• ALGAE
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.361-363
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• 2003

This study was conducted at Seomjin River estuary to identify the causative species of algal bloom and their blooming cycles. Field surveys were conducted at 4 stations in every week from April to December of 1999. Thirty species were observed as the causative species of alga bloom. Skeletonema costatum, Thalassiosira sp., and microflagellate spp. (mixed red tide: Chroomonas sp. and two species of Prasinophycea) made algal blooms during the present study period. In addition, toxic algal species of diatom Pseudo-nitzschia multiseries and dinoflagellate Dinophysis acuminata were observed. The algal blooms were caused by microflagellate spp. in June, Thalassiosira sp. in July and Skeletonema costatum in August. Generally, the algal blooms persisted for about 5 days in this area.

• ALGAE
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.21-32
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• 2011

Studies of the red algal genus Bostrychia over the last 15 years have made it a model system for many evolutionary processes within red algal species. The combination of newly developed, or first employed methods, in red algal species studies has made Bostrychia a pioneer genus in intraspecific studies. Bostrychia was the first genus in which a mitochondrial marker was used for intraspecific red algal phylogeny, and the first for which a 3-genome phylogeny was undertaken. The genus was the first red alga used to genetically show maternal plastid and mitochondria inheritance, and also to show correlation between cryptic species (genetically divergent intraspecific lineages) and reproductive incompatibility. The chemotaxonomic use, and physiological function of osmolytes, has also been extensively studied in Bostrychia. Our continuous studies of Bostrychia also highlight important aspects in algal species studies. Our worldwide sampling, and resampling in certain areas, show that intensive sampling is needed to accurately assess the genetic diversity and therefore phylogeographic history of algal species, with increased sampling altering evolutionary hypotheses. Our studies have also shown that long-term morphological character stability (stasis) and character convergence can only be correctly assessed with wide geographic sampling of morphological species. While reproductive incompatibility of divergent lineages supports the biological species nature of these lineages, reproductive incompatibility is also seen between isolates with little genetic divergence. It seems that reproductive incompatibility may evolve quickly in red algae and the unique early stages of fertilization (e.g., gametes covered by walls, active movement of spermatium nuclei to the distant egg nucleus), also well investigated in Bostrychia,. may be key to our understanding of this process.

• ALGAE
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.279-288
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• 2014

Red algal parasites are common within red algae and are mostly closely related to their hosts, but have a reduced habit. In the past, red algal parasites, due to their reduced morphology, have been given distinct generic names, even though they are often phylogenetically nested in their host's genus. This is a problem nomenclaturally for maintenance of a taxonomy based on monophyly. This study investigates the morphology, genetic variation and distribution of an undescribed red algal parasite growing on its host Rhodophyllis membranacea, widely distributed throughout New Zealand. Microscopy, molecular markers (plastid, mitochondrial, nuclear), and herbarium investigation were used to investigate this species. The parasite is widely distributed throughout New Zealand. All molecular markers clearly show that the parasite is almost identical to the host, even though morphologically quite distinct from members of the host genus. We believe that to maintain monophyly of Rhodophyllis the parasite should be described as a new species of Rhodophyllis, Rhodophyllis parasitica sp. nov. We also recommend that in order to maintain generic monophyly most red algal parasite genera should also be transferred to their host genus.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.476-480
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• 2020

A marine red algal species was collected from Uljin, located on the eastern coast of Korea, during a survey of marine algal flora. This alga shares the generic features of Plocamium, and is characterized by linear, flat and thin thalli with narrow axes, branches developing in alternating pairs from margins of the axes, two to four times alternately pinnately branching, linear or occasionally adaxially curved lowermost branchlets and distinctly and compactly clustered stichidia. In a phylogenetic tree based on rbcL sequences, the Korean alga nests in the same clade as P. serrulatum. The genetic distance between both sequences within the clade was calculated as 0.0-0.2%. Based on the morphological and molecular data, this Korean species is identified as P. serrulatum described originally from Taiwan. This is the first record of P. serrulatum in Korean marine algal flora.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.15 no.10
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• pp.961-966
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• 2006

