• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.56 no.4
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• pp.414-419
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• 2023

Aquatic ecosystem is composed of various organic and inorganic matters. Its health is essential for sustaining its members such as vegetations, mammals, birds, fishes and invertebrates. Samcheonpo stream is one of candidate streams in Sacheon area of ecological restoration. For this reason, this study conducted to build up a data base for future comparison. The results shows that biodiversity of Epilithic Diatoms and Invertebrates is below average which means that human impacts such as artificial structures and activities have been negatively related to stream health. Consequently, we suggest several key factors when ecological restoration is performed in the stream.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.311-321
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• 2018

The purpose of this study is to investigate effect of stream channel naturalness on ecological health by using environmental factors and Fish Assessment Index (FAI) in the Han River of South Korea. These samples and data have been released from the research project titled Stream/River Ecosystem Survey and Health Assessment, which was conducted in 444 sites in the Han river watershed from 2008 to 2016. All samples were classified into five groups according to a degree of morphological changes of stream. Water chemistry analyses indicated a decline in water quality by decreasing stream channel naturalness, it is assumed that channelized stream was vulnerable to aquatic pollution compared to the natural meandering stream. In the result of frequency of dominant species, sensitive species and insectivore such as Zacco koreanus, Rhynchocypris kumgangensis and Pungtungia herzi were frequently dominated in the natural meandering stream while tolerant species and omnivores such as Carassius auratus and Cyprinus carpio were more dominated in the channelized streams. The FAI in the channelized stream shows decline to average of $46{\pm}25$ compared with that of the natural meandering stream ($80{\pm}20$). The decrease in FAI was highly influenced by changes in matrixes of fish assemblage structure such as number of sensitive species (M3), portion of omnivores (M5) and insectivores (M6). Moreover, annual average FAIs from 2008 to 2016 were significantly correlated with water chemistry, especially TN, TP and BOD ($r^2=0.59$, p<0.0001). Taken together, all the results suggest that the stream channelization could negatively impact on the water quality and fish assemblage structure, leading to degradation in aquatic ecosystem health.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.426-433
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• 2019

Objectives: Zooplankton communities play important roles in aquatic ecosystems as secondary producers that graze on phytoplankton and in turn are preyed upon by planktivorous and juvenile fish. They can shift their distribution, species composition, and abundance in response to environmental changes. Therefore zooplankton communities are important for understanding the energy flow in aquatic ecosystems and can be valuable indicators of environmental conditions. However, zooplankton in streams are still not well-studied, especially in northern Gyeonggi-do Province. This study aims to investigate the zooplankton communities in major streams in northern Gyeonggi-do Province. Methods: Zooplankton is important in the nutrient cycle and energy flow of aquatic ecosystems. Therefore, we surveyed zooplankton and measured temperature, DO, BOD, COD, T-N, T-P, and Chl-a in major streams (Sincheon, Gongneungcheon, Wangsukcheon, and Gapyeongcheon Streams) and stagnant water (Gomoji Reservoir). Results: The water quality in Gapyeongcheon Stream was the highest grade, while that of Gomoji Reservoir was mesoeutrophic and eutrophic during the research period. In the zooplankton community, Nauplius, Rotaria, and Monostyla spp. were dominant in Sincheon, Gongneungcheon, and Wangsukcheon Streams, and the dominance index was also high. In the case of Gapyeongcheon Stream, it was found that water quality and aquatic ecosystem health were good, and the lowest dominance index reflected this. In Gomoji Reservoir, Polyarthra spp., Nauplius, and Bosmina longirostris, which can be easily observed as eutrophication progresses, showed a high dominance rate. Therefore, it is necessary to monitor the progress of eutrophication in further research. Conclusions: We collected data on the zooplankton communities in streams and investigated their characteristics. As a result, specific species were found to be dominant at each survey sites and some of them are known to be observed as eutrophication progresses. Therefore, we should investigate the zooplankton community of streams around us and apply ecological stream management.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.394-403
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• 2009

A total of 52 sampling sites were selected in the stream network of the upper Paldang watershed (e.g. Kyonan, Gapyeong, Jojong, Chengmi, Bockha, Yanghwa and Heuk streams). Over the time period of April 2007-February 2008, 1820 samples were collected and analyzed for physico-chemical variables of the upper watershed in order to investigate spatio-temporal water quality variation in particular the relationship with land use. Although temporal variations of water quality in each stream were similar and were significantly influenced by flow, spatial variations in each stream varied as physico-chemical characteristics of upper watershed. As a result of regression analysis, Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD), Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), Total Nitrogen (T-N), and Total phosphorus (T-P) concentration were the most significantly and positively associated with people population density. It is necessary to manage not only water quality but also land use of upper watershed and flow flux.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.1-13
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• 1983

