• Proceedings of the Microbiological Society of Korea Conference
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• 2000.10a
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• pp.128-135
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• 2000

The thiosulfate reductase gene (PhsABC) from Salmonella typhimurium was expressed in Escherichia coli in order to produce sulfide from inorganic thiosulfate and precipitate metals as metal sulfide complexes. A 5.1-kb DNA fragment containing the native phsABC and a 3.7-kb DNA fragment, excluding putative promoter and regulatory regions were inserted into expression vectors pTrc99A and pJB866, respectively. Upon expression of phsABC, E. coli DH5$\alpha$ harboring the phsABC constructs showed higher thiosulfate reductase activity and produced significantly more sulfide than the control strain (E. coli DH5$\alpha$) under both aerobic and anaerobic conditions. Among the four constructs, E. coli DH5$\alpha$ harboring pSB74 produced the highest level of thiosulfate reductase and removed most of heavy metals from solution under anaerobic conditions. In a mixture of 100 $\mu$M each of cadmium, lead, and zinc, the strain could remove $99\%$ of the total metals from solution within 10 hours. Cadmium was removed first, lead second, and zinc last. In contrast, a negative control did not produce any measurable sulfide and removed very little metals from solution. These results have important implications for removal of metals from wastewater contaminated with several metals.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.365-373
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• 2005

Understanding the relation of water environmental factors and vegetation is critical to restoration and management of wetlands. To reveal relationships between representative plant groups and water environments, we measured cover and abundance of plant species, water depth, temperature, pH, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, $NH_4$-N, $NO_3$-N, and $PO_4-P$ concentration in water in Wangsuk stream (WS) and Gwarim reservoir (GR). This study was conducted monthly from May to October, 2004. Six vegetation groups $(W1{\sim}W6)$ in WS and five vegetation groups $(G1{\sim}G5)$ in GR were identified using TWINSPAN. WS was characterized by Phragmites japonica, Digitaria sanguinalis, Phalaris arundinacea, Beckmannia xyzigachne and Persicara hydropiper, Persicaria thunbergii, Typha angustifolia. GR was characterized by T. angustifolia, Scirpus tabernaemontani, P. thunbergii, Humulus japonicus and Scirpus fluviatilis, Typha orientalis, Zizania latifolia. The vegetation in WS experienced greater seasonal changes than in GR. A correspondence analysis suggests that water depth was the major environmental factor influencing the distribution of most plants communities in both wetlands.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.41-47
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• 2006

We investigated the enect of $O_3$ on the photosynthetic characteristics of tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima) that is naturalized plant and used as restoration plant for contaminated area. Two-year-old seedlings were planted to pots and transferred into closed $O_3$ chamber. Photosynthetic pigments contents and photosynthetic characteristics were measured every three weeks under 100 pub $O_3$ fumigation. There was no visible foliar injury by $O_3$ exposure and contents of photosynthetic pigments did not show significant differences between control and $O_3$-treated seedlings. Also there were no significant differences in stomatal conductance, and water use efficiency. But photosynthetic rate and apparent quantum yield (AQY) of $O_3$ treated seedlings were reduced after nine weeks of ozone fumigation. In addition, the reduction of carboxylation efficiency and photorespiration were observed in the leave of $O_3$ treated seedlings after six weeks. In accordance with our result, carbon fixation system of A. altissima was most sensitive to $O_3$ stress to evaluate physiological damage induced by $O_3$.