An algal assay procedure using an indigenous phytoplankton assemblage was tested to estimate the propagation of red tide phytoplankton species and determine the optimal time interval at which to measure growth yield in eutrophic marine waters where red tides frequently occur. Various red tide phytoplankton species were propagated on a large scale by adding nitrogen or phosphorous. This procedure was useful for estimating the limiting nutrient, elucidating the mechanisms underlying red tides, and determining the levels of increases in organic matter in eutrophic coastal waters. The algal assay using indigenous C. polykrikoides showed that this species did not always propagate, apparently because of very low concentrations of trigger elements that are necessary for its growth, rather than as a result of other environmental characteristics, e.g., water temperature or stress from sampling. In the winter, when water temperatures are lower than in spring, summer, or autumn, maximum propagation and the limiting nutrient could be estimated by measuring phytoplankton biomass at 2 - 3-day intervals. However, in the other seasons, when water temperatures are higher, phytoplankton biomass should be measured at 2-day intervals. In particular, daily monitoring will be required to determine precise growth yields in warm seasons.

• ALGAE
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.257-270
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• 2004

In order to clarify the structure and seasonal dynamics of warm tolerant benthic marine algal community in Korea, the species composition and biomass of marine algae at the discharge canal of Uljin nuclear power plant on the East Coast of Korea were investigated seasonally from February 1992 to October 2000. 107 species of marine algae were found at the discharge canal during the past nine years. In general, the number of species observed was abundant in spring or summer and less in autumn or winter. 27 species (4 blue-green, 5 green, 6 brown and 12 red algae) of marine algae occurred more than 1/ 6 frequency and thus can be categorized as warm tolerant species. Among these, one brown (Dictyota dichotoma) and four red algae (Gelidium amansii, Anphiroa ephedraea, Hydrolithon sargassi, Marginisporum crassissimum) are recorded as warm tolerant marine algae for the first time in Korea. Padina arborescens, Anphiroa zonata and Corallina pilulifera were common species found more than 75% frequency. Seasonal fluctuations of mean biomass were 0-1,330 g dry wt m^(-2) and dominant species in biomass were Corallina pilulifera (contribution to a total biomass proportion 34%), Anphiroa zonata (23%), Padina arborescens (18%) and Sargassum micracanthum (11%). The red algae appeared as predominant algal group at the discharge canal of Uljin nuclear power plant in the qualitative and quantitative aspects. The green algae such as Enterornorpha compressa appeared rather frequently at the discharge canal, but the biomass proportion was very low, in contrast to Kori nuclear power plant where there was definite green algal dominance. Differences in algal communities developed at the discharge canals of Uljin and Kori nuclear power plant on the East Coast of Korea, particularly biomass proportions of green algae, can probably be related to local environmental factors such as water velocity through the canal and natural seawater temperatures.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.66-73
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• 2003

To understand the physiology of a suspension-feeding bivalve and its potential impacts on the dynamics of red tides on tidal flats, rates of clearance and ingestion of Glauconome chinensis were measured as a function of algal concentration, when the bivalve was fed on a nontoxic strain of red tide dinoflagellate Prorocentrum minimum, Cochlodinium polykrikoides or Scrippsiella trochoidea. With increasing algal concentration, weight-specific clearance rate increased rapidly at lower concentrations and after reaching the maximum at ca. 0.2 to 1.0 mgC/L, it decreased at higher concentrations. Maximum clearance rate was nearly equal for different algal species and ranged between 2.1 and 2.6 L/g/hr. Weight-specific ingestion rate also increased at lower algal concentrations but saturated at higher concentrations. Maximum ingestion rate was 2 to 10 fold different with different algal species: S. trochoidea (10.1 mgC/g/hr), P. minimum (3.9 mgC/g/hr), and C. polykrikoides (0.99 mgC/g/hr). Nitrogen and protein content showed that S. trochoidea is the best among the tested three red tide dinoflagellates. The maximum filtration capacity, calculated by combining the data on ingestion rate from laboratory experiments and those from the field for the density of the bivalve and the red tide dinoflagellates was 4.7, 1.4, and 25.3 tons/m2/day for P. minimum, C. polykrikoides, and S. trochoidea, respectively. It is hypothesized that the abundant suspension-feeding bivalves in tidal flats can effectively mitigate the outbreak of red tides.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.383-389
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• 2021

