• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.55 no.5
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• pp.742-750
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• 2022

This study aimed to monitor the distribution of Cobitidae in Korea by the identification of species using genetic analysis. Based on the genetic analysis, Cobitidae species in four of five domestic fish farms consisted of only Chinese muddy loach Misgurnus mizolepis, but muddy loach Misgurnus anguillicaudatus was also present it in one fish farm. In the case of imported Cobitidae species, in addition to Chinese muddy loach and muddy loach, the harmful species Paramisgurnus dabryanus, was also present. Chinese muddy loach accounted for 20%, 67%, and 60% of the S6, S7, and S8 samples, respectively. An analysis of the total length, body length, and weight showed that domestic Chinese muddy loach showed higher values than imported muddy loach, and imported Chinese muddy loach showed similar values to P. dabryanus. There were no significant differences in the country of origin of the three species. Thus, the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene sequence was analyzed and compared the verification of species identification. The three species of Cobitidae were genetically divided into three groups and determined to have genetic differences. These results indicate that it is necessary to reduce the heterogeneous mixing rate through discriminating species by genetic analysis.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.55 no.1
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• pp.30-36
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• 2022

We collected a total of four butterfly ray specimens (Gymnura japonica, 213.4-695.0 mm in total length) in Korea from 2016 to 2021 and investigated their morphological and molecular characteristics in order to clarify their taxonomic status. These features are summarized as follows. Disc lozenge-shaped, 1.8-2.0 times broader than long. Tail very short, post-cloaca length 23.9-28.2% in disc width. Snout short, no rostral cartilage. Clasper short, no hook. Dorsal surface uniform yellow or brownish grey, with or without rounded light yellow spots. An analysis of 434 base-pair sequences of mitochondrial DNA cytochrome c oxidase subunit I showed that all four specimens corresponded to G. japonica from Japan (Kimura-2-parameter distance = 0-0.2%), suggesting that the color patterns found may be due to intraspecific color variation. G. japonica resembles Gymnura poecilura but differs in that it has a shorter tail length to disc width (23.9-28.2% in G. japonica vs. 40.1-48.3% in G. poecilura). This study revealed that G. japonica occurred in areas affected by the Tsushima Warm Current, tentatively suggesting that G. japonica may be an indicator species for monitoring marine ecosystem changes due to climate change.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.119-126
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• 2022

Here, we present the first morphological description of a larval Naso hexacanthus (5.2 mm in body length) from the East China Sea identified by cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) barcoding. The larva had a kite-shaped body with long serrated first spine of dorsal and anal fins. There were four melanophores on the base of the anal fin, dense melanophores on the caudal peduncle, and scattered melanophores on the surface of the brain. There was one small spine on the snout and behind each eye, with serrations on the head, top of the eye, inner- and outer-preopercle, and on the lower part and side of the opercle. The morphological characteristics of larval N. hexacanthus identified by COI barcoding will be useful for species identification of larval fish.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.25 no.12
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• pp.601-618
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• 2022

The genus Semisulcospira is an economically and ecologically valuable freshwater resource. Among the species, Semisulcospira coreana, Semisulcospira forticosta and Semisulcospira tegulata are endemic to the Korean peninsula and Semisulcospira gottschei is widespread in Asia. Therefore, maintenance and conservation of wild populations of these snails are important. We investigated the genetic diversity and population structure of Semisulcospira based on the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI), NADH dehydrogenase subunit 4 (ND4), and combined mitochondrial DNA (COI + ND4) sequences. All four species and various genetic makers showed a high level of haplotype diversity and a low level of nucleotide diversity. In addition, Fu's Fs and Tajima's D neutrality tests were performed to assess the variation in size among populations. Neutrality tests of the four species yielded negative Fu's Fs and Tajima's D values, except for populations with one haplotype. The minimum spanning network indicated a common haplotype for populations of S. coreana, S. tegulata and S. gottschei, whereas S. forticosta had a rare haplotype. Also, genetic differences and gene flows between populations were assessed by analysis of molecular variance and using the pairwise fixation index. Our findings provided insight into the degree of preservation of the species' genetic diversity and could be utilized to enhance the management of endemic species.

• ALGAE
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.249-264
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• 2022

Two genera of the Rhodymeniales, Halopeltis and Leptofauchea, are here reported for the first time from the Hawaiian Islands and represent the deepest records for both genera. Molecular phylogenetic analyses of cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI), rbcL, and large subunit ribosomal DNA (LSU) sequences for Hawaiian specimens of Leptofauchea revealed one well-supported clade of Hawaiian specimens and three additional lineages. One of these clades is described here as Leptofauchea huawelau sp. nov., and is thus far known only from mesophotic depths at Penguin Bank in the Main Hawaiian Islands. L. huawelau sp. nov. is up to 21 cm, and is the largest known species. An additional lineage identified in the LSU and rbcL analyses corresponds to the recently described L. lucida from Western Australia, and is a new record for Hawai'i. Hawaiian Halopeltis formed a well-supported clade along with H. adnata from Korea, the recently described H. tanakae from mesophotic depths in Japan, and H. willisii from North Carolina, and is here described as Halopeltis nuahilihilia sp. nov. H. nuahilihilia sp. nov. has a distinctive morphology of narrow vegetative axes that harbor constrictions along their length. The current distribution of H. nuahilihilia includes mesophotic depths around W. Maui, W. Moloka'i, and the island of Hawai'i in the Main Hawaiian Islands. Few reproductive characters were observed because of the small number of specimens available; however, both species are distinct based on phylogeny and morphology. These descriptions further emphasize the Hawaiian mesophotic zone as a location harboring many undescribed species of marine macroalgae.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.225-230
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• 2022

