• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.417-432
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• 2016

It was firstly revealed in this research that the marine terrace of the Ijin-ri (Bukpyung-myeon, Haenam-gun) was formed during the last interglacial (Marine Isotope Stage 5e; MIS 5e). The marine terrace totally ranging from 4.8 m (asl) to 8.8 m (asl) is subdivided into 4 units; Unit I ranges 4.8-5.3 m, unit II ranges 5.3-6.9 m, unit III ranges 6.9-8.3 m, and unit IV ranges 8.3-8.8 m. Strong evidences that units II and III were formed during MIS5e were obtained based on OSL dating, the physical characterizations such as particle size distribution, magnetic susceptibility and water content, principal element and trace element analyses, and quantitative clay mineral analysis for samples at the 30 cm intervals. The rounded gravels on the marine terrace are regarded to be originated from the clastic materials transported directly from the surrounding mountains toward the marine and abraded in the coastal area, without any fluvial processes. During the warmest period (125k, unit II), the increase in rainfall, along with the rapid rise in sea level, was likely caused the high amount of clastic materials transported to the upper part of the beach. As a result of comparing clay mineral ratios of study site with those derived from sediments of either tidal flats, or the Yellow Sea, it is interpreted that the sediments of study site were influenced from the marine. The results will be used to investigate the hydrological activity and sedimentary environment during the high sea level in the past.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.433-449
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• 2006

Temporal and spatial variations of precipitation in South Korea are investigated using 60 observation data of the recent 30-years from 1976 to 2005. The area averaged annual precipitation amount is about 1310 mm and shows a strong spatial variation, maximum at the southern and Kyoungki province (>1300 mm) and minimum at the Kyungpook province(<1100 mm). The precipitation days show a strong spatial variation with maximum at the Sobaik mountain region(>100 days) and minimum at the Kyungpook province (<90 days). The interannual variations (IAV) of precipitation amount and days are more significant at the southern and eastern part of Sobaik and Taebaik mountain, and along the Sobaik mountain, respectively. So, the difference of annual precipitation amount reaches to about 800mm between wet and dry years at the southern part of Korean peninsula. Whereas, the IAV of precipitation intensity is strong at the southern and middle part of South Korea with a minimum between two maxima. Also, seasonal variations are closely linked with the geographic environments (elevation, distance from ocean, location relative to the Taebaik mountain). Therefore, maximum and minimum of seasonal variations of precipitation are occurred at the northern inland region (ratio of summer to the annual precipitation (RSAP) is greater than 60%), eastern and southern coastal regions (RSAP is less than 53%),respectively. And the RSAP is slightly increased from 50% to 55% comparing the Ho and Kang (1988). The consistent and strong positive relation between the heavy rainfalls, the ratio of heavy rainfalls to annual precipitation and the annual precipitation indicates that heavy rainfall is more frequent and strong at the maximum annual precipitation region.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.169-181
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• 2008

Reproductive ecology of the silver pomfret, Pampus argenteus were investigated by histological observations and morphometric data. Samples were collected by the stow net at the coastal area of Jaun-Do, Muan-gun, Korea, from January to December, 2006. P. argenteus is dioecious, the ovary is composed of many ovarian lobules, showing a pair of saccular structure, and the testis is composed of many seminiferous lobules, showing a pair of lobular structure. From February (growing stage) to September (after spawning), monthly changes in the gonadosomatic index, hepatosomatic index, and condition factor in females and males showed similar patterns with the gonad developmental phases. Judging from the results of their indice, it is assumed that spawning in females and males occur from May to July. The reproductive cycle can be classified into five successive stages in females: early growing stage (February to March), late growing stage (March to April), mature stage (March to July), ripe and spent stage (May to July), and recovery and resting stage (July to February); in males, the cycle can be divided into four successive stages: growing stage (February to April), mature stage (March to June), ripe and spent stage (May to July), and recovery and resting stage (July to February). According to the frequency distributions of egg diameters in the breeding season, P. argenteus is presumed to be spring-summer spawning species and polycyclic species to spawn 2 times or more during one spawning season. Number of total eggs in absolute fecundity were proportional to body length and body weight, respectively. Number of total eggs in absolute fecundity per body weight were also proportional to the body length, but if the increase of body weight considerably increased, rather total eggs in relative fecundity decreased with the increase of body weight. Percentage of first sexual maturity of P. argenteus were over 50% in females and males of 12.1 to 15.0 cm in body length, and 100% for fishes over 18.1 cm in length. Therefore, both sexes were regarded to be sexually mature at one year of age.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.40 no.11
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• pp.1512-1517
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• 2011