The Erythropeltidales are a common group of small, mostly epiphytic, marine red algae. However, they are little known in Korea. Many of the described species of Erythropeltidales differ subtly in morphology, and often the morphological differences are due to the substrate or environmental changes. Integration of molecular data with standardized culture conditions has been recommended to account for these algae. A Madagascaria species was first collected from the western coast of Korea and was identified as Madagascaria erythrocladioides based on the morphological and molecular characteristics. Morphological characteristics conformed well with its original description, and the phylogenetic analysis based on rbcL sequence showed Korean M. erythrocladioides nests in the same clade with the original species described in Japan with a genetic distance of 0.0-0.1%. This species was isolated from a red alga, Pterocladiella capillacea, in laboratory culture. The thallus ontogeny and host preference were examined by a co-culture with 13 different species of algae. Results showed a relatively broad host preference in mono-spore attachment and epiphyte development of Madagascaria erythrocladioides. Mono-spores of M. erythrocladioides attached to most of the red algal hosts' surfaces but no crustose thalli developed on some of the algal hosts even after one month of co-culture.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.82-87
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• 2015

For the ecological evaluation of marine algal vegetation, flora and their communities were surveyed seasonally at Goseong, on the southern coast of Korea. A total of 102 algal species, comprising 17 green, 18 brown and 67 red algae, was identified. Representative dominant species were assessed as Ulva australis, Sargassum thunbergii, and Gelidium amansii. Of these, Ulva australis was remarkably dominant in all seasons. High biomass of the dominant species were recorded. The total seasonal biomass was highest in winter and lowest in summer. The mean biomass value was $1315.6g/m^2$ across the four seasons. Each species was classified into six functional groups, and two ecological state groups (ESG) were evaluated based on these groups. While ESG I, the late successional species group, formed only 18.6% of the algal community; ESG II, composed of opportunistic species, comprised 81.4%. This suggests that environmental stress has been continuously imposed on the marine algal vegetation of the present study area.

• ALGAE
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.155-160
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• 2017

Red rot disease has caused a major decline in Pyropia (Nori) crop production in Korea, Japan, and China. To date, only Pythium porphyrae (Pythiales, Oomycetes) has been reported as the pathogen causing red rot disease in Pyropia yezoensis (Rhodophyta, Bangiales). Recently, Pythium chondricola was isolated from the infected blades of Py. yezoensis during molecular analyses using the mitochondrial cox1 region. In this study, we evaluated the pathogenicity of P. chondricola as an algal pathogen of Py. yezoensis. Moreover, a new cox2 marker was developed with high specificity for Pythium species. Subsequent to re-inoculation, P. chondricola successfully infected Py. yezoensis blades, with the infected regions containing symptoms of red rot disease. A novel cox2 marker successfully isolated the cox2 region of Pythium species from the infected blades of Py. yezoensis collected from Pyropia aquaculture farms. cox2 sequences showed 100% identity with that of P. chondricola (KJ595354) and 98% similarity with that of P. porphyrae (KJ595377). The results of the pathogenicity test and molecular analysis confirm that P. chondricola is a new algal pathogen causing red rot disease in Pyropia species. Moreover, it could also suggest the presence of cryptic biodiversity among Korean Pythium species.