• Journal of Species Research
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.278-286
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• 2022

During a field survey of Korean marine ciliates, we collected Pleuronema marinum from a brackish water sample. It is characterized by the presence of a contractile vacuole in mid-body, rather than the subterminal/ terminal contractile vacuole as in other congeners. The cells were examined in vivo and based on protargol and 'wet' silver nitrate impregnation. In addition, the nuclear 18S rRNA gene was sequenced using a single cell. The Korean population morphologically and molecularly resembles a Chinese population of P. marinum. Historical review of the species concludes that 1) two or more species have been assigned into P. marinum, 2) the position of contractile vacuole (e.g., in mid-body) is a valid character state, and 3) P. marinum is probably a rare species. Here we provide a monographic treatment of P. marinum to clarify the issue and for further studies of relevant species. Considering there are about 40 nominal species and complex nomenclatural acts in the genus Pleuronema, further studies should provide descriptions based on protargol and 'wet' silver impregnation with marker gene(s).

• Journal of Species Research
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.321-329
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• 2022

Four species of cyanobacteria that are unrecorded in Korea were isolated from freshwater and brackish water. These four species are Laspinema thermale of Laspinemaceae, Planktothricoides raciborskii and Planktothrix spiroides of Microcoleaceae, and Cephalothrix lacustris of Phormidiaceae, all belonging to the order Oscillatoriales. Laspinema thermale is morphologically characterized as apical cells that are longer than other cells. In this strain, the similarity of the 16S rRNA gene sequence with the previously reported L. thermale strains were 99.30-99.50%. Planktothricoides raciborskii, which is characterized by bluntly conical morphology of apical cells, showed 98.80-99.50% of similarity of the 16S rRNA gene sequence to the previously reported P. raciborskii strains. Planktothrix spiroides are characterized by floating due to gas vacuoles. In this strain, the similarity of the 16S rRNA gene sequence with the previously reported P. spiroides strains were 99.80-99.90%. Cephalothrix lacustris, characterized by having calyptra in apical cells, showed 99.80-99.90% similarity of the 16S rRNA gene sequence to previously reported C. lacustris strains. Also, these species were clustered in the same clade in phylogenetic analysis using 16S rRNA gene sequences with each corresponding species.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.405-412
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• 2022

Suncheon Bay Ecological Park, possessing abundant fisheries and biological diversity, was registered as a Ramsar wetland in Korea. Approximately 300 bacterial strains were isolated from the Suncheon Bay in a comprehensive study of indigenous prokaryotic species conducted during 2019-2020 in South Korea. A total of 12 bacterial strains were identified using 16S rRNA gene sequencing, demonstrating >98.7% sequence similarity with validly published species. These species were determined to be unrecorded bacterial species in Korea. A total of six strains were isolated from brackish water and Phragmites communis Trin (reed) species. These unrecorded species were phylogenetically diverse and belonged to three classes, six orders, and ten genera. Regarding the genus and class levels, the previously unrecorded species belonged to Jiella, Martelella, Rhizobium, Paracoccus, Rhodovulum, and Altererythrobacter of the class Alphaproteobacteria; Mycolicibacterium, Demequina, and Microbacterium of the class Actinobacteria; Confluentibacter of the class Flavobacteria. The twelve species were further characterized by gram staining, colony and cell morphology, biochemical properties, and phylogenetic position.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.144-151
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• 2024

Background: This study focused on the diet of Clithon retropictum, level II endangered species in Korea. Since the development of brackish water zones has led to a decline in the population of this species, to obtain information on the ecology of C. retropictum required for its conservation and restoration. To investigate the actual preys of C. retropictum in south coast of Korea, we conducted high-throughput sequencing and metabarcoding techniques to extract DNA from gut contents and periphyton in their habitats. Results: Total 118 taxonomic groups were detected from periphyton samples. 116 were Chromista and Cyanobacteria dominated in the most samples. In gut contents samples, 98 taxonomic groups were detected. Similar to the results of periphyton, 96 were Chromista and Cyanobacteria dominated in the most samples. In the principal component analysis based on the presence/absence of taxonomic groups, gut content composition showed more clustered patterns corresponding to their habitats. Bryophyta was the most crucial taxonomic group explaining the difference between periphyton and gut contents compositions of C. retropictum. Conclusions: Our finding suggests that C. retropictum may not randomly consume epilithic algae but instead, likely to supplement their diet with Bryophyta.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.499-506
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• 2013

