Adonis multiflora is a spring ephemeral herb growing in temperate deciduous forests. To determine the flowering properties of a natural population of A. multiflora, air temperature, flowering time, and flower-falling were monitored from February 2009 to May 2011. The A. multiflora population in this study started flowering in early March and ended it in mid-April. The average flowering duration of a flower was 14.4 days in 2009 and 19.6 days in 2011. The average duration of flower-falling was between 3.4 days and 4.2 days for three years. Cumulative flowering rate (CFR) was correlated with year day (YD), year day index (YDI), and Nuttonson’s index (Tn), with correlation coefficients (CC) of over 0.9 at the 1% significance level; CC value between CFR and YD was the largest and that between CFR and YDI was the smallest. However, at the 5% significance level, CFR was closely related with Tn more than any other factors. The CCs between flowering times of two years in each plant were high and significant at 1% level. The YD value of flowering time of a flower was inversely related to its flowering duration significantly for three years. In a given plant, when more flowering started early, the flowering duration was longer. The first flower blossomed on 73.4 YD in 2010 and 78.9 YD in 2011, and remained for 16.7 days in 2009 and 27.4 days in 2011, respectively; the fifth flower developed on 92.5 YD in 2010 and 96.6 YD in 2011, and remained for 8.0 days in 2009 and 14.6 days in 2011. The YD differences between the flowering times of two flowers decreased in the order of inflorescence.
A natural population of Adonis multiflora, a spring ephemeral herb growing in temperate deciduous forests, was studied to determine the seed production characteristics. Plant size, flowering time, and seed number were monitored from February 2009 to May 2011 in main growing season (i.e., from March through May). The biomass rates of the shoot and the root in the A. multiflora population were 22-24% and 76-78%, respectively, and the biomass of the root was proportional to that of the shoot. The flowering rate was 60% in the plants with 1 to 2 g of shoot biomass, and 100% in the plants with>2 g of shoot biomass. In the plants with root biomass between 4 and 6 g, the flowering rate was 43% and, in the plants with the root biomass over 8 g, it was 100%. The shoot biomass was a better predictor of the flower production probability than the root biomass. The number of flowers and seeds was closely correlated to shoot biomass at 1% significance level. The size of the plant that produced seed excessively instead of the shoot biomass in one year typically decreased in the next year and vice versa. The flowering time and its duration were closely related to the number of faithful seeds but not to that of total seeds. The number of faithful seeds was proportionate to flowering duration and inversely proportionate to flowering time (year day, YD). In a plant, the number of faithful seeds noticeably decreased with the inflorescence (i.e., order of flower in a plant), and this difference between the two successive flowers was significant at the 1% level between the first and the third flower in 2009 and 2011 but not between the third and the fourth. However, the number of total seeds was mostly similar in the first through the fourth flower for all three years.
This study was conducted to develop allometric equations and to determine the stem density and biomass expansion factor (BEF) for the estimation of the aboveground and belowground biomass of Cryptomeria japonica in Jeju Island, Korea. A total of 18 trees were harvested from the 40-year-old C. japonica stands in Hannam experimental forest, Jeju Island. The mean biomass of the C. japonica was 50.4 Mg ha-1 in stem wood, 23.1 Mg ha-1 in root, 9.6 Mg ha-1 in branch, 4.6 Mg ha-1 in needle and 4.3 Mg ha-1 in stem bark. The diameter at breast height (DBH) was selected as independent variable for the development of allometric equations. To evaluate the performance of these equations, coefficient of determination (R2) and root mean square error (RMSE) were used and results of the evaluation showed that R2 ranged from 71% (root biomassequation) to 96% (aboveground biomass equation) and the RMSE ranged from 0.10 (aboveground biomass equation) to 0.33 (root biomass equation). The mean stem density of C. japonica was 0.37 g cm-3 and the mean aboveground BEF was 1.28 g g-1. Furthermore, the ratio of the root biomass to aboveground biomass was 0.32.
