• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.311-318
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• 2014

PFOS (perfluorooctane sulfonate) is one of the perflourinated organic compound, which persist as a residual compound in the coastal environments. Intertidal mud crab Macrophthalmus japonicus mainly inhabits in coastal and bay ecosystems in Indo-Pacific region including Korea and reflects to environmental changes. In the present study, M. japonicus were exposed to different concentrations of PFOS and various ecotoxicological end-points such as survival rate, elimination of appendages, changes of the crust and internal organ color changes were investigated. Interestingly, the PFOS exposure showed concentration-dependent decrease of survival rate. High PFOS exposure ($30{\mu}gL^{-1}$) showed a low survival rate of 24% at 168 hours. Further, in comparison with the controls, the rate of elimination of appendages was also considerably increased in a time dependent manner upon PFOS exposure. Notably, with progression of time, an increased exposure to PFOS, test species showed whitening effect in a concentration-dependent manner, whereas the crab crust color was unchanged in the control. In addition, change in internal organs color and their visibility (clarity) observed in PFOS exposed crabs compared to control. Taken together, we suggest, eco-toxicology end-points of M. japonicus exposed to PFOS gave important biological information which could be useful to identify toxic contamination in the marine benthic environments.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.195-205
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• 2024

Amphipoda is a benthic fauna occupying aquatic environments that can be used as a live feed for mud crabs. The abundance of amphipods in the water is thought to impact the preying capacity of crablets, which in turn will affect their growth performance. This study aims to determine the preying capacity of the crablet stage of Scylla tranquebarica exposed at different densities (20, 30, and 40 amphipods / 0.5 L) of amphipod, Grandidierella megnae. The preying capacity was estimated by counting the number of amphipods ingested by an individual crablet during the 60-day rearing period. The main parameters measured were daily consumption rate (DCR), Cumulative molting (CM), Feed conversion ratio (FCR), and the specific growth rate of weight (SGR-W). The results showed that the DCR and FCR were not affected by amphipod densities but the higher the amphipod density the higher the SGR-W and CM. Based on this study, 30 amphipods / 0.5 L is recommended as the optimal density to optimize the DCR and improve the growth performance of crablets. It is also proposed that surplus live feed will potentially reduce the cannibalism rate of crablets during weaning. However, more research needs to be carried out to elucidate the benefits of crablet-feeding amphipods in communal systems.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.54 no.4
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• pp.265-271
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• 2021

Intertidal mud crab (Macrophthalmus japonicus) is an organism with a hard chitinous exoskeleton and has function for an osmotic control in response to the salinity gradient of seawater. Crustacean exoskeletons change in their natural state in response to environmental factors, such as changes in the pH and water temperature, and the presence of pollutant substances and pathogen infection. In this study, the ecotoxicological effects of irgarol exposure and heavy metal distribution were presented by analyzing the surface roughness of the crab exoskeleton. The exoskeleton surface roughness and variation reduced in M. japonicus exposed to irgarol. In addition, it was confirmed that the surface roughness and variation were changed in the field M. japonicus crab according to the distribution of toxic heavy metals(Cd, Pb, Hg) in marine sediments. This change in the surface roughness of the exoskeleton represents a new end-point of the biological response of the crab according to external environmental stressors. This suggests that it may affect the functional aspects of exoskeleton protection, support, and transport. This approach can be utilized as a useful method for monitoring the aquatic environment as an integrated technology of mechanical engineering and biology.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.95-101
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• 2019

