• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• v.56 no.1
• /
• pp.54-65
• /
• 2023

Effect of environmental factors on the seasonal variations of zooplankton communities was investigated in the semi-closed Yeoja Bay, Korea from February, April to August, and November 2021. Out of a total 49 species of zooplankton were collected with a predominant of neritic copepods (mainly Paracalanus orientalis, Acartia omorii, Acartia ohtsukai, Centropages abdominalis, Ditrichocorycaeus affinis, and Oithona sp.), accounting for 58.9% of the total abundance of zooplankton. The diversity indices indicated a relatively highest in July, suggesting that diversity is influenced by seasonal temperature, N. scintillans, and neritic copepods species. A cluster analysis with non-metric multidimensional scaling revealed four groups of zooplankton communities. The February sample clustered into Group A, having the lowest mean total abundance and species diversity of zooplankton, consisting mainly of N. scintillans located the whole region. Cluster Group B from the spring season (April to May) and contained the species diversity with some neritic copepods. Cluster Group C from the summer season (June to August) mainly comprised P. orientalis, A. ohtsukai, Oithona sp., and hydromedusae. Cluster Group D from the autumn season (November) mainly comprised P. orientalis, Temora discaudata. Redundancy analysis indicated that abundance is positively correlated with temperature, salinity, and pico chlorophyll-a concentrations. This study showed that planktonic larvae (such as branchyura larvae) and some copepods (including A. omorii, A. ohtsukai, C. sinicus, and C. abdominalis) were significantly vulnerable to zooplankton community of temperature, salinity, and pico chlorophyll-a concentrations.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• v.55 no.2
• /
• pp.154-170
• /
• 2022

The zooplankton composition, abundance, community structure, and species diversity in the major commercial fishery species spawning grounds in the southern coast of Korea were investigated in this study. A total of 80 taxa were sampled, with the mean abundance range of 5,612-11,720 ind. m^-3 and the mean biomass range of 41.6-1,086.8 mg m^-3. The dominant species were Paracalanus copepodites, Paracalanus parvus s. l., Oithona copepodites, Paracalanus nauplii, Noctiluca scintillans, Oithona similis, and Ditrichocorycaeus affinis. The species diversity indices were highest in August, suggesting that diversity is influenced by neritic and oceanic warm-water species. A cluster analysis with non-metric multidimensional scaling (nMDS) revealed three groups of zooplankton communities. The April and May samples clustered into Group A, having the highest mean total zooplankton abundance and lowest species diversity, consisting mainly of temperate species located in the middle region of the southern coast of Korea. Cluster Group B was from the early summer season (June) and contained the highest species diversity with some oceanic and neritic zooplankton species. Cluster Group C from the summer season (July and August) mainly comprised P. parvus s. l. and O. similis. The redundancy analysis (RDA) indicated that abundance is positively correlated with salinity, and chlorophyll-a concentrations.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
• /
• v.30 no.1
• /
• pp.64-70
• /
• 2012

This study compares the abundance and community structure of zooplankton organisms from the littoral and pelagic regions, and considers particularly trophic levels vs. zooplankton abundances. Zooplankton samples, collected every 3 months over a year from 2010 to 2011 at 29 temperate lakes and reservoirs, which belong to two different river basins (Youngsan and Seomjin River). The spatial pattern of rotifers was similar to that of total zooplankton abundance. This reflected the fact that rotifers strongly dominated the zooplankton community. There were considerable spatial variations in total zooplankton abundance (ANOVA, p<0.01), while there were no significant differences both in littoral and pelagic regions in abundance of zooplankton (ANOVA, p=0.205). The mean abundance of zooplankton in eutrophic systems was much higher than that of mesotrophic systems, while significant difference in number of species and diversity index were not shown in both trophic systems.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
• /
• v.38 no.2
• /
• pp.231-247
• /
• 2020

