• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.62-68
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• 2012

This study evaluated the screening level assessment of ecological health using four biomarkers and four bioindicators of Misgurnus anguillicaudatus as a indicator species in agricultural area of South Korea during May-June 2011. The endocrine disrupting chemical (EDC) indicators, such as vitellogenin (VTG) and gonado-somatic index (GSI), were not significantly changed in the agricultural site (p>0.05), indicating no effects. The biomarkers and bioindicators were compared between two sites of reference site (RS) and the agricultural site (AS) for screening assessment of ecological health. The ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) activity, acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity, and DNA damage were significantly changed in the AS compared with the RS (p<0.05). But the individual level bioindicators such as condition factor (CF), hepato-somatic index (HSI), and gonado-somatic index (GSI) were not significantly different from reference site (RS). These results may indicate impairments of ecological health by toxic chemicals and environmental conditions. Current this study is based on screening assessment of biochemical and individual level biomarkers and bioindicators, so further study is required additional biomarkers and population or community level bioindicators for more specific health assessments in agricultural areas.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.329-336
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• 2012

This study evaluated ecological health, using various biomarkers and bioindicators, of pale chub (Zacco platypus) as a sentinel species, in Daejeon Stream, South Korea, during AprilMay 2011. The biomarkers and bioindicators were compared among three sites of control: Reference ($C_z$), transition ($T_z$), and the urban zones ($U_z$); and the 7-Ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) activity, DNA damage, acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity, and vitellogenin (VTG) concentrations were more significantly increased in the $U_z$ than in the $C_z$. Also, physiological markers such as condition factor, liver somatic index, visceral somatic index, and gonad somatic index were significantly increased in the $U_z$ than in the $C_z$. For the health assessments, three categorized parameters of blood chemistry, molecular biomarkers, and physiological bioindicators were standardized and calculated as a star-plot, representing values of Integrated Health Response (IHR). Values of IHR had more significant (P<0.05) increases in the $U_z$ than any other zones, indicating an impairment of ecological health by organic matter, nutrients (N, P), and toxic chemicals. This study is based on low levels of biological organization approach of molecular and physiological biomarkers and bioindicators, so further study of high-levels of biological organization approach such as community and population is required for overall range of health assessments. The approach of IHR values, however, may be useful in providing early warning of future impacts on ecological health.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.843-853
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• 2014

In the context of artificial groundwater recharge, a reactive soil column at pilot-scale (4.5 m depth and 3 m in diameter) fed by treated wastewater was designed to evaluate soil filtration ability. Here, as a part of this project, the impact of treated wastewater filtration on soil bacterial communities and the soil's biological ability for wastewater treatment as well as the relevance of the use of multi-bioindicators were studied as a function of depth and time. Biomass; bacterial 16S rRNA gene diversity fingerprints; potential nitrifying, denitrifying, and sulfate-reducing activities; and functional gene (amo, nir, nar, and dsr) detection were analyzed to highlight the real and potential microbial activity and diversity within the soil column. These bioindicators show that topsoil (0 to 20 cm depth) was the more active and the more impacted by treated wastewater filtration. Nitrification was the main activity in the pilot. No sulfate-reducing activity or dsr genes were detected during the first 6 months of wastewater application. Denitrification was also absent, but genes of denitrifying bacteria were detected, suggesting that the denitrifying process may occur rapidly if adequate chemical conditions are favored within the soil column. Results also underline that a dry period (20 days without any wastewater supply) significantly impacted soil bacterial diversity, leading to a decrease of enzyme activities and biomass. Finally, our work shows that treated wastewater filtration leads to a modification of the bacterial genetic and functional structures in topsoil.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.202-207
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• 2010

The most useful criteria and selection procedures of biological indicators have been developed in Korea because they have taken into account local and national concerns on biological responses against climate change. On the basis of these criteria and selection procedures, 100 climate-sensitive biological indicator species were selected to predict biodiversity distribution shift by climate change and manage biological resources integratedly at the national level. It is expected that selection and monitoring of biological indicators by climate change will provide significant information to prepare protective strategies of vulnerable species against climate change and adaptive policies under the changing environment in Korea. In this paper, we have reviewed what kinds of criteria were considered in selecting bioindicators to assess responses of biological organisms against climate change. Definition and selection steps of bioindicators were proposed, and the 100 species of climate- sensitive biological indicators were selected out of 33,253 taxa reported in Korea.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.208-211
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• 2011

