• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.236-244
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• 2021

Unarmored dinoflagellates, in the family Kareniaceae, include harmful or toxic bloom-forming species, which are associated with massive fish kills and mortalities of marine organisms worldwide. The occurrence and distribution of the toxigenic species in the family Kareniaceae were investigated in the brackish and coastal waters of Korea between July 2018 and October 2020. During the survey, we collected seven newly recorded species; Karenia papilionacea, Karlodinium digitatum, Karl. veneficum, Karl. zhouanum, Takayama acrotrocha, T. helix, and T. tasmanica. A total of fifteen strains of the seven taxa were successfully established as clonal cultures and examined using LM, SEM, and molecular phylogeny inferred from LSU rDNA sequences. Herein, we present the taxonomic information, morphological features, and molecular phylogenetic positions of the unrecorded dinoflagellate species collected from Korean coastal waters.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.573-580
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• 2021

Unarmored and thin-walled dinoflagellates were collected from brackish and coastal waters of Korea from August 2019 to August 2021. A total of 10 species belonging to orders Sussiales and Gymnodiniales were isolated and established as clonal cultures. Of them, five species (Biecheleria brevisulcata, Lepidodinium chlorophorum, Karlodinium decipiens, Kirithra asteri, and Wangodinium sinense) are newly recorded in Korea and examined using a light microscope (LM) and a scanning electron microscope (SEM). Their molecular phylogeny was inferred from LSU rDNA sequences. Here, we present taxonomic information, morphological features, and molecular phylogenetic positions of these unrecorded dinoflagellate species.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.236-248
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• 2019

We investigated occurrence and molecular phylogeny of the toxic epiphytic dinoflagellate Ostreopsis at seven sampling sites in the coastal waters off Jeju Island of Korea in April, 2017. During the sampling period, surface water temperature ranged from 15.7 to $18.3^{\circ}C$ and salinity was relatively constant, ranging from 33.4 to 34.9. Of a total of 13 macroalgal species collected from all sampling sites, Ostreopsis cells were observed from 8 macroalgal species and the highest cell abundance ($157.5cells\;g^{-1}$) was recorded on the red alga Grateloupia filicina at St. 6. LSU rDNA D8/D10 sequences of all Korean Ostreopsis strains isolated from the 4 sampling sites were 100% identical. Molecular phylogentic analyses (BI and ML) inferred from LSU rDNA alignment showed that the Korean Ostreopsis strains placed into the previously described the Ostreopsis sp. 1 clade, which contained strains isolated from the temperate coastal waters of Japan. The Korean Ostreopsis sp. 1 strain grew in a wide range of temperature ($10-30^{\circ}C$) and salinity (25-30), with its maximum growth rate of $0.49d^{-1}$ at $25^{\circ}C$ and salinity of 30, indicating that they can be tolerated in temperate areas.

• ALGAE
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.307-330
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• 2013

The genus Cryptomonas is easily recognized by having two flagella, green brownish color, and a swaying behavior. They have relatively simple morphology, and limited diagnostic characters, which present a major difficulty in differentiating between species of the genus. To understand species delineation and phylogenetic relationships among Cryptomonas species, the nuclear-encoded internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2), partial large subunit (LSU) and small subunit ribosomal DNA (rDNA), and chloroplast-encoded psbA and LSU rDNA sequences were determined and used for phylogenetic analyses, using Bayesian and maximum likelihood methods. In addition, nuclear-encoded ITS2 sequences were predicted to secondary structures, and were used to determine nine species and four unidentified species from 47 strains. Sequences of helix I, II, and IIIb in ITS2 secondary structure were very useful for the identification of Cryptomonas species. However, the helix IV was the most variable region across species in alignment. The phylogenetic tree showed that fourteen species were monophyletic. However, some strains of C. obovata had chloroplasts with pyrenoid while others were without pyrenoid, which used as a key character in few species. Therefore, classification systems depending solely on morphological characters are inadequate, and require the use of molecular data.

• ALGAE
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.21-35
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• 2018

The phototrophic dinoflagellate genus Scrippsiella is known to have a worldwide distribution. Here, we report for the first time, the occurrence of Scrippsiella lachrymosa in Korean waters. Unlike the other stains of S. lachrymosa whose cultures had been established from cysts in the sediments, the clonal culture of the Korean strain of S. lachrymosa was established from motile cells. When the sulcal plates of S. lachrymosa, which have not been fully described to date, were carefully examined using scanning electron microscopy, the Korean strain of S. lachrymosa clearly exhibited the anterior sulcal plate (s.a.), right sulcal plate (s.d.), left sulcal plate (s.s.), median sulcal plate (s.m.), and posterior sulcal plate (s.p.). When properly aligned, the large subunit (LSU) rDNA sequence of the Korean strain of S. lachrymosa was ca. 1% different from those of two Norwegian strains of S. lachrymosa, the only strains for which LSU sequences have been reported. The internal transcribed spacer (ITS) rDNA sequence of the Korean strain of S. lachrymosa was also ca. 1% different from those of the Scottish and Chinese strains and 3% different from those of the Canadian, German, Greek, and Portuguese strains. Thus, the Korean S. lachrymosa strain has unique LSU and ITS sequences. The abundances of S. lachrymosa in the waters of 28 stations, located in the East, West, and South Sea of Korea, were quantified in four seasons from January 2016 to October 2017, using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction method and newly designed specific primer-probe sets. Its abundances were >$0.1cells\;mL^{-1}$ at eight stations in January and March 2016 and March 2017, and its highest abundance in Korean waters was $26cells\;mL^{-1}$. Thus, S. lachrymosa has a nationwide distribution in Korean waters as motile cells.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.21-29
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• 2020

