• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.21-34
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• 2011

We determined potential meso-scale benthic-pelagic ecosystem coupling in the north equatorial Pacific by comparing surface chl-a concentration with sediment bacterial abundance and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) concentration (indication of active biomass). Water and sediment samples were latitudinally collected between 5 and $11^{\circ}N$ along $131.5^{\circ}W$. Physical water properties of this area are characterized with three major currents: North Equatorial Current (NEC), North Equatorial Count Current (NECC), and South Equatorial Current (SEC). The divergence and convergence of the surface water occur at the boundaries where these currents anti-flow. This low latitude area ($5{\sim}7^{\circ}N$) appears to show high pelagic productivity (mean phytoplankton biomass=$1266.0\;mgC\;m^{-2}$) due to the supplement of high nutrients from nutrient-enriched deep-water via vertical mixing. But the high latitude area ($9{\sim}11^{\circ}N$) with the strong stratification exhibits low surface productivity (mean phytoplankton biomass=$603.1\;mgC\;m^{-2}$). Bacterial cell number (BCN) and ATP appeared to be the highest at the superficial layer and reduced with depth of sediment. Latitudinally, sediment BCN from low latitude ($5{\sim}7^{\circ}N$) was $9.8{\times}10^8\;cells\;cm^{-2}$, which appeared to be 3-times higher than that from high latitude ($9{\sim}11^{\circ}N$; $2.9{\times}10^8\;cells\;cm^{-2}$). Furthermore, sedimentary ATP at the low latitude ($56.2\;ng\;cm^{-2}$) appeared to be much higher than that of the high latitude ($3.3\;ng\;cm^{-2}$). According to regression analysis of these data, more than 85% of the spatial variation of benthic microbial biomass was significantly explained by the phytoplankton biomass in surface water. Therefore, the results of this study suggest that benthic productivity in this area is strongly coupled with pelagic productivity.

• ALGAE
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.303-313
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• 2019

Floating seaweed rafts are a surface-pelagic habitat that serve as substrates for benthic flora and fauna. Since 2008, Sargassum horneri clumps have periodically invaded the Korea Strait. In this study, the polymerase chain reaction-free small-organelles enriched metagenomics method was adopted to identify the species of epibiotic eukaryotes present in floating S. horneri fronds. A total of 185 species were identified, of which about 63% were previously undetected or unreported in Korean waters. The rafts harbored a diverse assemblage of eukaryotic species, including 39 Alveolata, 4 Archaeplastida, 95 Opisthokonts, 4 Rhizaria, and 43 Stramenopiles. Of these 185 taxa, 48 species were found at both Sargassum rafts collection stations and included 24 Stramenopiles, 17 Alveolata, and 7 Opisthokonts. Among these, the highest proportion (50%) of species was photo-autotrophic in basic trophic modes, while the proportion of phagotrophic, osmo- or saprotrophic, and parasitic modes were 43.8%, 4.2%, and 2.1%, respectively. This study demonstrates the contribution of floating Sargassum rafts as dispersal vectors that facilitate the spread of alien species.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.13 no.11
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• pp.993-1000
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• 2004

As an effort to clarify the ecosystem of Osaka Bay, a semi-enclosed coastal area under the influence of stratification, a three-dimensional water quality model with combination of the baroclinic flow model and primitive eco-system model was constructed. The proposed model succeeded in simulating the time-depending flow and density structure and the baroclinic residual currents in Osaka Bay. In present study, we tried to improve the model by taking account of the benthic-pelagic interaction and exchange of nutrients between sea bottom sediments and overlaying water. On vertical structure, the model consists of 13 layers of water and eight layers of sediments. Long-term prediction of water quality was conducted from 1964 to 1985. This period is characterized by rapid water pollution and its decrease by the cutoff reduction of COD and P flowed into Osaka Bay. By combining the sediment model into original model, the numerical model was confirmed to shows more reasonable results in simulating the water quality in Osaka Bay.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.10-15
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• 2000

Goals, research direction, and operational structure of the Global Ocean Ecosystem Dynamics (GLOBEC), which is co-sponsored by the Scientific Committee on Oceanic Research (SCOR) and the Intergovemmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC), are described. Following the Joint Global Ocean Flux Study (JGOFS) activities on the lower trophic level in ecosystem during 1980s-90s, scientists have considered the responses of the mid and higher trophic levels to the environmental or climate change. The scientific steering committee of the GLOBEC published the implementation plan in 1999, and the IGBP will support the GLOBEC as one of its core projects for 10 years. The GLOBEC programme has four major components: the research foci, framework activities, regional programmes, and integrating activity. The core of GLOBEC research is the four research foci: retrospective analyses, process studies, predictive and modelling capabilities, and feedbacks. Currently, four regional programmes have been undergoing in the world ocean: Southern Ocean GLOBEC (SO-GLOBEC), Small Pelagic Fishes and Climate Changes (SPACC), Cod and Climate Change (CCC), and Climate Change and Carrying Capacity (CCCC). Also, national GLOBEC programmes were already established in 9 nations.

