• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.780-786
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• 2012

A trenching method was used to determine the contribution of root respiration to soil respiration in Quercus acutissima forest in the vicinity of Gongju, Chungnam Province, Korea. $CO_2$ efflux in soil respiration plot($R_{control}$, $R_c$) and microblal respiration plot($R_{trenched}$, $R_t$) in Q. acutissima forest were measured from June 2011 to May 2012 by using IRGA soil respiration analyzer. Seasonal $CO_2$ efflux in $R_c$ and $R_t$ were higher in summer season than in winter season. In August, maximun $CO_2$ efflux in $R_c$ and $R_t$ was 1.345 and 0.897 g $CO_2\;m^{-2}\;hr^{-1}$, respectively. $CO_2$ efflux in $R_t$ was lower by 33.31% than that in $R_c$(P<0.05). In January, $CO_2$ efflux in $R_c$ and $R_t$ was 0.097 and 0.032g $CO_2\;m^{-2}\;hr^{-1}$, respectively. $CO_2$ efflux in $R_t$ was lower by 67.01% than that in $R_c$(P<0.01). The amount of annual $CO_2$ efflux from $R_c$ and $R_t$ was 4.320, 2.834kg $CO_2\;m^{-2}\;yr^{-1}$, respectively. There was a significant correlations between soil temperatures and soil respiration. Contribution of root respiration to total soil respiration in this Q. acutissima forest was 34.40%.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.351-355
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• 2001

The information about organic and biomass fractions in sewage is essential for the optimal operation and model calibration of biological treatment processes. In the respect of that oxygen is directly associated with respiration and growth of biomass as well as substrate reduction, the respirometry is well known as a suitable method for the analysis of wastewater composition and active biomass. Thus, the organic and biomass fractions in sewage were measured using respirometry. The fraction of readily biodegradable substrate, slowly biodegradable substrate, inert soluble substrate and inert particular substrate are about 10-16%, 1-8%, 32-50% and 2-47%, respectively. The active heterotrophic biomass fraction is about 10-24%, but the autotrophic biomass was not detected in influent sewage.

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.91-99
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• 2014

Ordinary heterotrophic organism (OHO) active biomass plays key roles in biological wastewater treatment processes. However, due to the lack of measurement techniques, the OHO active biomass exists hypothetically within the design and simulation of biological wastewater treatment processes. This research was purposed to develop a quick and easy quantifying technique for the OHO active biomass applying a modified batch aerobic growth test. Two nitrification-denitrification activated sludge systems, with 10- and 20-day sludge ages, were operated to provide well-cultured mixed liquor to the batch tests. A steady state design model was firstly applied to quantify the "theoretical" OHO active biomass concentration of the two parent systems. The mixed liquor from the parent systems was then inoculated to a batch growth test and a batch digestion test to estimate the "measured" OHO active biomass concentration in the mixed liquor. The measured OHO active biomass concentrations with the batch growth test and the batch digestion test were compared to the theoretical concentrations of the parent system. The measured concentrations with the batch growth test were generally smaller than the theoretical concentrations. However, the measured concentrations with the batch aerobic digestion tests showed a good correlation to the theoretical concentrations. Thus, a different microbial growth condition (i.e., a higher food/biomass ratio) in the batch growth test, compared to the parent system or the batch digestion test, was found to cause underestimation of the OHO active biomass concentrations.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.579-590
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• 2018

The lakes' metabolism bears important information for the assessment of the carbon budget due to the accumulation or loss of carbon in the lake as well as the dynamics of the food webs through primary production. A lake-scale metabolism is evaluated by Gross Primary Production (GPP), Ecosystem Respiration (R), and Net Ecosystem Production (NEP), which is the difference between the first two values. Methods for estimating GPP and R are based on the levels carbon and oxygen. Estimation of carbon is expensive because of the use of radioactive materials which requires a high degree of proficiency. The purpose of this study was to estimate Lake Daecheong ecosystem metabolism using high frequency water temperature data and DO measurement sensor, widely utilized in the field of water quality monitoring, and to evaluate the possibility of using the application method. High frequency data was collected at intervals of 10 minutes from September to December 2017 by installing a thermistor chain and a DO sensor in downstream of Daechung Dam. The data was then used to estimate GPP, R and NEP using the R public program LakeMetabolizer, and other metabolism models (mle, ols, kalman, bookkeep). Calculations of gas exchange coefficient methods (cole, crusius, heiskanen, macIntyre, read, soloviev, vachon) were compared. According to the result, Lake Daecheong has some deviation based on the application method, but it was generally estimated that the NEP value is negative and acts as a source of atmospheric carbon in a heterotrophic system. Although the high frequency sensor data used in this study had negative and positive GPP and R values during the physical mixing process, they can be used to monitor real-time metabolic changes in the ecosystem if these problems are solved.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.250-258
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• 2022

Background: To assess the carbon sequestration capacity and net ecosystem productivity (NEP) of Quercus glauca forests, we analyzed the net primary productivity (NPP), carbon storage, and carbon emission of soil in a Q. glauca forest on Jeju Island (South Korea) from 2016 to 2018. Results: The average carbon stock in the above- and below-ground plant biomass was 223.7 Mg C ha^-1, while the average amount of organic carbon fixed by photosynthesis was 9.8 Mg C ha^-1 yr^-1, and the average NPP was 9.6 Mg C ha^-1 yr^-1. Stems and branches contributed to the majority of the above- and below-ground standing biomass and NPP. The average heterotrophic carbon emission from the soil was 8.7 Mg C ha^-1 yr^-1, while the average NEP was 1.1 Mg C ha^-1 yr^-1. Although the carbon stock, carbon absorption, and soil respiration values were higher than those reported in other oak forests in the world, the NEP was similar or lower. Conclusions: These results indicator that Q. glauca forests perform the role of a large carbon sink through the CO₂ absorption in the plants in terms of carbon balance. And it is judged to be helpful as data for assessment of carbon storage and flux in the forests and mitigation of elevated CO₂ in the atmosphere.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.453-458
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• 2010

