• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.56 no.1
• /
• pp.83-93
• /
• 2023

This study compares the abundance and community structure of zooplankton organisms from pelagic regions, and considers particularly the trophic levels vs. zooplankton abundances and biomass. Zooplankton samples were collected three times from May to November 2022, at 30 temperate lakes and reservoirs, which belong to four different river basins. The total zooplankton abundance, biomass and species index were showed considerable spatial variation. The spatial pattern of rotifer abundance was similar to that of total zooplankton abundance, while there were not showed similar patterns of zooplankton biomass (㎍ L^-1) in lentic ecosystems. The rotifer strongly dominated the zooplankton assemblage in smaller lentic system than that of larger. A total of 130 species of zooplankton were identified (83 rotifers, 34 cladocerans and 13 copepods). The total average of zooplankton abundance and biomass were 213.7±342.3 Ind. L^-1 (n=129) and 1382.8±1850.4 ㎍ L^-1, respectively. Total and average of zooplankton abundance were usually dominated by the rotifers (>56.9%), while those of zooplankton biomass were dominated by the cladocerans and copepods (>73.6%) in lentic ecosystems. Considering the Trophic State Index (TSI), the factors of zooplankton abundance and biomass were included in between meso- and eutrophic states(27 lakes, 90% of all). The mean abundance and biomass of zooplankton in eutrophic systems were higher than that of meso- and hypertrophic systems. From this result, we suggest that management strategy for the lentic ecosystem water environment has to be focused more on small-sized lakes and reservoirs, in terms of zooplankton assemblages.

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

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
• /
• v.30 no.1
• /
• pp.64-70
• /
• 2012

This study compares the abundance and community structure of zooplankton organisms from the littoral and pelagic regions, and considers particularly trophic levels vs. zooplankton abundances. Zooplankton samples, collected every 3 months over a year from 2010 to 2011 at 29 temperate lakes and reservoirs, which belong to two different river basins (Youngsan and Seomjin River). The spatial pattern of rotifers was similar to that of total zooplankton abundance. This reflected the fact that rotifers strongly dominated the zooplankton community. There were considerable spatial variations in total zooplankton abundance (ANOVA, p<0.01), while there were no significant differences both in littoral and pelagic regions in abundance of zooplankton (ANOVA, p=0.205). The mean abundance of zooplankton in eutrophic systems was much higher than that of mesotrophic systems, while significant difference in number of species and diversity index were not shown in both trophic systems.

• Ocean and Polar Research
• /
• v.24 no.4
• /
• pp.407-417
• /
• 2002

Species composition and abundance of zooplankton were investigated around Dokdo in the East/Japan Sea in autumn 1999 and spring 2000. Vertical and horizontal hauls of a bongo net ($300{\mu}m$ mesh size, 60cm diameter) were made to collect zooplankton sample. Surface temperature and salinity ranged from $24.2^{\circ}C\;to\;25.1^{\circ}C$, and from 32.9psu to 33.2psu in September 1999, respectively. In May 2000, surface temperatures were $13.9^{\circ}C\;and\;14.2^{\circ}C$ at stations of A1 and A8, and salinity was 34.5psu at both stations. Zooplankton community was dominated by copepods which comprised 61% (September) and 60% (May) of total numerical abundance, respectively. The next dominant groups were appendicularians (11%) and chaetognaths (9%) in September 1999, and other crustaceans (27%) and appendicularians (4%) in May 2000. The 15.7% (September) and 23.2% (May) of copepods were in the juvenile stage of copepodites. The most dominant copepods were Oncaea media (10.4%) and Clausocalanus sp. (8.2%) which preferred warm water in September. In contrast, cold-water copepods such as Pseudocalanus minutus (9.4%) and Metridia pacifica (8.0%) were dominant in May. The results of cluster analysis based on Bray-Curtis index showed that zooplankton community were classified into two groups which represented different water mass. The average abundance of zooplankton in September was 2.1 times higher than that in May, and species number of them in September outnumbered that in May by 29 species. Zooplankton community varied in associated with a characteristic of warm waters which affected marine ecosystem differently in the study area depending on seasons.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.57 no.1
• /
• pp.51-59
• /
• 2024

This note summarizes the application of zooplankton indices for water quality management and estimation based on main research topics of articles focusing on wetland ecosystems, topics that are remained poorly investigated in S. Korea. The aquatic ecosystem-based consists of indices that respond to different target environmental factors, including environmental disturbance. Among the major indicator species and biota, we reviewed that management strategy for the wetland environment has to be focused more on small-sizes, in terms of zooplankton ecology and indices. The ecology of zooplankton communities in freshwater ecosystem has been the focus of an increasing number of studies since 2019, and considerable progress has been made in understanding the major mechanisms involved in regulating their abundance, diversity and spatio-temporal patterns. Even though studies on the freshwater ecosystem in Korea have a long history, a few of studies on zooplankton biota were conducted at wetlands. We suggested the candidate zooplankton indices proposed by the U.S. EPA and EU to suit Korean conditions. In the step of selecting metrics, the best available metrics are species-related variables, such as composition and abundance, as well as richness and diversity. Overall, in spite of several limitations, the development of a plankton-based multivariate assessment method in Korea wetlands is possible using mostly field research data. Later, it could be improved based on qualitative metrics on zooplankton, and with the emergence of further survey data. The present information can be used as basic information for researchers who are dealing with aquatic environments and its interaction with organisms.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• v.54 no.1
• /
• pp.64-72
• /
• 2021

