• ALGAE
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.51-60
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• 2021

The sea urchin, Mesocentrotus nudus, is widely distributed in North West Pacific regions. It has a substantial impact on macroalgal communities as a generalist herbivore. This study examined various aspects of its feeding ecology, including algal preference, foraging behaviors, and possible effects of past feeding history on its algal preference. We used six common algal species (Ulva australis, Undaria pinnatifida, Sargassum confusum, Dictyopteris divaricata, Grateloupia elliptica, and Grateloupia angusta) from the east coast of Korea as food choice in a series of indoor aquarium experiments. The first choice of starved M. nudus was exclusively U. pinnatifida, followed by G. elliptica and S. confusum. Unlike large urchins, small urchins equally preferred U. pinnatifida and G. elliptica. On the other hand, Undaria-fed urchins preferred to feed only G. elliptica, although its preference slightly differed over time. We then grouped sea urchins into three categories (starved, Undaria-fed, mixed species-fed) to observe 12-days feeding preference as well as early foraging movements. Foraging behaviors of the three groups were distinctively different, although they could not completely reflect the actual consumption. For example, U. australis was highly attractive, but rarely eaten. Undaria-fed urchins seemed to stay with only S. confusum and U. australis. This study demonstrates that M. nudus shows high flexibility in food preference depending on past feeding history and body size. Its foraging behaviors are also affected by past feeding conditions, exhibiting active chemoreceptive movements.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.48 no.5
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• pp.768-775
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• 2015

Seasonal variability in the marine seaweed community structure was examined in the intertidal zones at nine study sites in Hallyeohaesang National Park, on the southern coast of Korea from March to October 2014. A total of 145 seaweeds were indentified, comprising 15 green, 41 brown and 89 red algae. Coarsely branched seaweeds were the dominant functional group, comprising 58.95% in species number, whereas filamentous, sheet, thick leathery, crustose and jointed calcareous forms comprised 2.63-17.72% each. The seaweed biomass averaged 358.00 g dry wt/m² and it was maximal at Somaemuldo (847.64 g dry wt/m²) and minimal at Gamam (56.51 g dry wt/m²). Based on biomass, the dominant and subdominant seaweeds were Ulva australis at Gamam, Sargassum thunbergii at Sangju, Ulva australis and S.fulvellum at Neukdo, S.horneri at Dala-Bijindo-Somaemuldo, S. thunbergii at Dapo, and Corallina pilulifera at Songdo. Community indices were as follows: dominance index (DI), 0.43-0.71; richness index (R), 8.26-16.50; evenness index (J'), 0.36-0.54; and diversity index (H'), 1.57-2.19. In conclusion, we found that both biomass and the community structure of seaweeds in Hallyeohaesang National Park were similar to those in other studies of the Southern Sea along the Korean peninsula, and that Hallyeohaesang National Park is a relatively favorable habitat for seaweeds. Future studies should examine the changes in seaweed composition and biomass as they relate to climate change and environmental pollution.

• Journal of Marine Life Science
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.81-85
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• 2019

This study was carried out to observe the changes of seaweed community in artificial reefs installed in September, 2016 in Namae-ri, Yangyang-gun, and Seokbyeong-ri, Pohangsi, Korea. Field surveys were conducted by SCUBA diving once a season in February, May, August, and November of 2017, and quantitative survey and qualitative survey were carried out in parallel. In this study, a total of 94 species, including 11 green algae, 15 brown algae and 68 red algae were appeared. 66 species (8 green algae, 9 brown algae, 49 red algae) and 65 species (7 green algae, 9 brown algae, 49 red algae) were collected and identified in Yangyang and Pohang. In dominant species, Yangyang was dominant species of Saccharina japonica and subdominant species of Ulva australis. Pohang dominated in order of Colpomenia sinuosa and Gelidium elegans. In both coastal areas, Ulva spp., Colpomenia sinuosa were grown at the early stage of reforestation, and perennial seaweeds such as Saccharina japonica, Ecklonia cava and Gelidium elegans were grown. In order to clarify the clustering relation through flora change, it is necessary to monitor the transition process until the seaweed community is stabilized by observing the long-term change through continuous monitoring.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.48 no.6
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• pp.969-976
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• 2015