• Proceedings of the Korea Water Resources Association Conference
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• 2018.05a
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• pp.446-446
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• 2018

The urban rivers have unique hydraulic characteristics between natural rivers and artificial canals. These hydraulic characteristics determine the characteristics of urban rivers with small environmental capacity and fragile ecosystems. With the development and utilization of natural resources, the pollutants that have been produced enter the river through different channels, which seriously damages the urban river ecosystem. Therefore, how to restore contaminated water to a normal state and reproduce a natural, self-regulating ecosystem is one of the most concerned issues in recently. Eco-hydraulics is a cross-disciplinary subject of hydraulics biology and ecology. It is closely related to the protection of rivers, wetlands, and ecological self-repair. In this study, The basic principle of eco-hydraulics is concisely described and its approaches to protection and rehabilitation of river are introduced. The conception of establishing gardenesque eco-pond for urban use is suggested. The strategies including changing the hydrodynamic features of rivers, adjusting the breeds and species and constructing the gardenesque eco-pond for improving the exist ing urban rivers are proposed. It provides scientific information and guidance for the restoration of rivers and wetlands by studying the close relationship between river hydraulic characteristics, currents, and rivers and ecosystems.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.63-71
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• 2019

Two unrecorded alien plants, Melilotus officinalis (L.) Lam. and M. indicus (L.) All. (Leguminosae) were found in Korea. M. officinalis is native to Eurasia and widely distributed in agricultural regions throughout the world. M. indicus is native to Mediterranean and Southwestern Europe, and naturalized in temperate regions all over the world. These species are morphologically similar to M. suaveolens (Jeon-dong-ssa-ri). However, M. officinalis is distinguished from M. suaveolens by transverse nerved legumes, definite ovary stalks, and five to eight number of ovules in ovary. M. indicus is also distinguished from M. suaveolens by smaller size of flowers, broadly triangular calyx teeth, globose legumes, and minutely papillose seeds. The local name of M. officinalis and M. indicus were given as "Ju-reum-jeon-dong-ssa-ri" and "Jom-jeon-dong-ssa-ri" based on transverse nerved legumes and overall smaller size than M. suaveolens, respectively. The descriptions on morphological characters and photographs at the habitat of M. officinalis and M. indicus are provided.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.256-263
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• 2020

Background: Ambrosia trifida is a highly invasive annual plant, but effective control methods have not been proposed. Among various eradication methods, cutting is a simple measure to control invasive plants, and sowing seeds of native plants may effectively increase biotic resistance to invasion. In this study, we conducted a field experiment with two treatments: cutting and sowing seeds of six native or naturalized plants. Results: We found a significantly lower A. trifida abundance after cutting than in the control (77% decrease). Sowing seeds of native species did not provide any additional benefit for the control of A. trifida, but increased the importance values and diversity of other native vegetation. The abundance of A. trifida was negatively correlated with that of other plant taxa based on plant cover, biomass, and density. However, biotic resistance of sown plants was not effective to control invasion because A. trifida was so competitive. Conclusions: We concluded that cutting is an effective measure to control Ambrosia trifida while sowing seeds of native plants can increase native plant diversity.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.10-16
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• 2021

Background: Ranavirus is an emerging infectious disease which has been linked to mass mortality events in various amphibian species. In this study, we document the first mass mortality event of an adult population of Dybowski's brown frogs (Rana dybowskii), in 2017, within a mountain valley in South Korea. Results: We confirmed the presence of ranavirus from all collected frogs (n = 22) via PCR and obtained the 500 bp major capsid protein (MCP) sequence from 13 individuals. The identified MCP sequence highly resembled Frog virus 3 (FV3) and was the same haplotype of a previously identified viral sequence collected from Huanren brown frog (R. huanrenensis) tadpoles in South Korea. Human habitat alteration, by recent erosion control works, may be partially responsible for this mass mortality event. Conclusion: We document the first mass mortality event in a wild Korean population of R. dybowskii. We also suggest, to determine if ranavirus infection is a threat to amphibians, government officials and researchers should develop continuous, country-wide, ranavirus monitoring programs of Korean amphibian populations.

