• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.492-500
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• 2017

The purpose of this study was to investigate the seasonal distribution of phytoplankton as prey for oysters and to characterize the environmental factors controlling their abundance from June 2016 to May 2017, in the northeast coast between Tongyeong and Saryang Island, particularly for the oyster farming area. During the survey period, water temperature changed from $7.54^{\circ}C$ in February to $29.5^{\circ}C$ in August. The abnormal high temperature persisted during one month in August. Salinity was low due to summer rainfall and typhoon. The lowest level was 30.68 psu in September, and it peaked at 34.24 psu in May. The dissolved oxygen (DO) concentration ranged from $6.0-9.45mg\;L^{-1}$, and the DO concentration in the surface layer was like that in the bottom layers. The seasonal trends of pH were also like those of DO. The pH ranged from 7.91 to 8.50. Nitrate with nitrite, phosphate, and silicate concentrations ranged from $0.14{\mu}M$ to $7.66{\mu}M$, from $0.01{\mu}M$ to $4.16{\mu}M$, and from $0.27{\mu}M$ to $20.33{\mu}M$, respectively. The concentration of chlorophyll a (Chl. a) ranged from $0.37{\mu}g\;L^{-1}$ to $2.44{\mu}g\;L^{-1}$ in the surface layer. The annual average concentration was $1.26{\mu}g\;L^{-1}$. The annual mean phytoplankton community comprised Bacillariophyta (69%), Dinophyta (17%), and Cryptophyta (10%), respectively. Dinoflagellate Prorocentrum donghaiense in June was the most dominant at 90%. In the summer, diatom Chaetoceros decipiens, Rhizosolenia setigera and Pseudo-nitzschia delicatissima were dominant. These species shifted to diatom Chaetoceros spp. and Crytophyta species in autumn. In the winter, high densities of Skeletonema spp. and Eucampia zodiacus were maintained. Therefore, the researchers thought that the annual mean Chl. a concentration was relatively lower to sustain oyster feeding, implying that the prey organism (i.e., phytoplankton) was greatly controlled by continuous filter feeding behavior of oyster in the vicinity area of the oyster culture farm.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.525-537
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• 2018

The Korean coast is divided into the West Korea Coastal zone (WKC), the South Coastal zone of Korea (SCK), the East Korea Coastal zone (EKC), and Jeju Coastal zone of Korea (JCK). Each coastal zone has different marine environment characteristics. This study analyzed zooplankton data of KOEM (Korea Environment Management Corporation) collected in the Korean coastal waters the spring and summer of 2015 and 2016. In spring, water temperature was lowest in the JCK, and gradually increased in the order of EKC, SCK, and WKC, while in summer lowest in WKC and increased in the order of EKC, SCK, and JCK. Salinity was lowest in WKC which had many rivers flowing inland, and increased in the order of SCK, EKC and JCK in spring. In summer it was lowest in JCK and increased toward WKC, SCK, and EKC. In summer, Chlorophyll-a concentrations were generally low, but was lowest in JCK in spring. In the study area, a total of 77 species occurred, of which 50 species did in spring and 65 species in summer. The number of species was lowest in JCK and highest in SCK in spring and summer, respectively. Paracalanus parvus s. l. was the most dominant species or the second dominant species in Korean coastal areas in spring, but it was predominant in summer. In addition, in spring Acartia hongi, Calanus sinicus, Oithona similis were predominant in WKC, Oithona similis and Corycaeus affinis in SCK, O. similis and Corycaeus sp. in EKC, C. affinis and O. setigera in JCK. In summer Corycaeus spp., O. similis, A. hongi, Tortanus forcipatus were predominant in WKC, C. affinis, Pseudodiaptomus marinus in SCK, O. similis, A. omorii, Corycaeus sp. in EKC, and A. steueri, A. pacifica, Oithona sp., C. sinicus in JCK. The copepod community in the Korean coastal areas were classified into four areas, WKC-western SCK, eastern SCK, EKC and JCK according to differences in environmental factors such as water temperature, salinity, Chl-a concentration, and suspended matter concentration of each coastal area.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.647-658
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• 2018