In tidal flats that lack plants, methane ($CH_4$) fluxes are both positive (gas emission) and negative (gas "sinking") in nature. The levels of methanotroph populations significantly affect the extent of $CH_4$ sinking. This preliminary study examined $CH_4$ flux in tidal flats using a circular closed-chamber method to understand the effects of macroinvertebrate burrowing activity. The chamber was deployed over decapods (mud shrimp, Laomedia astacina and crab, Macrophthalmus japonicus) burrows for ~ 2 h, and the $CH_4$ and $CO_2$ concentrations were continuously monitored using a closed, diffuse $CH_4/CO_2$ flux meter. We found that Laomedia astacina burrow (which is relatively long) site afforded higher-level $CH_4$ production, likely due to diffusive emission of $CH_4$ in deep-layer sediments. In addition, the large methanotrophic bacteria population found in the burrow wall sediments has $CH_4$ oxidation (consumption) potential. Especially, nitrite-driven anaerobic oxidation of methane (AOM) may occur within burrows. The proposed $CH_4$-oxidation process was supported by the decrease in the ${\delta}^{13}C$ of headspace $CO_2$ during the chamber experiment. Therefore, macroinvertebrate burrows appear to be an important ecosystem environment for controlling atmospheric $CH_4$ over tidal flats.

• Journal of Fisheries and Marine Sciences Education
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.24-42
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• 1999

I have studied historical transition process of fisheries industries, fisheries Institute in abreast of developing fisheries industries of west coast of Korea since 1910 year with regard to the Gogunsan Is. The results were summarized as follows. In 1910 year, fishery industry has been carried out shifting fishing gear e.g set-net in shallow waters, small stow net, small seine net adapting to the tophorgrapical feature, shape of coast, oceanic condition, however, the fishing gear and fishing method were undeveloped, so that, Japanese fishermen had been exploited fisheries resources penetrating the fishing ground. Most important species were lot of captured croaker, cod, spanish mackeral, sea abream, herring in coastal sea. nowaday, squid, anchovy, shrimp, crab, pompret were much captured. The species were captured in 18 century were not captured. It is rarely than that period. Fishereis aquatic culture had been not farmed till 1960 year, but sea laver, shrimp, crab, had been breeded 1970 year also, the fresh water fish e.g. eel, cat-fish had been breeded activately. The fisheries processing industry were composed of salt. icing, dry, method. the salted fish industry had been prevailed at Gangyng, Kwangchon, Kunsan, Julpo comparatively. The fisheries institute had been established at Kunsan at first, but institute established in other region had been abolished in a short time. This phenomenon was related with development of fisheries resources. The western coast fisheries industries had been wasted of decreasing of fisheries resources, variation of environment. Accordingly, the study of preserving the marine resources. educated man power who engaged in fisheries field have to accomplish. Sea was dying with reason of loss of mud in west coast factory waste, waste of life the increase of accident of sea polluted, each illegal fishing industry physical and chemical reason etc. in this respect, Kusan maritime college, fisheries developing agency, institute have to take important role for developing fishing industry.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.32-42
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• 2002

The late Quaternary deposit of Cheonsu Bay, up to 20 m in thickness above the Jurassic granite basement, consists of two sedimentary units: an upper Holocene mud and sandy mud deposit (Unit M1), and a lower late Pleistocene sand and mud deposit (Unit M2; 'Kanweoldo Deposit&apos). Unit M1 is a typical Holocene tidal-flat deposit of Cheonsu Bay, showing a coarsening upward, retrogradational facies trend. This retrograding facies trend is probably due to a relative low sedimentation rate during Holocene transgression. Overlain unconformably by Unit M1, Unit M2 deposit reaches up to 14 m in thickness and is mainly composed of muddy sediment with yellow to gray color. This unit is characterized by a variety of tide-influenced signatures such as rhythmic bedding, flaser bedding, crab burrow fossil, marine dinoflagellate assemblage and authigenic glauconite mineral, indicating very similar depositional environment to those of Unit M1 deposit. It suggests that Unit M2 was probably accumulated under the tidal-flat environment during a pre-Holocene sea-level highstand. In particular, the uppermost 3-4 m of Unit M2 appears to have undergone subaerial exposure and subsequent weathering during the sea-level lowstand after deposition. Therefore, stratigraphic unconformity between Holocene and late Pleistocene sediments is highlighted by the desiccated and weathered surface of Unit M2.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.141-147
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• 2005