Seasonal monitoring was implemented to understand the influence of macrophyte bed structure on the composition and trophic interaction of aquatic organisms (algae, zooplankton, macro-invertebrate, and fish) in a shallow wetland (Upo Wetland, South Korea). Distinct division of the plant assemblage (reed zone and mixed plant zone) was observed. The reed zone was composed solely of Phragmites communis, whereas the mixed plant zone comprised a diverse macrophyte assemblage (Salvinia natans, Spirodela polyrhiza, Trapa japonica, Ceratophyllum demersum, and Hydrilla verticillata). Most of the aquatic organisms were more abundant in the mixed plant zone than in the reed zone, and this was positively associated with the seasonal development of macrophyte cover. Stable isotope analysis showed seasonal interactions among aquatic organisms. The majority of aquatic animal (zooplankton, Odonata, and Ephemeroptera) were dependent on epiphytic particulate organic matter (EPOM), and the dependence on EPOM gradually increased toward autumn. Interestingly, Lepomis macrochirus consumed Ephemeroptera and zooplankton in both macrophyte zones, but Micropterus salmoides depended on different food items in the reed zone and the mixed plant zone. Although, M. salmoides in the reed zone showed food utilization similar to L. macrochirus, it consumed Odonata or small L. macrochirus in the mixed plant zone. Based on these results, it appears that differences in the structure of the two macrophyte zones support different assemblages of aquatic organisms, strongly influencing the trophic interactions between the aquatic organisms.
The chances of accidental exposure are augmented as the application of ionizing radiation increases in various fields. Such accidental exposures may occur at nuclear power plants, laboratories, and hospitals. Cytogenetic assays have been used for estimating radiation dose in the situation of the accidents. The micronucleus assay has several advantages over the other cytogenetic methods as it is simple and fast. The present study aimed at investigation of the micronuclei frequencies in cytokinesis-block cells in human blood lymphocytes after γ-irradiation and at establishment of a standard dose response relationship. The samples of peripheral blood were obtained from 6 different donors aged between 24 and 30 years old. The bloods were irradiated in vitro with 0-5 Gy. A linear quadratic dose-response equation was obtained by scoring the micronuclei in binucleated cells; y = 27.87x2 + 46.13x + 2.08 (r2 = 0.99). Irradiation caused a significant decrease in the nuclear division index. Necrotic and apoptotic cells increased in number after irradiation in a dose-dependent manner. In conclusion, the conventional cytokinesis-block micronucleus assay has proven to be the great technique in biological dosimetry. Dose-response calibration curve derived from CMBN assay could be used to estimate the exposure dose during a radiological emergency.
To date, no study has reported detailed morphological characteristics of Korean sea turtles. Due to the lack of such basic information on Korean sea turtles, further related studies have been difficult in South Korea. In this report, we determined the species and the sex of the one sea turtle caught from the Yellow Sea of Korea (Taean-gun, Chungcheongnamdo) on July 17, 2013, and described its detailed morphological characteristics. The sea turtle was identified as a loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) by the presence of an interprefrontal scale on the head. The turtle had three times longer length between the edge of anal scute to the anus than that between the anus to tip of the tail, and the size of a pair of claws on the flippers were distinctively different, suggesting that the turtle was a male. Finally, the assumption that the sea turtle might be sexually mature is based on its body weight (59.95 kg), the maximum straight length of the carapace (72.5 cm), and the worn serrated parts at the edge of supracaudal scutes. The loggerhead sea turtle described in this study is the firstrecord from the Yellow Sea of Korea.
This study was undertaken to suggest an effective fisheries resources management system by using stock assessment and potential yield analyses of crucian carp population in the mid-upper system of the Seomjin River. Fieldwork was conducted seasonally from 2008 to 2009 in the mid-upper system of the Seomjin River. The stock assessment was carried out by the swept area method and the potential yield was estimated by improved fisheries resource potential estimation system based on the Allowable Biological Catch. Also, the yield-per-recruit analysis was used to review the efficient management implication of the resource, Carassius auratus. As a result, the age at first capture (tc) was estimated as 1.468 year, converted body length (BL) was 10.8 cm. Meaning the current fishing intensities, the instantaneous coefficient of fishing mortality (F) was 0.067 year-1, and the yield-per-recruit analysis showed that the current yield per recruit was estimated to be 15.999 g with F and tc. The instantaneous rate of fishing mortality that provides for Allowable Biological Catch (FABC) based on the current tc and F was estimated as 0.618 year-1. Therefore, the optimum fishing intensities could be achieved at the higher fishing intensity for Carassius auratus. The calculated annual stock of C. auratus was estimated as 7,608 kg, and the potential yield was estimated as 343 kg with tc and F at the fixed current level. Using yield-per-recruit analysis, if F and tc were set at 0.618 year-1 and 2 year, the yield per recruit and total allowable catch would be predicted to increase to 62 g and 2,531 kg by about 3.9 times and 7.3 times, respectively.
