• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.151-154
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• 2016

The trematodes of Genus Nasitrema are the most common infection in the heads of small odontocetes. Five species of Nasitrema have been described in Asia. But those parasites has been not surveyed in the East Sea of Korean peninsula. There are no evidence of pathology associated with Nasitrema attenuate. To determine the infection ratio of N. attenuata in the dolphin, it was surveyed 9 long-beaked common dolphin, Delphinus capensis, caught incidentally from Samcheok to Pohang, East Sea, Korea. Five males and four females, estimated to be between 1 to 10 years old, were examined. The quantity of N. attenuata harvested by aspiration from pterygoid sinuses ranged from 10 to 100 with a 100% (9/9) infection with older dolphins exhibiting higher parasite counts. The body of trematoda was elongated with tegumental patches resembling the leaves of lilies and oral sucker located ventrally at the anterior terminal. Esophagus was absent and intestinal bifurcation arose immediately from the posterior of pharynx. The undulated intestinal caeca transversed the entire body and terminated at the posterior extremity of the worm. The genital pore opened anterior to the ventral sucker. This report confirms the prevalence and morphology of N. attenuata in the dolphins from the East Sea, Korea.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.35-43
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• 2011

Blubber plays different biological roles in cetaceans, including structural support, physiological demands (thermoregulation, streamlining, buoyancy, etc.), and energy storage. As such, biochemical composition, especially lipid, in the blubber may be vertically stratified in order to effectively assist with these functions. We analysed lipid content, class and fatty acid composition in the blubber of by-catch minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata; n = 11), long-beaked common dolphin (Delphinus capensis; n = 3) and Pacific white-sided dolphin (Lagenorhynchus obiquidens; n = 2) from Korean waters. Lipid content for all three species ranged from 55 to 96% of wet weight, with a dominance of triacylglycerols. Vertical stratification of blubber lipid content was different between species. For minke whale and longbeaked common dolphin, it increased from inner (near the muscle) to outer (near the skin) layer, whereas it decreased for Pacific white-sided dolphin. Thirty-one fatty acids were found in all blubber samples and vertical stratification of fatty acid composition was similar among all three species. Among grouped fatty acids, monounsaturates were the most abundant, gradually increasing from inner to outer blubber layer, whereas polyunsaturates and saturates decreased. Such vertical stratification of lipid content and composition suggests that the modification and accumulation of lipid occur in the blubber itself in order to help cetaceans with their specific physiological needs.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.51 no.5
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• pp.600-605
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• 2018

The Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins Tursiops aduncus are the only cetacean species that can be observed visually on coastal areas of Jeju Island and regarded as one of valuable tour resources. We attempted to figure out location and timing information of the dolphin sightings collected from two major social media, Naver $Caf{\acute{e}}$ and Instagram. 142 of dolphin sighting information were derived from 2,501 dolphin related postings on Naver $Caf{\acute{e}}$ between 2004 to 2017. 292 informative postings also were found on Instagram through hashtag searching. The number of posts about dolphin sighting was not frequent until 2014. Since 13 posts were found in 2014, dramatic increase of the sighting numbers was accelerated as 38 in 2015, 93 in 2016 and 269 in 2017. 195 (45.7%) from coastal area of Daejeong-eup, south-western part of the Island, were posted. The number of dolphin sightings also high from Gujwa-eup(n=50, 11.7%), Hangyeong-myeon (n=49, 11.5%), Seongsan-eup (n=38, 8.9%) and Seogwipo-si (n=34, 8.0%). Our results show that social media data has a high potential to be used as a data source for study of distribution pattern of the dolphins.

• Journal of Marine Bioscience and Biotechnology
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.102-109
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• 2014

Cetaceans (whales, dolphins, and porpoises) are aquatic mammals that experienced drastic changes during the transition from terrestrial to aquatic environment. Morphological changes include streamlined body, alterations in the face, transformation of the forelimbs into flippers, disappearance of the hindlimbs and the acquisition of flukes on the tail. For a prolonged diving, cetaceans acquired hypoxia-resistance by developing various anatomical and physiological changes. However, molecular mechanisms underlying these adaptations are still limited. CREB-binding protein (CREBBP) is a transcriptional co-activator critical for embryonic development, growth control, metabolic homeostasis and responses to hypoxia. Natural selection analysis of five cetacean CREBBPs compared with those from 15 terrestrial relatives revealed strong purifying selection, supporting the importance of its role in mammals. However, prediction for amino acid changes that elicit functional difference of CREBBP identified three cetacean specific changes localized within a region required for interaction with SRCAP and in proximal regions to KIX domain of CREBBP. Mutations in CREBBP or SRCAP are known to cause craniofacial and skeletal defects in human, and KIX domain of CREBBP serves as a docking site for transcription factors including c-Myb, an essential regulator of haematopoiesis. In these respects, our study provides interesting insights into the functional adaptation of cetacean CREBBP for aquatic lifestyle.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.166-171
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• 2008

The feasibility of photo-identification techniques for the bottlenose dolphins from Jeju Island, Korea, and the potential for dolphin watching were simultaneously evaluated in this study. During the sighting survey, a pod of bottlenose dolphins composed of approximately 30 individuals was observed in the southwestern coastal area of Jeju Island. Among 35 suitable photographs, five bottlenose dolphin individuals were identified and cataloged using unique nicks and notches on their dorsal fins. This shows that the Jeju Island dolphins can be individually identified by the nicks and notches on their dorsal fins using photo-identification techniques. Furthermore, the Jeju Island population appears to be suitable for long-term population biology studies using this technique. The potential for dolphin watching around the island would be higher if more information on the seasonal distribution, movement, and residency of this population were obtained.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.54 no.2
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• pp.231-239
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• 2021

