• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.159-165
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• 2006

Numerical simulation of turbulence flow in a circulating channel was performed. The RNG $k-\varepsilon$ model and Reynolds stress model of the FLUENT was used for evaluating the flow mechanisms. The simulation results were compared with the experimental data measured by a ADV (Acoustic Doppler Velocitmeter). The distribution of chironomids was analyzed by the computational results. They distributed at the region of lower velocities and lower turbulence intensity. In the case of a hemisphere structure being located on the straight section, chironomids lived in the upstream and downstream area of the hemisphere. The secondary currents also affected the distribution of chironomids. In conclusion, the computational fluid dynamic techniques can be inexpensively applied for analysing the relationship between flow characteristics and distribution of benthic macroinvertebrates.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.180-183
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• 2007

Over the last century the mercury (Hg) concentration in the environment has been increased by human activities with inputs from sources such as atmospheric deposition, urban runoff, and industrial effluents. Mercury can be transformed to methylmercury (MeHg) in anaerobic conditions by sulfate reducing bacteria (SRB) and sediments are the principal location for MeHg production in aquatic environments. Interest in bioaccumulation of Hg and MeHg into lower trophic levels of benthic and pelagic organisms stems from public health concerns as these organisms provide essential links for higher trophic levels of food chains such as fish and larger invertebrates. Fish consumption is the major exposure route of MeHg to humans. Recently, it was reported that blood samples in Korea showed much higher Hg levels (5-8 times) than those in USA and Germany. Although this brings much attention to Hg research in Korea, there are very few studies on Hg biogeochemical cycling and bioaccumulation in aquatic environments. Given the importance of Hg methylation and MeHg transfer through food chains in aquatic environments, it is imperative that studies should be done in much detail looking at the fate, transport, and bioaccumulation of Hg and MeHg in the environment. Moreover, there should be long-term monitoring plans in Korea to evaluate the environmental and health effects of Hg and MeHg.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.354-365
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• 2019

Megabenthos samples were collected using 10-min trawls towed at 17 stations from 2015 to 2016. The dominant species (>1% of the total density) were Stegophiura sterea (10.4%) and two subtropical species, Mactrinula dolabrata (9.0%) and Acila divaricate (8.3%), respectively. The community structure of the megabenthos fell into four groups: the southeast, the southernmost region off Jeju Island, the frontal zone of the South Sea with C3, and a diagonal area from the south coast to the western side of Jeju Island. The total numbers of species, diversity, density and biomass were higher in the C3 region of the South Sea. Environmental factor analysis showed that differences in the megabenthos community were related to depth, gravel contents, and sorting value (${\sigma}$). These results indicate that changes in the marine environmental conditions in the South Sea of Korea affect the megabenthos species' composition and diversity.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.542-554
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• 2015

Grain size, the content of ignition loss (IL), and the concentrations of chemical oxygen demand (COD), acid volatile sulfide (AVS), and trace metals (Fe, Mn, Cu, Pb, Zn, Cd, Cr, As, and Hg) in surface sediments from the Taehwa River estuary, Ulsan, were measured to evaluate pollution levels and potential ecological risks of organic matter and trace metals in estuarine sediment. The mean grain size (Mz) of sediments in the study region ranged from $-0.8-7.7{\varphi}$ (mean $2.8{\pm}2.4{\varphi}$). Surface sediments in the upstream region of the Taehwa River were mainly composed of coarse sediments compared to the downstream region. The concentrations of IL, COD, AVS and trace metals in the sediment were much higher at downstream sites of Myeongchon Bridge in the vicinity of industrial complexes than at upstream sites of those in the vicinity of the residential areas due to the anthropogenic input of organic matter and trace metals by industrial activities. On the basis of several geochemical assessment techniques [sediment quality guidelines (SQGs), enrichment factor (EF), geoaccumulation index ($I_{geo}$), pollution load index (PLI) and ecological risk index (ERI)], the surfaces sediments in the study region are not highly polluted for trace metals, except for As. However, the higher concentrations in downstream study regions of the Taehwa River could impact benthic organisms including shellfish (i.e. Manila clam) in sediments.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.563-571
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• 2010

