• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.22 no.3
• /
• pp.378-384
• /
• 2012

In aquatic invertebrates, particularly marine gastropods, organotin compounds induce irreversible sexual abnormality in females, which is termed imposex, at very low concentrations. Organotin compounds are agonists for nuclear receptors such as RXRs and $PPAR{\gamma}$. However, the imposex phenomenon has not been reported to act as an antagonist on estrogen receptors in other species, including vertebrates and invertebrates. In order to gain insights into the antagonistic activity of organotin compounds on estrogen receptors (ERs), we examined the inhibitive effect of these compounds on estradiol-dependent ${\beta}$-galactosidase activity using the yeast two-hybrid detection system consisting of a combination of the human estrogen receptor ($hER{\beta}$) ligand-binding domain and the co-activator steroid receptor co-activator-1 (SRC1). Tributyltin-hydroxide (TBT-OH) and triphenyltin-chlorine (TPT-Cl) exhibited an inhibitive effect on $E_2$-dependent transcriptional activity, similar to antagonistic chemicals such as 4-hydroxytamoxifen (OHT) or ICI 182,780, at a very low concentration of $10^{-14}$ M TBT or $10^{-10}$ M TPT, respectively. The yeast growth and transcriptional activity with transcriptional factor GAL4 did not exhibit any effect at the tested concentration of TBT or TPT. Moreover, the yeast two-hybrid system using the interaction between p53 and the T antigen of SV40 large did not describe any effect at the tested concentration of OHT or ICI 182,780. However, the interaction between p53 and T antigen was inhibited at a TBT or TPT concentration of $10^{-9}$ M, respectively. These results indicate that TBT and TPT act as inhibitors of ER-dependent reporter gene transcriptional activation and of the interaction between $hER{\beta}$ LBD and the co-activator SRC1 in the yeast two-hybrid system. Consequently, our data could partly explain the occurrence of organotin compound-induced imposex on the endocrine system of mammals, including humans.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• v.31 no.5
• /
• pp.727-738
• /
• 1998

Seasonal species composition of fishery resources was determined using samples collected by a stow net from April 1995 through January 1996 at 9 stations off Youngkwang. Catch data obtained from a set net using strong tidal current could be used for a quantitative analysis of dominant species. Of the 98 species identified, assemblages were consisted of $52.0\%$ in fishes, $44.6\%$ in shrimps, $2.0\%$ in cephalopods, $1.4\%$ in crabs and <$0.1\%$ in gastropods. Thryssa kammalensis, Crangon hakodatei, Metapenaeus joynezi and Johnius grypotus predominated in abundance, consisting of $68\%$ in the number of individuals, The abundance and species composition fluctuated seasonally, and species could be distinguished by life history pattern with seasons. Seasonal variation in species composition was greater than the spatial variation in a sampling period, As the fine sediment was predominated in the study area, the species composition were significantly different from those of other coastal waters of West Sea, Korea.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• v.30 no.3
• /
• pp.432-441
• /
• 1997

Stomach contents of fat greenling, Hexagrammos otakii were analyzed to understand feeding ecology of the fish in the coastal waters, Shinsudo, Sarhon. Specimens were collected by angling and by gill net from February 1984 to September 1985. The fish consisted of 4 age groups from 0 to 3. The food items of the fish changed slightly by seasons and with growth of the fish. Main preys were copepods, gammarids and caprellids for the fish of age group 0, gammarids and caprellids for age group 1, and brachyurans and carideans for age group 2 and 3. The prey composition of the fish were more varied by seasons than by ages. Food items was not different between male and female of the fish. The fish positively selected for gammarids, polychaetes and brachyurans, but negatively selected for gastropods. The degree of selectivities for the other preys were changed with growth. As the fish grows it consumed larger preys in case of small preys such as gammarids and caprellids, however, it did not consumed larger preys beyond an optimal size in case of large preys such as sphaeromids, brachyurans and polychaetes.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.29 no.5
• /
• pp.453-460
• /
• 2006

Upo wetland is the largest inland wetland in Korea as Ramsar Convention Area. The purposes of the study were to investigate the levels of heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn) in the sediment and Cipangopaludina chinensis malleata from three sites of the wetland and to assess the potential of the gastropod as a bioindicator for heavy metal levels. The gastropods were dissected into shell and soft tissue without the digestive and excretive organs. The levels of Cd, Cu and Pb were below the guideline of Soil Environment Conservation Act and the heavy metals except Cr were slightly different among the sites. Cd was higher in Upo site ($0.32{\mu}g/g$) than Sajipo site ($0.28{\mu}g/g$). Cu and Zn showed the highest value in Sajipo as $43.5{\mu}g/g\;and\;39.8{\mu}g/g$, respectively while the concentrations of Pb and Zn were the highest in Upstream as $58.8{\mu}g/g\;and\;138{\mu}g/g$, respectively. In the soft tissues and shells of the gastropod, the overall common trend in the concentrations of the heavy metals was revealed with the following order: Zn > Cu > Cr > Ni > Pb > Cd and Ni > Zn > Cr > Cu > Pb > Cd, respectively. Although the soft tissues exhibited higher concentrations of the heavy metals except Ni than the shell in the gastropod, the levels of Cd and Pb in the gastropod were generally below the restrictive values set up by Korea Food & Drug Administration. From Duncan's Multiple Range Test (DMRT) results, the concentrations of Pb and Zn in the sediments among the sites were reflected on the soft tissue (Pb) and the shell (Pb and Zn) of the gastropod in the same order. The lower value of coefficient of variation (CV) in Pb concentration of the shell than in that of the soft tissue supports the usefulness of the shell as a bioindicator for Pb pollution. Although the CV value in the shell was a little higher than in the soft tissue, DMRT results and the stability of incorporated Zn into the shell support the use of the shell of the gastropod as a potential bioindicator for long-term contamination of Zn.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
• /
• v.11 no.3
• /
• pp.97-107
• /
• 2006

