• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.69-76
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• 2017

Eelgrass, Zostera marina is a marine flowering plant that grows in submerged habitats for most of its lifetime, and experiences desiccation stress when exposed to air. Although the desiccation stress observed in adult eelgrass has been frequently studied, there has been little research on desiccation stress in eelgrass seeds. To survey desiccation stress in eelgrass seeds, we studied the germination rate and moisture content upon desiccation caused by exposure to air. The germination rate of the eelgrass seeds exposed to air for 1 hour at $20^{\circ}C$ and 50% relative humidity decreased markedly, and it decreased consistently as the exposure time increased. Eelgrass seeds exposed to air for longer than 11 hours did not germinate. As the exposure time of eelgrass seeds to air increased, the germination rate and moisture content decreased, showing a negative correlation. In addition, eelgrass seeds exposed to air at $30^{\circ}C$ showed significantly lower germination rates than those exposed to air at $10^{\circ}C$ or $20^{\circ}C$. Our results revealed that desiccation causes a decrease in the germination of eelgrass seeds, which will provide useful information for eelgrass habitat restoration using seeds.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.280-285
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• 2012

We investigated germination rate of Zostera marina and Phyllospadix japonicus, which are the most two abundant seagrass species of Korea, in related to light, salinity and temperature. Light had no significant effect on Z. marina germination, but it promoted P. japonicus germination. The highest germination of Z. marina appeared in 0 psu, and that of P. japonicus appeared in 15 psu. The optimum water temperatures for germination of Z. marina and P. japonicus were $5^{\circ}C$ and $15^{\circ}C$, respectively. These differences of optimum germination requirements of Z. marina and P. japonicus were probably caused by the difference of the habitat environment of the two seagrass species. Since few data exist concerning germination of Korean seagrasses, this study provides valuable information for the conservation of seagrass habitats in Korea.

• The Journal of the Acoustical Society of Korea
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.97-102
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• 2005

Acoustic experiments were performed with Zostera marina to study the characteristics of backscattering of seagrass living in the bottom interface. Field experiments were conducted in the Dongdae man, Namhae for day and night to consider the effects of air-bubble from photosynthesis of seagrass. The multi-frequency (30$\~$120 kHz) responses were measured and the distributions of back scattering strength due to the movement of seagrass were Presented by PDF (probability density function) at 120 120 kHz. The results were shown both the frequency dependence and diurnal variation of the backscattering strength between day and night. This diurnal variation may be caused by the amount of oxygen in dissolved bubbles formed by Photosynthesis of seagrass.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.343-355
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• 2021

Eelgrass, Zostera marina L., was widely distributed around Sinyangseopji Beach in Bangdu Bay, on the eastern coast of Jeju Island, until breakwater construction in the late 1990s resulted in its complete loss. Six experimental sites were identified for restoration of the Z. marina bed in Bangdu Bay. Using the staple method, 500 Z. marina shoots were transplanted at each site in January 2019 and 2020. The transplants, along with environmental parameters, were monitored for 10 months following transplantation. There were significant differences in underwater irradiance, water temperature, and salinity among the sites, but all were suitable for Z. marina growth. The Ulva species, an opportunistic alga, appeared in spring and accumulated during summer at all sites; however, there was no significant effect of Ulva species on the survival and growth of the eelgrass transplants. Most of the transplanted Z. marina survived, and after 3 months, the density increased by 112.5-300% due to vegetative propagation, with a rapid rate of increase observed during spring and early summer at all sites. For 1-2 months after transplanting, the Z. marina shoots showed signs of transplant shock, after which the shoot density increased at all sites, confirming that all transplants adapted well to the new environment. However, in both 2019 and 2020, during late summer to early fall, the sites experienced heavy damage from typoons (twice in 2019 and three times in 2020) that hit Bangdu Bay. The transplants at two sites located in the center of Bangdu Bay were completely destroyed, but those at three sites located to the west of the bay showed a 192-312% increase in density. Thus, we confirmed that the Bangdu Bay Z. marina bed can be restored, with the highest probability of success for Z. marina restoration on the western side of Bangdu Bay, which is protected from typhoons.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.681-691
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• 2022

Zostera marina (ZM), a type of seagrass registered as a marine protected species in South Korea, provides valuable ecosystem services to humans, such as improving marine water quality, providing food, spawning grounds and habitats for marine life, and absorbing carbon dioxide. Therefore, the government is seeking to preserve ZM by designating ZM-protected areas. This study examined the public willingness to pay (WTP) for the preservation of ZM using contingent valuation. The one-and-one-half-bounded model was adopted for WTP elicitation, and the single-bounded model was also applied for comparison. The spike model was employed to deal with many zero WTP responses. The household average WTP was estimated as KRW 4,087 per year, securing statistical significance. The national value was KRW 84.1 billion per year. The preservation value of ZM estimated in this study can be used as important data for economic analysis of various projects or policy implementation for its preservation.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.66-72
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• 2002

