• ALGAE
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.317-329
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• 2022

Carotenoids are effective antioxidants that are found in various photosynthetic organisms. Marine microalgae are an advantageous bioresource for carotenoid production because they do not compete with other crops for freshwater and arable land. This study reports a newly isolated Dunaliella strain from the Geumhong Saltpan on Yeongjong Island, West Sea, Korea. The new strain was isolated and classified as Dunaliella salina through phylogenetic analysis and was named the OH214 strain (Deposit ID: KCTC14434BP). The newly isolated strain can survive in a wide range of NaCl concentrations (0.3-5.0 M NaCl), but grows well in 0.6 to 1.5 M NaCl culture medium. Under high-light conditions (500 ± 10 μmol photons m^-2 s^-1), the cells accumulated three times more β-carotene than under low-light conditions (50 ± 5 μmol photons m^-2 s^-1). The cells accumulated 2.5-fold more β-carotene under nitrogen-deficient (1 mM KNO₃) conditions (3.24 ± 0.36 ㎍ 10⁶ cells^-1) than in nitrogen-sufficient conditions (>5 mM KNO₃). The lutein content under nitrogen-deficient conditions (1.73 ± 0.09 ㎍ 10⁶ cells^-1) was more than 24% higher than that under nitrogen-sufficient conditions. Under the optimized culture condition for carotenoid induction using natural seawater, D. salina OH214 strain produced 7.97 ± 0.09 mg g DCW^-1 of β-carotene and 4.65 ± 0.18 mg g DCW^-1 of lutein, respectively. We propose that this new microalga is a promising strain for the simultaneous production of β-carotene and lutein.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.50
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• pp.275-289
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• 2023

Since the implementation of the Living Modified Organisms (LMOs) Act in 2008, approximately 10 million tons of genetically modified corn, soybean, potato, canola, and other crops have been imported into South Korea. The import approval procedures have been completed for approximately 191 cases that include seven crops. Of these, approximately 90 cases, excluding crossbreeds of approved LMOs, were reviewed via consultation risk evaluation in four areas: human health, crop culture, natural ecology, and marine fishery environment. LMO developers in South Korea, who are major stakeholders in the import of LMO crops produced overseas, have raised concerns regarding procedural inefficiency in consultation reviews and the need of excessive reviews that are unsuitable for food-feed processing purposes. These procedures reflect the perspective of consultation agencies that deviate from the nature of risk assessment and demand specific supplementary data that do not reflect familiarity and substantial equilibrium. Based on frequent instances of unintentional environmental release of LMO crops imported into Korea, the ministries responsible for consultation insist on a review that considers the climate and natural environment of Korea. In addition, the ministries mandate that their reviews reflect the expertise of competent ministries and are based on risk assessment principles and methods in accordance with international guidelines. In this regard, considering that traits introduced into LMO crops involving familiar agricultural crops have been considered safe for more than two decades, we have suggested reasonable alternatives to several risk assessment items for agricultural LMOs. These alternatives can mitigate conflicts of interest among key stakeholders within the scope of the current LMO regulations.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.309-314
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• 2013

Temporal and spatial variations and species composition of ichthyoplanktons were investigated by Bongo net in a sea area with the construction of artificial upwelling structure at 13, June, 21 September, and 23 September in 2012. A total of fish eggs was 4,849 ind./$1,000m^3$, and fish larvaes was 641 ind./$1,000m^3$ in the study area. The common fish eggs was Engraulis japonicus which was composed of 57.5%, and unidentified I, II, III and IV were occurred with decreased number of individuals order. For fish larvaes, Pictiblennius yatabei, Repomucenus sp.A, sp.B and Scomber japonicus were dominated, however, other species were Engraulis japonicus, Konosirus puntatus, and unidentified I, II. Temporal variations of fish eggs and larvae were remarkable differed. Higher numbers of fish eggs and larvaes were July 2012, whereas those were lower at August 2012. Spatial variations of those were also significantly differed with higher numbers were at station 2 and 3 during study periods. The total number of fish eggs and larvae was about 4 fold against numbers of those in the compared area far from study area. These results indicated that higher numbers of fish eggs and larvaes were due to influx much more nutrients and food organisms with artificial upwelling.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.177-190
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• 2009

