Despite the consumption of disinfectants have been increased by COVID-19 pandemic, the fate of the chemicals in aquatic food webs are still unclear. In order to understand the trophic transfer of the chemicals, the concentration of disinfectants including six benzalkonium chloride (BACs) and five didecyldimethylammonium chlorides (DDACs) were measured at the Geum (2020), Han (2021), and Yeongsan River (2021), before and after rainfall. The highest concentration of ΣBACs (mainly C12 and C14) and ΣDDACs (mainly C10 and C14) were observed in the Han River, followed by Yeongsan River, Geum River Estuary, and Gapcheon. After rainfalls, both concentration and detection frequency were decreased in all sites. Although the BAC and DDAC seems to be accumulated in organisms, they were bio-diluted rather than magnified in the aquatic food web with the biomagnification factor (BMF) of less than 1, trophic magnification slope (TMS) from - 0.236 to 0.001, and trophic magnification factor (TMF) from 0.85 to 1.01.

안정동위원소 분석 기법(Stable isotope analysis, SIA)은 환경과학, 생태학, 지구생물화학, 법의학, 고고학 등 다양한 연구 분야에 활용되고 있다. 본 총설에서는 수산 및 양식 연구에 안정동위원 소 비 분석 기법을 활용하기 위해 필요한 배경 지식을 소개하고자 한다. 특히, 자연 값(natural abundance)을 이용하는 연구에 초점을 두었고 원소가 생물의 조직으로 통합되는 과정에서 발 생하는 분별작용(동위원소 비의 변화)에 대한 원리와 안정동위원소 비가 유용한 도구로서 어 떤 목적으로 생태, 환경학 분야에 이용되는지, 나아가 수산 및 양식 분야에 활용 가능한 예들 을 제시하고자 한다. 본 논문을 통한 안정동위원소 분야의 이해로 향후 수산학 및 양식 연구 에서 안정 동위원소 비의 다양한 활용이 기대된다.

The risk of various hazardous substances in aquatic environment comprises not only the concentration of substances in the environmental medium but also their accumulation in fish through complex food web and the health risks to humans through the fish. In Korea, the monitoring of residual toxicant in aquatic ecosystems began in 2016 following the enforcement of the Acts on registration and evaluation for the management of chemicals used in daily life (consumer chemical products), and attention has been paid to potentially hazardous substances attributed to them. Recently, studies have been carried out to investigate the distribution of these hazardous substances in the ecosystem and calculate their emission factors. These include the accumulation and transport of substances, such as detergents, dyes, fragrances, cosmetics, and disinfectants, within trophic levels. This study summarizes the results of recently published research on the inflow and distribution of hazardous substances from consumer chemical products to the aquatic environment and presents the scientific implication. Based on studies on aquatic environment monitoring techniques, this study suggests research directions for monitoring the residual concentration and distribution of harmful chemical substances in aquatic ecosystems. In particular, this study introduces the directions for research on trophic position analysis using compound specific isotope analysis and trophic magnification factors, which are needed to fulfill the contemporary requirements of selecting target fish based on the survey of major fish that inhabit domestic waters and assessment of associated health risk. In addition, this study provides suggestions for future biota monitoring and chemical research in Korea.

A sediment control dam is an artificial structure built to prolong sedimentation in the main dam by reducing the inflow of suspended solids. These dams can affect changes in dissolved organic matter (DOM) in the water body by changing the river flow regime. The main DOM component for Yeongju Dam sediment control of the Naeseongcheon River was analyzed through 3D excitation-emission matrix (EEM) and parallel factor (PARAFAC) analyses. As a result, four humic-like components (C1~C3, C5), and three proteins, tryptophan-like components (C2, C6~C7) were detected. Among DOM components, humic-like components (autochthonous: C1, allochthonous: C2~C3) were found to be dominant during the sampling period. The total amount of DOM components and the composition ratio of each component did not show a difference for each depth according to the amount of available light (100%, 12%, and 1%). Throughout the study period, the allochthonous organic matter was continuously decomposing and converting into autochthonous organic matter; the DOM indices (fluorescence index, humification index, and freshness index) indicated the dominance of autochthonous organic matter in the river. Considering the relative abundance of cyanobacteria and that the number of bacteria cells and rotifers increased as autochthonous organic matter increased, it was suggested that the algal bloom and consequent activation of the microbial food web was affected by the composition of DOM in the water body. Research on DOM characteristics is important not only for water quality management but also for understanding the cycling of matter through microbial food web activity.