In carrying out the prior review on environmental conditions for basic plan of public waters reclamation, the important item is review on conditions of location on prearranged reclaimed land. In this study, environmental assessment which needs careful consideration in the first stage of selecting location is presented by analyzing environmental impact assessment on public waters reclamation projects for about 10 years. The assessment index for alternative comparison is divided into two parts according to importance level. What is most important in alternative comparison is the comparison on direct influence due to reclamation. In other words, it figures out damaged extent of natural shoreline as well as intertidal and infralittoral zones. Comparing influence extent due to reclamation through the 1st comparison on this is regarded as to be important. In case there is no significant difference by alternatives through the 1st assessment, the 2nd assessment should be carried out. In the 2nd assessment indexes are damaged quantity of benthic organism, change in seawater current, erosion, accumulation and exchangeable rate of seawater. The plan for selecting optimal location which minimizes environmental influence in establishing public waters reclamation plan is demonstrated through model cases. For this, 3 districts which have similar environment and scale are selected, and then comparison on location alternative is made through environmental assessment index. In addition, the comparison on 3 arrangement alternatives are conducted, targeting certain areas. It is thought that carrying out comparison review on respective areas in the same cities and counties, not merely comparing arrangement plan by selecting 1 targeting area in advance, is the most appropriate. Besides, selection of arrangement plan considering environment, which minimizes damage of natural shoreline and influence due to change of seawater current is required in alternative comparison on arrangement plan as well. In case of the prior review on environmental conditions though alternative comparison method presented in this study is carried out, it is safely said that the influence on ocean environment due to public waters reclamation can be minimized.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.58-66
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• 2016

We have evaluated the ammonium data in seawater as a potential short-term index for marine environment through the following steps. 1. reviewing of chemical characteristics of ammonium in seawater, 2. comparative relationships of ammonium data with other water quality indices such as DO, COD, and nutrients from Typical Marine Environment(TME) and Special Marine Environment(SME). Ammonium data generally represent negative correlation with DO, while positive correlation with COD. In particular, under frequent cases of seawater conditions showing similar concentration of COD or DO, we have limited choice of explanation for such situation. However ODIN(ODIN/RDIN) or RDIN(RDIN/TDIN) ratio could provide advanced information to understand these seawater conditions. Based on these results, we suggest ammonium data as a potential short-period index for transilient marine environment, such as benthic flux of bottom sediment, hypoxia, and algal bloom. Under overcoming several handicaps, ammonium data could be an useful tool for better understand short transformation of marine environment.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.86-94
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• 2015

Chironomous is aquatic insect belonging to order Diptera, family Chironomidae. Their larval stage can be found mainly in aquatic benthic environment, hence good model organism to study environmental toxicology assessments and consider as useful bio indicators of contamination of the aquatic environment. In this study, Chironomus Heat Shock Proteins, Cytochrome 450, Glutathione S-transferase, Serine-type endopeptidase gene expressions were compared between polluted field areas (Chironomus plumosus) and under laboratory conditions (Chironomus riparious) to investigate molecular indicators for environmental contaminant stress assessment. Heavy metal (Al, Fe, Mn, Cu, Cr, Zn, Se, Pb, As, Cd) concentrations in sediments collected from three study areas exceeded the reference values. Moreover, HSPs, CYP450 and GST gene expression except SP for C. plumosus showed higher expression than C. riparious gene expression. Similar gene expression pattern was observed in C. riparious that exposed environment waters up to 96 h when compared to C. plumosus exposed to waters that grown in lab conditions. In summary, this comparative gene expression analysis in Chironomous between field and laboratory condition gave useful information to select candidate molecular indicators in heavy metal contaminations in the environment.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.694-706
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to offer the raw data for conservation and restoration of aquatic ecosystem by surveying and analysing a water quality, sediment, benthic macroinvertebrate, fish and hydrophyte in Junam reservoir. In the result of analysing the water quality, pH was 8.2~8.4, 6.0~7.5mg/${\ell}$ in COD, 10.0~10.3mg/${\ell}$ in SS, 8.3~11.5mg/${\ell}$ in DO, 0.1mg/${\ell}$ in T-P and 1.2~1.3mg/${\ell}$ in T-N. In case of the sediments, Cd was 0.47~0.52mg/kg, 7.08~7.43mg/kg in Cu, 0.22~0.32mg/kg in As, 0.02~0.03mg/kg in Hg, 6.20~7.45mg/kg in Pb, 32.80~39.70mg/kg in Ni, 513.0~543.0mg/kg in F and 137.0~140.0mg/kg in Zn. $Cr^{6+}$ was not detected. The benthic macroinvertebrates were 432 individuals including 3 phyla, 5 classes, 9 orders, 26 families, 33 genera and 39 species, and the ecological score of benthic macroinvertebrate community(ESB) was 25. The fishes were 8 families and 14 species, and the invasive alien species were 2 taxa including Micropterus salmoids and Lepomis macrochirus. The hydrophytes were 63 taxa including 28 families, 42 genera, 56 species, 1 subspecies and 6 varieties. The emergent plants were 38 taxa(60.3%), 5 taxa(7.9%) in floating-leaved plants and each 10 taxa(15.9%) in free-floating plants and submerged plants.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.368-380
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• 2022

