• Advances in environmental research
• /
• v.9 no.1
• /
• pp.1-17
• /
• 2020

Pharmaceutically active compounds (PhACs) have become an environmental havoc in last few decades with reported cases of antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB) and antibiotic resistant genes (ARGs), lethal effects over aquatic organisms, interference in natural decomposition of organic matter, reduced diversity of microbial communities in different environmental compartments, inhibition of growth of microbes resulting in reduced rate of nutrient cycling, hormonal imbalance in exposed organisms etc. Owing to their potential towards bioaccumulation and persistent nature, these compounds have longer residence time and activity in environment. The conventional technologies of wastewater treatment have got poor efficiency towards removal/degradation of PhACs and therefore, modern techniques with efficient, cost-effective and environment-friendly operation need to be explored. Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) like Photocatalysis, Fenton oxidation, Ozonation etc. are some of the promising, viable and sustainable options for degradation of PhACs. Although energy/chemical or both are essentially required for AOPs, these methods target complete degradation/mineralization of persistent pollutants resulting in no residual toxicity. Considering the high efficiency towards degradation, non-toxic nature, universal viability and acceptability, AOPs have become a promising option for effective treatment of chemicals with persistent nature.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.43 no.1
• /
• pp.14-21
• /
• 2019

Background: Stoichiometry plays an important role in understanding nutrient composition and cycling processes in aquatic ecosystems. Previous studies have considered C:N:P ratios constant for both DOM (dissolved organic matter) and POM (particulate organic matter). In this study, water samples were collected in the six major rivers in Korea and were incubated for 20 days. C:N:P ratios were determined during the time course of the incubations. This allowed us to examine the changes in N and P contents of organic matter during decomposition. Results: POM and DOM showed significant differences in N and P content and the elemental ratios changed during the course of decomposition; DOM showed higher C:N and C:P ratios than POM, and the C:N and C:P ratios increased during decomposition, indicating the preferential mineralization of P over N and N over C. Conclusions: The N and P contents of organic matter in aquatic ecosystem are far from constant and vary significantly during decomposition. More detailed information on the changes in C:N:P ratios will provide improved understanding of decomposition processes and improved modeling of aquatic ecosystems.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
• /
• v.108 no.2
• /
• pp.139-146
• /
• 2019

This study was conducted to determine the carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) distribution within tree components (i.e., stem, branches, leaves, and roots) of the Japanese larch (Larix kaempferi Carriere) plantation and natural oriental cork oak (Quercus variabilis Blume) stands. Fifteen Japanese larch and 15 oriental cork oak trees were destructively sampled to compare the C and N stocks in the components of the trees from three different regions-Hadong-gun, Hamyang-gun and Sancheong-gun-in Gyeongnam Province, South Korea. Species-specific allometric equations were developed to estimate the C and N contents in the tree components based on the diameter at breast height (DBH). There were differences in mean C and N concentrations between the Japanese larch and the oriental cork oak. The mean C concentrations of the tree componentswere significantly higher in Japanese larch than in oriental cork oak; whereas, the N concentration in the stems was significantly lower in Japanese larch than in oriental cork oak. The allometric equations developed for C and N content were significant (p < 0.05) with a coefficient of determination ($R^2$) of 0.76 to 0.99. The C and N stocks in the tree components do not appear to be affected by the species such as Japanese larch plantations and oriental cork oak stands. This study emphasizes the importance of C and N concentrations to estimate the C and N distribution according to tree components in different tree species.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
• /
• v.35 no.2
• /
• pp.121-139
• /
• 2019

Decomposition of litter is a function of various interrelated variables, both biotic and abiotic factors. Litter decomposition acts like a natural fertilizer play a prime role in maintaining the productivity and nutrient cycling in agroforestry systems. There are few studies of decomposition carried out in agroforestry systems with coffee; so it is necessary to perform more research work to fill the research gap, which will allow a better understanding of the management of the coffee agroforestry systems. This paper is based on the theoretical and conceptual aspects of leaf litter decomposition in agroforestry systems, emphasizing the combination with coffee cultivation and critically examined the role of the different factors involved in the decomposition. This study made a comparison of different investigations with regards to weight loss, decomposition rates (k), initial chemical composition, and release of the main nutrients. This study suggested that it is necessary to implement studies of decomposition and mineralization, and the microflora and fauna associated with these processes, so that serves as an important tool to develop a model for enabling a description of the short, medium, and long-term dynamics of soil nutrients in coffee agroforestry systems.