The seasonal variation in the zooplankton community and hydrographic conditions were examined in three regions (inner, central, and outer regions) of Gamak Bay, Korea. Zooplankton samples were collected over a period of 12 months from January to December 2006. The hydrographical parameters of temperature, salinity, chlorophyll-a concentrations, dissolved oxygen, and chemical oxygen demand were measured. The total zooplankton density varied from 411 to 58,485 ind. m^-3, with peaks in early summer. A total of 65 taxa accounted for approximately 86.9% of the annual mean zooplankton density: Noctiluca scintillans (30.9%) Paracalanus parvus s. l.(24.3%), Acartia omorii(11.9 %), Eurytemora pacifica (5.7%), cladocerans (4.1%), cirriped larvae (3.8%), Oithona similis (3.7%), and Pseudevedne tergestina(2.5%). Copepods dominated numerically throughout the year and comprised 54.3% of the total zooplankton. Most of the dominant copepods showed a well-defined seasonal pattern. The density and diversity of zooplankton in Gamak Bay were influenced by the hydrographic environment that was subject to significant spatial and temporal variations. Multivariate statistics showed that seasonal temperature was the most significant predictor of zooplankton taxa, density, and diversity, as well as the density of dominant taxa. Our results suggest that fluctuations in the zooplankton populations, particularly copepods, followed progressive increments in the temperature and COD concentrations.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.57 no.1
• /
• pp.51-59
• /
• 2024

This note summarizes the application of zooplankton indices for water quality management and estimation based on main research topics of articles focusing on wetland ecosystems, topics that are remained poorly investigated in S. Korea. The aquatic ecosystem-based consists of indices that respond to different target environmental factors, including environmental disturbance. Among the major indicator species and biota, we reviewed that management strategy for the wetland environment has to be focused more on small-sizes, in terms of zooplankton ecology and indices. The ecology of zooplankton communities in freshwater ecosystem has been the focus of an increasing number of studies since 2019, and considerable progress has been made in understanding the major mechanisms involved in regulating their abundance, diversity and spatio-temporal patterns. Even though studies on the freshwater ecosystem in Korea have a long history, a few of studies on zooplankton biota were conducted at wetlands. We suggested the candidate zooplankton indices proposed by the U.S. EPA and EU to suit Korean conditions. In the step of selecting metrics, the best available metrics are species-related variables, such as composition and abundance, as well as richness and diversity. Overall, in spite of several limitations, the development of a plankton-based multivariate assessment method in Korea wetlands is possible using mostly field research data. Later, it could be improved based on qualitative metrics on zooplankton, and with the emergence of further survey data. The present information can be used as basic information for researchers who are dealing with aquatic environments and its interaction with organisms.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• v.54 no.1
• /
• pp.64-72
• /
• 2021

The feeding habits of the Japanese jack mackerel Trachurus japonicus were studied in the Southern Sea of the Republic of Korea. To assess the effects of season, sampling was conducted in February (winter), May (spring), and August (summer), 2020. The total length of each fish was measured in 1 cm intervals. Diet composition showed the highest species diversity during winter. Diet composition changed from copepods to euphausiids as the total length of jack mackerel increased, except during winter. The most important seasonal prey were copepods in winter and summer and euphausiids in spring. Species diversity of the zooplankton community structure was highest in winter. Among the zooplankton communities, copepods were dominant in all seasons. Species with a high electivity index in all seasons were relatively large zooplankton of ≥2 mm. Jack mackerel had ontogenetic diet change, exhibited diet selectivity depending on size, and its feeding habits were affected by the zooplankton community structure.

• 한국해양학회지
• /
• v.29 no.2
• /
• pp.132-144
• /
• 1994

The relationship of zooplankton communities and distributions of copepods as indicator species to environmental variables, such as temperature, salinity, chemical oxygen demand (COD) and total inorganic nitrogen (TIN) was studied in Pusan Harbor in October 1990 and January, April and July 1991. Zooplankton communities were analysed by using cluster analysis and species diversity index. Four groups of copepods as indicator species were Acrocalanus gacilis, Euchaeta plana, pareuchaeta russell and Pleuromamma gracilis as the oceanic warm water species; Cemtropages abdominalis as the neritic cold water species; Meridian lucens as the oceanic cold water species Acartia omorii as the polluted water species. the offshore waters of Pusan harbor was dominated by the oceanic warm water species in October and by the neritic cold water species in January and April. This area showed the low values of COD and Tin. the inshore waters of Pusan harbor, where the high values of cod And Tin and the low value of diversity were recorder was represented by A.. omorii. Cluster analysis of the zooplankton community revealed two or three regional areas in Pusan harbor. Area I, the offshore area of Pusan harbor, not only was represented high species diversity and low density of A. omorii but also was dominated copepods in zooplankton roups. Areas II and III were grouped horizontally from offshore to inshore of Pusan harbor. Area II was showed intermediate values in diversity, density of A. omorii and percentage composition of copepods. Area III was revealed the lowest diversity,density of A.omorii and percentage composition of Cladocerans.Coperpoda was a dominant zooplankton group in each area during the study periods except two special cases.Area II was dominated by Noctiluca scintillans in April and Area III was occupied by Cladocerans in July.Distribution of Indicator species and areas demarcated based on cluster analysis showed a close relationship with environments.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
• /
• v.23 no.2 s.58
• /
• pp.93-97
• /
• 2005

