• Journal of the Korean Society for Marine Environment & Energy
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.9-16
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• 2005

A series of experiments was conducted to evaluate the effects of temperature on the survival, growth and sensitivity of the benthic amphipods, Mandibuluphoxus mai and Monocnrophium acherusicum, which have been recently developed as new sediment toxicity testing species in Korea. The biological performance for each amphipod species was determined by the survival and growth rates at different water temperatures. The influence of temperature on the sensitivity to reference toxicant, Cd, was determined by the comparison of survival rates of amphipods exposed to control and Cd-spiked seawater at different temperatures. Temperature significantly influenced on the survival, growth and Cd sensitivity of both amphipods. Tolerable ranges of temperature for the >80％ individuals of both M. mai and M. acherusicum with sediment substrates were mostly overlapped (13 to 22℃). The daily growth rates of M. mai and M. acherkisicum increased proportionally with temperature up to 20℃ and 25℃. respectively. Similarly, the sensitivities of M. mai and M. acheyusicum to Cd increased with temperature up to 20℃ and 15℃, respectively. Overall results showed that temperature is a substantially important factor potentially influencing the results of lethal and sublethal bioassays using the amphipods. Therefore, defining the adequate ranges of experimental temperature for the toxicity testing species is the pre-requisite for the development of standardized bioassay protocols.

• Ocean Science Journal
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.17-24
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• 2005

A series of experiments were conducted to develop standard test organisms and test protocols for measuring sediment toxicity using candidate amphipods such as Mandibulophoxus mai, Monocorophium acherusicum, Haustorioides indivisus, and Haustorioides koreanus, which are indigenous to Korea. The relevant association of test species with sediment substrates was one of the important factors in sediment bioassay. The indigenous amphipods M mai and M. acherusicum were well associated with test sediments when they were exposed to various sediment substrates from sand to mud. The tolerant limits to various physico-chemical factors affecting bioassay results such as temperature, salinity and ammonia, as well as sensitivities to reference toxicant and contaminated sediments, were investigated using M. mai and M. acherusicum in the present study. These amphipods were tolerant to relatively wide ranges of salinity $(10{\sim}30\;psu)$ and ammonia (<50 ppm), and displayed relevant sensitivity to temperature as well. They are more sensitive to Cd, the reference toxicant, when compared to the standard test species used in other countries. Field-sediment toxicity tests revealed that M. mai would be more sensitive to sediment-associated pollutants than M. acherusicum, while the sensitivity of M. acherusicum was comparable to that of Leptocheirus plumulosus, which has been used as a standard test species in the United States of America. Overall results of this first attempt to develop an amphipod sediment toxicity test protocol in Korea indicated that M. mai and M. acherusicum would be applicable in the toxicity assessment of contaminated sediments, following the further evaluation encompassing various ecological and toxicological studies in addition to test method standardization.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.106-111
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• 2008

Six standard methods for marine ecotoxicological tests were established(or applicated) using marine decomposer, primary producers and consumers. Development processes referred to the standard methods established by USEPA(United States Environmental Protection Agency), international organizations and European methods. However, the standard test species were selected among the domestic species generally found in the Korean waters and sediments. The test methods provide the culture/maintenance of test species, test methods, reproducibility and quality acceptance criteria etc. A total of nine test species were designated including bioluminescent bacteria(Vibrio fischeri), diatom(Skeletonema costatum), seaweed(Ulva pertusa), rotifer(Brachionus plicatilis), benthic copepod(Tigriopus japonicus), benthic amphipods(Mandibulophoxus mai, Monocorophium acherusicum), and fishes(Oryzias latipes, Paralichthys olivaceus). These test species represent the decomposer, primary producer and consumers in marine trophic system in Korean coastal ecosystems, and we recommend the "battery test" including at least one species from the each trophic level for marine ecotoxicological test.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.147-155
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• 2008

A series of experiments were conducted to find standard test organisms and to develop test protocols for sediment toxicity tests using indigenous amphipods inhabited in Korean coastal environments. The indigenous amphipods Mandibulophoxus mai and Monocorophium acherusicum were well associated with various sediment substrates from sand to mud. The tolerance limits to various physico-chemical factors affecting bioassay results such as temperature, salinity and total ammonium as well as the sensitivities to contaminants in water and sediments were investigated using M. mai and M. acherusicum in the present study. These amphipods were tolerable to the adequate ranges of salinity ($10{\sim}30\;psu$), temperature ($10{\sim}25^{\circ}C$) and ammonia (<50 ppm). They have relevant sensitivities to the reference toxicants, dissolved cadmium as well as other metals and organic pollutants, when compared to the standard test species used in other countries. Field-sediment toxicity tests revealed that M. mai would be more sensitive to sediment-associated pollutants than M. acherusicum, while the sensitivity of M. acherusicum was comparable to those of other sediment test species in other countries. Overall results of this first attempt to develop an amphipod sediment toxicity test protocol in Korea indicated that M. mai and M. acherusicum should be applicable in the toxicity assessment of contaminated sediments, following the further evaluation encompassing various ecological and toxicological evaluation and the standardization of test method.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.69-88
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• 2005

