Earticle

Background: The objective of this study is to investigate the suitability of moss and lichen as bioindicators that can substitute for existing bioindicators, such as mugwort and pine needles. Materials and Methods: Fifteen moss (Hypnaceae) and lichen (Parmeliaceae) samples were collected from three differing ecological environments in Korea: a high-altitude mountainous region; a high-humidity coastal area; and an urban community park. The samples were collected from tree trunks, rocks, and soil substrates and were dried, ground, sieved, ashed, and enclosed in polyethylene containers for activity concentration measurements via gamma spectrometry. The reference date for decay correction was based on sampling dates and measured activity. Results and Discussion: The activity concentrations of 137Cs, 40K, and 7Be in mosses by dry weight were 1.89–47.8, 156–506, and 60.6–1,227 Bq· kg−1, respectively. The concentration values varied depending on the substrate and ecological environment. The moss accumulated greater amounts of 137Cs than the lichen, which was attributed to the greater surface-to-volume ratio of moss. The 137Cs activity concentrations in moss adhered to tree trunks were substantially lower than those in moss covering rock or soil. This was attributed to differences in 137Cs resuspension effect, which may occur through the spattering of raindrops and the effects of wind. The transfer factors of radionuclides from soil to moss were 0.61, 0.65, and 0.46 for 137Cs, 40K, and 7Be, respectively. Conclusion: This preliminary study showed that moss accumulates a considerably higher amount of 137Cs than mugwort. Therefore, mosses seem to be more suitable bioindicators than mugwort for the routine monitoring of radioactive fallout in Korea. However, further research using various moss species from ecological environments and sampling sites with different topography and other geographical properties is needed to reduce the uncertainties in the values estimated in the present study.

In the context of artificial groundwater recharge, a reactive soil column at pilot-scale (4.5 m depth and 3 m in diameter) fed by treated wastewater was designed to evaluate soil filtration ability. Here, as a part of this project, the impact of treated wastewater filtration on soil bacterial communities and the soil's biological ability for wastewater treatment as well as the relevance of the use of multi-bioindicators were studied as a function of depth and time. Biomass; bacterial 16S rRNA gene diversity fingerprints; potential nitrifying, denitrifying, and sulfate-reducing activities; and functional gene (amo, nir, nar, and dsr) detection were analyzed to highlight the real and potential microbial activity and diversity within the soil column. These bioindicators show that topsoil (0 to 20 cm depth) was the more active and the more impacted by treated wastewater filtration. Nitrification was the main activity in the pilot. No sulfate-reducing activity or dsr genes were detected during the first 6 months of wastewater application. Denitrification was also absent, but genes of denitrifying bacteria were detected, suggesting that the denitrifying process may occur rapidly if adequate chemical conditions are favored within the soil column. Results also underline that a dry period (20 days without any wastewater supply) significantly impacted soil bacterial diversity, leading to a decrease of enzyme activities and biomass. Finally, our work shows that treated wastewater filtration leads to a modification of the bacterial genetic and functional structures in topsoil.

Lichens play crucial roles in the ecosystems, contributing to soil formation and nutrient cycling, and being used in biomonitoring efforts to assess the sustainability of ecosystems including air quality. Previous studies on heavy metal accumulation in lichens have mostly relied on manipulated environments, such as transplanted lichens, leaving us with a dearth of research on how lichens physiologically respond to heavy metal exposure in their natural habitats. To fill this knowledge gap, we investigated lichens from two of South Korea's geographically distant regions, Gangwon Province and Jeju Island, and examined whether difference in ambient heavy metal concentrations could be detected through physiological variables, including chlorophyll damage, lipid oxidation, and protein content. The physiological variables of lichens in response to heavy metals differed according to the collection area: Arsenic exerted a significant impact on chlorophyll degradation and protein content. The degree of fatty acid oxidation in lichens was associated with increased Cu concentrations. Our research highlights the value of lichens as a bioindicator, as we found that even small variations in ambient heavy metal concentrations can be detected in natural lichens. Furthermore, our study sheds light on which physiology variables that can be used as indicators of specific heavy metals, underscoring the potential of lichens for future ecology studies.

