaling(MDS) ordination indicates that four group can be identified. The result of ANOVA with tukey test shows that the concentrations of proteins, carbohydrates and biopolymeric carbon were significantly different to four groups. We propose the trophic state classification for these groups using the biochemical composition of sediment organic matter. I group(Masan, Jinhae, Haengam) has been defined as hypertrophic state, II group(Tongyeong, Goseong；Jaran, Geoje et al.), as eutrophic; III group(Gamak, Deungnyang, Yeoja et al.), as mesotrophic and IV group(Sinan, Jindo, Muan), as oligotrophic. On the basis of results reported in this study, the biochemical composition of sediment organic matter could be considered an useful and sensitive tool for the classification of the trophic state of marine coastal systems.