Dissolved organic matter (DOM) is a key component in the biogeochemical cycling in freshwater ecosystem. However, it has been rarely explored, particularly complex river watershed dominated by natural and anthropogenic sources, such as various effluent facility and livestock. The current research developed a new analytical method for TOC/TN (Total Organic Carbon/Total Nitrogen) stable isotope ratio, and distinguish DOM source using stable isotope value (δ13C-DOC) and spectroscopic indices (fluorescence index [FI] and biological index [BIX]). The TOC/TN-IR/MS analytical system was optimized and precision and accuracy were secured using two international standards (IAEA-600 Caffein, IAEA-CH-6 Sucrose). As a result of controlling the instrumental conditions to enable TOC stable isotope analysis even in low-concentration environmental samples (<1 mgC L-1), the minimum detection limit was improved. The 12 potential DOM source were collected from watershed, which includes top-soils, groundwater, plant group (fallen leaves, riparian plants, suspended algae) and effluent group (pig and cow livestock, agricultural land, urban, industry facility, swine facility and wastewater treatment facilities). As a result of comparing characteristics between 12 sources using spectroscopic indices and δ13C-DOC values, it were divided into four groups according to their characteristics as a respective DOM sources. The current study established the TOC/TN stable isotope analyses system for the first time in Korea, and found that spectroscopic indices and δ13C-DOC are very useful tool to trace the origin of organic matter in the aquatic environments through library database.

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.

인산염 농도 변화에 따른 Hizikia fusiforme의 무기비소 축적량 및 생장률을 분석하였다. 무기비소에 14일간 노출 하였을 때, 2 mg L-1의 높은 인산염 농도에서 무기비소 축적량이 증가하지 않았다. 하지만 인산염 농도가 0.02 mgL-1로 낮은 경우에 무기비소 축적량이 3배 이상 증가하였다. 또한 H. fusiforme는 인산염 농도가 낮은 경우 생장률이 14.5%, 무기비소 (10 μg L-1)에 노출되었을 경우 생장률이 대조구 대비 30% 감소하였다. H. fusiforme는 인산염과 무기비소를 구분하지 못하여 인산염의 농도가 낮은 경우 무기비소 축적량이 증가하게 되고, 축적된 무기비소는 광합성 저해 및 세포분열을 방해하여 생장률을 억제한다. 특히 우리나라의 대표적인 양식생물인 H. fusiforme는 다른 해조류에 비해 상대적으로 무기비소 축적량이 높다고 알려져 있기 때문에, H. fusiforme의 식품안전성을 확보하기 위해 다양한 연구가 필요하다.

Stable isotope tracers were first applied to evaluate the Microcystis cell assimilation efficiency of bivalves, since the past identification method has been limited to tracking the changes of each chl-a, clearity, and nutrient. The filter-feeders (Sinanodonta woodiana and Unio douglasiae) were assessed under the condition of cyanobacteria (Microcystis aeruginosa) blooms through an in mesocosm experiment using 13C and 15N dual isotope tracers. Chl-a concentration in the treatment mesocosm was dramatically decreased after the beginning of the second day, ranging from 116 to 66 μg L−1. In addition, the incorporated 13C and 15N atom % in the S. woodiana bivalve showed higher values than U. douglasiae bivalves. The results demonstrate that U. douglasiae has less capacity to assimilate toxic cyanobacteria derived from diet. Our results therefore also indicate that S. woodiana can eliminate the toxin more rapidly than U. douglasiae, having a larger detoxification capacity.

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 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 denitrification bacteria method (Pseudomonas chlororaphis ssp. Aureofaciens (ATCC® 13985)), three reference (IAEA-NO-3 (Potassium nitrate KNO3), USGS34 (Potassium nitrate KNO3), USGS35 (Sodium nitrate KNO3)) were analyzed 5 times repeatedly. Measured the δ15N-NO3 and δ18O-NO3 values of IAEA-NO-3, USGS 34 and USGS35 were δ15N: 4.7±0.1‰ δ18O: 25.6±0.5‰, δ15N: -1.8±0.1‰ δ18O: -27.8±0.4‰, and δ15N: 2.7±0.2‰ δ18O: 57.5±0.7‰, respectively, which are within recommended values of analytical uncertainties. Also, we investigated isotope values of potential nitrogen source (soil, synthetic fertilizer and organic-animal manures) and temporal patterns of δ15N-NO3 and δ18O-NO3 values in river samples during from May to December. δ15N-NO3 and δ18O-NO3 values are enriched in December suggesting that organic-animal manures should be one of the main N sources in those areas. The current study clarifies the reliability of denitrification bacteria method and the usefulness of stable isotopic techniques to trace the anthropogenic nitrogen source in freshwater ecosystem.

