• Journal of Life Science
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.821-834
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• 2002

In order to measure the inter- and intraspecific genetic divergences within the genus Alexandrium, the variations within the internal transcribed spacer (ITS1 and ITS2) regions and 5.85 ribosomal RNA gene of eight Alexandrium species were examined for 33 strains from diverse geographical locations by direct sequencing. Five isolates of A. tamarense (AT-2, AT-6, AT-10, AT-A and AT-B) from Jinhae Bay, Korea were found to be completely identical to a Japanese strain OFX151-A. The length of the amplified ITSI-5.85-ITS2 region varied from 481 nucleotides (in A. margalefi) to 528 nucleotides (in A. affine CU1-1). ITS1 and ITS2 nucleotide lengths were negatively correlated, whereas a positive correlation was found between their G＋C content. The degree of sequence divergence ranged from 0.3% (1 bp) to a maximum of 53% (305 Up). Pairwise sequence comparisons revealed a small degree of divergence between A. tamarense and A. Pundyense isolates (1.2 - 2.3% ＝ 6-12 bp), but a high degree of divergence between A. tamarense and A. catenella (19.8% ＝ 102 bp), and between A. catenella and A. Pundyense (19.7%). Although most nodes were weakly supported by bootstrap values, some types tend to form independent molecular groups. A. catenella isolates also formed an independent molecular sub-group, with relaticula strong bootstrap values (94% or 85% and 79% or 98%, respectively in PAUP and NJ trees). Interestingly, A. cohorticula and A. frateculus always clustered within the same sub-group, this result being supported by strong bootstrap values. Our results indicate that the ITS regions provide useful informations on hierarchical population genetic structure and a high phylogenetic resolution in intraspecific and interspecific Alexandrium population.

• ALGAE
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.237-251
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• 2019

The dinoflagellate genus Alexandrium is known to often form harmful algal blooms causing human illness and large-scale mortality of marine organisms. Therefore, the population dynamics of Alexandrium species are of primary concern to scientists and aquaculture farmers. The growth rate of the Alexandrium species is the most important parameter in prediction models and nutrient conditions are critical parameters affecting the growth of phototrophic species. In Korean coastal waters, Alexandrium affine and Alexandrium fraterculus, of similar sizes, often form red-tide patches together. Thus, to understand bloom dynamics of A. affine and A. fraterculus, growth rates and nitrate uptake of each species as a function of nitrate ($NO_3$) concentration at $100{\mu}mol\;photons\;m^{-2}s^{-1}$ under 14-h light : 10-h dark and continuous light conditions were determined using a nutrient repletion method. With increasing $NO_3$ concentration, growth rates and $NO_3$ uptake of A. affine or A. fraterculus increased, but became saturated. Under light : dark conditions, the maximum growth rates of A. affine and A. fraterculus were 0.45 and $0.42d^{-1}$, respectively. However, under continuous light conditions, the maximum growth rate of A. affine slightly increased to $0.46d^{-1}$, but that of A. fraterculus largely decreased. Furthermore, the maximum nitrate uptake of A. affine and A. fraterculus under light : dark conditions were 12.9 and $30.1pM\;cell^{-1}d^{-1}$, respectively. The maximum nitrate uptake of A. affine under continuous light conditions was $16.4pM\;cell^{-1}d^{-1}$. Thus, A. affine and A. fraterculus have similar maximum growth rates at the given $NO_3$ concentration ranges, but they have different maximum nitrate uptake rates. A. affine may have a higher conversion rate of $NO_3$ to body nitrogen than A. fraterculus. Moreover, a longer exposure time to the light may confer an advantage to A. affine over A. fraterculus.

• Proceedings of KOSOMES biannual meeting
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• 2018.06a
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• pp.139-139
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• 2018

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Fisheries Technology Conference
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• 2001.05a
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• pp.252-254
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• 2001

A great deal of effort has been put into the identification of Alexandrium tamarense/fundyense/catenella complex by understanding correlation between morphological and subcellular characteristics. To date, the most promising tool for the study of these species is sequence analyses of rRNA genes that have been useful for various organisms' taxonomy and phylogeny, and its application such as in situ hybridization. (omitted)

• Proceedings of the Korean Aquaculture Society Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.35-35
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• 2003

