• Proceedings of the National Institute of Ecology of the Republic of Korea
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.86-94
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• 2023

Climate change is more rapid in the Arctic than elsewhere in the world, and increased precipitation and warming are expected cause changes in biogeochemical processes due to altered microbial communities and activities. It is crucial to investigate microbial responses to climate change to understand changes in carbon and nitrogen dynamics. We investigated the effects of increased temperature and precipitation on microbial biomass and community structure in dry tundra using two depths of soil samples (organic and mineral layers) under four treatments (control, warming, increased precipitation, and warming with increased precipitation) during the growing season (June-September) in Cambridge Bay, Canada (69°N, 105°W). A phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) analysis method was applied to detect active microorganisms and distinguish major functional groups (e.g., fungi and bacteria) with different roles in organic matter decomposition. The soil layers featured different biomass and community structure; ratios of fungal/bacterial and gram-positive/-negative bacteria were higher in the mineral layer, possibly connected to low substrate quality. Increased temperature and precipitation had no effect in either layer, possibly due to the relatively short treatment period (seven years) or the ecosystem type. Mostly, sampling times did not affect PLFAs in the organic layer, but June mineral soil samples showed higher contents of total PLFAs and PLFA biomarkers for bacteria and fungi than those in other months. Despite the lack of response found in this investigation, long-term monitoring of these communities should be maintained because of the slow response times of vegetation and other parameters in high-Arctic ecosystems.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.79-88
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• 2024

This study employed field measurements and biogeochemical analysis to examine the effects of seasonal conditions (e.g., temperature and precipitation) and human intervention (e.g., dam or weir construction) on the chemical composition of dissolved organic matter, flocculation kinetics of suspended particulate matter, and formation of the fluid mud layer on riverbeds. The results indicated that a water environment with a substantial amount of biopolymers offered favorable conditions for flocculation kinetics during an algal bloom period in summer; a thick fluid mud layer was found to be predominated with cohesive materials during this period. However, after high rainfall, a substantial influx of terrigenous humic substances led to enhanced stabilization of the particulate matter, thereby decreasing flocculation and deposition, and the reduced biopolymer composition served to weaken the erosion resistance of the fluid mud on the riverbed. Moreover, a high-turbulence condition disaggregated the flocs and the fluid mud layer and resuspended the suspended particulate matter in the water column. This study demonstrates the mutual relationship that exists between biogeochemistry, flocculation kinetics, and the formation of the fluid mud layer on the riverine area during different seasons and under varying hydrological conditions. These findings are expected to eventually help inform the more optimal management of water resources, which is an urgent task in the face of anthropogenic stressors and climate change.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.105-119
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• 2012

Indigenous bacteria isolated from contaminated sites play important roles to remediate contaminated groundwater. Chromium has the most stable oxidation states. Cr(VI) is toxic, carcinogenic, and mobile, but Cr(III) is less toxic and immobile. In this study, indigenous microorganism (MMPH-0) was enriched from Cr(VI) contaminated groundwater, and identified by 16S rRNA gene analysis. Using MMPH-0, the effect of stimulating with e-donors (glucose, lactate, acetate, and no e-donor control), respiration conditions, biomass, tolerance, and geochemical changes on Cr(VI) reduction were investigated in batch experiments for 4 weeks. The changes of Cr(VI) concentration and geochemical conditions were monitored using UV-vis-spectrophotometer and Eh-pH meter. And the morphological and chemical characteristics of MMPH-0 and precipitates in the effluents were characterized by TEM-EDS and SEM-EDS analyses. MMPH-0 (Enterobacter aerogenes) was able to tolerate up to 2000 mg/L Cr(VI) and reduce Cr(VI) under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. MMPH-0 performed faster and higher efficiency of Cr(VI) reduction with electron donors (over 70% after 1 week with e-donor, 10-20% after 4 weeks without e-donor). The changes of Eh-pH in effluents showing the tendency from oxidizing to reducing condition and a bit of acidic change in pH due to microbial oxidation of organic matters donating electrons and protons suggested the roles of MMPH-0 on Cr(VI) in the contaminated water catalyzing to transit geochemical stable zone for more stable $Cr(OH)_3$ or Cr(III) precipitates. TEM/SEM-EDS analyses of MMPH-0 and precipitates indicate direct and indirect Cr(VI) reduction: extracellular polymers capturing Cr component outside cells. These results suggested diverse indigenous bacteria and their biogeochemical reactions might enhance more effective and feasible remediation technology of redox sensitive heavy metals in metal-contaminated in groundwater.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.208-215
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• 2000

