A study on indigenous diatoms was carried out at 10 sites from May 2014 to December 2016 in marine and freshwater in Korea. Seventeen species of diatoms are new to Korea and they are divided into 3 classes, 4 subclasses, 10 orders, 14 families, and 16 genera. The nomenclatures, references, dimensions, specimens examined, local habitat, distribution in Korea, and photograph are reported here. Seventeen species found in marine, freshwater, and brackish water showed species-specific habitats.
To find unrecorded diatom species in the Nakdong River Estuary and Yeongil Bay, bottom sediments in the estuary, and seagrasses in the bay were collected from 12 sampling sites. Eighteen species and four genera are added to the national flora of diatom as newly recorded one. In the Nakdong River Estuary, twelve species are new records to Korea, Martyana atomus (Hustedt) Snoeijs, Pseudostaurosira perminuta (Grunow) Sabbe & Vyverman, Trachysphenia acuminata M. Peragallo, Trachysphenia australis Petit, Fallacia clipeiformis (König) D.G. Mann, Amphora graeffeana Hendey, Amphora jostesorum Witkowski, Metzeltin & Lange-Bertalot, Amphora ostrearia var. vitrea (Cleve) Cleve, Amphora wisei (Salah) Simonsen, Halamphora eunotia (Cleve) Levkov, Halamphora lineata (Gregory) Levkov, Nitzschia littorea Grunow. In Yeongil Bay, four species are added as new, Licmophora gracilis var. anglica (Kützing) H. Peragallo & M. Peragallo, Tabularia investiens (W. Smith) Williams & Round, Nitzschia composita Giffen, Nagumoea neritica Witkowski & Kociolek. Two species occurred simultaneously in both regions, Fragilaria cassubica Witkowski & Lange-Bertalot and Hyalinella lateripunctata Witkowski et al.
This taxonomic study sought to detect and describe diatom species not yet recorded in Korea. The study was conducted at three islands located off the western coast of Korea, Wido Island near Buan, Wonsando Island near Boryeong and Dekjeokdo Island near Incheon. Diatoms were collected from the bottom, stone, macrophytes and other substrates in water bodies, which are affected by seawater. Fifteen naviculoid taxa are described. Of these, 13 are novel to Korea. The genus Navicula has nine species; Navicula alineae Lange-Bertalot, N. ammophila Grunow, N. cariocincta Lange-Bertalot, N. elegantoides Hustedt, N. longicephala Hustedt, N. normaloides Cholnoky, N. notha Wallace, N. novaesiberica Lange-Bertalot, N. riediana Lange-Bertalot & U. Rumrich. The genus Craticula has four species; Craticula buderi (Hustedt) Lange-Bertalot, C. halophila (Grunow) D.G. Mann, C. riparia (Hustedt) Lange-Bertalot and C. riparia var. mollenhaueri Lange-Bertalot.
A study searching for unrecorded and taxonomically undescribed indigenous species has been conducted since 2006. Samples were collected from many sites in coastal waters and offshore in Korea as well as around Jeju Island. Since 2008 we have found 13 unrecorded species belonging to family Diplopsaliaceae, Heterocapsaceae, Kolkwitziellaceae, Protoperidiniaceae and Thoracosphaeraceae. The species are as follows, Preperidinium meunieri (2014), Heterocapsa ovata (2015), H. pseudotriquetra (2015), Diplopsalis lenticula (2008), Protoperidinium abei (2009), P. diabolus var. longipes (2010), P. depressum (synonym: P. parallelum (2008)), P. latispinum (2016), P. punctulatum (2010), P. solidicorne (synonym: P. spinosum (2010)), P. subpyriforme (2010), P. pacificum (2013), Scrippsiella hexapraecingula (2009) (note; The numbers in parenthesis refer to the year that the species was reported as unrecorded indigenous species by National Institute of Biological Resources, NIBR hereafter). Among these, 5 species were described as newly recorded species in Korean waters, and 8 were re-described in this study.
The order Prorocentales currently includes two genera Prorocentrum Ehrenberg and Mesoporos Lillick. The Prorocentrum genus is a predominant group throughout the year found in Korean waters. To date, the Prorocentrum genus includes 31 species and the Mesoporos genus has only one species in Korean waters. In this study, we identified one Mesoporos species and three Prorocentrum species around a coast of Jeju Island, and described them as newly recorded species in Korean waters.
