• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.352-358
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• 2018

This study aimed to develop a species identification method for the egg and fry of the three Korean bitterling fishes (Pisces: Acheilognathinae), including Acheilognathus signifer, Acheilognathus yamatsutae and Rhodeus uyekii based on the PCR-based Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP) markers. We conducted a field survey on the Deokchicheon River from the North Han River basin, where the three Acheilognathinae species co-occur, and also analyzed the existing sequence dataset available from the GenBank. We found coexistence of the three species at the study site. The egg and fry were obtained from the host mussels (Unio douglasiae sinuolatus) by hand from May to June 2015 and in May 2017. To develop PCR-based RFLP markers for species identification of the three Acheilognathinae fish species, restriction enzymes pinpointing species-specific single nucleotide variation (SNV) sites in mitochondrial DNA COI (cytochrome oxidase I) and cyt b (cytochrome b) genes were determined. Genomic DNA was extracted from the egg and fry and RFLP experiments were carried out using restriction enzymes Apal I, Stu I and EcoR V for A. signifer, A. yamatsutae and R. uyekii, respectively. Consequently, unambiguous discrimination of the three species was possible, as could be seen in DNA band patterns from gel electrophoresis. Our developed PCR-based RFLP markers will be useful for the determination of the three species for the young and would assist in studying the spawning patterns and reproductive ecology of Acheilognathinae fishes. Furthermore, we believe the obtained information will be of importance for future maintenance, management and conservation of these natural and endangered species.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.391-402
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• 2021

Earthworms play an important role in soil fertilization, interacting continually with microorganisms. This study aims to demonstrate the existence of beneficial microorganisms living in the earthworm's immune system, the coelomic fluid. To achieve this goal, a molecular identification technique was performed, using cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) barcoding to identify abundant endogenic earthworms inhabiting the temperate zone of Rabat, Morocco. Then, 16S rDNA and ITS sequencing techniques were adopted for bacteria and fungi, respectively. Biochemical analysis, showed the ability of bacteria to produce characteristic enzymes and utilize substrates. Qualitative screening of plant growth-promoting traits, including nitrogen fixation, phosphate and potassium solubilization, and indole acetic acid (IAA) production, was also performed. The result of mitochondrial COI barcoding allowed the identification of the earthworm species Aporrectodea molleri. Phenotypic and genotypic studies of the sixteen isolated bacteria and the two isolated fungi showed that they belong to the Pseudomonas, Aeromonas, Bacillus, Buttiauxella, Enterobacter, Pantoea, and Raoultella, and the Penicillium genera, respectively. Most of the isolated bacteria in the coelomic fluid showed the ability to produce β-glucosidase, β-glucosaminidase, Glutamyl-β-naphthylamidase, and aminopeptidase enzymes, utilizing substrates like aliphatic thiol, sorbitol, and fatty acid ester. Furthermore, three bacteria were able to fix nitrogen, solubilize phosphate and potassium, and produce IAA. This initial study demonstrated that despite the immune property of earthworms' coelomic fluid, it harbors beneficial microorganisms. Thus, the presence of resistant microorganisms in the earthworm's immune system highlights a possible selection process at the coelomic fluid level.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.94-100
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• 2024

During ichthyoplankton survey in the southwestern sea of Korea, we collected six individuals of noodlefish larvae and juveniles between April and May 2023. They were identified as Neosalanx anderssoni by mitochondrial DNA cytochrome c oxidase subunit I or 16S ribosomal RNA sequences, and their external morphological traits were described for the first time. All six individuals have a slender and elongated body. When preflexion and flexion larval stages (10.24 mm notochord length, NL and 15.47 mm total length, TL, respectively), oval-shaped black melanophores were distributed in a row along the ventral side of the gut. However, when postflexion larval and juvenile stages (23.58~25.90 mm TL, and 29.20~31.26 mm TL, respectively), melanophores on the ventral side of the gut were disappeared, and dark spot-shaped melanophores appeared along the dorsal side of the gut in a single row. Also, from the postflexion larval stage (23.58 mm TL), two large black spots began to appear symmetrically on the caudal fin. Our results suggest that N. anderssoni may use coastal area as spawning and/or nursery ground unlike previous study (Kim and Park, 2002).

