• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.24-35
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• 2016

To assess the relationship between environmental factors and seasonal phytoplankton community structure, we investigated abiotic and biotic factors in Ulsan Bay, Korea. We divided the bay into two areas based on geographical characteristics and compared the difference in each factor between inner and outer bay with t-test statistics. As a result, temperature in the outer bay was higher than that of the inner bay during winter (t = -5.833, p < 0.01) and autumn (p > 0.05). However, opposite trend was observed during spring (t = 4.247, p < 0.01) and summer (t = 2.876, p < 0.05). Salinity was significantly lower in the inner bay than in the outer bay in winter, spring, and summer (p < 0.01). However, the salinity was not significantly different between the inner and the outer bay in the autumn (p > 0.05). In particular, high nutrient concentration was observed in most stations during winter season due to vertical well mixing. The nutrient concentration was significantly higher in surface layers of inner bay after rainfall, particularly in the summer. The relative contribution (approximately 70%) of < $20{\mu}m$ (nano and pico) size phytoplankton was increased in all seasons with continuously low nutrients from the offshore water due to their adaption to low nutrient without other large competitors. Interestingly, high population of Eutreptiella gymnastica was kept in the inner bay during the spring and summer associated with high DIN (nitrate+nitrite, ammonium) after river discharge following rainfall, suggesting that DIN supply might have triggered the increase of Eutreptiella gymnastica population. In addition, high density of freshwater species Oscillatoria sp. and Microcystis sp. were found in several stations of the inner bay that were provided with large amounts of freshwater from the Tae-wha River. Diatom and cryptophyta species were found to be dominant species in the autumn and winter. Of these, centric diatom Chaetoceros genus was occupied in the outer bay in the autumn. Cryptophyta species known as opportunistic micro-algae were found to have high biomass without competitors in the inner bay. Our results demonstrated that Ulsan Bay was strongly affected by freshwater from Tae-wha River during the rainy season and by the surface warm water current from the offshore of the bay during dry season. These two external factors might play important roles in regulating the seasonal phytoplankton community structures.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.524-540
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• 2013

After the construction of the Geum River estuary dam, we investigated the ecological property of phytoplankton community with physicochemical property in 9 stations of Geum River estuary 4 times seasonally in 2010 about the environmental changes through the change of phytoplankton. Physicochemical property seems to show eutrophication which developed from the tendency of accruing of the nutrients (those involved in intermittency of freshwater which flows from the dike and the surrounding cities), caused by the changing of tidal flow, the decreasing of the inflow of seawater after the construction of the Geum River estuary dam (dike). A total of 233 species of species composition of phytoplankton emerged, showing a highly increased result compared to that of the former research. The reason for the increase in number is considered as a phenomenon resulting from the mix of blackish and freshwater marine species in the flow of intermittency of freshwater discharge. Also, the standing crops of phytoplankton considerably increased compared to when the dike had not yet been built. Highly affected by the discharge of occasional freshwater, the diatoms of blackish water zone dominated in spring and winter, while freshwater species appeared to dominate in summer and autumn. The species diversity showed over 2.0 except in winter season. After a cluster analysis, the result showed that the Geum River estuary was influenced by runoff from cities like Gunsan, the sewage which flows from Gyeongpo River, and the intermittency of freshwater discharge from the Geum River estuary dam.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.16-28
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• 2015

In order to elucidate the spatiotemporal variations of marine environmental parameters, we collected seawater samples in the south-western region of the East Sea in May, August, and November 2012 and February 2013. The concentrations of dissolved inorganic nutrients (dissolved inorganic nitrogen, phosphorus, and silicate) in surface seawater during the summer season were lower than those during autumn and winter seasons, which the mixed layer is deeper. The low nutrient concentration in spring and summer seasons seems by consumption of dissolved inorganic nutrients by phytoplankon photosynthesis (high chlorophyll a concentration) and the limited supply of dissolved inorganic nutrients from subsurface layer having high nutrients. The low nutrient concentration during spring season seems to be related to the limited supply of dissolved inorganic nutrients from land and subsurface layer because the concentration of chlorophyll a was low. The DIN:DIP ratio was a wide range of average $15.6{\pm}13.6$ in the surface seawater compared to that of average $14.8{\pm}4.2$ in the bottom seawater during sampling periods. The dissolved inorganic nitrogen might act as a limiting factor of the growth of phytoplankton because the DIN:DIP ratio (on average $8.35{\pm}4.67$) was low during the spring season.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Marine Environment & Energy
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.75-83
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• 2009

