• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.46-56
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• 2017

The Youngsan River estuary was physically changed by the construction of a sea embankment at near the mouth of estuary. Weirs were also constructed recently in the freshwater zone and it was reported that algal blooms occur more frequently. The freshwater introduced into saltwater zone from sluice gates of the embankment affects water quality but it has not been addressed that how the freshwater inputs influence the health of marine ecosystem. In this study, we used the data of water properties and phytoplankton communities collected at three stations for 4 days including before the freshwater discharge, during the discharge and after 1 and 2 days of discharge events. WQI(water quality index), TRIX (trophic status index) and P-IBI(phytoplankton index of biotic integrity) were used to evaluate the ecosystem health and long-term data were also utilized to determine the criteria for P-IBI. The results showed that grades of the ecosystem health assessed by the indices were low at the station near the gates and increased as downstream. However, the temporal pattern of grades was different depending on methods. Grades of WQI and TRIX decreased during the discharge and restored after the discharge whereas the grades of P-IBI decreased slightly even after the discharge. This suggests that P-IBI is more applicable to estuarine systems where experience extreme change of water properties than WQI and TRIX since P-IBI includes phytoplankton that can respond quickly to the change.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.9-17
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• 2013

Scirpus planiculmis dominated in Nakdong river estuary is known as food for birds visiting to Nakdong river estuary and plays an important role in material cycle and food web, while repeating growth and production, decomposition process in 1-year interval. Therefore, if it is able to predict effectively biomass or tuber production of Scirpus planiculmis which is food source for estuarine organisms or birds, it can provide very useful information on the Nakdong river estuary management. In this study, regression equation that can predict the tuber production, food for birds, was obtained using initial density of Scirpus planiculmis that can minimize the disturbance of ecosystem and is faster and easier. The correlation analysis results show that density, biomass and tuber production have liner relationship(p<0.001) with 0.6103~0.9950 of correlation coefficients. In addition, the regression equations have high coefficients of determination of 0.3696~0.7145 and it shows that it is able to predict biomass or tuber production while using the estimated regression equation obtained from relationship among the initial density, biomass and tuber production. The results of this study are expected to utilize effectively the management of estuary ecosystem such as management on food source for migratory birds visiting to Nakdong river estuary.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.625-631
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• 2008

We used the visitation aspect of dabbling ducks(Anas spp.) to investigate the estuarine ecosystem of Nakdong River and to compare the data collected during two periods: trom May, 1989 to April 1993 and from May, 2002 to April 2006. Over for the 8 years of field surveys, 356,110 individuals from 11 species of dabbling ducks(Anas spp.) were observed in the Nakdong estuary. In the early 1990s, the average number of species gradually increased from October through November, whereas the highest numbers of species were recorded in October during the second survey period. The average number of individuals recorded during the second period was 2-3 times higher than that observed in the 1990s. Statistical analysis using a t-test indicated that the number of individuals showed significant difference at 5% level between November and February in both the early 1990s and the mid-2000s. During the winter, dabbling ducks select both estuarine wetlands as resting sites and rice paddy as feeding sites. More wintering migrants including ducks would visit to Nakdong river if we provide with enough rice paddy near the estuary. The farmland around Nakdong estuary is used by dabbling ducks as a habitat, we hope it must be conserved thoroughly. CRP(crop reserve program), implemented by the local government of Kangseo-gu, Busan City is effective in conserving rice paddy; therefore, the CRP program need to be continuously applied in the Nakdong river basin.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.58-67
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• 2016

This study was performed to investigate the long-term changes in water quality and benthic ecology around the Nakdong River Estuary. The effect of the estuarine barrage on the ecosystem was also evaluated. The water quality was interpreted using the field survey (2013 and 2014) and monitoring data (MOE, 1989~2013) and the macrobenthic-fauna was investigated through analysis of the field survey data (2014) and literatures review (1985~2013). The long-term variation of water quality of Nakdong River generally showed increased nutrient concentration with decreased discharge, while abrupt influence of the barrage construction was not observed. However, the nutrient and organic matter concentration inside the barrage distinctly was higher than the concentration outside the barrage because the mixing of fresh and seawater was limited by the barrage. Especially, in the period of low discharge during winter, the Chlorophyll-a concentration clearly increased more in the downstream inside the barrage, showing the barrage effect. In other words, stagnant effect caused by barrage construction had an effect on the water quality degradation in dry seasons. As for the benthic ecology inside barrage after barrage construction, molluscans and brackish-water crustaceans disappeared. Outside the barrage, benthic ecosystem has deteriorated and the small-sized organic indicative species like Prionospio membranacea, Pseudopolydora kempi, Sinocorophium sinensis became dominant due to several construction such as Myeong-Gi Bridge, Airport construction, industrial complex after the Nakdong barrage construction.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.155-160
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• 2022

