• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.503-512
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• 1999

The morphological variations and habitat environment of the Zostera asiatica Miki (Zosteraceae) were examined in the waters off the eastern coast of Korea and Akkeshi Bay of Japan. In this study, we report new habitat of Z. asiatica along the eastern coast of south Korea； Gonghunjin, Donghori, Youngdong and Chilpo. Z. asiatica is found at the depth of 8∼15 m in these areas. However, Z. asiatica grows at the depth of 3 m in Akkeshi Bay of Japan. The sediment of habitats in the eastern coast of Korea were principally composed of sand. The stems were 64.0∼75.7 cm long in mature plants with flowering shoots and the leaves were 11.0∼15.0 mm wide for Korean populations. Plants from Akkeshi Bay of Japan had stems of 187.0∼234.0 cm in length. The difference in size are considered to be due to the depth of habitats. In spite of the significant morphological difference between Korea and Japan population of Z. asiatica, there was no difference in ITS sequences.

• Proceedings of the Zoological Society Korea Conference
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• 2001.10a
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• pp.154.3-155
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• 2001

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.272-277
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• 2010

Seagrasses are marine angiosperms of ecological importance in providing shelter and food to aquatic species as well as maintaining the carbon cycle on earth. Phyllospadix iwatensis is a seagrass of the family Zosteraceae and is distributed along the eastern coast of Korea. The nucleotide sequences of P. iwatensis nuclear genes encoding 18S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) and internal transcribed spacer-1 (ITS-1) were determined for molecular phylogenetic analysis. Genomic DNA was isolated from P. iwatensis and used for PCR amplification of 18S rRNA and ITS-1. Examination of the 18S rRNA sequence of P. iwatensis showed a close (99% similarity) relationship to Zostera noltii, another genus of Zosteraceae, but a distant (84% similarity) evolutionary relationship to other macroalgal Laminariales species. Further discrepancies found in ITS-1 nucleotide sequences between closely related species indicate that the sequence information could be used for species identification.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.149-156
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• 2001

Zostera caespitosa Miki has been identified to be distributed along the seacoasts of Korea and Japan. This study was intended to clarify the morphological characters and the habitat characteristics of Korean Z. caespitosa. It was confirmed that Z. caespitosa is distributed along the seacoasts of South, Yellow and East Seas of South Korea. The habitats were located in the bay and port with the depth varying from 2.5 to 5.2 m. The habitats of Z. caespitosa were rather deeper than that of mixed bed with Z. marina. The sediment in the habitats was composed of well-sorted fine sand or muddy sand. Z. caespitosa showed marked differences in several morphological characters among sites. Morphology of Z. caespitosa varied with water depths, grain size and organic contents of sediments. Flowering shoots occurred by water temperature of 6.0∼13.7℃ from January to early April.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.501-507
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• 2000

Distribution and habitat characteristics of Zostera (Zosteraceae) in the eastern coast of Korea were examined along with plant monohology, sediment composition and physicochemical factors of seawater from June 1998 to July 2000, The results showed that three species, Zostera marina, Z. asiatica and Z, caespitosa were found in specific habitats. The depth of habitat for Z. asiatica was deeper ($8.5{\~}15.0 m$) than that of Z. marina ($1.3{\~}5.6 m$) and Z. caespitosa ($3.2{\~}5.2 m$). Z. marina beds were observed at brackish-water, port and inner bay with the sediment type of sand or muddy sand. Habitats of Z. asiatica were restricted to the open bay with the sediment type of sand, Zostera have been described with regard to different growth forms of vegetation, flowering shoot and life history. Vegetation and flowering shoot length varied significantly with habitats; values ranged $66.8{\~}110.0 cm$ and $128.0{\~}217,8 cm$, respectively. Morphology of Z. marina varied with water depth and different substrates. Morphological characteristics of Z. asiatica showed a new phenotype at the deeper water depth. Vegetation and flowering shoots of Z. caespitosa were not significantly different between study sites (values ranged from 64.9 cm to 70.3 cm). Nutrient concentrations of seawater were higher at southern part than at middle part of the eastern coast of Korea. Distribution of Zostera in the eastern coast of Korea was dependent upon differences in water depth and habitat environments, by which affected the morphological differences were affected.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Fisheries Technology Conference
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• 2000.05a
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• pp.406-407
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• 2000

한반도에 서식하는 해초(Seagrass) 중 거머리말속(Zostera, Zosteraceae)은 거머말(Zostera marina), 애기거머리말(Z. japonica), 왕거머리말(Z. asiatica), 수거머리(Z. caulescens), 포기거머리말(Z. caespitosa) 5종이 기재되었다 (Miki, 1932). 이 해들은 연안의 사질 또는 사니질에 서식하며 생태계에 중요한 역할을 담당하고 있다. 그러나 연안의 매립과 개발로 인해 이들 해초지의 감소와 연안생태계의 붕괴가 진행되고 있으나 해초에 대한, 특히 Zostera속에 대한 연구는 미진하다.(중략)

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.33 no.4 s.92
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• pp.336-341
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• 2000