Effects of cultivated area on antioxidant compounds and antioxidant activities of sorghum were determined. The cultivated areas were Miryang (plain area of interior), Wonju (mountainous territory), and Sinan (coastal area), and the cultivated varieties were Hwanggeumchal-susu (HGCS), Daepung-susu (DPS), Whinchal-susu (WCS), Tojong-susu (TJS), and Mae-susu (MS). The highest total polyphenol contents of methanolic extracts were 19.64 and 19.32 mg gallic acid equivalent (GE)/g in un-hulled MS and DPS on the cultivated Wonju. The highest total flavonoid content was 7.54 mg catechin equivalent (CE)/g in un-hulled DPS on cultivated Wonju. Generally, antioxidant compound contents of sorghum on cultivated Wonju were higher than those of Miryang and Sinan. Further, un-hulled HGCS, DPS, and MS were higher than un-hulled WCS and TJS. The DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activities of the methanolic extracts of sorghum did not significantly change with the cultivated areas, whereas there were significant changes with cultivated varieties. The radical scavenging activities of un-hulled HGCS, DPS, and MS with red or dark brown seed coats were higher than those of un-hulled WCS and TJS with white seed coats.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.251-257
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• 2011

Cobalt is a naturally occurring element found in rocks, soil, water and/or is among the harmful pollutants as generated by industrialized. In the environment, cobalt has two oxidation states, cobalt (II) (Co (II)) and cobalt (III) (Co (III)). If coastal water is contaminated by cobalt, it through the food chain can have an impact on marine ecosystems. Therefore, we examined the gametotoxic and embryotoxic effects of Co (II) at various concentrations (10, 100, 500, 1000, 2500 ppb) in the sea urchin $Hemicentrotus$ $pulcherrimus$. Spawning was induced by injecting 1 mL of 0.5 M KCl into coelomic cavity. Males released white or cream-colored sperms and females released yellow or orange-colored eggs. Experiment was begun within 30 min the collection of both gametes. The fertilization and embryo development rates test were performed for 10 min and 64 h after fertilization, respectively. The fertilization rates in the control condition (not including Co (II)) and experimental group were not significantly changed. The embryo development rates in the control condition were greater than 90% and were significantly decreased with concentration dependent manner. The normal embryogenesis rate was significantly inhibited in exposed to cobalt (II) ($EC_{50}$=71.84 ppb, 95% Cl=16.71-203.36 ppb). The NOEC and LOEC of normal embryogenesis rate were <10 ppb and 10 ppb, respectively. These results suggest that the early embryo stages of $H.$ $pulcherrimus$ have toxic effect at greater than 10 ppb of Co (II) concentration.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.387-393
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• 2001

To use as a fundamental data for the sustainable agriculture, which is nowadays a major trend to keep the productivity and conserve the environment, 487 paddy soil samples were collected from 21 regions of the Gyeongnam Province and analyzed the chemical characteristics and microbial population of the soil. The microbial population densities were bacteria $298{\times}10^5$($4{\sim}3000{\times}10^5$ range), fungi $63{\times}10^3$($2{\sim}441{\times}10^3$ range), actinomycetes $19{\times}10^5$($0.2{\sim}1250{\times}10^5$ range), Bacillus sp. $53{\times}10^4$($4{\sim}890{\times}10^4$ range) and Pseudomonas sp. $198{\times}10^4CFU\;g^{-1}$($4{\sim}1724{\times}10^4CFU\;g^{-1}$ range), respectively. The microbial populations of the soil were in general higher in southern area than in the northern area of the Gyeongnam Province. The average ratio of bacteria/fungi population was 473. As soil clay content increased, the populations of aerobic bacteria, actinomycetes and Pseudomonas sp. were remarkably decreased. The ratio of aerobic bacteria and fungi was 1554 in sandy loam and clay loam 1144, while Bacillus sp./fungi ratio was 11 in clay loam and 10 in loam. On the topographical differences, aerobic bacteria and Bacillus sp./fungi ratio were the higher in coastal plains than any other areas. The microbial population densities from different soil types were generally lower in ill-drained paddy field than those of other paddy field. The content of $P_2O_5$, K, Ca, $NO_3-N$ and EC in soil were positively correlated to the population densities of aerobic bacteria, actinomycetes, fungi, Bacillus sp. and Pseudomonas sp.. The soil organic matter and Mg content were also positively correlated to the population densities of aerobic bacteria, actinomycetes, fungi and Bacillus sp.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.166-173
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• 2010

In order to obtain the basic information for agricultural utilization of germanium (Ge), the growth characteristics, Ge uptake, and grain quality of rice plant (Hopyungbyeo) were investigated under different germanium ($GeO_2$, and commercial Ge) treatments in paddy field. Phytotoxicity was detected in $GeO_2$ treatment but not in commercial Ge treatment. The grain yield was greater in the order of control treatment > commercial Ge treatment > $GeO_2$ treatment. The dry weight was greater in order of control treatment > $GeO_2$ treatment ${\geq}$ commercial Ge treatment. The Ge content of leaf in $GeO_2$ treatment was 6 times (177 mg $m^{-2}$) higher than that in commercial Ge treatment. The Ge content in rice bran was not different in $GeO_2$, and commercial Ge treatments. The Ge contents of brown rice in$GeO_2$, and commercial treatments were 40.9, and 31.1 mg $kg^{-1}$, respectively. The Ge uptake rates in rice plant was higher in the order of leaf > rice bran > brown rice > stem > root. Under $GeO_2$, 15.56% of Ge absorbed into plant with 11.1% in leaf, 1.6% in stem, 0.03% in root, 2.2% in rice bran and 0.73% in brown rice. Under commercial Ge treatment, 5.19% of Ge absorbed into plant with 1.8% in leaf, 0.46% in stem, 0,01% in root, 2.2% in rice bran, and 0.71% in brown rice. Based on these results, the Ge contents in polished rice in commercial Ge treatment were higher than those in $GeO_2$ treatment. However, the Ge contents of rice grain (containing rice bran and polished rice) in $GeO_2$ treatment were higher than those in commercial Ge treatment.