DOC (Dissolved Organic Carbon) is an operational terminology for organic carbon molecules dissolved in natural waters. DOC has been studied by ecologists extensively, because it plays a key role in various ecological functions such as substrates for secondary production and the carbon cycle. DOC also represents a substrate for microbial growth within potable water distribution systems, and can react with disinfectants (e.g., chloride) to form harmful disinfection by-products. In addition, residual DOC may carry with it organically bound toxic heavy metals. DOC in aquatic ecosystems may ultimately be transported to the oceans, or released back to the atmosphere by heterotrophic respiration, which can accelerate global climate change. There is evidence that DOC concentrations in aquatic ecosystems are increasing in many regions of the world including Europe, North America, and even in Korea. Land use changes, elevated temperature, elevated $CO_2$, recovery from acidification, and nitrogen deposition have been proposed as mechanisms for the trend. However, the key driving mechanism is yet to be conclusively determined. We propose that more extensive and longer-term observations, research of chemical properties of DOC, impacts of elevated DOC on environmental issues and interdisciplinary approaches are warranted as future studies to fill the gaps in our knowledge about DOC dynamics.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.27 no.11
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• pp.2010-2018
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• 2017

Mixotrophic microalgal growth gives a great premise for wastewater treatment based on photoautotrophic nutrient utilization and heterotrophic organic removal while producing renewable biomass. There remains a need for a control strategy to enrich them in a photobioreactor. This study performed a series of batch experiments using a mixotroph, Chlorella sorokiniana, to characterize optimal guidelines of mixotrophic growth based on a statistical design of the experiment. Using a central composite design, this study evaluated how temperature and light irradiance are associated with $CO_2$ capture and organic carbon respiration through biomass production and ammonia removal kinetics. By conducting regressions on the experimental data, response surfaces were created to suggest proper ranges of temperature and light irradiance that mixotrophs can beneficially use as two types of energy sources. The results identified that efficient mixotrophic metabolism of Chlorella sorokiniana for organics and inorganics occurs at the temperature of $30-40^{\circ}C$ and diurnal light condition of $150-200{\mu}mol\;E{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}s^{-1}$. The optimal specific growth rate and ammonia removal rate were recorded as 0.51/d and 0.56/h on average, respectively, and the confirmation test verified that the organic removal rate was $105mg\;COD{\cdot}l^{-1}{\cdot}d^{-1}$. These results support the development of a viable option for sustainable treatment and effluent quality management of problematic livestock wastewater.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.51-61
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• 2016

This study was carried out to assess the carbon budget of two urban parks and one natural park and to prepare the plan for improving the ecological functions of the park including carbon sink. Net Ecosystem Production (NEP) of those study sites was calculated from the relationship between Net Primary Production (NPP) and soil respiration of each study site. To understand carbon budget of the whole area designated as the park, carbon budget of the urban park was analyzed by classifying the vegetated and the non-vegetated zones. NEP of the Nohae and the Sanggye parks calculated by reflecting areal size that the non-vegetated zones occupy were shown in -1.0 and $0.6\;ton\;C\;ha^{-1}yr^{-1}$, respectively. On the other hand, NEP of Mt. Bulam natural park as a reference site was in $2.3\;ton\;C\;ha^{-1}yr^{-1}$. Based on the result, the Nohae park was assessed as carbon source rather than carbon sink. On the other hand, the Sanggye park was classified as carbon sink but the role was poor compared with natural park. The result is, first of all, due to lower NPP of the vegetation introduced for the parks compared with natural vegetation. The other reason is due to wide arrangement of non-vegetated zone. To solve those problems and thereby to create the urban park with high ecological quality, selection of plant species suitable for the ecological characteristic of the park, their arrangement imitated natural vegetation, and ecological zoning were recommended.

• Journal of Climate Change Research
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.77-93
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• 2013

Global warming accelerates both carbon (C) input through increased forest productivity and heterotrophic C emission in forest soils, and a future trend in soil C dynamics is uncertain. In this study, the Korean forest soil carbon model (KFSC model) was applied to 1,467,458 ha of Pinus densiflora forests in Korea to predict future C dynamics under RCP 8.5 climate change scenario (RCP scenario). Korea was divided into 16 administrative regions, and P. densiflora forests in each region were classified into six classes by their stand ages : 1 to 10 (I), 11 to 20 (II), 21 to 30 (III), 31 to 40 (IV), 41 to 50 (V), and 51 to 80-year-old (VI+). The forest of each stand age class in a region was treated as a simulation unit, then future net primary production (NPP), soil respiration (SR) and forest soil C stock of each simulation unit were predicted from the 2012 to 2100 under RCP scenario and constant temperature scenario (CT scenario). As a result, NPP decreased in the initial stage of simulation then increased while SR increased in the initial stage of simulation then decreased in both scenarios. The mean NPP and SR under RCP scenario was 20.2% and 20.0% higher than that under CT scenario, respectively. When the initial age class was I, IV, V or VI+, predicted soil C stock under CT scenario was higher than that under RCP scenario, however, the countertrend was observed when the initial age class was II or III. Also, forests having a lower site index showed a lower soil C stock. It suggested that the impact of temperature on NPP was higher when the forests grow faster. Soil C stock under RCP scenario decreased at the end of simulation, and it might be derived from exponentially increased SR under the higher temperature condition. Thus, the difference in soil C stock under two scenarios will be much larger in the further future.