• Advances in environmental research
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• 제1권1호
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• pp.15-35
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• 2012

Mercury (Hg) is a global environmental pollutant that has been the cause of many public concerns. One particular concern about Hg in aquatic systems is its trophic transfer and biomagnification in food chains. For example, the Hg concentration increases with the increase of food chain level. Fish at the top of food chain can accumulate high concentrations of Hg (especially the toxic form, methylmercury, MeHg), which is then transferred to humans through seafood consumption. Various biological and physiochemical conditions can significantly affect the bioaccumulation of Hg-including both its inorganic (Hg(II)) and organic (MeHg) forms-in fish. There have been numerous measurements of Hg concentrations in marine and freshwater fish worldwide. Many of these studies have attempted to identify the processes leading to variations of Hg concentrations in fish species from different habitats. The development of a biokinetic model over the past decade has helped improve our understanding of the mechanisms underlying the bioaccumulation processes of Hg in aquatic animals. In this review, I will discuss how the biokinetic modeling approach can be used to reveal the interesting biodynamics of Hg in fish, such as the trophic transfer and exposure route of Hg(II) and MeHg, as well as growth enrichment (the increases in Hg concentration with fish size) and biomass dilution (the decreases in Hg concentration with increasing phytoplankton biomass). I will also discuss the relevance of studying the subcellular fates of Hg to predict the Hg bioaccessibility and detoxification in fish. Future challenges will be to understand the inter- and intra-species differences in Hg accumulation and the management/mitigation of Hg pollution in both marine and freshwater fish based on our knowledge of Hg biodynamics.

• 환경영향평가
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• 제27권3호
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• pp.307-321
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• 2018

2017년 5월부터 9월까지 제천시에 위치한 2개의 저수지인 의림지(Ur)와 솔방죽(Sr)을 대상으로 어류상 조사 및 호수생태건강성평가를 실시하였다. 조사기간 동안 채집된 어류는 7과 16속 21종이 출현하였다. 그 중 잉어과 어류가 11종(52.4%), 318개체(46.2%)가 출현하여 우점하는 것으로 나타났고, 검정우럭과(2종, 264개체, 38.4%)가 아우점하는 것으로 나타났다. 전체 출현종 중 참몰개(RA 22.7%, 156개체)가 우점종으로 나타났으며, 아우점종은 파랑볼우럭(19.5%, 134개체), 큰입배스(18.9%, 130개체)로 외래종이 차지하는 것으로 나타났다. 화학적산소요구량(COD), 총인(TP)과 엽록소-a(CHL)를 이용한 부영양화지수($TSI_{KO}$) 분석결과, 두 저수지는 중영양상태를 보이는 것으로 분석되었다. 두 저수지의 수환경영향평가를 위해 LEHA(Lentic Ecosystem Health Assessment) 다변수 모델을 적용하였고, 생태 건강도 모델 값을 산정하였다. 생태건강성평가 결과, 내성종이 각각 56.8%(Ur), 98.3%(Sr)로 나타났으며, 잡식종이 43.9%(Ur), 65.6%(Sr)로 나타나 섭식구조의 단순화로 인하여 내성종과 잡식종의 우점현상을 보였으며, 특히 큰입배스의 상대풍부도가 16.3%(Ur), 31.1%(Sr)로 나타나 생태계가 교란되어 생태건강성이 크게 악화된 것으로 나타났다. 상기 LEHA 다변수 모델을 이용한 의림지(Ur)와 솔방죽(Sr)의 생태건강성 지수 값은 각각 22(의림지), 12(솔방죽)으로서 환경부(2014)의 등급에 의거하였을 때 "악화상태(의림지)", "최악상태(솔방죽)"인 것으로 평가되었다.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• 제16권1호
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• pp.115-131
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• 1993

Six nutrient cycles involving terrestrial plants are identified and characterized. Plants affect biotic and abiotic cycles through their effects on soil properties. They determine their internal nutritional status and nutrient concentrations in their environment via internal and external cycles. Contributions of organic matter to mycorrhizal, trophic, and detrital mediated external cycles and alterations of nutrient concentrations by plants can promote positive feedbacks leading to increased availability and retention of soil nutrients in open systems. Recognizing alternative cycles through plants leads to a definition of nutrient use efficiency for ecosystems: the ratio of system production to nutrient content of organic matter. A simple graph model to predict changes of nutrient use efficiency during primary succession is then presented.

