• Ocean and Polar Research
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• 제33권1호
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• pp.21-34
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• 2011

We determined potential meso-scale benthic-pelagic ecosystem coupling in the north equatorial Pacific by comparing surface chl-a concentration with sediment bacterial abundance and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) concentration (indication of active biomass). Water and sediment samples were latitudinally collected between 5 and $11^{\circ}N$ along $131.5^{\circ}W$. Physical water properties of this area are characterized with three major currents: North Equatorial Current (NEC), North Equatorial Count Current (NECC), and South Equatorial Current (SEC). The divergence and convergence of the surface water occur at the boundaries where these currents anti-flow. This low latitude area ($5{\sim}7^{\circ}N$) appears to show high pelagic productivity (mean phytoplankton biomass=$1266.0\;mgC\;m^{-2}$) due to the supplement of high nutrients from nutrient-enriched deep-water via vertical mixing. But the high latitude area ($9{\sim}11^{\circ}N$) with the strong stratification exhibits low surface productivity (mean phytoplankton biomass=$603.1\;mgC\;m^{-2}$). Bacterial cell number (BCN) and ATP appeared to be the highest at the superficial layer and reduced with depth of sediment. Latitudinally, sediment BCN from low latitude ($5{\sim}7^{\circ}N$) was $9.8{\times}10^8\;cells\;cm^{-2}$, which appeared to be 3-times higher than that from high latitude ($9{\sim}11^{\circ}N$; $2.9{\times}10^8\;cells\;cm^{-2}$). Furthermore, sedimentary ATP at the low latitude ($56.2\;ng\;cm^{-2}$) appeared to be much higher than that of the high latitude ($3.3\;ng\;cm^{-2}$). According to regression analysis of these data, more than 85% of the spatial variation of benthic microbial biomass was significantly explained by the phytoplankton biomass in surface water. Therefore, the results of this study suggest that benthic productivity in this area is strongly coupled with pelagic productivity.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• 제31권2호
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• pp.219-229
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• 2009

In order to establish annual variations in the marine ecosystem of the East China Sea, suspended solids (SSs) and particulate organic carbon (POC) were extensively investigated in the northern part of the East China Sea from August 2003 to April 2008. Surface SS concentrations showed large spatial variations in spring and fall, but not in summer. Surface SS concentrations in spring were lower than those in summer and fall. In summer, SSs discharged from Changjiang were mostly deposited in the coastal areas and did not reach our study area which was located about 260 km from the river mouth. High SS concentrations were observed near the bottom, which resulted from resuspension of bottom sediments by the bottom currents. Surface POC concentrations did not exhibited large seasonal variations. Phytoplankton biomass was a main factor controlling surface POC concentrations. POC/chlorophyll ratios showed large seasonal variations, with maximum numbers in summer. POC/PON ratios were higher in summer than the Redefied ratio (6.6), while they were lower in spring and fall. In summer, higher POC/chlorophyll and POC/PON ratios were probably attributed to the high phytoplankton mortality caused by nutrient depletion in surface waters.

• Journal of the korean society of oceanography
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• 제32권4호
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• pp.191-201
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• 1997

To test the roles of NO$_3^-$ concentration and light as controlling factors of NO$_3^-$ uptake in the NO$_3^-$-low and -high environments and to assess the significance of night-time nitrogen (N) uptake in estimating the daily N uptake rate, 2 diel studies of N uptake were conducted in NO$_3^-$-low (the eastern part of the Yellow Sea) and NO$_3^-$-high (the marginal ice zone of the northwestern Weddell Sea) environments on June 14 to 15, 1996 and January 15 to 16, 1995, respectively. Ourobservations confirmed that NO$_3\;^-$ uptake by phytoplankton is mainly determined by ambient NO$_3^-$ concentration in NO$_3^-$-low environment and by light in NO$_3^-$-high environment, respectively, Our results suggest the need for diel studies to accurately estimate the daily N uptake rates and thus new and regenerated production because the daily rates calculated without considering the night-time N uptake would be significantly underestimated (up to 41%), particularly in the NO$_3^-$-low environment.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• 제29권3호
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• pp.273-282
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• 2007