The single postlarval specimen (7.53 mm in standard length) of Thalassoma quinquevittatum (Lay & Bennett, 1839), belongs to the family Labridae, was collected by a bongo net from the southern coastal waters of Jeju-do Island, Korea in November 2020. T. quinquevittatum has a deeply curved dorsal contour before the dorsal fin, the oval eyes, and no melanophores throughout the body. While T. amblycephalum has a slightly curved dorsal contour before the center of the dorsal fin, the circular eyes, and few melanophores on the body. A molecular analysis based on 548 base pairs sequences in the mitochondrial DNA cytochrome c oxidase subunit I region shows that the specimen was closely matched to adult T. quinquevittatum (K2P distance=0.002-0.005). We report the first record of T. quinquevittatum in Korean waters, and suggest its new Korean name "Da-seot-jul-saek-dong-nol-rae-gi".

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.57-63
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• 2023

Four individuals of Lipolagus ochotensis larvae (13.4~21.3 mm SL), belong to the family Bathylagidae, were collected by a Bongo net from the southern waters off Jejudo Island, Korea in February to March 2018. L. ochotensis is characterized by a elongated and compressed body, the eye stalks, series of melanophores on posterior of body, dorsal fin origin above the middle of the body. A molecular analysis based on 625 base pairs sequences in the mitochondrial DNA cytochrome c oxidase subunit I region shows that specimens were closely matched to adult L. ochotensis (genetic distance=0.024). We report the first record of family Bathylagidae, genus Lipolagus, L. ochotensis in Korean waters, and suggest their new Korean names, "Sim-hae-bing-eo-gwa", "Geom-eun-bing-eo-sok", and "Geom-eun-bbyam-bing-eo", respectively.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.99-114
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• 2023

Patanga japonica Bolívar, 1898 (Orthoptera: Acrididae) is listed as a climate-sensitive indicator species in South Korea and is called southern group of insects in that the main distributional range is southern region of South Korea and Asian continent. In South Korea, thus, the species was distributed mainly in southern region of South Korea including southward a remote Jeju Island, but recently the species has often been detected in mid to northern region of South Korea, implying northward range expansion in response to climate change. Understanding the characteristics of the changes in genetic diversity during range expansion in response to climate change could be a foundation for the understanding of future biodiversity. Thus, in this study, we attempted to understand the changing pattern of the genetic diversity of the P. japonica in newly expanded regions. For the purpose of study, we collected 125 individuals from seven localities throughout South Korea including two newly distributed regions (Pyeongtaek and Yeongwol at ~37° N). These were sequenced for a segment of mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) and analyzed for genetic diversity, haplotype frequency, and population genetic structure among populations. Interestingly, northward range expansion accompanied only haplotypes, which are most abundant in the core populations, providing a significant reduction in haplotype diversity, compared to other populations. Moreover, genetic diversity was still lower in the expanded regions, but no genetic isolation was detected. These results suggest that further longer time would take to reach to the comparable genetic diversity of preexisting populations in the expanded regions. Probably, availability of qualified habitats at the newly expanded region could be pivotal for successful northward range expansion in response to climate change.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.244-252
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• 2023

This study compared the morphological and molecular characteristics of the two Pampus spp. in Korea, Japan and China to clarify the long-confused taxonomic status of the two Korean pomfrets named as "Byeong-eo" and "Deok-dae". Among them "Byeong-eo" was identified as Pampus punctatissimus in having the following morphological traits: patch of wavy ridges extending beyond the anterior tip of the pectoral fin, the groove on the lower ridge of gill cover absent, and the number of vertebrae 34. On the other hand, "Deok-dae" was identified as Pampus argenteus in having the following morphological traits: patch of wavy ridges not reaching to the anterior tip of the pectoral fin, the groove on the lower ridge of gill cover reaching to the lower jaw, and the number of vertebrae 38~42. In addition, "Byeong-eo" almost corresponded to P. punctatissimus from Japan in the mitochondrial DNA cytochrome c oxidase subunit I sequences (genetic distance=0.1%), while "Deokdae" showed genetic distance of 0.3% when compared to P. argenteus from China. Our comprehensive results suggest the validify of P. punctatissimus for "Byeong-eo", and P. argenteus for "Deok-dae".

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.87-95
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• 2024

The giant jellyfish, Nemopilema nomurai, is an endemic species found in Northeast Asian waters and their population structures, such as size and genetics, and their environmental characteristics were investigated. N. nomurai was obtained from the Yellow and Northern East China Seas during the summers of 2006, 2007, and 2009. In the northern Yellow Sea, small-sized jellyfish were found to be dominant and towards the southern seas, the size of the jellyfish increased. In the northern East China Sea, only one mode of jellyfish was found in May, and the number of modes increased up-to five in July. However, at the center of the Yellow Sea, one or two modes were found in July, 2007. Thus, different jellyfish populations were present in the northern East China Sea and the Yellow Sea. However, based on first appearance and a cohort analysis using the bell diameter, the jellyfish population in the northern Yellow Sea might be recognized as a distinct group that differed from those found in the northern East China Sea. Furthermore, mitochondrial DNA sequences (cytochrome c oxidase subunit I) of N. nomurai were, determined and compared with genetic structures obtained from jellyfish in the Yellow Sea. The genetic diversity of N. nomurai was highest in the regions around the northern East China Sea and at the center of the Yellow Sea and was the lowest around the northern Yellow Sea. Thus, N. nomurai populations in the Yellow Sea and northern East China Sea might be different concerning their seeding places.