한국 남해 동부 해역인 통영해역에 설치된 연안 수온 분석 결과, 태풍이 남해안에 상륙하기 전에 수온이 급격하게 상승한 것으 로 나타났다. 수온 상승은 표층(5m)은 물론 저층(15m)까지 같이 발생하였다. NOAA 위성에서 관측한 표면수온자료 분석 결과, 태풍이 상 륙하기 전 한국 남해 동부 해역의 동쪽 해역에 30℃의 수온을 가지는 해수가 존재하였다. 한국 남동해역은 대마난류에 의해 서쪽에서 동 쪽으로 해류가 우세한 지역이나 위성 자료 분석 결과, 30℃의 해수는 동쪽에서 서쪽으로 이동한 것으로 나타나 태풍 상륙 전에 태풍에 의 한 에크만 수송의 영향을 받은 것으로 나타났다. 또한 남해 동부 해역은 한국 동해 해역과 달리 수심이 깊지 않기 때문에 바람에 의한 연 직 혼합으로 인해 전 수층의 수온이 일정하게 나타날 수 있다. 수층별 수온 상승이 같은 날에 발생하였기 때문에 저층 수온 상승은 연직 혼합에 의한 결과라 볼 수 있다. 따라서 한국 남동해역은 태풍의 접근 방향과 고수온의 형성 위치에 따라 에크만 수송에 의해 수온이 급 상승할 수 있는 해역임을 알 수 있다.

To understand the spatiotemporal distribution pattern of zooplankton and the environmental factors influencing zooplankton abundance in Gomso Bay, major harvesting area of Manila clam (Venerupis philippinarum) in South Korea, zooplankton sampling was conducted four times in autumn (October 2022), winter (January 2023), early spring (March 2023), and spring (May 2023). Among the environmental factors of Gomso Bay, water temperature, chlorophyll a concentration (Chl-a), dissolved oxygen (DO), and pH observed different patterns, while salinity and suspended particulate matter (SPM) showed no significant statistical differences between the survey periods. The zooplankton in Gomso Bay occurred 33, 29, 27, and 29 taxonomic groups during each respective survey period. In October 2022 and May 2023, arthropod plankton were dominated, while in January and March 2023, protozoa were primarily dominant. Among the Arthropods, copepods including Acartia hongi, Paracalanus parvus s. l., Corycaeus spp., and Oithona spp. commonly found along Korean coastal areas of the Yellow Sea, were dominated. Cluster analysis based on zooplankton abundance indicated a single community (stable condition) in each season, attributed to low dissimilarity distances, while three distinct clusters (autumn, winter-early spring, spring) between seasons indicated a highly seasonal environment in Gomso Bay.

