• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
• /
• v.36 no.3
• /
• pp.260-270
• /
• 2018

A study describing unrecorded and taxonomically undescribed indigenous species is in progress since 2006. Samples were collected from many sites in coastal waters and offshore of Korea as well as from Jeju Island. Since 2008, we have found ten unrecorded species of four genera belonging to family Dinophysaceae, Gonyaulacaceae, Gymnodiniaceae, and Heterocapsaceae. The species are as follows, Dinophysis elongata (2016 winter), D. nasuta (2016 winter), Gonyaulax alaskensis (2016 winter), G. diegensis (2017), G. monospina (2008), Amphidinium flagellans(2017), Heterocapsa circularisquama (2017), H. horiguchii (2017), H. lanceolata (2017), and H. pygmaea (2017) (note; The numbers in the parenthesis refer to the year in which the species was reported as unrecorded indigenous species by National Institute of Biological Resources, NIBR hereafter). Among them, seven species were described as newly recorded species in Korean waters, and three have been re-described in this study.

• ALGAE
• /
• v.18 no.4
• /
• pp.281-288
• /
• 2003

To study the environmental features causing a bloom of the novel dinoflagellate Heterocapsa circularisquama (Dinophyceae), hydrographic and chemical aspects were measured in the Uranouchi Bay, Kochi Prefecture, Japan, from January to December, 1997. The cell density of H. circularisquama increased rapidly in early October, and dropped sharply in mid-October. Growth rate of H, circularisquama during bloom period appeared 1.50 division day$^{-1}$ under high water temperature (25$^{\circ}C$) and salinity (32 psu) conditions. Althought the result from hydrographic aspect indicated good condition for their growth, dissolved inorganic phosphorus (DIP) concentration in surface layer before bloom formation was less than 0.70uM, which is lower than their half saturation constant(Ks). Dissolved inorganic nitrogen(DIN): DIP ratio was > 30, indicating potential P-limitation. However, before bloom formation period of H. circularisquama, DIP concentrations were high in bottom layer (> 4.0 uM). Some studies reported that H. circularisquama had the ability to migrate vertically and to utilize dissolved organic phosphorus (DOP). Thus, DIP in bottom layer might have been utilized by H. circularisquama for their growth.DOP might have weakly affected their growth because of low reactive DOP concentrations owing to low DOP concentration (ca. 0.39 uM). Thus, if nutrient condition of bottom layer in Uranuchi Bay is not improved, the outbreaks of H. circularisquama red tides may became an annual feature.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
• /
• v.28 no.4
• /
• pp.433-438
• /
• 2012

Dinoflagellates are considered one of the most abundant and diverse groups of marine microplankton and viruses are recognized as one of the significant factors affecting the plankton dynamics. Here, we report basic characteristics of a new dinoflagellate-infecting virus, Heterocapsa pygmaea DNA virus (HpygDNAV) which infects a toxic dinoflagellate, H. pygmaea. HpygDNAV is a polyhedral large virus (ca. 160-170 nm in diameter) propagating in its host's cytoplasm. Because of the virion size, appearance in thin sections, and propagation characteristics, HpygDNAV is assumed to harbor a large double-stranded DNA genome; i.e., HpygDNAV is most likely a nucleocytoplasmic large DNA virus (NCLDV) belonging to the family Phycodnaviridae. Its infectivity is strain-specific, rather than species-specific, as is the case for other algal viruses. The burst size and latent period are estimated to be roughly 100-250 infectious units $cell^{-1}$ and < 96 h, respectively.

