• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.383-399
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• 2018

In the present study, the community distribution, functional feeding groups, and habitat groups of the benthic macroinvertebrates from Gayasan National Park were investigated at eight different sites from 2015 to 2016. The correlation between habitat altitude and each group type was analyzed statistically. Biodiversity indices, including dominance, diversity, richness, and evenness indices, were calculated. The results showed a total of 4,216 individual benthic macroinvertebrates were collected, including 4 phyla, 6 classes, 16 orders, 40 families, and 100 species. Gammarus sobaegensis was dominant with 0.141% dominance, and the subdominant species was Epeorus nipponicus with 0.088% dominance. The EPT group(Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Tricoptera) accounted for 71.00% of the total species and 67.69% of the total individuals. The number of scraper species was highest, and the number of gathering collector individuals was highest among functional feeding groups. The individual number of scrapers(r=-0.358, p < 0.05) and gathering collectors(r=-0.343, p < 0.05) decreased with increasing altitude. The numbers of species and individuals of clingers and sprawlers were highest among the habitat groups. The individual number of clingers(r=-0.547, p < 0.01) and burrowers(r=-0.331, p < 0.05) significantly decreased with increasing altitude. The diversity and richness indices were higher in St. 3 than in the other sites. The dominance index was highest in St. 2, and the evenness index was highest in St. 7. We evaluated the biological water quality with several known methods, and concluded that ESB(Ecological score of benthic macrovertebrates community) and GPI(Group polution index) were more suitable than KSI(Korean saprobic index) and BMI (Benthic macrovertebrate index) to assess the biological water quality of Gayasan mountain stream water.

• ALGAE
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.99-109
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• 2019

Habitat-forming species increase spatial complexity and alter local environmental conditions, often facilitating the assembly of plants and animals. We conducted a trait-based approach to algal assemblages associated with the freshwater bryozoan, Pectinatella magnifica. Association with algae leads to the inner bodies of the bryozoans being colored green; this is frequently observed in the large rivers of South Korea. We collected the green-colored gelatinous matrices and phytoplankton from waterbodies of the two main rivers in South Korea. Algal assemblages within the colonies and in the waterbodies were compared using the three diversity indices (richness, diversity, and dominance), and the composition of functional groups (FGs) and morphologically based functional groups (MBFGs) between the colonies within and outside of P. magnifica colonies. The most dominant and common species within the colonies were Oscillatoria kawamurae and Pseudanabaena catenata, both of which were assigned to the same FG (codon S1). Of the algal assemblages within the colonies, the dominance was higher, while the richness and diversity were lower, than those in the waterbodies. There was variation in the compositions of FGs and MBFGs in the waterbodies outside the colonies. Total nitrogen and orthophosphate led to dominance, and were significant factors for the variation in FGs in the waterbodies, whereas there were no such significant factors within the colonies. This trait-based approach to the community structure of associated algae provides the status and habitat gradient of these communities, which are stable, isolated, and consistent with the overgrowth of shade-adapted tychoplanktonic cyanobacteria.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.69-76
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• 2012

This study was conducted to examine how a low-head dam removal (partial removal) could affect benthic macroinvertebrate communities in a stream. Benthic macroinvertebrates and substrates were seasonally sampled before and after dam removal (March 2006-April 2007). Benthic macroinvertebrates and substrates were quantitatively sampled from immediately upstream (upper: pool) and downstream (lower: riffle) sites, the location of the dam itself (middle), and immediately above the impoundment (control: riffle). After the removal, species richness and density of benthic macroinvertebrates as well as the EPT group (Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Trichoptera) increased to higher levels than those before the removal, while functional feeding groups and habitat orientation groups changed more heterogeneously at the upper site. At the lower site, species richness and density decreased somewhat immediately after dam removal, which was associated with an increase of silt and sand, but recovered after monsoon floods which helped to enhance substrate diversity at the upper site. Decreased dominance index and increased diversity index in both the upper and lower sites are evidence of positive effects from the dam removal. In conclusion, we suggest that even a partial removal of a dam, resulting in increased substrate diversity in the upper site, could sufficiently help rehabilitate lost ecological integrity of streams without major habitat changes.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.373-380
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• 2017