The debate of South-North transboundary rivers must be expanded from the existing cooperation in water resources towards cooperation within ecosystem conservation. Regarding the Han and Imjin rivers confluence water system, the nature of the estuarine ecosystem must be conserved considering the aspect of climate change. Furthermore, the agenda of maintaining continuous inter-Korean communication and cooperation should focus on ecosystem conservation, including conserving migratory species that inhabit both Koreas. Notably, within the Han and Imjin rivers confluence, transboundary rivers are abundant legally protected species such as Grus vipio, Anser fabalis, Anser cygnoides, Platalea minor, Lutra lutra, Prionailurus bengalensis which suggests a strong need for a debate regarding habitat conservation. This study analyzed the ecosystem conditions and environmental aspects within the confluence of Han and Imjin rivers. In addition, this study provided step wise approach of ecosystem conservation that consider conditions for potential direct inter-Korean cooperation. The inter-Korean cooperation mentioned in this study will be developed into legitimate cooperation once the results from monitoring the ecosystem of transboundary rivers, awareness raising are exchanged.

• 한국해양학회지
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.47-58
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• 1991

To study the spatio-temperal distribution of the ichhyoplankton in the estuarine ecosystem, Ichthyoplankton were sampled with associated data on water temperature and salinity in Mankyong-Dongjin Estuary on October, 1989, and March, May and July, 1990. Water temperature varied seasonally, showing homogeneous spatial pattern. The spatial difference in splinty was determined by the amount of river runoff. Few Ichthyoplankton occurred in October and March. In May, Konosirus punctatus occupied most of the ichthyoplankton. In July, Sardinella zunasi, Engraulis japonica, Gobiidae, and Thrissa sp. were the dominant species. The eggs and larvae of Engraulis japonica were collected from the outer bay, while those of Konosirus punctatus predominated in the less saline inner bay. Konosirus punctatus. Sardinella zunasi, Gobiidae, and Thrissa sp. were the characteristic species of this estuary. They were considered to be spawned and grown during their early life stage in the less saline water.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.39 no.1 s.115
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• pp.52-61
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• 2006

The aim of this study was to analyze the seasonal patterns of zooplankton community dynamics in the lower Nakdong River (Mulgum, RK; river kilometer; 27 km from the estuarine barrage), with a Self-Organizing Map (SOM) based on weekly sampled data collected over ten years(1994 ${\sim}$ 2003). It is well known that zooplankton groups had important role in the food web of freshwater ecosystems, however, less attention has been paid to this group compared with other community constituents. A non-linear patterning algorithm of the SOM was applied to discover the relationship among river environments and zooplankton community dynamics. Limnological variables (water temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH , Secchi transparency, turbidity, chlorophyll a, discharge, etc.) were taken into account to implement patterning seasonal changes of zooplankton community structures (consisting of rotifers, cladocerans and copepods). The trained SOM model allocated zooplankton on the map plane with limnological parameters. Three zooplankton groups had high similarities to one another in their changing seasonal patterns, Among the limnological variables, water temporature was highly related to the zooplankton community dynamics (especially for cladocerans). The SOM model illustrated the suppression of zooplankton due to the increased river discharge, particularly in summer. Chlorophyll a concentrations were separated from zooplankton data set on the map plane, which would intimate the herbivorous activity of dominant grazers. This study introduces the zooplankton dynamics associated with limnological parameters using a nonlinear method, and the information will be useful for managing the river ecosystem, with respect to the food web interactions.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.72-85
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• 2010