To understand how to efficiently observe the biomass and community of phytoplankton, phytoplankton sampling was carried out from June to October 2019 at the Yeongju dam sediment control reservoir (YJ) and Bohyeonsan dam reservoir (BH1 and BH2). The results derived from microscopic observation, such as the conventional phytoplankton qualitative/quantitative analysis, and from the CHEMTAX method based on the pigments, were compared. The relative contribution of phytoplankton, calculated by the microscopy and CHEMTAX methods, showed a significant difference in all four classes: cryptophyta, chlorophyta, cyanobacteria, and diatoms. In addition, the correlation between the two observation methods was poor. This might be caused by methodological differences in microscopy that do not consider the varying cell sizes among phytoplankton species. In this study, by converting the cells into carbon, the slope between both carbon biomasses based on microscopy and CHEMTAX was improved close to the 1 : 1 line, and the y-intercept was closer to 0 for cryptophyta and diatoms. For cyanobacteria, the slope increased, the y-intercept decreased, and the plot approached 1 : 1 although the correlation coefficients were not improved in all classes. The present study suggests that application of CHEMTAX based on pigment analysis could be a possible approach to efficiently determine the relative carbon proportions of individual classes of phytoplankton community composition.

The Singil Stream, flowing into an artificial lake, Lake Shihwa (South Korea), experiences a strong anthropogenic pressure with continuous organic matter (OM) inputs from rural, urban, and industrial areas. In this study, we investigated suspended particulate matter (SPM) and streambed sediments collected along the Singil Stream in 2014 and 2016, by applying a dual element approach (δ13C and δ15N) to identify OM sources. The SPM and streambed sediment samples from the indusrial area showed higher organic carbon and nitrogen concentrations (or contents) than those from the other areas, with distinctively lower δ15N values. Accordingly, our dual element approach indicates that the industrial area was the predominant OM source influencing OM quality and thus water quality of the Singil Stream flowing into Lake Shihwa during the study periods. However, further studies are necessary to better constrain OM sources in the Singil Stream since OM sources from the industrial area appear to be complex.

효과적인 물환경관리계획을 수립하기 위해서는 다양한 기원의 유기물이 난분해성 유기물 농도 증가에 영향을 줄 수 있는지 여부를 파악하는 것이 중요하다. 특히 상당량의 광합성 산물은 식물플랑크톤에 의해 매일 생성되고 있지만, 이들이 수계 내 난분해성 유기물에 기여하는지에 대한 정보는 부족하다. 본 연구에서는 13C 및 15N 추적자 첨가 실험을 통해 조류기원 유기물이 생분해 (60일, 암배양) 및 산화제 (과망간산칼륨) 처리 후 분해되지 않고 잔존하는지 여부를 확인하였다. 생분해 실험 결과 광합성을 통해 생성된 총 유기탄소 (TO13C), 입자성 유기탄소 (PO13C), 입자성 질소 (P15N)는 각각 26%, 20%, 17%가 비 생분해성 유기물로 잔존하였다. 또한 상당량의 PO13C가 과망간산칼륨에 의해 산화되지 않고 잔존하였다 (초기: 12%, 60일 암배양 후: 38%). 이는 미생물에 의해 사용된 후 남아있는 조류 기원 유기물이 난분해성 유기물에 기여할 수 있음을 의미 한다. 또한 미생물에 의해 변형된 조류기원 유기물의 양은 COD 산화율 및 유기물 지표 간 격차에 영향을 줄 것으로 사료된다.

Recently, quantitative analyses of food web structure based on carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes are widely applied to environmental assessments as well as ecological researches of various ecosystems, particularly rivers and streams. In the present study, we analyzed carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios of POM (both planktonic and attached forms), zooplankton, benthic macroinvertebrates and fish collected from 6 sites located at Nakdong River. Samples were collected from upstream areas of 5 weirs (Sangju, Gangjeong- Goryeong, Dalseong, Hapcheon-Changnyeong, and Changnyeong-Haman Weirs) and one downstream area of Hapcheon-Changnyeong Weir in dry season (June) and after rainy season (September). We suggested ranges of their carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios and calculated their trophic levels in the food web to compare their temporal and spatial variations. Trophic levels of organisms were relatively higher in Sangju Weir located at upper part of Nakdong River, and decreased thereafter. However, the trophic levels were recovered at the Changnyeong-Haman Weir, the lowest weir in the river. The trophic level calculated by nitrogen stable isotope ratios showed more reliable ranges when they were calculated based on zooplankton than POM used as baseline. The suggested quantitative ecological information of the majority of biological communities in Nakdong River would be helpful to understand the response of river food web to environmental disturbances and can be applied to various further researches regarding the quantitative approaches for the understanding food web structure and function of river ecosystems as well as restoration.

