• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.279-284
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• 2009

In order to understand food sources-metabolism for the pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas), the stable isotope ratios of carbon (${\delta}^{13}C$) and nitrogen (${\delta}^{15}N$) of its gut, gill, and muscle as well as potential food sources (particulate organic matter, sedimentary organic matter, benthic microalgae, seagrass detritus) were determined in Dongdae Bay. Average ${\delta}^{13}C$ and ${\delta}^{15}N$ values reflect that oysters primarily fed on sedimentary organic matter as opposed to suspended organic matter during summer and winter seasons. However, the relatively enriched $^{15}N$ values of particulate organic matter (>$250{\mu}m$) and sedimentary organic matter in the summer may be due to the photosynthetic incorporation of $^{15}N$-enriched nitrogen (DIN) or the spawning events of bivalves. Specific oyster tissues (gut, gill, and muscle) revealed different metabolic pathways, which were determined through analysis of ${\delta}^{13}C$ and ${\delta}^{15}N$ in each organ. The present results suggest the determination of carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes to be a useful approach in ecological research related to the food sources- metabolism of Crassostrea gigas.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.151-156
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• 2009

The stomach contents of Lumpenella longirostris, Malacocottus gibber and Bothrocara hollandi from the East Sea were examined to determine their feeding ecology. Specimens were caught seasonally from 2004 to 2006. The primary prey items of each species included crustaceans and mollusks. L. longirostris is a benthophage that primarily consumes bottom crustaceans and bivalves. M. gibber and B. hollandi are meso-pelagicphages that primarily consume amphipods and cephalopods. However, the species are opportunistic feeders that exploit the available prey in their habitat. The empty stomach ratio of the species is larger than that of offshore species (e.g. hairtail fish and yellow goose fish), and the prey diversity of the species evaluated in this study was much smaller than that of offshore species.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.227-235
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• 2016

Ultrastructural studies on oocyte development and vitellogenesis in oocytes, and the functions of follicle cells during oogenesis and oocyte degeneration were investigated to clarifyb the reproductive mechanism on vitellogenesis of Scapharca subcrenata using electron microscope observations. In this study, vitellogenesis during oogenesis in the oocytes occured by way of autosynthesis and heterosynthesis. Of two processes of vitellogenesis during oogenesis, the process of endogenous autosynthesis involved the combined activity of the Golgi complex, mitochondria and rough endoplasmic reticulum. However, the process of exogenous heterosynthesis involved endocytotic incorporation of extraovarian precursors at the basal region of the oolema of the early vitellogenic oocytes before the formation of the vitelline coat. In this study, follicle cells, which attached to the previtellogenic and vitellogenic oocytes, were easily found. In particular, the follicle cells were involved in the development of previtellogenic oocytes by the supply of nutrients, and vitellogenesis in the early and late vitellogenic oocytes by endocytosis of yolk precursors. Based on observations of follicle cells attached to degenerating oocytes after spawning, follicles of this species are involved in lysosomal induction of oocyte degeneration for the resorption phagosomes (phagolysosomes) in the cytoplasm for nutrient storage, as seen in other bivalves. In this study, the functions of follicle cells can accumulate reserves of lipid granules and glycogen particles for vitellogenesis from degenerating oocytes after spawning.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.121-132
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• 2013

Ultrastructural characteristics of the germ cells and accessory cells in testis during spermatogenesis and taxonomic values of mature sperm morphology of Ruditapes philippinarum were investigated by the transmission electron microscope and scanning electron microscope observations. The testis is the diffuse organ that consists of branching acini containing developing germ cells and accessory cells associated with spermatogenesis. The morphology of the spermatozoon is of the primitive type and is somewhat different to those of other bivalves. The morphologies of the sperm nucleus type and the acrosome shape of this species have a cylinderical type and a modified cone shape, respectively. As some ultrastructural characteristics of the acrosomal vesicle, the peripheral parts of two basal rings show electron opaque part, while the apex part of the acrosome shows electron lucent part. These characteristics of sperm belong to the family Veneridae in the subclass Heterodonta, unlike a characteristic of the subclass Pteriomorphia showing all part of the acrosome being composed of electron opaque part. In particular, a cylinder-like nucleus of the sperm is curved. The spermatozoon is approximately $48-51{\mu}m$ in length, including a long acrosome (about $2.4{\mu}m$ in length), a curved sperm nucleus (about $3.40{\mu}m$ in length), and a tail flagellum. The axoneme of the sperm tail shows a 9+2 structure.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.498-506
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• 2015

We examined the feeding habits of larval Clupea pallasii using 148 specimens collected from December 2010 to April 2011 in the Nakdong River estuary, Korea. We found that larval C. pallasii [8.3-26.0 mm NL (notochord length)] are carnivorous, consuming mainly copepods, rotifers, cirripeds, and free-living flatworms (Macrostomida). Their diet also include small quantities of shrimp nauplii, tintinnids, cladocerans, and larval bivalves, among other food sources. To evaluate ontogenetic changes in dietary composition, we split larvae into four size groups: 8-12 mm, 12-16 mm, 16-20 mm, and > 20 mm NL. Rotifers were the most important prey items for the smallest group, but all other groups predominantly consumed copepods. The largest group frequently preyed on rotifers, cirripeds and flatworms, in addition to copepods. Larvae also showed bi-modal feeding, with peaks in the late afternoon and at midnight, wherein the mean number of prey per individual peaked at 1,800-1,900 h.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.76-81
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• 2012

