• Ocean and Polar Research
• /
• v.27 no.3
• /
• pp.351-358
• /
• 2005

Reproductive condition of the tropical blacklip pearl oyster, Pinctada margaritifera collected during the period July through September 2003 from Chuuk Lagoon, Federated State of Micronesia was investigated using histology. The level of gonad development for each pearl oyster was determined with an average score of five microscopic fields, and the average score was used as the maturity index (ML). All wild pearl oysters collected in July did exhibit fully ripe eggs in their ovaries ($45{\sim}50{\mu}M$ in diameter), indicating that they were ready for spawning. In mid August most wild pearl oysters were in spawning and M1 dropped dramatically from mid- to late September, suggesting that the wild pearl oyster completed spawning during this period. In contrast, the cultivated pearl oysters collected in mid-September held ripe eggs in the ovaries and only a few of them spawned, indicating that gonad maturation of the cultivated pearl oyster was somewhat slower than that of the wild pearl oyster in Chuuk Lagoon during the summer period. Histological analysis also indicated that spawning of the pearl oyster is rather incomplete and they may spawn continuously during summer.

• Ocean and Polar Research
• /
• v.27 no.4
• /
• pp.463-476
• /
• 2005

Mesozooplankton samples were collected to investigate the spatial distribution in the Chuuk lagoon of the Federated States of Micronesia through three surveys from 2002 to 2004. Average temperature was $28.70^{\circ}C$ in August 2002, $30.17^{\circ}C$ in October 2003 and $29.18^{\circ}C$ in July 2004 at a water depth of 2rn. Average salinity was 33.95 psu in August 2002, 33.56 psu in October 2003 and 33.77 psu in July 2004. Total rnosozooplankton consisted of 70 taxa during the study period, among which copepods were the most diverse group. Foraminiferans, radiolarians, copepods and appendicularians, which comprised about 70% of total zooplankton abundance, were important components in the zooplankton community. Within the copepod group, Acartia spp., Centropages spp. and Undinula spp. were dominant in August 2002, Acartia spp., Centropages spp., and Oithona spp. in October 2003, and Acartia spp., Undinula spp., and Oithona spp. in July 2004. Total zooplankton abundance was high around Weno Island, while low in stations located in the northern part of Weno Island. High abundances of appendicularians were found in the southern part of weno Island as well as around Weno Island. Appendicularians foraminiferans, radiolarians, Sagitta spp. and immature copepods accounted for most of the distribution pattern of the mesozzoplankton community throughout the study area. These results suggest that appendicularians may be potential food items for fish larvae around Weno Island in the Chuuk lagoon states.

• Ocean and Polar Research
• /
• v.35 no.4
• /
• pp.441-452
• /
• 2013

The fish species composition of seagrass bed in Chuuk Lagoon, Micronesia, was investigated every month from August 2009 to July 2011, using a seine net for fish caught. A total of 32 fish species belonging to 18 families under 6 orders were identified during the study period. Of these fish, Atherinomrus lacunosus, and Strongylura incise were the major dominant species representing 85.0% in total number of individuals. The number of species and individuals were high from August to December 2009, 2010. The biomass was highest in September 2010 and the diversity index was higher in September 2009, April, August 2010 and July 2011. The 14 dominant species could be divided into 2 groups of 3 individuals based on appearance patterns; (1) resident species and temporal species (9 species, e.g. Atherinomrus lacunosus), juvenile and adults living in seagrass beds and juveniles living only in seagrass beds; (2) temporal species (2 species, e.g. Hemiramphus lutkei), juveniles living only in seagrass beds; (3) temporal species (3 individuals, e.g. Caranx sexfasiatus). For some species, the appearance patterns were affected by water temperature. However, the relationships between sea currents, salinity, tide, and structure of fish assemblage remain unclear. Further studies that regularly monitor sea grass habitats are necessary to clearly understand the correlation between environmental factors and sea grass habitat use patterns in fish assemblages.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• v.54 no.2
• /
• pp.180-187
• /
• 2021

