• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.331-338
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• 2022

The high latitude scleractinian coral Alveopora japonica Eguchi, 1965 occurs in high density in the shallow rocky subtidal in Jeju Island, forming coral carpets. Despite its ecological role providing a unique habitat for other benthic organisms, the benthic fauna associated with the A. japonica coral carpet is poorly known. To identify fauna associated with the coral carpet, we explored three sites dominated by A. japonica and one control site on northwestern Jeju Island in May 2013. Using SCUBA, we collected A. japonica and the epibenthic mega-fauna associated with the colonies in 1×1 m² and identified them to the species level. At a depth of 10 to 15 m, A. japonica colonies heavily covered the seafloor, forming a layer called a coral carpet, with a density of 94 (Keumneung-ri), 133 (Biyangdo), and 155 (Gwidok-ri) colonies/m². Thirty-four molluscan species were identified from the four sites, including 20 bivalves and 14 gastropods. The coral carpets were enriched with sessile bivalves compared to the control site, as we identified twenty bivalve and eight gastropod species from the coral carpets. Most bivalve species associated with the coral carpets had tropical-subtropical affinities, while gastropods were mainly subtropical and subtropical-low boreal species. Leiosolenus lischkei M. Huber, 2010, in the family Mytilidae and Barbatia steamsi (Pilsbry, 1895), in the family Arcidae, were the two most abundant bivalve species in the coral carpet, L. lischkei being a borer, and B. stearnsi a nestler. The tropical to subtropical Pacific star shell Astralium haematragum (Menke, 1829)was the most abundant gastropod at the study sites. The bivalves and gastropods associated with the coral carpet were small-sized juveniles or sub-adults, suggesting that the coral carpet provides a micro-habitat for the bivalves and gastropods.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.687-698
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• 2021

We present quantitative estimations of changes in the areal extent of coral reef habitats at Weno Island, Micronesia, using high-spatial-resolution remote sensing images and field observations. Coral reef habitat maps were generated from Kompsat-2 satellite images for September 2008 and September 2010, yielding classifications with 78.6% and 72.4% accuracy, respectively, which is a relatively high level of agreement. The difference between the number of pixels occupied by each seabed type was calculated, revealing that the areal extent of living corals decreased by 8.2 percentage points between 2008 and 2010. This result is consistent with a comparison of the seabed types determined by field observations. This study can be used as a basis for remediation planning to diminish the impact of changes in coral reefs.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.615-625
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• 2021

The coastal areas around Palau Island and Tonga Island, near the Pacific equator, consist of coral reefs, mangrove and seaweed. In particular, understanding the optical properties of sea surface water in coral reef habitats helps improve the accuracy of remote sensing based habitat mapping and identify tropical ecosystem characteristics. Here, we collected spectral characteristics of sea surface water of Palau Island and Tonga Island and analyzed the concentration of suspended matters, absorption coefficient, and remote sensing reflectance to understand the seawater characteristics of the coral reef habitats. Based on the results of the suspended matter concentration analysis, we developed and verified an empirical algorithm to derive the concentration from satellite data using remote sensing reflectance of three bands, 555, 625, 660 nm, showed a high determinant coefficient, 0.98. In conclusion, coral reef habitats in tropical regions are characterized by CASE-I water in terms of the marine optics with oligotrophic properties, and require monitoring using continuous collection and analysis of field data.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.395-405
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• 2013

The aim of this study is to suggest an optimal survey method for coastal habitat monitoring around Weno Island in Chuuk Atoll, Federated States of Micronesia (FSM). This study was carried out to compare and analyze differences between in situ survey (PHOTS) and high spatial satellite imagery (Worldview-2) with regard to the coastal habitat distribution patterns of Weno Island. The in situ field data showed the following coverage of habitat types: sand 42.4%, seagrass 26.1%, algae 14.9%, rubble 8.9%, hard coral 3.5%, soft coral 2.6%, dead coral 1.5%, others 0.1%. The satellite imagery showed the following coverage of habitat types: sand 26.5%, seagrass 23.3%, sand + seagrass 12.3%, coral 18.1%, rubble 19.0%, rock 0.8% (Accuracy 65.2%). According to the visual interpretation of the habitat map by in situ survey, seagrass, sand, coral and rubble distribution were misaligned compared with the satellite imagery. While, the satellite imagery appear to be a plausible results to identify habitat types, it could not classify habitat types under one pixel in images, which in turn overestimated coral and rubble coverage, underestimated algae and sand. The differences appear to arise primarily because of habitat classification scheme, sampling scale and remote sensing reflectance. The implication of these results is that satellite imagery analysis needs to incorporate in situ survey data to accurately identify habitat. We suggest that satellite imagery must correspond with in situ survey in habitat classification and sampling scale. Subsequently habitat sub-segmentation based on the in situ survey data should be applied to satellite imagery.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.53-61
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• 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
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.25-34
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• 2005