Stable isotope approach for aquatic ecology and environmental sciences has been introduced as very useful technique since 1980s and also has been applied to investigate various issues in aquatic ecology and environmental study last 10 years in Korea. Especially carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios have been mainly used to understand food web energy flow and ecosystem structure. In addition, nitrogen isotope ratio has been applied for nitrogen cycle and source identification as well as biomagnification studies. However, large temporal or spatial variations of nitrogen isotope ratio of primary producer have been found in many aquatic environments, and it is regarded as the critical problems to determine trophic level of aquatic animals. Recently, the compound specific isotope analysis of nitrogen within individual amino acids has been developed as an alternative method for trophic ecology. This article introduces the progress history of stable isotope application in aquatic ecology and environmental sciences, and also suggests new direction based on future prospects in stable isotope ecology and environmental study.

Compound specific isotope analysis of amino acids (CSIA-AAs) is being highlighted as an alternative approach for overcoming some restrictions in application of stable isotope analysis of bulk tissue (SIA) for trophic position (TP) estimation. However, this approach has rarely been applied in Korea. The present study determines TP of two Polychaeta (Nephtyidae and Glyceridae) and two fish species (Platycephalus indicus and Lophius litulon) collected from the Geum River estuary using nitrogen isotope ratio of amino acid and compared with the TP values estimated by SIA. The Polychaeta species, sampled in two sites, showed similar TP between SIA (2.7 and 3.1) and CSIA-AAs (2.6 and 3.1). However, for both fish species, TP values displayed a large difference between SIA (3.1 and 2.3) and CSIA-AAs (3.8 and 3.7). In this study TP values estimated by CSIA-AAs showed more similar to the previously reported gut content analysis of both fishes compared with the results of SIA. Current study suggests the applicability of nitrogen isotope ratio of amino acid to understand coastal ecosystem structure and trophic ecology.

The biogeochemical information of riverine organic matter gives a detailed and integrated recording of natural and anthropogenic activity within a watershed. To investigate the changes in quality and quantity of organic carbon transporting from mountain to ocean via river channels, we estimated the concentrations of dissolved (DOC) and particulate organic carbon (POC), and then traced the source origin of POC using stable carbon isotopes ratio before and after summer rainfalls in the Tamjin River and Ganjin Bay, Korea. Along the small watershed, a total of 13 sites including headwaters, dam reservoir, river and estuary were established for the study. We found some interesting findings in the aspect of distribution of DOC/POC concentration changing their origin sources dynamically flowing downstream. In particular, the river channel transport downstream mainly DOC to river mouth, although upper dam reservoir increased POC concentration by phytoplankton production in summer. Whereas, in the river mouth and estuary, POC was dominated not only by local supply from nearby reed saltmarsh, but also by marine phytoplankton production, respectively. The findings can contribute to increasing the understanding of riverine organic carbon transport in upper large dam and lower open estuary system.

In an aquatic environment, toxicity of metals to organisms depends on external factors (type of metal, exposure concentration and duration, environmental parameters, and water quality) and intracellular processes (metal-binding sites and detoxification). Toxicity of copper (Cu) on the marine microalga Tetraselmis suecica was investigated in this study. Dose-dependent (Cu concentration dependent) inhibition of growth and cell division, as well as, variation of intra- and extra-cellular Cu, Fe and Zn content was observed. T. suecica was sensitive to Cu; the 96 h EC50 (concentration to inhibit growth-rate by 50%) of growth rate (μ) (21.73 μM L-1), cell division day-1 (18.39 μM L-1), and cells mL-1 (13.25 μM L-1) demonstrate the toxicity of Cu on this microalga. High intra- (19.86 Pg cell-1) and extra-cellular (54.73 Pg cell-1) Cu concentrations were recorded, on exposure to 24.3 and 72.9 μM L-1 of Cu.

In order to reconstruct a benthic foodweb structure and assess the role of benthic microalgaes as a diet source for benthos, we analyzed the carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes of diverse benthos (bivalves, crustaceans, gastropods and fishes) and potential diets (particulate organic matter, sedimentary organic matter, benthic microalgae, seagrass, and macroalgaes) in the intertidal mudflat surrounding Yeongheung Island. The δ13C values of the diets indicated wide ranges (- 26.5‰ to - 8.4‰) while benthos showed a small range of δ13C values (-12.1‰ to - 17.8‰), although they were in the same range. Except for green algaes among the macroalgaes as well as sedimentary organic matter, δ15N values of the diet candidates (5.7±1.0‰) were lighter in comparison to those of the benthos (11.8±1.9‰). Based on the δ13C and δ15N data, the benthos were classified into 3 groups, indicating a different diet and trophic position. But benthic microalgae is the most important diet source for all three benthos groups based on their stable isotope ratios, suggesting benthic microalgae should be a main diet to the intertidal ecosystem. Hence this study highlights that the biomass of benthic microalgae as biological resource should be evaluated for the management of the intertidal ecosystem of Yeongheung Island.