This study identified the effect of changes in the riverbed on the benthic macroinvertebrate communities. The benthic macroinvertebrates collected from the surveyed sites belonged to 119 species, 65 families, 20 orders, and 7 classes in 4 phyla. The number of Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera (E.P.T) species was 42, 10, and 8, respectively, in the tributary, confluence, and Nakdong River sites. Lotic species (Hydropsychidae) showed a high density at the tributary sites, whereas lentic species (Chironomidae) showed a high density at the confluence and Nakdong River sites. Community analysis showed that the Dominance Index (DI) was 0.54 in tributary sites, and dominance indices increased closer to the Nakdong River sites. The diversity index (H') was inversely proportional to DI. The ratio of Burrowers species (BU) at the surveyed sites increased closer to the Nakdong River sites. Analysis of common species showed 37 species (34.6%) between the tributary and confluence sites and 66 species (51.5%) between the confluence and Nakdong River sites.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.691-709
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• 2011

This study was performed to classify habitat types depending on environmental factors and to find out distribution characteristics of functional feeding groups of aquatic insects which were collected at that habitat types. Field survey was conducted twice in a year for every spring and fall from 2007 to 2008 for 38 sites in the Geum River. During the field survey 15 environmental factors were measured at each 38 sites and analyzed by similarity analysis method to classify habitat types. The result of similarity analysis showed that the 38 sites could be grouped into 7 classes like as C1 and C3 class belong to Head water(HD), C2 and C4 and C5 class belong to Middle stream(MS), C6 and C7 class belong to Large River(LR) based on euclidean distances 4. And also, we could extract the main environmental factors affecting the classification of habitat types such as Stream Width and Elevation of physical environmental factors, Water Temperature, Conductivity and DO of chemical environmental factors, percentages of Sand, Silt and Gravel of substrate factors. Total 142 species of aquatic insects in 46 families, 9 orders were collected during the field surveys and the occurrence number of species and individuals showed high correlation with the Velocity factor and the percentage of Sand factor of each habitat types. In addition, correlation analysis between functional feeding groups and environmental factors represented that (1) Filtering-collectors(FC) affected by Velocity, Stream Width and Silt, (2) Gathering-collector(GC) affected by Velocity, (3) Predator(P) affected by Elevation, Velocity, Boulder, Conductivity and Sand, (4) Plant-piecer(PP) affected by Water Width and Silt, (5) Scraper(SC) affected by Elevation and Conductivity, (6) Shredder(SH) affected by Elevation, Boulder, DO, pH, Conductivity and Water Temperature respectively. As a result of this study, Elevation, Stream Width, Velocity, Conductivity, Water Temperature and percentage of Sand factors which were deduced by stepwise multiple regression analysis had correlations($r{\geqq}0.600$, p<0.01) with biota community inhabitation. Therefore these six environmental factors were regarded as major environmental factors that might affect highly the distribution of functional feeding groups in stream ecosystem of the Geum River.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.655-671
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• 2016

The distribution characteristics of functional feeding groups and biological evaluation of water quality with benthic macroinvertebrates were investigated from 2013 to 2014 in the mountain streams of Jirisan National Park. Both quantitative and qualitative collection had been performed six times during study periods in twelve sites located at upstream, midstream and downstream of four valleys, Chilsungol, Baemsagol, Daesunggol and Piagol of freshwater ecosystem in Jirisan National Park. As results, the total collected benthic macroinvertebrates were 3 phyla, 4 classes, 11 orders, 37 families, 107 species and 4,028 individuals. In 2013, 3 phyla, 4 classes, 10 orders, 32 families, 89 species and 1,829 individuals were collected. And in 2014, 3 phyla, 4 classes, 9 orders, 31 families, 80 species and 2,199 individuals were identified. The total dominant species was Ecdyonurus kibumensis, and EPT groups occupied 80.39% of total species number. Biotic indices were also compared to site and to season. The dominant index (DI) was highest at the downstream of Baemsagol in the spring of 2013, and the evenness index (J') was highest at the downstream of Daesunggol in the summer of 2013. Both diversity index (H') and richness index (RI) were highest at the upstream of Baemsagol in the summer of 2014. The correlation between altitude above sea level and functional feeding groups of benthic macroinvertebrates was also researched in this study. As a result, the species number of shredders and predators have significantly increased according to the increase of the altitude of their habitat. On the other hand, individuals of gathering collectors have increased according to the increase of altitude. The biological water quality was evaluated and compared with several methods in this study, and we suggest that ESB and GPI are more appropriate than KSI and BMI to evaluate biological water quality of mountain stream water.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.27 no.8
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• pp.689-699
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• 2018

