• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.44 no.2 s.138
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• pp.117-125
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• 2006

Genetic diversity of 18 Acanthamoeba isolates from ocean sediments was evaluated by comparing mitochondrial (mt) DNA RFLP, 18S rDNA sequences and by examining their cytopathic effects on human corneal epithelial cells versus reference strains. All isolates belonged to morphologic group II. Total of 16 restriction phenotypes of mtDNA from 18 isolates demonstrated the genetic diversity of Acanthamoeba in ocean sediments. Phylogenetic analysis using 18s rDNA sequences revealed that the 18 isolates were distinct from morphological groups I and III. Fifteen isolates showed close relatedness with 17 clinical isolates and A. castellanii Castellani and formed a lineage equivalent to T4 genotype of Byers' group. Two reference strains from ocean sediment, A. hatchetti BH-2 and A. griffini S-7 clustered unequivocally with these 15 isolates. Diversity among isolates was also evident from their cytopathic effects on human corneal cells. This is the first time describing Acanthamoeba diversity in ocean sediments in Korea.

• ALGAE
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.167-180
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• 2018

Benthic diatoms are ubiquitous in tidal flats and play major roles in maintaining coastal ecosystems. Spatio-temporal variations in diatom diversity have not been well-studied, mainly because of difficulties in morphological identification and the lack of appropriate genetic tools. To overcome these problems, we used the gene encoding the ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase large-subunit (rbcL) as a molecular marker, and sequenced these genes with the aid of the MiSeq platform. In this manner, we explored the genetic diversity of benthic diatoms in tidal flats of Guenso Bay on the west coast of Korea; differences in the spatial distributions of benthic diatoms were evident. The diatom communities were dominated by Nitzschia, Navicula, and Amphora; their relative distributions were affected by the sand proportion, grain size, and air exposure time. Our results suggest that meta-barcoding of the rbcL gene and next-generation sequencing can be used to explore the diversity of benthic diatoms.

• ALGAE
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.223-232
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• 2015

More than 20 and 10 clades / ecotypes of Synechococcus and Prochlorococcus, respectively, have been identified in various oceanic regions. However, their diversity has yet to be thoroughly studied in the northwest Pacific Ocean. Further, spatial distribution of Synechococcus clades in the oligotrophic oceans has been scarcely characterized. To elucidate picocyanobacterial lineage distribution in the northwest Pacific Ocean, 16S-23S internal transcribed spacer sequences of picocyanobacteria were sequenced by barcoded amplicon pyrosequencing method. Additional pyrosequencing library using a primer specific for the Synechococcus subcluster-5.1 was constructed to thoroughly understand Synechococcus diversity in the oligotrophic oceans. In warm pool area, Prochlorococcus was predominant and showed a distinct depthpartitioning between HLII and LL ecotypes. Despite low abundances, diverse Synechococcus clades appeared in the oligotrophic open ocean, showing both vertical and horizontal niche partitioning. Clade II was the predominant Synechococcus clade, especially in upper euphotic depths. In shallow and middle euphotic depths, clades UC-A, III, and CRD1 were distributed broadly. However, a distinct shift in the horizontal distribution was found at ca. $20^{\circ}N$. Conversely, clades XVII and CRD2 dominated at deep euphotic depths and constituted a higher proportion than clade II. These niche-partitioning of Synechococcus clades seemed to be related with temperature, nutrient concentration as well as iron concentration.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.354-365
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• 2019

Megabenthos samples were collected using 10-min trawls towed at 17 stations from 2015 to 2016. The dominant species (>1% of the total density) were Stegophiura sterea (10.4%) and two subtropical species, Mactrinula dolabrata (9.0%) and Acila divaricate (8.3%), respectively. The community structure of the megabenthos fell into four groups: the southeast, the southernmost region off Jeju Island, the frontal zone of the South Sea with C3, and a diagonal area from the south coast to the western side of Jeju Island. The total numbers of species, diversity, density and biomass were higher in the C3 region of the South Sea. Environmental factor analysis showed that differences in the megabenthos community were related to depth, gravel contents, and sorting value (${\sigma}$). These results indicate that changes in the marine environmental conditions in the South Sea of Korea affect the megabenthos species' composition and diversity.