• ALGAE
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.51-60
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• 2021

The sea urchin, Mesocentrotus nudus, is widely distributed in North West Pacific regions. It has a substantial impact on macroalgal communities as a generalist herbivore. This study examined various aspects of its feeding ecology, including algal preference, foraging behaviors, and possible effects of past feeding history on its algal preference. We used six common algal species (Ulva australis, Undaria pinnatifida, Sargassum confusum, Dictyopteris divaricata, Grateloupia elliptica, and Grateloupia angusta) from the east coast of Korea as food choice in a series of indoor aquarium experiments. The first choice of starved M. nudus was exclusively U. pinnatifida, followed by G. elliptica and S. confusum. Unlike large urchins, small urchins equally preferred U. pinnatifida and G. elliptica. On the other hand, Undaria-fed urchins preferred to feed only G. elliptica, although its preference slightly differed over time. We then grouped sea urchins into three categories (starved, Undaria-fed, mixed species-fed) to observe 12-days feeding preference as well as early foraging movements. Foraging behaviors of the three groups were distinctively different, although they could not completely reflect the actual consumption. For example, U. australis was highly attractive, but rarely eaten. Undaria-fed urchins seemed to stay with only S. confusum and U. australis. This study demonstrates that M. nudus shows high flexibility in food preference depending on past feeding history and body size. Its foraging behaviors are also affected by past feeding conditions, exhibiting active chemoreceptive movements.

• Mycobiology
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• v.50 no.5
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• pp.317-325
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• 2022

Endophytic fungi occupy various ecological niches, which reinforces their diversity. As few studies have investigated the endophytic fungi of alpine conifers, we focused on four species of alpine conifers in this study-Abies nephrolepis, Pinus pumila, Taxus cuspidata var. nana, and Thuja koraiensis-and examined them for endophytic fungi. A total of 108 endophytic fungi were isolated. There were four taxa in A. nephrolepis, 12 in P. pumila, 18 in T. cuspidata var. nana, and 17 in T. koraiensis; these were divided into five classes: Agaricomycetes (3.2%), Dothideomycetes (29.0%), Leotiomycetes (15.0%), Sordariomycetes (41.9%), and Orbiliomycetes (1.6%). The most prevalent fungi were Sydowia polyspora (22.7%) and Xylariaceae sp. (22.7%) in P. pumila, Phomopsis juglandina (16.1%) in T. cuspidate var. nana, and Thuja-endophytes sp. 1 (70.0%) in T. koraiensis. However, there was no dominant species growing in A. nephrolepis. Some host plants were analyzed using next-generation sequencing. We obtained 4618 reads for A. nephrolepis and 2268 reads for T. koraiensis. At the genus level, the top three endophytic fungi were Ophiostomataceae_uc (64.6%), Nectriaceae_uc (15.5%), and unclassified organism (18.0%) in A. nephrolepis and Nectriaceae_uc (41.9%), Ophiostomataceae_uc (41.8%), and Magnaporthaceae_uc (9.2%) in T. koraiensis. Our results show that there are different communities of endophytic fungi among different host plants, even if the host plants are in the same region. Such ecological niches are important in terms of the ecological restoration of alpine conifers.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.78-85
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• 2015

Population ecology of Rhodeus uyekii (Pisces: Acheilognathinae) was investigated at the Bongseocheon, Mankyeonggang (River) in Korea, from January to December 2014. It mainly inhabits the slow-flowing waters having mud bottoms. Measurement of the standard length of the population indicated that the following standardization: 24~29 mm are one year old, 30~35 mm are two years old, 36~39 mm are three years old, and >40 mm group are regarded over four years old (October in 2014). The spawning season was from March to June, with water temperatures in the range $11.5{\sim}27.0^{\circ}C$. The sex ratio of female : male was 1 : 0.77. The number of eggs in the ovaries was 104~168 ($mean{\pm}SD$: $124{\pm}18.1$). The size of the matured eggs was 2.8~3.5 ($3.2{\pm}0.15$) mm in the long axis, and 1.4~1.5 ($1.4{\pm}0.03$) mm in the short axis. The eggs were found in Unio douglasiae and the number of eggs, larvae or both was 3~18 ($10.2{\pm}5.0$). Stomach contents were mainly phytoplanktons such as the genera Navicular, Cocconeis, Cymbella (Bacilariophyceae) and Cloniophora (Chlorophyceae).