Jae-Sang Hong

Predicting the Invasion Pathway of Balanus perforatus in Korean Seawaters

The European Common Barnacle Balanus perforatus Brugiere (Crustacea, Cirripedia) has been introduced into the east coast of Korea, presumably via the ballast water of ships. The species has since been spreading along both the northern and southern coast to the east, most likely due to alongshore currents. We predicted the potential range expansion of Balanus perforatus in Korean waters using Genetic Algorithm for Rule-set Prediction (GARP), an environmental niche modeling technique. The results show that much of the southern coastal waters of Korea could be colonized by the spread of the nonindigenous species, but that the west coast is unlikely to be invaded. More sampling on the west coast would enhance the predictability of the model. To our knowledge, this is the first report of its kind for predicting marine nonindigenous species in Korean waters using GARP modeling.

Development Needs and Direction of an Ecological Grading System of Korean Tidal Flats

There is a host of habitat assessment systems available to evaluate and grade tidal flat ecosystems in Korea. Nevertheless, we recognize the need to develop a better ecological scheme to improve reliability and accuracy given the importance of using an empirical approach in assigning grades to indicators and the limitation of current systems which evaluate tidal flats on a regional basis. A preferable system would be one that enables habitat mapping within a tidal flat, provides a diagnosis of ecological stress/health, has a high level of ecological relevance, communicability, and statistical robustness, and enables evaluation of diverse habitats within a tidal flat. The following points should be considered in framing such a system. Indicators should discriminate habitat quality into five to seven grades accomodating diverse characteristics and conservation value of a habitat, and the grading should be made from frequency distribution of indicators based on nationwide data.We suggest the following tasks in crafting such a system: ⅰ) The decision on selection of indicators should be made based on accuracy of assessment and practical application; ⅱ) effects of physical habitat conditions on variability of indicators should be reflected; and, ⅲ) further works on stress/health indicators should be addressed for adopting a multiple-indicator approach which reduces misdiagnosis.

A rapid assessment survey of invasive species of macrobenthic invertebrates in Korean waters

Introduced species are a growing and imminent threat to living marine resources in parts of the world’s oceans. The present study is a rapid assessment survey of invasive macrobenthic invertebrate species in Korean ports. We surveyed over 40 ports around Korea during the period of May 2010~March 2013. Among the sampling sites were concrete walls, docks and associated floats, bumpers, tires, and ropes which might harbor non-native species. We found 15 invasive species as follows: one Sponge, two Bryozoans, three Mollusks, one Polychaete, four Cirripedes, and four Ascidians. Three morphologically similar species, namely X. atrata, M. galloprovincialis, and X. securis were further examined for distinctions in their morphology. Although they could be reasonably distinguished based on shell shapes, significant overlap was noted so that additional analysis may be required to correctly distinguish them. Although many of the introduced species have already spread to all three coastal areas, newly arrived invasive species showed a relatively restricted range, with a serpulid polychaete Ficopomatus enigmaticus and a mytilid bivalve Xenostrobus securis found only at a few sites on the East Coast. An exception is for Balanus perforatus, which has rapidly colonized the East coast of Korea following its introduction into the region. Successful management of invasive macrobenthic invertebrates should be established in order to contain the spread of these newly arrived species.

Responses of meiofauna and nematode communities to crude oil contamination in a laboratory microcosm experiment

We examined the effects of crude oil contamination on community assemblages of meiofauna and nematodes after exposure to total petroleum hydrocarbons in the laboratory. We administered a seawater solution that had been contaminated with total petroleum hydrocarbons to seven treatment groups at different concentrations, while the control group received uncontaminated filtered seawater. The average density of total meiofauna in the experimental microcosms diluted with 0.5%, 1%, 2%, and 4% contaminated seawater was higher than the density in the control. The average density of total meiofauna in the 8%, 15%, and 20% microcosms was lower than the density in the control. The density of nematodes was similar to that of the total meiofauna. Cluster analysis divided the microcosms into group 1 (control, 0.5%, 1%, 2%, and 4% microcosms) and group 2 (8%, 15%, and 20% microcosms). However, SIMPROF analysis showed no significant difference between the two groups (p > 0.05). Bolbolaimus spp. (37.1%) were dominant among the nematodes. Cluster analysis showed similar results for nematode and meiofaunal communities. The total meiofaunal density, nematode density, and number of Bolbolaimus spp. individuals were significantly negatively associated with the concentration of total petroleum hydrocarbons (Spearman correlation coefficients, p < 0.05). Within the nematodes, epistrate feeders (group 2A: 46%) were the most abundant trophic group. Among the treatment groups, the abundance of group 2A increased in low-concentration microcosms and decreased in high-concentration microcosms. Thus, our findings provide information on the effects of oil pollution on meiofauna in the intertidal zones of sandy beaches.