The estimated total material transports through the Cheju Strait using all data which investigated in 1997 and 1999 are as follows; A large amount of suspended sediments and dissovted inorganic nutrients are carried tothe South Sea through the Cheju Strait by a persistent eastward flow (Cheju Current) from the Y311ow Sea andthe East China Sea. The annual material Oanspous by the Cheju Current are as follows; 22.9${\times}$10$^6$ ton yr$^{-1}$(SS), 0.52${\times}$10$^{10}$ mol yr$^{-1}$ (NH$_4\;^+$), 6.05${\times}$10$^{10}$ mol yr$^{-1}$ (NO$_3\;^-$), 0.36${\times}$10$^{10}$ mol yr$^{-1}$ (PO$_4\;^{3-}$), 10.27${\times}$10$^{10}$ mol yr$^{-1}$ (Si(OH)$_4$). The annual suspended sediment flux per water transport in the Cheju Strait (44.48${\times}$10$^6$ ton yr$^{-1}$ Sv$^{-1}$) is about 1.7 larger than that in the Korean Strait (26.08${\times}$10$^6$ ton yr$^{-1}$ Sv$^{-1}$). The annual nitrate flux per water transport (11.60${\times}$10$^{10}$ mol yr$^{-1}$ Sv$^{-1}$) is about 1.2 larger than that in the Korean Strait (9.72${\times}$10$^{10}$ mol yr$^{-1}$ Sv$^{-1}$) and 2/3 of that by Kuroshio in the East China Sea (18.55${\times}$10$^{10}$ ton yr$^{-1}$ Sv$^{-1}$). It suggests that chemical rich Cheju Current will play a significant role in the biogeochemical processes in the South Sea where the huge land-based waste are introduced.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.196-205
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• 2011

To investigate the contribution of macroalgae to biogeochemical nutrients and carbon cycles, we measured the uptake rates of nutrients and $CO_2$ and characteristics of fluorescence of Saccharina japonica (Laminaria japonica Areschoug) using an incubation method in an acrylic chamber. From January to May 2011, S.japonica was sampled at Ilkwang, one of well-known macroalgae culture sites around Korea and ranged 46~288 cm long and 4.8~22.0 cm wide of whole thallus. The production rate of dissolved oxygen by S. japonica (n=25) was about $6.9{\pm}5.8{\mu}mol\;g^{-1}$ fresh weight(FW) $h^{-1}$. The uptake rate of total dissolved inorganic carbon ($TCO_2$), calculated by total alkalinity and pH, was $8.9{\pm}7.9{\mu}mol\;g^{-1}\;FW\;h^{-1}$. Mean nutrients uptake were $175.6{\pm}161.1\;nmol\;N\;g^{-1}\;FW\;h^{-1}$ and $12.7{\pm}10.1\;nmol\;P\;g^{-1}\;FW\;h^{-1}$. There were logarithmic relationships between thallus length and uptake rates of nutrients and $CO_2$, which suggested that younger specimens (<100-150 cm) were much more efficient at nutrients and $CO_2$ uptake than old specimens > 150 cm. There was a positive linear correlation ($r^2$=9.4) existed between the dissolved oxygen production rate and the $TCO_2$ uptake rate, suggesting that these two factors may serve as good indicators of S. japonica photosynthesis. There was also positive linear relationship between maximal quantum yield ($F_v/F_m$) and production/uptake rates of dissolved oxygen, $TCO_2$ and phosphate, suggested that $F_v/F_m$ could be used as a good indicator of photosynthetic ability and $TCO_2$ consumption of macroalgae. Maximum relative electron transport rate ($rETR_{max}$) of S. japonica increased as thallus grew and was high in distal part of thallus which may be resulted from the increase of photosynthetic cell density per area. The annual $TCO_2$ uptake by S. japonica in Gijang area was estimated about $1.0\sim1.7{\times}10^3C$ ton, which was about 0.02-0.03% of carbon dioxide emission in Busan City. Thus, more research should be focused on macroalgae-based biogeochemical cycles to evaluate the roles and contributions of macroalgae to the global carbon cycle.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.19 no.4 s.50
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• pp.265-275
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• 2006