The feeding habits of daggertooth pike conger Muraenesox cinereus were studied using 380 specimens collected in the coastal waters off Goseong, Korea, from June to September, 2011. The M. cinereus ranged from 10.0-23.7 cm in anal length (AL). M. cinereus is a piscivore that consumes mainly fish. Engraulis japonicus was the preferred prey, but its diet also included small numbers of crabs, shrimps, cephalopods, and bivalves. The feeding strategy graphical method revealed that M. cinereus is a specialized feeder with a narrow niche width. All size classes of M. cinereus consumed fish and M. cinereus did not show significant ontogenetic changes in feeding habits. The diet overlap index between size classes was >0.96, indicating high diet similarities. The prey size increased significantly with M. cinereus size.

• The Korean Journal of Malacology
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.177-187
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• 2014

Mussels have been commonly used in bioassay for quality assessments of environment. Moreover, several standard protocols for the developmental bioassay of bivalves have been proposed. In this study, the EC50 of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) was determined using mussel, Mytilus galloprovincialis embryonic developmental bioassay. To determine the sensitivity of M. galloprovincialis, their fertilized eggs were exposed to five PAHs (2-metylnaphthalene, fluorene, dibenzothiophene, phenanthrene, pyrene). The EC50 of 2-metylnaphthalene, fluorene, dibenzothiophene, phenanthrene, and pyrene were 232, 273, 67.9, 43.2, and $33.1{\mu}g/L$, respectively. The overall sensitivity of M. galloprovincialis in the present developmental bioassay was similar to or more sensitive than that of other marine organisms commonly used in aquatic bioassays. The results of this study could be provide with fundamental data of setting standard for protection of marine life and or can use prediction the aquatic toxicity of PAHs.

• The Korean Journal of Malacology
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2008

Spermatogenesis and the reproductive cycle in male Spisula sachalinensis were investigated by cytological and histological observations. The morphology of the spermatozoon has a primitive type and is similar to those of other bivalves in that it contains a short midpiece with four mitochondria surrounding the centrioles. But spermatozoon of this species has not axial rod and satellite body in the midpiece. The morphologies of the sperm nucleus type and the acrosome shape of this species have a globe-shape type and modified cap-like shape, respectively. The spermatozoon is approximately $40-45{\mu}m$ in length including the sperm nucleus length (about $1.35{\mu}m$), acrosome length (about $1.50{\mu}m$) and tail flagellum. The axoneme of the sperm tail flagellum consists of nine pairs of microtubules at the periphery and a pair at the center. The axoneme of the sperm tail shows a 9+2 structure. The spawning period of these species lasts from June to July, and the main spawning occurs in July when seawater temperatures are greater than $20^{\circ}C$. The male reproductive cycle of this species can be categorized into five successive stages: early active stage (October to January), late active stage (February to April), ripe stage (April to June), partially spawned stage (June and July), and spent/inactive stage (August to September).

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.48 no.5
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• pp.752-759
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• 2015

We examined the feeding habits of larval Konosirus punctatus using 165 specimens collected from May to August 2011 in the Nakdong River estuary, Korea. We found that larval K. punctatus [3.9-8.4 mm notochord length (NL)] are carnivorous, consuming mainly rotifers. Their diet also included small numbers of rhizopods, tintinnids, euglenoids, copepods, larval bivalves, dinoflagellates, diatoms, and unidentified materials. To evaluate ontogenetic changes in dietary composition, we split the larvae into three size groups: < 5 mm, 5-6 mm, and > 6 mm NL. The smallest size group frequently preyed on rhizopods. As NL increased, the number of rotifers increased relative to those of rhizopods. Larvae also showed bimodal feeding for feeding incidence, with peaks in the midafternoon and at midnight, while the mean number of prey per individual peaked at 18:00-19:00 h.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.227-234
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• 2007

Spermatogenesis, the reproductive cycle, and the size at first sexual maturity in male Mactra chinensis were investigated by cytological and histological observations. The spermatozoon exhibits a primitive type morphology and is similar to those of other bivalves in that it contains a short midpiece with four mitochondria surrounding the centrioles. The morphologies of the sperm nucleus type and the acrosome shape of this species are cylindrical and modified cap-like, respectively. The spermatozoon is approximately $40-45\;{\mu}m$ in length including the sperm nucleus (about $1.46\;{\mu}m$), acrosome (about $1.20\;{\mu}m$) and tail flagellum. The axoneme of the sperm tail flagellum consists of nine pairs of microtubules at the periphery and a pair at the center. The axoneme of the sperm tail shows a 9+2 structure. The spawning period of this species lasts from June to September, and the main spawning occurs in July and August, when the seawater temperature is greater than $20^{\circ}C$. The percentage of individual male clams at first sexual maturity was 56.5% for those whose shell lengths were 35.1-40.0 mm, and 100% for over 45.1 mm. Accordingly, harvesting clams <35.1 mm in shell length could potentially cause a drastic reduction in recruitment, and a measure indicating a prohibitory fishing size should be taken for adequate fisheries management.