In order to understand the impacts of the construction of artificial sea dikes on carbon cycle in Samangeum area being a closed environment after April, 2006, we had measured suspended particulate matters, particulate and dissolved organic carbon in the surface water of inner Saemangeum dike from 2003 to 2006. The significant inputs of suspended particulate matter and organic carbon were mainly occurred during the wet season which suggests that most organic matter loading is concentrated within a short period of time inside the dike. The concentrations of particulate matter and organic carbon have gradually increasing every year inside of dike from the Mangyeong river estuary to Saemangeum dike, which has been closed since 2003 after the construction of the 4th dike. The particulate organic carbon increased due to the phytoplankton blooms by eutrophication. If the large portion of particulate organic matter produced in the surface water sink to the bottom sediment, this will cause the anoxic condition in this closed environment.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.712-720
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• 2022

In this study, we evaluated the production and photoreactivity of CDOM of two polar phytoplanktons - Phaeocystis antarctica and Phaeocystis pouchetii, in order to find out UV effects on phytoplanktons. In visible region, CDOM in media of both phytoplanktons under UV-R decreased during 48hrs incubation period. However, in UV region CDOM decreased 30 % in the media of P. antarctica, but increased 10% in media of P. pouchetii, compared to CDOM concentrations of control after 48 hr incubation. This result indicates that biota in polar environment would not well protected from UV-R harmful effect when P. antarctica is dominant because of loss of CDOM, but when P. pouchetii is dominant species, production of UV absorbing organic matter could play more efficiently for UV screening for marine biota. Also we confirmed that FDOM of humic substance (C-peak) produced by these phtoplanktons under UV-R stress were well matched with fluorescence characteristics of the UV-protecting compound, MAAs. This finding shows that Phaeocystis pouchetti with low photoreactivity would contribute to DOM pool of polar marine environment under stratification by global warming.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.22
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• pp.54-62
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• 2004

We examined the impacts of anthyopogenic pollutant (benzo〔a〕pyrene) on the growth and photosynthesis of five marine phytoplankton species (Skeletonema costatum, Heterosigma akashiwo, Prorocentrum dentatum, P. minimum, Aknshiwo sanguinea), which are dominant in Korean coastal water. After the 72 h exposure to benzo〔a〕pyrene, the dramatic decrease in cell numbers was observed in the range of 1 to 10 $\mu\textrm{g}$ L$^{-1}$ for S. costatum, P. minimum, P. dentatum, whereas for A. sanguinea and H. akashiwo at the low concentrations 0.1 to 1 $\mu\textrm{g}$ L$^{-1}$ . Among the 5 phytoplankton species, the highest growth inhibition concentration ($IC_{50}$/) was 6.20 $\mu\textrm{g}$ L$^{-1}$ for P. minimum, followed by 2.14 $\mu\textrm{g}$ L$^{-1}$ for P. dentatum, 1.68 $\mu\textrm{g}$ L$^{-1}$ for S. costatum, 0.74 $\mu\textrm{g}$ L$^{-1}$ for H. akashiwo, 0.10 $\mu\textrm{g}$ L$^{-1}$ for A. sanguinea. The five species exposed to the low concentration of 1 $\mu\textrm{g}$ L$^{-1}$ were recovered after transferring to new media, but the species exposed to the high concentrations of 10 and 100 $\mu\textrm{g}$ L$^{-1}$ were not recovered, with the exception of P. minimum. Those results indicate that the thecate dinoflagellate P. minimum is most tolerant to the chemical and the athecate dinoflagellate A. sanguinea is not. Geneyally, the cell-specific photosynthetic capacity of H. akashiwo exposed to the low concentrations of 0.1 and 1 $\mu\textrm{g}$ L$^{-1}$ was higher than that of the cells in the control, whereas the cells exposed to the high concentrations of 5 and 10 $\mu\textrm{g}$ L$^{-1}$ showed the negligible photosynthetic level by the first few days of the experiment. In the case of the cells exposed to the concentration of 5 $\mu\textrm{g}$ L$^{-1}$ , after 12 days of the experiment the photosynthetic capacity was increased toward the end of the experiment. This indicates that H. akashiwo may utilize the benzo〔a〕pyrene as a carton source for its growth when exposed to low concentrations. Results suggest that anthropogenic pollutants such as benzo〔a〕pyrene may have significant influence on the succession of phytoplankton species composition and the primary production in coastal marine environments.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.26 no.12
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• pp.738-751
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• 2023