It is in its infancy to use bacteria as a novel biotechnology for leaching precious and heavy metals from raw materials. The objective of this study was to investigate biogeochemical processes of iron leaching from magnetite reduction by iron-reducing bacteria isolated from intertidal flat sediments, southwestern part of Korea. Microbial leaching experiments were performed using commercial magnetite, Aldrich magnetite, in well-defined mediums with and without bacteria. Water soluble Fe production was determined by ICP analysis of bioleached samples in comparison to uninoculated controls, and the resulting precipitated solids were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The extent of iron leaching from magnetite in the aerobic conditions (Fe = 107 ppm) was higher than that in the anaerobic environments (Fe = 94 ppm). In the anaerobic conditions, Fe(III) in commercial magnetite was also reduced to Fe(II), but no secondary mineral phases were observed. Amorphous iron oxides formed in the medium under aerobic conditions where there was sufficient supply of oxygen from the atmosphere. SEM observation suggests that the reduction process involves dissolution-precipitation mechanisms as opposed to solid state conversion of magnetite to amorphous iron oxides. The ability of bacteria to leach soluble iron and precipitate amorphous iron oxides from crystalline magnetite could have significant implications for biogeochemical processes in sediments where Fe(III) in magnetite plays an important role in the largest pool of electron acceptor as well as the tool as a novel biotechnology for leaching precious and heavy metals from raw materials.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.41-47
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• 2006

Global climatic changes are expected to influence various biogeochemical processes in wetland ecosystems. In particular, coastal mud flat is anticipated to be affected directly by temperature increase as well as indirectly by a sea level rise and changes in precipitation. This study aimed to determine changes in methane production under different temperature and salinity by employing a laboratory-scale manipulation experiment. Soil samples were collected from a mud flat in Dong-Gum Kang-Hwa island in winter and two types of experiments were conducted. In the first experiment soil samples at 0-5 cm, 5-10 cm depth were incubated under same salinity with pore water and diluted salinity to 50 % of natural condition for 20 days and methane production was measured every other days. In the second experiment, soil samples at 5-10 cm depth were incubated in different temperature, $5^{\circ}C$ and $15^{\circ}C$, under same salinity conditions with first experiment for 31 days and methane production was measured. Results of the first experiment revealed that higher amount of methane was produced at 5-10 cm depth, and salinity effect was predominant at the end of the experiment. The second experiment showed that methane production was higher in $15^{\circ}C$ than $5^{\circ}C$. In addition, methane production was higher when sea water diluted to 50 % compared to control. Global climatic changes are expected to influence various biogeochemical processes in wetland ecosystems. In particular, coastal mud flat is anticipated to be affected directly by temperature increase as well as indirectly by a sea level rise and changes in precipitation. This study aimed to determine changes in methane production under different temperature and salinity by employing a laboratory-scale manipulation experiment. Soil samples were collected from a mud flat in Dong-Gum Kang-Hwa island in winter and two types of experiments were conducted. In the first experiment soil samples at 0-5 cm, 5-10 cm depth were incubated under same salinity with pore water and diluted salinity to 50 % of natural condition for 20 days and methane production was measured every other days. In the second experiment, soil samples at 5-10 cm depth were incubated in different temperature, $5^{\circ}C$ and $15^{\circ}C$, under same salinity conditions with first experiment for 31 days and methane production was measured. Results of the first experiment revealed that higher amount of methane was produced at 5-10 cm depth, and salinity effect was predominant at the end of the experiment. The second experiment showed that methane production was higher in $15^{\circ}C$ than $5^{\circ}C$. In addition, methane production was higher when sea water diluted to 50 % compared to control. These results suggest that methane production is highly influenced by changes in temperature and salinity in coastal mud flat. And that global climatic change may induce biological feedback by affecting production of another greenhouse gas, namely methane from coastal mud flat.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.357-366
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• 2007