• ALGAE
• /
• v.37 no.4
• /
• pp.265-279
• /
• 2022

The primary production (PP) by phytoplankton in marine ecosystems is essential for carbon cycling and fueling food webs. Hence, estimating the PP in the territorial sea of each country is a necessary step to achieving carbon neutrality. To estimate the PP in the territorial sea of the Republic of Korea from 2005 to 2021, we analyzed various physiochemical parameters, such as sea surface temperature (SST), Secchi depth, and concentrations of chlorophyll-a and nutrients in the seas of five regions, including the East Sea, West Sea, western South Sea, eastern South Sea, and the waters off Jeju Island. During the 17-year study period, the SST tended to increase, while the nutrient concentrations declined, except in the Jeju area. Overall, the PP did not show a specific temporal trend, but daily PP in the western South Sea was the highest among the five regions. Moreover, the maximum PP in the Korean territorial waters (76,450 km²) was estimated at 11,227 Gg C y^-1, which accounts for 0.03% of the global PP. The results may give insights into a better understanding of the PP, further resource utilization, and environmental sustainability in the studied region.

• Mycobiology
• /
• v.51 no.5
• /
• pp.343-353
• /
• 2023

Lichens play crucial roles in the ecosystems, contributing to soil formation and nutrient cycling, and being used in biomonitoring efforts to assess the sustainability of ecosystems including air quality. Previous studies on heavy metal accumulation in lichens have mostly relied on manipulated environments, such as transplanted lichens, leaving us with a dearth of research on how lichens physiologically respond to heavy metal exposure in their natural habitats. To fill this knowledge gap, we investigated lichens from two of South Korea's geographically distant regions, Gangwon Province and Jeju Island, and examined whether difference in ambient heavy metal concentrations could be detected through physiological variables, including chlorophyll damage, lipid oxidation, and protein content. The physiological variables of lichens in response to heavy metals differed according to the collection area: Arsenic exerted a significant impact on chlorophyll degradation and protein content. The degree of fatty acid oxidation in lichens was associated with increased Cu concentrations. Our research highlights the value of lichens as a bioindicator, as we found that even small variations in ambient heavy metal concentrations can be detected in natural lichens. Furthermore, our study sheds light on which physiology variables that can be used as indicators of specific heavy metals, underscoring the potential of lichens for future ecology studies.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
• /
• v.42 no.4
• /
• pp.431-437
• /
• 2015

Recently, assessment of nitrogen balance has been required for environmental agriculture. Nutrient management using organic matters in farmlands has been strongly required as a means of extending resource-cycling agriculture and reduction of nitrogen balance. Organic matters-derived nutrients and soil-available nitrogen should be necessarily considered to manage nutrient balance in soil-plant system. In this study, we reviewed the amount of N supply according to types of organic matter such as livestock compost and green manure in arable land. In case of applied livestock compost in soil, nitrogen mineralization was influenced by nitrogen amount of livestock manure and mixed materials. And nitrogen mineralization of green manure in arable land was influenced by types of crop and return period of green manure because of change of C/N ratio. Also, nitrogen supply by organic matter in arable land can be changed by environmental factors such as temperature, moisture in soil. Therefore, nitrogen supply according to C/N ratio of organic matter and analysis method for estimation of soil nitrogen supply availability should be evaluated to set up the nutrient management model.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
• /
• v.25 no.2
• /
• pp.119-125
• /
• 2002