We, for the first time, reported molecular sequences of large subunit ribosomal DNA Dl-D3 region of A. hiranoi, A. leei and A. satoanum hitherto unreported. In addition, this study presented the full-length sequences of A. affine, A. fraterculus, A. catenella and A. tamarense occurring in Korean coastal waters. In total, 17 Alexandrium morphospecies were subjected to the phylogenetic analysis using the Maximum-likelihood (ML) method. The alignment result of sequences of A. hiranoi and A. pseudogonyaulax showed that there were only two substitutions without length heterogeneity implying their genetic affiliation. In ML tree, A. leei formed a deeply diverging branch probably because of the accelerated evolutionary rate, and its phylogenetic position was so ambiguous to resolve the phylogenetic relationship to the residual taxa. An A. satoanum culture showing morphological variation in the sulcal plate formed an independent divergent branch with consistent sister relationship to A. hiranoi/A. pseudogonyaulax clade supported by the high posterior probability (PP) value. Blast search in GenBank showed the sequence data of A. affine, A. fraterculus, A. catenella and A. tamarense corresponded to their morphological species designation. In ML tree, Alexandrium species were commonly split into four main clades. The inter-clade relationships were not clear and usually supported by the week PP values. In general, the sulcal plate of Alexandrium species seemed to reflect the true phylogeny at the main clade level, and the connection between the 1 and the apical pore complex seemed to reflect the phylogeny at the subclade level.

• Proceedings of the Korean Aquaculture Society Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.134-135
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• 2003

The geographic expansion of the toxic dinoflagellates genus Alexandrium has been shown to be world wide ranging. The members of the genus Alexandrium ocnstituted of 20-30 species did not show substantial differences in their morphology, which is mostly referred in the 'tamarensis species complex', except some species. Though rDNA sequences variations are very few and pseudogene types are so diverse that it is difficult to use them as the specific markers. In this study, we outlined Korean and Japanese A, tamarense and A. catenella regional isolates by phylogenetic analysis inferred from no cutting alignments of LSU rDNA D1-D2 and SSU rDNA sequences to group these regional isolates. The results were compared to RFLP patterns of PCR products targeted chloroplast DNA. Lastly screening of highly repeated microsatellite DNA which is frequently used for population analysis in eukaryotes was conducted. A. catenella regional strains identified by the sequencing of rDNA D1-D2 domain were divided into at least 3 groups of type E, CMC and Chinese type, divergence root may not be deep comparing with that of A. tamarense whose pseudogenes are very variable. Results of RFLP pattern and the phylogeny of the unknown gene targeting chloroplast showed that Korean and Japanese A. catenella regional isolates were divided into 3 types: Korean, Japanese and the third CMC types. Population-specific PCR amplification with Japanese A. catenella type-specific PCR primers was useful method for population analysis of A. catenella. Various types of satellite sequences such as 5 nucleotides repeats were obtained from A. tamarense and A. catenella. The 5 nucleotides repeats were primed at the both 3'and 5' ends, and these repeats were prominent as longer repeated motifs. This repeated DNA was intercalated as internal sequences containing various types subrepeats. It is expected that these satellite DNA would be a useful molecular population marker through detail comparison among Alexandrium regional isolates to trace their transferring pathway and to prevent their human-associated their regional extents.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.139-148
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• 2015

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to isolate and identify algicidal bacterium that tends to kill the toxic dinoflagellate Alexandrium catenella, and to determine the algicidal activity and algicidal range of algicide. METHODS AND RESULTS: Among of algicidal bacteria isolated in this study, NH-3 isolate was the strongest algicidal activity against A. catenella. NH-3 isolate was identified on the basis of biochemical characteristics and analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences. The NH-3 isolate showed over 99% homology with Arthrobacter oxydans, and was designated as Arthrobacter sp. NH-3. The optimal culture conditions were $25^{\circ}C$, initial pH 7.0, and 2.0% (w/v) NaCl concentration. The algicidal activity of Arthrobacter sp. NH-3 was significantly increased to maximum value in the late of logarithmic phase. Arthrobacter sp. NH-3 showed algicidal activity through indirect attack, which excreted active substance into the culture filtrate. When 10% culture filtrate of NH-3 was applied to A. catenella, 100% of algal cells were destroyed within 30 h. In addition, the algicidal activities were increased in dose and time dependent manners. The pure algicide was isolated from the ethyl acetate extract of the culture filtrate of NH-3 by using silica gel column chromatography and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). We investigated the algicidal activity of this algicide on the growth of harmful algal bloom (HAB) species, including A. catenella. As a result, it showed algicidal activity against several HAB species at a concentration of $100{\mu}g/mL$ and had a relatively wide host range. CONCLUSION: Taken together, our results suggest that Arthrobacter sp. NH-3 and its algicide could be a candidate for controlling of toxic and harmful algal blooms.