This study was conducted to investigate the reproductive characteristics of the Neon damselfish Pomacentrus coelestis in Chuuk lagoon (7°27' N, 151°53' E), Micronesia, Equatorial Pacific Ocean. The specimens used in this study were collected from August 2009 to September 2010 from around the coral reef area at a depth of 3-10 m in the northwest coast of Weno Island. Overall, 228 individuals were collected over 14 months from this area, of which 115 were females and 108 were males. Among 108 males, 30 were found to be hermaphrodites and the sex of 5 individuals could not be determined. The overall sex ratio was approximately 1.06:1 (female:male), and the ratio of sexually active individuals was 0.79:1. The gonadosomatic index (GSI) fluctuated and showed the highest value of 8.43±1.21 in December 2009 and the lowest value of 3.36±0.71 in September 2009 in sexually active females. Males showed the highest GSI value of 2.64±0.93 in June 2010 and the lowest value of 0.35±0.06 in July 2010. Based on the fluctuation of GSI, the trends in the appearance of monthly sexually active individuals, and biopsy of the gonads, P. coelestis was found to be a hermaphrodite species of protogynous type and is considered to be reproductively active throughout the year.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
• /
• v.24 no.1 s.61
• /
• pp.81-88
• /
• 2006

The cell abundance and marker pigment distribution patterns of picophytoplankton in the Chuuk Lagoon, tropical South Pacific, were analyzed flow cytometry and HPLC. Also, respective contribution of Synechococcus, Prochlorococcus and picoeukaryotes on estimated carbon biomass was evaluated. Synechococcus and Prochlorococcus showed contrasting distributional patterns in the waters of Chuuk Lagoon. Relatively high concentration of Synechococcus was observed near Weno Island but the concentration decreased toward the Northeast Passage. However, Prochlorococcus showed an opposite distributional pattern. Picoeukaryotes did not show any significant variable difference. The range of divinyl chlorophyll a (Chl. $\alpha$) concentration, marker pigment of Prochlorococcus, was $1.2\sim180.3\;ng\;L^{-1}$ and higher concentrations were observed at the stations near the Northeast Passage than stations near Weno Island. This pigment pattern was similar to cell abundance pattern indicating that chi. a2 may be a useful biomass indicator. On the other hand, the range of zeaxanthin concentrations was $61.4\sim135.8\;ng\;L^{-1}$ showing comparatively less significant variation indicating zeaxanthin influence derived from Prochlorococcus. Estimated carbon biomass of Synechococcus contributed 68% of total picophytoplankton biomass. Prochlorococcus and picoeukaryotes respectively contributed 17.1% and 14.9% of total picophytoplankton biomass.

• Ocean and Polar Research
• /
• v.32 no.1
• /
• pp.53-61
• /
• 2010

The distribution of coral reefs can be an indicator of environmental or anthropogenic impacts. Here, we present a habitat map of coral reefs developed using high-spatial satellite images. The study area was located on the north-eastern part of Weno island, in the Chuuk lagoon of Federated States of Micronesia. Two fieldwork expeditions were carried out between 2007 and 2008 to acquire optical and environmental data from 121 stations. We used an IKONOS image obtained in December 2000, and a Kompsat-2 image obtained in September 2008 for the purpose of coral reef mapping. We employed an adapted version of the object-based classification method for efficient classification of the high-spatial satellite images. The habitat map generated using Kompsat-2 was 72.22% accurate in terms of comparative analysis with in-situ measurements. The result of change detection analysis between 2000 and 2008 showed that coral reef distribution had decreased by 6.27% while seagrass meadows had increased by 8.0%.