• ALGAE
• /
• v.22 no.4
• /
• pp.287-295
• /
• 2007

Infection of free-living dinoflagellates by endoparasitic dinoflagellates of the genus Amoebophrya are thought to have significant impacts on host population dynamics and have long been proposed to be a potential biological agent for controlling harmful algal bloom (HAB). To understand the impact of Amoebophrya on particular host species, however, it is necessary to quantify aspects the parasites life cycle. Here we used cultures of Amoebophryahost systems from Jinhae Bay, Korea to determine, parasite generation time, and dinospore survival and infectivity. The proportion of host cells infected by Amoebophrya sp. changed sharply from 5% to 87% with increasing dinospore:host inoculation ratios. In the absence of H. triquetra, most free-living dinospores died within 72 hours and their ability to infect host cells decreased remarkably in a day. The relatively short free-living phase of Amoebophrya suggests that the spread of infections is most likely to occur during seasons of high host abundance, as that is when dinospores have the greatest chance of encountering host cells. Infection of host cells inoculated with dinospores during the day was higher than when inoculated during the night, suggesting that infection rates might be related to environmental light conditions and/or diurnal biological rhythm of host species. Total generation times of parasite strains from a thecate dinoflagellate Heterocapsa triquetra were nearly the same regardless of dinospore:host inoculation ratios, representing 54 ± 0.5 h in a 1:1 ratio and 55 ± 1.2 h in a 20:1 ratio. Dinospore production of Amoebophrya sp. infecting Heterocapsa triquetra was estimated to be 125 dinospores per a strain of Amoebophrya sp. There is a growing need to maintain a variety of host-parasite systems in culture and to examine their autecology under various environmental conditions. Such studies would be very helpful in understanding ecological role of these parasites, their overlooked importance in the flow of material and energy in marine ecosystem, and their practical use as biological control agents applied directly to areas affected by HAB.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
• /
• v.35 no.3
• /
• pp.251-264
• /
• 2017

A study searching for unrecorded and taxonomically undescribed indigenous species has been conducted since 2006. Samples were collected from many sites in coastal waters and offshore in Korea as well as around Jeju Island. Since 2008 we have found 13 unrecorded species belonging to family Diplopsaliaceae, Heterocapsaceae, Kolkwitziellaceae, Protoperidiniaceae and Thoracosphaeraceae. The species are as follows, Preperidinium meunieri (2014), Heterocapsa ovata (2015), H. pseudotriquetra (2015), Diplopsalis lenticula (2008), Protoperidinium abei (2009), P. diabolus var. longipes (2010), P. depressum (synonym: P. parallelum (2008)), P. latispinum (2016), P. punctulatum (2010), P. solidicorne (synonym: P. spinosum (2010)), P. subpyriforme (2010), P. pacificum (2013), Scrippsiella hexapraecingula (2009) (note; The numbers in parenthesis refer to the year that the species was reported as unrecorded indigenous species by National Institute of Biological Resources, NIBR hereafter). Among these, 5 species were described as newly recorded species in Korean waters, and 8 were re-described in this study.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
• /
• v.31 no.3
• /
• pp.213-224
• /
• 2013

Between May 2006 and November 2009, we investigated the relationship between fluctuations in environmental factors and phytoplankton communities in Saemangeum Artificial Lake, South Korea. Nutrient concentrations in the lake increased because of the inflow of water from Mankyung and Dongjin Rivers during the summer rainy season; in particular, high concentrations were detected at an inner zone close to the estuaries. During the summer rainy season, salinity at the inner zone reduced more rapidly than that at the other zones, and it was similar to the changes in nutrient concentrations. Variations in phytoplankton communities were caused by fluctuations in environmental factors: the abundance of phytoplankton at the inner zone was higher than that at the other zones. Diatoms were the dominant species in the phytoplankton communities. A small centric diatom, Skeletonema costatum like species, was predominant, with a mean abundance of 19.5% in Saemangeum lake. Because of accelerated eutrophication in the lake, phytoplankton abundance increased continuously and the total number of species present in the community decreased. In particular, some dinoflagellates could intermittently cause red tides during low temperature and salinity conditions (at the inner zone). In 2006~2007, a red tide-forming dinoflagellate, Prorocentrum minimum, was the predominant species, while Heterocapsa triquetra, Karlodinium veneficum, and Heterocapsa rotundata were the newly recorded species in late 2008 to early 2009. Therefore, the dynamics of phytoplankton communities under the perennially eutrophic conditions in Saemangeum lake appear to be primarily affected by changes in water temperature and salinity. In particular, the growth of harmful algae may have been accelerated by the low salinity and temperature conditions during the spring season at the inner zone.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• v.23 no.6
• /
• pp.468-474
• /
• 1990

Eight species, 6 Dinophyceae and 2 Raphidophyceae, caused a bloom in the southeastern coastal waters mainly in Chinhae Bay in Korea from March to September since 1982. Scrippsiella trochoidea and Heterocapsa triquetra bloomed in March then ensued a vernal species Heterosigma akashiwo. And Cochlodinium sp. and Alexandrium affine were occurred as causative organism in fall next to the estival dinoflagellates Gyrodinium instriatum and Pheopolykrikos hartmannii. Among them, spatio-temporal similarity of outbreak was significant in Heterosigma akashiwo since 1983, and a bit apparent for Cochlodinium sp.. The density was in the level from $10^3\;to\;10^5\;cells/ml$ and was dependent on the cell size rather than environmental characteristics.

