• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.167-182
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• 2021

This study was carried out to investigate temporal and spatial distribution of macrobenthic community and elucidate effects of environmental factors on change of community structure in an intertidal flat, Hakseong-ri, Boryeong, Korea. Field surveys were seasonally conducted to collect samples of sediment and macrobenthos using can core in triplicate at nine stations in 2016 and 2017. Our results showed that sediment had high mud content (above 60%) in most samples and mean content of loss on ignition was 2.3% in 2016. A total of 79 species was collected in the study site during the study period. Mean density and biomass were 611 ind./m² and 64.1 gWWt/m², respectively. Heteromastus filiformis was the dominant species (48.6%, 297 ind./m²) followed by Macrophthalmus japonicus (10.1%, 62 ind./m²) and Upogebia major (6.9%, 42 ind./m²). Three assembly groups resulted from cluster analysis were more distinguished by interaction between organisms and frequency of dominant species than by physical and chemical environment characteristics. In addition, macrobenthic community in the Hakseong intertidal flat showed seasonal changes based on non metric multidimensional scaling using species abundance.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.54 no.4
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• pp.265-271
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• 2021

Intertidal mud crab (Macrophthalmus japonicus) is an organism with a hard chitinous exoskeleton and has function for an osmotic control in response to the salinity gradient of seawater. Crustacean exoskeletons change in their natural state in response to environmental factors, such as changes in the pH and water temperature, and the presence of pollutant substances and pathogen infection. In this study, the ecotoxicological effects of irgarol exposure and heavy metal distribution were presented by analyzing the surface roughness of the crab exoskeleton. The exoskeleton surface roughness and variation reduced in M. japonicus exposed to irgarol. In addition, it was confirmed that the surface roughness and variation were changed in the field M. japonicus crab according to the distribution of toxic heavy metals(Cd, Pb, Hg) in marine sediments. This change in the surface roughness of the exoskeleton represents a new end-point of the biological response of the crab according to external environmental stressors. This suggests that it may affect the functional aspects of exoskeleton protection, support, and transport. This approach can be utilized as a useful method for monitoring the aquatic environment as an integrated technology of mechanical engineering and biology.

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

• Journal of the Korean Society of Fisheries and Ocean Technology
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• v.57 no.3
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• pp.185-193
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• 2021

This study was conducted to evaluate the performance of the octopus pot according to mesh sizes. Entering behavior of Octopus minor and bait (Macrophthalmus japonicus) escape rate on the mesh sizes of the pots were investigated for six times in indoor tank. The sea trials for evaluating the performance of Octopus minor pot to different mesh sizes (22, 20 and 18 mm) were conducted for six times from 2017 to 2018 in the coastal sea of Deukyang Bay, the Republic of Korea. Behavior patterns of contact pot to leaved pot were more frequent than contact pot to bait search. When the octopus contacted to the pot, there was no clear search behavior to distinguish the mesh sizes. Total catch of 46% was accounted for 18 mm pots, followed by 34% at 20 mm and 20% at 22 mm (P < 0.05). Catch per unit effort was calculated as 30 g/pot at 22 mm, 44 g/pot at 20 mm and 59 g/pot at 18 mm. As a result of evaluating 50% selection of mantle length and weight on the mesh sizes, mantle length (mm) and weight (g) were 84.6 and 147.8 in 22 mm, followed by 20 and 18 mm.

• Journal of the korean society of oceanography
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.220-230
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• 1999