We conducted a distributional survey of Pectinatella magnifica, an invasive species, in the Geum River and the NakdongRiver from July 12 to July 25, 2014. The spacing between the study sites was 10 km along the main channels for the GeumRiver (n = 12, 120 km) and the Nakdong River (n = 38, 380 km) from the estuarine barrage to upper part of main channel. Pectinatella magnifica was detected along the riparian zone (within 100 m) at each of the study sites. Presence rateof P. magnifica in Geum River and Nakdong River was 25% and 32.6%, respectively. The colony number of P. magnificaat Geum River (9.5 ± 3.1 colony/m, n = 3) was over 94 fold higher than that in the Nakdong River (0.1 ± 0.1 colony/m, n= 16). The Total length distribution of P. magnifica had a truncated bell shape at each rivers (mean length: 14.0 ± 1.2 cmfor Geum River (n = 32), and 16.8 ± 1.4 cm for Nakdong River (n = 52)). These findings could provide basic informationregarding the distribution pattern of P. magnifica in a new invasion area.
Feeding behavior of Temora turbinata was investigated through laboratory experiments with special emphasis on its foodpreference and consequent clearance rate on diatom and microbial components given as common natural food assemblageof coastal area (Uchiumi, Uwa Sea, Japan). Among available prey items, T. turbinata showed the highest clearancerate for Thalassiosira spp. (0.23 ± 0.08 L Temora-1 day-1) followed by Chaetoceros spp. (0.11 ± 0.03 L Temora-1 day-1), butclearance rates for other diatom, Nitzschia spp. was lower (0.03 to 0.07 L Temora-1 day-1). Bacterial abundances showed noresponse against 24-h feeding of T. turbinata. Feeding of T. turbinata on heterotrophic nanoflagellates (HNF) was apparentwhen clearance rates of T. turbinata on diatoms were relatively low, but T. turbinata did not consume HNF as well asciliates with Thalassiosira spp. of which clearance rate was highest. The results suggest that HNF and ciliates are possiblesupplementary prey item for T. turbinata, but their contribution as food sources can be limited by the presence of otherprey items such as preferable diatom species.
A study on indigenous diatoms was carried out at 49 sites from November 2008 to December 2012 in the marine andbrackish plankton and benthic ecosystem in Korea. The structure of small-sized pennate diatoms was examined bymeans of light and scanning electron microscopy. Twenty species of diatoms were newly identified and divided into fiveorders, 18 families, and nine genera in this study. The nomenclature, references, specimens examined, specimen descriptions,photographs, and distribution profiles are reported here. The newly reported pennate diatoms imply several reasonswhy these taxa have not been recorded previously in Korea and we present the strategy to understand the diversityof diatoms in Korea.
To collect the diatom species belonging to the genus Hantzschia, bottom sediments were collected from 32 samplingsites in 23 sand-flat areas in the intertidal zone and river reaches of Nakdong River estuary, Korea. The sand sedimentscontained a total of 19 species of genus Hantzschia, Hantzschia amphioxys (Ehrenberg) Grunow, H. amphioxys f. capitataO. Müller, H. baltica Simonsen, H. distinctepunctata (Hustedt) Hustedt, H. elegantula (Østrup) Witkowski et al., H. longiareolataGarcia-Baptista, H. marina (Donkin) Grunow, H. pseudomarina Hustedt, H. virgata (Roper) Grunow, H. virgatavar. gracilis Hustedt, H. virgata var. kariana Grunow, H. virgata var. leptocephala Østrup and H. weyprechtii Grunow,including six unconfirmed species. Eleven Hantzschia species are reported as new to Korea. Hantzschia virgata, its infraspecies,and neighboring speceis showed large morphological variations within a single species or among the closelyrelated species. Hantzschia amphioxys, H. distinctepunctata, and H. virgata var. leptocephala prefer freshwater habitatsin the upper reaches of the river, while others occurred mainly in the sand flats composed of coarse sand in the intertidalarea. In the estuarine sediments, the Hantzschia taxa are classified to be typical sand-attached forms.
In a survey of periphytic and benthic diatoms in Korea, diatoms of genus Stauroneis were found to be widely distributedover freshwaters, rivers and streams, lakes and reservoir, wetlands in lowland and mountain areas, and even subaerialterrestrial habitats. However, it is clear that Stauroneis diatoms prefer peatlands, which can be more or less acidic or oligotrophicenvironments in freshwaters. In this study, Staurones diatoms were collected mainly from mountain peatlands. Twenty five taxa were confirmed to be species, while some specimens remain unidentified. Approximately twenty specieshave been reported in Korea in the past, but these are largely S. anceps Ehremberg sensu lato, S. phoenicenteron (Nitzsch)Eherenberg sensu lato, and their infraspecies variety or forma. Sixteen of the twenty five Stauroneis taxa found in thissurvey are reported for the first time in Korea.