To estimate the effect of algae to particulate organic matter in the upper regions of brackish Lake Sihwa, temporal and spatial variations of particulate organic carbon (POC) and phytoplankton pigments (chlorophyll a; Chl-a, pheophytin-a; Pheo-a), and their relationships were studied at seven sites of the brackish regions from March to October 2005 and 2006. POC concentration varied from 1.0 to $76.6mgL^{-1}$ (mean $7.4mgL^{-1}$), with maximal concentrations occurring in the middle parts of the study area in spring of 2005 and 2006. Concentrations of Chl-a and Pheo-a varied from 1.3 to $942.9{\mu}gL^{-1}$ (mean $71.0{\mu}gL^{-1}$) and $1.4{\sim}1,545.5{\mu}gL^{-1}$ (mean $59.9{\mu}gL^{-1}$), respectively, and corresponded closely with variation in POC. During the study period Pheo-a concentration was 44.2% of total Chl-a, implying that non-living or inactive phytoplankton is also the important part of phytoplankton-derived POC in brackish regions of Lake Sihwa. From the positive linear relationships between POC and phytoplankton pigments (POC with Chl-a (r=0.93), total Chl-a (r=0.88), and Pheo-a (r=0.81)), it is suggested that phytoplankton was a significant component of POC in the upper regions of brackish Lake Sihwa. On the other hand, the ratios of POC/Chl-a and POC/total Chl-a (Chl-a+Pheo-a) were 82.9 and 35.9, respectively. The ratio of POC/total Chl-a is similar to those reported in previous studies, including 40~60 in estuaries. This study suggests that Pheo-a concentration is considered in estimation of POC concentration from phytoplankton pigments in aquatic systems with high content of Pheo-a, like an upper region of blackish Lake Sihwa.

• 한국해양학회지
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.320-331
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• 1995

The closely spaced cores were analyzed to find detailed reconstruction of paleoenvironments and sealable changes along the Delaware Bay coast. Three areas, Kitts Hummock Beach mars, the St. Jones River marsh, and Bowers marsh near the St. Jones River's mouth, were chosen because these areas are compose of their own geomorphic characteristics and sea-level history. since significance of the stratigraphic correlations was to determine sedimentary fancies and paleoenvironments, multidisciplinary methods such as lithological description, grain-size analysis, organic/inorganic content, water content, mineral composition, botanical analysis, micropaleontological analysis, and /SUP 14/C datings were performed. Five major divisions of marsh environments were recognized in the stratigraphic sections: freshwater marsh, initialfreshwater marsh, slightly brackish marsh, brackish marsh, and salt marsh. Most of the lower part in the stratigraphic sections show freshwater marsh. On the top of this, either brackish marsh or tidal flat/tidal stream was recorded. The pro-Holocene sediments consist of sand, mud, and sandy mud, The pre-Holocene configuration played an important role for developing the Holocene Paleoenvironmental changes. The irregular configuration of the pre-Holocene sediments consist of sand, mud, and sandy mud. The pre-Holocene configuration played an important role for developing the Holocene Paleoenvironmental changes. The irregular configuration of the pre-Holocene surface within short distances permitted the concurrent development of variable environments such as freshwater marsh, brackish marsh or salt marsh at similar elevations. The freshwater marsh in this case was formed in the areas of isolation, so saline-water cannot encroach upon these areas. This complex development of paleoenvironments leads to a difficulty in stratigraphic correlation and interpretation of local relative sea-level changes. The deposition of subsurface sediments was affected by sediment supply, compaction, fluvial activity, biological competition, local tectonics and isostacy, climate and local relative sea-level changes. It was interpreted that the positions in the changes from freshwater environments to brackish environments or ice versa are the turning points of transgressions and regressions. Therefore, multiple transgressions and regressions were identified in the stratigraphic sections of the study area.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.206-215
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• 2008

Temporal and spatial distributions of salinity, temperature, dissolved oxygen (DO), and turbidity were investigated at seven sites in the upper regions of brackish Lake Sihwa with a limited water exchange, from March to October 2005. During the study period, salinity and temperature varied $0.1{\sim}29.9\;psu$ and $4.7{\sim}28.1^{\circ}C$, respectively, depending on seasons and sites sampled. A distinct halocline profile showing the maximum density gradient (difference over $20\;psu\;m^{-1}$ between surface and bottom layers) was observed during the rainy season, due to the decrease of salinity in surface layers by freshwater inflow. This result implies that rainfall event is the important factor forming the halocline. On the other hand, the depth and location of haloeline varied with the amount of seawater through the sluice gates and the operation systems (inflow or outflow). High DO (over 300% saturation) was observed at surface layer above the halocline in April when red tide occurred, whereas low DO (below 20% saturation) was at the bottom layer below the halocline in the rainy season. Turbidity ranged $1.5{\sim}80.3\;NTU$ showing the maximum turbidity at the layers above or upper the halocline. As a result, the distributions of DO and turbidity in the upper regions of brackish Lake Sihwa were largely affected by the variation of salinity. Also, when the halocline was formed, the water quality between upper and lower water layers may be expected completely different. This study suggests that the physicochemical characteristics of water in the brackish regions are closely associated with the causes of eutrophication such as red tide and DO deficit.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.37-43
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• 2014

