• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
• /
• v.20 no.3
• /
• pp.141-150
• /
• 2015

Dinoflagellates are ubiquitous and important primary producers in the oceans. They have diverse trophic modes, i.e., phototrophic, heterotrophic, and mixotrophic modes and thereby, play important ecological role in marine microbial food-web. While many studies have been focused on planktonic dinoflagellates in pelagic ecosystems, benthic, sand-dwelling dinoflagellates that inhabit in intertidal zone have been very poorly documented worldwide. We investigated biodiversity, occurrence, and molecular phylogeny of benthic, sand-dwelling dinoflagellates from the intertidal flat of Dongho, west coast of Korea during low-tide, monthly from November 2012 to February 2014. About 27 species of 13 genera in orders Gonyaulacales, Gymnodiniales, Peridiniales, Prorocentrales have been identified, of which members in the genus Amphidinium constituted a major part of the sand-dwelling dinoflagellates in this area. A total of 34 isolates from 16 species of the sand-dwelling dinoflagellates were isolated from Dongho, Mohang, Gamami, and Songho in the west coast and Hyupjae in Jeju of Korea, their 28S rDNA sequences were successfully amplified, and applied for molecular phylogenetic analyses. In the 28S rDNA phylogeny, Amphidinium species diverged across three major clusters within the order Gymnodiniales and formed polyphyletic group. Based on the unambiguously aligned partial 28S rDNA sequences including variable D2 region, the genotypes of Amphidinium mootonorum Korean strains greatly differed from that of Canadian strain with 19.2% of pairwise nucleotide difference, suggesting that further ultrastructural studies may provide additional characters to clearly separate these genotypes. Two potential toxic species, Amphidinium carterae and A. operculatum appeared occasionally during this study. Quantitative assessment and toxicity of those species should be addressed in the future.

• ALGAE
• /
• v.30 no.1
• /
• pp.35-47
• /
• 2015

The marine sand-dwelling dinoflagellate Polykrikos lebourae possesses obvious gold-brown pigmented plastids as well as taeniocyst-nematocyst complex structures. Despite of the presence of the visible plastids, previous attempts to establish this species in culture all failed and thus the unavailability of cultures of this species has posed a major obstacle to further detailed exploration of ecophysiology of the dinoflagellate. Here, we isolated P. lebourae from sandy sediment of an intertidal flat on Korean western coast, successfully established it in culture, and have been maintaining the stock culture over the past 3 years. Using this stock culture, we explored phagotrophy and potential prey resources of P. lebourae, growth and grazing responses of P. lebourae to different prey organisms, the effect of prey concentration on growth and grazing rates and gross growth efficiency (GGE) of P. lebourae when fed three different prey organisms, and the growth kinetics of P. lebourae under different light regimes. P. lebourae captured prey cells using a tow filament and then phagocytized them through the posterior end. The dinoflagellate was capable of ingesting a broad range of prey species varying in size, but not all prey species tested in this study supported its sustained growth. GGE of P. lebourae was extremely high at low prey concentration and moderate or low at high prey concentrations, indicating that P. lebourae grows heterotrophically at high prey concentrations but its growth seems to be more dependent on a certain growth factor or photosynthesis of plastids derived from the prey. In the presence of prey in excess, P. lebourae grew well at moderate light intensity of $40{\mu}mol$ photons $m^{-2}s^{-1}$, but did not grow at dim and high (10 or $120{\mu}mol$ photons $m^{-2}s^{-1}$) light intensities. Our results suggest that the benthic dinoflagellate P. lebourae is an obligate mixotroph, requiring both prey and light for sustained growth and survival.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
• /
• v.22 no.2
• /
• pp.65-74
• /
• 2011