Zooplankton dynamics were investigated based on samples collected monthly during the period between November 1998 and October 1999 at 15 stations in Gwangyang and Sachon Bay. Zooplankters were quantitatively collected with horizontal towing through the surface and oblique hauling from the bottom to surface at each station, simultaneously. A total of 88 taxa of zooplankton were distributed and 60 taxa were identified to species. Copepods showed the prosperity in species number of 52 species. Number of taxa occurred in samples hauled obliquely always showed $2\~5$ more species than those captured in the surface except for stations near the Namhae bridge. In waters near Namhae bridge, fast current seemed to mix waters vertically. Seasonally these differences were more distinct in the spring and summer than those in other seasons possibly due to the stratification in warmer seasons. In quantitative aspects, differences between two layers seemed to be obscure. Spatial and temporal variations in species diversity of copepods showed more prosperity in pelagic realm than those in the surface. Our collection carrying out in day time might be one of the important reason to cause these differences in zooplankton dynamics between two layers.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.46 no.1
• /
• pp.86-93
• /
• 2013

We monitored 32 wetlands in order to investigate the influence of aquatic plants on zooplankton density and diversity in the littoral zone in Gyeongsangnam-do from May to June in 2011. A total of 65 zooplankton species were identified in the study sites. Among them, the diversity of epiphytic zooplankton were higher (40 species) than planktonic zooplankton. Littoral zones of all wetlands were covered by various aquatic plants, and influenced the epiphytic zooplankton assemblages. Based on the data from $1{\times}1$ (m) quadrat sampling, epiphytic and planktonic rotifer density showed no significant relationships with macrophyte cover. However, the epiphytic cladocerans density significantly increased under high aquatic plant cover ($r^2=0.39$, p<0.05, n=32). Types of aquatic plants strongly influenced epiphytic zooplankton density. Upo and Jangcheok are locations which have well developed Phragmites communis and Ceratophyllum demersum communities in the littoral zone, and a higher density of epiphytic zooplankton was recorded on the surface of C. demersum. Especially, rotifers such as Lepadella, Monostyla and Testudinella showed obvious differences (One-way ANOVA, p<0.05 for all three species). This result suggests that epiphytic zooplankton have a substrate preference for larger surface areas, likely for adherence, on C. dimersum. In conclusion, the complex structure of the littoral plant community is expected to provide diverse refuge and microhabitats to epiphytic zooplankton.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
• /
• v.23 no.3
• /
• pp.339-347
• /
• 2007

Zooplankton community dynamics were studied after establishment of an artificial vegetation island (AVI) in Lake Paldang, from April 2005 to November 2006. There were distinct seasonal and inter-annual changes of total zooplankton abundance at the survey site. Total zooplankton abundance rapidly increased in spring and fall, while it remained low throughout winter. During summer, the dynamics of zooplankton community seemed to be largely affected by hydrological parameters such as, precipitation and inflow. Total zooplankton abundance and biomass below AVI was much higher than that of pelagic zone (L1) in Lake Paldang. Copepoda and cladocera represented the main bulk of the zooplankton community from summer to fall at the both sites. Copepods were more dominant at AVI area, while cladocera were more dominant at pelagic zone (L1). Water quality, prey and habitat condition, species competition between zooplankton seemed to play important roles in dominance of the copepoda and cladocera in zooplankton community at AVI area. Our results conclude that artificial vegetation island provide the stable habitat and besides phytoplankton, diverse food to zooplankton, and consequently influence the diversity and richness of zooplankton community.