• Animal Systematics, Evolution and Diversity
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.218-247
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• 2023

In our ongoing efforts to explore the species diversity of the harpacticoid fauna in Korea, we present findings on four newly identified species from family Tegastidae Sars, 1904. Although this family is frequently encountered in phytal communities, the diversity of tegastid copepod species within Korean waters largely remains to be elucidated. Drawing from our collections of tegastid harpacticoids from Chuja-do and Geomun-do Islands, we provide morphological descriptions for Tegastes lobus sp. nov., T. tresetosus sp. nov., T. pilosus sp. nov., and Syngastes acutus sp. nov., and propose their taxonomic relationships in relation to other species within the genus. Finally, we update the list of tegastid harpacticoids found in Korea and provide a key for identifying the six confirmed species from this region.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.193-199
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• 1999

Fifty-eight strains showing different colony morphological characteristics on various media were isolated from marine coral (Plexauridae sp.) and ambient seawater near Mun-Sum, Cheju-Island in 1998. Bacterial diversity was studies by phylogenetic analysis of the partial 16S rRNA gene sequences. All isolates representing the bacterial domain included affiliates of the high G+C (59%) and los G+C (3%) subdivision of Gram positive bacteria, and the alpha (33%) and gamma (5%) subdivision of the Proteobacteria. The 16S rDNA sequence similarity of the isolates was in the 88.3 to 100% range (average, 95.6%) to reported sequence data. In the comparison of the isolates from marine coarl and ambient seawater, more diverse groups belonging to ${\alpha}$-Proteobacteria were preferentially obtained from seawater.

• The Korean Journal of Malacology
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.159-164
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• 2004

In the present study we examined latitudinal trend of the number of species and species diversity of rocky subtidal shelled gastropods. Specimens were sampled from four wave-exposed sites along the eastern coast of Korea between Sockcho (38$^{\circ}$14"N_ and Busan (35$^{\circ}$06"N), covering a range of over ca. 440 km and 4$^{\circ}$ of latitude. At a small local scale, the number of species showed a latitudinal trend, decreased with decreasing of latitude, even though no clear trends in species diversity were detected. The present result, consequently, suggest that regulation of small-scale local diversity presumably results from the difference of the local micro-environment.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.319-326
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• 2009

Analysis of four microsatellite markers from Mud Crab Scylla serrata revealed that there is high level of genetic diversity within this species. Genetic diversity of S. serrata was calculated using allele diversity, observed heterozygosity, expected heterozygosity (Het-exp), polymorphic information content, gene differentiation and Nei's $D_{A}$ distance. Mean polymorphic information content value was 0.797, which reflected high level of polymorphism across the loci of S. serrata. The Palau population has the highest genetic diversity (Het-exp=0.871), while the Kosrae population has the lowest genetic diversity (Hetexp=0.806). However, the geographical genetic distance among S. serrata populations from Yab, Chuuk, Pohnpei, Kosrae, and Palau were low (0.2009${\sim}$0.3350). These results suggest that despite their wide distribution, S. serrata are no different in geographical genetic diversity within the five sampled locations.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.19-28
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• 2012

In order to understand the spatial distribution of picocyanobacterial diversity during the summer in the northern East China Sea (ECS), their abundance and genetic diversity were investigated using flow cytometry and barcoded amplicon pyrosequencing of 16S-23S internal transcribed spacer sequences. Synechococcus abundance was high, with a range of $0.2{\times}10^5$ to $1.8{\times}10^5$ cells $ml^{-1}$. However, Prochlorococcus were found only in the eastern part of the studied area, showing a marked variation among stations [range of n.d. (not detected) to $3.3{\times}10^4$ cells $ml^{-1}$]. Eleven Synechococcus clades and five Prochlorococcus ecotypes were found to have a proportion higher than 1% among picocyanobacterial sequences, indicating high picocyanobacterial diversity in the ECS. The picocyanobacterial compositions were markedly different among stations, as well as among depths. Inflow of the Tsushima Warm Current and Changjiang diluted water was of primary importance in determining picocyanobacterial lineage diversity in the studied area. In addition, light intensity and nutrient conditions also appeared to be important in the vertical and horizontal distribution of picocyanobacterial diversity.

• Proceedings of the Microbiological Society of Korea Conference
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• 2003.05a
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• pp.13-15
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• 2003

Studies on marine microbial diversity using direct analysis of rRNA sequences have revealed previously unrecognized microbes and novel phylogenetic lineages that represent major components of global microbial assemblages. This diversity in the marine biosphere offers opportunities for research and application in the field of biotechnology; global gas exchange, nutrient and element cycling, biomass md food production, marine bioproducts, and bioprocesses. Especially, deep-sea encompasses the extremes of virtually at] environmental parameters found on Earth and provides extreme microorganisms. In this study several extreme microorganisms were successfully isolated from the deep-sea sediment samples obtained by joining ocean cruises for last 2 years and some of them will be introduced.