• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.19-29
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• 2012

Numerous studies suggested that fish assemblage structure reflects the status of stream ecosystems. The status of streams integrity, including various trophic levels, water quality and habitat degradation, can be assessed by fish assemblages. In this study, we investigated the relationships between fish assemblages and streamline geometry of streams. Previous studies suggested that geomorphologic parameter can be a critical factor of permeability between adjacent two systems. From a landscape ecological perspective, edges may partially control the flow rate of energy between two adjacent systems. Thus, the Streamline geometry can be a geomorphologic parameter that exhibits the integrity of stream. We selected the Nakdong river for study areas, which is one of major rivers and the longest (525 km) River in South Korea. We used the revised IBI representing overall ecological characteristics of Korean fish assemblages and eight sub-assessment criteria of IBI, collected from 82 sampling sites in the Nakdong River. For calculating the Streamline geometry, we measured fractal dimension index that generally used in biology, ecology and landscape ecology. We used the digital land-use/land-cover map and generated a 1-km buffer for each sampling site and refined the shape of the Streamlines. Pearson correlation analyses were performed between Streamline geometry and IBI and sub-assessment criteria of IBI. The results show that IBI and eight sub-assessments of fish are significantly correlated with geometry of Streamline. The fractal dimension of Streamline geometry were related with IBI (r = 0.48) and six sub-assessments of IBI, including total number of native fish and native species, the number of riffle benthic species, sensitive species, tolerant species and native insectivore. Especially, the number of tolerant species(r = -0.52) and native insectivore(r = 0.52) show strong correlation with geometry of Streamline. These results indicate that lower Streamline geometry can result in poor fish assemblages, while higher geometry of Streamline can enhance fish assemblages by potentially supplying insects and better habitat conditions. We expect the results of our study to be useful for stream restoration and management. However, we see the necessity of study investigating the mechanisms how Streamline geometry affect fish assemblages.

• 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.37 no.2 s.107
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• pp.213-226
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• 2004

The present study was conducted to analyze the pattern of eutrophication of Korean reservoir with Chl. a concentration and morpho-physical parameters, and to valuate water quality characteristics of the classified types. The collected data from 486 reservoirs were classified as four types, with the Chl- a concentration (25 ${\mu}g\;L^{-1}$) and the ratio of water storage/surface area (mean depth, 7.5 m). According to OECD criteria and trophic state index based on Chl-a concentration, 34.3 and 72.8% of selected reservoirs appeared to be eutrophic, respectively. Characteristics of TYPE ll reservoirs generally showed high Chl-a concentration, relatively old age, small DA/LA ratio, short Hydraulic retention time, large paddy field and field to watershed ratio, and high pollutant loading compared to other types of reservoirs. The difference of TP concentration was greater than that of TN concentration in reservoir water among classified four types. Based on TN/TP ratio (by weight), phosphorus was limiting nutrient in all types and more closely related with Chl- a concentration than nitrogen. Significant decrease of Chl- a concentration with increase of TN/TP ratio observed only in reservoirs with Chl-a concentration > 25${\mu}g\;L^{-1}$. Although drainage area is believed to be a factor that is related to the generation load of pollutants in the watershed, it did not show any significant relationship with water quality parameters. Morphometric characteristics such as depth and age of reservoir as well as type of land use patterns in the watershed was among important parameters for the assessment of water quality characteristics in Korean reservoirs.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.1-11
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• 2015

Abstract The purpose of study is to identify the relationship between stable isotope composition of reed stems in coastal and understand the structure of the fish community in 10 lagoons along the East Sea. The fish species composition (particularly, anadromous fish species) and relative abundance of trophic guilds was influenced by difference of geomorphic characteristics among lagoons. Reed stems ${\delta}^{13}C$ and ${\delta}^{15}N$ values ranged from $-28.40{\pm}0.11$‰ to $-26.87{\pm}0.25$‰ and $-1.09{\pm}1.45$‰ to $12.08{\pm}0.53$‰, respectively. The differences in reed stem ${\delta}^{15}N$ values might be associated with anthropogenic landuse and the geomorphic characteristics among lagoons. These results provide useful information to improve the conservation of fish habitats (biodiversity), preserve lagoon habitats and contribute to watershed management effect against anthropogenic pollution from watershed in these lagoon ecosystems.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.69-81
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• 2010

