• ALGAE
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• 제31권2호
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• pp.155-165
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• 2016

Green microalgae from the class Chlorophyceae represent a major biodiversity component of eukaryotic algae in continental water. Identification and classification of this group through morphology is a hard task, since it may present cryptic species and phenotypic plasticity. Despite the increasing use of molecular methods for identification of microorganisms, no single standard barcode marker is yet established for this important group of green microalgae. Some available studies present results with a limited number of chlorophycean genera or using markers that require many different primers for different groups within the class. Thus, we aimed to find a single marker easily amplified and with wide coverage within Chlorophyceae using only one pair of primers. Here, we tested the universality of primers for different genes (tufA, ITS, rbcL, and UCP4) in 22 strains, comprising 18 different species from different orders of Chlorophyceae. The ITS primers sequenced only 3 strains and the UCP primer failed to amplify any strain. We tested two pairs of primers for rbcL and the best pair provided sequences for 10 strains whereas the second one provided sequences for only 7 strains. The pair of primers for the tufA gene presented good results for Chlorophyceae, successfully sequencing 21 strains and recovering the expected phylogeny relationships within the class. Thus, the tufA marker stands out as a good choice to be used as molecular marker for the class.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• 제45권4호
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• pp.203-217
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• 2021

Background: Sea turtles, which are globally endangered species, have been stranded and found as bycatch on the Korean shore recently. More studies on sea turtles in Korea are necessary to aid their conservation. To investigate the spatio-temporal occurrence patterns of sea turtles on the Korean shore, we recorded sampling locations and dates, identified species and sexes and measured sizes (maximum curved carapace length; CCL) of collected sea turtles from the year 2014 to 2020. For an analysis of diets through stomach contents, we identified the morphology of the remaining food and extracted DNA, followed by amplification, cloning, and sequencing. Results: A total of 62 stranded or bycaught sea turtle samples were collected from the Korean shores during the study period. There were 36 loggerhead turtles, which were the dominant species, followed by 19 green turtles, three hawksbill turtles, two olive ridley turtles, and two leatherback turtles. The highest numbers were collected in the year 2017 and during summer among the seasons. In terms of locations, most sea turtles were collected from the East Sea, especially from Pohang. Comparing the sizes of collected sea turtles according to species, the average CCL of loggerhead turtles was 79.8 cm, of green turtles was 73.5 cm, and of the relatively large leatherback turtle species was 126.2 cm. In most species, the proportion of females was higher than that of males and juveniles, and was more than 70% across all the species. Food remains were morphologically identified from 19 stomachs, mainly at class level. Seaweeds were abundant in stomachs of green turtles, and Bivalvia was the most detected food item in loggerhead turtles. Based on DNA analysis, food items from a total of 26 stomachs were identified to the species or genus level. The gulfweed, Sargassum thunbergii, and the kelp species, Saccharina japonica, were frequently detected from the stomachs of green turtles and the jellyfish, Cyanea nozakii, the swimming crab, Portunus trituberculatus, and kelps had high frequencies of occurrences in loggerhead turtles. Conclusions: Our findings support those of previous studies suggesting that sea turtles are steadily appearing in the Korean sea. In addition, we verified that fish and seaweed, which inhabit the Korean sea, are frequently detected in the stomach of sea turtles. Accordingly, there is a possibility that sea turtles use the Korean sea as feeding grounds and habitats. These results can serve as basic data for the conservation of globally endangered sea turtles.

• 환경생물
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• 제38권4호
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• pp.554-562
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• 2020

본 연구에서는 생태모방적 관점에서 목질을 천공하는 송곳벌과 밑드리좀벌의 산란관의 형태적 특징을 비교하였다. 벌목에 속하는 송곳벌과 밑드리좀벌은 목질부를 천공하는 유사한 특징이 있으나 실체현미경, 전계방사형주사전자현미경, 광학현미경을 이용하여 산란관의 형태적 특징을 관찰한 결과 두 종 간에 큰 차이를 보였다. 송곳벌의 산란관 말단은 등쪽과 배쪽에 모두 규칙적인 돌기가 발달하여, 회전형 드릴 비트와 흡사한 형태를 띤 반면 밑드리좀벌의 산란관 말단은 한쪽 방향에만 몇 개의 돌기가 있고 다른 부분은 매끄러워 마치 톱과 비슷한 형태를 보였다. 또한 얼룩송곳벌 산란관의 말단은 대칭적으로 4등분으로 되어있다가 14번째 돌기를 지나면서 2 : 1 : 1의 비율로 3등분이 되는 반면, 밑드리좀벌 산란관의 말단은 2 : 1 : 1의 비율로 3등분되어 있음을 확인할 수 있었다. 또한, 송곳벌의 산란관의 중간을 수평으로 자른 단면구조에서는 dovetail joint의 구조가 확인되었으며, 이를 통해 천공을 위해 수직 운동을 한다는 것을 확인할 수 있었다. 이러한 두 종의 형태적 차이는 목질 부분을 먹이원으로 이용하는 송곳벌과 벌의 유충을 이용하는 밑드리좀벌의 생활방식뿐만 아니라 계통분류학적 차이에 의해 기인한 것으로 사료된다. 끝으로, 산란관 말단 부분의 성분분석결과 두 종 모두에서 높은 강도의 특성을 부여하는 아연이 검출되었다. 이는 주로 목질을 천공하는 두 종의 생태적 적응 과정에 의하여 특이적으로 진화된 것으로 사료된다.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• 제37권4호
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• pp.387-393
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• 2014