• 한국수산과학회지
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• 제36권6호
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• pp.669-675
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• 2003

To increase fishery resources in coastal waters, juvenile fish and bivalves are artificially released every year in Korea. This study provides a methodology to estimate an optimal release quantity based on the carrying capacity of the receiving basins. Carrying capacity was defined by E.p. Odum's theory of ecosystem development as the upper limit of biomass, where total system respiration equals total primary production. The Ecopath trophic ecological model was used to determine carrying capacity in the surfzone ecosystem of Bangjukpo on the southern coast of Korea. Using a top-down control method, various biomasses of fish groups were given to the simulation, with primary production constant and no catch. The results showed that biomass of selected fish groups increased by two orders of magnitude, yielding a five-fold increase in overall consumer biomass. The resultant values are 10 times higher than those estimated in open seas. This can be explained by higher primary production in the Bangjukpo surfzone ecosystem. This method can be used for strategic releases and ecosystem management, particularly when based on an ecological background.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• 제38권1호
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• pp.1-19
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• 2016

Recently, there has been a growing interest in physical-biological ocean-modeling systems by communities in the fields of science and business. In this paper, we present preliminary results from a coupled physical-biological model for the Northwestern Pacific marginal seas. The ocean circulation component is an implementation of the Regional Ocean Modeling System (ROMS), and the lower trophic level ecosystem component is a Nutrient-Phytoplankton-Zooplankton-Detritus (NPZD) model. The ROMS-NPZD coupled system, with a 25 km resolution, is forced by climatological atmospheric data and predicts the physical variables and concentrations of nitrate, phytoplankton, zooplankton, and detritus. Model results are compared with remote-sensed sea surface temperature and chlorophyll, and with climatological sea surface salinity and nitrate. Our model adequately reproduces the observed spatial distribution and seasonal variability of nitrate and chlorophyll concentrations as well as physical variables, showing a high correlation in the East Sea (ES) and Kuroshio/Oyashio Extension (KOE) region but relatively low correlation in the Yellow Sea (YS) and East China Sea (ECS). Although some deficiencies were found in the biological components, such as the over/underestimation of the intensity of phytoplankton blooms in the ES and KOE/the YS and ECS, our system demonstrates the capability of the model to capture and record dominant seasonal variability in physical-biological processes and this holds out the promise of coming to a better understanding of such processes and making better predictions .

• 환경영향평가
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• 제21권6호
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• pp.841-857
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• 2012

Preliminary ecological environmental assessments including physico-chemical constituents, water quality, fish fauna analysis, physical habitat health, and ecological health assessment were conducted as a primary step for Jeungchon micro-habitat ecosystem restoration in 2012. Water chemistry analysis of conductivity, dissolved oxygen, chlorophyll-a and etc. indicated that there were no significant differences(p < 0.05) among 6 sites between the headwaters and downstream. Multi-metric model analysis of Qualitative Habitat Evaluation Index(QHEI) showed that brooklets were at "good condition" as a mean QHEI of 158.7(n = 6) and the longitudinal differences of the model values between the sites were minor(QHEI range: 153 - 165). Total fish species and the number of individuals were 12 and 481, respectively, and dominant species were Zacco platypus(49.5%) and Zacco koreanus(36.8%). Tolerance guild analysis showed that the proportion of sensitive species($S_S$) had a negative linear function[$S_S=86.35-0.31(D_H)$; $R^2$ = 0.892, p < 0.01] with a distance from the headwaters, while the proportion of tolerant species($T_S$) had a positive linear function($R^2$ = 0.950, F = 90.28, p < 0.001) with the distance. Trophic feeding guild analysis showed that the proportion of insectivore species($I_n$) had a negative linear function($R^2$ = 0.934, p < 0.01) with a distance from the headwaters, while the proportion of omnivore species($O_m$) had a positive linear function($R^2$ = 0.958, p < 0.001) with the distance. Index of Biological Integrity(IBI) model, based on fish assemblages, showed a "fair condition" as a mean IBI of 23(n = 6), and there was a distinct differences of ecological health between the headwaters(S1 = 30; "good condition") and the downstreams(S6 = 14; "poor condition"). Overall, the preliminary environmental impact assessments suggest that water quality, physical habitat conditions(QHEI model), and ecological health(IBI model) were maintained well, even if the state was not an excellent conditions.

