• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.167-181
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• 2010

To predict changes in the marine environment of the Beolgyo Stream Estuary in Jeonnam Province, South Korea, where cohesive tidal flats cover a broad area and a large bridge is under construction, this study conducted numerical simulations involving tidal flow and cohesive sediment transport. A wetting and drying (WAD) technique for tidal flats from the Princeton Ocean Model (POM) was applied to a large-scale-grid hydrodynamic module capable of evaluating the flow resistance of structures. Derivation of the eddy viscosity coefficient for wakes created by structures was accomplished through the explicit use of shear velocity and Chezy's average velocity. Furthermore, various field observations, including of tide, tidal flow, suspended sediment concentrations, bottom sediments, and water depth, were performed to verify the model and obtain input data for it. In particular, geologic parameters related to the evaluation of settling velocity and critical shear stresses for erosion and deposition were observed, and numerical tests for the representation of suspended sediment concentrations were performed to determine proper values for the empirical coefficients in the sediment transport module. According to the simulation results, the velocity variation was particularly prominent around the piers in the tidal channel. Erosion occurred mainly along the tidal channels near the piers, where bridge structures reduced the flow cross section, creating strong flow. In contrast, in the rear area of the structure, where the flow was relatively weak due to the formation of eddies, deposition and moderated erosion were predicted. In estuaries and coastal waters, changes in the flow environment caused by artificial structures can produce changes in the sedimentary environment, which in turn can affect the local marine ecosystem. The numerical model proposed in this study will enable systematic prediction of changes to flow and sedimentary environments caused by the construction of artificial structures.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.169-174
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• 2010

To obtain more accurate meteorological data for analyzing the river discharge characteristics at the Nakdong River Estuary, we investigated the characteristics of the release barrage discharge observed during the 13-year period from 1996 to 2008 and calculated the differences using meteorological data for the Busan and Gimhae weather stations. The river discharge estimated using a tank model was compared to the real river barrage discharge. We discussed the correlation between the discharge and the meteorological factors that affected the estuary water environment. This study found that total annual discharge from the Nakdong river basin for the 13 years was $272,653.3{\times}10^6\;m^3$/month. The largest monthly mean release discharge occurred in July at $73,212.9{\times}10^6\;m^3$/month (26.9% for the year), followed by August and September in that order with 22.0% and 18.9%, respectively.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.248-253
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• 2018

Freshwater farms are primarily located adjacent to rivers and lakes, facilitating the introduction and spread of pathogens into natural systems. Therefore, it is necessary to continuously monitor natural aquatic organisms, the breeding environment, and infection rates by pathogenic organisms. Fish and crustaceans were sampled 4 times in the Geum River estuary in 2016. The samples were analyzed for the presence of pathogens for reportable communicable diseases, including KHVD (koi herpesvirus disease), SVC (spring viraemia of carp), EUS (epizootic ulcerative syndrome) and WSD (white spot disease); parasite abundance was also examined. The dominant fish species were deep body bitterling Acanthorhodes macropterus (21.4%), followed by skygager Erythroculter erythropterus (12.7%). For crustaceans, Palaemon paucidens and Chinese mitten crab Eriocheir sinensis were dominant. Sixty fish and 36 crustacean species were examined for reportable communicable diseases. When using a specific primer set for each disease, PCR analysis did not detect any reportable communicable diseases in the samples. Some instances of Dactylogyrus, copepods, nematodes and metacercaria were detected. However, the PCR results indicated that the metacercaria were not Clonorchis sinensis.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.486-494
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• 2003

Distribution of ichthyoplanktons and its relation to environmental factors (temperature, salinity, $chlorophyll\;\alpha$) around the Youngsan River Estuary of Mokpo, southwest coast of Korea were investigated based on the samples collected bimonthly from February to December, 2001. Unidentified fish eggs were most abundant $1,345\;eggs/100m^3$ in August, while eggs of Engraulis japonicus were most abundant $63\;eggs/100m^3$ in June. A total of forty species of fish larvae and juveniles belonging to the twenty families under six orders were caught, with six gobiids, four icefishes, four croakers and three herrings being represented. Fish larvae and juveniles peaked $17,757\;inds./100m^3$ in August, which consisted of $91.02\%$ of gobiids, $3.69\%$ of gunnels and $3.67\%$ of icefishes, and they were most abundant $7,467\;Inds./100m^3$ at St. 7. Cluster analysis based on the individuals of fish larvae and juveniles showed that six months were classified into two groups at the dissimilarity 70, the first was composed of June and August and the second was February and December and April and October were not clustered with any other months. In August when species diversity index was the highest, eight stations were classified into two groups at the dissimilarity 70, the first was composed of St. 1, 3, 4, 5 and 8 and the second was St. 6, 7 and 2. As a result from correspondence analysis, there is no effect of the environmental factors with a density of fish eggs and larvae, but correlation could be found between a density of fish eggs and $chlorophyll\;\alpha.$

