• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.203-217
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• 2021

Background: Sea turtles, which are globally endangered species, have been stranded and found as bycatch on the Korean shore recently. More studies on sea turtles in Korea are necessary to aid their conservation. To investigate the spatio-temporal occurrence patterns of sea turtles on the Korean shore, we recorded sampling locations and dates, identified species and sexes and measured sizes (maximum curved carapace length; CCL) of collected sea turtles from the year 2014 to 2020. For an analysis of diets through stomach contents, we identified the morphology of the remaining food and extracted DNA, followed by amplification, cloning, and sequencing. Results: A total of 62 stranded or bycaught sea turtle samples were collected from the Korean shores during the study period. There were 36 loggerhead turtles, which were the dominant species, followed by 19 green turtles, three hawksbill turtles, two olive ridley turtles, and two leatherback turtles. The highest numbers were collected in the year 2017 and during summer among the seasons. In terms of locations, most sea turtles were collected from the East Sea, especially from Pohang. Comparing the sizes of collected sea turtles according to species, the average CCL of loggerhead turtles was 79.8 cm, of green turtles was 73.5 cm, and of the relatively large leatherback turtle species was 126.2 cm. In most species, the proportion of females was higher than that of males and juveniles, and was more than 70% across all the species. Food remains were morphologically identified from 19 stomachs, mainly at class level. Seaweeds were abundant in stomachs of green turtles, and Bivalvia was the most detected food item in loggerhead turtles. Based on DNA analysis, food items from a total of 26 stomachs were identified to the species or genus level. The gulfweed, Sargassum thunbergii, and the kelp species, Saccharina japonica, were frequently detected from the stomachs of green turtles and the jellyfish, Cyanea nozakii, the swimming crab, Portunus trituberculatus, and kelps had high frequencies of occurrences in loggerhead turtles. Conclusions: Our findings support those of previous studies suggesting that sea turtles are steadily appearing in the Korean sea. In addition, we verified that fish and seaweed, which inhabit the Korean sea, are frequently detected in the stomach of sea turtles. Accordingly, there is a possibility that sea turtles use the Korean sea as feeding grounds and habitats. These results can serve as basic data for the conservation of globally endangered sea turtles.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Fisheries and Ocean Technology
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.15-36
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• 1978

Underwater sounds of some fishes and crabs were analyzed in the laboratory. The behavioral responses to the playback sounds of their feeding and croaking sound were investigated. The samples used in the experiment were as follows: Nibea albiflora, seriola quinqueradiata, Navodon modestus, Fugu xanthopterus, chrysophrys major, Scylla serrata, Telmessus acutidens, Charybdis japonica, and Portunus trituberculatus. The feeding and croaking sounds of the samples were recorded by a tape recorder through a hydrophone in an anechoic aquarium. The sound intensity level was measured by means of a sound level meter at an anechoic chamber. The frequency, intensity and wave form of various sounds were analyzed with an analyzing system consisting of a 1/3 octave filter set, a high speed level recorder, an amplifier, an octave band analyzer and an oscilloscope. The most successful recording was edited into a sequence of sound track which repeats sound emitting for 5 to 7 seconds after pausing for 5 to 7 seconds. The sequence was then reproduced into an anechoic aquarium through the under water speaker. The experimental anechoic aquarium used for the sample fishes was divided into the four sections with any three screens selected from 40$\times$40mm, 60$\times$60mm, 80$\times$80mm and 100$\times$100mm mushes according to the species of the fishes, besides that for crabs were not sectioned. The results of the investigation are as follows: 1. Of the feeding sound of fish, the frequency of wave from of the sound produced by Nibea albiflora and seriola quinqucradiata was 125～250Hz, that by Navodon modestus 63～125Hz, and that by Fugu xanthopterus 400～500Hz. The pressure level of the feeding sound produced by Nibea albiflora and Seriola quinqueradiata was 56～62db, that by Navodon modestus 57～59db, and that by Fugu xanthopterus 60～64db. 2. Of the croaking sound of Nibea albiflora, the frequency of the sound was 125～250Hz almost equivalent to that of feeding sound, and the pressure level was 62～63db, slightly higher than that of feeding sound. 3. Of the croaking sounds of crabs, the frequency of the sound produced by scylla serrata was 125～250Hz, that by Charybdis japonica and Telmessus acutidens 500～1,000Hz, and that by Portunus trituberculatus 250～500Hz. The pressure level of the croaking sound by Scylla serrata was 68～70db, and that by Charybdis japonica, Telmessus acutidens and Portuens trituberculatus 50～62db. 4. Phonotactic responses of Nibea albiflora and Seriola quinqueradiata to the feeding sounds produced by their own species, the same body length were conspicuous with the phonotactic index of 56～87%, but that of Navodon modestus, Chrysophrys major and Fugu xanthopterus were hardly recognized. 5. Phonotactic responses of the sample fishes to the sinusoidal sound with the frequency range of 50 to 9,000 Hz were observed not conspicuous. 6. Phonotactic responses of Portunus trituberculatus to the croaking sounds produced by their own species was varied in the range of 40～100%, according to the carapace length and the sex.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.223-230
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• 2002

Investigations were made on catch composition, sex ratio, relationships between carapace length, body weight and fecundity and spawning season of major target shrimps (Acetes chinensis, A. japonicus) in the shrimp fishing areas of south-western coastal waters, accounting for about $45\%$ of annual shrimp landings in Korea. Catches were collected monthly in the fishing areas from March 2000 to February 2001, using single pocket-walled fishing gear, Total 59 species (shrimps 14, fishes 34, other crustaceans 8 and cephalopods 3 species) occurred. During the study period the bycatch-to-shrimp ratio of shrimp fishery was 2.42 in April 2000 and less than 1 for all months except for August 2000 and Febuary 2001. Compared with shrimp fishery of other areas and nations, these results indicate that effect of the fishing gear on catches of other species is minor, suggesting higher gear selectivity for shrimps. Of shrimps, there were two dominant species (A. chinensis, A. japonirus). Average sex ratio was 1.44 $\pm$ 0.42 for A. japonicus and 1,44 $\pm$ 0.43 for A. chinensis, which are dominant females in August. Average fecundity was 4,812 $\pm$ 1,511 for A. japonicus and 5,561 $\pm$ 1,900 for A. chinensis. In the two species mature females were found in the period from May to August. Similarly, the gonadosomatic index (GSI) was higher in July and August, with a peak in July, These results indicate that their main spawning season was summer.