Impacts of Typhoon Maemi on a soft-coral community located on subtidal cliff at Munseom, Jeju were investigated in this study using underwater photography. Typhoon Maemi hit Jeju Island in late September 2003 and its impact was strong enough to destruct most shallow water sessile benthos including soft corals. To estimate numbers and size of soft-coral colonies, a line transect was installed on the cliff at depth from 3 to 9 m and photographs were taken serially by every 1m. From each $1{\times}1m$ underwater photograph, species and size of soft-coral colony was determined. Number of soft-coral colony and its Percent coverage (PC) in each $1m^2$ quadrat was calculated. Soft corals Scleronephthya gracillium, Dendronephthya gigantea, D. spinulosa and D. castanea were identified from the photographs. Dendronephthya sp. was mainly distributed at 3-6m while S. gracillimum was mostly occurred at $6{sim}9m$. A survey conducted before the typhoon showed that number of the soft-coral colonies at $3{\sim}4m,\;4{\sim}5m,\;5{\sim}6m,\;6{\sim}7m,\;7{\sim}8m\;and\;8{\sim}9m$ was 17, 24, 20, 23, 18 and 30 $colonies/m^2$ or 21, 48, 36, 28, 24 and 43%, respectively. After the typhoon, number of soft-coral colonies in the transect increased, 31, 35, 21, 10, 21 and 50 $colonies/m^2$ while PC was remarkably decreased as 21, 23, 21, 5, 9 and 13%, respectively. Our data suggested that the impact was limited in larger colonies; larger soft coral colonies were selectively destroyed and removed while the small colonies underneath the larger colonies remained undestroyed.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.193-199
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• 1999

Fifty-eight strains showing different colony morphological characteristics on various media were isolated from marine coral (Plexauridae sp.) and ambient seawater near Mun-Sum, Cheju-Island in 1998. Bacterial diversity was studies by phylogenetic analysis of the partial 16S rRNA gene sequences. All isolates representing the bacterial domain included affiliates of the high G+C (59%) and los G+C (3%) subdivision of Gram positive bacteria, and the alpha (33%) and gamma (5%) subdivision of the Proteobacteria. The 16S rDNA sequence similarity of the isolates was in the 88.3 to 100% range (average, 95.6%) to reported sequence data. In the comparison of the isolates from marine coarl and ambient seawater, more diverse groups belonging to ${\alpha}$-Proteobacteria were preferentially obtained from seawater.

• Animal Systematics, Evolution and Diversity
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.49-54
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• 2010

Paramolgus orientalis n. sp. is described as an associate of the antipatharian coral Antipathes japonicus from Jeju Island, Korea. The new species is distinguished from its three relatives P. constrictus, P. delicatulus, and P. insectus, all known from antipatharians in tropical waters, by its long caudal ramus which is more than four times as long as wide, by the possession of 4 setae on maxillule, and by other morphological differences in the antenna and maxilla.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.215-225
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• 2007

The azooxanthellate soft coral Dendronephthya suensoni (Holem, 1895) is distributed mainly around Jejudo Island, Korea. This species was determined as gonochoric with a sex ratio of 2:1 (female:male). Both female and male colonies have one gametogenic cycle a year. The annual reproductive cycle of D. suensoni is dependent on the seawater temperature. In particular, reproduction of the male colony showed a higher positive correlation between seawater temperature and the mean diameter of the spermaries. Gametogenesis in females and males took 6 months and 12 months, respectively. The mean diameter of a mature oocyte was $249.29\;{\pm}\;36.24\;{\mu}m$, with a maximum size of $354.45\;{\mu}m$. Spawning could have occurred in the fall after the seawater temperature began to decrease.

• ALGAE
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.205-216
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• 2010

The marine red alga Kappaphycus alvarezii is a major source of $\kappa$-carrageenan. It has been introduced in 20 countries including India. Recently, several reports have expressed concerns about Kappaphycus invasion on Acropora corals at Kurusadai Island in the Gulf of Mannar, India, which is part of a marine bioreserve. To understand the extent of the Kappaphycus invasion, 27 randomly selected locations around Kurusadai Island and the mainland coast were surveyed during May-August 2008 and July 2009. Our rigorous sampling revealed that K. alvarezii was confined to two different patches of 105 m $\times$ 55 m and 8 m $\times$ 9 m located at the southeastern part of Kurusadai Island. The actual extent of the K. alvarezii canopy coverage was 76.7 $m^2$, accounting for less than 0.0035% of the total coral reef area. The daily growth rate of the K. alvarezii at Kurusadai was 0.7%. K. alvarezii was not observed in the coral reef area of the adjoining Pullivasal and Poomarichan Islands or the Palk Bay area cultivation sites. The lack of functional reproductive cycle, low spore viability, and the absence of microscopic phases in the life cycle of this alga coupled with the abundance presence of herbivores may restrict the further spread of this alga, so its invasive potential at Kurusadai Island is considered remote.