• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.33 no.4 s.92
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• pp.336-341
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• 2000

This study was conducted to clarify the habitat characteristics and distribution of seagrass. Zostera marina L. (Zosteraceae) in the brackish Hwajinpo Lake, Korea in June 1998 and July 2000. Z. marina beds were distributed along the sea-side cost of the lower lake mouth at 0.8 to 1.5m in death, and the seagrass bed area was about 3,200 m$^{2}$. Salinity, water temperature and pH were in the range of 8.0${\sim}$23.0$%_{o}$, 22.0${\sim}$23.7$^{\circ}C$ and 8.34${\sim}$8.62, respectively. Nutrient concentrations were generally now (TN: 24.34 ${\mu}$M, NH$_{4}$-N: 2.57 ${\mu}$M, NO$_{3}$-N: 0.56 ${\mu}$M, NO$_{2}$-N: 0.27 ${\mu}$M, TP: 2.08 ${\mu}$M, PO$_{4}$-P: 0.34 ${\mu}$M). Suspended particulate matters (SPM) concentration averaged 62.8 mg/l and particulate organic matter (POM) averaged 21.3 mg/l. Organic content of SPM averaged 33.9%. The beds substratum was composed of well-sorted, fine sand and its mean brain size was 3.13${\Phi}$. The Z. marina vegetation was almost submerged, and the morphological characteristics can be classified as steno-leaf phenotype by the shoot length, leaf width, and number of leaf vein. Shoot length and leaf width were 70.0${\sim}$126.5 cm and 5${\sim}$7 mm, respectively. Shoot densities ranged from 264 to 296/m$^{2}$, and the plants biomass was estimated at 332.6 to 373.0 g dw/m$^{2}$. Therefore, the habitats of Z. marina in Korea were recognized in a brackish lake, and morphological characteristics appeared to be variable.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.615-626
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• 2022

This study investigated the habitat characteristics and spawning ecology of Hippocampus haema (Syngnathidae) in Soando Island, Korea, from May 2015 to December 2016. The survey site where seahorses inhabit was mainly formed by seagrass of Zostera marina populations. Total density and biomass (Mean±SE) of Z. marina were the highest at 136±14.4 shoots/m² and 489.8g DW/m², respectively, in spring (May), while the total density was lowest at 93±7.0shoots/m²in autumn (October), and biomass was the lowest and at 122.3g DW/m² in winter (February). During the study period, 293 individuals were identified through a diving and kick net survey, and the total length of H. haema ranged from 10.1 to 87.0mm. Male individuals nurturing fertilized eggs or larvae appeared beginning in May and were collected until October in both 2015 and 2016. Juvenile individuals were captured beginning in July 2015 and June 2016. As a result of a comprehensive analysis of the spawning season characteristics, it was estimated that the spawning season of H. haema was from April to October. The number of fertilized egg or larvae inside the male brood pouch were 38.3±14.8 (20-76), and the number of fecundity identified from female were 47.2±8.6 (31-59). The male-to-female ratio of H. haema was 1:1.7, indicating the dominance of males.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.345-357
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• 2002

Ecological characteristics on habitats and morphological features of the seagrass Zostera caulescens Miki in Korea were examined. The biogeographical distribution of Z. caulescens was confirmed in the south coast of the Korea. Zostera caulescens usually inhabits at the inner bay, where is sheltered from wave action and 3.0 to 6.5 m deep. The sediment in habitats is composed of very fine muddy sand or sandy mud. In morphology, Z. caulescens is easily distinguished from other species of the genus by the formation of vegetative canopy on the top of reproductive stems. The number of longitudinal ribs in testa was 24 revealed by scanning electron microscope (SEM) while the number of ribs in Z. marina has been often reported to be 16-20. Purplish anthocyanin spots were displayed on the surface when the testa was removed. We found that the size and shape of leaf epidermal cells in Z. caulescens were very different from those of Z. marina when the leaf cuticles were removed by maceration which could be useful characters for identifying Zostera species. The leaf of Z. caulescens displays two different casts of color when the fresh plant is closely observed. The margins of leaves appear brighter than the center of leaves due to the thickening by the development of paralleled venation in the middle of leaves. The comparison of two populations of Z. caulescens in Korea showed that they were considerably different in their shoot density and biomass. The shoot density and biomass at Gabae population was $367.3 m^{-2}\;and\;725.7g$ dry wt $m^P{-2}$ respectively, while those at Jukrim population were $112.5m^{-2}\;and\;392.0g\;dry\;wt\;m^{-2}$, respectively.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.548-561
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• 2019