가을 한국 남해 서부 해역의 수괴분석 및 식물플랑크톤 군집의 공간분포 특성을 이해하기 위해 2021년 9월 15개 정점의 표층과 엽록소 a 최댓층 (CML)을 대상으로 조사하 였다. 결과, 수괴는 고온, 저염의 연안수 (CW), 고온, 고염 의 쓰시마난류 (TWC) 및 이 두 수괴의 혼합특성을 보이 는 혼합수 (MW)로 구분되었다. 용존산소 포화도는 표층에서는 95% 이상을 보이지만, CML 일부 해역은 낮은 불포화 상태를 보였고, 탁도는 표층과 저층 모두에서 농도가 높았다. 엽록소 a 농도는 표층이 0.90±0.43 μg L-1 변동 폭 으로 연안수에서 1.1 μg L-1 이상, 혼합수에서 1.0 μg L-1 전 후, 그리고 쓰시마난류에서 0.5 μg L-1 이하를 나타내었다. CML은 1.64±0.54 μg L-1 변동 폭으로 표층보다 약 2배 높았다. 식물플랑크톤 종 조성은 31속 57종으로 규조류가 57.8%, 와편모조류가 35.1%, 규질편모조류 5.3%, 그리고 은편모조류가 1.8%로 단조로웠다. 현존량은 표층이 4.6± 7.6 cells mL-1 변동 폭으로 연안에서 30 cells mL-1 이상, 혼 합수에서 2~5 cells mL-1, 그리고 쓰시마난류에서 2 cells mL-1 이하를 나타내었다. CML은 5.7±8.4 cells mL-1 변동 폭으로 표층보다 다소 높았다. 5% 이상 우점율을 보이는 우점종은 표층에서 Rhizosolenia flagilissima f. flagilissima, Skeletonema costatum-ls, Nitzschia sp./small size가 각 8.4%, 6.1%, 5.2% 순이었고, CML은 Rh. flagilisima f. flagilissima가 12.0%의 우점율을 나타내었으나, 낮은 현존량으로 우점 종에 대한 의미 부여가 어려웠다. 다양도 지수는 표층이 2.36±0.40 변동 폭으로 쓰시마난류에서 높고, 혼합수에서 낮았고, CML은 2.29±0.52 변동 폭으로 표층보다 다소 낮았다. 우점도 지수는 표층이 0.50±0.15 변동 폭으로 혼합 수에서 0.5 이상, 쓰시마난류에서 0.5 이하로 다양도와 다 른 특성을 보였다. 상관분석 및 주성분 분석 결과는 식물 플랑크톤 현존량은 연안수 및 혼합수에서 높고, 높은 탁도를 보인 일부 혼합수 및 쓰시마난류에서 낮은 것에서, 각 수괴의 확장 및 혼합 정도에 따라 식물플랑크톤 군집의 출현 및 분포에 커다란 영향을 미치는 것으로 판단되었다.

Diet composition and trophic level of Trachurus japonicus were studied using 417 specimens collected by trawls, set nets and purse seine fisheries from March 2019 to February 2020 in the South Sea of Korea. The size of T. Japonicus ranged from 7.0 to 49.8 cm in total length. T. japonicus were a carnivore that fed mainly on euphausiids and pisces. In eddition, T. japonicus fed on small quantities of cephalopods, crabs etc. T. japonicus showed ontogenetic changes in feeding habits. The proportion of euphausiids decreased inversely proportional to body size whereas the consumption of pisces gradually increased. As body size of T. japonicus increased the mean number of prey per stomach and the mean weight of prey per stomach tended to increase, but the mean number of prey per stomach was not significantly different. As a result of the feeding strategy analysis, T. japonicus were specialized feeders with pisces and euphausiids as their dominant prey. The trophic level ranged between 3.57 ± 0.54 and 3.91 ± 0.65, and increased asymptotically with size of specimens. The average trophic level of the T. japonicus was 3.79 ± 0.61.

A single juvenile malacanthid specimen (Hoplolatilus chlupatyi) was collected from the South Sea of Korea and identified by DNA barcoding. This species is readily distinguished from other malacanthid species in having well developed rostral spine and elongated spines in the posttemporal and preopercle. A molecular analysis based on mitochondrial DNA COI sequences showed that this species is matched to adult H. chlupatyi (genetic distance = 0.005). Therefore, this is the first record of H. chlupatyi in Korea. We propose new Korean names, “Mu-ji-gae-og-dom-sog” for the genus Hoplolatilus and “Mu-ji-gae-og-dom” for the species H. chlupatyi.

본 연구는 51년 장기(1967-2017년) 수온 관측자료와 ONI(Oceanic Niño Index)를 이용하여 El Niño와 La Niña가 한국 동해 연안용승 발생에 미치는 영향을 파악하였다. 수온의 시계열분석 결과 하계 연안용승 발생빈도가 동해남부(울기~감포) 연안에서 가장 높았다. 하계 ONI 가 2.5 이상 급감하는 연변동이 발생한 1987-1988년과 1997-1998년에 동해 전 연안역(부산~고성)의 수온이 4~7 ℃ 급상승하였다. ONI가 1.5 이상으로 El Niño가 강한 1987, 1997년과 ONI가 –0.8 이하로 La Niña가 강한 1988, 1998년 동해 연안역의 수온구조가 서로 다르게 나타 났다. El Niño가 강한 시기 연안해역의 이상 수온은 음의 값으로 비교적 차가운 냉수괴가 분포한다. 이는 수온 경계층경사(Baroclinic tilting) 가 강해 연안역의 수온 성층 형성 수심이 얕아지기 때문이다. La Niña가 강한 시기는 El Niño가 강한 시기와 반대로 이상 수온은 양의 값으 로 수온이 높게 나타났다. 또한 수온의 경계층경사가 El Niño가 강한 시기에 비해 약해 수온 성층이 El Niño가 강한 시기보다 깊은 곳에 형 성된다. El Niño가 강한 시기 얕은 수심에 수온성층이 형성되는 현상은 하계 남풍계열의 바람에 의한 연안용승이 발생할 확률을 높일 수 있다. 반대로 La Niña가 강한 시기에는 남풍계열의 바람이 지속적으로 불어도 연안용승이 발생할 확률이 작다. 왜냐하면, 수온성층이 El Niño가 강한 시기에 비해 깊은 수심에서 형성되기 때문이다.