The intraspecific variability, habitats, and morphological characteristics of eelgrass (Zostera marina L.) along the eastern coast of Korea were examined during June to August 1998. Morphological characteristics including shoot height, leaf length, leaf width, number of leaf veins, and shape of leaf apex were measured, and eelgrass habitats were analyzed using character correlation, principal components and cluster analyses. The morphological characteristics varied with the habitat types and water depth. Eelgrass beds distributed mostly in lagoons, ports and bays along the east coast of the Korean peninsula. The quantitative morphological features that enabled recognition of the two phonetic groups were short- narrow and long-broad leaf types. Leaf apex in particular varied with the habitat characteristics.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.513-523
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• 2013

This ecological study was conducted to analyze seasonal variation characteristics of Zostera marina at HAENAM SAGUMI on the Southern Coast of Korea. Environmental characteristics, plant morphological characteristics, shoot density, biomass, and leaf production were monitored from August 2008 to March 2011. Zostera marina occurred in the subtidal zone from 0 to 2.5 m below the mean low water level. Water temperature showed a clear annual pattern, with increase in spring and summer, and decreases in fall and winter. Irradiance showed seasonal variation, even though daily weather condition has short-term variation in the incident irradiation. Plant morphological characteristics, shoot density, biomass, and leaf production showed clear seasonal variation. Seasonal variation in the above biomass of Zostera marina was mainly caused by changes in shoot length. We found that there are correlations between environmental characteristics (water temperature, irradiation) and the growth of Zostera marina. There is stronger correlation between water temperature and the growth of Zostera marina, compared to the correlation between irradiation and the growth of Zostera marina. In particular, the growth of Zostera marina is inhibited by both higher and lower water temperature.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.164-168
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• 2014

To determine the optimal storage method and longest possible storage period of Zostera marina seeds, we examined post-storage germination rates using different storage methods and periods for Z. marina seeds harvested in southern coast of Korea. Storage methods included in seawater at room temperature with air supply, seawater at $4^{\circ}C$, seawater at $30^{\circ}C$, an aquarium with continuous seawater circulation, seawater at room temperature in an airtight tank, a refrigerator at $-20^{\circ}C$, and a desiccator at room temperature. Germination rates of Z. marina seeds stored in seawater at $4^{\circ}C$ showed highest germination (52.0%), whereas those of seeds stored in seawater at room temperature and an aquarium were 27.4% and 17.7%, respectively. But the seeds stored in seawater at $30^{\circ}C$, a refrigerator, and a desiccator did not germinate. Storage periods were 10, 20, 30, 60, 180 and 240 days of storage. Z. marina seeds maintained germination rates of 46.4~52.4% until 10~60 days of storage, but showed rapidly decreasing germination rates after then and no germination after 240 days.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.339-348
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• 2012

To survey the seagrass distribution in Jeju and Chuja Islands, we directly observed seagrass beds using SCUBA in July, 2011. Distributional area, species composition, morphology, density, and biomass of seagrasses and environmental characteristics were examined in investigation sites. In particular, three protected seagrass species (Zostera marina, Z. caulescens and Z. caespitosa) were found in the investigation areas. While the three species were found in Chuja Island, only Z. marina was distributed in Jeju Island. Z. marina was distributed only north-eastern coast of Jeju Island, and the total coverage was $238,572m^2$. Total seagrass coverage of Chuja Island was $23,584m^2$. In detail, Z. caulescens Z. caespitosa and Z. marina were 21,216, 1,870 and $498m^2$, respectively. Of these, Z. marina was found from the intertidal to subtidal zones of 5m MSL (mean sea level) depth. Z. caespitosa and Z. caulescens were found in subtidal zones of 3~4 m and 4~6m MSL depth, respectively.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.107-116
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• 2018

In this study, the distribution of sedimentary environment and benthic macro-fauna in habitats and non-habitats of Zostera marina were investigated. The purpose of this study was to obtain basic data about the sedimentary environment and benthic macro-fauna in the habitats and non-habitats of Z. marina. Sand was dominant within habitat environments, whereas the non-habitats were predominantly composed of silt. As a result, the habitats of Z. marina have a different grain size and organic matter content compared to the non-habitats. These differences in the sedimentary environment were expected to influence the species composition of benthic animals. Benthic communities in the habitats of Z. marina showed a higher density and a greater number of species than in the non-habitats. As a result of an ecological index evaluation, the species diversity index (H') was $3.44{\pm}0.10$ for the habitat; the non-habitat was analyzed as $2.34{\pm}0.35$. It was also found that the stability of community in the habitats was higher than that in the non-habitats. The cluster analysis also clearly showed that habitats and non-habitats of Z. marina have distinct characteristics.