We presented foundational findings regarding the occurrence and acoustic characteristics of the finless porpoise through passive acoustic and visual surveys conducted on the southern coast of Korea, specifically at Hadong Jungpyeong Port. Over a survey period spanning from July 8 to August 16, 2023, totaling 40 days, we observed peaks in the number of clicks produced by this species on July 15, July 24, August 4, August 11, and August 16. The highest count, totaling 18,924 clicks, was recorded on July 15th, while the lowest count, at 3,888 clicks, occurred on August 8th. Examining the acoustic characteristics throughout the diurnal cycle, we found that the peak activity in terms of DPM (detection positive minute for one hour), DP10M (DPM for ten minutes), and overall number of click sounds was observed between 05:00 and 08:00, with a secondary peak occurring from 17:00 to 18:00. The quietest period was noted between 23:00 and 02:00. Furthermore, there was a significant increase in the number of clicks from sunrise, with the maximum count of 21,581 clicks recorded at 6 AM. This count gradually decreased until noon, experienced a slight increase thereafter, peaked again at sunset, and then declined. The dominant frequency mode of this species was 126 kHz, with a concentration ranging from 112 to 136 kHz. The average duration of a click sound was 127 ㎲, with approximately 16 sinusoids (cycles) within each click sound and an average cycle length of approximately 7.9 ㎲. These findings from our study are anticipated to serve as foundational data for the development of a Korean pinger and acoustic warning system.

To determine the diet of Ridged-eye flounder, Pleuronichthys cornutus in the South Sea of Korea, a total of 207 individuals were collected in 2022 (February, April, May, August, and November) and 2023 (January, February, April, July, and October) by the Fisheries science survey vessels of NIFS. The total length (TL) range of these specimens was from 14.1 to 33.9 cm, and the stomach contents of 100 individuals, not on an empty stomach, were analyzed. Polychaeta was the most important prey component in the diets of P. cornutus based on an Index of relative importance (%IRI) of 55.5%. Followed by amphipoda with a %IRI value of 21.3%. Polychaeta was an important component in diets across all size classes (＜ 20.0 cm, 20.0-25.0 cm, ≥ 25.0 cm) of P. cornutus; as they grew, the %IRI value of amphipoda decreased and the %IRI value of anthozoa and holothuroidea increased. There was also a significant increase in the mean weight of prey per stomach with growth. P. cornutus consumed polychaeta in all seasons, with spring and autumn being the most dominant seasons. In summer, gastropoda was the dominant prey, and in winter, holothuroidea was the dominant prey.

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.

A single postlarva (9.72 mm in standard length) specimen of Crossorhombus azureus (Alcock, 1889) belonging to the family Bothidae, was collected using a bongo net from the southern sea of Korea on December 10, 2019. This species is characterized by having spines on post basipterygial processes. It has two eyes located at the opposite side in head, which accordingly belongs to pre-metamorphosis stage. Melanophores are distributed on the dorsal and anal fin base on the right side (blind side), which is regarded as a useful identification key distinguishing C. azureus from congeneric species in their postlarval stage. A molecular analysis based on mitochondrial DNA COI sequences showed that our specimen was closely matched to adult C. azureus (K2P distance = 0.017). As there is no Korean name for the genus Crossorhombus in spite of presence of Crossorhombus kobensis and its Korean name “Go-be-dung-geul-neob-chi” in Korea, we proposed a new Korean name “Dung-geul-neob-chi-sog” for the genus Crossorhombus and “Pa-lang-dung-geul-neob-chi” for the species C. azureus.

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.

본 연구는 거문도 해역에 자생하는 홍합의 수심별 분포 특성을 파악하고 공존 또는 경쟁하며 생활하는 주변 저서 생물상을 파악하고자 연구를 진행하였다. 홍합은 수심이 낮은 곳에서 밀도가 높고 비만도가 낮은 반면, 수심이 깊어질수록 밀도가 낮고 비만도가 높아지는 양상을 보이며, 형태적특성도 수심이 깊어질수록 증가하는 양상으로 나타났다. 이는 각장과 전중량의 상관관계식에서도 수심 2 m에 비하여 수심 12 m에서 높은 상관관계를 가지는 것으로 확인되어 수심에 따라 각장이나 각고의 성장 및 전중량에 영향을 미치는 것으로 파악되었다. 주변에 서식하는 저서생물 중 해조류는 홍합의 패각을 기질에 부착하여 서식하는 소형생물과 주변환경에 서식하는 대형생물로 구분할 수 있으며, 암반조하대의 서식특성으로 수심이 깊어질수록 광 량에 영향을 받아 밀도 및 생체량이 다소 감소하는 경향으로 분석되었다. 저서동물은 팔각따개비가 홍합의 패각과 주변 서식공간에 모두 분포하고, 굴의 경우는 함께 분포는 하고 있다. 그러나 수심 2 m 지점에서 굴이 우세한 지점에서 홍합이 다소 감소하는 경향을 보이며, 홍합이 우점하는 수심이 깊은 지점에서는 굴이 감소하는 경향으로 나타나 두 종 간의 공간경쟁에서 수심에 따른 영향을 보이는 것으로 파악되었다. 그 외 대형 해조류가 번성하는 지역의 경우, 홍합의 군집이 발달하지 않고 있어 대형해조류의 서식 유· 무에도 홍합의 생존이 영향을 받는 것으로 추정되었다

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.

