• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.340-346
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• 2012

The relationships between environmental factors and the dynamics of the microcrustacean community, including planktonic or epiphytic cladocerans and copepods, were studied at Upo Wetlands from 2001 to 2010. Among 10 identified cladoceran taxon, epiphytic cladocerans (Alona, Camptocercus, Simocephalus, Diaphanosoma, Sida) and planktonic cladocerans (Bosmina, Ceriodaphnia, Daphnia, Moina, Scapholeberis) showed distinctive patterns in appearance throughout the year. Overall, epiphytic cladocerans were more abundant during the aquatic plant development season (May to Nov.), planktonic cladocerans were similarly distributed throughout the seasons, but showed a lower density than epiphytic cladocerans. The seasonal changes in copepods abundance showed a similar seasonal pattern when compared to epiphytic cladocerans. Planktonic cladocerans showed no significant relationship to rainfall and physico-chemical factors, while epiphytic cladocerans exhibited a distinct relationship with rainfall and water temperature (n=120, p<0.01), and a negative relationship with pH and conductivity (n=120, p<0.05). Among the epiphytic cladocerans, the Alona and Diaphanosoma showed a distinctive correlation with environmental factors, and their density was affected by rainfall and water temperature (n=120, p<0.01). Copepods had a positive relationship with rainfall (n=120, p<0.01) and water temperature (n=120, p<0.05). In conclusion, changes in rainfall and water temperature can affect the seasonal changes of microcrustacean community and abundance in Upo Wetlands.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.86-93
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• 2013

We monitored 32 wetlands in order to investigate the influence of aquatic plants on zooplankton density and diversity in the littoral zone in Gyeongsangnam-do from May to June in 2011. A total of 65 zooplankton species were identified in the study sites. Among them, the diversity of epiphytic zooplankton were higher (40 species) than planktonic zooplankton. Littoral zones of all wetlands were covered by various aquatic plants, and influenced the epiphytic zooplankton assemblages. Based on the data from $1{\times}1$ (m) quadrat sampling, epiphytic and planktonic rotifer density showed no significant relationships with macrophyte cover. However, the epiphytic cladocerans density significantly increased under high aquatic plant cover ($r^2=0.39$, p<0.05, n=32). Types of aquatic plants strongly influenced epiphytic zooplankton density. Upo and Jangcheok are locations which have well developed Phragmites communis and Ceratophyllum demersum communities in the littoral zone, and a higher density of epiphytic zooplankton was recorded on the surface of C. demersum. Especially, rotifers such as Lepadella, Monostyla and Testudinella showed obvious differences (One-way ANOVA, p<0.05 for all three species). This result suggests that epiphytic zooplankton have a substrate preference for larger surface areas, likely for adherence, on C. dimersum. In conclusion, the complex structure of the littoral plant community is expected to provide diverse refuge and microhabitats to epiphytic zooplankton.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.39 no.4 s.118
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• pp.424-434
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• 2006

This study investigates bacteria-zooplankton grazing link and factors affecting their grazing relationship at trophically different two sites (Paldang Dam and Kyungan Stream) of Lake Paldang Ecosystem from April to December, 2005. Zooplankton were divided into two size groups; microzooplankton (MICZ) : 60-200 ${\mu}m$ and macrozooplankton (MACZ): >200 ${\mu}m$), and their grazing rates on bacteria were conducted for each size group separately. Bacterial abundance and seasonal change pattern were similar between two sites. MICZ, mostly rotifers (e.g., Brachionus, Keratella, Polyathra) were numerically dominant at both sites, while carbon biomass was highest in cladocerans. Zooplankton biomass was higher at the Kyungan Steam site compared to Paldang Dam site, and their high biomass during spring decreased as they were passing through the storm events in summer season at both sites. Zooplankton clearance rate (CR) was high in spring and autumn while low in summer at Paldang Dam site. However, zooplankton CR was high during the summer at Kyungan Stream site. Bacterial C-flux was high in spring and autumn when MACZ (esp. cladecerans) developed at a high biomass level at both sites. Overall, MACZ community CR and carbon flux (C-flux) were higher than those of MICZ, and the degree of difference between them was higher at Kyungan Stream site. Short hydraulic residence time and physical disturbance caused by summer storm event appeared to affect the zooplankton grazing on bacteria at both sites. The results of this study indicate that bacteria are potentially important carbon source of zooplankton, and that both biotic (e.g,, prey and predator taxa composition and abundance) and physical parameters appear to alter energy transfer in the planktonic food web of this river-reservoir hybrid system.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.129-135
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• 2010

The relationship between rainfall variable and zooplankton dynamics was studied in the Upo wetland, an ecosystem of international importance. Water sampling was conducted on biweekly basis from January 2002 to December 2007 in the study site. The annual average of total rainfall was 1,324 mm during the study period. Total rainfall amount in 2003 (1,766 mm) was unusually high, while total rainfall amount in 2005 (975 mm) was exceptionally lower than the average. Most of basic limnological parameters (water temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, conductivity and turbidity) in the study site were greatly influenced by the flooding events and rainfall amounts in summer. There were statistically significance between seasonal and inter-annual differences in zooplankton abundance and the total rainfall amount (ANOVA, P<0.05). Zooplankton abundance was high in summer (mean${\pm}$s.d.: $1,594{\pm}1,598\;Ind.\;L^{-1}$) and low in winter ($246{\pm}234\;Ind.\;L^{-1}$. The 47% of annual total zooplankton abundance in the study site were observed in summer. The seasonal pattern of rotifers was similar to that of total zooplankton. This reflected the fact that rotifers strongly dominated and occupied ca. 65% the total zooplankton abundance (annual mean: $398{\pm}1,139\;Ind.\;L^{-1}$, n=149), followed by cladocerans ($65{\pm}140\;Ind.\;L^{-1}$) and copepods ($58{\pm}84\;L^{-1}$). Planktonic rotifers such as Keratella cochlearis, Polyarthra spp. and Brachionus calyciflorus were dominant from winter to spring and attached rotifers such as Lecane spp., Monostyla spp. and Trichocerca spp., observed commonly from spring to fall. Among the environmental variables considered, rainfall in summer seemed to play the most important role in determining characteristics of zooplankton community dynamics in the Upo wetland.