Species composition and abundance of marine organism in the Nakdong River estuary were investigated seasonally from November 2007 to November 2008. During the study period, a total of 169 species, 93 families, and 6 taxa were collected in the study area. Species included were 2 species in Bivalvia, 11 in Cephalopoda, 43 in Crustecea, 8 in Echinodermata, 6 in Gastropoda, and 99 in Pisces. The seasonal dominant species in number of individuals were Acropoma japonicum in autumn, Apogon lineatus in winter, Siphonalia spadicea fuscolineata in spring, and Crangon hakodatei in summer. Dominant species in abundance were Chelidonichthys spinosus in autumn, Liphius litulon in winter and spring, and Raja kenojei in summer. The number of species and their abundance, the species composition, and the diversity indices fluctuated with seasons. The organisms were divided into 17 groups by seasonal variation using a self-organizing map.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.299-309
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• 2005

The community structure of meiobenthos was studied in the sediment of Kongfjorden, Spitsbergen of Svalbard Island in the Arctic Sea. Samples of meiobenthos were collected in August, 2003. Meiobenthic organisms were collected by SCUBA and van veen grab or acryl sub-corers 34mm in internal diameter, and were taken from upper sediment to a depth of 3cm at each station. A total of 26 meiofaunal groups were found in the sediment of Spitsbergen in Svalbard Island. Nematodes were the most dominant faunal group. Sarcomastigophorans, benthic harpacticoids, and nauplius larvae of crustaceans, were also important components of the meiobenthic community of Kongsfjorden. All of these low faunal groups were comprised of more than 90% of total meiobenthos at every station. The total density of meiobenthos at each station was highest at station MeG 6 $(3,583{\pm}1,137inds./10cm^2)$, and lowest at station $MeG9(28{\pm}1inds./10cm^2)$. Meiobenthos in general showed the highest density in the upper 1cm layer. This may be associated with food and oxygen supply to subsurface. Harpacticoids showed extreme preference at the surface and little presence in layers deeper than 2cm. These animals may be less resistant to oxygen deficiency, and nauplius also showed the same trend. However, in St. MeG 8 and 9, meiobenthos were dense at depths of more than 0-1cm, at especially at depths of 2-3m because of relatively easy penetration of oxygen. Based on the results of cluster analysis, three meiobenthos assemblages were distinguished: one was in the outer and two were in the inner fjord. Station SCU 5 was grouped with the meiobenthos assemblage located in the outer fjord. The outer ford community was characterised by : 1) a relatively low mean number of meiobenthos taxa, 2) a relatively high density of harpacticods and nauplius. One of the inner ford communities (a group of four nation: MeG 2, 3, 8, 9) was in the proximity of the glaciers. Specifically, it was characterised by : 1) a low mean number of meiobenthos taxa, 2) a low density. The other inner ford community was characterised by both a high density and great mean number of meiofaunal taxa.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Marine Environment & Energy
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.227-231
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• 2008

The purpose of this study is to clarify the behavior of stranded crude oil and to estimate the restoration of seawater infiltration by application of dispersant as one of cleaning techniques. We made visualization of infiltration process of seawater and stranded crude oil on the sandy beach sediments by using of a model sandy beach. Major conclusions derived from this study are as follows. The seawater infiltration volume was reduced by the stranded crude oil. However, thirty percentage of the sweater infiltration into the sediments was restored by dispersant application to the penetrated oil in sandy beach. The penetration depth of stranded oil were dropped at first falling tide, but were not significantly fluctuated after that. Moreover, oil concentration was most high within the upper 2 cm. The stranded crude oil was broken into small size droplets and dispersed into the sediments by the dispersant application. Therefore, dispersant applications play an important roles in the large increase of surface area of given volume of oil, and it resulted in promoting to biological degradation process at the oil/water interface, dispersing the stranded oil into the water column and restoration of the supplement of the dissolved oxygen and nutrients to the benthic organisms.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.11-15
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• 2009

The proposal of the $CO_2$ ocean sequestration necessitates a thorough understanding of its consequences to aquatic organisms. This paper describes acute toxic responses to high $CO_2$ environment of a cephalopod, Octopus vulgaris. O. vulgaris was chronically cannulated in the abdominal aorta and recovered in a restrained chamber. Acid base variables as well as ion concentrations were estimated in samples of the blood collected from recovered O. vulgaris. 100% mortality occurred within 72h during exposure to 3%-$CO_2$ environment. Hemolymph pH significantly decreased after 30 min during exposure to 1%-$CO_2$ environment without any compensation thereafter. $[HCO_3^-]$ significantly increased from 2.2 mM at 0h to 7.8 mM at 8h, but gradually decreased thereafter. Hemolymph ions $([Cl^-],\;[Na^+],\;[K^+])$ showed no significant changes. O. vulgaris may be more sensitive than teleost, yellowtail, flounder and dogfish.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Marine Environment & Energy
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.13-21
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• 2004