Copepods (Crustacea, Copepoda, Cyclopoida) Associated with Marine Invertebrates from Thailand

Fifteen species of poecilostome copepods associated with marine invertebrates, including ten new species, are recorded from intertidal zone in Thailand. New species are Hemicyclops cornutus n. sp. and Hemicyclops parapiculus n. sp. in the family Clausidiidae, Presynaptiphilus trifurcatus n. sp. in the Synaptiphilidae, Anchimolgus kantariensis n. sp. and Anchimolgus palmatus n. sp. in the Anchimolgidae, Kelleria vasfera n. sp. in the Kelleridae, Pseudanthessius stenosus n. sp. and Pseudanthessius phuketensis n. sp. in the Pseudanthessiidae, Doricidola pattayensis n. sp., and Lambanetes mollis n. sp. in the Rhynchomolgidae. Five species are new records of Thailand: Critomolgus gemmatus (Humes, 1964), Doridicola cuspis (Humes, 1964), Doridicola inaequalis (Humes and Ho, 1966), Indomolgus brevisetosus (Humes and Ho, 1966), and Lambanetes stichodactylae Humes, 1982. The female of Lambanetes stichodectylae is described for the first time in the world.

Characteristics of Meiobenthic Community Inhabiting Sandy Sediment in the Yellow Sea, Korea

The community structure of meiobenthos was studied at 16 stations within sandy tidal and subtidal zones in Jangbongdo in the Yellow Sea, Korea from Aug. 2006 to Jan. 2007. Meiobenthic organisms were collected by three core samples, with a 3.6 ㎝ diameter, from each sediment sample taken with a Smith-McIntyre Grab. Mean grain size of study stations ranged from 1.49φ to 3.55φ. Composition of sand ranged from 80.38% to 99.89%. There was reduction in total abundance and biomass of meiobenthos from summer to winter. Total densities of meiofauna ranged between 17 inds./10 ㎠ and 853 inds./10 ㎠. Nematodes, gastrotricha, nauplius and harpacticoids appeared as major taxa in decreasing order. This study shows that major taxa comprised 90 percent of total abundance. Most meiofaunal organisms are concentrated in the upper sediment layers and the total abundance and biomass of organisms in the tidal zone is higher than the subtidal zone.

Identification of Ruditapes philippinarum and Meretrix lusoria Larvae Using Single Cell PCR Analysis and Microscopic Observation

Single cell PCR analysis and light and scanning electron microscopic techniques were utilized to identify free living bivalve larvae in the coastal waters of Tae-an, on the west coast of Korea. Through DNA sequencing, venerid clam larvae were isolated and identified as Ruditapes philippinarum (99% similarity) and Meretrix lusoria (99%). Under microscopic observation, the D-veliger stage of R. philippinarum exhibited symmetrical shoulder angles and an elliptical ventral form. In contrast, M. lusoria displayed asymmetrical shoulder angles and a round ventral form in the umbonal stage. Size of the R. philippinarum larvae was 156±22 ㎛ in length, 126±12 ㎛ in height, 92±14 ㎛ in width with a length: height ratio of 1.23. Meretrix lusoria was 202±44 ㎛ in length, 161±35 ㎛ in height, 96±38 ㎛ in width with a length: height ratio of 1.25. Experimental results indicate that morphological and molecular characteristics provide evidence for the larval identification of these two venerid clam larvae species in nature.

Long-term variations in macrobenthic community diversity (species number) in the Chokchon macrotidal flat, Incheon, Korea

We performed a time-series analysis of environmental variables and biological parameters to understand temporal variations in the macrobenthic community in the Chokchon macrotidal flats, Incheon, Korea. Bimonthly sampling of macrobenthos and sediments was conducted from May 1989 through November 2001. A decomposition method composed of seasonality, trends and cyclical variation was employed in this study. We focused on trends of the selected variables and assumed that those with positive or negative trends caused changes in biological parameters. Most variables showed strong seasonality (≥ 95% of the total variance). Significant positive trends (p < 0.0001) were observed in sea water temperature and sediment ignition loss. Macrobenthic biomass and species number also showed significant positive trends (p < 0.0001). Biomass indicated that the study area underwent eutrophication since the mid 1990s. A notable increase in species number occurred throughout the study period. The flattened temperature trend after 1994 and intensified eutrophication after the mid 1990s indicated that the species increase in the former period was in response to increasing temperature, while that in the latter period was caused by eutrophication. Although our study suggested an increasing trend in diversity, it is important to check for unexpected changes and establish monitoring programs to provide early warnings, especially in lower latitudes.

Effect of the Hebei Spirit oil spill on intertidal meiofaunal communities in Taean, Korea.

In December 2007, approximately 10,900tons of oil from a crude carrier spread rapidly onto the coast of South Korea. We studied the effects of oil on meiofauna by comparing two contaminated intertidal sites with an uncontaminated site. During 2008-2009, the density of meiofauna fluctuated among the contaminated sites but did not vary by season. Seasonal changes in density were observed at contaminated sites 3years after the oil accident. Meiofauna appeared to be more sensitive to oil pollution stress at the more heavily contaminated site than at the less contaminated site. CLUSTER analysis showed that meiofauna communities in the 3years immediately following the accident significantly differed from those sampled later. A non-metric multidimensional scaling analysis showed that nematode species composition in the first month after the accident significantly differed from those sampled later. Long-term monitoring is needed to assess the effects of oil on the meiofaunal community.