• Ocean and Polar Research
• /
• v.35 no.4
• /
• pp.415-425
• /
• 2013

In order to understand phytoplankton and bacterial distribution in tropical coral reef ecosystems in relation to the mangrove community, their biomass and activities were measured in the sea waters of the Chuuk and the Kosrae lagoons located in Micronesia. Chlorophyll a and bacterial abundance showed maximal values in the seawater near the mangrove forests, and then steeply decreased as the distance increased from the mangrove forests, indicating that environmental conditions for these microorganisms changed greatly in lagoon waters. Together with chlorophyll a, abundance of Synechococcus and phototrophic picoeukaryotes and a variety of indicator pigments for dinoflagellates, diatoms, green algae and cryptophytes also showed similar spatial distribution patterns, suggesting that phytoplankton assemblages respond to the environmental gradient by changing community compositions. In addition, primary production and bacterial production were also highest in the bay surrounded by mangrove forest and lowest outside of the lagoon. These results suggest that mangrove waters play an important role in energy production and nutrient cycling in tropical coasts, undoubtedly receiving large inputs of organic matter from shore vegetation such as mangroves. However, the steep decrease of biomass and production of phytoplankton and heterotrophic bacteria within a short distance from the bay to the level of oligotrophic waters indicates that the effect of mangrove waters does not extend far away.

• Ocean and Polar Research
• /
• v.34 no.3
• /
• pp.297-304
• /
• 2012

Pylaiella littoralis was collected in the Chuuk lagoon of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM). The FSM has a variety of coral reef ecosystems, which provide essential materials, such as minerals, vitamins, essential amino acids, for marine organisms. In this study, the antioxidant activities of ethanol and enzymatic extracts of P. littoralis were evaluated by measuring their scavenging activities on DPPH free radical, Alkyl radical, hydroxyl radical and cell viability. The enzymatic extracts were hydrolyzed to prepare water soluble extracts by using five carbohydrate degrading enzymes (AMG, Celluclast, Termamyl, Ultraflo, and Viscozyme) and five proteases (Alcalase, Flavourzyme, Kojizyme, Neutrase, and Protamex). As a result, the enzymatic extracts prepared by Flavourzyme, Ultraflo, and Kojizyme exhibited the greatest effects in DPPH free radical, alkyl radical scavenging activity and cell viability. Also, these enzymatic extracts had a higher antioxidant effect then commercial antioxidants in DPPH free radical and Alkyl radical scavenging activity. This study suggests that P. littoralis might be a useful source of natural antioxidants for the development of dietary supplements.

• Ocean and Polar Research
• /
• v.28 no.1
• /
• pp.13-23
• /
• 2006

This study was conducted to investigate the community structure and distributional pattern of meiobenthos on the sediment of the mangrove forest and seagrass bed in the Chuuk lagoon. The samples were collected by an acryl corer at 14 stations. Nematodes were the most abundant meiobenthos, followed by ciliophorans and polychaetes; these taxa comprised more than 70% of the total abundance at all stations. The meiofuuna sampled in seagrass bed were more diverse than those of mangrove substrates. Total densities were higher in mangrove stations than other sites, averaging 1,671 to $2,967inds/10cm^2$. Densities in seagrass area ranged between 605 and $1,053inds/10cm^2$. Biomasses, however, were higher in seagrass bed $(975-2,167{\mu}g\;free\;dry\;weight/10cm^2)$ than in mangrove area $(1,064-1,180{\mu}g\;free\;dry\;weight/10cm^2)$. Ordination chart by MDS of major meiofaunal density in each station showed difference between mangrove area and seagrass area in terms of habitat of meiobenthos.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
• /
• v.14 no.6
• /
• pp.3114-3119
• /
• 2013

The mangrove ecosystems have the capacity to act as a sink of heavy metals entering aquatic ecosystems. Despite their potential exposure to metal contaminated sediments, mangroves appear to be highly tolerant to heavy metals. In this study, we cloned metal tolerance gene from mangrove plant. Using CTAB method, RNA were isolated from leaves and root tissue of Rhizophora stylosa habitated at Weno island in Micronesia Chuuk lagoon using CTAB method and phytochelatin synthase 1 (PCS1) gene was cloned using gene specific primers. Expression of PCS1 gene was increased 1.91 fold and 2.72 fold in mangrove propagules exposed to 100 ppb Cd and 10 ppb Cu, respectively. These results indicate that expression of PCS1 gene are promising tools for health assessment of mangrove ecosystem.