와편모조류 Alexandrium affine의 생장에 대한 수온, 염분 및 광 조건 실내실험을 통해서 살펴보았다. A. affine의 최대성장속도(0.69 day-1)는 수온 25℃, 염분 25psu로 나타났으며, 최적생장(최대성장속도의 80%)은 수온 20~25℃의 염분은 20~35psu로 나타났다. 따라서 A. affine는 비교적 협온성이며, 광염성의 생리학적 특성을 가지고 있는 것으로 생각된다. 광량에 따른 생장 실험결과에서 유도된 생장식은 μ=0.75(I-4.25)/(I+65.47)로, 보상광량(Ic)은 4.25μmol m-2 s-1, 반포화광량(KI)은 57.0μmol m-2 s-1로 나타났다. 결론적으로 A. affine는 하계에 낮은 광, 염분의 변동 폭이 큰 연안해역에서도 우점화 할 수 있는 유리한 생리적 특성을 보이는 것으로 판단된다.

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.

한국 남해안에서 8월 수온의 변동 특성을 파악하기 위해, 수온, 조위, 및 기상자료(바람·기온)를 power spectrum과 coherence 분석 하였다. Power spectrum 결과, 수온과 조위는 부산을 제외한 완도, 고흥, 여수, 통영, 마산 등 5개 지역에서 약 12hr과 24hr 주기에서 peak를 보였다. 또한 coherence 분석 결과에 의한 수온변동은 완도, 고흥, 여수 및 통영에서 조석의 영향을 가장 많이 받았다. 그러나 연구해역의 동쪽에 위치한 마산과 부산의 수온변동은 조차가 큰 서쪽해역에 비해 조석의 영향이 작았다. 특히, 마산의 수온변동은 바람의 환경요인에 가장 큰 영향을 받는 것으로 나타났다. 수온은 창조시 하강하고 낙조시 상승하는 형태를 보이고 있다. 즉 완도에서 수온의 하강(상승)은 창 조(낙조) 약 1.5hr 후, 고흥과 통영에서 수온의 하강(상승)은 창조(낙조) 0.3hr 후에 나타났다. 그러나 마산에서의 수온 상승은 남풍이 시작되 고 약 3hr 후에 나타났다. 한편 한국 남해안의 동쪽에 위치한 부산의 수온변동은 기온, 조석 및 바람의 영향을 작게 받는 것으로 나타났다.

한국 남해 연안에 출현하는 춘·하계 어류 자치어 군집의 조성과 분포 특성을 파악하기 위하여 2016년 5월부터 9월까지 남해 의 세 해역(여수, 남해, 통영)에서 RN80 네트를 이용해 매월 1회 채집하였다. 조사기간 동안 총 50개 분류군의 자치어가 채집되었고, 이 중 멸치가 전체 출현 개체수의 56.8 %로 가장 우점하였으며, 청보리멸, 청베도라치, 망둑어과 타입A, 청베도라치과, 앞동갈베도라치 등이 각각 2% 이상의 개체수비를 보여 우점하였으며, 이상 6개 분류군이 전체 출현 자치어의 87.5%를 차지하였다. ANOSIM 결과 해역 간에 자치어 조성의 유의한 차이는 없었으나, 시기적으로는 유의한 차이를 보였다. 정준대응분석 결과 이러한 자치어 군집의 시기적 변동은 주로 수온 변화에 의한 것으로 나타났다.