• Ocean Science Journal
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.31-39
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• 2007

Distributional characteristics of dinoflagellate cysts in surface sediments were investigated in relation to environmental factors in the eastern part of Geoje Island, Korea. Samples were collected from 10 stations in February of 2004 and water temperature and salinity were measured in February, May, September and November of 2004. Total 30 taxa of dinoflagellate cysts were identified representing 19 genera, 28 species and 2 unidentified species. Among these dinoflagellate cysts, Brigantedinium spp. of which relative proportion in th e total dinoflagellate cysts was 23.5%, was the most abundant at all stations except St. 1, and was followed by Spiniferites bulloideus (8.6%), Lingulodinium machaerophorum (8.2%) and Diplopsalis lenticula (6.7%). In addition, ellipsoidal cysts of the genus Alexandrium (Alexandrium catenella - tamarense type) and Gymnodinium catenatum, known to be causative organisms for PSP, occurred with high concentrations. Scrippsiella trochoidea was also found; however, its cyst concentration was low. Generally, species composition in the study area was similar to these reported from Jinhae Bay and Busan Harbor and several dinoflagellate cysts reflected the eutrophic condition. Cyst distribution in th e eastern part of Geoje Island seems to be influenced by the Tsushima Warm Current flowing from the southwest. The mean water temperature was $12.0^{\circ}C$ in February, $14.7^{\circ}C$ in May, $20.9^{\circ}C$ in September and $17.2^{\circ}C$ in November, which was most favorable for Alexandrium spp. growth. The abundances of dinoflagellate cysts rang e d from 528 to 2,834 cysts/g dry sediment. Higher concentrations were recognized in sediments of west area of the Jisimdo than at other stations. The cyst composition of this area was closely related to these of Jinhae Bay and Busan Harbor from which currents flow into this area. Higher cyst concentration in the west area of Jisimdo might be due to formation of the gyre.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.39-49
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• 2007

Species competition among the toxic dinoflagellates Alexandrium tamarense and Gymnodinium catenatum and the diatom Skeletonema costatum was simulated using a mathematical model. Prior to the model simulation competition experiments using the three species were conducted to obtain data for validation by the simulation model. S. costatum dominated at a density of ${\sim}10^{4}\;cells/mL$ compared to the other species in the medium with dissolved inorganic phosphorus (DIP). The growth of S. costatum was also stimulated by the addition of dissolved organic phosphorus (DOP), such as uridine-5-monophosphate (UMP) or glycerophosphate (Glycero-P), although this species is unable to take up DOP. This implies that the growth of S. costatum may be supported by DIP, which is hydrolyzed by alkaline phosphatase produced from A. tamarense and G. catenatum. The species competition model was run assuming the environmental conditions of northern Hiroshima Bay, Japan, during spring and summer. G. catenatum increased in cell density and neared the level of S. costatum at the end of the calculation. In the sensitivity analyses by means of doubling and halving parameters, depleted DIP had little effect on the cell density of G. catenatum. However the growth of A. tamarense and S. costatum was significantly affected by changes in the parameter values. These results indicate that if DIP depletion is ongoing, species that have a large phosphate pool in their cells, such as G. catenatum, will predominate in the community.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.26-32
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• 2000

Monospecific red tide by a toxic dinoflagellate belonging to the genus Alexandrium occurred at Chindong Bay in the southern coast of Korea and continued from April 6th to 15th in 1997. The ratio of its cell number to total phytoplankton cell number was much higher than $95\%$. This organism was identified as Alexandrium tamarense, although slight morphological differences were found comparing to the original and successive descriptions of the species. We found neither anterior nor posterior attachment pores in these cells of the bloom population. The occurrence of red tide caused by A. tamarense was first reported in Korea. Its plate formula is Po, Pc, 4', 6"c, 8s, 5"' and 2"". Thecal plates are thin with pore-like ornamentation. In those plates, the anterior part of the first apical plate (1') is narrower and its posterior end has sometimes a block-like accessory, but this variation was considered within the range of the morphological variability of this taxon. The cell density during the red tide exhibited a wide range of variation by the depth of water column, ranging from $2\times10^6$ cells$l^{-1}$ to $5\times10^6$ cells·$l^{-1}$. Water temperature varied from 11.8 to $12.3^{\circ}C$. Toxicity of A. tamarense during red tide was measured as $8.8\times10^5$. $MU\;\cdot\;cell^{-1}$ by mouse bioassay.