The lowest amount of heavy metals was found outside the city (25 km away), the highest amount was found near the thermoelectric power plant, and the average amount was discovered in the central part of the city. The presence of heavy metals in soil samples resulted in reduction of several important soil characteristics (pH, humus content, soil "breathing"). Use of simple and quick methods to examine soil with high heavy metals pollution resulted in the discovery of a pedobiota group, consisting of nematodes, fungi (genus Fusarium) and Protozoa which indicated the toxicity of the Almaty city soils.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.35-39
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• 2012

In the current study, several carabid beetle species were proposed as potential biological indicators for different habitat types (levee, upland dike, hillock, and streamside) of agricultural landscapes focusing on agrobiont species. Synuchus arcuaticollis and Synuchus orbicollis were found in all habitat types, indicating that they are general species for all habitat types. Harpalus eous and Synuchus cycloderus are potential bioindicator species for the paddy levee and hillock habitats, respectively. Amara pseudosimplicidens, Anisodactylus punctatipennis, and Chlaenius ocreatus, which occurred widely, and Bembidion morawitzi, which occurred only in the streamside habitat, are potential bioindicators for the streamside habitat.

• Proceedings of the Korean Environmental Health Society Conference
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• 2004.06a
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• pp.87-91
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• 2004

Immunohistochemical and ultrastructural experiments were conducted to find out heavy metal accumulation in some selected organs such as the kidney, the hepatopancreas, and the gills of the Antarctic Clam Laternula elliptica According to the immunohistochemical study the subject organs of the clam showed reactions indicating the presence of MT(metallothionein), a metal-binding protein involved in metal detoxifying process. Examination under the transmission electron microscope also revealed that other ligands(e.g. metal-rich granules in the kidney) may play a role in metal accumulating and detoxifying process in L. elliptica. In the artificial exposure of the clam to Cd, it showed immediate subcellular responses, suggesting that this species can be used as rapid and efficient bioindicators for Cd exposure in natural environment.

• ALGAE
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.63-70
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• 2012

Algae are sensitive to a wide range of pollutants, and are effective bioindicators in ecotoxicity assessments. Here, we evaluated the sub-lethal sensitivity of the marine dinoflagellate Cochlodinium polykrikoides upon exposure to copper (Cu), lead (Pb), bisphenol A (BPA), and Aroclor 1016 (polychlorinated biphenyl, PCB). Toxic effects were assessed by observations of the reduction in cell counts and chlorophyll a levels after exposure to each toxicant. C. polykrikoides displayed dose-dependent, sigmoidal responses when exposed to the tested chemicals. $EC_{50}$-72 h values for Cu, Pb, BPA, and PCB were 12.74, 46.70, 68.15, and $1.07mg\;L^{-1}$, respectively. PCB, which is an endocrine-disrupting chemical, was the most sensitive, proving its toxic effect on the dinoflagellate. This study provides baseline data on the toxic effects of commonly used heavy metals and endocrine-disrupting chemicals to a marine dinoflagellate.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.93-100
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• 2008

The ecotoxicological effects of 4-tert-octylphenol were observed on Harpacticoid copepoda Tigriopus japonicus s.l. gathered and cultured from tidal pool of Korean coast. There were no significant differences in survival rate (except 10 $\mu$g/L; 70.00%) and sex ratio (except 30 $\mu$g/L) on T. japonicus s.l. exposed to 4-tert-octylphenol. However, 4-tert-octylphenol induced developmental delay (copepodite emergence day and adult male mergence day) and retardation of first brooding day of adult female. Moreover the body size and biomass decreased at 4-tert-octylphenol exposure. As a result, detailed life-cycle research of T. japonicus s.l. may yield potential bioindicators for environmental monitoring and assessment.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
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• 2006.04a
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• pp.207-208
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• 2006

Earthworms have been widely used as bioindicators for soil ecotoxicity assessment. Ecotoxicity of methyl tert-butyl ether(MTBE) to terrestrial organisms were evaluated by- earthworm assay. Test earthworm species were Perionyx excavatus and Eisenia andrei. The. toxicity test was performed based on a OECD guideline No. 207 with slight modification. Mortality and abnormal morphology of earthworms exposed to different concentrations of MTBE were measured. Toxic levels of MTBE were determined by measuring the median lethal concentration (LC5O) after 72 hours. The toxicity data was statistically analyzed by Trimmed Spearman-Harbor method. This study showed that, P. excavatus is more sensitive to E. andrei, and that earthworm assay can be a good protocol to evaluate the soils contaminated gasoline components.