Nitrogen (N) loading from domestic, agricultural and industrial sources can lead to excessive growth of macrophytes or phytoplankton in aquatic environment. Many studies have used nitrogen stable isotope ratios to identify anthropogenic nitrogen in aquatic systems as a useful method for studying nitrogen cycle. In this study to evaluate the precision and accuracy of Kjeldahl processes, two reference materials (IAEA-NO-3, N-1) were analyzed repeatedly. Measured the δ¹⁵N-NO₃and δ¹⁵N-NH₄values of IAEA-NO-3 and IAEA-N-1 were 4.7±0.2‰ and 0.4±0.3‰, respectively, which are within recommended values of analytical uncertainties. Also, we investigated spatial patterns of δ¹⁵N-NO₃and δ¹⁵N-NH₄in effluent plumes from a waste water treatment plant in Han River, Korea. δ¹⁵N-NO₃and δ¹⁵N-NH₄values are enriched at downstream areas of water treatment plant suggesting that dissolved nitrogen in effluent plumes should be one of the main N sources in those areas. The current study clarifies the reliability of Kjeldahl analytical method and the usefulness of stable isotopic techniques to trace the contamination source of dissolved nitrogen such as nitrate and ammonia.

수심이 얕고 부영양화 특성이 강한 신구저수지에서는 강우시기에 집중 호우등으로 인하여 유입수로를 통하여 외부기원 유기물이 유입되는 경향이 있다. 이러한 외부기원 유기물은 환경변화(탁도, 수온약층, POC/PN), 입자성 유기물의 δ13C 및 δ15N 값으로 특성 지어진다. 동물플랑크톤의 경우, 강우기 이전에는 내부기원 유기물을 먹이원으로 하는 것으로 여겨지나 강우기 이후에는 내부기원 유기물 이외에 외부에서 유입된 외부기원 유기물을 섭식하고 있는 것으로 나타나고 있다. 특히 B. longirostris이 다른 동물플랑크톤 (D. brachyurum, D. thmoasi)에 비하여 기원이 다른 입자성 유기물을 섭식하고 있음을 시사하고 있다. 이러한 변화는 상위섭식자인 어류의 먹이원 변화를 야기하며, Z. platupus은 내부기원유기물 혹은 이를 먹이원으로 하는 하위 소비자를 섭식하지만, C. carpio와 P. parva은 강우기 이후에는 외부기원 유기물 혹은 이를 먹이원으로 하는 하위 소비자를 섭식하는 것으로 여겨진다. 수심이 얕고 유입 수로가 존재하는 농업용 저수지의 경우에는 강우 후 외부기원 유기물이 수생태계 에너지 흐름에 크게 영향을 주는 것으로 사료된다.

본 연구는 영산강하구역 입자물질 유입원의 시∙공간 적인 변화를 추정해 보고자 몽탄대교에서 영산강 하구둑 에 이르는 영산강하구역 세 정점에서 연 6회에 걸쳐 수 층 부유 물질의 탄소 및 질소 안정동위원소 비를 비교하 였다. 모든 정점에서 8월에 강우를 통한 외부기원 유기물 의 유입이 증가하였으며, 이 때 암모니아성 질소 및 규산 염의 유입 역시 함께 증가하였다. 탄소 안정동위원소 비 측정 결과 11월과 8월에 정점 별 유기물의 기원이 크게 차이 났으며, 안정동위원소 비 값을 이용하여 주요 유입 원 추정이 가능하였다. 11월에 모든 정점에서 질소 안정 동위원소 비가 무거운 값을 보였고, 인산염의 농도가 가 장 높게 나타났는데 이는 축산폐수 및 농경지를 통한 유 입이 영향을 준 것으로 판단된다. 또한 다른 정점에 비해 영산강 하구둑에서 모든 조사 기간 동안 비교적 높은 질 소 안정동위원소 비를 보였으며, 이를 통해 축산폐수 및 농경지를 통한 유기물 유입이 다른 정점에 비해 높을 것 으로 추정된다. 본 연구 결과를 통해 안정동위원소 비 분 석은 입자성유기물의 기원을 추정하는데 유용한 방법임 을 확인할 수 있었다.

본 연구는 탄소 및 질소 안정동위원소비를 이용하여 하천에서 환경변화의 지표로 활용할 수 있는 부착조류의 먹이원으로서 기여도를 파악하고자 하였다. 연구지역인 탐진강은 지류를 통해 유입되는 외래기원물질의 영향으 로 상류에서 하류로 갈수록 높은 영양염의 농도를 나타 냈으며 이와 더불어 상위섭식자인 어류의 질소 안정동위 원소비의 증가가 관찰되었다. 또한 탐진강에서 채집된 저 서성대형무척추동물과 어류의 δ13C 값이 상류에서 하류 로 이동하면서 무거워지는 경향을 나타내었다. 이는 탐진 강 하류 수역에서 무거운 δ13C 값을 보였던 암석 부착조 류가 먹이원으로서의 기여도가 높아진 결과로 판단된다.