Seagrasses, sea flowering plants, comprise approximately 60 species globally and are often called ‘ecosystem engineers’ because they create their own habitats by modifying the surrounding environments, which provide coastal zones with a number of crucial ecosystem services. Zostera marina (the common name ‘eelgrass’) is one of the seagrass beds-forming species distributed widely in northern hemisphere including the Korean coast, which plays a pivotal role in ecosystem as a primary producer and a nursery habitat or refuge for other marine organisms. However, due to global climate change and anthropogenic activities such as reclamation and dredging, there has recently been a drastic decline in population sizes of Z. marina in Korea. In order to develop effective conservation and restoration management programs of Z. marina populations, it would be helpful to consider all biological aspects of this species such as genetic characteristics as well as ecological and physiological features. This study first provides information on genetic diversity and genetic structure of Jeju Island and Namhae populations of Z. marina, which will contribute to the establishment of appropriate conservation and restoration management plans for future persistence of this species. Using six microsatellite markers, we investigated the level of genetic diversity and genetic structure among 10 geographic populations of Z. marina inhabiting Jeju Island (Hamdeok, Tokki-seom, Sungsan, Woljeong, Ojo) and Namhae (Gamak bay, Jindong bay, Nampo, Anggang bay, Geoje) on the southern coast of Korea. The level of genetic diversity within Jeju populations (mean allelic richness [AR]: 1.57 ~ 3.09) was found to be significantly lower than Namhae populations (AR: 3.09 ~ 4.29) (Mann-Whitney U-test, P < 0.05). These findings suggest that effective population sizes (Ne) of Jeju populations are generally smaller than those of Namehae populations. Within Jeju Island, Hamdeok population had the smallest population size (coverage: 138 m2) and the lowest genetic diversity (AR: 1.57), while Ojo population had the largest population size (coverage: 275,736 m2) and the greatest level of genetic diversity (AR: 3.09). Hamdeok population showed evidence of genetic bottleneck. These results again suggest that Ne of Jeju populations is generally low (except Ojo population). Among Jeju populations, all pair-wise comparisons of FST values (i.e., degree of genetic differentiation) were highly significant (FST = 0.0612 ~ 0.7168, P < 0.001) despite Jeju populations that were geographically closely located, indicating that these local populations are genetically divergent, probably due to a lack of gene flow among the populations. The observed strong population structure was substantiated by evidence that five genetic clusters are most likely, based on population assignment test (STRUCTURE). The Mantel test showed a positive relationship between genetic distance (FST) and geographic distance (km) across all the populations sampled (R2 = 0.4118, P < 0.05), suggesting that our data follow Isolation By Distance (IBD) model. Woljeong population revealed the highest level of FST values compared to other populations within Jeju Island in IBD. STRUCTURE and factorial correspondence analysis (FCA) further showed that some Woljeong individuals included genotypes of Namhae populations. Population size of Woljeong (coverage: 310m2) was approximately 50 % smaller than that of Sungsan (coverage: 841m2); however, extent of its genetic diversity (AR: 2.39) was even higher than that of Sungsan population (AR: 1.77). We speculated that Woljeong population underwent a transplantation from Namhae populations with relatively higher level of genetic diversity. FST values within Namhae populations were relatively lower (compared to within Jeju Island) despite the populations that were geographically more distant. It means that level of gene flow is higher among Namhae populations than among Jeju populations. Z. marina is known to have different life histories by water depth. In subtidal zone (deep water depth) populations predominantly undertake sexual reproduction through seeds such as annual life history, whereas those of intertidal zone (shallow water depth) undertake both sexual and asexual reproductions through horizontal rhizomes i.e., perennial life history. STRUCTURE analysis showed no clear differences between shallow and deep populations at Namhae, but some FST values were statistically significantly different despite their low values. For Geoje population sampled in 2005, intertidal and subtidal populations were not significantly different (FST = 0.0045, P = 0.033), but these populations sampled in 2015 showed a significant difference (FST = 0.0328, P < 0.001). It means that genetic structure of Geoje has been changed over the 10 year period between shallow and deep populations. Overall, the Jeju and Namehae populations analyzed in the current study have relatively low levels of genetic diversity and distinct genetic compositions, which warns the message that this ecologically important species should be conserved separately in the local populations and with high priority. We propose that future conservation and restoration plans for seagrasses should consider genetic characteristics particularly because a close relationship between genetic diversity and ecological performance in marine species has been well documented.

To estimate the movement of Pacific cod Gadus macrocephalus in the Korean Southeast Sea, three type tags were used. A total of 97 Pacific cod were tagged and released with either archival tags or conventional tags. Of these releases, commercial fishermen recovered thirteen conventional tags, and five of seven pop-up tags transmitted data to Argos satellites. Pacific cod began to move towards East Sea after release, and they spent most of their time at depths of 100 to 300m, water temperatures of 0.8 to 14.0°C. However, geographical ranges of their movement limited to area around the southern East Sea. Pacific cod attached conventional tag were recaptured near the release site(Jinhae Bay: main spawning ground) about one or two year after release. Data obtained from tagging investigations suggest that they migrated annually from spawning ground to habtat of the Korean Southeast Sea.

The feeding habits of the Pacific bluefin tuna, Thunnus orientalis were examined based on the stomach contents of 330 specimens caught by offshore large purse seine fishery in the southern sea of Korea, 2011. The size of Pacific bluefin tuna used in this study ranged from 34.1 to 67.3 cm in fork length (FL). The percentage of empty stomachs was 41.8%. The main prey items were Pisces and Cephalopoda based on percentage IRI (index of relative importance). The main fish preys were Trachurus japonicus, Bregmaceros japonicus, Engraulis japonicus, and Cephalopoda were Todarodes pacificus, Loligo edulis, Watasenia scintillans. T. orientalis showed ontogenetic change in diet composition. Although Pisces dominated the diet of all length classes the portion of Cephalopoda was relatively higher in size between 40 and 50 cm other than length classes. In terms of seasonal variation in feeding habits, Pisces was the main prey group in all seasons, but Cephalopoda was also frequently consumed during spring and autumn based on %IRI.