• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.128-138
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• 2019

Effects of feeding type and food resource availability on community structure of mollusks inhabiting hard-bottom subtidal areas were investigated. By following guidance from several references, mollusks observed in this study were divided into 5 groups according to feeding type - 1) grazing, 2) filter feeding, 3) deposit feeding, 4) omnivorous and 5) predation. The results showed that both grazing and filter feeders were the most numerous, explaining grazing type in the East Sea accounting for 47.9%, 32.6% in the South Sea and 29.6% for filter feeding, and filter feeding as a dominant feeding type in Yellow Sea accounting for 42.3%. Results of this study showed distinctive difference in community structure depending on mechanism of feeding type and geographical areas where sampling took place. With the results, attempts were made to understand whether community structure could be affected by feeding type or feeding availability and found out that community structure depended heavily on food resource availability. In the East Sea where marine algal density was high, the algal community in the forms of thick-leathery and sheet often occurred in water column with high transparency which provides proper environment for growth. In the South Sea where grazing and filter feeding types were predominated similarly, the algal density was high, but had the relative highest phytoplankton density. Whereas in the Yellow Sea showing the lowest algal biomass compared to the one in the East and the South Sea, and phytoplankton density was similar to those. It might be a adequate environment for filter feeders than grazers. This study concluded that community structure of mollusks showing high abundance was present where food resource availability with types and quantity was high.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.192-203
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• 2018

The surfgrass Phyllospadix iwatensis is native in the exposed rocky shores of the Northwestern Pacific Ocean. In Korea, P. iwatensis is mainly found on the rocky subtidal zone in the central eastern coast. In this study, to examine the ecological characteristics of P. iwatensis, we investigated changes in morphological characteristics, density, biomass, and leaf productivity as well as changes in the underwater irradiance and water temperature of its habitat monthly from August 2017 to July 2018. Underwater irradiance and water temperature showed clear seasonal changes; increases in spring and summer and decreases in fall and winter. Morphological characteristics, shoot density, biomass, and leaf productivities of P. iwatensis exhibited significant seasonal variations, increasing in winter and spring and decreasing in summer and fall months. P. iwatensis leaf productivities both per shoot and per unit area showed significant positive correlations with underwater irradiance. The average leaf productivity of P. iwatensis per area was $6.3{\pm}1.3g\;m^{-2}d^{-1}$, while minimum and maximum values were $2.4{\pm}0.3g\;m^{-2}d^{-1}$ in February 2018 and $16.4{\pm}4.4g\;m^{-2}d^{-1}$ in May 2018, respectively. The optimum water temperature for the growth of P. iwatensis in this study was between $12-13^{\circ}C$.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.548-561
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• 2019

The surfgrass Phyllospadix japonicus is a dominant seagrass species playing critical ecological roles on the eastern coast of Korea. However, few studies have been conducted on the ecological characteristics of this species, generally due to the turbulent water conditions in its habitat. In this study, to examine the growth dynamics of P. japonicus, we investigated monthly changes in morphological characteristics, density, biomass, and leaf productivity as well as changes in the underwater irradiance, water temperature, and water column nutrient concentrations of its habitat from August 2017 to July 2018. Underwater irradiance and water temperature showed clear seasonal changes increasing in spring and summer and decreasing in fall and winter. Nutrient availability fluctuated substantially, but did not display any distinct seasonal trend. Morphological characteristics, shoot density, biomass, and leaf productivities of P. japonicus exhibited significant seasonal variations, increasing in spring and decreasing in fall months. Spadix of P. japonicus occurred from March to August, with the maximum spadix percentage(15.8%) occurred in May 2018. The average leaf productivity of P. japonicus per shoot and area were 2.1 mg sht^-1 d^-1 and 7.5 g m^-2 d^-1, respectively. The optimum water temperature for the growth of P. japonicus in this study was between 13-14℃. The productivity of P. japonicus was not correlated with underwater irradiance, water temperature and nutrient concentrations. These results suggest that the study site provide sufficient amount of underwater irradiance, suitable water temperature range and nutrients for the growth of P. japonicus.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.19-31
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• 2021