Microorganisms participate in a variety of geochemical processes such as weathering and formation of minerals, leaching of precious metals from minerals, and cycling of organic matter The objective of this study was to investigate biogeochemical processes of iron leaching from magnetite ore by iron-reducing bacteria isolated from intertidal flat sediments, southwestern part of Korea. Microbial iron leaching experiments were performed using magnetite ore, Shinyemi magnetite ore, in well-defined media with and without bacteria at room temperature for a month. Water soluble Fe and Mn during the leaching experiments were determined by ICP analysis of bioleached samples, and the resulting precipitated solids were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The extent of iron leaching from magnetite in the aerobic conditions (Fe = 15 mg/L and Mn = 3.41 mg/L) was lower than that in the anaerobic environments (Fe = 32.8 mg/L and Mn = 5.23 mg/L). The medium pH typically decreased from 8.3 to 7.2 during a month incubation. The Eh of the initial medium decreased from +144.9 mV to -331.7 mV in aerobic environments and from -2.3 mV to -494.6 mV in anaerobic environments upon incubation with the metal reducing microorganisms. The decrease in pH is due to glucose fermentation producing organic acids and $CO_2$. The ability of bacteria to leach soluble iron from crystalline magnetite could have significant implications for biogeochemical processes in sediments where Fe(III) in magnetite represents the largest pool of electron acceptor as well as to use as a novel biotechnology for leaching precious and heavy metals from raw materials.

• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
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• v.52 no.11
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• pp.917-929
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• 2019

Denitrification in streams is of great importance because it is essential for amelioration of water quality and accurate estimation of $N_2O$ budgets. Denitrification is a major biological source or sink of $N_2O$, an important greenhouse gas, which is a multi-step respiratory process that converts nitrate ($NO_3{^-}$) to gaseous forms of nitrogen ($N_2$ or $N_2O$). In aquatic ecosystems, the complex interactions of water flooding condition, substrate supply, hydrodynamic and biogeochemical properties modulate the extent of multi-step reactions required for $N_2O$ flux. Although water flow in streambed and residence time affect reaction output, effects of a complex interaction of hydrodynamic, geomorphology and biogeochemical controls on the magnitude of denitrification in streams are still illusive. In this work, we built a two-dimensional water flow channel and measured $N_2O$ flux from channel sediment with different bed geomorphology by using static closed chambers. Two independent experiments were conducted with identical flume and geomorphology but sediment with differences in dissolved organic carbon (DOC). The experiment flume was a circulation channel through which the effluent flows back, and the size of it was $37m{\times}1.2m{\times}1m$. Five days before the experiment began, urea fertilizer (46% N) was added to sediment with the rate of $0.5kg\;N/m^2$. A sand dune (1 m length and 0.15 m height) was made at the middle of channel to simulate variations in microtopography. In high- DOC experiment, $N_2O$ flux increases in the direction of flow, while the highest flux ($14.6{\pm}8.40{\mu}g\;N_2O-N/m^2\;hr$) was measured in the slope on the back side of the sand dune. followed by decreases afterward. In contrast, low DOC sediment did not show the geomorphological variations. We found that even though topographic variation influenced $N_2O$ flux and chemical properties, this effect is highly constrained by carbon availability.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.20 no.1 s.51
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• pp.47-60
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• 2007

While sedimentological researches on Western coastal tidal flats of Korea have been much pelformed previously, mineralogical and biogeochemical studies are beginning to be studied. The objectives of this study were to investigate mineralogical characteritics of the inter-tidal flat sediments and to explore phase transformation of iron(oxyhydr)oxides and biomineralization by metal-reducing bacteria enriched from the inter-tidal flat sediments from Muan, Jeollanam-do, Korea. Inter-tidal flat sediment samples were collected in Chungkye-myun and Haeje-myun, Muan-gun, Jeollanam-do. Particle size analyses were performed using the pipette method and sedimentation method. The separates including sand, silt and clay fractions were examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and X-ray diffiaction (XRD). After enriching the metal-.educing bacteria from the into,-tidal flat sediments, the bacteria were used to study phase transformation of the synthesized iron (oxyhydr)oxides and iron biomineralization using lactate or glucose as the electron donors and Fe(III)-containing iron oxides as the electron accepters. Mineralogical studies showed that the sediments of tidal flats in Chung]rye-myun and Haeje-myun consist of quartz, plagioclase, microcline, biotite, kaolinite and illite. Biogeochemical researches showed that the metal-reducing bacteria enriched from the inter-tidal flat sediments reduced reddish brown akaganeite and mineralized nanometer-sized black magnetite. The bacteria also reduced the reddish brown ferrihydrite into black amorphous phases and reduced the yellowish goethite into greenish with formation of nm-sized phases. These results indicate that microbial Fe(III) reduction may play one of important roles in iron and carbon biogeochemistry as well as iron biomineralization in subsurface environments.