The morphology of 26 species of the genus Tripos was studied among a total of 51 species of this genus, which were takenusing 20 μm net samples from June 2006 to January 2011 at 14 stations around Jeju Island. Of these, 23 species were firstdescribed as new records in Korean waters and 3 species were redescribed. Short descriptions and synonyms are givenfor each species in the present study. The dinoflagellates of family Ceratiaceae include marine and freshwater species,belonged to originally the genus Ceratium. Recently, this genus were divided into a new combination with the genus Tripos,which contains the marine species, and the original genus Ceratium, including the freshwater species. We used theTripos genus for the marine species in this study as a valid name.
The present study summarizes the occurrence, distribution and autecology of the genus Micrasterias Ralfs among desmidscollected from several swamps, reservoirs, rivers and high land wetlands in South Korea from 2009 to 2013. In total21 taxa of Micrasterias including three new species, Micrasterias spinosus sp. nov., M. jejuensis sp. nov. and M. koreanussp. nov., were identified. In this study, photomicrographs of all of these are provided and briefly discussed with regard totheir taxonomy, distribution and ecology within South Korea.
The present study summarizes the taxonomic notes and korean distribution of 29 taxa of the desmids (Chlorophyta)collected from several swamps, reservoirs, rivers, and high land wetlands in South Korea from 2009 to 2013. All of theseconsisting of 9 genera (Tetmemorus 1 taxon, Pleurotaenium 5 taxa, Triploceras 1 taxon, Euastrum 7 taxa, Cosmarium 6taxa, Staurastrum 5 taxa, Xanthidium 1 taxon, Hyalotheca 2 taxa, and Desmidium 1 taxon) are newly described in Koreanfreshwater algal flora. In this study, light microscopy of all of these are presented and briefly discussed with regard to theirtaxonomy, distribution and ecology within South Korea.
Aerial algae were sampled from 28 sites on rocks, tree barks, and mosses along the Hongcheon-river in Gangwon-do,Korea, from December 2011 to September 2012 and then cultivated. Seven genera and eight species of the order Chlorococcaleswere newly recorded in Korea. These were Spongiococcum tetrasporum, Tetracystis aggregata, Myrmecia bisecta,Coenocystis inconstans, Lobosphaeropsis pyrenoidosa, Pseudococcomyxa simplex, Coelastrella oocystiformis, and C. vacuolata. As a result, the known Korean flora of the order Chlorococcales now includes 12 families with 54 genera, 263 species,76 varieties, and 27 forma, giving a total of 366 taxa.
This research includes the identification and cultivation of aerial algae from 33 sites located in Mt. Gwanggyo of Gyeonggi-do, Korea, from March 2011 to August 2012. The ecological factors of aerial algae were analyzed and a total of 29 taxawere identified in 4 phyla, 5 classes, 11 orders, 15 families, 19 genera, 28 species and 1 variety; 12 taxa of cyanophytes, 8taxa of chrysophytes, and 9 taxa of chlorophytes were found. As for newly recorded cyanophytes of Korea, Komvophoronjovis, Microcoleus steenstrupii, and Nostoc edaphicum appeared. Komvophoron jovis, previously known to grow on rocksand boulders, appeared in soil. Microcoleus steenstrupii, reported to appear in desert soils, appeared on the wet surface ofthe soil after rain. Nostoc edaphicum, in symbiosis with fungi, appeared on tree bark as the lichen. Thus, there are a totalof 99 reported taxa of Korean aerial algae, including 3 species that were discovered in this study.
In this study, aquatic and aerial algae were collected in various environments in Hongcheon-river of Gangwan-do betweenDecember 2011 and June 2012, with the aim of adding newly described genera and species to the Korean flora. Asa result, five genera and eight species were recorded for the first time in Korea. These newly recorded genera and specieswere Cylindrocapsa geminella, Leptosira mediciana, Pseudendoclonium basiliense var. brandii, Stichococcus minor,S. deasonii, Eustigmatos polyphem, Nephrodiella lunaris, and Xanthonema exile. The eight taxa identified in this studymostly corresponded to their reported morphological characteristics. However, some differences from previous publisheddescriptions were found; N. lunaria, reported to be an aquatic species in a previous study, was found to be an aerialalgae inhabiting on rocks and mosses. Cylindrocapsa geminella was found to transform into attached or planktonic algaedepending on the environmental condition, and the cell wall was found to be changed. Likewise, E. polyphem was seen tochange cell-shape or chloroplast color according to the environment.
