• Advances in environmental research
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.81-98
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• 2013

Mercury (Hg) dynamics in the boreal environment have been a subject of concern in recent decades, due to the exposure of local populations to the contaminant. Land use, because of its impact on mercury inputs, has been highlighted as a key player in the sources and eventual concentrations of the heavy metal. In order to evaluate the impact of watershed disturbances on Hg dynamics in frequently fished, large boreal lakes, we studied sediment cores retrieved at the focal point of eight large lakes of Qu$\acute{e}$bec (Canada), six with watersheds affected by land uses such as logging and/or mining, and two with pristine watersheds, considered as reference lakes. Using a Geographical Information System (GIS), we correlated the recent evolution of land uses (e.g., logging and mining activities) and morphological characteristics of the watershed (e.g., mean slope of the drainage area, vegetation cover) to total Hg concentrations (THg) in sedimentary records. In each core, THg gradually increased over recent years with maximum values between 70 and 370 ng/g, the lowest mercury concentrations corresponding to the pristine lake cores. The Hg Anthropogenic Sedimentary Enrichment Factor (ASEF) values range from 2 to 15. Surprisingly, we noticed that the presence of intense land uses in the watershed does not necessarily correspond to noticeable increases of THg in lake sediments, beyond the normal increment that can be attributed to Hg atmospheric deposition since the beginning of the industrial era. Rather, the terrestrial Hg inputs of boreal lakes appear to be influenced by watershed characteristics such as mean slopes and vegetation cover.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Hazard Mitigation
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.119-127
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• 2008

The flow characteristics and the aspects of riverbed changes were analyzed for the upstream and downstream sections of Gongju Bridge. The upstream and downstream had complex topography, and the sections had the confluence of tributaries and several structures. In order to simulate the flow characteristics of the target sections, 1D HEC-RAS and 2D RMA2 were applied. As a result, the longitudinal water level of the target sections matched the results of simulated 1D and 2D samples. Also, 2D SED2D were applied to predict riverbed changes. As a result of the simulation, quantitative analysis was able to be performed for longitudinal riverbed changes from the sections of sudden change, bridges, the confluence of tributaries, and bends. Also, the distribution of riverbed changes on the main sections was in close relation to flow velocity. As a result of evaluating the sensitivity of SED2D, the concentration of suspended sediment, the thickness of sand beds, and the size of sand grains affected riverbed changes sensitively. These results will be used to apply the models of riverbed changes in the future.

• Journal of The Geomorphological Association of Korea
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.83-103
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• 2017

Sand deposit with shell units is exposed in Hasa-ri, Yeonggwang-gun, Jeonnam province. We investigated the characteristics of sand sediment topography in the Yeonggwang coastal area to collect evidence of the paleo-environmental change. We performed analysis on particle characteristics, chemical composition, and the age of deposition of sediments. The deposit comprise moderately well sorted medium and fine sand ($1.00{\sim}2.19{\varphi}$). Various sedimentary structures can be observed. Geochemical characteristics change by depth and the degree of variation with depth is small. The results obtained from OSL dating show that sand layers below shell units are deposited 0.32-0.43 ka. As the elevation of the shell unit far mean high water levels or highest high water level, the extensive shell layers could only have been deposited during storm surge conditions. Aeolian processes are discounted due to the size of clasts and the location at which they occur. Results of age dating of the surrounding deposits indicate shell deposits formed after around 300 years age. There is a distinct difference between sedimentary layers including dark brown-black layer. The sedimentary characters such as particle size and geochemistry show difference with depth. It is presumed that depositional environmental in Hasa-ri has changed several times before. This study is expected to contribute to finding an evidence about occurrence of storm surges.

• Korean Journal of Mineralogy and Petrology
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.377-389
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• 2020

In this study, pollution characteristics were investigated for the Andong Dam sediments in the Nakdong River. Sediment samples were collected from the middle, left, and right points of the lake up to 40km upstream of the Andong Dam at intervals of about 5km by stratification and turnover period. In the case of nutrients and total organics such as loss of ignition, total nitrogen, and phosphorus, the degree of contamination is low, but heavy metals of arsenic and cadmium is very high. The contamination level of sediments in the dam area is higher than that of the branch of river and the control group, and concentration of chromium, copper, and lead are higher in the stratification period, and that of zinc is higher in turnover period. Arsenic, cadmium, manganese, and zinc showed contamination variation between upstream and downstream but chromium, copper, mercury, iron and lead didn't show the variation.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.453-460
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• 2020