The Scarites aterrimus (Coleoptera: Carabidae), is one of the carabid beetles dwelling exclusively on coastal sandy dunes. Habitat deterioration and equivalent activity have greatly concerned population declines in several species dwelling on the coastal sandy dunes. As a first step to establish long-term conservation strategy, we investigated the nation-wide magnitude and nature of genetic diversity of the species. As a first step, we sequenced a portion of mitochondrial COI gene, corresponding to "DNA Barcode" region (658 bp) from a total of 24 S. aterrimus individuals collected over nine sandy dunes belonging to four Korean provinces. The sequence analysis evidenced moderate to low magnitude of sequence diversity compared with other insect species distributed in Korean peninsula (0.152% to 0.912%). The presence of closely related haplotypes and relatively high gene flow estimate collectively suggest that there had been no historical barriers that bolster genetic subdivision. Population decline was postulated on the basis of several missing haplotypes that are well found in the species with a large population size. This interpretation is consistent with field observation of small population size in the coastal sandy dune habitats. The highest genetic diversity estimates were found in the coastal sand dune population of Seogwipo, Jeju Island, justifying a prior attention to the population, in order to sustain overall genetic diversity of the species. Further scrutinized study might be required for further robust conclusion.

• Ecology and Resilient Infrastructure
• /
• v.4 no.1
• /
• pp.44-53
• /
• 2017

In order to investigate the response in fauna and biological communities of terrestrial insects to the vegetation encroachment on the sandbar, species composition, species diversity, functional species traits and community structure of land-dwelling insects sampled by a pit-fall trap were compared at the bare and vegetated sandbar of a typical sand-bed stream, the Naeseong Stream, Korea. Species diversity of the insects was increased but their density was decreased as the riparian vegetation encroached at the sandbar. In particular, indicator species of bare sandbar such as Cicindela laetescripta and Dianemobius csikii, were found at the bar sandbar. The insect communities were clearly classified at the bare and vegetated sandbar according to coverages of riparian plants. The food web of the bare sandbar was composed of detritus - detritivore and scavenger - predator consisted mainly of Coleoptera. On the other hand, the food web of the vegetated sandbar was composed of plants - sucking and chewing herbivore - parasitoid and predator. These results showed that biodiversity of terrestrial insects was increased, food web was changed from grazing to detritus food chain, and insect fauna specific bare sandbar disappeared as the riparian vegetation invaded on the sandbar of a sand-bed stream.

• ALGAE
• /
• v.36 no.4
• /
• pp.241-261
• /
• 2021

Amphidinium species are amongst the most abundant benthic dinoflagellates in marine intertidal sandy ecosystems. Some of them produce a variety of bioactive compounds that have both harmful effects and pharmaceutical potential. In this study, Amphidinium cells were isolated from intertidal sand collected from the East China Sea. The two strains established were subjected to detailed examination by light, and scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The vegetative cells had a minute, irregular, and triangular-shaped epicone deflected to the left, thus fitting the description of Amphidinium sensu stricto. These strains are distinguished from other Amphidinium species by combination characteristics: (1) longitudinal flagellum inserted in the lower third of the cell; (2) icicle-shaped scales, 276 ± 17 nm in length, on the cell body surface; (3) asymmetrical hypocone with the left side longer than the right; and (4) presence of immotile cells. Therefore, they are described here as Amphidinium stirisquamtum sp. nov. The molecular tree inferred from small subunit rRNA, large subunit rRNA, and internal transcribed spacer-5.8S sequences revealed that A. stirisquamtum is grouped together with the type species of Amphidinium, A. operculatum, in a fully supported clade, but is distantly related to other Amphidinium species bearing body scale. Live A.stirisquamtum cells greatly affected the survival of rotifers and brine shrimp, their primary grazers, making them more susceptible to predation by the higher tropic level consumers in the food web. This will increase the risk of introducing toxicity, and consequently, the bioaccumulation of toxins through marine food webs.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
• /
• v.40 no.4
• /
• pp.497-509
• /
• 2022

A strain of Amphidinium species was established from samples collected from the intertidal zone of a sandy beach of Jeju Island, Korea. Its cells were 13.0-15.0 ㎛ in length and 10.0-13.0 ㎛ in width. Its cell shape was round or oval and dorsoventrally flat. A pyrenoid was located in the center of the cell and a nucleus was posteriorly located. Its epicone was small and left-deflecting. Its cingulum had V-shape on the ventral side, forming a ventral ridge and extending to the sulcus. Polygonal amphiesmal vesicles and ring-shaped body scales not described previous were observed on the surface of the cell. Its morphological features were consistent with those of previously described Amphidinium fijiense. Phylogeny based on ITS region and LSU rDNA sequences revealed that this Amphidinium isolate was clearly clustered with other A. fijiense strains, but separated from other Amphidinium species. These results indicate that this Amphidinium isolate is A. fijiense. This study reports its presence for the first time in the intertidal zone of a sandy beach of Jeju Island, Korea.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.56 no.4
• /
• pp.375-383
• /
• 2023

