• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.604-615
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• 2019

In this study, we produce a new type of the algae soil conditioner(ASC) using discarded algae biomass through a composting process and evaluate its nutritional characteristics. As the main ingredient, the ASCs used algae biomass collected through the coagulation-floating method and made by adding a variety of additional supporting materials (sawdust, pearlite, oilcake etc.). ASCs were divided into 0% in blank, 11.7% in ASC1, 21.6% in ASC2, 37.6% in ASC3, 59.5% in ASC4, and composted during 127 days. ASCs showed a sharp increase in temperature by aerobic microbial reaction, and 6~7 high and low temperature peaks were observed. As a result of physicochemical analysis, mineralization proceeded according to decomposing the organic matter and there was a marked increase not only in macronutrients (TN, P₂O₅, K₂O), but also in secondary macronutrients (CaO, MgO). The microbial community change was found in stage 1 (bacteria, filamentous fungi) → stage 2 (actinomycetes, bacteria) → stage 3 (Bacillus sp.), depending on the maturation process. It was estimated that microbial transition was closely related to temperature change and nutritional behavior. The quality of soil conditioner can be determined according to the maturity of compost process, and it was determined that effective microbial activity could be induced by controlling algae biomass below 59.5% in this study. In conclusion, we found out the possibility of manufacturing and utilizing soil conditioner recycled algae biomass and if further technological development is made on the basis it can be used as an effective soil conditioner.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.37 no.4 s.109
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• pp.368-372
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• 2004

The development of a benthic filamentous green algal community formed by Spiro gyra sp. in early summer has been observed in the littoral zones in the north basin of Lake Biwa since the 1980s. The development of a Spirogyra sp. community may have an effect on the increase in the biomass of the benthic algal community in early summer and on the alterations in seasonal fluctuation patterns of the biomass. In this mini-review, the causes underlying the development of the Spirogyra sp. community are discussed on the basis of studies in the seasonal fluctuations of benthic algal communities in littoral stony zones carried out in 1963-1964, 1995-1996 and 2000-2001, especially those focusing on the nutrient concentration $(NO_3^--N)$. $NO_3^--N$ concentrations in June were higher than $100{\mu}g\;L^{-1}$ in 1995 and 2000 in contrast to a concentration in June 1964 of only $20{\mu}g\;L^{-1}$. These results show that $NO_3^--N$concentrations throughout in 1963-1964 period were considerably lower than those in 1995-1996 and 2000-2001, suggesting that the $NO_3^--N$concentration may have served as a limiting factor on Spirogyra sp. growth in 1963. $NO_3^--N$ concentrations in the pelagic zone in the north basin of Lake Biwa have clearly increased from the 1950s under the impact of economic growth and the increasing population in the watershed. The development of the Spirogyra sp. community seems to be the result of a heady increase in the nutrient supply from human activities.

• ALGAE
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.187-195
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• 2010

The genus Rosenvingea is well known in the tropics. Four species have been reported from Pacific Mexico: R. floridana, R. antillarum, R. intricata and R. sanctae-crucis. We collected a plant (Boca del Cielo, Chiapas) that we identified as Rosenvingea orientalis, a species not previously reported from Pacific Mexico. We were able to characterize the life cycle of this species for the first time in laboratory culture. It reproduced exclusively by plurilocular sporangia (plurangia). The mature plants were up to 6 cm long with cylindrical to compressed fronds (to 2 mm wide) with dichotomous branches in the upper half of the thallus. The medulla was hollow with 2-3 layers of large inflated colourless cells at the periphery. The cortex was comprised of 1 layer of small cells, each with a single chloroplast and pyrenoid. Linear plurangial sori with phaeophycean hairs formed along the mature fronds. Zoospore germlings developed into prostrate filamentous systems, each with a single phaeophycean hair that gave rise to a single erect shoot with multiple hairs arising near the tip. Molecular phylogeny using the psaA gene placed this isolate within the Scytosiphonaceae. It does not confirm the exact identification of R. orientalis, although its placement close to other Rosenvingea sequences was confirmed and morphological evidence supports its placement in R. orientalis. Our culture investigations indicated that it has an asexual life cycle. Further collections are needed to resolve the full generic and specific relationships of Rosenvingea and related taxa, and their reproductive patterns.