Bolboschoenus planiculmis is an important prey species for winter migratory birds in the Nakdong River Estuary region, but its population has declined in the last decade due to a physio-chemical shift. To identify the growth and development characteristics of B. planiculmis, we carried out an experimental survey on the aboveground and belowground sections of B. planiculmis specimens in the Eulsuk tidal flat from April to September 2019. We divided the belowground area into two groups: a vegetation group in which B. planiculmis exists and a non-vegetation group in which B. planiculmis does not exist and measured the rate of tubers. We observed a 45% appearance frequency in the vegetation group and only a 5% frequency in the non-vegetation group, indicating that there were no supplies for plant growth. The mean density, length, and biomass of B. planiculmis aboveground were 166.90±149.62 n m^-2, 44.39±5.45 cm, and 67.63±54.46 g DW m^-2, respectively, which was approximately half of those obtained from the study in the Eulsuk tidal flat in 2002. Tuber number was the highest in the 15~25 cm deep layer(41.50%). The mean number of total tubers belowground was related to different sediment conditions(FS: flat surface, DS: disturbed surface) 251.75±16.86 n pot^-1 for FS and 171.00±25.18 n pot^-1 for DS, which was significantly different(total tubers: p<0.005). The mean biomass of B. planiculmis above-ground was 21.11±1.60 g DW pot^-1 for FS and 15.41±1.38 g DW pot^-1 for DS, which was significantly different(p<0.05). This research provides primary materials for the restoration of the Nakdong River Estuary, wintering sites for migratory birds, and protection of B. planiculmis.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.52 no.2
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• pp.110-126
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• 2024

This study conducted a classification of small-scale biological habitats created in Seoul to analyze and synthesize location characteristics, habitat structure, biological habitat functions, and threat factors of representative sites, as well as derive creation and management problems according to the ecological characteristics. The aim was to suggest improvement measures and management items. Data collected through a field survey was used to categorize 39 locations, and 8 representative sites were selected by dividing them into location, water system, and size as classification criteria for typification. Due to the characteristics of each type, the site was created in an area where amphibian movement was disadvantageous due to low or disconnected connectivity with the hinterland forest, and the water supply was unstable in securing a constant flow and maintaining a constant water depth. The habitat structure has a small area, an artificial habitat structure that is unfavorable for amphibians, having the possibility of sediment inflow, and damage to the revetment area. The biological habitat function is a lack of wetland plants and the distribution of naturalized grasses, and threats include the establishment of hiking trails and decks in the surrounding area. Artificial disturbances occur adjacent to facilities. When creating habitats according to the characteristics of each type, it was necessary to review the possibility of an artificial water supply and introduce a water system with a continuous flow in order to connect the hinterland forest for amphibian movement and locate it in a place where water supply is possible. The habitat structure should be as large as possible, or several small-scale habitats should be connected to create a natural waterfront structure. In addition, additional wetland plants should be introduced to provide shelter for amphibians, and facilities such as walking paths should be installed in areas other than migration routes to prevent artificial disturbances. After construction, the management plan is to maintain various water depths for amphibians to inhabit and spawn, stabilize slopes due to sediment inflow, repair damage to revetments, and remove organic matter deposits to secure natural grasses and open water. Artificial management should be minimized. This study proposed improvement measures to improve the function of biological habitats through the analysis of problems with previously applied techniques, and based on this, in the future, small-scale biological habitat spaces suitable for the urban environment can be created for local governments that want to create small-scale biological habitat spaces, including Seoul City. It is significant in that it can provide management plans.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.31-40
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• 2000

The flora, vegetation structure and physico-chemical characteristics of surface sediment were investigated in Paksil-nup wetland of Hapcheon-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do, Korea in 1990~1998. Ranges of the surface sediment characteristics such as pH, conductivity, organic matter, total nitrogen, available phosphorus, exchangeable K, exchangeable Ca, exchangeable Mg, and exchangeable Na were 4.36~4.34, $19.0{\sim}1260.0\;{\mu}mho\;cm^{-1}$, 0.01~6.35%, 0.001~0.14%, 0.01~0.31 mg/l00g, 1.01~13.98 ppm, 16.75~143.80 ppm, 0.93~14.85 ppm and 0.21~3.86 ppm, respectively. Percentages of the particle size such as sand, silt, and clay were 13.0~93.3%, 5.4~71.7%, and 0.5~37.5%, respectively. The flora of the study area was composed of 72 families, 182 genera, 223 species, 36 varieties and 2 form or total 261 kinds, and those were 45 kinds of vascular hydrophytes and 216 kinds of vascular hygrophytes. The life form of vascular hydrophytes was classified as 27 kinds (60%) of emergent plants, 8 kinds (18%) of submerged plants, 6 kinds (13%) of free-floating plants and 4 kinds (9%) of floating-leaved plants, respectively. The importance value of Salix nipponica was highest as 123.78 in the shrub and tree layers, and that of Trapa japonica was highest as 16.69 in the herb layer. The vegetation type was divided into two groups according to the association analysis. The vegetation of the littoral zone was classified into 7 associations according to the cluster analysis based on the coverage data. These results showed significant differences with those of stand ordination by correspondence analysis based on the species composition and by PCA based on the sediment properties. Factors affecting the distribution of the vascular hydrophytes and hygrophytes were the gradient of particle size, altitude, and water depth.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.69-88
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• 2005