An investigation focusing on the unrecorded and taxonomically undescribed indigenous has been done since 2006. Samples were collected from various sites in the coastal and offshore waters of Korea as well as around Jeju Island. Since 2008, 16 unrecorded species belonging to the family Gymnodiniaceae have been found. The species were as follows: Amphidinium thermaeum (2015), Cochlodinium convolutum (2015), C. strangulatum (2015), Gymnodinium abbreviatum (valid name: G. gracile), G. arenicola (2015), G. gracile (2015), G. dorsalisulcum (2015), G. microreticulatum (2014), G. micrum (2016) (valid name: Karlodinium micrum), G. pyrenoidosum (2016), G. simplex (2015), G. veneficum (2016) (valid name: Karlodinium veneficum), Gyrodinium aureum (2015), G. fusiforme (2015), G. dominans (2014), and Nusuttodinium latum (2016) (valid name: Amphidinium latum). (The numbers in parentheses refer to the year that the species was found). These species were newly recorded in Korean waters in this study.
The freshwater algae were collected at reservoirs and small ponds in Gyeonggi-do and Jeju-do on June 2016. Four species of Korean previously unrecorded algae were collected in domestic fresh waters: Coelastrum rugosum, Cosmarium baccatum, Cosmarium norimbergense and Staurastrum connatum var. pseudoamericanum. The morphological characteristics of the four taxa identified in this study were showed mostly similar to the characteristics of the previously reported characteristics. However, Cosmarium baccatum was larger than the previously recorded species and Staurastrum connatum var. pseudoamericanum was wider than the previously recorded species.
Samples were collected between August 2016 and May 2017 at Sangju-si, Gyeongsangbuk- do, Jeju-do, and Uljin-gun, Gangwon-do. As a result, one genus and six species were newly recorded in Korea. The unrecorded indigenous genus was Borzia, and the six species were Anagnostidinema acutissimum, Komvophoron bourrellyi, Hydrocoleum stankovicii, Borzia trilocularis, Phormidium tinctorium and Pseudanabaena lohchoides. Phormidium tinctorium and Pseudanabaena lohchoides had been reported to inhabit freshwater, but in this study, these were found in brackish water. It had also been reported that B. trilocularis trichomes are composed of up to 8 cells, but in this study, a maximum of 10 cells was observed.
Freshwater algae (green algae, blue-green algae and flagellated algae) were collected at 103 freshwater sites (including lakes, ponds, swamps, streams, and rivers) throughout South Korea March 2015-October 2016, and were identified using light microscopy. A total of 345 taxa in 2015 and 329 taxa in 2016 were identified and among them, 6 taxa in 2015 and 8 taxa in 2016 were new recorded species in Korea; The new recorded species were Characiopsis malleolus in Xanthophyceae, Phacus mammillatus in Euglenophyceae, Epipyxis utriculus and Lagynion ampullaceum in Chrysophyceae, Bicosoeca planctonica in Bicosoecophyceae and Salpingoeca frequentissima in Choanoflagellatea in 2015, and were Ankistrodesmus bernardii and Quadrigula korsikovii in Chlorophyceae, Didymocystis planctonica in Treubouxiophyceae, Spirulina nodosa, Raphidiopsis curvata and Geitlerinema claricentrosum in Cyanophyceae and Lagynion macrotrachelum in Chrysophyceae, Bicosoeca oculata in Bicosoecophyceae and Salpingeoca rosetta in Choanoflagellatea in 2016.
The continuous exploration in deep seawater from Korea makes us lead the discovery of ancient Chlorophyta, Palmophyllum, in the Korean coast. The phylogenetic analyses of 18S rRNA and rbcL genes demonstrate that our specimens are Palmophyllum crassum (Naccari) Rabenhorst, recorded in Japan and clearly distinguished from P. umbracola from New Zealand and California, USA. Palmophyllum crassum grows in the subtidal region, 8-30 m deep, and has a crustose thallus which is closely adherent to substrates such as non-geniculate crustose coralline algae, sponge, shells, or rocks. P. crassum is composed of numerous spherical cells embedded in the gelatinous matrix. The discovery of this ancient green seaweed implies that the Korean coast is one of the hotspots of algal species diversity and has the suitable marine environment for algal speciation. We suggest the grounds to conserve the Korean coast environmentally as the biodiversity center of marine species by studying the phylogeny of seaweeds.
A marine ulvalean species (Chlorophyta) was collected from Imgok, which is located on the eastern coast of Korea. This species is morphologically characterized by distromatic, filiform to strap compressed or tubular thallus. Many branches were found near the base, but lacked proliferations. Cells were longitudinally aligned in the younger part of the branch and were disordered in the older part of the branch. A cap-like parietal chloroplast with one or two pyrenoids was contained in each cell. In a phylogenetic tree based on ITS and rbcL sequences, this species was nested in the same clade as Ulva torta and U. clathratioides from Australia, but formed a sister clade to U. torta from Japan. However, the genetic divergence between them was included in an intraspecific variation range within Ulva. This finding suggests that U. clathratioides should be reduced to a synonym of U. torta. Accordingly, the Korean alga was identified as U. torta based on the morphological and molecular data. This investigation is the first record of U. torta in the Korean marine algal flora.