• Journal of Marine Bioscience and Biotechnology
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2008

Angola has a coastline of about 1,650 km long. Two diverging current namely, the Angola current with its warm water from the north and the cold Benguella Current in the south create a strong up-welling with a high productive ecosystem for marine resources. The area from Lobito to the mouth of the Cunene River, also known as the Southern fishing zone is by far the most productive of Angola's fishing zones. In 1977, the total potential of its marine fisheries sector was estimated at more than 700,000 tonnes per annum. In 2003, the Total Allowable Catch (TAC) established for demersal species was 57,600 tonnes and 160,000 tonnes for pelagic species. The most important resources are various marine demersal and pelagic fish including pilchard and the Cape and Cunene horse Mackerel (Tranchurus capensis and T. trecae). Sardinellas (Sardinella aurita and S. maderensis) are fished in parallel with horse mackerel. The rest of the catches are mainly demersal spp. and some deep water crustaceans. The demersal sppecies consist of Hake (Merluccius polli and M. capensis) and the large eye dentex spp. Tunas are caught at certain times of the year whilst some marine shrimp are also harvested from the Angolan waters. Angola also has several high value freshwater fish species, exploited by about 255 fishers. Tilapia sp. is among the most important and abundant fresh water fish found in Angola. Other species include the catfish (Clarias gariepinus) and fresh water prawns (Macrobrachuin rosenbergii). Some aquaculture ponds have been established in the country side, but due to lack of investment, proper training and the impact of civil war have seriously limited developments in the sub sector.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.256-264
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• 2024

Small pelagic fish populations have long been exploited by various fishing gears in the Natuna Sea, and since the 1970s, purse seine exploitation has expanded to offshore fishing grounds. Various small pelagic fish species are exploited from these waters including spotted sardinella (Amblygaster sirm). This research was conducted for 22 months, from March 2019 to December 2020. The fish sample was taken from the purse seine fleet's catch in the fisheries management area (FMA) 711 Natuna Sea and Karimata Strait, which was brought to Pemangkat fishing port in the West Kalimantan Province, Indonesia. This paper aims to determine the exploitation status of spotted sardinella in the Natuna Sea as a recommendation material for management policies. The methods used in this analysis are estimated age, cohort, population parameters, and spawning potential ratio of spotted sardinella. The results show three primary cohorts of spotted sardinella in the Natuna Sea, with ages ranging from 9 months to 3.1 years and a maximum attainable age (longevity) of 4.3 years. The asymptotic value (L_∞) is 21.79 cmFL in length, with a growth rate (K) of 0.65 per year. The natural mortality rate (M) was 1.19, the total mortality rate (Z) was 2.19, and the fishing mortality rate (F) was 0.99. The exploitation rate (E) was 0.45 and the stock status was still in a sustainable condition. Therefore, the sardinella fisheries can be developed using a precautionary approach and focus on the ecosystem sustainability of FMA 711.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.21 no.10
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• pp.1275-1286
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• 2012

Coastal marine ecosystem plays important role of spawning and nursery grounds for fisheries resources. Yongil Bay is one of major coastal marine ecosystems, which is located in the southwestern East Sea of Korea. Species composition and abundance of marine organism in the Yongil Bay were investigated by season from March to November 2009. Gill net and pot fisheries were used for survey of pelagic and demersal species composition, and collected 106 species, 67 families, and 7 taxa of fisheries resources from the coastal ecosystem. Species were included 2 species in Ascidiacea, 2 species in Bivalvia, 6 in Cephalopoda, 22 in Crustacea, 5 in Echinodermata, 12 in Gastropoda, and 57 in Pisces. Diversity indices (Shannon index, H') showed seasonal variation with low value of 2.11 in winter, and high value of 2.63 in autumn. Main dominant species were Asterias amurensis, Pleuronectes yokohamae, Siphonalia spadicea fuscolineata, Trachurus japonicas, Sillago japonica, Conger myriaster, Volutharpa ampullaceal, Engraulis japonicus, Asterina pectinifera, and Portunus (Portunus) sanguinolentus that were occupied over 71.5% of total individuals, and 52.9% of wet weight. Seasonal variations of fisheries resources composition were discussed on correlationships with those of environmental factors in the coastal ecosystem of the Yongil Bay in Korea. Those results from this study will provide scientific data and information to develop the ecosystem-based coastal fisheries assessment and management system in Korea.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.45-67
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• 2008