In Asia, including Japan and Korea, rice paddies occupy the largest cultivated area in agricultural land. Rice paddies provide the habitats for many organisms including endemic species, sustaining high biodiversity. Insect natural enemies inhabiting rice paddies have an important function for rice production as agents of 'ecosystem services' because they play a major role in suppressing rice pests. The diversity and abundance of natural enemies can be a good index reflecting the 'healthiness' of agro-ecosystem services in rice paddies. The present study investigates whether insect natural enemies could be good biological indicators for general arthropod biodiversity and agricultural practice. First, the concept of ideal bio-indicators was summarized. The strategy to explore and select such bio-indicators was then proposed. Lastly, field survey was made to evaluate the abundance and biodiversity of natural enemies in Japanese rice paddies where chemical inputs, i.e., insecticide use, were different. The results showed that reduction of chemical inputs led to an increase in species richness or diversity of natural enemies including parasitoids and predators. Then, the data were analyzed to examine suitable indicator species to assess environmental soundness of agricultural practice and biodiversity in rice paddies. The density of several species of natural enemies did respond both to pesticide use and to general arthropod biodiversity. The analyses thus have indicated that natural enemies can be suitable as bio-indicators. Usefulness of indicator species in rice paddies is discussed in the context of ecologically sound agriculture.

This study evaluated ecological health, using various biomarkers and bioindicators, of pale chub (Zacco platypus) as a sentinel species, in Daejeon Stream, South Korea, during AprilMay 2011. The biomarkers and bioindicators were compared among three sites of control: Reference ($C_z$), transition ($T_z$), and the urban zones ($U_z$); and the 7-Ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) activity, DNA damage, acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity, and vitellogenin (VTG) concentrations were more significantly increased in the $U_z$ than in the $C_z$. Also, physiological markers such as condition factor, liver somatic index, visceral somatic index, and gonad somatic index were significantly increased in the $U_z$ than in the $C_z$. For the health assessments, three categorized parameters of blood chemistry, molecular biomarkers, and physiological bioindicators were standardized and calculated as a star-plot, representing values of Integrated Health Response (IHR). Values of IHR had more significant (P<0.05) increases in the $U_z$ than any other zones, indicating an impairment of ecological health by organic matter, nutrients (N, P), and toxic chemicals. This study is based on low levels of biological organization approach of molecular and physiological biomarkers and bioindicators, so further study of high-levels of biological organization approach such as community and population is required for overall range of health assessments. The approach of IHR values, however, may be useful in providing early warning of future impacts on ecological health.

농생태계 시설 재배지와 과수원에서 서식하고 있는 지렁이상을 확인하였는데 채집된 지렁이는 시설 재배지에서 3과 5속 11종, 과수원에서 채집된 지렁이는 3과 4속 12종으로 다음과 같다 공통적으로 채집된 종은 Aporrectodea tuberculata, Eisenia fetida, Eisenia andrei, Amynthas hupeiensis, Amynthas heteropodus, Amynthas koreanus, Amynthas agrestis, Amynthas hilgendorfi, Amynthas sp., Drawida japonica이다. 시설 재배지에서만 채집된 종은 Bimastos parvus이고, 과수원에서만 채집된 종은 Aporrectodea caliginosa, Amynthas corticis이다. 조사지역내 토양의 물리적 환경에서 유기물 함량은 시설 재배지에서 많은 편차를 보였으나 과수원에서는 비교적 비슷한 경향을 보였다. 경작 단계 별에서 채집된 종수와 개체수는 유기합성농약을 사용하지 않은 무능약과 유기농단계에서 가장 많이 나타났다. 전국적인 농생태계 지렁이 개체군 조사에서 우점군으로 밝혀진 Amynthas agrestis보다 두 지역 모두 Amynthas heteropodus가 가장 많이 출현하였는데 유기합성농약을 사용한 재배지보다 사용하지 않은 재배지에서 많이 출현하였다. 본 연구 결과 Amynthas heteropodus가 작물재배지의 농생태계 생물지표 후보종으로 사용할 수 있음을 확인하였는데. 비교적 이 종은 외부 형태적 형질로 안정되게 나타난다.

Heavy reliance on organosynthetic chemical methods to control agricultural pest tends to deteriorate and lower fertility of soil. We studied annual occurrence of earthworm in environment-friendly agroecosystem and attempted to determine the degree of soil contamination. Candidate bioindicators of earthworm in agroecosystem were selected through analysis of earthworm diversities. Depending on the degree of pesticide use, the fields were devided into conventional, less-pesticide, pesticide free, and organic fields. A nearby field not in agricultural use was chosen as a control. This study was carried out in the greenhouses (lettuce and grape) in 2006 and in orchards (apple, pear, peach, citrus and grape) in 2007. Earthworm was collected from 50 $\times$ 50 $\times$ 10 cm$^3$ of respective soil. We found 11 species from 5 genera and 3 families, and 12 species from 4 genera and 3 families in the greenhouses and in orchards, respectively. The contents of organic matter in soil in the greenhouses were variable but quite less so in orchards. Amynthas heteropodus occurred most frequently in both sites suggesting that it could be adopted as a bioindicator in agroecosystem in Korea.

