• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.56 no.4
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• pp.419-427
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• 2023

This study, analyzed the stomach contents, stable isotope signatures (δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N) in muscle tissue, and potential food sources (particulate organic matter, Zostera marina, epiphytes, and zooplankton) of Sardinops melanostictus in the southern coast of Korea to evaluate its dietary changes across seasons (summer and autumn 2022). The diet of S. melanostictus predominantly comprised organic detritus (99%) regardless of the season. The isotope results showed that S. melanostictus had mean δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N values of -17.7±0.4‰ and 10.6±0.5‰, respectively and seasonal variations were observed (t-test, P=0.010, P=0.002). However, the isotopic mixing model showed that particulate organic matter was a major nutritional source for S. melanostictus in summer and autumn (88.7% and 90.2%, respectively). Based on the stomach contents and stable isotope signatures, these results may help improve the understanding of S. melanostictus and establish the management measures for their conservation.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.235-241
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• 2011

To examine variation in trophic pathways and the characteristics of food webs from organic matters to aquatic insects, we used stable isotopes to study an intermittent stream system of the Inukami River, Japan. The aquatic insects, including Glossosoma spp., Chironominae spp., Stenelmis spp., Rhyacophilla nigrocephala, and Hexatoma spp., were characterized by different feeding strategies. The ${\delta}^{13}C$ values for these species indicated that Glossosoma spp. graze upon periphyton; Chironominae and Stenelmis spp. mainly feed on benthic particulate organic matter, and R. nigrocephala and Hexatoma spp., which were identified as predators, feed upon Glossosoma, Stenelmis, and/or Chironominae spp. This suggests that the trophic position of consumers at each station may be determined by the trophic position of basal food sources in situ. For trophic pathways, the ${\delta}^{13}C$ values for both organic matter and aquatic insects tended to gradually decrease, whilst the ${\delta}^{15}N$ values increased from the upper reach to the lower reaches, relative to the physicochemical and geographical conditions. These parameters indirectly influence the flow of energy from organic matter to consumers within food web in an intermittent stream system.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.340-347
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• 2001

Seasonal variation of the elemental and biochemical composition of the suspended particulate matter (SPM) was investigated in terms of quantity and quality of diets for suspension feeders from July 1999 to August 2000 in two coastal bay systems of Gosung and Kangjin Bays in Korea. No clear patterns in the seasonal variations of SPM concentration were found in these two bay systems. The results indicated that the seasonal variation of SPM could not be considered the variation of food available to suspension-feeders. The simultaneous peaks in chlorophyll a and biochemical components in summer indicated that the quantity of the particulate organic matter primarily depended on phytoplankton productivity. However, no correlation between chlorophyll a and biochemical components [particulate protein (PPr), carbohydrate (PCHO) and lipid] were found, indicating that other processes might also contribute to the particulate organic matter in the period when the phytoplankton biomass was low. High C: Chl a and C:N, and carbohydrate peaks during the autumn to spring period suggested that resuspension of surface sediments was a probable process to supply the particulate organic matter. The food material, represented by summing up the total quantity of three biochemical components, was highest in spring with minor peaks during the period from autumn to the next spring, The food index, calculated as the ratio of food material to total SPM, did not generally exceed $6\%$ with short peaks during the year. Therefore, nutritional quality of SPM in the bays are relatively poor than in other more productive coastal waters in the world. Our results confirm that the measurement of a single chemical variable cannot describe fully the nutritive value of the seston available to suspension-feeders as previously proposed, and the biochemical composition of SPM can provide effective information on its origin and nutritive Quality.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.57-69
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• 2001

The chemical, elemental and biochemical components of the suspended particulate matter (SPM) were investigated in order to quantify particulate organic matter (POM) and assess diet quality for suspension feeders in the southern coastal bay systems of Korea where the marine farming of the suspension feeders are most active, The intense field observation program was carried out seasonally in the three coastal bay systems of Chinhae, Gosung and Kangjin bays, The SPM was characterized as collective properties of organic carbon (POC), nitrogen (PON), phosphorus (PP) and more refined collective properties of protein (PPr), carbohydrate (PCHO) and chlorophyll a (Chl a) compound. Although the three coastal bays are regarded as phytoplankton based ecosystem, the SPM is not composed entirely with phytoplankton cells. Due to the shallow water depth, resuspension of bottom sediment contributes significantly to some of the regions. Therefore, concentration of SPM in the surface water did not co-vary with Chl a or PPr, PCHO. In general, temporal variation of POC, PON and Chl a contents in seawater were closely associated with phytoplankton biomass in the three coastal bays, However, PPr and PCHO contents in seawater were higher in Chinhae bay than in Gosung and Kangjin bays and Chl a PPr-N ratio was higher in Chinhae bay than in Kosung and Kangjin bays, since Chinhae bay is more eutrophicated than other bays. Average C : N ratios from regressions of POC and PON of SPM were 6.6, 6.6 and 5.0 in Chinhae, Gosung and Kangjin bays, respectively. SPM in Chinhae and Gosung bays appears to be made of largely phytoplankton cells and SPM in Kangjin bay appears to be contributed from the bacterial biomass due to the shallow water depth. N : P ratios from regressions of PON and PP of SPM were 10.8 and 14.7 in spring, and 18.2 and 24.6 in Chinhae and Gosung bays, respectively. With respect to the hypothetical Redfield molecule, phytoplankton appears to be limited by the lack of N and f in spring and summer, respectively, in the two bays, In Kangjin bay, N : P ratios from regressions of PON and PP of SPM were varied from 6.3 to 12.8 throughout the year. The low N : P ratio with resepct to the hypothetical Redfield molecule, phytoplankton growth appears to be limited by the lack of N-nutrients.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.23 no.2 s.58
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• pp.163-172
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• 2005

