• Journal of Ocean Engineering and Technology
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.485-491
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• 2018

Because of the increase in coastal erosion problems, many studies have been conducted to prevent coastline retreat by developing low-cost, highly effective countermeasures. We developed the artificial coral reefs (ACRs) method as part of this research trend. To verify its coastal protection performance, we carried out performance tests on its wave attenuation and beach sand capture ability, which are the key barometers for this newly developed technology. In this study, three different types of methods, including natural beach, TTP, and ACRs, were used to determine the coastal protection efficiency under both ordinary and storm wave conditions. Based on the results of this study, ACRs were found to have the best wave attenuation performance and captured more than 20% of the total erosion area. This means the ACR method can be applied as a reliable countermeasure to protect a coastal zone.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.85-92
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• 2013

The coral symbiotic algae zooxanthellae is often expelled from the host as the host coral is under physiological stress, causing the coral to turn completely white. Such coral bleaching events are occurring more frequently with the increase in the global warming, ocean acidification and increased level of anthropogenic impacts such as eutrophication. In the present study, we investigated the effects of inorganic nutrients including ammonium, nitrate, phosphate and elevated water temperature on the symbiotic zooxanthellae density in the fragment of branching coral Acropora nobilis. Zooxanthellae density in the host coral decreased 8 hrs after the experiment at a given elevated water temperature ($32^{\circ}C$, p < 0.05). In contrast, no clear coral bleaching or decrease in the symbiotic algae density was observed from the branching coral exposed to a normal water temperature of $30^{\circ}C$ and high levels of nutrients such as 20 ${\mu}M$ of $NH_4Cl$, 20 ${\mu}M$ of $NaNO_3$ and, 10 ${\mu}M$ $KH_2PO_4$. Accordingly, the data indicated high water temperature is one of the stressful factors to cause bleaching in A. nobilis, whereas the high levels of nutrients is not a factor. It is believed that the results obtained in the present study are useful as baseline information in the management of the coral reefs.

• Journal of Ocean Engineering and Technology
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• v.19 no.4 s.65
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• pp.28-34
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• 2005

In the study application of volcanic scoria concrete to artificial reefs is investigated. Volcanic scoria is a natural volcanic product that shows light weight, mil/i-porous, and far-infrared irradiation characteristics. The properties of volcanic scoria concrete using Jeju scoria aggregate are evaluated by conducting a comprehensive series of tests on strength and void ratio. It is concluded that the volcanic scoria concrete has the sufficient strength of 4MPa-13MPa and adequate void ratio of $12\%-35\%$ to be accepted as artificial reef concrete. The field experiments are performed through observation by scuba diver's at the Seogwipo coast. Porous specimen and plane concrete specimen are prepared for comparison purposes. Seasonal changes of soft coral on the two series of test specimens were have been observed from Apr. 9, 2004 to Mar. 18, 2005. The soft coral is well grown on the porous specimen however there are no significant changes on the conventional plain concrete specimen. Thus it is concluded that the volcanic scoria concrete is highly suitable as artificial reef concrete.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.615-625
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• 2021

The coastal areas around Palau Island and Tonga Island, near the Pacific equator, consist of coral reefs, mangrove and seaweed. In particular, understanding the optical properties of sea surface water in coral reef habitats helps improve the accuracy of remote sensing based habitat mapping and identify tropical ecosystem characteristics. Here, we collected spectral characteristics of sea surface water of Palau Island and Tonga Island and analyzed the concentration of suspended matters, absorption coefficient, and remote sensing reflectance to understand the seawater characteristics of the coral reef habitats. Based on the results of the suspended matter concentration analysis, we developed and verified an empirical algorithm to derive the concentration from satellite data using remote sensing reflectance of three bands, 555, 625, 660 nm, showed a high determinant coefficient, 0.98. In conclusion, coral reef habitats in tropical regions are characterized by CASE-I water in terms of the marine optics with oligotrophic properties, and require monitoring using continuous collection and analysis of field data.

• Journal of Ocean Engineering and Technology
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.75-81
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• 2021

Artificial Coral Reefs (ACRs) have been introduced to help solve coastal erosion problems, but their feasibility has not been assessed with field data. This study conducted a feasibility analysis of ACRs on their erosion mitigation effects by performing a case study of Cheonjin-Bongpo beach, South Korea. A numerical-physical combined analysis was carried out using a SWAN model simulation and physical model test with a scale of 1/25 based on field observations of Cheonjin-Bongpo beach. Both Dean's parameter and the surf-scaling parameter were applied to comparative analysis between the absence and presence conditions of the ACR. The results for this combined method indicate that ACR attenuates the wave height significantly (59~71%). Furthermore, ACR helps decrease the mass flux (~50%), undertow (~80%), and maximum wave set up (~61%). The decreases in Dean's parameter (~66%) and the surf-scaling parameter suggest that the wave properties changed from the dissipative type to the reflective type even under high wave conditions. Consequently, an ACR can enhance shoreline stability.

