• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.165-171
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• 2004

Weight loss and nutrients dynamics during decomposition of oak roots (diameter classes: R₁〈0.2㎝, 0.5㎝〈R₂〈1㎝, 1㎝〈R₃〈2㎝, 2㎝.〈R₄〈4㎝) (Quercus acutissima) were studied for 33-months in Kongiu, Korea. After 33-months, decomposition rate of R₁, R₂, R₃ and R₄ was 49.6%, 47.5%, 66.4% and 66.1%, respectively. The decomposition constant(k) for R₁, R₂, R₃, and R₄ was 0.249/yr, 0.234/yr, 0.397/yr and 0.393/yr, respectively. Larger diameter class of the root lost more weight than smaller diameter class. N concentration in decomposing oak roots increased in all diameter classes. After 33-months, remaining N in R₁, R₂, R₃ and R₄ was 66.5%, 80.7%, 84.4% and 44.4%, respectively. K concentration in decomposing oak roots decreased in early part of decomposition and then increased in later stage of decomposition. After 33-months, remaining P in R₁, R₂, R₃ and R₄ was 64.7%, 62.4%, 93.1% and 30.7%, respectively. K concentration in decomposing oak roots decreased rapidly in early stage of decomposition. Remaining K in R₁, R₂, R₃ and R₄ was 11.6%, 10.6%, 5.9% and 7.7%, respectively. Ca concentration in decomposing oak roots showed different among diameter classes. After 33-months, remaining Ca in R₁, R₂, R₃ and R₄ was 66.2%, 51.0%, 39.1% and 48.3%, respectively. Initial concentration of Mg in oak root was higher in smaller diameter class. After 33-months, remaining Mg in R₁, R₂, R₃ and R₄ was 15.3%, 29.9%, 24.5% and 69.4%, respectively.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.33 no.2 s.90
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• pp.109-118
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• 2000

The dynamics of inorganic nutrients and phytoplankton population were examined at eight stations of Shihwa Reservoir, which situated near the cities newly constructed and the industrial complex of West-sea in Korea, from January to December 1999. Among environmental factors, average concentration of $NH_4$, SRP and SRSi were $522.7\;{\mu}g\;N/l$, $9.8\;{\mu}g\;N/l$ and $0.26\;{\mu}g\;Si/l$, respectively. Water quality was extremely deteriorated by a great amount of pollutants load into inner reservoir after the event of rainfall. Nutrients concentration was suddenly decreased toward the lower part. While $NO_3$ concentration did not much varied among stations, but it was relatively high in winter season. Chlorophyll-a concentration was high at the upper part of the reservoir, with average of $37.2\;{\mu}/l$, and closely related to the fluctuation of $NH_4$, SRP and SRSi concentrations. The phytoplankton development in the water column was dominated by diatom (autumn), prasinoid (winter) and dinoflagellate (summer). Dominant phytoplankton were composed to Skeletonema costatum of diatom, Prorocentrum minimum of dinoflagellate, Chroomonas spp. of cryptomonad, Eutreptiella gymnastica of euglenoid and Pyramimonas spp. of prasinoid. The large bloom of phytoplankton at the upper zone of the Shihwa Reservoir after inflow of a seawater were consistently observed. In consequence, water quality management of the inlet stream was assessed to be very important and urgent.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.548-561
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• 2019

The surfgrass Phyllospadix japonicus is a dominant seagrass species playing critical ecological roles on the eastern coast of Korea. However, few studies have been conducted on the ecological characteristics of this species, generally due to the turbulent water conditions in its habitat. In this study, to examine the growth dynamics of P. japonicus, we investigated monthly changes in morphological characteristics, density, biomass, and leaf productivity as well as changes in the underwater irradiance, water temperature, and water column nutrient concentrations of its habitat from August 2017 to July 2018. Underwater irradiance and water temperature showed clear seasonal changes increasing in spring and summer and decreasing in fall and winter. Nutrient availability fluctuated substantially, but did not display any distinct seasonal trend. Morphological characteristics, shoot density, biomass, and leaf productivities of P. japonicus exhibited significant seasonal variations, increasing in spring and decreasing in fall months. Spadix of P. japonicus occurred from March to August, with the maximum spadix percentage(15.8%) occurred in May 2018. The average leaf productivity of P. japonicus per shoot and area were 2.1 mg sht^-1 d^-1 and 7.5 g m^-2 d^-1, respectively. The optimum water temperature for the growth of P. japonicus in this study was between 13-14℃. The productivity of P. japonicus was not correlated with underwater irradiance, water temperature and nutrient concentrations. These results suggest that the study site provide sufficient amount of underwater irradiance, suitable water temperature range and nutrients for the growth of P. japonicus.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.36 no.4 s.105
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• pp.391-402
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• 2003