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.63-73
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• 1991

Nakdong estuary provides the largest wintering grounds for migrating waterfowls in Korea, and was designated Natural Monument No. 179 in 1966. Nakdong barrage and related construction-projects finished in 1987 to increase freshwater-supply to nearby Pusan metropolitan area and to reclaim the vast intertidal areas for land development. Changes on distribution, primary productivity, and standing crop of Schoenopluctus triqueter, the dominant species in this intertidal flats, were investigated after the construciton, during the 1988-1990, and were compared to those before the construction. Total standing crop. tuber biomass and net primary productivity of S. triqueter increased in 1988 and 1989, but decreased slightly in 1990. Increase of tuber biomass means an increase in available food, thus the carrying capacity, for swans wintering in this area. Habitat environment of this estuary should be protected and managed as a wintering ground for migrating waterfowls, inspite of the construction of the barrage.

• Journal of Ocean Engineering and Technology
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.236-244
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• 2014

This study considered a seagrass habitat in order to analyze the characteristics of a marine environment of seagrass located in the Seomjin river estuary, through an analysis of the distribution of the water depth, field observation, and three-dimensional numerical experiments using an EFDC model. The seagrass habitat was usually distributed at D.L(-) 0.5~0.0 m, and was hardly seen in the intertidal zone higher than that range. The distribution of the water temperature was within the range of $7.0{\sim}23.2^{\circ}C$, and the seagrass was demonstrated to have a strong tolerance to changes in the water temperature. In addition, the salinity distribution was found to be 27.2~31.0 psu, with suspended solids of 32.1 mg/L, which were higher than the previous research results (Huh et al., 1998), implying that there may be a reduction in the amount of deposits caused by the suspended solids. As for the sedimentary facies, they were comprised of 62.7% sand, 19.1% silt, and 18.2% clay, indicating that the arenaceous was superior and the sedimentary facies were similar to that of Dadae Bay. According to a numerical experiment, the maximum tidal current was 75 cm/s, while the tidal residual current was 10 cm/s, confirming that it sufficiently adapted to strong tidal currents. The erosion and deposition are predicted to be less than 1.0 cm/year. Thus, it is judged that the resuspension of sediments due to tidal currents and the changes in sedimentary facies are insignificant.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.55 no.4
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• pp.406-414
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• 2022

Bolboschoenus planiculmis has been acknowledged as a key species in whooper swans (Cygnus cygnus) habitat by providing food for this migratory waterfowl. B. planiculmis wetlands are being degraded by water shortages and salinization caused by anthropogenic activities and climate changes. In 2004, the distribution of B. planiculmis in the tidal flats of the Nakdong Estuary was 2,475,568 m², and in 2021, the distribution area was 798,731 m², which decreased by 32.3%. In order to restore the degraded B. planiculmis wetlands, shoot transplantation and seed sowing were tentatively used in three places with different salinity and water levels. The average density per unit area in September at the optimal growth period after planting were A (fresh water level 50 cm) 58±15.65 m^-2, B (brackish water level 0~5 cm) 188±63.83 m^-2, C (brackish water level 0 cm or less) 188±45.13 m^-2. The tubers were observed as A 0 g dw m^-2, B 25.32±2.94 g dw m^-2, and C 13.39±0.91 g dw m^-2. Tubers were distributed in the soil, with only 3.0% at the 10~20 cm depth but 97.0% at the 0~10 cm depth. In contrast, the germination rate of B. planiculmis seeds was observed to be 0%. Results of this study provide technical support for the restoration of B. planiculmis wetland and the improvement in the quality of whooper swans habitat.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.708-722
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• 2016