The Sembilan Archipelago is famous for its great biodiversity, in which the humphead wrasse (Cheilinus undulatus) (locally named Napoleon fish) is the primary commodity (economically important), and currently, the environmental degradation occurs due to anthropogenic activities. This study aimed to examine the eco-environmental parameters and assess their influence on the abundance of humphead wrasse and other coral reef fish compositions in the Sembilan Archipelago. Direct field monitoring was performed using a visual census throughout an approximately one km transect. Coral cover data collection and assessment were also carried out. A coastal water quality index (CWQI) was used to assess the water quality status. Furthermore, statistical-based analyses [hierarchical clustering, Pearson's correlation, principal component analysis (PCA), and canonical correspondence analysis (CCA)] were performed to examine the correlation between eco-environmental parameters. The Napoleon fish was only found at stations 1 and 2, with a density of about 3.8 Ind/ha, aligning with the dominant composition of the family Serranidae (covering more than 15% of the total community) and coinciding with the higher coral mortality and lower reef fish abundance. The coral reef conditions were generally ideal for supporting marine life, with a living coral percentage of about > 50% in all stations. Based on CWQI, the study area is categorized as good and excellent water quality. Of the 60 parameter values examined, the phytoplankton abundance, Napoleon fish, and temperature are highly correlated, with a correlation coefficient value greater than 0.7, and statistically significant (F < 0.05). Although the adaptation of reef fish to water quality parameters varies greatly, the most influential parameters in shaping their composition in the study area are living corals, nitrites, ammonia, larval abundance, and temperature.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.303-312
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• 2008

Despite the impacts of the climate changes on the pelagic ecosystem, few studies have examined the pelagic-benthic coupling in the adjacent East China Sea and Korea Strait. Therefore, the species composition and abundance of the macrobenthic community, as well as the potential food sources of benthic fauna were investigated in the present study using stable isotope analysis (${\delta}^{13}C\;and\;{\delta}^{15}N$) for suspended particulate organic matter (SPOM), sedimentary organic matter (SOM), phytoplankton, and zooplankton. A total of 157 macrobenthic fauna were collected, and the density of the macrobenthic fauna ranged from 4 to 434 ind./0.25 $m^2$, with an average density of 149 ind./0.25 $m^2$. The density of the benthic fauna increased moving from offshore shelf sites to coastal sites adjacent to the Korea Strait. Cluster analysis showed that the macrobenthic communities consisted of three distinct groups: group A in the Korea Strait, group B in the East China Sea, and group C near Ieodo. The dominant species in group A were the amphipods Photis japonica and Ampelisca miharaensis, followed by the polychaete Scolotoma longifolia. Environmental variables, such as the temperature of the seawater and sediment, and oxygen, and chlorophyll a levels, appeared to affect the structure of the community, suggesting the importance of coupling with the pelagic system. The ${\delta}^{13}C$ values of SPOM and zooplankton ranged from -22.97 to -23.5% and -19.92 to -21.86%, respectively, showing a relatively narrow range(<1%) between the two components. The difference between the ${\delta}^{13}C$ values of SOM and pelagic organic matter was also within 1%, suggesting that the SOM originated from the pelagic system, which is an important factor controlling the macrobenthic community.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.454-467
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• 2016

In order to understand the seasonal characteristics of seawater in Asan Bay, the quality of this water was observed over four seasons form December 2011 to February 2013, and correlations between seawater quality variations and freshwater input were analyzed by a statistical method. The results, based on factor analysis, indicate that the two most important factors in understanding variation are freshwater input (37.7 %) and seawater exchange (24.4 %). Asan-ho and Sapgyo-ho are two major freshwater sources that affect inner (eastern) Asan Bay. Discharged freshwater from the inner bay strongly affects the spatial and temporal distribution of seawater in the bay overall during the summer rainy season. On other hand, water re-suspended from the bottom of the bay overwhelmed the water quality during the dry winter season. In conclusion, seasonal freshwater discharge dominated the water quality of the bay, and, consequently, DIP limited the growth of phytoplankton in the bay.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.459-468
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• 2022

Long-term data analyses and bioassay experiments were conducted to assess limiting nutrients in Cheonsu Bay and Taean sea. First, long-term nutrient data (2004-2016) provided by the National Water Quality Monitoring Network were used to assess potential limiting nutrients. Analysis of the long-term data showed that the dissolved inorganic nitrogen/dissolved inorganic phosphate (DIN/DIP) ratio was mostly below 16, with N limitation being dominant. A subsequent analysis using the concentration ratios of N, P, and Si showed that N limitation was dominant during summer and autumn but that Si limitation occasionally occurred during winter and spring in relatively limited areas. However, the dominant limiting nutrient was not determined. The nutrient analysis of the field water collected during the bioassay experiment showed that DIN/DIP revealed P limitation at all stations in March and May, whereas N limitation was dominant in July and October. In the analysis using the concentration ratios of N, P, and Si, P and Si limitation appeared in March and May, but there were points with no dominant limiting nutrient. However, N limitation was dominant in July and October. In the bioassay experiment for assessment of the actual limiting nutrient, the results showed no specific limiting nutrient in March, whereas NH₄⁺ and NO₃^- showed responses in May, July, and October, which confirmed that N was a substantial limiting nutrient directly involved in phytoplankton growth during this period.