Last 20 years have witnessed many studies dealing with effects of elevated $CO_2$ on terrestrial ecosystems. However, fewer efforts have been made to elucidate effects on wetland ecosystems, although they play a key role in global biogeochemical cycles. This review synthesizes published data to reveal effects of elevated $CO_2$ on wetland plants. In particular, we focused on the changes in primary production, community structures, evapotranspiration, and nutrients in plants. Many studies have reported increases in primary production in individual plants, but we could not conclude that this will lead to increases in carbon sequestration in wetland ecosystems. The reasons include transport of photosynthates into belowground parts, speciesspecific responses, interaction among different species, and limitation of other nutrients. However, elevated $CO_2$ increased transpiration rates in many wetland plants, suggesting substantial influences on water budgets of wetlands. In addition, similar to terrestrial ecosystems, elevated $CO_2$ increased C/N ratio of many plants, which may impede organic matter decomposition in the long term. However, further information on dynamics of belowground carbon supplied from wetland plants is warranted to assess effects of elevated $CO_2$ on wetland carbon cycle accurately.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.89 no.1
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• pp.41-48
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• 2000

Mass loss and dynamics of mineral nutrient during decomposition of deciduous leaves and 3 species of needles were investigated for 38 months from October in 1992 to November in 1995 in Kwangneung, Korea. After 38 months, the remaining mass of deciduous leaves, Pinus koraiensis, Pinus rigida and Abies holophylla was 16.2%, 29.8%, 33.5% and 53.9%, respectively. The decay rate (k) of deciduous leaves, Pinus koraiensis, Pinus rigida and Abies holophylla was 0.61, 0.40, 0.37, $0.21yr^{-1}$, respectively. The lowest decay rate in fir needle might be, in part, due to low N concentration. N concentration of the decomposing litter increased during the experimental period except for P. rigida. Deciduous leaves showed a short immobilization period during the early stage of decomposition, and big-cone pine and pitch pine had no immobilization period. However, there was no net N mineralization in fir litter. P increased during the experimental period for all litter. Except for deciduous leaves, there was no net mineralization period. In case of deciduous leaves, however, remaining P after 38 months was 53% of the initial P capital. Remaining cations of the decomposing litter after 38 months were lower than those of initial contents.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.537-545
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• 2012

Decay rate and nutrient dynamics during leaf litter decomposition of deciduous Quercus acutissima were compared between Gongju and Jinju for 33 months from December 2008 through March 2011. Percent remaining weight of Q. acutissima leaf litter after 33 months elapsed in Gongju and in Jinju was $41.2{\pm}0.4%$ and $28.3{\pm}0.6%$, and decay constant (k) was 0.39 and 0.61, respectively. Decomposition in Jinju was significantly faster than that in Gongju. This seemed to be related to higher temperature and precipitation in Jinju than those in Gongju during the experimental period. Initial C/N and C/P ratio of Q. acutissima leaf litter was 46.8 and 270.9, respectively. After 33 months elapsed, C/N and C/P ratios in Gongju decreased to 22.0 and 106.8, and those in Jinju decreased to 19.2 and 170.2, respectively. Initial concentration of N, P, K, Ca and Mg in Q. acutissima leaf litter was 8.31, 0.44, 4.18, 9.38, 1.37 mg/g, respectively. After 33 month elapsed, remaining N, P, K, Ca and Mg were 91.0, 85.4, 30.2, 47.9, 11.7% in Gongju, and 67.0, 54.2, 19.9, 30.0, 40.8% in Jinju, respectively. Except for Mg, remaining nutrients of decomposing leaf litter in Jinju were lower than those in Gongju. In case of N and P, initial immobilization was observed, however, only mineralization was observed in K, Ca and Mg during the whole experimental period.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.151-160
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• 2016

To understand size fractioned chlorophyll a and material cycles of coastal ecosystem in Uljin marine ranching area (JMRA) of East Sea, 4 times of survey were conducted from April to November 2008. Picoplankton, nanoplankton and netplankton in the surface of UMRA fluctuated with an annual mean of $0.26{\mu}g\;L^{-1}$ between the lowest value of $0.03{\mu}g\;L^{-1}$ and the highest value of $0.87{\mu}g\;L^{-1}$, annual mean $1.32{\mu}g\;L^{-1}$ between $0.11{\mu}g\;L^{-1}$ and $5.60{\mu}g\;L^{-1}$, annual mean $0.45{\mu}g\;L^{-1}$ between no detected (nd) and $4.68{\mu}g\;L^{-1}$, respectively. And the relative ratio of picoplankton, nanoplankton and netplanktons on the phytoplankton biomass was on annual average 12.9%, 65.0% and 22.1%, respectively. The 10 m layer was similar to the surface. The relative ratio of pico- and nano-plankton was higher throughout the year. That is, the material cycle of UMRA consists of a microbial food web rather than traditional food chain at a lower trophic levels. Primary production is deemed to have a higher possibility of being adjusted by top-down dynamics, such as micro-zooplankton grazing pressure rather than nutrients supply.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.38 no.1 s.110
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• pp.18-29
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• 2005