A study on fresh-water green coccoid algae was carried out at ponds, swamps, reservoirs, lakes and rivers (290 sites) fromMay 2011 to January 2014. In this study, 4 genera and 13 taxa of the family Radiococaceae having the remnants of cellwall existing for a long time in the colonial gelatinous envelope are classified and identified from 24 sites. Many taxa ofthis family, however, have not been recorded in Korea yet. Of these 13 taxa, 5 taxa are newly recorded in Korea by thisstudy: 1) Schizochlamydella solitaria, 2) Thorakochloris planktonica, 3) Radiococcus bavaricus, 4) R. nimbatus, and 5) R. planktonicus.
This study was carried out on freshwater chlorococcal green algae in ponds, swamps, reservoirs, lakes and rivers (290sites) from May 2012 to January 2014. The family Radiococaceae was identified and classified into 3 genera, 12 speciesand 1 variety at 23 sites. These taxa were Eutetramorus. nygaardii, E. tetraporus, E. planctonicus, E. fottii, E. globosus, E. polycoccus, Coenocystis planctonica, C. planctonica var. hercynica, C. micrococca, C. subcylindrica, Gloeocystis baneergattensis,G. papuana, and G. polydermatica. These taxa may or not had remnants of the cell wall in the colonial gelatinousenvelope for a short time. Of these, 2 taxa are newly recorded in Korea from this study: 1) C. micrococca and 2) G. polydermatica.
Two marine ulvalean species (Chlorophyta) were collected from the southern and eastern coasts of Korea. One is morphologicallycharacterized by usually unbranched or little branched ribbon-shaped thalli, fronds with spirally twistedbasal portions and usually undulate margins and 1 (-2) pyrenoids per cell. The other has irregularly shaped thalli, undulateand dentate margins in the fronds, small macroscopic denticulations along the margin and (1-) 2-3 pyrenoids per cell. In phylogenetic tree based on molecular data, the two species nest in the same clade with Ulva flexuosa and U. rigida,respectively. These two Korean entities are identified as U. flexuosa and U. rigida, respectively, based on morphologicaland molecular analyses. This is the first record of Ulva flexuosa and U. rigida in Korea.
We propose Cryptonemia asiatica sp. nov. from Korea and Japan. We used molecular analyses of plastid-encoded rbcLand morphological observations to resolve the taxonomic identities of C. lactuca from Korea, C. luxurians from Japan,and C. seminervis from Spain. Specimens of C. lactuca and C. luxurians fell within the same molecular phylogenetic clade(with 100% bootstrap support) and were clearly separated from specimens of C. luxurians collected from the type localityin Brazil. Our analyses demonstrated identical molecular sequences between C. seminervis specimens from Spain andC. lomation specimens from France. Morphological characteristics of the new species, C. asiatica include prominentmidribs through the mid thallus, a cortex 4–6 cells thick, and a blade with undulate margins. Molecular evidence indicatesthat specimens from Korea and Japan previously assigned to C. lactuca and C. luxurians, respectively, should bereassigned to Cryptonemia asiatica. Binomial C. luxurians from Brazil should be resurrected as the independent speciesof Cryptonemia.
The genus Callophyllis is recorded as six separate species with imprecise species delimitation in Korea. To elucidatethe species boundaries of Korean Callophyllis, we performed morphological observations and molecular analyses, andincluded three Japanese Callophyllis species from the type locality. From the results of molecular analyses using plastidrbcL and mitochondrial COI-5P genes, we confirmed ten Callophyllis species, including five cryptic ones: C. adhaerens,C. adnata, C. crispata, and C. japonica from Korea and Japan; C. hayamensis as an unrecorded species from Korea; C. cartilaginea, C. mollitia, C. repens, C. serratifolia, and C. undulata as new species from Korea. There were no Koreanspecimens that matched C. adnata or C. crispata from Japan, except Korean C. japonica, which formed a genetic groupwith the Japanese species. We obtained the interspecific divergences among the five cryptic species as 0.6–4.5% in rbcLand 2.8–8.4% in COI-5P. We recognized that the species diversity of Callophyllis has been underestimated from the northwesternPacific region. The species boundary of Callophyllis from Korea and Japan will be a cornerstone to revealing thephylogenetic affinity of the genus distributed in both hemispheres of the western Pacific.