The aim of this study is to investigate the seasonal changes of phytoplankton communities based on the environmental changes in a dense oyster farming area (Hansan-Geoje Island) from June to December 2016. The water temperature varied from $14^{\circ}C$ to $28.8^{\circ}C$ and its salinity ranged from 29.4 to 34.2 psu. Nitrate+nitrite was kept at c.a. $3.0{\mu}M$ on the surface layer from June to July, below the concentration limit in August and early September, and then gradually increased from late September. Ammonia was high on July 20 and August 10, and its seasonal characteristics were not clear. Phosphate ranged from 0.01 to $0.7{\mu}M$ on the surface layer, and its seasonal changes were similar to those of nitrate+nitrite. Mean silicate concentrations were $10.7{\mu}M$ on the surface and $15.7{\mu}M$ in the bottom layer, and it was not acted as a limiting factor for the growth of phytoplankton. Among the phytoplankton community, Bacillariophyceae, Dinophyceae and Cryptophyceae was 61.2%, 22.5%, and 13.6%, respectively. In late June, dinoflagellate Prorocentrum donghaiense was dominant in the outer waters(St. T1), later on, Cryptomonas spp. and Chaetoceros spp. were dominant, respectively. From late September to October, diatoms Pseudo-nitzschia spp. and Chaetoceros spp. were stimulated under non-stratified condition after the typhoon. In December, A. sanguinea was found to be $1.7{\times}10^5cells\;L^{-1}$. Seasonally, relative high phytoplankton biomass may be favorable to maintain high production of filter feeder oyster in the dense oyster farming areas of Hansan and Geoje Island.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.1-18
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• 2023

The East Sea, one of the regions where the most rapid warming is occurring, is known to have important implications for the response of the ocean to future climate changes because it not only reacts sensitively to climate change but also has a much shorter turnover time (hundreds of years) than the ocean (thousands of years). However, the processes underlying changes in seawater characteristics at the sea's deep and abyssal layers, and meridional overturning circulation have recently been examined only after international cooperative observation programs for the entire sea allowed in-situ data in a necessary resolution and accuracy along with recent improvement in numerical modeling. In this review, previous studies on the physical characteristics of seawater at deeper parts of the East Sea, and meridional overturning circulation are summarized to identify any remaining issues. The seawater below a depth of several hundreds of meters in the East Sea has been identified as the Japan Sea Proper Water (East Sea Proper Water) due to its homogeneous physical properties of a water temperature below 1℃ and practical salinity values ranging from 34.0 to 34.1. However, vertically high-resolution salinity and dissolved oxygen observations since the 1990s enabled us to separate the water into at least three different water masses (central water, CW; deep water, DW; bottom water, BW). Recent studies have shown that the physical characteristics and boundaries between the three water masses are not constant over time, but have significantly varied over the last few decades in association with time-varying water formation processes, such as convection processes (deep slope convection and open-ocean deep convection) that are linked to the re-circulation of the Tsushima Warm Current, ocean-atmosphere heat and freshwater exchanges, and sea-ice formation in the northern part of the East Sea. The CW, DW, and BW were found to be transported horizontally from the Japan Basin to the Ulleung Basin, from the Ulleung Basin to the Yamato Basin, and from the Yamato Basin to the Japan Basin, respectively, rotating counterclockwise with a shallow depth on the right of its path (consistent with the bottom topographic control of fluid in a rotating Earth). This horizontal deep circulation is a part of the sea's meridional overturning circulation that has undergone changes in the path and intensity. Yet, the linkages between upper and deeper circulation and between the horizontal and meridional overturning circulation are not well understood. Through this review, the remaining issues to be addressed in the future were identified. These issues included a connection between the changing properties of CW, DW, and BW, and their horizontal and overturning circulations; the linkage of deep and abyssal circulations to the upper circulation, including upper water transport from and into the Western Pacific Ocean; and processes underlying the temporal variability in the path and intensity of CW, DW, and BW.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.55 no.1
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• pp.84-98
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• 2022