Distribution of benthic macrofauna was surveyed in the subtidal area and on the sand flat of Sindu-ri coast during July 2002. A total of 134 species, 3,511 individuals and 388g biomass of macrobenthos were sampled inclusively from the study sites. 109 species with a mean density of $1,298ind./m^2$ and biomass of $69.4g/m^2$ were collected from 10 stations established in the subtidal area. Polychaetes were represented as a dominant faunal group of the subtidal area in both species richness and density with values of 54 species and $813ind./m^2$. Cluster analysis based on the faunal composition showed that the subtidal area could be divided into four stational groups according to sedimentary characteristics: Cirrophorus armatus - Lumbrineris longifolia association on the mud sediment with pebbles near aqua-farms; Aonides oxycephala association on the rocky bed; Scoloplos armiger - Grandifoxus cuspis association on the sand-dominated sediment along the lowest low water; a association with higher evenness on the sand-dominated sediment in the depth. Although having characteristics of high value in species richness, density and species diversity, the macrobenthic association around the farming area was dominated by the opportunistic species such as Lumbrineris longifolia and Tharyx sp. Natural community represented by S. armiger and G. cuspis was developed in most sand-dominated areas. 50 species were sampled with a mean density of $2,443ind./m^2$ and biomass of $381.3g/m^2$ from eight+ stations along two transects on Sindu-ri sand flat. Mollusks were represented as a dominant faunal group of the sand flat in species richness, density and biomass with values of 20 species, $1,345ind./m^2$ and $350.4g/m^2$, respectively. Umbonium thomasi, Veneridae sp., Mandibulophoxus mai, Armandia lanceolata, Eohaustorius spinigerus, Urothoe convexa were dominant species and these species accounted for over 83% of total individuals. There were three distinct zones of macrobenthos on Sindu-ri sand flat according to the extent of exposure time. The upper zone was dominated by Scopimera globosa, the middle zone was characterized by M. mai, and the lower zone was dominated by E. spinigerus. Sindu-ri coastal area was considered as a healthy habitat for macrobenthos, except for around the farming area. It was considered that Sindu-ri coastal area including the sand flat connected to the sand dune of natural monument was a valuable habitat as a protected site in having no pollution source and no artificial structure.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.256-263
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• 2007

We performed the biochemical characteristics, molecular epidemiologocal analysis, and drug susceptibility test on V. vulnificus isolated from environmental sources in Incheon. For this study, 233 strains were isolated from seawater, sediment, shellfish. V. vulnificus isolates were divided into 15 biochemical groups, which were positive for ONPG and Amygdalin test. Among the 209 strains, 206 (98.6%) strains and 110 (52.6%) strains revealed positive for vvhA and viuB gene, and the viuB gene detection rates of V. vulnificus from seawater, shellfish and sediment were 48%, 48.5% and 61.6%, respectively. From disc diffusion test on 175 isolates, most of strains were sensitive to Imipenem (100.0%), Sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim (98.9%), Tetracycline, Ciprofloxacin (98.3%), Ampicillin/sulbactam (97.1%), Ohloramphenicol (96.6%), Cefepime (94.9%) and Ceftriaxone (94.8%), multi-drug resistance rates was 31.5% of seawater, 34.4% of sediment and 29.2% of shellfish. PFGE was performed on 233 V. vulnificus isolates with the objective of investigating the extent of genetic diversity of these isolates in our region. We could find that at least 126 different PFGE patterns were generated according by 90% of similarity and 13 clusters by 58% of similarity. The major cluster was type I (44.6%) during the most of the year, and type J was frequent pattern in June and October. There were 9 distinct PFGE types in July, 8 types in August, 7 types in June, 6 types in September, 5 types in October 3 types in May and 1 type in March.

• The Korean Journal of Malacology
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.161-169
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• 2003

Seawater and sediment quality analysed was calculated to examinate the present environmental characteristics and pollution load was also calculated to evaluate the effect of farming area on the coastal environment. The measurements for seawater quality demonstrate the coastal environment has relatively eutrophicated with significantly decreased DO (0.2-8.5 mg/l) and elevated COD (9.6-31.2 mg/l) in summer. It was also evident that the water quality in Jindong Bay has been influenced by residues tide from Masan Bay with high metal concentration in August of 2002. Annual total pollution load (land and farm-driven) was estimated at 37,316 ton (SS) /yr: 9,809 ton/yr (26.3%) of land-driven load, 23,576 ton/yr (63.2%) of coastal sedimentation and 3,932 ton/yr (10.5%) of feces of cultural organisms. When all ark shell seedling farms are permitted species conversion to ascidian farm, the pollution load would increase by 196%, which may be another source for accelerating the eutrophication of the environment in Jindong Bay.