• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.178-185
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• 2015

BACKGROUND: The coexisting shorebirds often use various foraging strategies, including feeding methods and habitat use, which are the likely mechanisms to explain the variation of morphological and behavior traits. We studied the foraging behaviors of four shorebirds to define how species separate according to habitat structures in rice fields of western-central Korea during their northward migration. METHODS AND RESULTS: The studied species were Long-toed Stints (Calidris subminuta), Wood Sandpipers (Tringa glareola), Common Greenshanks (Tringa nebularia), and Black-tailed Godwits (Limosa limosa), which were commonly observed in rice fields and represented by a wide range of morphological traits. Habitats were categorized into three types ("plowed with water", "shallow water level after harrowing", and "deep water level after harrowing") according to the irrigation intensity and soil manipulation of the farming practices. Long-toed Stints mainly foraged in the "plowed with water", where they used both visual and tactile searching methods. Wood Sandpipers and Common Greenshanks were frequently observed in "shallow water level after harrowing" They spent a considerable amount of time using a visual searching method. Black-tailed Godwits were selectively attracted to "deep water level after harrowing" and used tactile cues as their predominant feeding technique. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that the water levels related in soil manipulation and irrigation intensity influence the accessibility to foraging sites and the detectability of prey for shorebirds species.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.370-375
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• 2013

Exotic species in aquatic ecosystem generate various problems domestically as well as globally. Largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) which is a well-known exotic species globally, acts as a substantial disturbance factor on the native fish communities in Korea due to the high predation pressure and hence designated as a ecologically harmful species by Ministry of Environment. In this study, we investigated the impact of largemouth bass on Korean native fish population, crucian carp (Carassius auratus), to identify responses of the prey fish. Two fish species were collected at seven reservoirs distributed at the Nakdong River catchment area, and changes in length-frequency and length-weight relationship (LWR) were analysed depending on existence of large-mouth bass. At bass absent sites, ratio of under age 1 year individuals were small, and over age two years were dominant. Conversely, normal length-frequency distribution pattern was identified at bass absent sites. The LWR of crucian carp (fish smaller than total length of 160 mm were only considered as it is frequently consumed by bass predation) was different depending upon bass existence. The value of parameter b at bass absent reservoirs was 2.909, which was smaller than that of bass present reservoirs, 3.100. Our results imply that crucian carp at bass present reservoirs presented a different strategy to survive from predation by bass, through relatively rapid growth. We propose that other native species might have similar growth strategies like crucian carp.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.308-321
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• 2013

In order to understand the population dynamics of red tide dinoflagellate Noctiluca scintillans, we examined its hydrographical and bio-ecological characteristics at 19 to 20 stations of Gwangyang Bay during all four seasons from 2010 to 2012. During the 3-year period, N. scintillans was seasonally abundant during summer with water temperatures ranging from $15^{\circ}C$ to $22^{\circ}C$ and salinity ranging from 25 psu to 30 psu. On the other hand, N. scintillans population density significantly decreased in spring, fall and winter, although they were present even in lower temperatures (< $4^{\circ}C$). However, high water temperature (> $27^{\circ}C$) and low salinity (< 12 psu) led to the disappearance of N. scintillans population. Chl-a concentration in winter, spring and fall was positively correlated with N. scintillans population density, whereas the N. scintillans population was negatively correlated with Chl-a concentration in summer. This implies that densities of prey population such as diatoms are one of important contributing factor for maintaining abundance of N. scintillans in winter, spring and fall and for increasing abundance of N. scintillans in summer. During summer season, bio-accumulation of N. scintillans population by the wind from southwest is also considered to be a key factor in triggering the formation of large-scale blooms in Gwangyang Bay.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.41-49
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• 2010