For an efficient management and utilization of marine biodiversity information, we made an attempt to develop the Korea Marine Biodiversity Information System (KoMBIS), building a species name inventory of Korea marine organisms. The inventory includes 17 organism groups: phytoplankton, zooplankton, algae and halophyte, sponges, cnidarians, rotifers, nematodes, bryozoans, brachiopods, molluscs, echiurans, annelids, arthropods, echinoderms, urochordates and fish. The species names were collected from 37 different references and reviewed for validity by taxonomists, which resulted in 9,798 valid names in addition to 1,845 synonyms. The Korea marine species inventory is the first one of this kind, for previous Korean species name inventories were mostly composed of terrestrial and freshwater organisms. KoMBIS, the information system developed, contains not only the species name but also information on morphological and ecological characteristics such as distribution, DNA barcode, and references. This system is convenient for the inputting of new data and servicing users through the internet, so that management and utilization of the biodiversity information is more efficient. Linking the DNA barcode data with species information provides an objective measure for identification of a species, which accommodates the recommendation of Consortium for the Barcode of Life, and makes the Korea marine biodiversity information compatible with international databases. Considering the frequent exchange of marine organisms internationally via ballast water and such issues as climate change, this information system will be useful in many areas of marine biodiversity.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• 제29권3호
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• pp.217-231
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• 2007

To explore limiting factors of spring bloom caused by waste disposal after dumping activity commenced in the Yellow Sea, we used a 1-dimensional temperature-ecological coupled model. The vertical structure of temperature and vertical diffusivity (Kh) are calculated by the temperature model with sea surface temperature using the 2.5 layers turbulence closure scheme. The ecological model applied results at the temperature model consisted of five state variables (DIN, DIP, phytoplankton, zooplankton, and detritus) forced by photosynthetically available radiation. We simulate year-to-year variations of plankton and nutrients using the coupled model from 1998 to 2000 and compare results of the model with observed data. It turned out that temperature is the growth factor of spring bloom in dumping area. During the winter the weak stratification made sufficient supply of the accumulated nutrients from the sea bed into the upper water column and led to the bloom in the coming spring. Radiation also turned out to be another important factor of spring bloom in the study area. Insufficient radiation of March 1999 showed low chlorophyll-a concentration despite sufficient nutrients in the surface.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• 제33권2호
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• pp.135-147
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• 2011

Zooplankton is an important constituent in assessing ecosystem responses to global warming. The northern East China Sea is an important ecosystem for carbon cycling with a net sink of carbon dioxide. Despite their importance as a major component in carbon cycling, relatively little is known about zooplankton biomass structure and its regulating factors in the northern East China Sea. This study examined zooplankton biomass distribution pattern in the region from multiple cruises encompassing various seasons between 2004 and 2009. Results showed that zooplankton biomass exhibits less cross-shelf gradient in general with declining biomass to the eastern shelf towards the Tsushima Current Water. Size-fractionated biomass showed that the 1.0~2.0 mm size group, mostly copepods, dominated zooplankton biomass, comprising 38 to 48% of total biomass. Smaller zooplankton (0.2~1.0 mm) biomass, consisting mainly of Paracalanus spp, a particle eating herbivorous copepod, was positively related to chlorophyll-a concentration, but no relationship was established for larger zooplankton (1.0~5.0 mm). Spatially-averaged mean total zooplankton biomass was also highly related to chlorophyll-a concentration. These result suggest that the long-term trend of zooplankton biomass increase in this region is partly accounted for by the increases of phytoplankton biomass and productivity underway in the region. However, the underlying mechanisms of how sea surface warming in the study area leads to increased phytoplankton biomass and productivity remains unclear.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• 제34권2호
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• pp.201-218
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• 2012

The purpose of this study is to investigate climatological variations from the sea surface temperature (SST), chlorophyll-a concentration (Chl-a), and phytoplankton size class (PSC), using NOAA AVHRR, SeaWiFS, and MODIS data in the South Sea of Korea (SSK) and East China Sea (ECS). 26-year monthly SST and 13-year monthly Chl-a and PSC data, separated by whole and nine-different areas, were used to understand seasonal and inter-annual variations. SST and Chl-a clearly showed seasonal variations: higher SST and Chl-a were observed during the summer and spring, and lower values occurred during the winter and summer. The annual and monthly SST over 26 years increased by $0.2{\sim}1.0^{\circ}C$. The annual and monthly Chl-a concentration over 13 years decreased by $0.2{\sim}1.1mg/m^3$. To determine more detailed spatial and temporal variations, we used the combined data with monthly SST, Chl-a, and PSC. Between 1998 and 2010, the inter-annual trend of Chl-a decreased, with decreasing micro- and nano-size plankton, and increasing pico-size plankton. In regional analysis, the west region of the study area was spatially and temporally correlated with the area dominated by decreasing micro-size plankton; while the east region was less sensitive to coastal and land effects, and was dominated by increasing pico-size plankton. This phenomenon is better related to one or more forcing factors: the increased stratification of ocean driven by changes occurring in spatial variations of the SST caused limited contributions of nutrients and changed marine ecosystems in the study area.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• 제45권1호
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• pp.1-9
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• 2023