The changes on community structures of benthic macroinvertebrates, relevance to the environment and interrelationship between benthos were studied over two years in stream with large environmental disturbance, which caused by localized heavy rain during Typhoon Chaba in October 2016. As a result, the number of species and individuals were increased after localized heavy rain, especially numbers of individuals of Ephemeroptera and Plecoptera were greatly increased. On the contrary, those of Semisulcospira libertina and Semisulcospira forticosta of Mesogastropoda were greatly decreased. Dominant species was Baetis fuscatus of Ephemeroptera, numbers of species and individuals of Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Trichoptera(EPT group) were dramatically increased from 26 species, 110 individuals to 32 species, 365 individuals respectively. This suggests that the change of river bed and flow velocity due to heavy rain provided a suitable environment for the EPT group that preferred the rift of a stream. In the functional feeding group, only gathering collectors and filtering collectors were identified in autumn of 2017 because some functional groups preferentially adapted to the changed environment. The interspecific competition and environmental condition were the worst in autumn after heavy rain due to the increase individuals of some species. The ecological score of benthic macroinvertebrate community(ESB) was higher after the heavy rain than before. Results of the Group Pollution Index(GPI), Korean Saprobic Index(KSI) and Benthic Macroinvertebrate Index(BMI) were similar to those before and after heavy rainfall. Therefore, ESB was the most discriminating method for estimating the biological water quality in this study. Some species that are sensitive to water quality changes still appear or increase individuals in the area under investigation after the heavy rain. On the other hand, the individuals of some pollutant species decreased. This is thought to be because the habitat fluctuation caused by heavy rainfall has improved the water environment.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.714-723
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• 2020

This study was conducted to investigate the community stability and similarity of benthic macroinvertebrates in the Giran stream between August and September 2018, and compare results to those reported by Lee (2004). As relates to the total number of species in each taxon in 2018, 45 species were additionally discovered compared to the 2003 study; the number of EPT taxa increased by 14 species and OCH taxa increased by 18 species. The diversity and richness indexes increased while the dominance index tended to decrease. According to analysis of functional feeding groups, 11 more Gathering-collector species were found, making it the highest functional feeding group with 24 species. According to analysis of functional habitat groups, 15 more clinger species were found than in the past, making it the highest functional habitat group with 41 species. A community stability comparison showed that species belonging to 'Stability Group I' had the highest stability rate at 57.1% in 2003 and 61.5% in 2018. According to the biological water quality assessment, in 2018, the average water quality level at each survey site was 'Ia' and 'Very Good' in terms of environmental conditions. As a result of the similarity analysis between the survey points for the species that appeared, two large groups of similarities were classified (similarity group 1: 2003 sites, similarity group 2: 2018 sites).

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.197-206
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• 2009

Benthic macroinvertebrate communities were collected from six different sites in the Dobong Stream in Seoul, Korea to investigate spatial and temporal changes in benthic macroinvertebrate communities in response to natural disturbances such as floods and droughts. We collected samples monthly or semimonthly with a Surber net ($30cm{\times}30cm$), and measured environmental factors, including stream temperature, discharge, width, conductivity, dissolved oxygen and pH at each sampling site. Benthic macro invertebrates were strongly affected by floods as well as droughts. In addition, benthic macroinvertebrate communities displayed different responses to the onset of the rainy season in summer 2006 and 2007, apparently due to differences in the intensity and amount of precipitation. Chironomids were particularly sensitive to heavy rain. Floods and droughts also affected the proportions of functional feeding groups during the survey period: the proportion of scrapers was high right after heavy rains, while the proportion of predators tended to increase in intermittent-type streams as the riffle zone decreased. Finally, although species richness and abundance were strongly influenced by heavy rain, they recovered to background levels for within one month, and varied consistently among stream types, indicating habitat stability.

• Journal of the korean society of oceanography
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.172-178
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• 1999

An overview of the spatial and seasonal patterns of phytobenthic communities is described from the intertidal zone at Hawon-Pando on the southwestern coast of Korea based on quantitative and qualitative estimates of macroalgae. There were considerable variations of macroalgal diversity and cover value with the intertidal levels. Tn general, the number of species decreased with increasing intertidal height. The upper region was dominated by Sargassum thunbergii. S. thunbergii and crustose red algae were dominant in the mid intertidal habitat. In the lower intertidal Corallina pilulifera and crustose red algae were the conspicuous dominants. Macroalgal community structure at Hawon-Pando is discussed in the context of functional-form groups. The Hawon-Pando intertidal is characterized as consisting of a relatively high cover of species assigned to the thick leathery, crustose and jointed calcareous groups, and is distinguished by a paucity of the filamentous group.