In this study, capacitive deionization (CDI) was introduced for desalination of mining water. Ion-exchange polymer coated carbon electrodes (IEE) were used in CDI to desalt mining water. The CDI performance using the IEE for desalination of mining water was carried out and then was compared with that using general carbon electrodes without ion-exchange polymer coating (GE). Moreover, to investigate the effect of the concentration of influent solutions on CDI performance, the CDI performance using the IEE for desalination of brackish water (NaCl 200 ppm) was also performed and analyzed. As a result, the higher salt removal efficiency, rate and the lower energy consumption in the CDI process using the IEE and mining water were obtained compared with those using the GE and mining water. It is mainly due to higher non-Faradaic current, low ohmic resistance of the influent, overlapping effect of electric double layers in micropore of the electrode. In addition, the CDI process using the IEE and brackish water shows much higher salt removal efficiency and lower salt removal rate than that using the IEE and mining water. This results from the lower concentration (i.e., higher ohmic resistance) and salt amount of the influent.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.78-84
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• 1984

In order to determine the infestation patterns for metacercaria of digenetic trematodes, several kinds of fresh-water and brackish-water fish were caught in River Hyungsan, Kyungpook Province, Korea and examined from March to October in 1983. They were collected by netting, fishing with rod and line, or using the bait of crushed oil cake in transparent plastic bowls, and were dissected into the flesh, scales and 6ns with tail, and then examined for the presence and infestation density of larval trematodes. Of the 11 kinds of fish examined, the encysted larvae of Exorchis oviformis were found all of them, Metagonimus yokogawai from 9 kinds, Cyathocotyle orientalis, Metacercaria hasegawai and Metorchis orientalis from 6 kinds, alld Clonorchis sinensis from 4 Kinds in the present study. In the intensity of infestation with Clonorchis sinensis, the Korean shiner, Gnathopogon atromaculatus Nichols et Pope, was the most heavily infected species, the average number of metacercariae per grata of fish flesh being 45.5, followed by the striped shiner, Puntungia hirxi Ibersenstein 11.6, and Southern top-Inouthed minnow, Pseudorasbora larva (Temminck et Shlegel) , 9.7. The intensity of infestation with the iwetagonimus larvae in 8 species of fresh-water fish was relatively low, and the average number per gram of flesh varied from 0.23 to 9.1. In comparison, the brackish-water fish were more heavily infected and the mean number of cysts per gram of flesh in the sweetfish, Plecoglossus altiwelis, was 32.9. The results of this study generally indicate that Clonorchis sinensis and Metagcnimus yckogawai infection may occur by consuming raw fresh-water fish caught in the river Hyungpook, Kyungpook Province, Korea.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.51-60
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• 1984

Two cases of natural human infection by Heterophyopsis continua (Heterophyidae) were identified by collection of adult worms in 1983 in Korea. And in order to know the source of infection a study on fish intermediate hosts was performed along the southwestern coastal areas. The cases were 21 and 50 year old males residing in southern coastal areas. They had the clinical complaints of non-specific gastrointestinal symptoms such as epigastric pain and one of them also complained the discharge of tapeworm segments. Praziquantel in single dose of 10~15mg/kg was given followed by purgation with magnesium salt and 2 and 46 specimens of H. continua were collected from the diarrheal stools. They said to have eaten raw ilesh of several kinds of brackish water fishes. The results of fish examination for metacercarial infection were as follows: I. Seventeen (663.0%) out of 27 perches (Lateolabrax japonicus) and 10 (29.4%) out of 34 gobies (Acantkogobius flavimanus) harboured the metacercariae but none of 42 mullets (Mugil cepkalus) were found to harbour them. 2. The average metacercarial density in perches was 55.1 and 18.7 per fish respectively. And the majority of the metacercariae were collected from the muscle of body portions in these fishes. 3. After the metaeercariae were experimentally fed to two rats and one young dog. two adult worms were recovered from the dog while none from the rats. These worms were also identified as H. continua. From the results it was concluded that the brackish water flshes which the human cases said to have eaten were the source of infection.