• ALGAE
• /
• v.34 no.1
• /
• pp.7-21
• /
• 2019

The genus Heterocapsa is one of the major dinoflagellate groups, with some of its species having worldwide distributions. However, prior to the present study, the phototrophic species Heterocapsa minima has been reported only from the northeast Atlantic Ocean. Recently, H. minima was found in the Korean waters, and a clonal culture was established. This culture was used to examine the morphology of the Korean strain H. minima HMMJ1604 through light and scanning electron microscopy, as well as for its genetic characterization. Furthermore, to determine the nationwide distribution of H. minima in Korea, its abundance was quantified in the waters of 28 stations in all four seasons in 2016-2018 using the quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction method. The overall morphology of H. minima HMMJ1604 was very similar to that of the Irish strain H. minima JK2. However, the Korean strain had five pores around the pore plate, whereas the Irish strain had six pores. When properly aligned, the sequences of the large subunit and internal transcribed spacer regions of the ribosomal DNA of the Korean strain were identical to those of the Irish strain. This species was detected in the waters of 26 out of 28 stations, but its abundance was greater than $1.0cells\;mL^{-1}$ at 8 stations. The highest abundance of H. minima was $44.4cells\;mL^{-1}$. Although this species was found in all seasons, its abundance was greater than $1.0cells\;mL^{-1}$ when the water temperature and salinity were $10.9-25.0^{\circ}C$ and 17.5-34.1, respectively. To the best knowledge, the present study reported for the first time that H. minima lives in the Pacific Ocean and is widely distributed in the Korean waters.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
• /
• v.12 no.4
• /
• pp.359-369
• /
• 2007

Amoebophrya is an obligate endoparasitic eukaryotic dinoflagellate infecting host species and eventually killing them within a short period. Because of its host specificity and significant impacts on population dynamics of host species, it has long been proposed to be a potential biological agent for controlling harmful algal bloom (HAB). For several decades, the difficulties of culturing host - parasite systems have been a great obstacle to further research on the biology of Amoebophrya but recent success of several culture systems reactivates this research field. In this study, as a preliminary work for understanding the impacts of Amoebophrya on the population dynamics of host species, semimonthly occurrence of infected host dinoflagellates by Amoebophrya spp. had been observed in Jinhae Bay for two years and with a host - parasite system cultivated, host specificity of Amoebophrya spp. on several dinoflagellates was tested. Amoebophrya spp. were observed in the cellular organelle and cytoplasm of several species including Akashiwo sanguinea, Ceratium fusus, Dinophysis acuminata, Heterocapsa triquetra, Oblea sp., Prorocentrum minimum, P. triestinum, Scrippsiella spinifera, and S. trochoidea. Among them two host - parasite systems for an athecate dinoflagellate, A. sanguinea, and for a thecate dinoflagellate, H. triquetra, had been able to be successfully established as laboratary cultures. Cross-infection tests for 6 species of dinoflagellates in which Amoebophrya was observed or had been reported to exist confirmed high preference for host species of the parasite. Through the continuous research on Amoebophrya occurring in Korean coastal waters, we need to maintain various host - parasite culture systems, which will be very helpful for understanding its ecological role in marine food webs and for applying the species to biologically control harmful algal blooms.

• 한국해양학회지
• /
• v.25 no.2
• /
• pp.106-116
• /
• 1990

The dynamics and seasonal succession of dinoflagellate community, and their correlations with environmental parameters were investigated during the period from April, 1986 to March, 1987 at 6 selected stations in Masan Bay, Korea. The dinoflagellate standing crops varied extensively with months and stations: ranging from 44 to 2,789,900 cella/ l at surface layer and from 52 to 165,714 cells/ l at bottom layer, respectively. The distribution of standing crops by size class of dinoflagellate species showed that a group of 20-um size class was predominant throughout the present survey, since the most of dominant species have belonged to the size category. Among dominant species, Gyrodinium fissum was most dominant throughout the year in all sampling stations, particulary in June. Scripsiella trochoidea was predominant in May, Protoperidinium bipes and Prorocentrum minimum from June to September, Prorocentrum triestinum, P micans and Ceratium fusus from September to December, and Heterocapsa triquetra from December to April. The stepwise multiple regression analysis between dinoflagellate and environmental parameters revealed that salinity, nitrate-N, pH, and transparency were correlated with the variations of standing crops of dinoflagellate.