Zooplankton are dominant pelagic consumers in lake ecosystems with high population and biomass. Their broad geographical distribution, ease of quantification, and rapid responses to abiotic environmental factors, such as eutrophication, acidification, and climate change, make them highly suitable as indicator organisms for assessing lake ecosystem health. The multi-metric index (MMI) provides an effective framework for capturing the complex responses of biological communities to varying environmental stressors, making it a valuable approach for improving the practical effectiveness of lake ecosystem management based on biological assessments. This study introduces the Lake Zooplankton Assessment Index (LZAI), developed for 90 lakes in South Korea. The LZAI comprises four components: a sensitive species index based on cladocerans, a eutrophication index based on rotifers, a food web index based on copepods, and a habitat index based on species diversity. Applying the LZAI to 90 lakes showed that lake grades followed a normal distribution regardless of sampling season, though A-grade and E-grade lakes exhibited greater seasonal variability. When compared with the clustering results based on zooplankton community composition, the LZAI closely reflected the underlying patterns in community structure. However, in brackish lakes-where population densities are lower and Calanoida copepods dominate relative to freshwater lakes-the M1 and M4 indices were consistently low, while M2 and M3 were high. This suggests that the LZAI requires index adjustments tailored to regional and lake-type factors, including size, depth, and salinity. Incorporating biomass data into the index would further improve the accuracy of assessing community structure and its role in nutrient and energy cycling.

Abstract
서 론
재료 및 방 법
    1. 연구 대상지 및 데이터 수집
    2. 지수 산정 및 데이터 분석
결 과
    1. 지표종을 활용한 다중평가지수의 구성
    2. 동물플랑크톤 지수를 활용한 호소 평가
고 찰
적 요
REFERENCES

• 최예림(경희대학교, 환경학 및 환경공학과) | Yerim Choi (Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Kyung Hee University, Yongin 17104, Republic of Korea) Corresponding author
• 홍근혁(경희대학교, 환경학 및 환경공학과) | Geun-Hyeok Hong (Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Kyung Hee University, Yongin 17104, Republic of Korea)
• 장광현(경희대학교, 환경학 및 환경공학과) | Kwang-Hyeon Chang (Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Kyung Hee University, Yongin 17104, Republic of Korea) Corresponding author
• 오혜지(나라여자대학교 남녀공동참획기구) | Hye-Ji Oh (Organization for the Promotion of Gender Equality, Nara Women’s University, Nara, Japan)
• 나긍환(주식회사 에코랩공생) | Geung-Hwan La (Eco-lab Gongsaeng, Suncheon 57959, Republic of Korea)
• 김현우(순천대학교 환경교육학과) | Hyun-Woo Kim (Department of Environmental Education, Sunchon National University, Suncheon 57922, Republic of Korea)
• 장민호(공주대학교 생물교육과) | Min-Ho Jang (Department of Biology Education, Kongju National University, Gongju 32588, Repubic of Korea)
• 문정숙(국립환경과학원 물환경연구부 수자원연구과) | Jeongsuk Moon (Water Resources Research Division, Water Environmental Research Department, National Institute of Environmental Research, Incheon 22689, Republic of Korea)
• 황순진(건국대학교 환경보건과학과, 건국대학교 휴먼앤에코케어센터) | Soon-Jin Hwang (Department of Environmental Health Science, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea, Human and Eco Care Center, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea) Corresponding author