Macroalgal community structure was seasonally examined at Hakampo (Taean) in western coast of Korea from February 2007 to October 2010. Also, the effects of "Hebei Spirit" oil spill on the seaweed community structure were evaluated. A total of 101 macroalgal species were identified, comprising 12 green, 18 brown and 71 red algae. Species richness ranged 58-65 species with maximal in 2008 and minimal in 2009. Seaweed biomass ranged $75.81-102.06g\;dry\;wt./m^2$ (mean, $88.78g/m^2$) with maximal in 2008 and minimal in 2010. Vertical distribution from the high to low intertidal zone was Neorhodomela aculeata and Polyopes affinis; Corallina pilulifera and Chondrus ocellatus; Sargassum thunbergii and Ulva australis. Coarsely-branched seaweeds comprised the highest proportion of biomass ($37.17g/m^2$, or 41.86% of the total biomass) and ecological state group I (ESG I) seaweed biomass was between 81.67-85.44%. Also, ephemeral macroalgae including Ulva species sharply increased in species number and biomass within 1-2 year from the "Hebei Sprit" oil spill in the mid and low intertidal zone. Hakampo rocky shore is still good condition as evaluated based on macroalgal species number, biomass, and composition in functional form and ESG I seaweeds.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.47 no.6
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• pp.927-934
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• 2014

Marine algal flora and community structure were seasonally examined at Jungjado, on the southern coast of Korea, from July 2007 to May 2008. A total of 112 seaweeds, including 15 green, 24 brown, and 73 red algae, were identified and 33 species were found throughout the year. The average seaweed biomass was 145.78 g dry weight $m^{-2}$, and the biomass was maximal in winter (184.74 g) and minimal in autumn (106.17 g). The dominant and subdominant species in terms of biomass were Sargassum thunbergii and Grateloupia elliptica in summer, S. thunbergii and Corallina pilulifera in autumn, S. thunbergii and Chondracanthus intermedius in winter, and Sargassum fusiforme and G. elliptica in spring. The vertical distribution patterns of seaweeds from the upper to lower intertidal zones at Jungjado were S. thunbergii - Ulva conglobata - Gelidium elegans in summer; Caulacantus ustulatus - Chondria crassicaulis - C. pilulifera in autumn; Ulva australis - S. thunbergii - G. elliptica in winter; and Gloiopeltis tenax - S. fusiforme - G. elliptica in spring. Seasonally the evenness, richness, and diversity indices tended to have their highest values during the winter and their lowest values in the summer. However, the dominant index was recorded as lowest in winter and highest in the summer. The C/P, R/P, and (R+C)/P values reflecting the flora characteristics were 0.58, 3.04, and 3.62, respectively.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.92-97
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• 2016

The purpose of this study was to improve growth and survival rate of marine microalgae and macroalga zoospores using with eco-friendly capsulation materials. The capsulation materials were chosen an alginic acid which extracted from marine brown algae combining with starch and calcium chloride. The capsulated microalgae, Nannochloropsis salina and macroalga zoospores, Ulva australis were evaluated with growth and survival rate. When the mixed ratio of alginic acid was less than 50%, capsule formation was not performed. When the ratio of 50% alginic acid and 50% starch, the microalgae was shown the highest growth and survival rate increasing up to $8.74{\times}10^5cells\;mL^{-1}$ while 100% of alginic acid was the lowest rate up to $4.92{\times}10^5cells\;mL^{-1}$. The increasing starch ratio improved to their growth and survival rate, however decreasing alginic acid make physical capsule formation weaken. By applying on a surface of artificial reef, capsulated algal zoospores were germinated 99 individuals $cm^{-2}$. This attempt will be provided to basic core technology for marine afforestation in coastal area.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.317-325
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• 2015

To evaluate the relative ecological quality of Taean coastal areas in terms of various seaweed community indices, seasonal samplings were taken at the Hakampo, Padori, Chaeseokpo, Mongsanpo and Bangpo shores from March 2006 to January 2007. A total of 105 species were identified; species richness ranged from 37~72 species spatially and from 65~75 species seasonally over the study period. Coarsely-branched seaweeds were dominant in functional group and ESG I (ecological state group I) made up 61 species (58.10%) of the identified macroalgae. The average seaweed biomass at the five study sites was $56.63g\;dry\;wt./m^2$ (range, 36.66 at Hakampo $-73.89g/m^2$ at Mongsanpo). Seaweeds were generally abundant in mid and low intertidal zone. Corallina pilulifera, Ulva australis, Sargassum thunbergii, Neorhodomela aculeata, and Symphyocladia latiuscula were the dominant species across all five study sites. Species diversity was between 1.24~2.30, while species evenness was between 0.40 and 0.61. The dominance index ranged from 0.43 at Padori to 0.64 at Mongsanpo. Given the community indices and shore descriptions, the five study sites were divided into two groups based on ecological quality: moderate (Chaeseokpo and Mongsanpo) and good (Hakampo, Padori and Bangpo).