In order to understand the tidal current and mean flow at the west channel of Yeoja Bay in the South Sea of Korea, numerical model experiments and vorticity analysis were carried out. The currents flow north at flood and south at ebb respectively and have the reversing form in the west channel. Topographical eddies are found in the surroundings of Dunbyong Island in the east of the channel. The flood currents flow from the waters near Naro Islands through the west channel and the coastal waters near Geumo Islands through the east channel. The ebb currents from the Yeoja Bay flow out along the west and the east channels separately. The south of Nang Island have weak flows because the island is located in the rear of main tidal stream. Currents are converged at ebb and diverged at flood in the northwest of Jeokgum Island. Tidal current ellipses show reversing form in the west channel but a kind of rotational form in the east channel. As the results of tide induced mean flows, cyclonic and anticyclonic topographical eddies at the northern tip but eddies with opposite spin at the southern tip are found in the west channel of Yeoja Bay. The topographical eddies around the islands and narrow channels are created from the vorticity formed at the land shore by the friction between tidal currents and the west channel.

남해 연안해역에서 이른 여름 식물플랑크톤 군집의 분포특성을 파악하기 위해 2018년 6월말에서 7월 중순까지 11개 해역을 대상으로 실시하였다. 결과 출현한 식물플랑크톤 출현 종은 56속 105종으로 규조류가 52.4%, 와편모조류가 40.0%, 기타 편모조류가 7.6%였다. 현존량은 표층에서 5.5~593.2 cells mL-1로 변화하여, 출현종과 현존량 모두 동부해역에서 높고, 서부 해역에서 낮은 특정을 나타내었다. 식물플랑크톤 군집은 남해 금포, 여수 오천동 및 고흥 외나로도 해역을 제외하면 규조류에 지배되는 특성을 보였으며, 우점종은 여수 오천동과 완도 충도를 제외하면 중심규조 Skeletonema costatum-like species (ls)에 의해 우점되었다. 그러나 오천동 해역은 유독와편모조류 Gymnodinium catenatum에 의해 극우점되었고, 남해 금포 및 외나로도 해역은 와편모조류 Tripos fusus에 의해 12% 이상의 우점율을 나타내었다. 이른 여름 남해 연안해역의 식물플랑크톤 군집의 공간분포는 강수량 등 영양염류 공급에 크게 지배되고 있는 것으로 판단할 수 있었다.

Megabenthos samples were collected using 10-min trawls towed at 17 stations from 2015 to 2016. The dominant species (>1% of the total density) were Stegophiura sterea (10.4%) and two subtropical species, Mactrinula dolabrata (9.0%) and Acila divaricate (8.3%), respectively. The community structure of the megabenthos fell into four groups: the southeast, the southernmost region off Jeju Island, the frontal zone of the South Sea with C3, and a diagonal area from the south coast to the western side of Jeju Island. The total numbers of species, diversity, density and biomass were higher in the C3 region of the South Sea. Environmental factor analysis showed that differences in the megabenthos community were related to depth, gravel contents, and sorting value (σ). These results indicate that changes in the marine environmental conditions in the South Sea of Korea affect the megabenthos species’ composition and diversity.