Estuary is important in terms of biodiversity because it has the characteristics of transition waters, created by the mixing of fresh- and seawater. The estuarine water circulation provides a variety of habitats with different environments by inducing gradients in the chemical and physical environment, such as water quality and river bed structure, which are ultimately the main factors influencing biological community composition. If the water circulation is interrupted, the loss of brackish areas and the interception of migration of biological communities will lead to changes in the spatial distribution of biodiversity. In this study, among the sites covered by the Estuary Aquatic Ecosystem Health Assessment, we selected study sites where changes in biodiversity can be assessed by spatial gradient from the upper reaches of the river to the lower estuarine area. The α-, γ- and β-diversity of diatom, benthic macroinvertebrates, and fish communities were calculated, and they were divided into open and closed estuary data and compared to determine the trends in biodiversity variation due to estuarine circulation. As results, all communities showed higher γ-diversity at open estuary sites. The benthic macroinvertebrate community showed a clear difference between open and closed estuaries in β-diversity, consequently the estuarine transects were considered as a factor that decreases spatial heterogeneity of their diversity among sites. The biodiversity trends analyzed in this study will be used to identify estuaries with low γ- and β-diversity by community, providing a useful resource for further mornitoring and management to maintain estuarine health.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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• v.39 no.5_3
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• pp.1043-1060
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• 2023

An acceleration of climate change in recent years has led to increased attention towards 'blue carbon' which refers to the carbon captured by the ocean. However, our comprehension of marine ecosystems is still incomplete. This study classified and analyzed global marine eco-provinces using k-means clustering considering carbon cycling. We utilized five input variables during the past 20 years (2001-2020): Carbon-based Productivity Model (CbPM) Net Primary Production (NPP), particulate inorganic and organic carbon (PIC and POC), sea surface salinity (SSS), and sea surface temperature (SST). A total of nine eco-provinces were classified through an optimization process, and the spatial distribution and environmental characteristics of each province were analyzed. Among them, five provinces showed characteristics of open oceans, while four provinces reflected characteristics of coastal and high-latitude regions. Furthermore, a qualitative comparison was conducted with previous studies regarding marine ecological zones to provide a detailed analysis of the features of nine eco-provinces considering carbon cycling. Finally, we examined the changes in nine eco-provinces for four periods in the past (2001-2005, 2006-2010, 2011-2015, and 2016-2020). Rapid changes in coastal ecosystems were observed, and especially, significant decreases in the eco-provinces having higher productivity by large freshwater inflow were identified. Our findings can serve as valuable reference material for marine ecosystem classification and coastal management, with consideration of carbon cycling and ongoing climate changes. The findings can also be employed in the development of guidelines for the systematic management of vulnerable coastal regions to climate change.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.121-128
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• 2008

As an aquatic ecotoxicity test method, a bioassay using the inhibition of sporualtion of the green macroalga, Ulva pertusa, has been developed. Optimal test conditions determined for photon irradiance, pH, salinity and temperature were $100\;{\mu}mol{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}s^{-1}$, $7{\sim}9$, $25{\sim}35\;psu$ and $15{\sim}20^{\circ}C$, respectively. The validity of the test endpoint was evaluated by assessing the toxicity of four metals (Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn) and elutriates of sewage or waste sludge collected from 9 different locations. When the metals were assayed, the $EC_{50}$ values indicated the following toxicity rankings: Cu ($0.062\;mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$) > Cd ($0.208\;mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$) > Pb ($0.718\;mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$) > Zn ($0.776\;mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$). When compared with other commonly used bioassays of metal pollution listed on US ECOTOX database, the sporualtion test proved to be the most sensitive. Ulva sporulation was significantly inhibited in all elutriates with the greatest and least effects observed in elutriates of sludge from industrial waste ($EC_{50}=6.78%$) and filtration bed ($EC_{50}=15.0%$), respectively. The results of the Spearman rank correlation analysis for $EC_{50}$ data versus the concentrations of toxicants in the sludge presented a significant correlation between toxicity and four heavy metals(Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn). The method described here is sensitive to toxicants, simple to use, easy to interpret and economical. It is also easy to procure samples and maintain cultures. The present method would therefore probably make a useful assessment of aquatic toxicity of a wide range of toxicants. In addition, the genus Ulva has a wide geographical distribution and species have similar reproductive processes, so the test method would have a potential application worldwide.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.357-365
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• 2011

