The First Molecular Evidence of Korean Zalophus japonicus (Otariidae: Sea Lions) from the Archaeological Site of Dokdo Island,Korea

Ocean Science Journal - Zalophus japonicus (Japanese sea lion, family Otariidae) was a mammal that once flourished around Dokdo Island. Overharvesting of the Korean sea lion in the early and...     

A Republic of Korea perspective

Naval strategy and operational focus are shifting toward regional and littoral warfare. The application to extended jurisdictional zones of rules formulated for 3 nm territorial seas is creating international tension as well as new roles for navies. But the argument that the Navy should control the EEZ has fundamental weaknesses. Tentative recommendations are given for reforming the rules of naval warfare in light of extended jurisdictional zones.The growing importance of Rules of Engagement (ROE) reflects a greater degree of control of the military by politicians. This and the spread of high tech weapons have made the operations of naval forces extremely complex. ROE are now being rewritten around three key elements—separation of prohibitions from permissions, determination of the political objective, and conformity between the rules and the force profile and objective. ROE must also be separated from rules of behavior, which are the province of the military. And multilateral naval operations in the same EEZ must have the same ROE.     

Subtidal Marine Algal Community and Endangered Species in Dokdo and Ulleungdo,Two Oceanic Islands in the East Sea of Korea

Ocean Science Journal - Dokdo and Ulleungdo islands harbor diverse marine algae and are therefore uniquely well-suited for research on marine algae distribution and ecological changes. However,...     

The occurrence of Clithon retropictus (v. Martens, 1879) (Gastropoda: Neritidae) in an unusual habitat, northern Jeju Island, Republic of Korea

Clithon retropictus is a neritid gastropod inhabiting mainly brackish water. Currently this species has been listed as a second grade endangered species of wildlife in Korea by the Ministry of Environment, due to the decrease in its population size. C. retropictus has previously been identified from estuaries on the south coast of Korea. In Jeju Island, this species has been reported only from the south coast. However, a population has recently been discovered on the north coast of the island in an apparently new type of habitat, under rocks adjacent to a dry riverbed on a muddy substrate. C. retropictus was found to be aggregated under some of the larger rocks, and the habitat was located near the high tide line. The present study reports some possible reasons for the occurrence of the population in this unusual habitat, and provides useful information on the biometry and population size which can be used in the management of this endangered species.     

韩国海洋综合能力建设状况

近年来，由于韩国加强了海洋综合能力的建设，韩国的海洋事业有了长足的发展。本文从海洋管理能力建设、海洋开发能力建设、科技能力建设和海洋军事能力建设四个方面介绍了韩国海洋综合能力建设的状况。     

Genetic variability analysis in five populations of the sea cucumber Stichopus (Apostichopus) japonicus from China,Russia, South Korea and Japan as revealed by microsatellite markers

The genetic structure of populations of the sea cucumber Stichopus (Apostichopus) japonicus was investigated using 10 microsatellite markers. In all, 152 individuals from five natural populations were collected from Aomori, Japan (JA and JR), Yosu, South Korea (KY), Dalian, China (CD) and Vladivostock, Russia (RV). A total of 145 alleles were found at 10 loci. The number of alleles per locus ranged from 9 at PSC03 to 20 at SCZ06, with an average of 14.5. Average H_o and H_e ranged from 0.260 (JR) to 0.434 (JA) and from 0.654 (RV) to 0.778 (KY), respectively. No significant differences at A, H_o and H_e were found, indicating similar genetic diversity in the five populations. A single allele was found at the PSC05 locus in the RV population. Of the 50 loci, 42 significantly deviated from Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium, all showing heterozygote deficiency. The genetic distances were all relatively great, ranging from 0.497 (between JA and KY) to 1.029 (between KY and JR). This suggests the five populations are genetically distinct. Cluster analysis indicated that JA, KY and CD form one branch and RV and JR another in the UPGMA tree. A hypothesis is proposed for the evolution of the Japanese red sea cucumbers and the genetic relationship among the populations.     