• ALGAE
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.143-156
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• 2018

Dolichospermum is a filamentous and heterocytous cyanobacterium that is one of the commonly occurring phytoplanktons in the Han River of Korea. Morphological observations led to the identification of D. planctonicum-like filaments in seasonal water samples. In the present study, we successfully isolated these filaments using culture methods, and examined its morphology using light and scanning electron microscopy. The morphology of the D. planctonicumlike species differed from that of typical D. planctonicum; it had thin cylindrical-shaped akinetes, which were narrower towards the ends than at the center. This morphology is firstly described in the genus Dolichospermum. In addition, the akinetes in the filament developed solitarily and were distant from the heterocytes. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA sequences showed that our Dolichospermum clustered with D. planctonicum and D. circinale, which have coiled trichome. However, phylogenetic analysis of the gene encoding rivulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase (rbcLX) clearly separated our species from other Dolichospermum, forming a unique clade. Additionally, structures of D. planctonicum and D. hangangense strains were different type in Box-B and V3 region. These results demonstrated that the new Dolichospermum species was unique in morphology and molecular traits. Therefore, we propose this to be a new species belonging to genus Dolichospermum with the name Dolichospermum hangangense sp. nov.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.92-98
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• 2013

Microalgal cultivation using wastewater is now regarded as essential for biodiesel production, as two goals can be achieved simultaneously; that is, nutrient removal efficiency and biomass production. Therefore, this study examined the effects of carbon sources, the N:P ratio, and the hydraulic retention time (HRT) to identify the optimal conditions for nutrient removal efficiency and biomass production. The effluent from a 2nd lagoon was used to cultivate microalgae. Whereas the algal species diversity and lipid content increased with a longer HRT, the algal biomass productivity decreased. Different carbon sources also affected the algal species composition. Diatoms were dominant with an increased pH when bicarbonate was supplied. However, 2% $CO_2$ gas led to a lower pH and the dominance of filamentous green algae with a much lower biomass productivity. Among the experiments, the highest chlorophyll-a concentration and lipid productivity were obtained with the addition of phosphate up to 0.5 mg/l P, since phosphorus was in short supply compared with nitrogen. The N and P removal efficiencies were also higher with a balanced N:P ratio, based on the addition of phosphate. Thus, optimizing the N:P ratio for the dominant algae could be critical in attaining higher algal growth, lipid productivity, and nutrient removal efficiency.

• ALGAE
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.291-304
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• 2018

Lyngbya C. Agardh ex Gomont is a nonheterocytous cyanobacterial genus whose evolutionary history is still poorly known. The traditionally defined Lyngbya has been demonstrated to be polyphyletic, including at least five distinct clades, some of which have been proposed as new genera. Intraspecific diversity is also clearly underestimated in Lyngbya due to the lack of unique morphological characters to differentiate species. In this study, we describe the new genus Capillus T. A. Caires, C. L. Sant'Anna et J. M. C. Nunes from benthic marine environments, including two new Brazilian species (here described as C. salinus T. A. Caires, C. L. Sant'Anna et J. M. C. Nunes, and C. tropicalis T. A. Caires, C. L. Sant'Anna et J. M. C. Nunes), and two species yet to be described, one of them from India (Capillus sp. 2.1), and the other from United States of America, based on strain PCC 7419. Capillus species presented cross-wise diagonal fragmentation, assisted or not by necridic cells, which has not been previously mentioned for Lyngbya. Ultrastructural analyses showed that C. salinus and C. tropicalis have numerous gas vesicles, which are rarely described for benthic marine species. The new genus formed a well-supported clade, and the D1-D1' and Box B secondary structures of internal transcribed spacer also supported the proposal of its new species. These findings help to clarify the diversity of species in the Lyngbya complex and the taxonomy of the group, and highlight the need of further floristic surveys in tropical coastal environments, which remain poorly studied.