The surfgrass Phyllospadix japonicus is a dominant seagrass species playing critical ecological roles on the eastern coast of Korea. However, few studies have been conducted on the ecological characteristics of this species, generally due to the turbulent water conditions in its habitat. In this study, to examine the growth dynamics of P. japonicus, we investigated monthly changes in morphological characteristics, density, biomass, and leaf productivity as well as changes in the underwater irradiance, water temperature, and water column nutrient concentrations of its habitat from August 2017 to July 2018. Underwater irradiance and water temperature showed clear seasonal changes increasing in spring and summer and decreasing in fall and winter. Nutrient availability fluctuated substantially, but did not display any distinct seasonal trend. Morphological characteristics, shoot density, biomass, and leaf productivities of P. japonicus exhibited significant seasonal variations, increasing in spring and decreasing in fall months. Spadix of P. japonicus occurred from March to August, with the maximum spadix percentage(15.8%) occurred in May 2018. The average leaf productivity of P. japonicus per shoot and area were 2.1 mg sht^-1 d^-1 and 7.5 g m^-2 d^-1, respectively. The optimum water temperature for the growth of P. japonicus in this study was between 13-14℃. The productivity of P. japonicus was not correlated with underwater irradiance, water temperature and nutrient concentrations. These results suggest that the study site provide sufficient amount of underwater irradiance, suitable water temperature range and nutrients for the growth of P. japonicus.

• Journal of Korean Society of Coastal and Ocean Engineers
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.553-560
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• 2020

This paper presents an algorithm for identifying and eliminating errors by seagrasses in coastal bathymetry surveying using drone and HD camera. Survey errors due to seagrasses were identified, segmentated and eliminated using a L∗a∗b color space model. Bathymetry survey using a drone and HD camera has many advantages over conventional survey methods such as ship-board acoustic sounder or manual level survey which are time consuming and expensive. However, errors caused by sea bed reflectance due to seagrasses habitat hamper the development of new surveying tool. Seagrasses are the flowering plants which start to grow in November and flourish to maximum density until April in Korea. We developed a new algorithm for identifying seagrasses habitat locations and eliminating errors due to seagrasses to get the accurate depth survey data. We tested our algorithm at Wolpo beach. Bathymetry survey data which were obtained using a drone with HD camera and calibrated to eliminate errors due to seagrasses, were compared with depth survey data obtained using ship-board multi-beam acoustic sounder. The abnormal bathymetry data which are defined as the excess of 1.5 times of a standard deviation of random errors, are composed of 8.6% of the test site of area of 200 m by 300 m. By applying the developed algorithm, 92% of abnnormal bathymetry data were successfully eliminated and 33% of RMS errors were reduced.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.47-53
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• 2012

To evaluate adaptation success of $Zostera$ $caespitosa$ transplants, we transplanted the seagrass shoots at the bare area in close proximity to the donor bed using staple method in October 2005. Shoot density, morphological characteristics and leaf productivity of transplants and reference plants in the vicinity of the planting site were monitored monthly for 2 years. While shoot density of reference plants exhibited significant seasonal variations; increasing during spring and summer and decreasing during fall and winter, that of transplants increased consistently without initial loss during the whole study period. Although sheath length, leaf width and shoot height and weight of sheath, leaf and shoot of transplants were smaller than those of reference plants at the start of transplantation, increased rapidly reaching even higher values than those of reference plants 5 months after transplantation. Leaf productivity of transplants and reference plants showed seasonal variations; increasing during spring and summer and decreasing during fall and winter. But, leaf productivity of transplants increased at the beginning of transplantation during fall which is low production period. All of the $Z.$ $caespitosa$ transplants survived during the whole study period. Rapid changes in shoot morphology and growth of transplants indicated that $Z.$ $caespitosa$ transplants had great morphological plasticity and adapted successfully within 5 months.