This study was carried out to investigate nitrification in the main stream of the Naktong river for two times, 12-13 August and 23-26 September 1982. The results of this study were as follows : 1. The increase of nitrogen concentration was due to inflow of Geumho river, which was polluted by the municipal and industrial wastewater of Daegu city. 2. The rate constant of ammonia calculated for three reaches was high according to the stream flow and was eminently low in the reach from Goroung to Gangjung. (0.068-0.116 $day^{-1}$). This phenomena might be attributed to the sublethal or even lethal effect upon aquatic life by relatively low DO concentration and high heavy metal concentration. 3. DO consumption rate by nitrification was highest for the reach from Goroung to Daeam where was affected by Geumho river. (56.7-147.8%). This phenomena might be attributed to low DO concentration and high nitrogen concentration. Especially, the less stream flow was, the higher DO consumption was. And so, nitrification in the station where is low DO concentration, especially under the low flow condition, might cause more serious water quality management problem. Therefore, for the purpose of effective conservation of water quality in the Naktong river, it was suggested that We have more concern about the nitrogen compound, and more study on the nitrification phenomena.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.24-34
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• 2010

This study was carried out to analyze some influences on ecological health conditions, threaten by various stressors such as physical, chemical and biological parameters. We collected samples in 2008 from three zones of upstream, midstream and downstream, Gap Stream. We applied multi-metric fish assessment index (MFAI), based on biotic integrity model to the three zones along with habitat evaluations based on Qualitative Habitat Evaluation Index (QHEI). We also examined fish fauna and compositions, and analyzed relations with MFAI values, QHEI values, and various guild types. Chemical parameters such as oragnic matter (BOD, COD), nutrients (TP, $NH_3$-N), coli-form number (as MPN), and suspended solids (SS) were analyzed to identify the relationship among multiple stressor effects. Using the sentinel species of Zacco platypus, the population structures and condition factors were analyzed along with DNA damages related with genotoxicant effects by comet assay. This study using all these parameters showed that stream condition was degraded along the longitudinal gradient from upstream to downstream, and the downstream, especially, was impacted by nutrient enrichment and toxicant exposure from the point source, wastewater treatment plant. Overall results indicated that our approaches applying various parameters may be used as a cause-effect technique in the stream health assessments and also used as a pre-warning tool for diagnosis of ecological degradation.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.11-23
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• 1989

This study was performed to investigate present water quality and pollution characteristics of them in the basin area of the Mankyung river near Chonju urban stream. In order to obtain the pollution characteristics of this investigation, the physio-chemical water analysis as temperature, pH, DO, BOD, Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn, and coliform group and their correlation analysis were determined from March to August 1988. The main results were summarized as follows 1. Each chemical constituent detected in three streams has the following variation range as pH(6.7-7.3), DO(1.3-8.9 mg/l), BOD(1.6-162.5mg/l) and water temperature was dominated by atmospheric temperature. 2. In three streams, concentration range of heavy metal was Cd N.D.-2.8 $\mu$g/l, Cu 1.1-10.2 $\mu$g/l, Pb 2.1-13.2 $\mu$g/l and Zn 25.6-62.2 $\mu$g/l, and was shown the order of Zn, Pb, Cu and Cd. 3. In the investigation on the bacteriological pollution-in the three streams. 1) The average number of general bacteria contaminated in the Chonju urban stream was $1.7 \times 10^{5}$ numbers/ml, which was higher than $2.6 \times 10^{2}$ numbers/ml, in the Gosan stream and 1.6 $\times$ 10 numbers/ml in the Mankyung river. 2) The average number of total coliform, fecal coliform and fecal streptococcus contaminated in the Chonju urban stream which was the highest polluted site than those of the other sampling sites were respectively $2.1 \times 10^{5}$, $2.1 \times 10^{5}$ and $9.6 \times 10^{4}$ MPN/100ml. 4. Correlation coefficient between GB and TC in the Chonju stream, Gosan stream and Mankyung river was respectively 0.99, 0.96 and 0.99, Correlation coefficient between TC and FC in Chonju stream, Gosan stream and Mankyung river was respectively 0.99, 0.97 and 0.99 and correlation coefficient between FC and TC was respectively 0.99, 0.91 and 0.99. This results mean positively dose relationship between them. 5. The occupied percentage of FC of TC in the Chonju stream, Gosan stream and Mankyung river was respectively 88.1%, 68.4% and 77.9% and the percentage of Tc of TS was respectively 43.5%, 31.6% and 41.4%. These .results was considered indicative of pollution derived from domestic wastes which had been contaminated by the feces of inhabitants and domestic animals.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.307-318
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• 2015