This study was conducted at 25 sites of 6 mainstreams and 19 tributaries sites within Heuck Stream watershed during May~October 2003 for the survey of fish distributions, compositions, and community characteristics. The survey showed that total fish was identified as 9 family and 26 species in all sites, and Cyprinidae dominated the community as 15 species. The dominant species of >20% of the total were Zacco temminckii (29%), Zacco platypus (22%), and Rhynchocypris oxycephalus (21%) in the watershed. Community analysis, based on the stream spatial gradients, indicated composition differences along the main axis of the stream from the headwater to the downstream; R. oxycephalus predominated in the most headwater zone and Z. temminckii dominated in the lower headwater zone, whereas Z. temminckii -Z. platypus dominated in the mid-to-downstream, and Z. platypus dominated the community in the most downstream zone. Total endemic species was 7 family and 15 species, which is made of 50% in the fish community, so that the high proportion of endemic species indicated a healthy region in terms of fish community, compared to average 23% in Korean peninsula in general. The total number and species of fish increased as the stream order (stream size) increased, indicating that impacts on chemical pollution or habitat disturbance were not so large to the fish community in this watershed. Trophic and tolerance guilds analysis showed that relative proportions of sensitive and insectivore species were >50% in the watershed and decreased as the stream order increased, whereas relative proportions of tolerant and omnivore species showed an opposite results. These outcomes suggest that the natural condition of watershed is preserved relatively and the region should be protected from the chemical and habitat disturbace by agricultural activity and urban developments.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2010

We used stable isotope analysis to investigate the hypothesis that zooplankton were not able to utilize Microcystis as a food source. We also studied seasonal variation of the zooplankton community in a eutrophic Wangsong reservoir. The dominant copepod species changed from Cyclops vicinus to Thermocyclops taihokuensis. Density of zooplankton was suppressed by high density of Microcystis in June and the density of phytoplankton and chlorophyll a concentration was lowest in July. The difference in $\delta^{13}C$ and $\delta^{15}N$ between cladocerans (Daphnia galeata and Bosmina longirostris) and copepods showed the maximum difference of $12^{\circ}/_{\circ\circ}$ and $4^{\circ}/_{\circ\circ}$, respectively, indicating different energy sources and trophic positions between two taxonomic groups. The difference in $\delta^{13}C$ between Microcystis and zooplankton ranged from $3{\sim}7^{\circ}/_{\circ\circ}$, supporting the hypothesis that Microcystis could not be used as food source of zooplankton.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.401-410
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• 2007

In Korea the study of marine heterotrophic protists started in the late 1980s, and since the early 1990s many studies have been conducted in various marine environments. In this article, studies on the distribution and abundance of protists and the biotic interactions(bacteria-protists, phytoplankton-protists) conducted in Korean coastal waters are reviewed, and a field study is reported and discussed. The field study in Masan Bay was carried out from February 2004 to November 2005 at seven selected stations representative of the bay. During the study, the mean abundance of heterotrophic bacteria and the mean concentration of chlorophyll-a were $2.1{\times}10^6\;cells\;mL^{-1}$ and $9.8{\mu}g\;L^{-1}$, respectively. Heterotrophic protists consisted of heterotrophic dinoflagellates, heterotrophic nanoflagellates(excluding dinoflagellates) and ciliates, and their abundances were means of $7.9{\times}10^4\;cells\;L^{-1}$, $1.2[\times}10^3\;cells\;mL^{-1}$, and $4.0{\times}10^4\;cells\;L^{-1}$, respectively. Generally, the chlorophyll-a concentra+CZ14tions and the abundances of heterotrophic bacteria and protists were higher in the inner zone of the bay, where there are high concentrations of organic matters, than in the middle and outer zones. Using the grazing rates of heterotrophic nanoflagellates on bacteria previously reported in this area, it can be calculated that about 69% of bacterial producton was removed by HNF grazing activity. About 24% of initial chlorophyll-a concentration was removed by microzooplankton grazing activity. In conclusion, this study suggests that in Masan Bay heterotrophic protists control the growth of bacteria and phytoplankton, and heterotrophic protists represent an important link of bacterial & microalgal biomass to higher trophic levels.