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.95-112
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• 2013

As a first step toward understanding the divergence and relationships of the Nymphalidae (Lepidoptera: Papilionoidea) occurring in South Korea, cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI), 16S ribosomal RNA (16S rRNA), and elongation factor-$1{\alpha}$ (EF-$1{\alpha}$) that comprise 3,501-3,716 bp were either sequenced (55 species) or the sequences were obtained from GenBank (23 species). The concatenated sequence divergence of six nymphalid subfamilies ranked in the following order: Danainae (10.3%), Satyrinae (9.5%), Limenitidinae (8.0%), Apaturinae (7.0%), Nymphalinae (6.7%), and Heliconiinae (6.2%). As has been reported in previous large scale international studies, the subfamilial relationships of (((((Limenitidinae + Heliconiinae) + (Nymphalinae + Apaturinae)) + Satyrinae) + Libytheinae) + Danainae) were also confirmed, except for the switched positions between Danainae and Libytheinae, and supported all subfamilies and tribe monophylies. Unlikely consistent phylogenetic relationships among genera within the majority of tribes in Nymphalidae, a conflicting relationship within the subfamily Apaturinae was obvious, presenting Apatura as sister to either Mimathyma or (Mimathyma + (Sephisa + (Hestina + Sasakia))), and both of these relationships are unconventional. Within the subfamily Limenitidinae, the genus Neptis was consistently revealed as a paraphyletic with respect to the genus Aldania, requiring further taxonomic investigation of the genus. Although limited, current sequence information and phylogenetic relationships are expected to be helpful for further studies.

• Animal Systematics, Evolution and Diversity
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.127-142
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• 2018

A new species of Eudactylopus Scott A., 1909 is described from the southern coast of Korea. The specimens were collected using a light trap set overnight at the entrance near a pier. Eudactylopus yokjidoensis n. sp. is similar to E. andrewi Sewell, 1940 and E. spectabilis (Brian, 1923) in two key respects: similar length of proximal and distal inner setae on female P2 enp-2, and modification of two subapical setae on male P2 endopod. However, E. yokjidoensis can be differentiated from the two species by following morphological characteristics: in females, the length ratio of cephalothorax/2nd-4th thoracic somites combined is smaller in E. yokjidoensis than other two species (1 : 0.8 vs. 1 : 1); antennule has nine segments (vs. 7-segmented in E. andrewi); P2 to P4 each bears a process in medial distal margin of basis, while it is just smooth in E. spectabilis; in males; the length ratio of cephalothorax to 2nd-4th thoracic somites combined is smaller in E. yokjidoensis than other two species (1 : 0.6 vs. 1 : 1 in E. andrewi and 1 : 0.8 in E. spectabilis); and P5 exopod has a comb-like innermost seta, while it is bipinnate seta in E. spectabilis. To prove the Korean species of Eudactylopus to be new, full descriptions of both sexes are given here, and the claim is supported by distinct genetic differences between E. yokjidoensis and E. spectabilis (22.3-22.7%) in the mitochondrial gene cytochrome oxidase subunit I(mtCOI) sequence.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Fisheries and Ocean Technology
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.79-85
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• 2015

Three specimens of larvae (5.2~7.8 mm in standard length (SL)), of the family Scombridae, were collected from the southeastern waters off Jeju Island in August, 2014. These specimens were identified to Katsuwonus pelamis have melanophores distributed on the 1st dorsal-fin spines and post ventral margin on caudal peduncle. An analysis of the cytochrome oxidase submit I (COI) sequences (652 base pairs) of mitochondrial DNA showed that our specimens must be K. pelamis, because their sequences were concordant with those of the adult K. pelamis (genetic distance= 0.000~0.002), followed by Auxis rochei (genetic distance= 0.061~0.063) and Euthynnus affinis (genetic distance= 0.077~0.079). During the larval stage, K. pelamis differed from Thunnus spp. species in melanophores distribution period of 1st dorsal-fin spines, lower jaws and ventral margin on caudal peduncle. In conclusion, occurrence of K. pelamis larvae means Korean waters are potential spawning ground of K. pelamis.