Four tidal flats, covering two dissipative type beaches and two other tidal mud flats, around Yonaiong-Yongyu Islands, Inchon, Korea were studied in May 1991 to analyze the spatial distribution patterns of benthic communities on macrotidal flats. From the statistical test on spatial patterns of species number, density, and biomass, significant trends were found in species number and biomass. Although quantitative analysis was not performed, the interpretation showed that the variations were ruled out by environmental gradients such as sediment grain size and tidal elevation. The eight communities revealed in this study are as follows: Moerella-Mactra(Group 1), llyoplax-Glycera -Magelona japonica-Magelona sp.-Pe riserrula ( Group 2), Amphiura-Nephtys californiensis-Bullacta-Eohaustorius (Group 3), Leonnates-Heteromastus-Pretankyra-Nephtys polybranchia (Group4), Nephtys chemulpoensis-Macrophthalmus (Group 5), Ceratonereis-Scopimera (Group 6), Haustorioides-Urothoe (Group 7) and Cycladicama-Armandia-Minuspio community (Group 8). Some of these communities were classified into substratum-specific (Group 1 to 3) and tidal elevation-specific communities (Group 4). It was difficult to identify the predominant governing agent in Groups 5,6,7 and 8 because of their presence at extreme types of sediment and at uppermost elevations. Mixed effects seemed to act upon the latter four communities (Group 5 to 8). Based on the number of samples, 60% of the target samples were influenced by substratum properties, 20% by tidal elevation effect and 20% by mixed effect of the two factors. From this, it was concluded that substratum properties serve as the most important factors on soft bottom inhabitants in the area studied.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.39 no.spc1
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• pp.165-179
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• 2006

Food habits of the gavelin goby Acanthogobius hasta and the fine spot goby Chaeturichtys stigmatias populations were investigated in the Jangbong tidal flat near Incheon, Korea. Samples were taken monthly from November 1999 to January 2001. The gut contents of 248 gavelin gobies and 139 fine spot gobies were analyzed. The diet of the gavelin goby was dominated by the gammaridean amphipod Chitinomandibulum emargicoxa, the crabs Macrophthalmus japonicus and Ilyoplax pingi, the shrimp Exopalaemon carinicauda, the bivalve Raetellops pulchella and the macro-algae Porphyra tenera. On the other hand, the fine spot goby mainly feed on the shrimps Crangon affinis, Latreutes mucronatus, E. carinicauda and Alpheus japonicus, the gammaridean amphipods C. emargicoxa and Synchelidium miraculum, and the bivalve R. pulchella. A comparison between frequencies of occurrence and abundance of food items in the gut showed that crustaceans (gammaridean amphipods, crabs and shrimps) and bivalves were important foods for the two gobies. However, the main components of the gut contents were different between two species, though this was probably due to differences in spatial distribution patterns of gobies and their prey items. In conclusion, both the gavelin goby and the fine spot goby, despite being the related species and co-inhabiting the similar part of the tidal flat, had quite distinct food habits and low dietary overlap (Schoener's index: 0.4). These indicated that the two gobies are or were partitioning resources in space and time for maximum uitilization of available food.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.39 no.spc1
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• pp.132-141
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• 2006

Artificial structures have been designed as pilot structures to promote the creation and restoration of tidal flats. However, little information is available as to whether such artificial construction affects the macrobenthic community structure. We monitored the variation of the macrobenthic community structure and species composition near natural and artificial structures (seaweed and a timber fence) on the tidal flats near the Iwon Dike, Korea. In total, 137 macrobenthic species were recorded during this study, predominantly crustaceans (47%), polychaetes (18%), and molluscs (27%). Polychaetes comprised over 50% of the total density, followed by gastropods (38%) and crustaceans (11%). Macrobenthic species composition in the artificial and natural areas, was initially similar, but it differed after 7 months. The gastropod Umbonium thomasi, the most dominant species, was present at both sites in the first month after the start of the experiment, but disappeared at the artificial sites within 7 months, suggesting disturbance by the environmental factors. The number of species and diversity (H') varied significantly within sites at the beginning of the experiment, but no difference was observed after 7 months. Multivariate analysis (multidimensional scaling) revealed significant differences in community structure between the artificial and the natural areas from 7 months after the start of the experiment, except from 18 to 21 months. The community structures were mainly influenced by U. thomasi. Community structure at the artificial sites was affected by environmental variables, such as carbon, COD/IL sulfide, loss of ignition, kurtosis and silt, which changed over time. We observed no significant correlations between environmental variables and the dominant species, except in the case of Spio sp. and Macrophthalmus dilatatus, suggesting that the biological interactions and temporary disturbances such as typhoon, as well as the effects of artificial structures may also be important regulating factors in this system.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.21-31
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• 2020