Temporal changes of Chl-α, physical and chemical factors were investigated by diurnal observation at 2-hour interval at three fixed stations in the western Chinhae Bay from 12 Aug. to 13 Aug. 1999. Difference of dissolved oxygen between surface and bottom layer was maximum when the thermocline were strong. Organic distribution such as COD was affected by the growth of phytoplankton. Limitting factor was nitrogen, that is, inorganic nitrogen plays a significant role on regulating the algal growth. Surface distribution of dissolved inorganic nitrogen was very low compared to bottom layer by uptake of organisms. Maximum value of Chl-α at station C2 and C11 were observed from subsurface layer, ranges of which exceeded possibility concentration of red tide outbreak, 10 mg/㎥. On the other hand, that of C15 exist at surface layer. In this area, DIN and DIP concentrations increased by input sources such as rainfall and benthic flux before the bloom of phytoplankton. Accumulation of phytoplankton occurred at subsurface layer by the rapid uptake of DIN, especially nitrate ion, when strong thermocline existed as approach to the afternoon, which led to the increase of organics in water column and oxygen deficiency water mass at bottom layer until late at evening. Since then, DIN increases gradually as water temperature decrease to minimum. The quantitative understanding of nitrogen of fluxed to and from the various sources is necessary for environmental management.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.226-235
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• 2017

Carotenoids such as phytoene, lycopene, and ${\beta}-carotene$ are used as food colorants, animal feed supplements, and for human nutrition and cosmetic purposes. Previously, we reported the isolation of a novel marine bacterium, Kocuria gwangalliensis, which produces a pink-orange pigment. Phytoene desaturase (CrtI), encoded by the gene crtI, catalyzes lycopene formation from phytoene and is an essential enzyme in the early steps of carotenoid biosynthesis. CrtI is one of the key enzymes regulating carotenoid biosynthesis and has been implicated as a rate-limiting enzyme of the pathway in various carotenoid synthesizing organisms. Here, we report the cloning of the crtI gene responsible for lycopene biosynthesis from K. gwangalliensis. The gene consisted of 1,584 bases encoding 527 amino acid residues. The nucleotide sequence of the crtI gene was compared with that of other species, including Kocuria rhizophila and Myxococcus xanthus, and was found to be well conserved during evolution. An expression plasmid containing the crtI gene was constructed (pCcrt1), and Escherichia coli cells were transformed with this plasmid to produce a recombinant protein of approximately 57 kDa, corresponding to the molecular weight of phytoene desaturase. Lycopene biosynthesis was confirmed when the plasmid pCcrtI was co-transformed into E. coli containing the plasmid pRScrtEB carrying the crtE and crtB genes required for lycopene biosynthesis. The results from this study will provide valuable information on the primary structure of K. gwangalliensis CrtI at the molecular level.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Geographic Information Studies
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.227-238
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• 2006

Line density index(LDI) was developed to quantify a densely isothermal line rate as standard index in the ocean environment. Theoretical background on the LDI development process restricting index range 0 to 100 was described. And validation test was done for the LDI application condition that total line length is not greater than 1/10 of unit area. NOAA SST(Sea Surface Temperature) data were used for the experimental application of LDI in the South Sea of Korea. Using GIS, $0.1^{\circ}C$ isothermal lines were linearized as vector data form SST raster data, and unit area were built as polygon data. For the LDI calculation, spatial overlapping(line in polygon) was implemented. To analyze the effect of unit area size for the LDI distribution, two cases of unit area size were designed and descriptive statistics was calculated including performing normality test. The results showed no change of LDI's essential characteristics such as mean and normality except for the range of value, variance and standard deviation. Accordingly, it was found that complex structure of thermal front and even smaller scale of front width than unit area size could influence on the LDI distribution. Also, correlation analysis performed between LDI and difference of temperature(${\Delta}T^{\circ}C$), and horizontal thermal gradient(${\Delta}T^{\circ}C/km$) on the front was obtained from linear regression model. This obtained value was compared with the results from previous researches. Newly developed LDI can be used to compare the thermal front regions changing spatio-temporally in the ocean environment using absolute index value. It is considered to be significant to analyze the relationship between thermal front and marine environment or front and marine organisms in a quantitative approach described in this study.