Web building of the spider is an investment behavior for prey foraging with genetic constraint. Individual's decision-making on the web construction depends on diverse environmental variables. This study investigated web structure of the wasp spider, Argiope bruennichi, to compare individual's behaviors in dry field and in wet field. We measured 35 web structures in dry field (Chunma-San, Incheon) showing relatively low humidity (46.4%) and luxuriant herbage, and 13 web structures in the wet rice field (73.9%; Taean-Gun, Chungnam). Comparing to the wet field the individuals in the dry field invested significantly more silk: $32.5{\pm}12.8$ number of silk spirals used in the dry field vs. $16.9{\pm}5.4$ in the wet field. The web area of the dry field was greater than that of the wet field: $976{\pm}643cm^2$ vs. $532{\pm}254cm^2$. The web height, distance between the ground and the center of the web, appeared higher in the dry field than in the wet field: $71.4{\pm}39.6cm$ vs. $49.6{\pm}31.2cm$. Also the web constructed in the dry field showed longer stabilimentum than the web of the wet field: $18.8{\pm}3.4cm$ vs. $3.9{\pm}3.2cm$. The perpendicular inclination and the inclination to East-West of the web showed no difference between the two fields. This study suggests that adult females of A. bruennichi could modulate its construction behavior depending on the micro-habitat factors.

• ALGAE
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.47-55
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• 2017

We explored feeding by the mixotrophic ciliate Mesodinium rubrum, heterotrophic nanoflagellates (HNFs), and small ciliates (<$30{\mu}m$ in cell length) on natural populations of heterotrophic bacteria in Masan Bay, Keum River Estuary, and in the coastal waters of the Saemankeum area, Korea when M. rubrum red tides occurred. We also measured ingestion rates of M. rubrum on cultured heterotrophic bacteria as a function of bacterial concentration in the laboratory. The ingestion rates of M. rubrum on natural populations of heterotrophic bacteria (2.3-16.8 bacteria $grazer^{-1}h^{-1}$) were comparable to or lower than those of co-occurring HNFs (10.7-41.7 bacteria $grazer^{-1}h^{-1}$), but much lower than those of co-occurring small ciliates (76.0-462.2 bacteria $grazer^{-1}h^{-1}$). However, the maximum grazing coefficient of M. rubrum ($0.245d^{-1}$) on natural populations of heterotrophic bacteria was much higher than that of small ciliates ($0.089d^{-1}}$), and slightly higher than that of HNFs ($0.204d^{-1}$). With increasing bacterial concentrations, ingestion rates of M. rubrum on cultured heterotrophic bacteria continuously increased, but became saturated at higher prey concentrations over $1-5{\times}10^6cells\;mL^{-1}$. The maximum ingestion rate of M. rubrum on cultured heterotrophic bacteria was 34.4 bacteria $grazer^{-1}h^{-1}$. Based on the present study, it is suggested that M. rubrum may be an important grazer of heterotrophic bacteria and sometimes have considerable grazing impact on natural populations of heterotrophic bacteria.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.59-69
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• 2003

As part of study on the microbial food web in the southern Jeju Island of Korea, Planktonic tintinnids and aloricate oligotrichs were investigated from July 1998 to June 2000 to understand seasonal variation and water mass indication with environmental factors. 39 species of tintinnids were identified representing 1 order, 11 families, 20 genera. Tintinnid abundance ranged from 100 to 5,400 cells.1$^{-1}$ (mean 314 cells.1$^{-1}$ ), and oceanic species were mainly dominant in fall and winter season, while neritic species were a little pre- dominant in spring and summer season. 15 species of aloricate oligotrichs were identified representing 1 order, 5 families, 7 genera, and many belonged to genus Strombidium which was most abundant and most frequently occurred in many months. Abundance of aloricate oligotrichs ranged from 140 to 21,000 cells.1$^{-1}$ (mean 2,356 cells.1$^{-1}$ ). Species diversity and standing crops of tintinnids were quite different according to seasons, but few seasonal variations were detected in aloricate oligotrichs. In terms of water mass indication tintinnids represented obvious characteristics which were affected by marine environmental factors, but alor- icate oligotrichs had no such apparent indication as tintinnids. Ciliates were more abundant and more diverse in inshore than in offshore station. Total carbon biomass of ciliates ranged from 0.01 to 136.06 $\mu\textrm{g}$C.1$^{-1}$ (mean 5.01 $\mu\textrm{g}$C.1$^{-1}$ ). The carbon biomass, however, did not coincided with seasonal variations of abun- dance Vertical profiles of mean abundance of both tintinnids and aloricate oligotrichs were similar, and had same trend as those of mean chlorophyll o concentration. It suggests that phytoplankton and ciliates reflected the prey-predator relationship in the study area.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.452-460
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• 2017