Distribution and Acoustic Characteristics of Shallow Gas in the Korea Strait Shelf Mud off SE Korea

Shallow gas in the Korea Strait shelf mud (KSSM) off SE Korea, revealed by high-resolution subbottom profiles, is associated with acoustic blanking, acoustic turbidity, seepages with plumes in the water column, and seafloor depressions. The acoustic blanking, characterized by strong, consistent top reflection and wipeout below, is most dominant. The seaward edge of the acoustic blanking zone generally coincides with the 100-m water-depth contour, suggesting that the water depth (the pressure) may control the distribution of shallow gas. The acoustic turbidity, characterized by diffuse top reflection, is a dark smear, partially blanking the data below. The seepages with plumes, characterized by vertical smearing and disturbed seafloor, are seen only along the shallowest, landward edge of the acoustic blanking zone. This may suggest that the decreased gas solubility at shallow water depths, caused by the lowered pressure, increases the volume of free gas in the sediments, facilitating the gas escape. The seafloor depressions, interpreted as pockmarks, are accompanied by cone-shaped acoustic masking, which is probably the reflection from a narrow vent of gas. The gas-related acoustic anomalies appear to occur mostly in the upper, recent mud of the KSSM. Neither permeable beds nor faults, which can act as vertical migration pathways for deep thermogenic gas, are evident in the recent mud. We interpret that the bacterial degradation of organic matter in situ is the main source for the gas in the KSSM. The upwelling off SE Korea may be an important source for the increased organic matter in the area.     

Distribution and Acoustic Characteristics of Shallow Gas in the Korea Strait Shelf Mud off SE Korea

Shallow gas in the Korea Strait shelf mud (KSSM) off SE Korea, revealed by high-resolution subbottom profiles, is associated with acoustic blanking, acoustic turbidity, seepages with plumes in the water column, and seafloor depressions. The acoustic blanking, characterized by strong, consistent top reflection and wipeout below, is most dominant. The seaward edge of the acoustic blanking zone generally coincides with the 100-m water-depth contour, suggesting that the water depth (the pressure) may control the distribution of shallow gas. The acoustic turbidity, characterized by diffuse top reflection, is a dark smear, partially blanking the data below. The seepages with plumes, characterized by vertical smearing and disturbed seafloor, are seen only along the shallowest, landward edge of the acoustic blanking zone. This may suggest that the decreased gas solubility at shallow water depths, caused by the lowered pressure, increases the volume of free gas in the sediments, facilitating the gas escape. The seafloor depressions, interpreted as pockmarks, are accompanied by cone-shaped acoustic masking, which is probably the reflection from a narrow vent of gas. The gas-related acoustic anomalies appear to occur mostly in the upper, recent mud of the KSSM. Neither permeable beds nor faults, which can act as vertical migration pathways for deep thermogenic gas, are evident in the recent mud. We interpret that the bacterial degradation of organic matter in situ is the main source for the gas in the KSSM. The upwelling off SE Korea may be an important source for the increased organic matter in the area.     

Potential blue carbon from coastal ecosystems in the Republic of Korea

Ocean Science Journal - The sequestration of carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere and ocean into coastal ecosystems such as seaweed beds, seagrasses, saltmarshes, and tidal flats is an...     

Physical and Acoustic Properties of Gas-bearing Sediments in Jinhae Bay,the South Sea of Korea

High-resolution seismic survey and sediment core sampling were conducted to investigate acoustic characteristics of gas-bearing sediments in Jinhae Bay, the southeast of Korea. The sediment in Jinhae Bay is mostly homogenous mud deposited after the Holocene transgression. Along with the 410 km of chirp seismic profiling, five piston core samples were collected on the track lines.

Gassy sediments are common and occur widely in the bay. Core samples were analyzed for sediment texture, physical properties (porosity, water content, bulk density, and grain density), acoustic properties (compressional wave velocity and attenuation), and electrical resistivity. X-radiograph image analysis was also performed to observe the shape of degassing cracks. There is no significant downcore variation on physical and sediment textures regardless of existence of gas bubbles. However, compressional wave velocity dramatically decreases from average 1480 to 1380～739 m/s for the cores that penetrate the gas-bearing zones. This is probably due to degassying cracks that developed by escaping gases and free gas bubbles that are still trapped in the cores. Electrical resistivity is the only geotechnical property that increases in the gas-bearing zone where compressional wave velocity abruptly decreases. This indicates the possibility of using both electrical resistivity as an index variable as well as to compressional wave velocity to identify gassy sediment microstructure because there are little changes in texture and composition of sediment.     