Biomonitoring of an invasive alien crayfish species, Procambarus clarkii (Girard, 1852), was performed from February to October 2021, along with environmental DNA analysis, at five locations including Wanju-gun, Hampyeong-gun, Naju-si, Gurye-gun, and Cheongju-si. For the investigation, an umbrella-shaped trap for adults and a hand net for young crayfish were used, and 8 to 10L of freshwater was collected for eDNA analysis. The current status and past distributional records of crayfish in Korea were analyzed along with benthic macroinvertebrates at each survey site. As a result of the investigation, a total of 122 individuals were identified, and Hampyeong-gun recorded the largest number of populations with 59 individuals (48.36%) and the highest environmental DNA (eDNA). The frequency of appearance of P. clarkii was highest in May. The ratio of females to males was 21:5, and the body size was 72.2±21.1mm for female, 80.5±15.6mm for male, and 25.3±9.8mm for young crayfish. P. clarkii introduced into Korea is mainly spreading in the southwest region and it has not been observed in Seoul where there had been a record of appearance in the past. No external symbiosis (Branchiobdellida) of P. clarkii has been identified, and P. clarkii that has appeared in Korea was presumed to be imported from Japan. There are more than eight kinds of exotic crayfish distributed in Korea, and among them, the marbled crayfish (P. virginalis) was identified as a harmful species to the ecosystem of Korea by the Ministry of Environment in 2021. The identified species of benthic macroinvertebrates inhabiting the survey area where P. clarkii has appeared were 69 belonging to 39 families, 15 orders, five classes, and three phyla. Among them, Odonata were the most abundant (16 spp.; 24.62%), followed by Coleoptera (11 spp.; 16.92%) and Hemiptera (11 spp.; 16.92%). In the survey area, one Korean endemic species (Rhoenanthus coreanus), one species (Helophorus auriculatus) classified as Near Threatened (NT) on the Korean Red List, and six species of Crustaceans appeared. In the functional feeding group, the predators appeared predominantly while in habitat oriented group, the climbers appeared to be abundant. It was confirmed that P. clarkii in the survey area prefers an area rich in aquatic vegetation with waterside vegetation, and has high resistance to turbid water quality. The omnivore invader P. clarkii is expected to maintain a competitive relationship with carnivorous benthic macroinvertebrates that are predominant in the same species, and is expected to continue to generate ecosystem disturbance along the food chains.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.996-1008
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• 2016

Effects of substrate types (bedrock and boulder habitat) on the community structures of benthic biota (macroalgae, macrobenthos) were monthly examined at Sinheung in Jeju Island, Korea, from Feb. to Nov. 2015. Species diversity of seaweeds and macrobenthos was greater at bedrock sites with 57 and 102 species than at boulder sites having 42 seaweeds and 67 macrobenthos. Average annual biomass of seaweeds was $1,601.13g\;wet\;wt./m^2$ at bedrock site and $448.85g\;wet\;wt./m^2$ at boulder site. Ecklonia cava was the most dominant species, occupying 62.64% ($1,002.93g/m^2$)of total biomass at bedrock. Amphiroa anceps was the most dominant species and subdominant species was Ecklonia cava, Grateloupia angusta, Peyssonnelia capensis and Meristotheca papulosa at boulder site. Density and biomass of macrobenthos were estimated to be $106.9indivi./m^2$ and $871.93g/m^2$, respectively at bedrock site and they were $64.6indivi./m^2$ and $984.28g/m^2$ at boulder site. The dominant macrobenthos species based on biomass were Turbo comutus (36.40%), Astralium haematragum (19.18%) and Anthocidaria crassispina (13.61%) at bedrock site and they were Alveopora japonica (54.13%) and Psammocora profundacella (24.28%) at boulder site.