Marine microalgae have different collection methods depending on their habitat. In the case of adhesive microalgae, it is difficult to separate organisms from the substrate surface, and contamination is likely to occur during the sampling process. In this study, we analyzed the collection efficiency of adhesive microalgae using three artificial fiber materials (nylon, blend fabric, and viscose rayon). Each fiber showed different fiber diameter and pore characteristics (nylon 26.09 ㎛, blend fabric 56.6 ㎛, viscose rayon 101.3 ㎛). In addition, attached organisms were collected on the surface of artificial substrates at Bukseong Port in Incheon using each tested fiber material. After that, we investigated the population and species composition. The highest number of cells was found in nylon, which was 8 times higher than in the least collected viscose rayon material. In addition, we identified 24 microalgal species from the substrate, demonstrating that the species composition differed from that of surface water. The number of collected microalgae species varied depending on the fiber materials, with nylon containing all the adhesive microalgae. In contrast, only a few microalgae were observed in other fibers. These results suggest that, of the tested fibers, nylon material may be suitable for collecting adhesive microalgae. As a result, this study may be useful for future research on adhesive microalgae.

• Ocean Science Journal
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• 제40권3호
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• pp.167-176
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• 2005

A time-series sediment trap was deployed at 1,034 m water depth in the eastern Bransfield Strait for a complete year from December 25, 1998 to December 24, 1999. About 99% of total mass flux was trapped during an austral summer, showing distinct seasonal variation. Biogenic particles (biogenic opal, particulate organic carbon, and calcium carbonate) account for about two thirds of annual total mass flux $(49.2\;g\;m^{-2})$, among which biogenic opal flux is the most dominant (42% of the total flux). A positive relationship (except January) between biogenic opal and total organic carbon fluxes suggests that these two variables were coupled, due to the surface-water production (mainly diatoms). The relatively low $\delta^{13}C$ values of settling particles result from effects on C-fixation processes at low temperature and the high $CO_2$ availability to phytoplankton. The correspondingly low $\delta^{l5}N$ values are due to intense and steady input of nitrates into surface waters, reflecting an unlikely nitrate isotope fractionation by degree of surface-water production. The $\delta^{l5}N$ and $\delta^{l3}C$ values of sinking particles increased from the beginning to the end of a presumed phytoplankton bloom, except for anomalous $\delta^{l5}N$ values. Krill and the zooplankton fecal pellets, the most important carriers of sinking particles, may have contributed gradually to the increasing $\delta^{l3}C$ values towards the unproductive period through the biomodification of the $\delta^{l3}C$ values in the food web, respiring preferentially and selectively $^{12}C$ atoms. Correspondingly, the increasing $\delta^{l5}N$ values in the intermediate-water trap are likely associated with a switch in source from diatom aggregates to some remains of zooplankton, because organic matter dominated by diatom may be more liable and prone to remineralization, leading to greater isotopic alteration. In particular, the tendency for abnormally high $\delta^{l5}N$ values in February seems to be enigmatic. A specific species dominancy during the production may be suggested as a possible and speculative reason.

• 생태와환경
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• 제52권3호
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• pp.192-201
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• 2019

효과적인 물환경관리계획을 수립하기 위해서는 다양한 기원의 유기물이 난분해성 유기물 농도 증가에 영향을 줄 수 있는지 여부를 파악하는 것이 중요하다. 특히 상당량의 광합성 산물은 식물플랑크톤에 의해 매일 생성되고 있지만, 이들이 수계 내 난분해성 유기물에 기여하는지에 대한 정보는 부족하다. 본 연구에서는 $^{13}C$ 및 $^{15}N$ 추적자 첨가실험을 통해 조류기원 유기물이 생분해(60일, 암배양) 및 산화제(과망간산칼륨) 처리 후 분해되지 않고 잔존하는지 여부를 확인하였다. 생분해 실험 결과 광합성을 통해 생성된 총 유기탄소($TO^{13}C$), 입자성 유기탄소($PO^{13}C$), 입자성 질소($P^{15}N$)는 각각 26%, 20%, 17%가 비 생분해성 유기물로 잔존하였다. 또한 상당량의 $PO^{13}C$가 과망간산칼륨에 의해 산화되지 않고 잔존하였다(초기: 12%, 60일 암배양 후: 38%). 이는 미생물에 의해 사용된 후 남아있는 조류기원 유기물이 난분해성 유기물에 기여할 수 있음을 의미한다. 또한 미생물에 의해 변형된 조류기원 유기물의 양은 COD 산화율 및 유기물 지표 간 격차에 영향을 줄 것으로 사료된다.