Marine environmental impact assessment of abalone,Haliotis discus hannai,cage farm in Wan-do,Republic of Korea

To assess the marine environmental impacts of abalone, Haliotis discus hannai, cage farms in Wan-do, we monitored the benthic environment on top of the sediment underneath cage farm stations and reference stations. We applied two methods for this assessment. One was the A- and B-investigation of the MOM system (Modeling–On fish farm–Monitoring) developed in Norway. The other was a general environmental monitoring method which is widely used. In this study, we found benthic animals in all samples that belonged to condition 1 which were based on group 1(presence of macrofauna) of the B-investigation method. The values of redox potential (group 2–pH, redox potential) in all samples were above +65 mV belonging to condition 1. Based on sensory results (group 3–gas, color, odor, thickness of deposits), five out of seven experiment samples showed condition 1 while stations 2 and 7 showed condition 2, which have been cultured for 10 years in semi-closed waters. As group 2 takes precedence over group 3, the level of the conditions for B-investigation results consequently showed condition 1 in all stations. We found that pollutants and trace metals in the sediment underneath cage farms were lower than the pollution standard. This led us to conclude that the environmental impacts of the cage farms in this study were not significant.     

Acoustic monitoring using bamboo set net in the Southern Sea of Korea

High-temporal resolution profiles of acoustic backscatter were collected from a traditional bamboo set net along the coast of the Southern Sea, Korea, using sideward-looking multi-beam imaging sonar. These data were used to examine the impact of variations in tidal cycles and current speeds on the bamboo set net. The relatively high influx of fish during the nighttime compared to the low influx and high outflux of fish during the daytime suggests visual avoidance of the net by the fish during the daytime. The observed diel variation in the captured fish flux was significantly correlated with the current speed (day: r = 0.35, p = 0.002, night: r = 0.60, p < 0.001). The ratio of influx and outflux of fish, and current speed were correlated in a linear relationship (day: r = 0.45, p < 0.001; night: r = 0.56, p < 0.001). The fish activity of those inhabiting the bamboo set nets appears to be greatly influenced by day-night differences and current speed. The present study enhances understanding of fish behavior via utilization of a bamboo set net in the coastal zone.     

Fossil diatom assemblages as paleoecological indicators of paleo-water environmental change in the Ulleung Basin,East Sea,Republic of Korea

The fossil diatom assemblage record from two sediment cores obtained from the Ulleung Basin, East Sea, Republic of Korea, revealed changes in the diatom assemblage zones in PG1 and PD3 core samples. The two sediment cores were δC¹⁴ dated and approximately represented the late Pleistocene–Holocene. The analysis of age zones in the PG1 core and PD3 core was assessed based on the frequency of variations, and occurrences of biostratigraphical fossil diatom species. During the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM), the sea level was lower than that at present and the Ulleung Basin became isolated from the Pacific Ocean. As a result, there would have been a limited Tsushima Warm Current (TWC) influence, and salinity would have decreased resulting in increased freshwater and coastal diatoms. The distribution pattern of diatoms presented in the cores was associated with changes in water temperature and salinity and the adding of terrigenous material brought about by the input of freshwater. Changes in the abundance of a tychopelagic diatom, Paralia sulcata, reflected the effect of the water currents. Diatom temperature (Td) values and the ratio of centric/pennate diatoms provided evidence of limited influences of the TWC and freshwater inflow. It is thought that all assemblage zones were influenced by the TWC, which had an important effect on the distribution and composition of fossil diatoms.     

室内培育条件下青岛文昌鱼性腺的年周期发育

青岛文昌鱼(Branchiostoma japonicus)采自于青岛沙子口海区,在室内进行周年培育。每月采集样品,经测量、固定以及组织切片观察,研究了其周年卵巢和精巢的发育规律。结果表明,室内培育的文昌鱼一周年内全长没有明显变化,仅体质量在繁殖期即其性腺发育至Ⅴ期时有明显增大(P0.05=,精卵排空后则恢复原来体质量。文昌鱼1 a内在夏季6～7月繁殖1次,能自行排放卵和精子,排空后个体的卵巢或精巢,在适宜的条件下,经历Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ、Ⅳ和Ⅴ期的发育过程,进行下一轮的性腺发育。文昌鱼精巢在Ⅳ期前先于卵巢发育,两者在Ⅳ期前发育都不同步,精巢处于Ⅳ期时间较长,一般从3月持续到5月,而卵巢处于Ⅳ期一般是在4月～5月。     