To determine the cause of the population decline in Gobiobotia naktongensis, substrate preference and burying behaviour were investigated in this study. In general, the species was shown to prefer a substrate size of 1 mm or less, depending on the flow. In addition, the burying depth varied according to the size of the fish and increased with a decrease in water temperature. Our findings showed that the main cause of the population reduction was the physical changes in the substrate structure due to the dams or barrages construction. Notably, the accumulation of silt and mud in the substrate upon the formation of an upstream lentic water region for structural construction and bed armouring caused by scouring and reduced downstream inflow of fine sediment were deterministic in the fish habitat changes, causing problems in burying. As sand substrate structure is critical for the survival and inhabitation of psammophilous species, efficient strategies should be developed with proper habitat management to reduce the anthropogenic damage

• Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
• /
• v.8 no.2
• /
• pp.77-85
• /
• 2006

Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) have been used as biological control agents for control of various agro-forest insect pests, and are especially effective against soil-dwelling insect pests. Effect of soil moisture on pathogenicity of commercial EPNs for white grub control was evaluated in laboratory, pots, and golf courses. Pathogenicity of EPNs in sand column was variable depending on depth, soil moisture, and EPN species or strain. All tested EPNs (Heterorhabditis sp. GSNUH1, Heterorhabditis sp. GSNUH2, Steinernema carpocapsae GSN1, and S. longicaudum Nonsan strain) showed similar pathogenicity against the bait insect, great wax moth (Galleria mellonella) larva at 2 cm deep at a given soil moisture. However, pathogenicity of the Heterorhabditis sp. GSNUH1 strain was decreased with increasing soil moisture. Pathogenicity of S. carpocapsae GSN1 strain was the lowest in 3% soil moisture (v/w) at 7 cm depth. However, there was no difference in pathogenicity between Heterorhabditis sp. GSNUH2 and S. longicaudum Nonsan strain. Although pathogenicity of Heterorhabditis sp. KCTC 0991BP strain showed no difference against the 2nd instar of Exomala orientalis, that of the S. carpocapsae GSN1 strain was decreased in the laboratory depending on soil moisture. Highly pathogenic strain EPN, Heterorhabditis sp. KCTC 0991BP strain, showed higher pathogenicity at 100 mm irrigation than non-irrigation or 10 mm irrigation. However, poor pathogenic strain EPN, S. carpocapsae GSN1 strain, was not different in pathogenicity from the 2nd instar of Exomala orientalis in creeping bentgrass (Agrostis palustris) depending on irrigation amount in the pot. Pathogenicity of EPNs in field experiment at the tee of Ulsan golf club showed a similar trend to that in the pot experiment.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
• /
• v.32 no.2
• /
• pp.49-54
• /
• 2020

The morphometry and morphology of the olfactory organ of the southern king spine loach Iksookimia hugowolfeldi were investigated by stereo microscopy and statistical analysis. Its external morphology consists of two holes, the anterior and posterior nostrils. The anterior nostril (0.35~0.53 mm in diameter) forms tubular process protruding vertically from each side of the snout. The posterior nostril (0.32~0.68 mm in major diameter) is a eye-like hole parallel to the skin. Internally, the rosette structure is set with 14 to 21 lamellae and medium raphe on the inner floor. In morphometry, its lamellar number (male vs. female; 18±1.8 vs. 17±1.6, P<0.05) and lamellar number to standard length ratio (24.2±1.3% vs. 21.7±2.5%, P<0.05) was larger in male than female. The lamellar number and standard length have high correlation in male (P<0.001) but not in female (P=0.170). It seems that such characteristics of the olfactory organ of I. hugowolfeldi are related to its bottom-dwelling life which digs and takes a rest under sand and sexual dimorphism by a distinct degree in olfactory dependence for reproduction of each sex.