The variation of the dissolved inorganic nutrients were investigated four times per year in the costal area of Gunsan, Yellow Sea from 2001 to 2010. Water samples were collected at 10 stations and phsico-chemical parameters were analyzed including water temperature, salinity, suspended solids, dissolved oxygen, chemical oxygen demand, chlorophyll a and dissolved inorganic nutrients. The average of dissolved inorganic nitrogen(DIN) for ten years at Gunsan area showed similar concentration between surface and bottom. The average of DIN at surface was 0.421mg/L (0.198~0.846mg/L) and bottom was 0.344mg/L(0.148~0.717mg/L). The highest value of annual average of DIN at surface was 0.846mg/L in 2002 and the lowest value was 0.198mg/L in 2010. The percentage of ammonia, nitrite and nitrate for the average DIN of 10 years showed 27%, 3% and 70% which showed most of DIN was nitrate. Dissolved inorganic phosphate(DIP) for ten years at Gunsan area showed similar concentration between surface and bottom and DIP was decreasing from 2003 to 2010. The average of DIP of 10 years was 0.024mg/L and annual average 0.021mg/L in 2008, 0.007mg/L in 2009 and 0.008mg/L in 2010 which showed decreasing pattern from 2007 to 2010. The average of DIN/DIP ratio from 2002 to 2010 was 6.0(3.2~10.1) at surface and 4.6(2.6~7.0) at bottom. The average value of dissolved inorganic silicate from 2004 to 2010 showed 0.372mg/L at surface layer and 0.352mg/L at bottom layer and was on decreased from 2006 to 2010. The Spearman's correlation analysis was carried out to knowrelation among the salinity and dissolved inorganic nutrients at the surface and bottom layer. The correlation factor of DIN was -0.72, DIP was -0.46 and dissolved inorganic silicate was -0.63 at surface layer and DIN was -0.70, DIP was -0.44 and dissolved inorganic silicate was -0.57 at bottom layer. The dissolved inorganic nutrients at the nearshore of Gunsan was affected from the freshwater discharge of Geum river. Especially, a lot of DIN flowed into the nearshore of Gunsan from Guem river. The concentration of dissolved inorganic nutrients at Gunsan showed high at station 1, 2 and 3 and there was a little concentration differences according to the cruise time. The concentration of dissolved inorganic nutrients showed high value at the station 1, 2, 3 which exist nearshore of Gunsan city and it means these stations mainly affected by Geum river and Gunsan city. The annual average of dissolved inorganic nutrients showed gradually decreased from 2003 to 2010 and we need more research on this conditions.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Fisheries and Ocean Technology
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.1-14
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• 1978