Shorebirds migrating along the East Asian-Australasian Flyway (EAAF) have been drastically decreasing due to continuous area loss and quality degradation of intertidal mudflats in the Yellow Sea. Evaluating the current habitat quality by means of habitat carrying capacity estimation could be effective in predicting the magnitude of impacts caused by habitat loss and provide better understanding to improve management strategies. In this study, we estimated the total biomass of Macrophthalmus japonicus, a main prey item of curlews in the Korea peninsular as habitat carrying capacity of the southern intertidal mudflat of Ganghwa Island, one of the key stopover sites for curlews in the EAAF. The result of the estimation took into account spatial differences of prey biomass and the available foraging time by tide patterns. Accordingly, it was found that curlew populations account for 30.26% of the habitat carrying capacity. When we calculated the mean biomass of the area and extrapolated it to the whole area to calculate the total biomass, it was found that the curlews have consumed 10.92% of the total biomass. The results show that the habitat carrying capacity of the southern intertidal mudflat of Ganghwa Island has decreased by 7.8% compared to a study conducted twenty years ago employing the same method. This study shows that there can be considerable differences in the results of habitat carrying capacity estimation between different methods, indicating that various environmental factors that affect the estimation results of habitat carrying capacity must be considered to achieve a more precise analysis and assessment.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.1-9
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• 2024

Objectives : Paeng-hwal is described as an insect herbal medicine used for digestive diseases in the Dong-ui-bo-gam. The origin of this herbal medicine is limited to several small crabs, such as Helice tridens. These crab species cohabitat in the same environment and share similar morphological characteristics, making it very difficult to distinguish and collect the individual species for use in dietary supplements or herbal medicines. This study was conducted to develop a genetic identification tool for discriminating among these closely related small crab species. Methods : CO1 DNA barcode regions of 15 samples from 6 species of small crabs were analyzed to obtain the individual sequences. To identify the correct species, comparative analyses were carried out using the database of the NCBI GenBank and the NIBR. SCAR primers were designed to develop simple and rapid assay methods using inter-species specific sequences. Optimal SCAR assay conditions were established through gradient PCR, and the limit of detection (LOD) was determined. Results : Six species of small crabs (Helicana tridens, Macrophthalmus abbreviatus, Helicana tientsinensis, Helicana wuana, Chiromantes dehaani, and Hemigrapsus penicillatus), which are distributed as Paeng-hwal, were identified through CO1 sequences analysis. We also developed SCAR markers to distinguish between six small crabs at the species level. Furthermore, we established the optimal PCR assay methods and the LOD of each individual species. Conclusions : The rapid and simple SCAR-PCR assay methods were developed to identify the species and control the quality of herbal medicines for Paeng-hwal based on the genetic analyses of CO1 DNA barcodes.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.270-282
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• 2012

This study was conducted to investigate the impact of sand addition to an intertidal for the development of the Manila clam habitat on benthic community structure. For this, we focused on the spatio-temporal changes in the surface sediment condition and benthic community structure before and after the event. Study site was an sandbank in Gonam-myeon, Taean-gun where sand added to on July 2010. We set three stations at each of sand adding area (experimental plot) and non sand-adding area (control plot) and did sampling works ten times from June 2010 to October 2011. Directly after the event, surface sediments changed to very coarse sand, but the state was not maintained over four months because of seasonal sedimentation and finally got back to very fine sand in eight months. The number of species and density were temporarily reduced right after the event and crustacean species such as Apocorophium acutum, Photis sp. were most negatively affected by the event. However, the number of species recovered from the reduction in three months and density did in four months due to the recolonization by the existing species and species in the vicinity of the plot. During the study period, dominant species continuously changed from the species such as A. acutum, Photis sp. at the time before the event, through the species such as Heteromastus filiformis, Macrophthalmus japonicus at the time right after the event, to the species such as Musculista senhousia, Ruditapes philippinarum, Mediomastus californiensis in the latter part of the study period. Although surface sediment properties and ecological indices recovered within a certain period after the event, the recovery of community structure has never been observed up to the end of the study.