We propose Cryptonemia asiatica sp. nov. from Korea and Japan. We used molecular analyses of plastid-encoded rbcL and morphological observations to resolve the taxonomic identities of C. lactuca from Korea, C. luxurians from Japan, and C. seminervis from Spain. Specimens of C. lactuca and C. luxurians fell within the same molecular phylogenetic clade (with 100% bootstrap support) and were clearly separated from specimens of C. luxurians collected from the type locality in Brazil. Our analyses demonstrated identical molecular sequences between C. seminervis specimens from Spain and C. lomation specimens from France. Morphological characteristics of the new species, C. asiatica include prominent midribs through the mid thallus, a cortex 4-6 cells thick, and a blade with undulate margins. Molecular evidence indicates that specimens from Korea and Japan previously assigned to C. lactuca and C. luxurians, respectively, should be reassigned to Cryptonemia asiatica. Binomial C. luxurians from Brazil should be resurrected as the independent species of Cryptonemia.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• 제12권3호
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• pp.133-144
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• 1989

The morphology and flowering time of two Suaeda japonica populations from different habitats, the creek and the bank of the mudflat in Sorae, were surveyed. And standard transplantation and reciprocal transplantation were carried out to determine whether their characteristics were genetically fixed or not. Also soil sample of these habitats were analyzed. The amounts of loss on ignition, maximum field capacity, total nitrogen, exchangeable calcium and potassium, and soluble phosphorus were found to be significantly different between two habitats. Leaf thickness, leaf width, leaf length, stem height number of branches, and number of seeds were significantly different between plants of two populations. And flowering times of two populations did not overlap. According to the results of transplantation, leaf width, leaf thickness, and flowering times were the same as those at their original habitat. But the stem lenght, leaf lenght, number of branches and unmber of seeds were not. Therefore, the differences in the leaf length, leaf thickness, and flowering time seemed to bo genetically fixed. It were suggested that the creek bank populations of Suaeda japoinica were to be considered as different ecotypes.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• 제37권4호
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• pp.379-385
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• 2014

Two marine ulvalean species (Chlorophyta) were collected from the southern and eastern coasts of Korea. One is morphologically characterized by usually unbranched or little branched ribbon-shaped thalli, fronds with spirally twisted basal portions and usually undulate margins and 1 (-2) pyrenoids per cell. The other has irregularly shaped thalli, undulate and dentate margins in the fronds, small macroscopic denticulations along the margin and (1-) 2-3 pyrenoids per cell. In phylogenetic tree based on molecular data, the two species nest in the same clade with Ulva flexuosa and U. rigida, respectively. These two Korean entities are identified as U. flexuosa and U. rigida, respectively, based on morphological and molecular analyses. This is the first record of Ulva flexuosa and U. rigida in Korea.

• Ocean Science Journal
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• 제42권2호
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• pp.81-88
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• 2007

The paper reviews data available on euglenophycean algae of the genus Eutreptiella from the Russian waters of East/Japan Sea. Five species (such as E. braarudii, E. eupharyngea, E. gymnastica, E. cf. marina, and E. pascheri) were identified in our study. E. cf. marina and E. pascheri were found for the first time in the fare astern seas of Russia (including East/Japan Sea, Bering and Okhotsk seas). Morphological descriptions of species are based on light and electron microscopical studies and supplied with information on ecology and distribution. Original micrographs of these species obtained by light and electron microscopy are presented. It was established that E. eupharyngea, E. gymnastica, and E. pascheri cause water "blooms" in spring and summer in eutrophic coastal areas of Peter the Great Bay (East/Japan Sea), where their cell concentrations at these periods exceed $1\times10^6\;cells\;l^{-1}$.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• 제37권4호
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• pp.271-284
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• 2014

The morphology of 26 species of the genus Tripos was studied among a total of 51 species of this genus, which were taken using $20{\mu}m$ net samples from June 2006 to January 2011 at 14 stations around Jeju Island. Of these, 23 species were first described as new records in Korean waters and 3 species were redescribed. Short descriptions and synonyms are given for each species in the present study. The dinoflagellates of family Ceratiaceae include marine and freshwater species, belonged to originally the genus Ceratium. Recently, this genus were divided into a new combination with the genus Tripos, which contains the marine species, and the original genus Ceratium, including the freshwater species. We used the Tripos genus for the marine species in this study as a valid name.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• 제38권4호
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• pp.655-661
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• 2015

A marine algal species was collected from the southern coast of Korea. This alga is characterized by a large and cartilaginous thallus, a dichotomous branching pattern, compressed axes, rare proliferations near the apex, and cystocarps protruded toward surface. In a phylogenetic tree based on rbcL sequences, this species nests in the same clade as Neodilsea yendoana as a terminal clade of the genus Neodilsea. The genetic distance between both sequences within the clade was calculated as 0.2% considered to be in the intraspecific range within the genus. Based on the morphological and molecular data obtained in the present study, this Korean species is identified as N. yendoana. This is the first record of the genus Neodilsea and N. yendoana in Korea.

• ALGAE
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• 제28권1호
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• pp.63-71
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• 2013

Lithothamnion muelleri is reported for the first time as one of the main components of rhodolith beds along the Eastern Pacific Ocean based on samples from Washington State (USA), Pacific Baja California (M$\acute{e}$xico), southern Nicaragua, and Costa Rica. Individual rhodoliths ranged from fruticose to lumpy in morphology, and bi-sporangial, tetrasporangial, and gametangial plants were similar to those described from Australia and Brazil. Our study revealed a surprisingly wide latitudinal distribution of this species along the American continent. Its documentation in the Eastern Pacific will facilitate a more accurate interpretation of the ecology, biology, and biogeography of rhodolith beds worldwide.