We examined the characteristics of egg and larval distributions and catch changes of anchovy in relation to abnormally high sea temperature in the South Sea of Korea in summer 2015 and 2016. The densities of anchovy eggs and larvae in the southern coastal region were lower in July-August 2016 than in July-August 2015. In particular, anchovy eggs and larvae (approximately 5 mm TL) were rarely observed in the coastal region in August 2016 due to the abnormally high SST (up to 28°C), which was above the optimum spawning temperature of anchovy. The catch of non-swimming stage (< 2 cm TL) larval anchovy was lower in July-August 2016 than in July-August 2015. The decreased catch of larval anchovy in July-August 2016 could be attributed to decreased spawning density in June-July 2016. In contrast, the catch of swimming stage (> 2 cm TL) anchovy was increased in July-August 2016. In the summer of 2016, prominent sea temperature near the southern coast of Korea and sea temperature higher than 30°C in the offshore region of the South Sea of Korea could greatly enhance the retention of swimming anchovies in the coastal fishing grounds.

The reproduction characteristics of hagfish Eptatretus burgeri were examined using individuals caught in the South Sea of Korea. The spawning season and size at minimum sexual maturity of this species were characterized based on a gonad-somatic index (GSI) and monthly variation egg size (long axis). From monthly variation of GSI, the spawning season was estimated to be from August to September. Developing eggs larger than 10 mm were found in March, and the largest egg size was found in July. The first spawning length was 34.2 cm TL. Batch fecundity ranged from 13 to 117 eggs for hagfish sized from 34.2 cm TL to 77.0 cm TL, respectively, and increased linearly with total length.

Acoustic surveys were conducted in the seas surround the South Korea (South Sea A, South Sea B (waters around the Jeju Island), West Sea and East Sea) in spring and autumn in 2016. First, the vertical and horizontal distributions of fisheries resources animals were examined. In most cases vertical acoustic biomass was high in surface water and mid-water layers other than South Sea A in autumn and West Sea. The highest vertical acoustic biomass showed at the depth of 70-80 m in the South Sea A in spring (274.4 m2/nmi2) and the lowest one was 10-20 m in the West Sea in autumn (0.4 m2/nmi2). With regard to the horizontal distributions of fisheries resources animals, in the South Sea A, the acoustic biomass was high in eastern and central part of the South Sea and the northeast of Jeju Island (505.4-4099.1 m2/nmi2) in spring while it was high in eastern South Sea and the coastal water of Yeosu in autumn (1046.9-2958.3 m2/nmi2). In the South Sea B, the acoustic biomass was occurred high in the southern and western seas of Jeju Island in spring (201.0-1444.9 m2/nmi2) and in the southern of Jeju Island in autumn (203.7-1440.9 m2/nmi2). On the other hand, the West Sea showed very low acoustic biomass in spring (average NASC of 1.1 m2/nmi2), yet high acoustic biomass in the vicinity of 37 N in autumn (562.6-3764.2 m2/nmi2). The East Sea had high acoustic biomass in the coastal seas of Busan, Ulsan and Pohang in spring (258.7~976.4 m2/nmi2) and of Goseong, Gangneung, Donghae, Pohang and Busan in autumn (267.3-1196.3 m2/nmi2). During survey periods, fish schools were observed only in the South Sea A and the East Sea in spring and the West Sea in autumn. Fish schools in the South Sea A in spring were small size (333.2 ± 763.2 m2) but had a strong SV (–49.5 ± 5.3 dB). In the East Sea, fish schools in spring had low SV (–60.5 ± 14.5 dB) yet had large sizes (537.9 ± 1111.5 m2) and were distributed in the deep water depth (83.5 ± 33.5 m). Fish schools in the West Sea in autumn had strong SV (–49.6 ± 7.4 dB) and large sizes (507.1 ± 941.8 m2). It was the first time for three seas surrounded South Korea to be conducted by acoustic surveys to understand the distribution and aggregation characteristics of fisheries resources animals. The results of this study would be beneficially used for planning a future survey combined acoustic method and mid-water trawling, particularly deciding a survey location, a time period, and a targeting water depth.