• 환경영향평가
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• 제21권3호
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• pp.483-501
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• 2012

본 연구에서는 2005 - 2006년 기간 동안 국내 인공호의 환경영향평가를 위해 LEHA 다변수 생태모형(Lentic Ecosystem Health Assessment Model)을 청평호에 적용하였고, 생태 건강도 모델값을 산정하였다. LEHA 생태 평가모형은 생물학적 변수($B_p$), 물리적 변수($P_p$), 화학적 변수($C_p$)의 11개 주요 메트릭으로 구성되었고, 이를 통합하여 생태 건강도 등급을 평가하였다. 생물학적 변수($B_p$)는 수환경의 질적 저하에 따라서 감소하는 민감종 메트릭($M_2$, NSS) 및 충식종 메트릭($M_5$, % $I_n$)이 이용되었고, 두 메트릭 모델값은 각각 1.5%, 32.4%로서 낮게 나타났다. 반면, 내성종($M_3$, % $T_s$)과 잡식종 메트릭($M_4$, % $O_m$) 값은 43%, 62%로서 높게 나타나 호수생태계의 질적 저하가 확인되었다. 물리적 서식지 변수($P_p$)는 수변 식피율($M_9$, % $V_c$)로서 1차 조사에 비해 2차 조사에 높게 나타났으며, 상류에서 하류로 갈수록 메트릭 모델 값이 감소하는 것으로 나타났다. 이는 정수역의 증가로 서식환경의 단순화와 인근 수체에서 실시되고 있는 잦은 골재 채취로 인한 서식지의 하상구조 변경이 악영향을 준 것으로 사료되었다. 한편, 화학적 수질특성 변수($C_p$)는 수체의 이온(양이온/음이온) 특성을 나타내는 전기전도도($M_{10}$, $C_I$)와 부영양 상태를 평가하는 Chl-a의 부영양화 지수($M_{11}$, $TSI_{CHL}$)로서 메트릭 모델값은 계절별 변이는 크게 나타났고, 지점 간의 공간변이는 미미한 것으로 나타나, "양호상태"로 평가되었다. LEHA 다변수 모델에 의거한 청평호의 환경영향평가에 의하면, 생태 건강도 LEHA 모델값은 1차 조사에서 30.7로 "보통-악화상태", 2차 조사에서 28로 "악화상태"를 보여 계절 변이 특성을 보였다. 지점별 LEHA 모델값은 호수의 정수대(S5)에서 28로 최소치를 보였고, 그 외 지점들도 29 - 30으로 지점 간 미미한 차이를 보였다. 청평호의 종합적인 환경영향평가에 의하면, 이 화학적인 수질기준 측면에서는 "양호상태"를 보인 반면, 생물학적 기준에서는 "악화상태"를 보였는데, 이는 빈번한 준설작업으로 인한 물리적 서식지 교란이 영향을 준 것으로 사료되었다.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• 제39권1호
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• pp.61-70
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• 2016