Stable Isotope Analysis (SIA) of carbon and nitrogen is useful tool for the understanding functional roles of target organisms in biological interactions in the food web. Recently, mixing model based on SIA is frequently used to determine which of the potential food sources predominantly assimilated by consumers, however, application of model is often limited and difficult for non-expert users of software. In the present study, we suggest easy manual of R software and package SIAR with example data regarding selective feeding of crustaceans dominated freshwater zooplankton community. We collected SIA data from the experimental mesocosms set up at the littoral area of eutrophic Chodae Reservoir, and analyzed the dominant crustacean species main food sources among small sized particulate organic matters (POM, <50 μm), large sized POM (>50 μm), and attached POM using mixing model. From the results obtained by SIAR model, Daphnia galeata and Ostracoda mainly consumed small sized POM while Simocephalus vetulus consumed both small and large sized POM simultaneously. Copepods collected from the reservoir showed no preferences on various food items, but in the mesocosm tanks, main food sources for the copepods was attached POM rather than planktonic preys including rotifers. The results have suggested that their roles as grazers in food web of eutrophicated reservoirs are different, and S. vetulus is more efficient grazer on wide range of food items such as large colony of phytoplankton and cyanobacteria during water bloom period.

To elucidate occurrence patterns of C4 plants in agroecosystems, we surveyed flora inside fields and embankments in 222 sites in farming lands in summer and fall, 2013. We also observed Kranz anatomy and analyzed carbon stable isotope to classify photosynthesis types. Our study observed total 54 species of C4 plants in 33 genera and 9 families of vascular plants besides cultivated crops occurring in farming fields. The most common species was Portulaca oleracea L. followed by Digitaria ciliaris and Echinochloa crusgalli (L.) P. Beauv. var. crusgalli among the C4 plants. The ratios of C3 and C4 species number to total number of species tended to maintain constant regardless of survey times and habitat types. The proportion of C4 species to the total number of species were more influenced by the number of C3 species than those of other types in the surveyed sites. Sizes of cultivation areas did not affect the proportions of C4 plants. Increasing number of simultaneous weeding methods, especially with cutting method, appeared to decrease the number of C3 plants. On the other hand, as the number of cultivated crops increased, both C3 and C4 plants increased but the proportions of C4 species remained. We interpret our results that proportion of C4 species in agroecosystems, appear to be dependent on the number of C3 species, which in turn, appear to be affected by cultivation methods.

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.

This study aimed to assess the impact of livestock excreta discharged from an Intensive Livestock Farming Area (ILFA) on river water quality during a rainfall event. The Bangcho River, which is one of the 7 tributaries in the Cheongmi River watershed, was the study site. The Cheongmi River watershed is the second largest area for livestock excreta discharge in Korea. Our results clearly showed that, during the rainfall event, the water quality of the Bangcho River was severely deteriorated due to the COD, NH4-N, T-N, PO4-P, T-P, and heavy metals (Cu, Zn, and Mn) in the run-off from nearby farmlands, where the soil comprised composted manure and unmanaged livestock excreta. In addition, stable isotope analysis revealed that most of nitrogen (NH4-N and NO3-N) in the run-off was from the ammonium and nitrate in the livestock excreta. The values of δ15NNH4 and δ15NNO3 for the Bangcho River water sample, which was obtained from the downstream of mixing zone for run-off water, were lower than those for the run-off water. This indicates that there were other nitrogen sources upstream river in the river. It was assumed from δ15NNH4 and δ15NNO3 stable isotope analyses that these other nitrogen sources were naturally occurring soil nitrogen, nitrogen from chemical fertilizers, sewage, and livestock excreta. Therefore, the use of physicochemical characteristics and nitrogen stable isotopes in the water quality impact assessment enabled more effective analysis of nitrogen pollution from an ILFA during rainfall events.