Ocean climate variables ($1900{\sim}2005$), time series of catches ($1910{\sim}2005$) and body size data were used to assess the year-to-year and decadal scale fluctuations in abundance of the fish populations (Japanese sardine, anchovy, jack mackerel, chub mackerel, Pacific saury and common squid) that have spawning grounds in the East China Sea and its adjacent regions. A negative correlation between the abundance of pelagic fishes (e.g. jack mackerel) in the Tsushima Warm Current (TWC) region and the Kuroshio-Oyashio Current (KOC) region was attributed to the climatic modulation of larval transport and recruitment, which depends on the winter monsoon-induced drift, current systems, and spawning season and site. The changes in abundance and alternation of dominant fish populations in the two regions in the 1930s, 1970s, and late 1980s mirrored changes in the climate indices (ALPI, AOI and MOI). Oscillations in the decadal climate shifts between the two regions led to zonal differences in larval transport and recruitment, and hence differences in the abundance of the pelagic fish populations. During deep Aleutian Lows, as in the 1980s, larval transport from the East China Sea to the KOC region increases in association with the strong winter Asian monsoon, cool regime and increased volume transport of the Kuroshio Current systems, whereas during a weak Aleutian Low (as in the 1990s), larval transport to the TWC region increased in association with a weak winter Asian monsoon, a warm regime, and increased volume transport of the Tsushima current system. We postulate that the increased chub mackerel abundance in the TWC region and the decreased abundance in the KOC region in the 1990s are partly attributed to changes in recruitment and availability to the fishing fleets under the warm regime in the spawning and nursery grounds in the East China Sea in association with the quasi-steady state of mild winter monsoon in the 1990s. The fluctuations in chub mackerel and jack mackerel abundance are under the environment-dependant growth form, although the tropicalization was identified in the TWC region. The density-dependant growth form was found in Japanese sardine populations, but no tropicalization by fishing was identified in the long ($10{\sim}15$ year) periods of abundance despite their short ($3{\sim}4$ year) generation time, suggesting that the environment-dependant growth form drove the changes in abundance. Year-to-year and decadal scale variations in abundance and population structure of the Pacific saury responded to climate regime shifts (1976/1977, 1988/1989), suggesting that the fish is a key bio-indicators for changes in the ecosystem.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.184-195
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• 2005

A preliminary quantitative model of the trophic structure in Gwangyang bay, Korea was obtained using ECOPATH and data from relevant studies to date in the region. The model integrates and analyzes biomass, food spectrum, trophic interactions and the key trophic pathways of the system. The bay model comprises 9 groups of benthic primary producer, phytoplankton, zooplankton, benthos, bivalve, pelagic fish, demersal fish and piscivorous fish. The total system throughput was estimated at $2.4\;kgWW/m^2/yr$, including a consumption of $41\%$, exports of $9\%$, respiratory flows of $24\%$ and flows into detritus of $26\%$. All of which originate from primary producers measured at $52\%$ and detritus of $48\%$. The total biomass was seen to be high compared to the levels of Somme, Delaware, Chesapeake Bays and Seine Estuary. This seems to be possibly due to artificial bivalve aquaculture and overestimation of benthos and benthic primary producer groups. The deviation can be calibrated by neglecting aquaculture and decreasing the habitat area for the groups. The trophic network of the bay shows a low level of recycling and organization as indicated by Finn's cycling index $3.3\%$, Ascendancy $3.1\;kgC/m^2/yr$ bits, Capacity $5.1\;kgC/m^2/yr$ bits and Redundancy $2.2\;kgC/m^2/yr$ bits. A high relative ascendancy of $62\%$ and a low internal relative ascendancy of $18\%$ indicate the system is not fully organized and stable towards disturbances, depending upon external connections. Although the model should be continuously provided with field data and calibrated further in depth, this study is the first trophic model applied to the region. The model can be a useful tool to understand the ecosystem in a quantitative manner.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.386-394
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• 2002

Carrying capacity model focused on interactions between the filter-feeder growth and their environments is presented, and differences among existing various carrying capacity models are reviewed. For carrying capacity modeling of shellfish system, we constructed a new numerical model coupled oyster growth model with an ecosystem model (EUTRP2). Physical and biological processes such as water transport and mixing, primary production, feeding and growth of the cultivated oyster, Crassostrea gigas and benthic-pelagic exchange were included in the model, Simulated results for validation showed that the more phytoplankton biomass decreased, the more oyster meat weight and nutrients increased, suggesting a powerful tool for reasonable management of shellfish aquaculture. The model was sensitive to parameters controlling the primary production. Among the ecosystem compartments, the oyster growth is highly influenced by small changes in the physiological parameters of phytoplankton and oyster. This sensitivity analysis indicated the importance of experimental data on biological parameters for calibration of the model.