Rice fields are important stopover sites for the conservation of shorebirds during long-distance migration. These fields serve as food sources providing energy for the next leg of the journey. Shorebirds are able to change their preferred food source at stopover sites. However, the type and distribution of food resources remain unknown for the shorebirds in the Republic of Korea. Therefore, we studied the type and distribution pattern of food resource (macroinvertebrates, remaining rice, and other seeds) for shorebirds in the rice fields. We have identified potential and actual food sources for shorebirds in the rice fields. The potential food sources were collected by using a core-sampling method and the actual food source was ascertained by observational analysis. As a result, a total 19 species of benthic macroinvertebrates in 15 families were recorded as potential food sources. A total of 9 families in 9 orders of benthic macroinvertebrates known to be actual food sources were also recorded during the study period, including loaches, and a tuber of sea club rush. Also, the distribution of the food source depended on soil conditions generated by cultivation such as plowing, harrowing, and the use of pesticides. In the present study, we identified the type and distribution of food sources for shorebirds. This information can be used as essential primary baseline data for conservation of shorebirds using the rice fields of the Republic of Korea.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.17 no.9
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• pp.422-430
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• 2016

We investigated the abundance and composition of the zooplankton community around Dokdo in the East Sea from 2006 to 2015. Zooplankton samples were collected in the surface mixed layer by vertical hauls using a standard type net at the monitoring stations. There were no clear long-term trends in the average temperature and salinity, but relatively low salinity was recorded in the summer of 2013 and 2015. The average abundances of zooplankton in the summer increased by two orders of magnitude from $317inds./m^3$ in 2008 to $10,242inds./m^3$ in 2015. This long-term increase was accompanied by a slight increase in the chlorophyll-a concentration and a decrease in the catch of potential crucial predators (anchovy, mackerel pike, squid, herring and horse mackerel) in the study area. The dominant zooplankton, accounting for most of the long-term increase, consisted of appendicularian (Oikopleura spp.), which showed a steady increase since 2012, summer species such as Noctiluca scintillans and the cladoceran Penilia avirostris, which showed an abrupt increase, and the copepod Paracalanus parvus s.l., which showed a rapid increase after its first occurrence in summer 2010. These results suggest that the long-term increase of zooplankton could be related to the increase in the concentration of prey and the decrease in the predation pressure of potential predators around Dokdo in the study area.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.17 no.9
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• pp.322-328
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• 2016

This study investigated the effects of temperature, salinity, and algal diet to find the optimal conditions for 5 days for the mass culture of the tropical tintinnid, Metacylis tropica. This tintinnid had a small, hyaline, and ovoid lorica. The oral diameter, length, and maximum width of the lorica were $36.7{\mu}m$, $49.5{\mu}m$, and $44.5{\mu}m$, respectively. In the temperature experiments, the highest maximum density and population growth rate were observed at $30^{\circ}C$ with 340.7 cells/mL and 1.1/day, respectively. Lower salinities adversely affected the population growth of M. tropica. The maximum density was observed at 33 ppt (840 cells/mL). In the diet experiments, M. tropica fed Isochrysis galbana showed the highest density (413 cells/mL) and population growth rate (1.2/day). As a result, M. tropica is appropriate as a potential prey organism for early fish larvae with smaller mouths because the tintinnid has a relatively small size compared to the rotifer. In addition, the conditions of $30^{\circ}C$, 33 ppt and supplying I. galbana would be effective in the cultivation of M. tropica.

• The Korean Journal of Malacology
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.217-225
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• 2010

The total oil proportion of bay scallop by areas during the growing period was the highest (2.8%) at Tongyong in August, then it decreased to 1.88% in September and 0.62% in October, and it was the lowest (0.22%) in November. The total oil proportion of phytoplankton by areas was the highest at Tongyong, where it was decreased from 5.02% in August and 3.29% in September to 2.48% in October and 1.66% in November. For the composition of fatty acid of bay scallop by areas and seasons during the growing period, the major composition was 16:0 and 18:0 as saturated fatty acid, and 16:1n-7, 18:1n-7, 20:1n-9, ARA (20:4n-6), EPA (20:5n-3), DHA (22:6n-3) as monoenic acid. TMTD (4,8,12-trimethyltridecanoic acid) was detected in a little amount as special fatty acid. For the composition of fatty acid of prey by areas during the growing period of bay scallop from August to November 1998, n-3HUFA, Omega-3 highly unsaturated fatty acid, in August was 47.11% at Namhae in slowest growth, while it was distinctively low with 34.26% at Tongyong and 14.06% at Nammeon.