Morphology of a strain of unspecified Skeletonema species established from Korean coast was examined by light, fluorescence and scanning electron microscopy, and SSU(small subunit) and LSU(large subunit) rDNA of the strain were also sequenced. The specimen was characterized by solitary or short chains, and each cell contained 1-2 chloroplasts. The valve face was slightly convex, and the terminal fultoportula processes (TFPPs) were open and showed narrow distal ends that could be truncated or spiny with claw-like protrusions. The basal part of the TFPPs was tubular and oblique to the cell axis. The intercalary fultoportula processes (IFPPs) were also narrow, completely open, and joined in a 1 : 1 junction. Occasionally, one IFPP was connected with two opposing IFPPs. The morphological features of the specimen were identical to those of Skeletonema pseudocostatum. Molecular phylogeny based on SSU rDNA revealed that the Korean strain is nested within a clade comprising S. pseudocostatum and S. tropicum. However, based on D1-D2 LSU rDNA sequences, a clade including S. pseudocostatum and a Korean strain was separated from the S. tropicum clade. This indicates that the Korean strain can be identified as S. pseudocostatum. This species represents the first record from Korean coastal waters.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.315-324
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• 2011

The actiniarian sea anemone, Entacmaea quadricolor, and the scleractinian coral, Alveopora japonica, host symbiotic dinoflagellates belonging to the genus Symbiodinium (Freudenthal). We studied the host-symbiont specificity of these two anthozoan hosts in the northwestern Pacific Ocean. Symbionts within the two hosts were identified using partial large subunit (LSU) ribosomal DNA (rDNA) and complete internal transcribed spacers (ITS) 1 rDNA regions. The host, E. quadricolor, was identified using the partial LSU rDNA molecular marker. Genetic analysis showed that E. quadricolor only harbors dinoflagellates belonging to subclade C1/3 of the genus Symbiodinium. Moreover, no genetic variation was detected among the symbionts of E. quadricolor within the study region (Korea and Japan), even though the two distant sites were separated by more than 1000 km, at collection depths of 1 m in shallow and 13-16 m in deep water. Whilst scleractinian corals host multiple Symbiodinium clades in tropical waters, A. japonica, sampled over a wide geographical range (800 km) within the study region, only hosts Symbiodinium sp. clade F3. The high specificity of endosymbionts in E. quadricolor and A. japonica within the northwestern Pacific Ocean could be accounted for because symbiotic dinoflagellates within the host anemones appear to be acquired maternally, and the Kuroshio Current might affect the marine biota of the northwestern Pacific. However, the consistency of the symbiotic relationships between these two anthozoan hosts and their endosymbionts could change after climate change, so this symbiotic specificity should be monitored.

• ALGAE
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.185-204
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• 2022

The genus Coolia A. Meunier 1919 has a global distribution and is a common member of epiphytic dinoflagellate assemblages in neritic ecosystems. Coolia monotis is the type species of the genus and was the only known species for 76 years. Over the past few decades, molecular characterization has unveiled two species complexes that group morphologically very similar species, so their limits are often unclear. To provide new knowledge on the biogeography and species composition of the genus Coolia, 16 strains were isolated from Bahía de La Paz, Gulf of California. The species were identified by applying morphological and molecular approaches. The morphometric characteristics of all isolated Coolia species were consistent with the original taxa descriptions. Phylogenetic analyses (large subunit [LSU] rDNA D1 / D2 and internal transcribed spacer [ITS] 1 / 5.8S / ITS2) revealed a species assemblage comprising Coolia malayensis, C. palmyrensis, C. tropicalis, and the C. cf. canariensis lineage. This is the first report of Coolia palmyrensis and C. cf. canariensis in Mexico and C. tropicalis in the Gulf of California. Our results strengthen the biogeographical understanding of these potentially harmful epiphytic dinoflagellate species.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.155-165
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• 2023

In this study, we isolated several fungal strains from filtered water and sediment collected from rivers and streams. The strains were identified by molecular phylogenetic analyses of rDNA sequences (internal transcribed spacer [ITS], large subunit of ribosomal DNA [LSU]). The morphological characteristics of the fungi were investigated using microscopy, and the culture characteristics of fungi grown on several media were examined. We identified four species previously unknown in South Korea, namely, Dissophora globulifera, Linnemannia exigua, Mortierella rishikesha and Umbelopsis autotrophica.

• Mycobiology
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.94-99
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• 2012

During an investigation of fungi from an elm tree infested with bark beetles in Korea, one isolate, DUCC401, was isolated from elm wood. Based on morphological characteristics and phylogenetic analysis of the internal transcribed spacer and 28S rDNA (large subunit) sequences, the isolate, DUCC401, was identified as Mariannaea samuelsii. Mycelia of the fungus grew faster on malt extract agar than on potato dextrose agar and oatmeal agar media. Temperature and pH for optimal growth of fungal mycelia were 25oC and pH 7.0, respectively. The fungus demonstrated the capacity to degrade cellobiose, starch, and xylan. This is the first report on isolation of Mariannaea samuelsii in Korea.