• Title/Summary/Keyword: food webs

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Interactions between marine bacteria and red tide organisms in Korean waters

  • Seong, Kyeong Ah;Jeong, Hae Jin
    • ALGAE
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    • v.28 no.4
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    • pp.297-305
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    • 2013
  • There is increasing interest in the relationships between marine bacteria and red tide organisms. Some bacteria are known to kill red tide organisms, and may be responsible for accelerating the termination of red tides. Thus, certain algicidal bacteria have been proposed for the control of red tides. Meanwhile, many red tide organisms are known to feed on marine bacteria. The roles of marine bacteria and red tide organisms are therefore reversible. In Korean waters, the killing of red tide organisms by algicidal bacteria, and also the feeding of red tide organisms on marine bacteria have been extensively investigated. The findings of such studies may influence the conventional view of red tide dynamics, and also planktonic food webs. Here, we review the species and concentrations of algicidal bacteria that kill red tide organisms in Korean waters, as well as the ingestion rate and grazing impact of red tide organisms on marine bacteria. Furthermore, we offer an insight into the ecological roles of these 2 components in marine planktonic food webs.

Food web structure in a $Salix$ $subfragilis$ dominated wetland in Hangang estuary using stable isotopes and fatty acid biomarkers

  • Han, Dong-Uk;Yang, Dong-Woo;Lee, Eun-Joo;Park, Sang-Kyu
    • Animal cells and systems
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    • v.16 no.2
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    • pp.162-171
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    • 2012
  • We investigated food webs of a $Salix$ $subfragilis$-dominated wetland in the Janghang wetland in the Hangang estuary, which is very close to the Demilitarized Zone, along the west coast of Korea. Our study focused on understanding sesarmine crab ($Sesarma$ $dehaani$)-related food webs in a $S.$ $subfragilis$ forest. For our study, we used carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes and fatty acid biomarkers. We collected samples of plants, animals, and detrital sediment from four quadrats ($5{\times}5m^2$) set in the $S.$ $subfragilis$ community. Samples were collected from September 2006 to June 2009, except during the winter hibernation period of $S.$ $dehaani$. In the wet season, the sediment showed relatively high ${\delta}^{13}C$ and low ${\delta}^{15}N$ signatures compared with relatively low ${\delta}13C$ and high ${\delta}15N$ signatures in the dry season. Mature $S.$ $dehaani$ appeared to feed on fresh leaves and other carbon sources, such as immature individuals or fish, in addition to detrital sediment, which appeared to be the main carbon source for immature crabs. Principal component analysis of fatty acid biomarkers of $S.$ $dehaani$ showed a clear difference between immature individuals (10-30 mm) and mature ones (larger than 30 mm), indicating that the main food source for immature crabs was detrital sediment, whereas mature crabs foraged plants in addition to consuming detrital sediment. On the basis of our results from stable isotope and fatty acid analyses, mature $S.$ $dehaani$ appeared to feed on detrital sediment and fresh leaves of $S.$ $subfragilis$ in summer in addition to engaging in cannibalism of immature individuals.

Use of Stable Carbon Isotope Ratios (${\delta}^{13}$C) for Identification of the Origin Organic Carbon in Benthic Food Webs in Youngil Bay, Korea

  • Lee, Won-Chan;Choi, Woo-Jeung;Lee, Pil-Yong;Kang, Chang-Keun
    • Journal of the korean society of oceanography
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    • v.35 no.2
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    • pp.124-127
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    • 2000
  • The analysis of stable carbon isotope ratios for benthic fauna was applied to identify the source of carbon in benthic food webs in Youngil Bay, Korea. The ${\delta}^{13}$C values of 9 invertebrate species collected in this area showed a narrow range between -20.5 and -16.3%$_o$ with a mean of-18.1 (${\pm}$1.1)"%$_o$. The results suggest that the major source of organic carbon for the benthic fauna of the lower estuarine reaches and the oceanic sites is autochthonous marine particulate organic matter. The contribution of organic matter from terrestrial and riverine sources to the diet of the benthic fauna in this area appears to be minor, despite the considerable inflow of riverine waters.