We investigated the distribution characteristics of mussels (Mytilus coruscus) growing in the Geomundo sea area by water depth. The research was also conducted to identify the surrounding benthic organisms. Mussels showed high density and low obesity in low water depths. The lower the density, the higher the obesity level appeared in deeper water. The morphological characteristics also appeared to increase as the water depth deepened. In addition, the shell length and total weight were more strongly correlated at a depth of 12 m than at 2 m. The total weight by the growth of the shell length and shell height was affected by the water depth. The analysis showed that the density and biomass of the algae inhabiting the surroundings decreased somewhat as the water depth increased. In benthic animals, the number of mussels tended to decrease slightly at the point where oysters dominated, at a depth of 2 m. Conversely, the number of oysters tended to decrease in deeper water dominated by mussels. Thus, the spatial competition between oysters and mussels was affected by the water depth. Also, mussels did not appear in areas where large algae flourished, suggesting that the survival of mussels was affected by the presence or absence of large algae.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.179-187
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• 2010

The Theory of Island Biogeography describes that the number of species on an island affected by island area and distance from the mainland. This study was performed to compare and analyze the community structure of the macro-invertebrates in three isolated islands, around Korean waters in terms of the Theory of Island Biogeography. Macrobenthic animals were collected using a modified underwater quadrat in August 2009. A total of 104 macrobenthic species were sampled with a mean density of 399 individuals $m^{-2}$ and biomass of 1,506.70 g $m^{-2}$. Based on the abundance and biomass data, there were 10 dominant species accounting for approximately 67.17% of total individuals. The highest densities were found in the amphipoda Amphipoda spp., the bivalvia Modiolus agripetus and Mytilus coruscus, the Sipunculida Phascolosoma scolops and the polychaeta Syllidae unid.. On the contrary, the top ten species made up 95.66% of the total biomass while the three most abundant, the bivalves M. coruscus, Streostria circumpicta and M. agripetus. The conventional multi-variate statistics (cluster analysis and non-metric multi-dimensional scaling) applied to assess spatial variation in macrobenthic assemblages. Cluster analysis and nMDS ordination analysis based on the Bray-Curtis similarity identified 2 station groups. The group 1 was consisted with Gageodo (except for lower station at Transect 2) and Dokdo station and was numerically dominated by the polychaetes Eunice antennata and Syllidae unid., the cirripedia Megabalanus rosa and the bivalvia M. coruscus. However, group 2 was associated with Sohwado station and was characterized by high abundance of the anomura Petrolisthes japonicus, the gastropoda Lirularia pygmaea and the brachiopoda Coptothyris grayi. In conclusion, these results suggested that the species diversity and community structure of macrobenthos in three isolated island seemed slightly related to island area and distance from the mainland.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.56 no.3
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• pp.207-217
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• 2023

This study was conducted to investigate the current status of seagrass species in the Nakdong River estuary from May to June 2023. To survey the seagrass habitat area, the Nakdong River estuary was divided into seven zones. Aerial photography using drones was conducted to find seagrass areas, GPS tracking was carried out on foot in the intertidal zone and by boat and SCUBA diving in the subtidal zone. To analyze the seagrass status, we measured the morphological characteristics, shoot density, and biomass of representative seagrass species in each zone. Four seagrass species were found in this area: Zostera japonica, Z. marina, Ruppia maritima, and Phyllospadix japonicus. The distribution areas of each species was 338.2 ha, 92.9 ha, 0.9 ha, and 1.4 ha, respectively, with a total area of 432.5 ha. Z. japonica was widely distributed in most of the tidal flats and mudflats of the Nakdong River estuary, while Z. marina was restricted to Nulcha-do, Jinu-do, and Dadae-dong. R. maritima occurred within the habitat of Z. japonica in Eulsukdo and Myeongji mudflats, and P. japonicus inhabited rocky areas in Dadae-dong. The shoot density of each species was 4,575.8±338.3 shoots m^-2, 244.8±12.0 shoots m^-2, 11,302.1±290.0 shoots m^-2, and 2862.5±153.5 shoots m^-2, respectively. The biomass of each species was 239.7±18.5 gDW m^-2, 362.3±20.5 gDW m^-2, 33.3±1.2 gDW m^-2, and 1,290.0±37.0 gDW m^-2, respectively. The results of this study revealed that Z. japonica was dominant in the Nakdong River estuary. In particular, Z. japonica habitats of Eulsukdo, Daema-deung, and Myeongji mudflats were identified as the largest in Korea. The Nakdong River estuary is an important site of ecological, environmental, and economic value, and will require continuous investigation and management of the native seagrasses.