토양생태계는 정량화하기 어려운 다양한 규칙이 다중적으로 조화되어 끊임없이 변하고있어 어떤 현상을 획일적으로 평가하기 어렵다. 그러나, 미생물은 환경에 대한 감수성이 빨라 토양의 생물적인 특성 변화를 가장 먼저 나타내기 때문에, 미생물은 생태계의 가변적 변동상의 지표가 될 수 있다. 또한 토양에 생명력을 부여해주는 기능을 가지고 있어 토양미생물의 작용 및 기능 평가는 토양 건전성 관리에 있어 중요한 역할을 한다. 따라서 본 연구는 생물학적 토양 건전성 평가 지표요인 개발하고자 주요 모재별 미경지 토양의 생물학적 토양특성을 평가하고자 수행하였다. 주요 모재별 미경지 토양의 미생물 밀도는 현무암유래 토양에서 낮고 석회암유래 토양에서 높은 경향이었으나, 그람 음성균은 비슷한 수준을 유지하고 있었다. 토양 건조처리시 미생물의 생존율은 형광성 Pseudomonas속이 0.1%로 가장 낮았으나 고온성 Bacillus속과 호알카리성균은 90%이상으로 높았다. 토양미생물체량과 미생물 유fo 유기탄소량 간에는 정의 상관관계를 나타냈으며, 토양 건조처리 효과는 토양별 9.7~95.0% 범위로 평균 39.8%였다. 건토를 재습윤하였을 때 중온성 Bacillus속은 원래 균수보다 높게 복원되는 토양이 많았다. 토양 pH는 미생물수 복원율에 정의 영향을 주었다. 건토의 재습윤화에 의한 토양 미생물체량 복원율은 평균 65.3%였으며, 재습윤토의 미생물체 복원량과 형광성 Pseudomonas속간에 유의한 정의 상관관계가 있었다.

To develop indicators for soil health evaluation, biological characteristics of native soils from the different parent materials were studied. Survival rate of fluorescent Pseudomonas in soils was the lowest as 0.1% while those of thermophilic Bacillus and alkaliphilic bacteria were over the 90% by the soil drying stress. There was positive relationship between soil microbial biomass and organic carbon exudated from the microbial biomass by the treatment. The average air-drying effect of soils was 39.7% with ranges of 9.7~95.0%. The propagules of mesophilic Bacillus and Gram negative bacteria were increased by the re-wetting of dried soils. Soil pH affected positively to the recovering rate of microbial number. Average recovering rate of microbes was 65.3%, and there was positive relationship between microbial biomass recovery and fluorescent Pseudomonas population.

의정부시 도심개발 주변지역 산림을 대상으로 선태식물의 분포와 대기청정도지수(IAP)를 분석한 결과, 조사지역의 IAP는 7.0~43.2로 나타났다. 특히, 생물권보전지역으로 지정된 용암산 동측 산림의 광릉숲에 위치한 St.17에서 IAP가 43.2로 가장 높게 분석되었으며, 이 지역이 가장 청정한 환경으로 분석되었다. IAP를 5등급으로 구분하여 아황산가스(SO₂) 오염농도를 추정한 결과, St.16, St.17, St.18에서는 0.013~0.020 ppm으로 추정되었으며, 나머지 지점에서는 0.020~0.030 ppm으로 나타났다. 선태식물 조사를 통해 산출한 IAP 결과와 과거의 대기질 오염농도를 비교하면 오랜 기간 동안 해당 지역 생태계에 미친 대기오염의 영향을 구체적으로 유추할 수 있다. 또한, 선태식물 데이터를 바탕으로 한 배경농도와 특정 대기오염물질의 발생 가중농도를 모델링하여 중첩 평가를 실시함으로써 미래 대기오염이 선태식물에 미칠 잠재적 영향을 예측할 수 있다. 이를 통해 지역 선태식물 분포의 변화를 분석함으로써 관속식물군에 미치는 영향을 간접적으로 추정할 수 있다. 따라서, 선태식물을 활용한 IAP 분석은 환경영향평가에서 대기오염도를 평가하는 도구로 활용될 수 있다. 이 분석은 대기오염이 식물에 미치는 직접적인 영향뿐만 아니라 미시생태계에 미치는 2차적 영향을 판단하는 데 중요한 기초자료를 제공할 것이다. 더 나아가 IAP 결과를 토대로 국지적인 대기오염 저감을 위한 방안 수립과 지역 맞춤형 환경 관리 방안을 마련하는 데 기여할 수 있을 것으로 생각된다.

