• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.197-199
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• 2012

According to the IPCC climate change scenario (A1B scenario), the surface seawater temperature of the South Sea of Korea by 2100 may be $2-3.5^{\circ}C$ higher than at present, and seawater pH may decrease from 8.1 to 7.8, due to the increase in atmospheric $CO_2$, which is predicted to increase in concentration from 380 to 750 ppm. These changes may not only intensify the strength of typhoons/storm surges but also affect the function and structure the marine ecosystem. In order to assess the impact of climate change on the marine ecosystem in Korean waters, the project named the 'Assessment of the impact of climate change on marine ecosystem in the South Sea of Korea' has been supported by the Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs, from 2008. The goal of this project is to enhance our ability to adapt and prepare for the future environmental changes through the reliable predictions based on the knowledge obtained from projects like this. In this respect, this project is being conducted to investigate the effects of climate/marine environment changes (ocean warming and acidification), and to predict future changes of the structure and function of the ecosystem in the South Sea of Korea. This special issue contains 6 research articles, which are the highlights of the studies carried out through this project.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.53-56
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• 2013

A pagurid hermit crab, Pagurus rathbuni that was collected from the deep water of the East Sea, Korea, has been newly recorded in the Korean fauna. The present record extends the geographic distribution of the species to Korean waters in the East Sea and extends the bathymetric range to 500 m. Morphological and distributional accounts of this species are presented with illustrations.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.550-564
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• 2009

When magnetotelluric (MT) data are obtained in the vicinity of the coast, the surrounding seas make it difficult to interpret subsurface structure, especially the deep part of the subsurface. We introduce an iterative method to correct the sea effect, based on the previous topographic correction method that removes the distortion due to topographic changes in seafloor MT data. The method first corrects the sea effect in observed MT impedance, and then inverts corrected response in a model space without the sea. Due to mutual coupling between the sea and the subsurface structure, the correction and inversion steps are iterated until the changes in each result become negligible. The method is tested for 1- and 2-D structures using synthetic MT data produced by 3-D forward modeling including surrounding seas. In all cases, the method closely recovers the true structure assumed to generate synthetic responses after a few iterations.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.189-193
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• 2008

A Gram-positive and endospore-forming strain, $JH8^T$, was isolated from deep-sea sediment and identified as a member of the genus Paenibacillus on the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence and phenotypic analyses. According to a phylogenetic analysis, the most closely related species was Paenibacillus wynnii LMG $22176^T$ (96.9%). Strain $JH8^T$ was also facultatively anaerobic and grew optimally at $20-25^{\circ}C$. The major cellular fatty acid was anteiso-$C_{15:0}$, and the DNA G+C content was 53.1mol%. The DNA-DNA relatedness between the isolate and Paenibacillus wynnii LMG $22176^T$ was 7.6%, indicating that strain $JH8^T$ and P. wynnii belong to different species. Based on the phylogenetic, phenotypic, and chemotaxonomic characteristics, strain $JH8^T$ would appear to belong to a novel species, for which the name Paenibacillus donghaensis sp. novo is proposed (type strain=KCTC $13049^T=LMG\;237S0^T$).

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.255-263
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• 2004

This study was conducted to investigate the community structure and distributional pattern of meiobenthos in the deep-sea bottom of the Clarion-Clipperton Fracture Zone of the northeastern Pacific during July 2003. The samples were collected using the multiple corer at 13 stations along the transects fiom $5^{\circ}N\;to\;17^{\circ}N$. The most abundant meiobenthos was nematodes and followed by sarcomastigophorans; these two taxa comprised more than 70% of the total abundance at all stations. For size distribution analyses showed that animals which fit into the sieve mesh size of 0.063mm were abundant. The maximum density of meiobenthos was $147inds./10cm^2$ at station located in $7^{\circ}N$, and the minimum density was $6 inds./10cm^2$ at station located in $14^{\circ}N$. More than 60% of meiobenthos were distributed at surface sediment layer within 1.0cm, and the peak abundance was found at $0{\sim}0.25cm$ layer. The latitudinal distribution pattern of meiobenthos in the study area seemed to be related with the primary productivity of the surface water that is also connected to the water circulation pattern of the Pacific Ocean near the Equator, diverging at latitude of $8^{\circ}N$ and conversing at $5^{\circ}N$.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.81-90
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• 2015

International Seabed Authority (ISA) is currently developing rules with regard to exploitation of manganese nodules which will be contained in its first regulations governing the exploitation of deep seabed mineral resources. A stakeholder survey was conducted in the early 2014 by ISA with the aim of facilitating participation of interested entities in the development process of the rules. The stakeholders who had replied to the survey included existing contractors, sponsoring States, environmentalists, academics, and nongovernmental organizations. Opinions given by them largely reflect their own interests. This paper aims to clarify the scope of the obligations regarding the environmental protection which may be imposed on contractors under the new regulations for the exploitation of manganese nodules. To do so, it first analyses the express provisions on environmental protection applicable to deep seabed mining included in the Law of the Sea Convention, its agreement on implementation of Part XI, and the regulations on exploration for manganese nodules. Secondly, it categorizes these obligations based on the categories of international obligations suggested by Combacau and Alland. Based on the categorizations this paper concludes that, in addition to the existing duties to protect deep seabed environment within the Law of the Sea Convention system, the following new obligations could be added: conservation of exploitation sites for a limited time after the contract is ceased; taking all necessary measures for rehabilitation of destroyed ecosystems that occurredas a result of mining activities; monitoring exploitation sites for a limited period time after the contract is ceased; observing rules and standards on safety of ships and environmental protection adopted under IMO instruments; regulation on the discharge of mine tailings from the facilities used for exploitation of deep sea minerals. Lastly, this paper attempts to provide ways of reflecting national interests in terms of potential obligations which may be included in the new regulations.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.298-307
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• 2011