The feeding habits of the Japanese jack mackerel Trachurus japonicus were studied in the Southern Sea of the Republic of Korea. To assess the effects of season, sampling was conducted in February (winter), May (spring), and August (summer), 2020. The total length of each fish was measured in 1 cm intervals. Diet composition showed the highest species diversity during winter. Diet composition changed from copepods to euphausiids as the total length of jack mackerel increased, except during winter. The most important seasonal prey were copepods in winter and summer and euphausiids in spring. Species diversity of the zooplankton community structure was highest in winter. Among the zooplankton communities, copepods were dominant in all seasons. Species with a high electivity index in all seasons were relatively large zooplankton of ≥2 mm. Jack mackerel had ontogenetic diet change, exhibited diet selectivity depending on size, and its feeding habits were affected by the zooplankton community structure.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.56 no.1
• /
• pp.70-82
• /
• 2023

Recently, Korean government has introduced Multi Metric Indices (MMI) using various biocommunity information for aquatic ecosystem monitoring and ecosystem health assessment at the national level. MMI is a key tool in national ecosystem health assessment programs. The MMI consists of indices that respond to different target environmental factors, including environmental disturbance (e.g. nutrients, hydrological and hydraulic situation of site etc.). We used zooplankton community information collected from Korean lakes to estimate the availability of candidate zooplankton MMI indices that can be used to assess lake ecosystem health. First, we modified the candidate indices proposed by the U.S. EPA to suit Korean conditions. The modified indices were subjected to individual index suitability analysis, correlation analysis with environmental variables, and redundancy analysis among indices, and 19 indices were finally selected. Taxonomic diversity was suggested to be an important indicator for all three taxonomic groups (cladoceran, copepod, rotifer), on the other hand, the indices using biomass for large cladocerans and copepods, while the indices using abundance were suggested for small cladocerans and rotifers.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
• /
• v.7 no.3
• /
• pp.275-280
• /
• 1998

In order to clarify the seasonal composition and abundance of zooplankton commuuty In Macheon Bay. the study was carried out trimonthly during the period from April 1996 to January 1997. 1 species of Cnidana. 1 species of Annelida, 2 Ima of Moiluscs.3 species of Rotifera, 4 species and 4 larspecies was Tintinnopsis beroidea In the spring, Copepodite In the summer, Tintinnopsis beroidea In the autumn and Ceratium risus In the winter. Abundance of zooplankton ranged firom 4.720 to 41,215 Inds./1 It was high In the summer (41,215 inds./l) and low In the spring 14,720 inds./l). Dominant index ranged from 0.133 (in the spring) to 0.551 (in the winter). Species diversity inden ranged from 1.114 (in the winters to 1.996 (in the spring).

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.37 no.1 s.106
• /
• pp.130-136
• /
• 2004

In the present study, prey preference of juvenile fishes was examined using an experimental approach. Zooplankton composition, as a prey of the fish, was evaluated by taking into account the species as well as body size of juveniles in the aquarium. The predation of juvenile fishes is known to be an important factor in changes of zooplankton communities. In some previous studies at the regulated Nakdong River, the collapse of large cladcoerans and an increase in the rotifer population by selective predation during spring and summer were observed. This study focused on the predation of juvenile fishes such as Hyporhamphus sajori, Rhinogobius brunneus, and Opsariichtys uncirostris amurensis on zooplankton community structure in mesocosm scale experiments. These fishes selected the cladoceran Moina micrura with highest individual preference value (Manly/Chesson index)among zooplankton prey in the experimental aquarium. When the size-selective prey preferences of the juvenile fish were compared, both small (body size <2 cm) and large (body size >2cm) juveniles of O. uncirostris positively selected M. micrura. In the outdoor experimental tanks, juvenile fishes consumed the cladoceran M. micrura, resulting in an high abundance of the rotifer, Polyarthra spp. The results suggest that juvenile fish predation may play an important role in regulating the zooplankton community structure by reducing the cladoceran density and increase of rotifers in the Nakdong River during spring and summer.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• v.29 no.4
• /
• pp.415-430
• /
• 1996

Spatio-temporal variations in zooplankton community and ropepod indicator species were investigated along with the interaction between zooplankton distribution and environmental factors in Chinhae Bay. Zooplankton samples were monthly collected at 7 stations from February to September in 1993. A NORPAC net was vertically hauled from bottom to surface, At the same station, environmental factors such as temperature, salinity and COD (chemical oxygen demand) were measured at two different water layers, surface and bottom. In August and September, salinity declined below 30.00‰ , while eutrophic parameters such as COD showed the higher concentrations than those in other months, with higher concentrations at inner bay stations. Salinities were, however, higher at bay mouth areas. These distributional patterns were believed to be caused by input and dispersion of organic matters from nearby land. Zooplankton communities were composed of 7~14. Of these, Noctiluca scintillans was predominant and occupied 90.6‰ of total zooplankton abundance. Cladocera and Copepoda were secondly abundant taxa. Among 6 to 10 copepod species appeared, Acartia omorii and A. hudsonics were most common species during the survey months except March and September. Species diversities were greater, in general, at inner bay than outer bay. The lowest diversity index was observed in February, while the highest in July. Cluster analysis could divide the study area into 2 or 4 zones for each month. Zone 1, mouth area of the bay, was characterized by the influence of offshore waters. Zone II was mixing area. Zone III and IV seemed to be affected by nearby land.