Distribution of benthic macrofauna was surveyed in the subtidal area and on the sand flat of Sindu-ri coast during July 2002. A total of 134 species, 3,511 individuals and 388g biomass of macrobenthos were sampled inclusively from the study sites. 109 species with a mean density of $1,298ind./m^2$ and biomass of $69.4g/m^2$ were collected from 10 stations established in the subtidal area. Polychaetes were represented as a dominant faunal group of the subtidal area in both species richness and density with values of 54 species and $813ind./m^2$. Cluster analysis based on the faunal composition showed that the subtidal area could be divided into four stational groups according to sedimentary characteristics: Cirrophorus armatus - Lumbrineris longifolia association on the mud sediment with pebbles near aqua-farms; Aonides oxycephala association on the rocky bed; Scoloplos armiger - Grandifoxus cuspis association on the sand-dominated sediment along the lowest low water; a association with higher evenness on the sand-dominated sediment in the depth. Although having characteristics of high value in species richness, density and species diversity, the macrobenthic association around the farming area was dominated by the opportunistic species such as Lumbrineris longifolia and Tharyx sp. Natural community represented by S. armiger and G. cuspis was developed in most sand-dominated areas. 50 species were sampled with a mean density of $2,443ind./m^2$ and biomass of $381.3g/m^2$ from eight+ stations along two transects on Sindu-ri sand flat. Mollusks were represented as a dominant faunal group of the sand flat in species richness, density and biomass with values of 20 species, $1,345ind./m^2$ and $350.4g/m^2$, respectively. Umbonium thomasi, Veneridae sp., Mandibulophoxus mai, Armandia lanceolata, Eohaustorius spinigerus, Urothoe convexa were dominant species and these species accounted for over 83% of total individuals. There were three distinct zones of macrobenthos on Sindu-ri sand flat according to the extent of exposure time. The upper zone was dominated by Scopimera globosa, the middle zone was characterized by M. mai, and the lower zone was dominated by E. spinigerus. Sindu-ri coastal area was considered as a healthy habitat for macrobenthos, except for around the farming area. It was considered that Sindu-ri coastal area including the sand flat connected to the sand dune of natural monument was a valuable habitat as a protected site in having no pollution source and no artificial structure.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.133-142
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• 2010

This study was performed to investigate the community structure of the macrobenthic invertebrates around Ui Island, Sinan-gun, Jeollanam-do, Korea. Benthic invertebrates were collected during May and September 2008 at seven stations. A total of 63 macrobenthic species was collected. The overall average macrobenthos density and biomass were 268 inds. $m^{-2}$ and 11.54 gWWt $m^{-2}$, respectively. Based on abundance data, there were 5 dominant species accounting for approximately 72.00% of total individuals. The polychaetes Notomastus latericeus, Scolelepis sagittaria, Amaeana occidentalis, Glycera chirori and the amphipoda Mandibulophoxus mai were found in high densities. The conventional multi-variate statistics (cluster analysis and non-metric multidimensional scaling) applied to assess spatial variation in macrobenthic assemblages. As a result, three communities could be distinguished: a sand dominated, a mixed sediment and a third community in the mud dominated station. The community in the sand dominated station was characterized by high abundance of the polychaetes S. sagittaria and the amphipods M. mai, Monoculodes sp. and Grandifoxus malipoensis. However, the most common species within the mixed sediment station were the polychaetes N. latericeus, A. occidentalis and amphipoda Urothoe sp.. Finally the mud dominated station was numerically dominated by the polychaetes Scolelepis sp., Heteromastus filiformis and Sigambra tentaculata. In conclusion, the sediment composition may be important factors controlling of the macrobenthic community structure in the study area.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.421-434
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• 2011

Although thermal effluent from coastal power plants affects marine ecosystems, few studies have examined the spatiotemporal distribution of macrobenthic communities in a coastal area of Korea with thermal discharge. This study analyzed the species composition and abundance of a macrobenthic community in relation to environmental variables for a period of 1 year. In total 334 macrobenthic faunal species were collected; the mean density was 3,221 ind/$m^2$. The number of species and the density of macrobenthic fauna increased with distance from the thermal discharge site. Cluster analysis indicated that the macrobenthic community could be divided into two groups: group I in shallow (< 30 m deep) and group II in the outer areas (> 30 m deep). Group I showed the lowest species density and diversity. Four polychaetes, including Magelona japonica, Spiophanes bombyx, Scolotoma longifolia and Chaetozone setosa, all of which have been dominant species since 1987, exhibited higher mean densities in the area distant from the thermal discharge (the outer and north areas). Conversely, the warm-adapted and opportunistic species, such as the amphipods Urothoe convexa and Mandibulophoxus mai, the bivalve Felaniella sowerbyi, and the polychaete Rhynchospio sp., were more abundant in the thermal discharge region. The results of this study indicate that thermal effluent influences macrobenthic communities in the shallow area, while other environmental variables, such as depth, sediment grain size, and TOC, are more important determinants of the macrobenthic communities in deeper regions (> 30 m deep).