• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.52 no.2
• /
• pp.136-142
• /
• 2019

Water spider(Argyroneta aquatica) inhabits only a small size wetland in Eundae-ri, Yeoncheon-gun. In this study to investigate environmental factors influencing on population of A. aquatica, we analyzed the relationship between density of A. aquatica and various physicochemical and biological factors. Density of A. aquatica increased with small habitat area and high $NH_4$ and electric conductivity. The relationship between density of A. aquatica and prey or predator was low but the water spider decreased with density of Pomacea canaliculata. And density of A. aquatica was not related to the coverage of emergent plant. However density of A. aquatica decreased as the increase of floating plant and increased as the increase of submerged plant. These results indicated that aquatic plants are important in the habitat environment of A. aquatica. Therefore we suggest necessity of management strategies for the invasive species, P. canaliculata which is a notorious predator of aquatic plants.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
• /
• v.42 no.1
• /
• pp.63-70
• /
• 2023

Golden apple snails (Pomacea canaliculat) (GAS) are widely used for weed control in rice cultivation. However, concerns on the ecological risk of invasive GAS species are increasing. This study aimed to evaluate the overall impacts of GAS on weed control, abundance of aquatic animals and insects, and rice yield, in comparison with that from other biocontrol agents such as loach (Misgurnus mizolepis) and catfish (Silurus asotus), which are alternatives for biological weed control in rice paddy cultivation. Field experiments included five treatments; control, herbicide, GAS, loach, and catfish. During the rice growth, weed appearance and biological abundance were monitored, and at harvest, the rice yield was determined. Weed control efficiency was the highest for GAS treatment (100%), followed by that for herbicide (95.8%), loach (57.5%), and catfish treatments (31.7%). Insect abundance was considerably decreased in GAS treatment due to heavy weed removal, which affects the habitat of aquatic animals and insects. The amount of rice yield (unit: kg 10 a^-1) was in the order of GAS (798.9) > loach (708.1) = herbicide (700.7) > catfish (629.4) > control (496.0). Therefore, considering the weed control efficiency, biological abudance, and rice yield, loach could be a potential alternative for biological weed control in organic rice farming. However, the activity of the biocontrol agents are susceptible to environmental conditions; therefore, further studies under different conditions are essential to confirm these findings.

• Korean Journal of Weed Science
• /
• v.30 no.3
• /
• pp.282-290
• /
• 2010

The objective of this research was to discover the best method for weed management in environment-friendly rice paddy fields through the study on the effect of weed control and injury levels of rice plants as affected by size, input time, and input amount of golden apple snail (GAS). The efficacy of weed control as affected by GAS when applied at 5, 10, and 15 days after transplanting (DAT) was 98, 89, and 58%, respectively. The efficacy of weed control had declined as late the input time of GAS. On the other hand, the efficacy of weed control as affected by rice bran followed by GAS treatment was higher than by GAS treatment alone. Weed species such as Persicaria hydropiper, Echinochloa crus-galli, Scirpus juncoides, and Monochoria vaginalis were not completely controlled by GAS when applied late. Input amount and time of adult GAS (70 days after hatching) for effective weed control were 3 kg $10a^{-1}$ at 5 DAT, 6-7 kg $10a^{-1}$ at 10 DAT, and 7 kg $10a^{-1}$ at 15 DAT. Input time and amount of young GAS (35 days after hatching) for effective weed control were 0 day after harrow (DAH) and 1 kg $10a^{-1}$, respectively. The young GAS when applied 0 DAH at 1 kg $10a^{-1}$ provided 100% control of P. hydropiper, E. crus-galli, S. juncoides, M. vaginalis, Ludwigia prostrata, Eleocharis kuroguwai, Sagittaria trifolia and Cyperus difformis. The rice foliar injury caused by adult (3 kg $10a^{-1}$) and young (1 kg $10a^{-1}$) GAS were 5-7% and 1% respectively. There was no significant difference in rice injury by size and input amount of GAS on plant height and number of tiller. These data indicate that the young GAS when applied 1 kg $10a^{-1}$ at 0 day after harrow was the best method for weed management in environment-friendly rice paddy fields.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
• /
• v.32 no.6
• /
• pp.603-617
• /
• 2018

This study surveyed the diversity and community characteristics of benthic macroinvertebrates and freshwater fish, which are the main animal classifications in a hydro ecosystem, from May to September 2017 in the western plains of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). The results showed a total of 125 species of benthic macroinvertebrates belonging to 66 families, 19 orders, and four phyla in the streams and wetlands. Among benthic macroinvertebrates, Coleoptera (27 spp.: 21.60%) was the largest group in terms of species richness followed by Odonata (26 spp.: 20.80%), non-Insecta (22 spp.: 17.60%), and Hemiptera (11 spp.: 8.80%) occupying in the lentic area. Of the feeding function groups (FFGs), predators (51 spp.: 56.67%) showed a relatively larger presence, indicating the dominance of hygrophilous invertebrates that usually inhabit the freshwater wetlands or ponds. Of the habitat oriented groups (HOGs), climbers (33 spp.: 24.44%) and burrowers (17 spp.: 12.59%) were the dominant groups. This observation is typical in a slow flowing habitat and can lead to the disturbance of the ecosystem due to cannibalism among predators. Cannibalism can be caused by stress induced by various population and environmental factors. For the ecosystem services benchmark (ESB) value, site 13 appeared to be the highest with 82 marks while other sites showed relatively lower rates and indices (III water quality class with ${\alpha}$-mesosaprobic). The analysis result of stability factors showed that almost all sites were evaluated to be the I characteristic group with high resilience and resistance or the III characteristic group that was sensitive to environmental disturbance and formed uneven and unstable communities. Of the freshwater fishes, 46 species (3,405 individuals) belonging to 39 families and 18 orders were identified in all the investigated sites. Among them, Cyprinidae (30 spp.: 65.2%) was the largest group, and Zacco koreanus was identified as the dominant species (728 individuals, 21.4%). The survey of freshwater fish communities found both stable communities (sites 7 and 13) with low dominant index (0.39) and high diversity index (2.29) and unstable communities (sites 2, 3, 8, and 10) in opposite tendency. This survey found five Korean endemic species, 17 species belonging to the export controlled species, two endangered species level II (Lethocerus deyrollei and Cybister chinensis), and rare species (Dytiscus marginalis czerskii) among benthic macroinvertebrates. The survey also found an invasive species, Ampullarius insularus, which was distributed throughout the whole area and thus can continuously disturb the ecosystem in the western plain area in the DMZ. Of freshwater fish, one natural monument (Hemibarbus mylodon) and three endangered species level II (Acheilognathus signifer, Gobiobotia macrocephalus, and G. brevibarba) were observed. The survey also found four introduced species (Pomacea canaliculate, Carassius cuvieri, Lepomis macrochirus, Micropterus salmoides) in the western DMZ area, indicating the need for the protection and conservation measures.