The objectives of this study were to identify multi-level stressors from blood biomarkers to community-level bioindicators and diagnose the stream ecosystem health in polluted streams. Blood chemistry such as total protein ($T_{Pro}$), blood urea nitrogen ($B_{UN}$), total cholesterol ($T_{Cho}$) and $A_{lb}$umin ($A_{lb}$) were analyzed from sentinel fish tissues; the functions of kidney, gill and liver were significantly decreased in the impacted zone ($I_z$), compared to the control zone ($C_z$). Histopathological analysis showed that fish liver tissues were normal in the $C_z$. Fish liver tissues in the $I_z$, however, showed large cell necrosis and degeneration and also had moderate lobular inflammation and inflammatory cell infiltration of lymphocytic histocytes. Species biotic index (SBI) at species level and stream health assessment (SHA) at community level indicated that chemical impacts were evident in the $I_z$ (ecological health; poor - very poor), and this was matched with the blood tissue analysis and histopathological analysis. The impairments of the streams were supported by water chemistry analysis (nitrogen, phosphorus). Tolerance guild analysis and trophic guild analysis of fish were showed significant differences (P < 0.01) between $C_z$ and $I_z$. Overall, multiple parameter analysis from biomarker level (blood tissues) to bioindicator level (community health) showed significantly greater impacts in the $I_z$ than $C_z$. This approach may be effective as a monitoring tool in identifying the multilateral and forthcoming problems related to chemical pollution and habitat degradation of stream ecosystems.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.684-693
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• 2017

The purpose of this study was to analyze fish communities in the Wonju stream located in Wonju-si in Gangwon-do, and to evaluate the health of the stream through past and present changes. We performed investigations four times from May 2015 to September 2016. In the survey, 5,201 individuals which belonged to 27 species and 9 families were collected. Zacco platypus was the dominant species and Pungtungia herziwas the subdominant species. Eight Korean endemic species (Acanthorhodeus gracilis, Zacco koreanus, Coreoleuciscus splendidus, Squalidus gracilis majimae, Microphysogobio yaluensis, Iksookimia koreensis, Koreocobitis rotundicaudata, Coreoperca herzi) were observed and showed a ratio of 16.54%. The fish community of dominance ($0.72{\pm}0.10$), diversity ($1.37{\pm}0.32$), evenness ($0.61{\pm}0.13$), and richness ($1.70{\pm}0.23$) were evaluated. According to our analysis of tolerance guilds, the total individual number of intermediate species was higher than the sensitive and tolerant species. As a result of the trophic guild analysis,the omnivore and insectivore species were relatively high. The value of the qualitative habitat evaluation index (QHEI) in the wonju stream was averaged 121.2 (${\pm}23.4$), indicating a suboptimal condition. Stream health showed that the fish assessment index (FAI) value was an A to C grade in the Wonju stream. A correlation coefficient analysis with FAI and various factors was analysed statistically, and had a high correlation in QHEI, with the omnivore species, insectivore species, intermediate species, sensitive species, dominance, diversity, evenness, and richness.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.541-546
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• 2008

The purpose of this study was to evaluate ecosystem health effect in the physiological levels, based on ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) and total oxyradical scavenging capacity (TOSC) assays using sentinel fish species. We collected fish samples of Zacco platypus in May 2008 from 3 sampling sites including upstream, midstream, and downstream of the Gap Stream. EROD activity was averaged 4.54 in the downstream, 2.7 fold higher than upstream and indicated that stream condition was degraded along with longitudinal gradient from up to downstream. Downstream, especially was significantly increased (p < 0.01) so that indicated various pollutants including nutrient enrichment and toxicant exposure from the point sources, wastewater treatment plant and industrial complex may impact to the stream condition. In the mean time, TOSC assays showed higher in the midstream than other sites, but the values were not significant, compared to the previous report on oxidative stress. Overall results indicated that our approaches applying two biomarkers can be effectively used for diagnosis of the physiological levels in an integrative stream health assessments and can be applied as useful pre-warning techniques as a biochemical alarm system of organic pollutions.