There are six species of pinnipeds in Korean waters. Because of the lack of research on pinnipeds, it has been difficult to obtain ecological information on each species. All six species have been designated as endangered species, marine protected species, or national monuments by the government, depending on historical records. In this study, the current status of pinnipeds in Korea was investigated through reviewing the literature, and sighting and bycatch records, with the intention of providing new information for the review of the six species. Spotted seals and northern fur seals are well known inhabitants of Korea. The southern part of the East Sea is thought to be the margin of the distribution of Steller sea lions. Sightings of ribbon seals and ringed seals were not confirmed in Korean waters. Sea lions have not been seen since their last sighting on Dokdo in 1951 and are thought to have become extinct after that. It is necessary to delist undistributed or extinct species in Korea from the marine protected species list.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.42 no.6
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• pp.657-663
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• 2009

This paper reports the strandings of sea turtles on Korean shores monitored for the first time in 2008. A total of 19 sea turtles, consisting of 12 greens and 7 loggerheads, were recorded as stranded from the east coast to the south including Jeju Island. Reported strandings reached a peak in July and dominant area was Jeju Island. The curved carapace length of loggerhead sea turtles ranged 65-84.2cm and that of green sea turtles ranged 39.2-90cm, indicating most of them were immature to sub-adult. Out of 19 turtles, 11 were found dead with unknown reasons. Possible causes of death may include drawning by fishing gear, swallowing of marine debris, boat collision, and diseases. An immature green sea turtle tagged with a satellite transmitter spent winter near Jeju Island where it was released, suggesting that the Island provide immature greens a feeding ground. Considering thousands of sea turtles crawl on Japanese shores for nesting every year, the number of sea turtles reported in Korean waters was relatively small. Therefore, it is suggested that an appropriate monitoring system be necessary to protect and conserve endangered sea turtle species in Korean waters.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.723-729
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• 2012

On 3 February 2011, a mass mortality of finless porpoises Neophocaena asiaeorientalis occurred at a dike of the Saemangeum Sea dike. A total of 249 carcasses were collected; these had been stranded by a sea dike and had floated into the lake formed by the dike. Eight bodies were measured, and four of these were dissected to analyze stomach contents. The blubber thicknesses of five bodies were compared with those of caught finless porpoises in the Yellow Sea from 2010. Finless porpoises at the Saemangeum Sea dike exhibited better nutritive conditions than finless porpoises in the Yellow Sea. Air temperature in January 2011 was lower than the prior 5-year average (P<0.05). Water temperature when the mass mortality occurred was lower than values observed in 2009 and 2010: values below $0^{\circ}C$ had been recorded, and the majority of the dike lake had frozen over. The mass mortality of finless porpoises may have been caused by these unusually low temperatures.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Fisheries and Ocean Technology
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• v.59 no.4
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• pp.399-406
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• 2023

This study presents an analysis of bycatch data concerning Pacific white-sided dolphins (Lagenorhynchus obliquidens) along the Korean coast from 2016 to 2021. A total of 503 bycatches were examined, encompassing data on year, month, body length, sex, latitude (N), longitude (E), and fishing gear. Bycatch was the most frequent in waters with a longitude of less than 130°E, particularly in the southern coastal region at a latitude of 35.5°N, with a higher likelihood of bycatch in lower latitudes. Since 2017, a decreasing trend in bycatches has been observed. The sex distribution of bycaught dolphins showed a predominance of males (40%), followed by females (31%), with an unclassified category at 29%, though no statistically significant differences were found (p > 0.05). Seasonal analysis indicated that bycatch predominantly occurred during the winter months, with significant monthly variations (p < 0.01). Pacific white-sided dolphins were primarily ensnared in gill nets and, to a lesser extent, in stationary nets. Statistical analysis by gear type revealed a significant preference for gill nets (p < 0.001). Considering body length composition in relation to latitude, it is suggested that Pacific white-sided dolphins may utilize the southern waters of the East Sea as a potential nursery ground, though this was not confirmed at a significant level, emphasizing the need for further in-depth monitoring and ecological investigations. Given that there are approximately 27 different types of gill nets associated with the majority of bycatches, more detailed research is warranted to divide these gear types into finer subcategories for estimating bycatch relationships, ultimately leading to the development of effective conservation and management strategies.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.456-460
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• 2018

Little is known about the movements of finless porpoises Neophocaena asiaeorientalis and their relationship with sea surface temperature (SST). A female finless porpoise that was stranded alive on the shore at Busan was rehabilitated for 16 months at the Sea Life Busan Aquarium. The porpoise was released off Geoje Island with a satellite tag on her mid-ridge and tracking data were received for 7 days. The porpoise moved directly to the southern shore of Gadeok Island, where an earlier study reported that finless porpoises were most abundant around the island. The tracking route revealed two other potential primary habitats. The porpoise moved to the middle of the east coast of the Korean Peninsula at Uljin, beyond the distribution boundary known from earlier studies. Satellite infrared images detected a cold water mass off the Uljin coast and the tracking route showed that the porpoise avoided this low-temperature area.