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Kellicottia bostoniensis is a rotifer species originating from North America, with numerous reports documenting its spread to Europe and South America. Meanwhile, in Asia, the occurrence of this non-native species has been scarcely documented, but its presence was recently reported in Korea in 2020. In Korea, the close geographic proximity of artificial reservoirs within a small area is expected to make the region vulnerable to the spread of K. bostoniensis. Therefore, it is deemed necessary to study the spatio-temporal distribution of K. bostoniensis, which appears to have extensively proliferated across the region, and its relationship with environmental factors. We analyzed the response of K. bostoniensis occurrence to environmental factors and aimed to compare its response patterns with those of potential competitor and predator groups, which were classified based on a functional group approach. This study, conducted on 12 small lakes located under similar climatic conditions, revealed that the response of K. bostoniensis to variables representing the trophic state of the lakes differed from those of the potential competitor and predator groups. The study sites, encompassing a wide range of trophic states from oligotrophic to hypereutrophic, across various lakes and survey periods, were well-suited for examining these relationships. Furthermore, when TSI was calculated to compare the abundance of K. bostoniensis and potential competitors across trophic conditions, the abundance of potential competitors was proportional to TSI. In contrast, K. bostoniensis exhibited higher abundances in mesotrophic and lower eutrophic environments, which distinguished it from its competitors. Our results indicate that the impact of introduced K. bostoniensis on native communities is minimal, while the resistance of native communities through the biological filter based on biological interactions is ineffective against this non-native rotifer species. This provides key evidence for explaining the widespread distribution of K. bostoniensis across continents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In urban and agricultural streams, assessing aquatic ecosystem health is critical due to widespread pollution. Traditional methods for evaluating attached diatoms crucial for ecosystem monitoring face limitations such as species misidentification and sample damage. This study was conducted in the Miho River within the Geum River system and highlights the effectiveness of environmental DNA (eDNA) techniques for more accurate and efficient genetic-based analysis than conventional microscopic analysis methods. When eDNA-based assessments were compared with traditional microscopic methods, this study found that eDNA analysis often revealed poorer ecosystem health. Notably, eDNA assessments showed a stronger correlation with phosphorus concentrations, underlining their precision and importance in ecological studies. These findings suggest that eDNA has potential as a valuable tool for comprehensive biomonitoring. However, the use of international genetic barcode databases in eDNA analysis could lead to the identification of unrecorded species in Korea. Therefore, this study recommends developing a localized genetic barcode database and constructing eDNA information through meta-barcoding, focusing on native species. This approach is crucial for enhancing the accuracy and applicability of eDNA-based health assessments in national biomonitoring efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nature-like fishways, designed to mimic a small natural stream, have been widely used in river restoration projects as well as in rivers with dams and weirs. Because they are built with diverse natural materials similar to those in natural streams, we aimed to estimate the self-purification ability of nature-like fishways. Monthly sampling was conducted at inlet and outlet points of two nature-like fishways in Korea: the Baekjae and Sejong fishways. Two artificial fishways and main river channels were also evaluated to be used as references. Suspended solids (SS), chlorophyll a (Chl. a), and plankton abundances were measured. A significant reduction in plankton abundances and decrease in SS and Chl. a were observed in nature-like fishways, and no significant changes were observed in concrete artificial fishways and main river channels. In Baekjae and Sejong fishways, average 28.2% and 14.9% of the SS concentrations were reduced, respectively. The Chl. a concentration also significantly decreased (44.8% and 29.8% in Baekjae and Sejong fishways, respectively). A decreasing pattern was more apparent in the Baekjae fishway, which is longer and has a slower water velocity. The rate of decrease was higher when SS and Chl. a concentrations were high at the inlet points. Thus, we confirmed that particulate organic matters could be reduced in nature-like fishways. However, the direct cause and purification process mechanisms in them could not be clearly identified. Further studies should examine the biological and chemical mechanisms in fishways, allowing us to estimate their capacity for self-purification.

Although energy‐storage devices based on Li ions are considered as the most prominent candidates for immediate application in the near future, concerns with regard to their stability, safety, and environmental impact still remain. As a solution, the development of all‐solid‐state energy‐storage devices with enhanced stability is proposed. A new eco‐friendly polymer electrolyte has been synthesized by incorporating lithium trifluoromethanesulfonate into chemically modified methyl cellulose (LiTFS–LiSMC). The transparent and flexible electrolyte exhibits a good conductivity of near 1 mS cm−1. An all‐solid‐state supercapacitor fabricated from 20 wt % LiTFS–LiSMC shows comparable specific capacitances to a standard liquid‐electrolyte supercapacitor and an excellent stability even after 20 000 charge–discharge cycles. The electrolyte is also compatible with patterned carbon, which enables the simple fabrication of micro‐supercapacitors. In addition, the LiTFS–LiSMC electrolyte can be recycled and reused more than 20 times with negligible change in its performance. Thus, it is a promising material for sustainable energy‐storage devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]