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Characteristics of Macroinvertebrates Food Webs affected by Dry Channel in an Intermittent Stream System of the Echi River in Japan

  • Shin, Hyun-Seon;Nozomi, Amahashi;Na, Young-Eun;Park, Hong-Hyun;Cho, Kwang-Jin;Seo, Ye-Ji;Osamu, Mitamura
    • Journal of Climate Change Research
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    • v.6 no.3
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    • pp.167-173
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    • 2015
  • The purpose of study is to identify trophic pathways from organic matter to macroinvertebrates in terms of the consumer and to characterize the food webs in an intermittent stream system of the Echi River in Japan. The ${\delta}^{13}C$ values of macroinvertebrates and their potential food sources indicated the scraper (Psephenoides spp., Ecdyonurus levis) and collector-gatherer (Ephemera strigata, Paraleptonphlebia chocolata) feed on periphyton and POM (particulate organic matter) in situ. Davidius lunatus, and Hexatoma spp., which were identified as predators, may feed upon Ephemera strigata and Stenelmis larvae, respectively. At station characterized by seepage water, the ${\delta}^{15}N$ values of Ecdyonurus levis, Lymnaea auricularia, and Rhyacophila nigrocephala larva probably showed relatively lower values according to its diets. Even in homogenous species, the trophic pathways of macroinvertebrates in situ exhibited considerable variation; this reflected the trophic pathways from organic matter to the consumer depending on habitat characteristics in stream.

The Importance of Intertidal Benthic Autotrophs to the Kwangyang Bay (Korea) Food Webs: ${\delta}^{13}$C analysis

  • Kim, Jong-Bin;Kim, Jeong-Bae;Lee, Pil-Yong;Hong, Jae-Sang;Kang, Chang-Keun
    • Journal of the korean society of oceanography
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    • v.36 no.4
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    • pp.109-123
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    • 2001
  • The importance of phytoplankton, benthic vegetation, vascular marsh plants (primarly Phragmites communis and Salix gracilstyla) and riverine particulates inputs to the coastal bay food web was studied in Kwangyang Bay, Korea using stable carbon isotope ratios. Vascular marsh plants (${\delta}^{13}$C=-27.4${\pm}$0.8%o) and riverine particulates (-26.0${\pm}$0.8%o) were isotopically distinct from phytoplankton (-20.7${\pm}$0.8%o), microphytobenthos (-14.2${\pm}$0.6%o) and seagrass (8.8%o). The ${\delta}^{13}$C values of consumers in the study site ranged from -20.2 to -11.3olo suggesting the assimilation of carbon derived from both phytoplankton and benthic vegetation (including algae and seagrass), The relative importance of both pelagic and benthic origins of food sources was likely to vary depending on feeding habit of the consumers. The isotopic difference between pelagic and benthic consumers indicated that plankton-derived carbon was used mostly by pelagic consumers, but the carbon derived from intertidal benthic vegetation was incorporated into food webs through benthic consumers. The ${\delta}^{13}$C values of consumers in the present study differed noticeably from published values of the phytoplankton-based ecosystem, particularly in the $^{13}$C enrichment of benthic grazers, deposit-feeders and demersal feeders of fishes. This tendency of the $^{13}$C enrichment was also found in suspension-feeding bivalves. Taking the biomasses of benthic vegetation into consideration, benthic microalgae was likely to account for the consumer $^{13}$C enrichment. Role of terrestrially derived riverine carbon was limited to the riverine system and was not evident within the bay systems. Phragmites, despite their important biomass, appeared to be of little importance as consumer diet.

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Role of Scientific Reasoning in Elementary School Students' Construction of Food Pyramid Prediction Models (초등학생들의 먹이 피라미드 예측 모형 구성에서 과학적 추론의 역할)

  • Han, Moonhyun
    • Journal of Korean Elementary Science Education
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    • v.38 no.3
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    • pp.375-386
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    • 2019
  • This study explores how elementary school students construct food pyramid prediction models using scientific reasoning. Thirty small groups of sixth-grade students in the Kyoungki province (n=138) participated in this study; each small group constructed a food pyramid prediction model based on scientific reasoning, utilizing prior knowledge on topics such as biotic and abiotic factors, food chains, food webs, and food pyramid concepts. To understand the scientific reasoning applied by the students during the modeling process, three forms of qualitative data were collected and analyzed: each small group's discourse, their representation, and the researcher's field notes. Based on this data, the researcher categorized the students' model patterns into three categories and identified how the students used scientific reasoning in their model patterns. The study found that the model patterns consisted of the population number variation model, the biological and abiotic factors change model, and the equilibrium model. In the population number variation model, students used phenomenon-based reasoning and relation-based reasoning to predict variations in the number of producers and consumers. In the biotic and abiotic factors change model, students used relation-based reasoning to predict the effects on producers and consumers as well as on decomposers and abiotic factors. In the equilibrium model, students predicted that "the food pyramid would reach equilibrium," using relation-based reasoning and model-based reasoning. This study demonstrates that elementary school students can systematically elaborate on complicated ecology concepts using scientific reasoning and modeling processes.