• ALGAE
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.123-133
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• 2022

Genetic diversity and distribution patterns of marine macroalgae are increasingly being documented in Southeast Asia. These studies show that there can be significant levels of genetic diversity and isolation between populations on either side of the Thai-Malay Peninsula. Bostrychia tenellla is a common filamentous red seaweed in the region and the entity is represented by at least two cryptic species. Despite being highly diverse and widespread, genetic variation and population structure of this species complex remains understudied, especially around the Thai-Malay Peninsula. We analyzed genetic diversity and inferred the phylogeographic pattern of specimens identified as B. tenella using the plastid RuBisCo spacer from samples from the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand. Our genetic analysis confirmed the occurrence of the two cryptic B. tenella species (B and C) along both coasts. Cryptic species B was more common in the area and displayed higher genetic diversity than species C. Historical demographic analyses indicated a stable population for species B, but more recent population expansion for species C. Our analyses also revealed that both cryptic species from the Andaman Sea possessed higher genetic diversity than those of the Gulf of Thailand. We also detected moderate to high levels of gene flow and weak phylogeographic structure of cryptic species B between the two coasts. In contrast, phylogeographic analysis showed genetic differences between populations of both cryptic species within the Andaman Sea. Overall, these results suggest that cryptic B. tenella species around Thai-Malay Peninsula may have undergone different demography histories, and their patterns of genetic diversity and phylogeography were likely caused by geological history and regional sea surface current circulation in the area.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.57 no.3
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• pp.262-277
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• 2024

The mid-eastern coast of Korea is located at the boundary between cold and warm currents, which causes changes in the distribution and composition of marine organisms in response to fluctuations in the marine environment. To understand the seasonal changes in the seaweed community, we investigated its species composition, biomass, coverage, and frequency from November 2022 to August 2023. A total of 45 species (7 green, 18 brown, and 20 red algae) were found in the study area. In the intertidal zone, the number of species decreased from autumn to summer; the biomass peaked during winter (471.94 g wet weight m^-2). Seaweed groups were the dominant functional groups, which were coarsely branched, filamentous, and sheet-like during autumn, winter, spring, and summer. The morpho-functional group was dominated by turf species. In the subtidal zone, the number of species increased during autumn to spring, whereas the biomass peaked during spring (655.27 g wet weight m^-2). The functional group was dominated by coarsely branched species throughout all four seasons, whereas the morpho-functional group was dominated by canopy species. Consequently, changes in the biomass of brown and red algae are recognized as key drivers of seasonal changes in seaweed communities.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.416-423
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• 2020

The genus Petroderma never been reported from the coast of Korea. In this study, our collection from Chaeseokang is matched with P. maculiforme morphologically. Petroderma maculiforme is characterized by having small irregular light to dark brown crusts, a basal layer of irregularly shaped cells giving rise to erect parallel filaments which easily separate with pressure, single chromatophore per cell, small spherical to cylindrical unilocular sporangia in a terminal position, and plurilocular sporangia narrower than erect filaments or wider and shorter than erect filaments in a terminal position. In addition, Hineksia sordida was also collected from Korea. It is mostly epiphytic and characterized by uniseriate filamentous thalli forming loose tangled masses, sparse and spiral branching, some long lateral branches, rhizoids occurring throughout the plant, plurilocular and unilocular sporangia scattered on separate plants. Our molecular analyses based on the rbcL gene reveal that our samples of P. maculiforme and H. sordida are nested within the clades of Petroderma and Hincksia, respectively. Therefore P. maculiforme and H. sordida are reported as new records from Korea based on morphological and molecular analyses.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.47 no.6
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• pp.960-972
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• 2014

Marine algal flora and community structure were seasonally investigated at Oryukdo, on the southeast coast of Korea, from March 2011 to February 2014. A Total of 66 seaweed species including 6 green, 7 brown and 53 red algae were identified and 23 species were found throughout the survey period. Seaweed biomass was maximal during summer in 2012 (2276.2 g wet weight $m^{-2}$) and minimal in winter in 2012 (9.1 g wet weight $m^{-2}$). The dominant species in term of biomass were Undaria pinnatifida, Dictyopteris prolifera, Dictyota dichotoma, Sargassum horneri, Rhodymenia intricata, Acrosorium polyneurum, and Polyneura japonica during the suvery period. The flora could be classified into six functional groups: coarsely branched form (30.3%), filamentous form (24.2%), thick leather form (19.7%), sheet form (15.2%), jointed calcareous form (7.6%), and crustose form (3.0%). The numbers of marine algal species in the Oryukdo area were markedly reduced when compared with previous studies at Dongbaekseom in 1971. These results suggest possible future changes in the algal vegetation, considering the physical and chemical pollution loadings in the coastal marine environment of this area.