仿刺参骨片的种类和形态学研究

以大连海洋大学农业部北方海水增养殖重点实验室培育的已明确年龄(1龄、2龄、3龄)的仿刺参(Apostichopus japonicus)为实验材料,采用原位压片法对仿刺参棘、体壁、触手、管足、纵肌、呼吸树、肠7种组织标本进行骨片形态学观察和SPSS统计分析,获得了不同年龄、组织仿刺参中各类型骨片的相对比例。结果表明,原位压片法得到的骨片较Na Cl O法结构损坏较小,且能观察到骨片在组织中的分布。仿刺参各组织中存在桌形体、扣形体、杆状体、花纹状体、复合盘状骨片和长孔状体6种主要骨片类型。体壁中主要骨片类型为扣形体和桌形体;棘和触手中主要骨片类型为扣形体、桌形体和杆状体;管足中主要骨片类型为特有的复合盘状骨片、扣形体和桌形体;呼吸树和肠中主要骨片类型为花纹状体;纵肌不含任何类型骨片。不同组织间相同类型骨片的形态结构一致,无组织间特异性。通过对不同年龄仿刺参各组织的骨片比较分析发现,不同年龄仿刺参相同组织中骨片比例存在差异,例如,1龄、2龄、3龄仿刺参触手中桌形体骨片的相对比例分别为11.55%±2.69%、20.76%±2.34%、3.75%±0.72%,2龄仿刺参触手中桌形体骨片的相对比例显著高于1龄、3龄仿刺参触手中桌形体骨片比例(P0.05);1龄、2龄、3龄仿刺参棘中扣形体相对比例分别为92.55%±1.98%、65.45%±1.79%、88.36%±3.08%,2龄仿刺参棘中扣形体相对比例显著低于1龄和3龄仿刺参棘中扣形体骨片比例(P0.05)。本研究为仿刺参的基础生物学研究提供资料,为仿刺参的年龄鉴别提供参考。     

荣成靖海湾海参养殖池塘初级生产力季节变化特征

2007年5月~2007年11月调查了山东荣成靖海湾海参养殖池塘水体中浮游植物种类组成、生物量、叶绿素含量变化以及底泥沉积物中叶绿素和脱镁叶绿素含量的变化.结果表明,海参养殖池塘水体中浮游植物共有7门,44属,62种,主要以硅藻为主.水体中浮游植物平均生物量1号池塘为17.52×10~4 /L;2号池塘为18.30×10~4 /L.水体叶绿素含量变化范围:1号池塘为1.38～5.00 μg/L;2号池塘为0.98～5.45 μg/L.池塘沉积物中叶绿素含量变化范围:1号池塘为0.66～1.67 μg/g,2号池塘为0.56～1.34 μg/g.池塘沉积物中脱镁叶绿素含量变化范围:1号池塘为2.97～5.63 μg/g;2号池塘为2.90～6.36 μg/g.1号池塘和2号池塘的浮游植物群落结构及叶绿素含量没有显著性差异(P>0.05).叶绿素,脱镁叶绿素变化趋势较为一致.海参夏眠期间,沉积物中叶绿素及脱镁叶绿素含量最高,为海参结束夏眠进入摄食提供食物储备.研究结果表明,靖海湾海参养殖池塘浮游植物以硅藻为主,养殖池塘水体浮游植物生物量较低,多样性指数较高,增加浮游植物沉降速率,增加养殖系统初级生产力可为海参提供更多食物.     

Acoustic characters and distribution pattern of modern fine-grained deposits in a tide-dominated coastal bay: Jinhae Bay,Southeast Korea

Jinhae Bay, a semi-enclosed, tide-dominated coastal embayment on the southeastern coast of Korea, receives large amounts of sediment derived from the Nakdong River. The irregular surface of the acoustic basement is overlain by a modern sedimentary sequence up to 25 m thick, characterized by an acoustically semitransparent subbottom. Sediments, consisting mainly of terrigenous and bioturbated mud, accumulate at a rate of 2–5 mm/yr. About 21% of the suspended sediments discharged from the Nakdong River, that is approximately 1.0 × 10⁶ tons per year, accumulate in Jinhae Bay. Modern sedimentation began probably at about 5000 yr BP, when sea level approached its present level.     

Two species of the genusoncaea (copepoda, poecilostomatoida, oncaeidae) from the east sea, Korea

Abstract   Oncaea venusta Philippi, 1843 has been known as having some different size groups, but recent genetic study for cyt b and ITS 1 (Elverset al. 2006) suggests that these size groups can be considered as different species. Of these size groups, the largestO. venusta Philippi and the smallestO. venella Farran, 1929 were first described in Korean waters. The latter is easily distinguishable from the former in the following characteristics in addition to its small size: (1) length to width ratio of genital double somite of two genders smaller, and (2) female second pediger bearing inconspicuous dorso-posterior swelling.Oncaea venusta andO. venella co-occur in Korean waters during spring to fall, but their occurrence patterns seasonally differ: the former shows higher density in fall while the latter does in summer.