PCR of Gut Contents for a Food Web Study of a Marine Ecosystem

  • Kim, Nack-Keun;Kim, Kyoung-Sun;Kim, Hyun-Woo
    • Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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    • v.10 no.4
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    • pp.179-185
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    • 2007
  • Understanding dietary habits is one of the most important factors in studying food webs and other ecological processes. Here we designed universal primers to amplify portions of the 18S and 28S rDNA sequences to examine gut contents using PCR techniques. The gut contents of sailfin sandfish (Arctoscopus japonicus) and pacific squid (Todarodes pacificus) were examined. In total, 11 families of prey were identified with 18S and 28S rDNA using the universal primers. The DNA sequence data indicated that the primer sets successfully amplified a wide spectrum of species and represented gut contents in a relatively convenient way. We found that information in the NCBI database was not yet sufficient to discriminate the species we isolated. In addition, technology for the separation of heterogeneous PCR products and better resolution and quantification protocols would help increase data accuracy.

Litter Processing in Tropical Headwater Streams : Potential Importance of Palm Fruit Fall and Frond Fall

  • Covich, Alan P.
    • The Korean Journal of Ecology
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    • v.23 no.2
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    • pp.113-116
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    • 2000
  • Different phenological patterns of leaf and fruit fall among native and non-native riparian species provide a spatially and temporally heterogeneous series of alternative food resources for detritivores. Relatively little is known about qualitative differences among these different riparian species. Rates of litter inputs, decomposition, and retention for different sources of riparian litter require long-term documentation. Species of freshwater shrimps, crabs. insects. and gastropods are known to consume a wide range of litter inputs but how these dynamic food webs function under changing climatic and land-use conditions is unknown, especially in tropical streams. On-going studies in the Luquillo Experimental Forest. Puerto Rico provide an example of how inputs of fronds and fruits from palms (Prestoea montana) serve as important foods and microhabitat for species of freshwater crabs and shrimp. Native riparian species such as Prestoea montana are commonly distributed in the Luquillo Mountains especially along steep slopes and stream banks. After tropical storms with high winds, the large fronds from these native riparian trees provide important inputs of leaf litter to the stream food web. In some streams, the input of ripe fruit from non-native trees such as Java plum (Syzigium jambos) also provides a major source of detrital food resources, especially during periods when fruit fall from native species of palms may be limited.

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Variation in trophic pathways and food web characteristics revealed by stable isotopes in an intermittent stream system of the Inukami River, Japan

  • Shin, Hyun-Seon;Amahashi, Nozomi;Ao, Lan;Mitamura, Osamu
    • Animal cells and systems
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    • v.15 no.3
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    • pp.235-241
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    • 2011
  • To examine variation in trophic pathways and the characteristics of food webs from organic matters to aquatic insects, we used stable isotopes to study an intermittent stream system of the Inukami River, Japan. The aquatic insects, including Glossosoma spp., Chironominae spp., Stenelmis spp., Rhyacophilla nigrocephala, and Hexatoma spp., were characterized by different feeding strategies. The ${\delta}^{13}C$ values for these species indicated that Glossosoma spp. graze upon periphyton; Chironominae and Stenelmis spp. mainly feed on benthic particulate organic matter, and R. nigrocephala and Hexatoma spp., which were identified as predators, feed upon Glossosoma, Stenelmis, and/or Chironominae spp. This suggests that the trophic position of consumers at each station may be determined by the trophic position of basal food sources in situ. For trophic pathways, the ${\delta}^{13}C$ values for both organic matter and aquatic insects tended to gradually decrease, whilst the ${\delta}^{15}N$ values increased from the upper reach to the lower reaches, relative to the physicochemical and geographical conditions. These parameters indirectly influence the flow of energy from organic matter to consumers within food web in an intermittent stream system.