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.175-185
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• 2020

Quantitative and qualitative surveys were conducted during scuba diving activity between May 2017 and June 2017 in order to analyze spring marine algal community structure at Gijang-gun, Busan. A total of 121 species including 13 (10.7 %) Chlorophyta, 18 (14.9 %) Phaeophyta, and 90 (74.4 %) Rhodophyta were identified. The species count in the subtidal zone (110 species) was twice as high as in the intertidal zone (56 species). In terms of regions, 88,76, and 75 species were found in Mundong, Gongsu, and Daebyeon, respectively. Mean biomass for the whole study area was 1,501.5 g·m^-2, higher for the subtidal zone (1,869.4 g·m^-2) than for the intertidal zone (1,133.5 g·m^-2). Mean biomass by region values were 2,234.0 g·m^-2, 1,228.1 g·m^-2, and 1,044.4 g·m^-2 for Mundong, Gongsu, and Daebyeon, respectively. Ulva australis, Sargassum thunbergii, and Corallina pilulifera had high biomass in the intertidal zone, while Sargassum macrocarpum, Undaria pinnatifida, and Phycodrys fimbriata had high biomass in the subtidal zone. The composition ratio of marine algal functional forms suggests that the entire study area had 'Low' status, and all sites fell within 'Low' to 'Moderate' status. Results indicate that opportunistic species are widely distributed throughout the Gijang-gun coast, hence potential effects of disturbance and environmental pollution should be considered. Seaweed farming in particular - a major activity along the Gijang-gun coast -, together with effects of other anthropogenic activities such as national fishing port development and the coastal improvement project, could have long-term effects on marine algal communities. Therefore, long-term monitoring and management plans for marine algal communities will be required.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.119-129
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• 2015

Benthic marine algal flora and community structure at Chuksan on the mid-east coast of Korea were investigated seasonally from July 2007 to May 2009. Ninety-eight seaweed species were identified, including 13 green, 23 brown and 62 red algal species. The number of species found ranged between 33 and 63 among seasons. Two green (Ulva australis and Codium arabicum), three brown (Dictyota dichotoma, Sargassum fusiforme and Sargassum yezoense), and eleven red algae (Corallina pilulifera, Lithophyllum okamurae, Pachymeniopsis elliptica, Grateloupia filicina, G. cornea, Hildenbrandia rubra, Chondrus ocellatus, Acrosorium polyneurum, Chondria crassicaulis, Polysiphonia morrowii and Symphyocladia latiuscula) were observed throughout the survey period. Average marine algal biomass was $629.68g\;dry\;wt\;m^{-2}$ and it ranged seasonally from 119.30 to $1,660.96g\;dry\;wt\;m^{-2}$. The vertical distribution of marine algae was characterized by Corallina pilulifera and Sargassum spp. in the intertidal zone; Sargassum spp. at 1 m depth; Sargassum spp. and melobesioidean algae at 5 m depth; and melobesioidean algae at 10 m depth.

• Journal of Practical Agriculture & Fisheries Research
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.69-79
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• 2020

In this study, the anti-inflammatory and cytotoxic effects of hot-water extracts from 10 kinds of macroalgae in Korea were investigated. It was selected materials in consideration of biological activity and industrial potential as follows: Caulerpa okamurae; Codium fragile; Ulva australis; Ishige foliacea; Saccharina japonica; Sargassum horneri; Undaria pinnatifida; Gloiopeltis tenax; Gracilaria verrucosa; Porphyra tenera. Results showed that S. japonica and G. tenax significantly decreased NO productionn in LPS-stimulated Raw 264.7 cells at concentrations of 100, 1000 ㎍/mL and 1000 ㎍/mL, respectively. However, most of the other macroalgae used in the experiment did not affect NO production. It was observed that all macroalgae extracts except for the highest concentration (1000 ㎍/mL) treatment group of P. tenera did not affect the viability in Raw 264.7 cells. In addition, there was not significant decrease in cell viability by macroalgae extracts treatment in HINAE cells. These results suggest that S. japonica and G. tenax could be used as potential safe natural anti-inflammatory agents for food and feed additives. Also, the results of this study are expected to be used as basic data for the development of functional materials for 10 kinds of macroalgae resources in Korea.