The nektonic assemblages of upper tidal flat area located in the Jangbong Island, near Incheon, were studied using a fence net from March to November 2001. A total of 49 species were recorded, with a mean abundance and biomass of 489 individuals and 5,170.4 g, respectively. The most abundant species by number were Exopalaemon carinicauda(40.9%) and Johnius grypotus(13.2%). By catch weight the dominant species were Acanthogobius hasta(33.7%), Johnius grypotus(14.6%) and Scomberomorus niphonius(10.2%). The conventional multivariate statistics(Cluster analysis and non-metric Multi-Dimensional Scaling) applied to assess temporal variation in nektonic communities. As a result of cluster analysis and MDS ordination, the faunal group could be divided into spring and summer/autumn dominant species group. The spring species included the pisces Acanthogobius luridus, the crab Macrophthalmus japonicus and the gastropods Bullacta exarata and Lunatia gilva. The summer/autumn species were the pisces J. grypotus, Sardinella zunasi, Konosirus punctatus, Chelon haematocheila, S. niphonius and Takifugu niphobles, the shrimp Metapenaeus joyneri and the cephalopod Loligo beka.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
• /
• v.14 no.3
• /
• pp.171-180
• /
• 2009

Based on the constituent analysis of sediments near Dok Island, the origin and sedimentary facies were Investigated. The sediments are mainly from originated from volcanic and volcaniclastic rock fragments derived from Dok Island and carbonate sediments formed by a variety of shallow-dwelling organisms that secreted calcareous skeletons. Carbonate producers include mollusks (bivalves and gastropods), encrusting & branching bryozoans, encrusting & segmented red algae, worm tubes, barnacles, diatoms, sponge spicules and echinoderm fragments. The distribution and relative amount of these constituents are basically dependent upon water depth and grain size even though local variations can be observed within the same depth interval. Five sedimentary facies can be divided: nearshore facies (<20 m), neritic facies ($20{\sim}100m$), upper transitional facies ($100{\sim}200m$), lower transitional facies ($200{\sim}700m$), and hemipelagic facies (>700 m). The sediments that were sampled below the water depth of 2,000 m still contain a significant amount of carbonates (ca. $10{\sim}20%$), implying that the carbonate compensation depth in the East Sea may well exceed this water depth.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
• /
• v.39 no.5
• /
• pp.452-455
• /
• 2024

Tetrodotoxin (TTX) is a potent neurotoxin found in various marine organisms, including pufferfish and gastropods, which poses significant health risks when consumed improperly. Tutufa bufo, a frog shell species in Japan reported to contain TTX, has recently been caught in the southern waters of Jeju Island. However, information on its presence in T. bufo distributed in Korean waters is not available. In this study, we screened two specimens of T. bufo, a large predatory gastropod, collected from Moseulpo, Jeju Island, Korea, for the presence of TTX using a competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (cELISA). Soft tissues, including the anterior salivary gland, buccal mass, digestive gland, gills, gonad, kidney, muscle, and posterior salivary gland, were analyzed for TTX levels. The cELISA results showed that the TTX concentrations in all tissues were below the detection limit. However, owing to potential individual, regional, and seasonal variations in TTX accumulation, further studies with additional samples collected during different seasons are necessary to accurately determine the risk of TTX accumulation in T. bufo in Korean waters.