To study the fluctuation of cold water in the East China Sea in summer heat budget of the Yellow Sea in winter was analysed based on the oceanographic and meteorological data compiled from 1951 to 1974. The maintain value of insolation was observed in December($160{\sim}190ly/day$), while the maximum in February ($250{\sim}260ly/day$). The range of the annual variation was found to be less than 50 ly/day. The value of the radiation term ($Q_s-Q_r-Q_h$) was remarkably small (mean 20 ly/day) in winter. It was negative value in December and January, and a positive value in February. The minimum total heat exchange from the sea ($Q_({h+c}$) was found value (471 ly/day) in February 1962, and the maximum (882 ly/day) in January 1963. The annual total heat exchange was minimum (588 ly/day) in 1962, and maximum (716 ly/day) in 1968. If the average deviation of mean water temperature at 50m depth layer were assumed to be the horizontal index ($C_h$) of colder water, $C_h$ is $C_h=\frac{{\Sigma}\limit_i\;A_i\;T_i}{{\Sigma}\limit_i\;A_i}$ where $A_i$ denotes the area of isothermal region and $T_i$ the value of deviation from mean sea water temperature. The vertical index ($C_v$) of cold water can be expressed similarly. Consequently the total index (C) of cold water equals to the sum of the two components, i.e. $C=C_h$＋$C_v$. Taking the deviation of mean sea surface temperature(T'w) in the third ten-day of Novembers in the Yellow Sea as the value of the initial condition, the following expressions are deduced : $C－T'w＝32.06 - 0.049$ $\;Q_T$ $C_h-T'w/2=12.20-0.019\;Q_T$ $C_v-T'w/2＝18.07-0.027\;Q_T$ where $Q_T$ denotes the total heat exchange of the sea. The correlation coefficients of these regression equations were found to be greater than 0.9. Heat budget was 588 ly/day in winter, and minimum water temperature of cold water was $18^{\circ}C$ in summer of 1962. The isotherm of $23^{\circ}C$ extended narrowly to southward up to $29^{\circ}N$ in summer. However, heat budget was 716 ly/day, and minimum water temperature of cold water was $12^{\circ}C$ in summer of 1968. The isotherm of $23^{\circ}C$ extended widely to southward up to $28^{\circ}30'N$ in summer. As a result of the present study, it may be concluded that the fluctuation of cold water of the East China Sea in summer can be predicted by the calculation of heat budget of the Yellow Sea in winter.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.177-188
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• 1989

The purpose of this study was to investigate the detoxifying effect on PSP-infested sea mussel, Mytilus edulis, by heating treatment and correlation between the PSP toxicity and the environmental conditions of shellfish culture area such as temperature, pH, salinity, density of Protogonyaulax sp. and concentration of inorganic nutrients such as $NH_4-N,\;NO_3-N,\;NO_2-N\;and\;PO_4-P$. This experiment was carried out at $Suj\u{o}ng$ in Masan, Yangdo in Jindong, $Hach\u{o}ng\;in\;K\u{o}jedo\;and\;Gamch\u{o}n$ bay in Pusan from February to June in $1987\~1989$. It was observed that the detection ratio and toxicity of PSP in sea mussel were different by the year even same collected area. The PSP was often detected when the temperature of sea water about $8.0\~14.0^{\circ}C$. Sometimes the PSP fox of sea mussel was closely related to density of Protogonyaulax sp. at $Gamch\u{o}n$ bay in Pusan from March to April in 1989, but no relationship was observed except above duration during the study period. The concentration of inorganic nutrients effects on the growth of Protogonyaulax sp., then effects of $NO_3-N$ was the strongest among them. When the PSP-infested sea mussel homogenate was heated at various temperature, the PSP toxicity was not changed significantly at below $70^{\circ}C$ for 60 min. but it was proper-tionaly decreased as the heating temperature was increased. For example, when the sea mussel homogenate was heated at $100^{\circ}C,\;121^{\circ}C$ for 10 min., the toxicity was decreased about $67\%\;and\;90\%$, respectively. On the other hand, when shellstock sea mussel contained PSP of $150{\mu}g/100g$ was boiled at $100^{\circ}C$ for 30 min. with tap water, the toxicity was not detected by mouse assay, but that of PSP of $5400{\mu}g/100g$ was reduced to $57{\mu}g/100g$ even after boiling for 120 min.