To clarify seed distribution in sediment and its burial properties of Suaeda japonica, the vertical and horizontal distribution of seeds, organic content of sediment, and sediment content delivered by crabs were studied in mud tidal-flat of Walgot-dong, Siheung, Gyeonggi Province, from March 1999 to October 2000. The 94% and 6% of S. japonica seeds were buried under and outside the maternal plant crown, respectively. Organic matter contents of sediment were higher at the area (17%) covered than at the one (8%) uncovered by S. japonica. In the area covered by S. suaeda, organic matter profiles of sediment showed vertical variation from 19% in surface (1 cm depth) to 14% in 6 cm depth. S. japonica seeds buried in sediment decreased from 45% in 2 mm depth to 0% in 12 mm depth. The density of crabs was higher in the vegetated area than in the non-vegetated one. Especially, the density of Cleistostoma was about 8 times higher in the former than in the latter In the vegetated area, the amount of sediment delivered by crabs was estimated to be 2,409 $cm^3{\cdot}m^{-2}$, and this could ascend the height of sediment to 2.4 mm. Consequently, it might be interpreted that plant debris (organic matters) of maternal plants and sediment delivered by crabs made the S. japonica seeds bury well. By relationship between crab distribution and vegetation, it was thought that crabs got a benefit from S. japonica.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.456-463
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• 2004

A faunal study on the marine decapods of Gogunsan Islands located in the western part of South Korea was performed during the period from August 3 to August 5 in 2003. As a result of the present study, a total 42 species in 17 families (Macrura: four species in two families, Anomura: nine species in four families, Brachyura: 29 species in 11 families) were identified. Of these, two species of shrimp, Athanas sp. and Alpheus sp., are new to Korea. Including these two species, total 20 species in 10 families are newly known to Gogunsan Islands. Fifty two species in 19 families were previously known to occur in this area. Therefore, a total 72 species in 24 families of decapods are now known to occur in Gogunsan Islands. Of the species collected in the present study, Palaemon (Palaemon) serrifer (Stimpson, 1860) in shrimps, Macrophthalmus japonicus De Haan, 1835 living at mud area and Scopimera globosa De Haan, 1835 at sand beach in crabs, and Hapalogaster dentata (De Haan, 1849) in hermits crab were most dominant.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.180-194
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• 2024

Mass mortalities of mud crab Scylla spp. larvae due to pathogenic Vibrio spp. outbreaks have frequently occurred in hatcheries. To overcome this problem, probiotics containing Bacillus subtilis bacteria are applied to inhibit pathogenic ones. We tested different doses of probiotic-containing B. subtilis (10⁸ CFU/g) on the Scylla tranquebarica larvae and investigated the microbiota population, including Vibrio. Water quality, larvae development, and crablet production were also monitored. The recently hatched larvae were grown in twelve conical fiber tanks filled with 200 L sterile seawater, with a salinity of 30 ppt at a stocking density of 80 ind/L. Four different doses of probiotics were applied in the larvae rearing, namely, A = 2.5 mg/L, B = 5 mg/L, C = 7.5 mg/L, and D = 0 mg/L, with three replicates. Next-generation sequencing analysis was used to obtain the abundance of microbes in the whole body of megalopa and the water media for larvae rearing after applying probiotics. Sixteen Raw Deoxyribonucleic Acid samples (eight from a whole body of megalopa extraction from four treatments of probiotics defined as A, B, C, D, and eight from water media extraction from four treatments of probiotic defined as E, F, G, H) were prepared. Then, they were sent to the Genetics Science Laboratory for NGS analysis. Ammonia, nitrite, total organic matter (TOM), larvae, and crablet production were monitored. Based on the Next-generation sequencing analysis data, the Vibrio spp. decreased significantly (p < 0.05) than control test (D) in megalopa-applied probiotics at the doses of 2.5 mg/L (A) and 7.5 mg/L (C) and in the water media for megalopa rearing treated with probiotics at the dosage of 5.0 mg/L (F). Ammonia in the zoea stage in B treatment and TOM in the zoea and megalopa stage in B and C treatments were decreased significantly (p < 0.05). It impacts the higher number of zoea survival in treatments B and C. Finally, it results in a significantly high crablet production in treatments B and C. Therefore, the dosage of 5 mg/L to 7.5 mg/L improves crablet S. tranquebarica production significantly.