Major objectives of the study were to analyze chemical and biological influences of the river ecosystem on the artificial weir construction at three regions of Sejong-Weir (S_j-W), Gongju-Weir (G_j-W), and Baekje-Weir (B_j-W) during 2008-2012. After the weir construction, the discharge volume increased up to 2.9 times, and biological oxygen demand (BOD) and electrical conductivity (EC) significantly decreased (p < 0.05). Also, the decrease of total phosphorus (TP) was also evident after the weir construction, but still hyper-eutrophic conditions, based on criteria by , were maintained. Multi-metric model of Index of Biological Integrity (IBI) showed that IBI values averaged 21.0 (range: 20-22; fair condition) in the B_wc, and 14.3 (range: 12-18; poor condition) in the A_wc. The model values of IBI in S_j-W and G_j-W were significantly decreased after the weir construction. The model of Self-Organizing Map (SOM) showed that two groups (cluster I and cluster II) of B_wc and A_wc were divided in the analysis based on the clustering map trained by the SOM. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was similar to the results of the SOM analysis. Taken together, this research suggests that the weir construction on the river modified the discharge volume and the physical habitat structures along with distinct changes of some chemical water quality. These physical and chemical factors influenced the ecosystem health, measured as a model value of IBI.

• 한국물환경학회지
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• 제34권3호
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• pp.270-284
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• 2018

Paldang is a river reservoir located in the Midwest of Korea, with a water volume of $244{\cdot}10^6m^3$ and a water surface area of $36.5km^2$. It has eutrophied since the construction of a dam at the end of 1973, and the phosphorus concentration has decreased since 2001. Average hydraulic residence time of the Paldang reservoir is about 10 days during the spring season and 5.6 days as an annual level. The hydraulics and water quality of the reservoir can differ greatly, both temporally and spatially. For the spring period (March to May) in 2001 ~ 2017, the reservoir mean total phosphorus concentration calculated from the budget model based on a plug-flow system (PF) and a continuous stirred-tank reaction system (CSTR) was 13 % higher and 10 % lower than the observed concentration, respectively. A composite flow system (CF) was devised by assuming that the transition zone was plug flow, and that the lacustrine zone was completely mixed. The mean concentration calculated from the model based on CF was not skewed from the observed concentration, and showed just 6 % error. The retention coefficient of the phosphorus derived from the CF was 0.30, which was less than those of the natural lakes abroad or river reservoirs in Korea. The apparent settling velocity of total phosphorus was estimated to be $93m\;yr^{-1}$, which was 6 ~ 9 times higher than those of foreign natural lakes. Assuming CF, the critical load line for the total phosphorus concentration showed a hyperbolic relation to the hydraulic load in the Paldang reservoir. This is different from the previously known straight critical load line. The trophic state of the Paldang reservoir has recently been estimated to be mesotrophic based on the critical-load curve of the phosphorus budget model developed in this study. Although there is no theoretical error in the newly developed budget model, it is necessary to verify the validity of the portion below the inflection point of the critical-load curve afterwards.

• 한국환경과학회지
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• 제24권6호
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• pp.731-741
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• 2015

The objectives of study were to evaluate fish species compositions of trophic guilds and tolerance guilds and apply ecological fish assessment (EFA) models to Bekjae Weir, Keum-River Watershed. The EFA models were Stream Index of Biological Integrity (SIBI) used frequently for running water and Lentic Ecosystem Health Assessment (LEHA) used for assessments of stagnant water. The region of Bekjae Weir as a "four major river project" was originally a lotic ecosystem before the weir construction (2010, $B_{WC}$) but became more like lentic-lotic hybrid system after the construction (2011, $A_{WC}$). In the analysis of species composition and ecological bioindicator (fish), fish species with a preference of running water showed significant decreases (p < 0.05), whereas the species with a preference of stagnant water showed significant increases (p < 0.05). After the weir construction, relative abundances of tolerant species increased, and the proportion of insectivores decreased. This phenomenon indicated the changes of biotic compositions in the system by the weir construction. Applications of SIBI and LEHA models to the system showed that the two model values decreased at the same time after the weir construction ($A_{WC}$), and the region became more like lentic-lotic hybrid system, indicating the degradation of ecosystem health. The model values of SIBI were 19 and 16, respectively, in the BWC and AWC, and the health conditions were both "C-rank". In the mean time, the LEHA model analysis showed that the values was 28 in the BWC and 24 in the AWC, thus the health was turned to be "B-Rank" in the BWC and "C-Rank" in the AWC. indicating a degradation of ecological heath after the weir construction.