Field survey on the marine environmental characteristics by the distribution of dinoflagellate cysts and organic matter carried out bimonthly at 14 stations in the central parts of South Sea, Korea from April 2002 to January 2003. The range of environmental factors on surface sediments such as water content, ignition loss (IL), chemical oxygen demand (CODs), particulate organic carbon (POC), particulate organic nitrogen (PON) and phaeopigment were $38.7\~68.9\%,\;3.9\~12.5\%,\;9.60\~44.05mgO_2\;gdry^{-1},\;3.12\~13.14mgC\; gdry^{-1},\;0.49\~2.01mgN\;gdry^{-1}\;and\;1.61\~29.51{\mu}g\;gdry^{-1}\;gdry-1$, respectively. A total dinoflagellate cysts identified were 33 species, which belonged to 18 genera,31 species, and 2 unidentified species. A cysts density were $42\~2,880\; cysts\;gdry^{-1}$. The dominant species of dinoflagellate cysts were Spinrferites bulloideus and Scrippsiella trochoidea all the year and autotrophic species was more abundant than heterotrophic species. The organic matter and dinoflgellate cysts were more abundant nearshore than offshore, and the origin of organic matter was autochthonous rather than from terrestrial. The two factors derived from the loading factor of PCA. Factor 1 was 'accumulation of oragnic matter in the offshore', factor 2 was 'cysts abundance', and the central parts of Korean South Sea was separated with 3 regions by score distribution of PCA.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.55 no.2
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• pp.99-110
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• 2022

We investigated physicochemical properties and isotopic compositions of organic matter (δ¹³C_TOC and δ ¹⁵N_TN) in the old fish farming (OFF) site after the cessation of aquaculture farming. Based on this approach, our objective is to determine the organic matter origin and their relative contributions preserved at sediments of fish farming. Temporal and spatial distribution of particulate and sinking organic matter(OFF sites: 2.0 to 3.3 mg L^-1 for particulate matter concentration, 18.8 to 246.6 g m^-2 day^-1 for sinking organic matter rate, control sites: 2.0 to 3.5 mg L^-1 for particulate matter concentration, 25.5 to 129.4 g m^-2 day^-1 for sinking organic matter rate) between both sites showed significant difference along seasonal precipitations. In contrast to variations of δ¹³C_TOC and δ¹⁵N_TN values at water columns, these isotopic compositions (OFF sites: -21.5‰ to -20.4‰ for δ¹³ C_TOC, 6.0‰ to 7.6‰ for δ¹⁵N_TN, control sites: -21.6‰ to -21.0‰ for δ¹³C_TOC, 6.6‰ to 8.0‰ for δ¹⁵N_TN) investigated at sediments have distinctive isotopic patterns(p<0.05) for seawater-derived nitrogen sources, indicating the increased input of aquaculture-derived sources (e.g., fish fecal). With respect to past fish farming activities, representative sources(e.g., fish fecal and algae) between both sites showed significant difference (p<0.05), confirming predominant contribution (55.9±4.6%) of fish fecal within OFF sites. Thus, our results may determine specific controlling factor for sustainable use of fish farming sites by estimating the discriminative contributions of organic matter between both sites.

• Journal of the korean society of oceanography
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.56-64
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• 2000

The importance of terrestrial organic matter as a food source for a brackish water clam Corbicula japonica was evaluated using stable carbon isotope ratios (${\delta}^{13}$C) in its tissues and potential food resources in an estuarine system of Youngil Bay, Korea. Suspended particulate organic matter (POM) had distinct ${\delta}^{13}$C values from riverine (-31.8 to -27.2%$_o$) to marine waters (-21.0 to -16.6%$_o$). Estuarine macroalgae had a wide ${\delta}^{13}$C range of -22.8 to -15.0%$_o$. The ${\delta}^{13}$C values of riverine POM were more negative than that of riverine phytoplankton (-26.5 to -24.2%$_o$) but similar to that of freshmarsh plant species (-29.1 to -27.5%$_o$ for Phragmites communis and -28.5 to -27.0%$_o$ for Salix gracilistyla), These ${\delta}^{13}$C values suggest that the POM transported by the Hyungsan River is predominantly of terrestrial origin rather than riverine autochthonous sources. The ${\delta}^{13}$C values of Corbicula japonica tissues (-28.7 to -27.2%$_o$) were most similar to values for riverine POM and freshmarsh plants. There was no significant difference in the isotopic composition of the clam individuals. The results indicate a predominant contribution of organic carbon derived from terrestrial and fresmarsh plant detritus to the diet of Corbicula japonica. Our results also confirm previous suggestion that terrestrial organic matter can be incorporated into estuarine food webs although its role is confined to the upper estuarine reaches.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.31-39
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• 1990