• The Korean Journal of Malacology
• /
• v.23 no.2
• /
• pp.189-198
• /
• 2007

The reproductive cycle, egg capsules in the egg-mass, first sexual maturity, and sex ratio of the bladder moon, Glossaulax didyma ($R\ddot{o}ding$) were investigated. The gastropods collected from the intertidal zone of Biin Bay, Seocheon, Korea were studied by using histological analysis and morphometric data. The gonadosomatic index (GSI) of females and males began to increase in March and reached maximum in May. Then their values sharply decreased from late in May to August due to spawning. The condition index (CI) began to increase in February and reached maximum in May, then gradually declined in the spawning period. The CI calculated for determination of the spawning period was coincided with changes in the GSI and gonadal phases. Spawning occurred between late in May to August in females and early in May to August in males. Spawning peak was observed between July and August when the seawater temperature rose to 19 $^{\circ}C$. Reproductive cycle with the gonadal development phases of this species can be divided into five successive stages in females and four in males: in females, early active stage (December to February), late active stage (February to March), ripe stage (April recovery stage (August to November); in males, active stage (December to March), ripe stage (March to July), copulation stage (early May to August), and recovery stage (August to January). Fully matured oocytes were approximately 250-270 ${\mu}m$ in size. The egg-mass was a hat in shape, and a number of egg capsules were found in an egg-mass. An egg capsule was 0.53-0.57 mm in size. An embryo (veliger larva) hatched from an egg capsule. Percentage of first sexual maturity in females and males were over 50% for individuals that are 40.1-45.0 mm in shell radius, and 100% for those that are over 45.1 mm. The sex ratio of female to male was significantly different from 1:1 $(x^2\;=\;57.22,\;p\;<\;0.05)$.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
• /
• v.21 no.5
• /
• pp.583-594
• /
• 2000

The Middle Carboniferous Yobong Formation with North-South trending is distributed in the Yeongheungri and Samokri of Yeongwoleup, Kangwon Province, Korea. A light gray thick and massive pure limestone is developed in the middle part of the Yobong Formation and it has been exploited for a long time. This study was carried out to investigate the lithological characteristics and geochemical compositions of the limestones and to figure out how geologic structures control the disribution of the limestones of the formation. The limestones of the Yobong formation are characterized by the fine and dense textures and the light gray to light brown in color. The limestones are composed of crinoid fragments, small foraminifers, fusulinids, gastropods, ostracods, etc. Based on the amount of grains and matrix, the Yobong Limestone can be classified as fine packstones and wackestones. The chemical analysis of limestones of the Yobong Formation was carried out to measure the contents of CaO, MgO, Al$_2$O$_3$, Fe$_2$O$_3$ and SiO$_2$. The content of CaO ranges from 48.12 to 59.31% and its average is about 54.52%. The average content of MgO is about 0.32% and the coutents of Al$_2$O$_3$, Fe$_2$O$_3$ and SiO$_2$ are relatively low. The amounts of Al$_2$O$_3$, Fe$_2$O$_3$ and SiO$_2$ of the limestones vary according to the kinds of limestone and their stratigraphical horizons in the formation. Generally, the CaO content of the limestones of the Yobong Formation decreases towards the top of the formation. Using geometric and structural analysis, we determined five progressively overprinted phases of deformation recorded in the study area. The anticline and syncline formed during the first and fourth deformation had controlled the distribution pattern of the Yobong Limestone of the Yobong Formation. The structures of deformation D$_1$ consist of F$_1$ isoclinal folds and foliations. The D$_2$ deformation had formed the isoclinal interstratal F$_2$ folds and axial plane cleavages which are locally developed within mudstones. The structural elements of deformation D$_3$ are axial plane cleavages associated with recumbent F$_3$ folds. These structures are overprinted by meso-scale and regional F$_4$ folds which are regionally dominant. Finally, the structures of D$_5$ consist of the thrust faults and folds associated with the thrust faults.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• v.32 no.3
• /
• pp.303-309
• /
• 1999

Mass mortality of the Manila clam, Ruditapes philippinarum has been reported all along the west and south coast of Korea for the past several years. As a pathogenic agent, Perkinsus sp., an endoparasitic protozoan has been identified in this study and believed to be responsible for the mass mortalities. Prevalence and infection intensity of Perkinsus sp. was investigated from a Manila clam population inhabiting at Komsoe Bay in the west coast where mass mortality of the clam has been reported. A total of 142 Manila clam, 50 oyster, Crassostrea gigas, 10 ark shell, Scapharca broughtonii, and 5 predatory gastropada, Rapana venosa were examined for the presence and the quantity of Perkinsus sp. Ray's fluid thioglycollate medium method (FTM method) with modified Mackin's infection intensity scale and Choi's quantitative method were used in detecting and quantifying the parasite. All individuals of R. philippinarum examined in this study were infected with Perkinsus sp., indicating $100\%$ prevalence while none of the oysters and the gastropods exhibited the parasite. Six to ten individual hypnospores of Perkinsus sp. were counted from the ark shells. The number of hypnospores in the clam tissues varied from 16,667 to 4,091,667, with a mean number of 1,077,628. Average infection intensity according to Mackin's was 2.87, indicating a moderate infection. A negative correlation was observed between the number of Perkinsus sp. in the tissue and the condition index, a ratio tissue wet weight to shell cavity volume. The clam size and the infection intensity in terms of total number of parasites were positively correlated; the bigger clam, the heavier infection. Such high number of Perkinsus sp. counted in the clams could be enough to cause physiological disturbance of clams, such as retarded growth and reproduction. It is also believed that such a high infection leads mortality of the clam via continuous draining of the energy by metabolic activities and reproduction of the parasites. Correlation between the condition index and the infection intensity observed in this study supports this hypothesis.