Land-Ocean Interactions in the Coastal Zone (LOICZ) models for nutrient budgets were used to estimate the seasonal capacity of the Youngsan Estuary and Youngam-Geumho Estuary to sink and/or supply nutrients such as dissolved inorganic phosphorus (DIP) and nitrogen (DIN) to provide an understanding of the behavior of the coupled biogeochemical cycles of phosphorus and nitrogen in the estuaries (Youngsan Estuary, Youngam-Geumho Estuary) near Mokpo Harbor. During non-stratified periods (May, September, and November, 2008), simple three-box models were applied in each sub-region of the system, while a two-layer box model was applied during on-site observation of stratification development (July, 2008). The resulting mass-balance calculation indicated that even after large discharges from artificial lakes (in May and July), DIP influxes due to a mixing exchange ($V_{X-3}$, or $V_{deep}$) were more than terrigenous loads, indicating the backward transportation of nutrients from a marine source. The model results also indicated that for nutrient loads (DIP and DIN fluxes) in September, an extreme congestion of nutrients occurred around the mouths (sub-region III of the model) of the estuaries, possibly due to an imbalance in physical circulations between the estuaries and offshore locations. In November, the Youngam-Geumho Estuary, into which freshwater was discharged from artificial lakes (Youngam and Geumho Lake), showed nutrient enrichment in the water column, but the Youngsan Estuary showed nutrient depletion. In conclusion, to efficiently control water quality in the estuaries near Mokpo Harbor, integrated environmental management programs should be implemented. I.e., the reduction of nutrient loads from land basins as well as the deposit of nutrient loads into adjacent coastal lines.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.445-459
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• 2022

In this study, we investigated current vegetation and assessed the health of vegetation through the KERVI (Korea Estuary Riparian Vegetation Index) to monitor vegetation changes near estuaries due to the opening of the Nakdong River estuary. As the first investigation of the long-term monitoring, six areas near the Nakdong River estuary were surveyed twice in July and October 2021, and vegetation monitoring and a survey of species composition and distribution density of aquatic, riparian, and land plants were carried out. The survey identified 262 taxa, 82 families, 192 genera, 196 species, 3 subspecies, 26 varieties, and 1 form of vascular plants in the surveyed area. The results of the vegetation health assessment through KREVI showed that sites 1 and 6 were rated "Very good" in both surveys, sites 2 and 4 were rated "Very good" in the first survey and then "Good"in the second survey, and site 3 and 5 were rated one grade higher in the second survey than the first survey. The assessment showed that the health grades of most species in the survey area were generally high. Most of the potential natural vegetation after the opening of estuary gates to create a brackish water area is expected to consist of reed (Phragmites communisTrin.) communities. The area of the willow (Salix koreensisAndersson) community adjacent to the water area may be somewhat narrower, but the community will be maintained. In the case of freshwater areas in inland areas with very low salinity, reeds (Phragmites communisTrin.) are expected to occupy most of them, and some communities such as amur silver-grass (Miscanthus sacchariflorusBenth.) and cattails (Typha orientalisC. Presl) are expected to be distributed. We suggest establishing measures such as estuary gate operation to create healthy brackish water regions through long-term monitoring.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.55 no.2
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• pp.132-144
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• 2022

The fish community in the Seomjin River-Seomjin River Estuary-Gwangyang Bay coast continuum was investigated three times from March 2019 to October 2019. The collected species at the eight sites during the survey period were 49 species belonging to 31 families, including two endangered species. According to Bray-Curtis similarities, observations were divided into four groups based on the fish community composition; two groups (group 1, 2) and two uncategorized groups (group 3, 4). ANOSIM based on spatial and temporal groupings indicated that the spatial differences in fish communities (R=0.398, P=0.001) were relatively more important than the temporal differences (analysis of similarities, R=0.273, P=0.002). In particular, there were significant differences between groups 1 and 2 (analysis of similarities, R=0.556, P=0.001), and similarity percentage analysis revealed that Argyrosomus argentatus (9.4%), Favonigobius gymnauchen (6.9%) and Konosirus punctatus (5.9%) contributed to these differences of fish assemblages for each group. The fish fauna distributed in the Seomjin River-Gwangyang Bay ecosystem were spatially divided and the number of species and number of individuals showed seasonal differences. This study could be a basis for understanding changes in the fish community and implementing conservation and management strategies on major species within a continuous environment of the river-estuary-ocean continuum.