A marine brown alga was collected from Geoje, located on the southern coast of Korea. This species shares the generic features of Dictyota and is morphologically characterized by the combined features of erect or prostrate thallus with smooth margin, dichotomous to subdichotomous branches not twisted at the terminal part, absence of surface proliferations, 1-3 cell layered cortex and unilayered medulla, and lack of involucrum in sporangia subtended by a single stalk cell. In a phylogenetic tree based on rbcL sequences, this species nests in the same clade with Dictyota bartayresiana. The genetic distance between both sequences within the clade was calculated as 1.2%, considered to be within the intra-species range for the genus. Based on these morphological and molecular analyses, this Korean alga is identified as D. bartayresiana described originally from the West Indies. This is the first record of D. bartayresiana in Korea.
The delesseriacean parasitic red algal Asterocolax species was collected from Jindo in the southern coast of Korea. This parasitic species found on Pseudopolyneura japonica. And it is distinct from other species of Asterocolax with more or less denticulate branches when matured. This Korean entity is identified as Asterocolax denticulatus (Tokida) Feldmann & Feldmann (Delesseriaceae, Rhodophyta) based on these features. This is the first record of A. denticulatus in Korea.
Detailed morphological studies and molecular analyses based on plastid-encoded rbcL gene sequences were undertaken on Peyssonnelia species, a poorly known genus from Korea. We report new records for the Korean coast, Peyssonnelia harveyana and P. rumoiana. Peyssonnelia harveyana is chiefly characterized by P. rubra-type anatomy, closely packed perithallial filaments in firm matrix, hypothallial filaments arranged in parallel rows, thalli with appressed margins, hypobasal calcification, and unicellular rhizoids. Peyssonnelia rumoiana is principally characterized by two vegetative features, hypothallial filaments arranged in a polyflabellate layer, and perithallial filaments arising from the whole upper surface of each hypothallial cell (Peyssonnelia rubra-type anatomy). Our rbcL analyses revealed that P. harveynana and P. rumoiana were placed within a clade of Peyssonnelia. We also propose the new combination, Sonderophycus cauliferus comb. nov., for previous Peyssonnelia caulifera. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that our S. cauliferus was placed within a clade of Sonderophycus.
Bryopsis africana and Pyropia kinositae are reported for the first time on the list of Korean marine algal flora based on integrated morphological-molecular study. Bryopsis africana from Korea is recognized with distinct main axes, robust thalli, pinnately and radially branched above, and basally denuded. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that B. africana was placed within a clade of Bryopsis. Bryopsis africana differs from B. corymbosa by 2.7% gene sequence divergence. Pyropia kinositae is characterized by oblong to lanceolate thalli, entire margin, purplish red in color, twice as long as broad cells in transversal section view. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that P. kinositae was placed within a clade of Pyropia. Pyropia kinositae differs from P. tenera by 1.5-1.8%, P. ishigecola by 1.2-1.3%, and P. yezoensis by 1.5-1.8% gene sequence divergence respectively.
This study described the spatial distribution of dinoflagellate cyst assemblages in the Ulsan Coastal Waters (UCW). Surface sediment samples from 15 stations revealed the occurrence of 33 species involving the Groups Protoperidinioid (51.5%), Gonyaulacoid (30.4%), Calciodineloid (9.1%), Gymnodinioid (3.0%), Diplopsallid (3.0%) and Tuberculodinioid (3.0%). The recorded cyst abundance in the UCW recorded was low (260~1,680 cysts g-dry-1) compared to Korean coastal waters. The abundance of heterotrophic cysts is higher in the Ulsan harbour and northwestern parts of UCW with eutrophic areas, however autotrophic species are more prevalent in the southern parts with open sea environments. The dinoflagellate cyst assemblages in the UCW were characterized by the dominance of Gonyaulax scrippsae, Protoperidinium sp. (Brigantedinium sp.), and Gonyaulax spinifera complex. The advent of the toxic dinoflagellate, Pyrodinium bahamense var. bahamense was recorded for the first time in the East-south sea of Korea. Therefore, as a result of ongoing monitoring and management for new toxic dinoflegallates from tropical or subtropical regions, analysis of dinoflagellate cyst assemblages in the UCW has been deemed necessary.