This study was conducted to understand seasonal dynamics of phyto- and zooplankton communities in a shallow eutrophic reservoir (Shingu reservoir) from November 2002 to February 2004. Cyanophyceae dominated throughout the year, except for spring (March ${\sim}$ May) when Bacillariophyceae (Melosira varians) and Chlorophyceae (Dictyosphaerium puchellum) were dominant. The change of dominant species in Cyanophytes occurred in June and December 2003, and the increase of phytoplankton cell density in July and November was observed when the P loading through two inflows was high. In May, Oscillatoria spp. and Aphanizomenon sp. were dominant, but replaced by Microcystis spp. in the end of May. Dominant Microcystis spp. sustained until December and shifted to Oscillatoria spp. and Aphanizomenon sp. TN/TP ratio ranged from 13 to 46 (Avg. $27{\pm}6$) from June to December when cyanobacteria (Microcystis spp.) dominated. Rotifers such as Keratella cochlearis, Keratella valga, Polyarthra spp., Conochilus unicornis, Pompholyx complanata dominated in average 67.8% of the zooplankton community. Abundance of zooplankton was the highest in June 2003, when Pompholyx complanata (12,388 ind $L^{-1}$) was dominant. In May, the significant increase of Conochilus unicornis biomass ($1,048{\pm}28\;{\mu}g\;C\;L^{-1}$) was observed with distinct improvement of transparency ($Z_{eu}/\;Z_m=\;1.1$). These results suggest that the seasonal variation of phytoplankton communities in this reservoir are to be understood as results of multi-interactive factors such as temperature, light condition and nutrients, and small-sized rotifers as important predator.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.87-93
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• 2003

Litterfall and litter decomposition represent a major contribution to the carbon and nutrient inputs in a forest ecosystem. We measured litterfall quantity and nutrient dynamics in decomposing litter for two years at the Kwangneung broadleaf natural forest (DK site) in Korea. Litterfall was collected in circular littertraps (collecting area : 0.25 $m^2$) and mass loss rates and nutrient release patterns in decomposing litter were estimated using the litterbag technique employing 30 cm ${\times}$ 30 cm nylon bags with 1.5 mm mesh size. Total annual litterfall was 5,627 kg/ha/yr and leaf litter accounted for 61 % of the litterfall. The leaf litter quantity was highest in Quercus serrata, fallowed by Carpinus laxiflora and C. cordata, etc., which are dominant tree species in the site. Mass loss from decomposing leaf litter was more rapid in C. laxiflora and C. cordata than in Q. serrata litter. About 77% of C. laxiflora and 84% of C. cordata litter disappeared, while about 48% in Q. serrata litter lost over two years. Lower mass loss rates of Q. serrata litter may be attributed to the difference of substrate quality such as lower nutrient concentrations compared with the other litter types. Nutrient concentrations (N, P, Mg) of three litter types except for potassium (K) increased compared with initial nutrient concentrations of litter over the study period. Compared with Q. serrata litter, nutrients (N, P, K, Ca, Mg) in C. laxiflora and C. cordata litter were released rapidly. The results suggest that litter mass loss and nutrient dynamic processes among tree species vary considerably in the same site conditions.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.13-18
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• 2003

We examined water flux, concentrations and contents in nutrients in precipitation, throughfall, stemflow and soil solution in natural deciduous hardwood forest(Quercus variabilis and Q. mongolica) in Chunchon, Kangwon Province. The volume of throughfall was 2∼3% higher in Q. variabilis than in Q. monglica while volume of stemflow, Ao, A and B soil solution was 10∼15% higher in Q. variabilis compared to Q. monglica. Concentrations of K/sup +/ increased in throughfall H while concentrations of Ca/sup 2+/, Mg/sup 2+/ and NO₃/sup -/ increased in Ao soil solution. The former might be related to the canopy leaching and the latter related to leaching and nitrification in Ao horizon. Nutrient concentrations in throughfall, Ao, A and B soil solution decreased with increasing amount of water and especially the decreases in concentrations of K/sup +/, Mg/sup 2+/ and Cl/sup -/ were significant. Nutrient concentrations of Ca/sup 2+/ in Ao soil solution was 1.5 times higher in Q. variabilis than in Q. mongolica. However, there were no significant nutrient concentration differences in throughfall, stemflow and A and B soil solution between the two forest types. Stemflow was less than 10% of total water volume (throughfall + stemflow) to the forest floor, and contribution of stemflow to nutrient cycling seemed to be low in the study forest.