The species composition and distributions of subtidal marine algae on the east coast of Korea were studied. We examined all species found in permanent quadrats at three depths (3 m, 5 m and 10 m) at Sacheon between October 2008 and December 2009. Coverage and frequency data were collected monthly via underwater photography and analyzed using a modified photo quadrat method. Of the 82 species identified, 10 were chlorophytes, 21 were phaeophytes, 50 were rhodophytes, and one was a seagrass. The largest number of species (59) was found 10 m deep, while the fewest (39) species were present at 5 m. A total 17 species (two green, five brown, and 10 red algae) occurred at all three depths. The vertical distribution of the study site was characterized by the melobesioidean algae, Ulva pertusa, Sargassum confusum, Phyllospadix iwatensis, and Codium arabicum at 3 m deep, melobesioidean algae and U. pertusa at 5 m deep, and Corallina pilulifera, Prionitis cornea, Chondracanthus tenellus and melobesioidean algae at 10 m deep. Given that coralline algae such as melobesioidean algae and C. pilulifera play important roles in coastal ecosystems, thorough studies on the spatial and temporal variations of coralline algae and the dynamics of marine algal communities on the east coast of Korea are now required.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.29 no.11
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• pp.1125-1139
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• 2020

This study investigated the distributional pattern of meiobenthos associated with future deep-sea mining in the Korea Deep Ocean Study area present in the Clarion-Clipperton Fracture Zone (CCFZ) located in the southeastern part of the North Pacific Ocean. Standing stocks of meiobenthos were investigated in benthic impact experiment sites (BIS) and Korea Institute of Ocean Science & Technology long-term monitoring (KOMO) sites during the 2008-2014 annual field survey. A total of 14 taxa of meiobenthos were identified. Nematodes were the most abundant taxon (60-86%). Harpacticoid copepods (5-26%) and benthic foraminifera (1-12%) were also dominant at all sites. The total meiobenthic densities varied from 4 to 150 ind./10 cm2. The mean value of total meiobenthic abundance was higher at BIS than at KOMO sites, but there was no significant difference between the two sites. The mean values of the number of taxa and biomass at BIS and KOMO sites were similar. The mean abundance of nematodes that were the most dominant taxa was also higher at BIS than at KOMO sites. The standing stocks in our study sites were relatively lower than those previously reported at other CCFZ sites. These results seem to reflect a low organic concentration in the study area.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.59 no.3
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• pp.227-231
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• 2016

Deep sea water (DSW) is located 100 to 500 m below the sea surface. DSW is widely used in various fields, and is an important source of minerals that can be used to treat mineral deficiency. In the present study, the oral toxicity of DSW-mineral extracts was determined using single-dose and 14-day repeated dose oral toxicity tests in ICR mice. For the single-dose oral toxicity tests, mineral extracts of magnesium (Mg) and calcium (Ca) at doses of 0, 6, 270, 810, and 1,350 mg/kg, respectively, were orally administered to mice once at the beginning of the experiment, and the mice were observed for 14 days. For the 14-day repeated dose oral toxicity tests, Mg and Ca mineral extracts at doses of 0, 3, 135, 405, 675 mg/kg, respectively, were orally administered to mice daily, and the mice were observed for 14 days. Various tests were performed including visual observation; analysis of relative organ weight, food intake, and organ weight; biochemical analysis, and histopathology. The results indicated that mortality and changes in appearance were not observed among differentially administered groups of male and female ICR mice during the experimental period. Differences in body weight gain, food intake, organ weight, and histopathology parameters were not significant between the control and mineral-administered groups. Some results of the biochemical analyses were significantly different, but showed no specific tendencies. Overall, no evidence of toxicity was observed from the oral administration of DSW extracts of Ca and Mg in ICR mice.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.373-381
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• 2014

Korea contract Mn-nodule field in the NE equatorial Pacific is composed of seven sectors with average water depths of 4,513-5,025 m. Of the various factors controlling the properties of Mn-nodule, it seems that water depth is likely connected to the chemical composition and occurrence of nodules. To test whether such an assumption held in each sector, we reviewed previous research data accumulated since 1994 for one of the northern sectors (hereafter KR1) where there are stark contrasts in water depth. High-resolution seabed mapping clearly separates a northern part (KR1N) from a deeper southern part (KR1S), cutting across in the middle of the KR1. In addition, significant volcanic activities forming numerous seamounts are distinctive especially in KR1N. In terms of nodule occurrence, manganese nodules in KR1S are comparatively larger (2-4 cm) with a discoidal shape, while those in KR1N are generally small (<2 cm) with poly-lobate and irregular shapes. Nodules in KR1N also have lower Co, Cu, Mn and Ni, and higher Fe contents. The spatial separation in nodule characteristics might be caused by volcanic activities in KR1N rather than water depth contrast. During the formation of the seamounts in KR1N, rock fragments and volcanic ashes as new nuclei of the nodules would have been continuously generated. As a result, the nodules could not grow larger than 2 cm and display the shapes of a newbie (i.e., irregular and poly-lobate shapes). Moreover, significant Fe supply from volcanic activities probably decreases the Mn/Fe ratio, which may lead to the KR1 nodules being misinterpreted as a hydrogenic in origin compared to other sectors where a high Mn/Fe ratio is present.