Seasonal variation in species composition of estuarine fauna in the Han River estuary was determined using monthly samples collected near Ganghwa Island by a bag net from February to December 2009. Total number of species was 86: 54 species of fishes, 16 species of shrimps of crustacean, 12 species of other crustacean such as craps and so on, 3 species of cephalopods and 1 species of jellyfish. Of a total of 86 species, Palaeman carinicauda (32.6%), Acetes japonicus (15.9%), Palaemon gravieri (9.9%), Portunus trituberculatus (7.7%) and Acetes chinensis (6.9%) were predominated in abundance. These 5 crustacean accounted for 73% of total. Abundance, biomass and diversity of Han River estuarine fauna were high in spring and autumn, indicating typical pattern of temperate area. Out of dominant species, the brackish residence species such as Coilia nasus, Chelon haematocheilus, Mugil cephalus, Synechogobius hasta, Lophiogobius ocellicauda, Tridentiger barbatus, Palaeman carinicauda, Palaemon gravieri were collected almost year-round and predominated in abundance. Coastal migratory fauna species such as Coilia mystus, Thryssa hamiltonii, Thryssa adelae, Sardinella zunasi, Engraulis japonicus, Portunus trituberculatus, Acetes japonicus, Collichthys lucidus, Pampus argenteus were most plentiful from spring through autumn. Their adult coastal migratory entered the estuary in spring and large numbers of their juveniles were grew in summer and autumn until moving out to deeper waters for over-wintering, indicating they use estuary as nursing ground. Diadromous fish such as Anguila japonica adults were collected in autumn during their downstream migration. Brackish fauna and crustacean, especially shrimps were predominant, and few contaminant indicator species collected in the Han River estuary, indicating this area maintains the characteristics of natural estuary ecosystem.

• 한국해양학회지
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.426-435
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• 1995

In order to assess the significance of ciliate grazing on bacterial population in carbon flow of the estuarine pelagic ecosystem of the Mankyung and Dongjin river (MD estuary), abundance and biomass of ciliates and grazing rate on bacteria of small (<40 um) ciliates were measured. Saplings were carried out four times from October 1993 to March 1995 in the estuarine system. Ciliates smaller than 40 um occupied more than 49.5% of total ciliates abundance. Clearance rate of small ciliates ranged from 18.0 to 16.3 nl cell/SUP -1/ h/SUP -1/. As bacterial abundance increased, ciliate's clearance rate decreased, suggesting that bacterial abundance effects on ciliate's grazing rate. Ciliate grazing rate was equal to 0.1 to 12.2% of bacterial productivity, and the ratio of ciliate ingestion over bacterial production increased exponentially with the increase of bacterial abundance (r$^2$=0.62, p$\leq$0.001). It seems that the effect of ciliate grazing on bacteria would be small in coastal waters and large in more eutrophic waters of high bacterial abundance. Carbon supplied by ciliate grazing on bacteria was avg. 3.1% of carbon amount required for the ciliate maximum productivity. Thus, the ecological role of ciliate in microbial loop was probably more important as a final consumer than as a direct consumer of bacteria.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.637-656
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• 2023

River estuaries are dynamic and productive ecosystems with high regional biodiversity. Environmental DNA (eDNA) has become a useful approach to assessing biodiversity in aquatic ecosystems. This study was conducted to investigate fish community characteristics and species diversity in two river estuary ecosystems, the Taehwa River and Changwon Stream. We further compared conventional and eDNA metabarcoding analyses of the fish communities. The conventional survey was performed in May, July, and October 2022, while the eDNA analysis was conducted only in May. We observed various fish species with different life histories, including carp, goby, and marine fish. We also found that migratory fish, such as dace Tribolodon hakonensis, sweetfish Plecoglossus altivelis, and eel Auguilla japonica, occurred in the Taehwa River, suggesting high river connectivity. Marine fish species were predominant in the Changwon Stream, as this river is located close to the sea. The diversity indices showed that the Taehwa River generally had higher species richness, evenness, and diversity values than the Changwon Stream. A total of 9-19 species were detected in the conventional survey for the three sites, whereas 11-18 species were found from eDNA analysis. The findings indicate that the sensitivity of eDNA was similar to or higher than that of the conventional method. Our study findings suggest the efficiency and efficacy of eDNA-based fish community monitoring, although with some shortcomings in applying the genetic marker to Korean fish, including no clear-cut distinction for Korean endemic species and/or genetically closely related species groups.