To assess local air pollution levels, bryophytes, which serve as bioindicators, were investigated in the surrounding forests of the urban development area in Uijeongbu City and the biosphere reserve area of Gwangneung Forest. Additionally, the Index of Atmosphere Purity (IAP) was analyzed. A total of 11 families and 16 taxa of bryophytes were identified at 21 survey sites in the study area. Sematophyllum subhumile was evaluated as a species resistant to air pollution due to its high dominance throughout the area. The IAP analysis resulted in values ranging from 7.0 to 43.2, with the Gwangneung Forest biosphere reserve area recording the highest values. The SO₂ concentration estimated based on the IAP index ranged from 0.013 to 0.030 ppm. The valley area of Gwangneung Forest, located east of Yongamsan Mountain and near Suribong, was identified as the cleanest area, as it harbored a diverse array of bryophytes. By overlaying the background concentrations and pollution-weighted concentrations of specific air pollutants analyzed through bryophytes, the local impacts on bryophytes can be predicted, allowing for the forecasting of changes in the bryophyte community in the region.

여천공업단지(麗川工業團地)에서 배출되는 대기오염물질(大氣汚染物質)이 해송(海松)의 생육에 미치는 영향을 구명하기 위하여 3개 지역에서 해송엽내(海松葉內) 오염물질(汚染物質), 엽록소(葉綠素) 및 wax함량과 침엽(針葉)의 생장량을 1991년 7월 초에서 10월 초까지 4주마다 조사하였다. 수용성(水溶性) 황(黃)과 불소(弗素)는 채취시기에 관계없이 오염원(汚染源)에 가까운 지역일수록 높았으며 수용성(水溶性) 황(黃)은 7월 초에서 10월 초까지 큰 변동이 없었으나 불소(弗素)는 지속적으로 증가하였다. 엽록소함량(葉綠素含量)은 대기오염(大氣汚染)이 경미한 지역에서는 대조지역(對照地域)과 큰 차이를 보이지 않았으나 대기오염(大氣汚染)이 심한 지역에서는 급격히 감소하였고 침엽(針葉)의 wax함량은 오염도(汚染度)가 높을수록 점차 감소하였다. 침엽(針葉)의 생장은 7월 초까지는 각 조사기간에 차이가 없었으나 시간이 흐를수록 오염지역내 해송(海松) 엽(葉)의 생장(生長)은 둔화되었다. 따라서 해송엽내(海松葉內) 수용성(水溶性) 황(黃) 및 불소함량(弗素含量)의 증가와 wax함량의 감소는 여천지역의 대기오염(大氣汚染)에 의한 것으로 생육중반 이후에는 대기오염(大氣汚染)에 대한 생물지표(生物指標)로 이용될 수 있는 것으로 판단되었다. 엽록소함량(葉綠素含量)의 감소는 오염(汚染)이 심한 지역에서 비교적 이른 시기에 생물지표성(生物指標性)을 보이는 것으로 생각되었다. 한편 침엽(針葉)의 왜소화(矮小化)는 장기간의 대기오염(大氣汚染)에 의한 영향으로 생육기 후반부에 나타나기 때문에 초기에 침엽(針葉)의 길이만으로 대기오염(大氣汚染)을 파악하는 것은 적절하지 못하였다.

Accumulation of air pollutants such as $SO_2$ and HF, chlorophyll contents, wax concentrations in needle tissue and needle growth of Pinus thunbergii were studied to verify possibilities of bioindicators of air pollution in Yochon Industrial Complex from July to October, 1991. The concentrations of water-soluble sulfur and fluorine increased nearer to the pollution sources regardless of sampling time, but water-soluble sulfur varied little during investigation and fluorine accumulated more with the passage of time. Total chlorophyll contents decreased a little in the slightly polluted site but sharply in the heavily polluted site. The higher the pollution level was, the more decreased chloroform-extractable wax. Air pollution exposure inhibited needle growth of Pinus tbunbergii during the latter part of growth period. Water soluble sulfur, fluorine and wax concentrations in needle of Pinus thunbergii were rather wood sensitive indicators of susceptibility to ambient air pollution from early July to early October. Chlorophyll contents seemed to be able to be used as a bioindicator of air pollution in early stage of needle development and in the severely polluted area. In the meanwhile needle length must be used as a bioindicator in latter part of growing season.