An analytical method for particulate carbon and other elements by using elemental analyzer was investigated. Carbon, hydrogen, and nitrogen was determined as CO$_{2}$, H$_{2}$, and N$_{2}$, respectively. Organic was determined after scparation from elemental carbon(Cae) by volatilization and thermal decomposition in a heated helium flow. With organic materials examined in this reprot, more than 90% of carbon was detected as above 600$^{\circ}$C. But it is considered that a few percents of some compounds were charred above 550$^{\circ}$C. A small amount of Cae was oxidized in the inert atmosphere above 850$^{\circ}$C, but the reason was not explained clearly. Based on the thermal chracteristics of Cao it was found that the optimum temperature of heating in the helium flow of an elemental analyzer for Cao analysis is 630$^{\circ}$C. Carbon in a sample after removing Cao was assumed as Cae and the gramatom ratio of hydrogen to carbon in the sample was 0.4 and less. Rescovery of nitrogen derived from some ammonium salts and nitrates was 100% by two-step measurement with elemental analyzer. By the analytical method investigated in this report, carbon and other elements in suspended particulates(S.P) collected at an urban area in Seoul were measured. There was a good correlation between total nitrogen in SP measured by elemental analyzer and nitrogen estimated form ammonium ions and nitrate ions in SP. The nitrogen from these ions accounts for 80% of the total nitrogen. It is further suggested that the residue(20%) of the total nitrogen is attributed to the other nitrogeneous compounds.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.174-179
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• 2008

The distribution of organic carbon and its decomposition rate were studied in the middle and down stream reaches of the Kum River system, Korea. Water samples were collected from May to June in 2006 at seven mainstream sites and three tributary sites from the river mouth to the Daechung Reservoir outlet. The change of DOC and POC were measured during incubation for the determination of decomposition rate. The reduction of organic carbon during 20 days' incubation was regarded as labile or biodegradable organic carbon (LDOC, LPOC), and the remaining organic carbon was regarded as recalcitrant organic carbon. The mean TOC was $5.17({\pm}1.49)mgC{\cdot}L^{-1}$ in the mainstream sites and $7.09({\pm}1.48)mgC{\cdot}L^{-1}$ in tributary sites, respectively. TOC comprised of 62% DOC and 38% POC. LPOC was approximately 68% of POC, while LDOC was only 24% of DOC. Mean decomposition rate of TOC was about $0.03day^{-1}$. Mean decomposition rates of LPOC ranged from $0.10day^{-1}$, and that of LDOC was approximately $0.08day^{-1}$. The decomposition rate of both LPOC and LDOC did not show significant difference between mainstream and tributary sites. The result of this study can give a guide to the selection of parameters in the calibration processes of water quality models.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Marine Environment & Energy
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.203-215
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• 2006

Field observations on the spatio-temporal distribution of organic matter of the surface sediment were carried out at 15 stations in the central parts of the South Sea of Korea from April 2002 to January 2003. The range of water temperature and salinity in bottom waters, mud content and water content of surface sediment were $8.06{\sim}23.35^{\circ}C,\;29.20{\sim}34.51\;psu,\;71.2{\sim}99.9%$ and $38.7{\sim}68.9%$, respectively. Measured parameters on the surface sediments of ignition loss (IL), chemical oxygen demand (CODs), phaeopigment, particulate organic carbon (POC) and particulate organic nitrogen (PON) also ranged in $3.9{\sim}l2.5%,\;9.60{\sim}44.05\;mgO_2/g-dry,\;1.58{\sim}29.51\;{\mu}g/g-dry,\;3.12{\sim}13.01\;mgC/g-dry$ and $0.49{\sim}2.00\;mgN/g-dry$, respectively. The spatio-temporal distribution of organic matter demonstrated higher concentrations offshore than at lesions near the coastal line. Higher concentrations occurred in the summer and spring. The results indicated that the origin of organic matter in surface sediments in the central part of the South Sea was autochthonous rather than allocthonous because the organic matter had an average C/N ratio of 6.44 (${\pm}0.51$). However, the composition of autochthonous organic matter was mainly derived from detritus rather than living phytoplankton, which was Indicated by the results of the POC/phaeopigment ratio. A principal component analysis (PCA) indicated that 73.2% of the variability in the data was described by two factors: 1) an 'environmental factor concerning the accumulation of materials (57.3%)' and 2) 'origin of organic matter and the composition by primary production (15.9%)'. The sedimentary environment in the central part of the South Sea was divided into four regions from the factor score of the PCA by the concentrations of organic matter and the composition ratio of organic matters from phytoplankton in surface sediments.