This study was conducted to clarify the habitat characteristics and distribution of seagrass. Zostera marina L. (Zosteraceae) in the brackish Hwajinpo Lake, Korea in June 1998 and July 2000. Z. marina beds were distributed along the sea-side cost of the lower lake mouth at 0.8 to 1.5m in death, and the seagrass bed area was about 3,200 m$^{2}$. Salinity, water temperature and pH were in the range of 8.0${\sim}$23.0$%_{o}$, 22.0${\sim}$23.7$^{\circ}C$ and 8.34${\sim}$8.62, respectively. Nutrient concentrations were generally now (TN: 24.34 ${\mu}$M, NH$_{4}$-N: 2.57 ${\mu}$M, NO$_{3}$-N: 0.56 ${\mu}$M, NO$_{2}$-N: 0.27 ${\mu}$M, TP: 2.08 ${\mu}$M, PO$_{4}$-P: 0.34 ${\mu}$M). Suspended particulate matters (SPM) concentration averaged 62.8 mg/l and particulate organic matter (POM) averaged 21.3 mg/l. Organic content of SPM averaged 33.9%. The beds substratum was composed of well-sorted, fine sand and its mean brain size was 3.13${\Phi}$. The Z. marina vegetation was almost submerged, and the morphological characteristics can be classified as steno-leaf phenotype by the shoot length, leaf width, and number of leaf vein. Shoot length and leaf width were 70.0${\sim}$126.5 cm and 5${\sim}$7 mm, respectively. Shoot densities ranged from 264 to 296/m$^{2}$, and the plants biomass was estimated at 332.6 to 373.0 g dw/m$^{2}$. Therefore, the habitats of Z. marina in Korea were recognized in a brackish lake, and morphological characteristics appeared to be variable.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.345-357
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• 2002

Ecological characteristics on habitats and morphological features of the seagrass Zostera caulescens Miki in Korea were examined. The biogeographical distribution of Z. caulescens was confirmed in the south coast of the Korea. Zostera caulescens usually inhabits at the inner bay, where is sheltered from wave action and 3.0 to 6.5 m deep. The sediment in habitats is composed of very fine muddy sand or sandy mud. In morphology, Z. caulescens is easily distinguished from other species of the genus by the formation of vegetative canopy on the top of reproductive stems. The number of longitudinal ribs in testa was 24 revealed by scanning electron microscope (SEM) while the number of ribs in Z. marina has been often reported to be 16-20. Purplish anthocyanin spots were displayed on the surface when the testa was removed. We found that the size and shape of leaf epidermal cells in Z. caulescens were very different from those of Z. marina when the leaf cuticles were removed by maceration which could be useful characters for identifying Zostera species. The leaf of Z. caulescens displays two different casts of color when the fresh plant is closely observed. The margins of leaves appear brighter than the center of leaves due to the thickening by the development of paralleled venation in the middle of leaves. The comparison of two populations of Z. caulescens in Korea showed that they were considerably different in their shoot density and biomass. The shoot density and biomass at Gabae population was $367.3 m^{-2}\;and\;725.7g$ dry wt $m^P{-2}$ respectively, while those at Jukrim population were $112.5m^{-2}\;and\;392.0g\;dry\;wt\;m^{-2}$, respectively.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.253-260
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• 2004

Zosterin is a pectin from a seagrasses of the family Zosteraceae. Zosterin was given to rats intragastrically once 1h before the emotional stress or injection of indomethacin, or administration of 2, 4-D solution daily for seven days at dose of 100 mg/kg. The data obtained demonstrate that zosterin enhances resistance of the stomach tissue to various ulcerogenic factors (emotional stress, indomethacin, pesticide 2, 4-D). It was shown to possess a gastroprotective effect, which is accompanied by diminution of the number and sizes of destructive regions in the gastric mucosa during the ulcer affection, as well as reduction of ATP and glycogen deficit, decrease of lactate excess, and normalization of the energy balance in the gastric mucosa. According to its antiulcer effect, zosterin may be recommended for application in prevention and treatment of stomach diseases together with the basic therapy.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.50-54
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• 2022

BACKGROUND: Phyllospadix japonica Makino is a perennial plant belonging to the family Zosteraceae. This species is native to the eastern coast of the Korean Peninsula, and it is found attached to rocks on the seashore. As with all seagrass species, P. japonica is also known to play a major role in protecting the marine environment, and studies on its physiological activities suggestive of its antioxidant, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory potentials have been reported. In this study, purification and structural analysis were performed to identify the polyphenol substances derived from P. japonica. METHODS AND RESULTS: An polyphenol substance MP-1 was purified from the 70% aqueous methanol extract of P. japonica using Diaion® HP-20 column chromatography, ODS column chromatography, and medium-pressure liquid chromatography (MPLC). The purified MP-1 was identified as rosmarinic acid having a molecular weight of 360 and a molecular formula of C18H16O8 through electrospray ionization (ESI)-mass and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopic analysis. CONCLUSION(S): This study highlights the processes used for the identification of the polyphenol substance derived from P. japonica. Rosmarinic acid, the polyphenol derived from P. japonica identified by this study, is a kind of bioactive substance mainly present in plants. These findings provide an important starting point and are valuable for future studies on bioactive substances in seagrass.