• 한국해양학회지
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.84-95
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• 1989

The feeding guild classification proposed by Fauchald and Jumars (1979) and the relationship between this guild structure and the habitat environment were examined based on the quantitative polycheate samples collected on the continental shelf off the southeastern coast of Korea. Total 12 feeding guilds were found and the major feeding guilds of polychaetes were BSX (burrowing, sessile, non-jawed), SDT (surface deposit feeding, discretely motile, tentaculate), SST (surface deposit feeding, sessile, tentaculate), BMX (burrowing, motile, non-jawed), BMJ (burrowing, motile, jawed), SDJ (surface deposit feeding, discretely motile, jawed). There were more significant associations between feeding guilds and mean grain size (${\phi}$); SST and BMJ showed a positive correlation with mean phi, whereas CDJ (carnivore, discretely motile, jawed) and FDT (filter feeding, discretely motile, tentaculate), a negative value. The CDJ and CMX (carnivore, motile, non-jawed) guilds showed positive correlations with sand content, but only SST guild showed a positive correlation with clay. The heterogeneity of sediment or sorting value (${\phi}$) was highly associated with various feeding strategies of polychaetes. Surface deposit feeders and filter feeders, sessile, and tentaculate strategies were associated with poorly sorted or heterogeneous sediments. Some preliminary polychaete feeding surfaces were posed. Southern and northern coastal region composed of muddy sediment were characterized by SDJ; northern slope of mud by SST; central coast of mud by SDT, BSX; and BMX; southern offshore of sandy sediment by SDJ and IDT (interface feeding, discretely motile, tentaculate).

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.254-267
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• 2011

In order to assess structure changes of marine benthic communities in the Youngsan River Estuarine Bay for this 10-year period, we sampled macrobenthos in 2006 using the van Veen grab at the same 40 stations where a previous benthic community survey was conducted in 1995. The number of species and mean density of macrobenthos in 2006 decreased significantly than those of 1995. There were no significant differences in both the number and the density of polychaetous species between the two sampling periods, while both number and den-sity of molluscan species decreased significantly. Although the first two density-dominant species, semelid bivalve Theora fragilis and polychaete Tharyx sp. occurred as most dominant species, but the density of T. fragilis decreased significantly in many stations between 1995 and 2006. However, polychaete Tharyx sp. showed increment in density and percentage composition within community. The area dominated by T. fragilis was replaced by Tharyx sp.. Also, polychaete Poecilochaetus johnsoni and bivalve Raetellops pulchella which were pre-dominant in 1995 decreased significantly by 2006. Bivalve Yoldia johanni decreased its density and reduced its distribution area by 2006. Species diversity and rarefaction curves also revealed that overall species richness decreased. These results confirmed that the dominant species and species diversity of macrobenthic communities in the area should be changed due to anthropogenic stresses during 10 years.

• Journal of Environmental Policy
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.89-120
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• 2008

With petroleum being a major source of energy in Korea, the quantity of petroleum transported via ocean routes is on its way up due to increased consumption. Due to the increase, more than 300 cases of pollution caused by petroleum occur annually. Moreover, the number of oil-spill accidents is also on the rise. Causes of such accidents, not including the disposal of waste oil on purpose, turn out to be human error during navigation or defects in the vessels, showing that most accidents are caused by humans. Therefore, to prevent future oil spills, it is imperative that navigation efficiency be enhanced by improving the quality of navigators and replacing old vessels with newer ones. Nevertheless, such improvements cannot occur overnight, so long- and mid-term efforts should be made to achieve it institutionally. As large-scale oil-spill accidents can happen at anytime along the coastal waters of Korea, it is necessary to set-up institutional devices which go beyond the compensation limit of 92FC. The current special law regarding this issue has its limits in that it prescribes compensation be supplemented solely by national taxes. Therefore, the setting-up of a new 'national fund' is recommended for consideration rather than to subscribe to the '2003 Convention for the Supplementary Fund'. It is strongly suggested that a National fund be created from fees collected from oil companies based on the risks involved in oil transportation and according to the profiteers pay principle. In addition, a public fund should be created to handle general environmental damage, such as the large-scale destruction of the ecosystem, which is distinct from the economic damage that harms the local people. The posterior responses to the large-scale oil spill have always been unsatisfactory because of the symbolic nature of the disasters included in such accidents. Oil-spills can be prevented in advance, because they are caused by human beings. But once they occur, they inflict long-term damage to both human life and the natural ecosystem. Therefore, the best response to future oil-spills is to work to prevent them.