In order to elucidate the budget and cycling of Nitrogen and Sulfur, esential elements and principal constituents of acid rain, their input through precipitation, and their output by streamflow were quantified in coniferous and deciduous forested watersheds, using combination of nutrient concentration and hydrological analysis, in Kwangnung Experimental Forest from July 1991 to Decmeber 1993. Amount of annual mean precipitation was 12.916 ton·ha/sup -1/·yr/sup -1/, annual mean runoff 5,094 ton·ha/sup -1/·yr/sup -1/(39%), 7,647 ton·ha/sup -1/·yr/sup -1/(59%) in coniferous and deciduous forest watersheds, respectively. Amounts of annual input of N(NO₃/sup -/+NH₄/sup +/) and SO/sup 2-/₄ through preciptation were 12.5, 81.7 kg·ha/sup -1/·yr/sup -1/, respectively. Annual output via runoff of N(NO₃/sup -/+NH₄/sup +/) and SO/sup 2-/₄were 0.06, 39.23 ton·ha/sup -1/·yr/sup -1/ in the coniferous forest watershed ecosystem, and 0.15, 55.46 ton·ha/sup -1/·yr/sup -1/ in the deciduous one, respectively. On the basis of annual nutrient input and output, the annual budget of N(NO₃/sup -/+NH₄/sup +/) and SO/sup 2-/₄were +12.46, +42.49 ton·ha/sup -1/·yr/sup -1/ in the coniferous forest watershed, and +11.35, +26.26 ton·ha/sup -1/·yr/sup -1/ in the deciduous one. Thus N(NO₃/sup -/+NH₄/sup +/) and SO/sup 2-/₄were accumulated in both forested watershed ecosystems.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
• /
• v.17 no.2
• /
• pp.120-129
• /
• 2012

We investigated seasonal variation of sediment-water oxygen and inorganic nitrogen fluxes, and denitrification at tidal flat sediments located in the Nakdong River Estuary from July 2005 to September 2006. Net oxygen fluxes, measured with sediment incubations at in situ temperature, varied from -37.0 to $0.5mmol\;O_2\;m^{-2}\;d^{-1}$. Oxygen fluxes into the sediments from the overlying water increased due to the increased water temperature. Denitrification rate ($4{\sim}2732{\mu}mol\;N\;m^{-2}\;d^{-1}$) in this study was higher compared to the other Korean coast measured with the same method. Denitrification showed the same seasonal variation as oxygen fluxes. Denitrification rate based on $^{15}N$-nitrate showed a strong correlation with nitrate flux into the sediments from the overlying water. Denitrification via "water column supplied nitrate ($D_w$)", calculated from Isotope pairing technique, also correlated well with nitrate flux into the sediments. Nitrate from water column seems to account for seasonal variation of denitrification in Nakdong River Estuary. To understand general patterns and trends of biogeochemical processes of sediments in the Nakdong River Estuary, we categorized biogeochemical fluxes measured in this study according to direction and sizes of fluxes. Type 1(high oxygen and inorganic nitrogen fluxes into the sediments and high denitrification) occurred in summer, whereas Type 2(low oxygen and inorganic nitrogen fluxes into the sediments and low denitrification) occurred in rest of the season. Intertidal flat sediments seem to react sensitively to influence of freshwater from the Nakdong River.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
• /
• v.85 no.3
• /
• pp.416-425
• /
• 1996

Aboveground biomass, distribution of N and P in tree components, forest floor and the top 20cm of mineral soil, and litterfall were determined in adjacent 37-year-old plantations of Pinus rigida Mill. and Larix leptolepis Gord. on a sandy clay loam soil in Yangpyeong, Kyonggi Province. Total above-ground tree biomass for P. rigida and L. leptolepis were 138.2 and 127.2 t/ha, respectively, and did not differ between the two species. Nitrogen concentrations in stembark and foliage were all greater in L. leptolepis. Understory biomass contributed less than 2.0% of the total aboveground biomass but contributed up to 12.0% of the aboveground nutrient contents. Soil below L. leptolepis had higher concentrations of N and P. Total ecosystem N content (kg/ha) was greater for L. leptolepis (5,579) than P. rigida (4,147). Litterfall dry mass (kg/ha/yr) was greater for P. rigida (6,020) than L. leptolepis (4,191) whereas N contents in leaf litterfall (kg/ha/yr) was almost twice as large in L. leptolepis (28) than P. rigida (16). This common garden experiment suggests a strong influence of tree species on nutrient distribution and cycling in a forest ecosystem.