• ALGAE
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.145-155
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• 2020

Specimens of red algae corresponding to the peyssonnelioid genus Sonderophycus were collected at Kure Atoll, Hawai'i, at a depth range of 88-94 m depth during mesophotic surveys of the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, Hawaiian Islands, and were analyzed using morphological and molecular approaches. Analyses of mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 and chloroplast rbcL DNA sequences demonstrated that the Hawaiian specimens were identical to one another yet distinct from the three other species currently recognized within the genus (S. capensis [Montagne] M. J. Wynne, S. coriaceus [Womersley & Sinkora] M. J. Wynne, and S. fervens Dixon), as well as the likely congener, Peyssonnelia caulifera Okamura, and are proposed here as a new species: Sonderophycus copusii A. R. Sherwood. Sonderophycus copusii is morphologically distinct from other members of the genus by the following combination of characters: the presence of occasional secondary perithallial growth, emergence of rhizoids from the hypobasal cuticle at a strongly acute angle, a lack of horizontally directed filaments in the lower perithallus, and the lack of a stipe. This is the first record of the genus Sonderophycus in the Hawaiian Islands. Sonderophycus copusii was documented as a dominant member of the algal community at Kure Atoll, and thus may play a significant ecological role in the deep-water benthic community of Kure Atoll, along the lines of reports of deep water peyssonnelioid beds in the Mediterranean, Red Sea, and Caribbean. This study further highlights the unexplored diversity of the Peyssonneliales in Hawai'i, and emphasizes more generally the degree of as yet undiscovered biodiversity of algae at mesophotic depths.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.114-118
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• 2018

A single specimen (1,058 mm TL) of Pteroplatytrygon violacea, belonging to the family Dasyatidae, was firstly collected by using drift gill net in the north-western coastal waters of Jejudo Island, Korea on 6 July, 2017. This species was characterized by having a broadly rounded snout, five pairs of gill openings, tail with a large spine, ventral tail fold not reaching to the tip of tail, no dorsal fold, and ventral surface of disc dark purple. Based on such morphological characters, the specimen was identified as P. violacea and confirmed with the nucleotide sequence of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene. We added P. violacea to the Korean fish fauna and propose the new Korean names, "Bo-ra-saek-ga-o-ri-sok" and "Bo-ra-saek-ga-o-ri" for the genus and species, respectively.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.54 no.4
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• pp.467-479
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• 2021

The distribution and abundance of fish eggs and larvae were investigated from February to December 2020 along the coastal waters of Korea. The eggs and larvae were identified using the mitochondrial DNA cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (mtDNA COI) and 16s rRNA gene. During the study period, eggs of overall 45 taxa belonging to 26 families were collected and larvae of overall 39 taxa belonging to 23 families were collected. In Yeongil Bay, eggs of Engraulis japonicus, which accounted for 83.9% of the total population, was the most dominant species, followed by Sardinops sagax (4.0%), Repomucenus valenciennei (3.8%) and E. japonicus larvae, which accounted for 34.9% of the total population. These were followed by Sebastiscus marmoratus (31.0%). In Gomso Bay, E. japonicus eggs accounted for 61.7% of the total population, followed by Sillago japonica (14.0%), Johnius grypotus (8.8%) and Pholis fangi larvae, which accounted for 53.5% of the total population, followed by Ammodytes personatus (34.1%). In Jinhae Bay, E. japonicus eggs accounted for 86.0% of the total population, followed by Leiognathus nuchalis (4.1%), Konosirus punctatus (3.7%) and E. japonicus larvae, which accounted for 48.7% of the total population, followed by Parablennius yatabei (21.6%).

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.67-73
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• 2019

We presented detailed morphological descriptions of the eggs, larvae and juvenile of Acanthaphritis unoorum based on specimens collected with bongo nets from Korean waters during the period May 2017-July 2018. We collected 18 individuals including eggs (n= 4, 0.77-0.85 mm in egg diameter), preflexion larvae (n= 6, 4.11-6.31 mm in standard length, SL), flexion larvae (n= 4, 6.60-7.82 mm SL), postflexion larvae (n= 3, 8.94-13.46 mm SL), and one juvenile (n= 1, 14.67 mm SL). The mitochondrial (mt) DNA 16S rRNA sequences of the eggs, and the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) sequences of the larvae were identical to those of A. unoorum adults (genetic distances <0.01). The A. unoorum larvae and the juvenile that we collected were morphologically similar to those of Dactylopsaron dimorphicum, but the A. unoorum specimens were readily distinguishable by the presence of lateral melanophores. This is the first record of A. unoorum in Korean waters. We propose a new Korean name for A. unoorum: "O-ri-bu-ri-nuntung-i".