• Journal of the Korea Society for Simulation
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.1-6
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• 2013

The ecosystem is the complex system consisting of various biotic and abiotic factors and the factors interact with each other in the hierarchical predator-prey relationship. Since the competitive relation spatiotemporally occurs, the initial state of population density and species distribution are likely to play an important role in the stability of the ecosystem. In the present study, we constructed a lattice model to simulate the three-trophic ecosystem (predatorprey- plant) and using the model, explored how the ecosystem stability is affected by the initial density. The size of lattice space was $L{\times}L$, (L=100) with periodic boundary condition. The initial density of the plant was arbitrarily set as the value of 0.2. The simulation result showed that predator and prey coexist when the density of predator is less than or equal to 0.4 and the density of prey is less than or equal to 0.5. On the other hand, when the predator density is more than or equal to 0.5 and the density of prey is more than or equal to 0.6, both of predator and prey were extinct. In addition, we found that the strong nonlinearity in the interaction between species was observed in the border area between the coexistence and extinction in the species density space.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.873-883
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• 2015

From August 2012 to April 2013, the ichthyofauna and post-restoration properties of Yangjae stream were investigated. A total of 1,503 fish of 2 forms, 16 species and 5 families were studied during the survey period. A survey of the distribution of freshwater fish inhabiting Yangjae stream after restoration of the stream showed large populations of Zacco platypus and Rhynchocypris oxycephalus. From the frequency distribution of the total length for the Zacco platypus population inhabiting Yangjae stream, it was estimated that there are 4 distinct age groups, with an abundance of the 27-63 mm (Age $0^+$) category accounting for 51.3% of the population. The regression coefficient (b) for the length-weight relationship in Zacco platypus was 3.27, while the slope of the condition factor was positive, demonstrating that stable growth conditions are being maintained. Analysis of tolerance and trophic guilds showed a decrease in the numbers of sensitive species and insectivore species further downstream, and an increase in tolerant species and omnivore species. Principal component analysis using community indices and indices of biotic integrity (IBI) showed that there were differences according to the survey time: the first and second surveys showed major changes on certain single species populations while during the third survey, it was analyzed that the populations of various types of fish had established balance.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.419-432
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• 1999

Objective: To establish the evaluation system of the quality of oocytes on the basis of the incidence of cumulus cells apoptosis, to investigate the relationships beween the incidence of cumulus cells and the outcomes of IVF-ET. Method: Thirth-four cycles undergoing controlled ovarian hyperstimulation for IVF-ET with tubal infertility (23 cycles) or unexplained infertility (11 cycles) were included in this study. Cumulus cell masses surrounding mature oocyte and co-culture of embryos with autologous cumulus cells during IVF-ET process. The incidence of apoptosis in cumulus cells was assessed by apoptosis detection kit fluorescein. The effect of co-culture using cumulus cells and the incidence of cumulus cells apoptosis. Results: The results were as follows: 1. The incidence of apoptosis in cumulus cells markedly increased in patients aged 40 or over, while the fertilization rate was greatly decreased in those age group. 2. Apoptosis in cumulus cells was found in both the fertilized oocytes and unfertilized oocytes, but the incidence of apoptosis was higher in unfertilized oocytes. 3. There is no clear correlation between apoptosis in cumulus cells and the number of oocytes retrieved. However, the incidence of apoptosis was increased when the number of oocytes retrieved was 5 and fewer in comparison with $6{\sim}10$. 4. Embryo grade was significantly affected by the incidence of apoptosis in cumulus cells. 5. Pregnancy rate of IVF-ET per cycle was 29.4%, and the pregnant group had the higher fertilization rate and a significantly lower incidence of apoptosis in cumulus cells compared with the nonpregnant group. 6. When cumulus cells were used as helper cells in the co-culture of the embryo, in vitro activity of cumulus cells based on morphological change and proliferation did not influence the quality of embryo, but was closely associated with the implantation rate and pregnancy rate, which was enhanced when morphological changes and proliferation of cumulus cells was more active. 7. This difference in the outcome of IVF-ET according to in vitro activity of cumulus cells used for co-cultue was not associated with the incidence of apoptosis in cumulus cells; but rather had likely relations with the different secretion pattern of protein, which may be an embryo trophic factor by cumulus cells. Conclusion: These results suggest that the incidence of apoptosis in cumulus cells can be used in predicting oocyte qualities and the outcomes of IVF-ET. And the effect of co-culture largely depends on the in vitro activity of cumulus cells as well.