Juvenile Paralichthys olivaceus (mean length 19.8±2.6 cm, mean weight 97.8±15.8 g) were exposed for 96 hours to different nitrate concentrations of 0, 62.5, 125, 250, 500, 1,000, and 1,500 mg L-1 in biofloc and 0, 62.5, 125, 250, 500, and 1,000 mg L-1 in seawater. Median lethal concentration values (LC50, the concentration at which 50% of mortality occurred after 96 hours of exposure) of nitrate to P. olivaceus in biofloc and seawater were 1,226 and 597 mg NO3 L-1 (P<0.05), respectively, revealing a higher toxicity of nitrate to P. olivaceus in seawater than in biofloc. In hematological parameters, hematocrit level in P. olivaceus exposed to nitrate was significantly increased only at a concentration of 1,000 mg L-1 in biofloc and at concentrations higher than 250 mg L-1 in seawater, but no significant changes in hemoglobin were found in biofloc and seawater. In plasma parameters, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransminase (ALT) were significantly increased by nitrate exposure in biofloc and seawater, but no significant changes in alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were found in biofloc and seawater. Results of this study indicate that nitrate exposure to P. olivaceus have a lethal toxic effect and alter hematological and plasma constituents of flatfish P. olivaceus. Given relatively lower toxicity of nitrate in biofloc than in seawater, the use of biofloc in aquaculture may reduce potential toxic effect caused by nitrate in feces and feed residue.
Factors affecting spatial distribution of halophytes were analyzed in June 2012 at the Goraebul coastal dunes. In the Goraebul sand dune, distribution of halophytes was divided into three groups. The first group belonging to Elymus mollis, Carex kobomugi, Calystegia soldanella, Ixeris repens and Glehnia littoralis was distributed in the ridge of primary sand dune and dune slack. The second group belonging to Lathyrus japonicus and Zoysia macrostachya was distributed in the dune slack. The third group belonging to Pinus thunbergii, Vitex rotundifolia and Linaria japonicus was distributed in the pine forest of the secondary sand dune. E. mollis, C. kobomugi, C. soldanella, I. repens and G. littoralis was distributed in relatively unstable habitat of sand dunes due to the large amount of sand movement. V. rotundifolia was distributed in a relatively stable habitat. Factors that have the greatest influence on distribution of halophytes in the Goraebul sand dunes are distance from the seashore, topography, and the pine forest. The Goraebul sand dune is a relatively well-preserved area with minimal human intervention. Therefore, different distribution of physico-chemical factors by natural processes is essential to spatial distribution of halophytes than other sand dunes in Korea. Significant natural processes in the Goraebul sand dunes were advance and retreat of coastlines from waves, erosion and sedimentation of sand due to wind and waves, and dispersal of seawater.
The purpose of this study was to investigate the characteristics of species by comparing the external shape traits and skull size of Tscherskia triton in Jeju Island from May 2014 to November 2016. Body weight, head-body length, ear length, and hind-foot length were not statistically significant (p>0.05), but tail length was statistically significant in females compared to males (p=0.003). To examine the secondary sexual dimorphism characteristics of the collected T. triton, B_HR, T_HR, E_HR, and H_HR were calculated based on the head-body length, and only T_HR was statistically significant (p=0.003). Because of comparing male and female averages, among the 21 traits, the greatest length of skull (GLS; p=0.020) and occipitonasal length (ONL; p=0.014) were statistically significant and length of incisive foramen (LIF) was statistically significant, when the significance level was 90%. However, the other 18 traits did not show statistically significant differences between males and females (p>0.05). Other than GLS, ONL, interorbital breadth (IB), and breadth of occipital foramen (BOF), there was female-biased SSD. The results of this study are the analysis of external morphology and skull characteristics of T. triton in Jeju Island and will be used as basic data to understand the morphological characteristics of T. triton. In addition, the data can be used as a basic information to compare characteristics of T. triton, which is known as a single species, inhabited in China and Russia. The data will play an important role in biogeography and ecology research of T. triton, based on geographical conditions, climate effects, and habitat environment.
The aim of this study was to collect the basic data for effective creation and management of hilly pasture. The investigation of flora and vegetation was conducted at 59 relevés in hilly pasture of Daegwallyeong from 2014 to 2016. The vascular plants of the hilly pasture were 121 listed taxa which contain 38 families, 90 genera, 104 species, 13 varieties, and 12 subspecies. The biological type of the hilly pasture was determined as the Th-D4-R5-e type. Twelve taxa were of naturalized plants composed of 5 families, 9 genera, 12 species. The urbanization index and the naturalized index were 3.7% and 9.9%, respectively. The vegetation types in the hilly pasture were classified into the following 3 communities: the Spiraea miyabei-Spiraea salicifolia community, the Persicaria thunbergii community, and the Agrostis alba-Phleum pratense community. The Agrostis alba-Phleum pratense community was classified into the following 5 subcommunities: the Poa pratensis subcommunity, the Artemisia princeps subcommunity, the Festuca ovina subcommunity, the Rumex acetosella subcommunity, and the typical subcommunity. Two factors (slope and EC) had the strongest impact on plant community distribution. Especially, the steep sloping sites (over 40°) did not play a crucial role in maintaining adequate pasture because of the invasion and establishment of shrubs.