• ALGAE
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.317-340
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• 2016

The Abrolhos Continental Shelf (ACS) encompasses the largest and richest coral reefs in the southern Atlantic Ocean. A taxonomic study of non-geniculate coralline algae (NGCA) from the region was undertaken using both morpho-anatomical and molecular data. Specimens of NGCA were collected in 2012 and 2014 from shallow reefs of the ACS. Phylogenetic analysis was performed using dataset of psbA DNA sequences from 16 specimens collected in the ACS and additional GenBank sequences of related NGCA species. Nine common tropical reef-building NGCA species were identified and described: Hydrolithon boergesenii, Lithophyllum kaiseri, Lithophyllum sp., Lithothamnion crispatum, Melyvonnea erubescens, Pneophyllum conicum, Porolithon onkodes, Sporolithon ptychoides, and Titanoderma prototypum. A key for species identification is also provided in this study. Our molecular phylogenetic analyses suggest that Lithophyllum sp. corresponds to a new species. Our study also confirms that Lithophyllum kaiseri is a new record in Brazil. The psbA sequences of Lithophyllum kaiseri and Melyvonnea erubescens matched with type specimens indirectly. The taxonomic identification of the remaining species was supported by morpho-anatomical evidences as DNA sequences of their types or topotypes remain unavailable.

• Animal Systematics, Evolution and Diversity
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.98-102
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• 2022

Alpheid shrimp are found worldwide in temperate and tropical waters. They live in burrows in sandy and muddy bottoms and also in crevices of rocks and coral reefs. The genus Alpheus is the most diverse group of alpheid shrimp. Continuous taxonomic study on shrimps collected from Korean waters revealed that an alpheid shrimp collected from Daesambudo Island was identified as Alpheus compressus. This species belongs to the brevirostris group of the genus Alpheus and is distinguished from other known species of the genus Alpheus in Korea by the laterally compressed body. Korean Alpheus fauna now consists of 15 species of five species groups.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.54-59
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• 2023

Lovenia elongata is a member of the family Loveniidae and is one of the most common tropical echinoids. This species has a broad distribution range in the sub- and tropical regions of the Indo-Pacific Ocean, extending from the Mozambique to the Hawaiian Islands, and from southern Japan to northern Australia. It is commonly found in subtidal areas and on coral reefs within these regions. This species was for the first time recorded from the Ulleungdo Island, Korea. This species is characterized by a teardrop-shaped test that reaches up to 5 cm in length, with a deep groove at the front and tapered at the back end. The petaloid is not obvious, and the primary spines are long and banded. This study is the first to report the newly recorded L. elongata in Korea.

• Animal Systematics, Evolution and Diversity
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.314-318
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• 2023

The genus Athanas is a member of alpheid shrimps living in temperate and tropical waters worldwide. Species of the genus Athanas are small and inhabit coral reefs, rock or muddy bottoms. As a result of continuous taxonomic research on shrimps collected from Korean waters, Athanas parvus is newly added to Korean fauna through the description of adult form. Athanas parvus is distinguished from A. japonicus by the biunguiculated dactyli of third, fourth and fifth pereopods and spines on ischium of first pereopod. The Korean Alpheidae fauna now consists of nine genera and 27 species including two species of the genus Athanas.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.23-36
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• 2010

The Cat Ba Islands in Hai Phong City, northern Vietnam, consist of a large limestone island with a maximum height of 322 m above sea level and 366 small limestone islets with a total area of about $180\;km^2$. The islands are relicts of karst limestone mountains that became submerged during the Holocene transgression 7000 - 8000 year ago. The combination of the longtime karst process and recent marine processes in the monsoonal tropical zone has created a very diversity landscape on the Cat Ba Islands that can be divided into 3 habitat types with 16 forms. The first habitat type is the karst mountains and hills, including karst mountains and hills, karst valleys and dolines, karst lakes, karst caves, and old marine terraces. The second habitat type is the limestone island coast, including beaches, mangrove marshes, tidal flats, rocky coasts, marine notch caves, marine karst lakes, and bights. The third habitat type is karst plains submerged by the sea, including karst cones (fengcong) and towers (fengling), bedrock exposed on the seabed, sandy mud seabed, and submerged channels. Like the landscape, the biodiversity is also high in ecosystems composed of scrub cover - bare hills, rainy tropical forests, paddy fields and gardens, swamps, caves, beaches, mangrove forests, tidal flats, rocky coasts, marine krast lakes, coral reefs, hard bottoms, seagrass beds and soft bottoms. The ecosystems on the Cat Ba Islands that support very high species biodiversity include tropical evergreen rainforests, soft bottoms; coral reefs, mangrove forests, and marine karst lakes. A total of 2,380 species have been recorded in the Cat Ba Islands, included 741 species of terrestrial plants; 282 species of terrestrial animals; 30 species of mangrove plants; 287 species of phytoplankton; 79 species of seaweed; 79 species of zooplankton; 196 species of marine fishes; 154 species of corals; and 538 species of zoobenthos. Many of these species are listed in the Red Book of Vietnam as endangered species, included the white-headed or Cat Ba langur (Trachypithecus poliocephalus), a famous endemic species. Human activities have resulted in significantly changes to the landscape end ecosytems of the Cat Ba islands; however, many natural aspects of the islandsd have been preserved. For this reason, the Cat Ba Islands were recognized as a Biological Reserved Area by UNESCO in 2004.