Sung Joon Song

Two Years after the Hebei Spirit Oil Spill: Residual Crude-Derived Hydrocarbons and Potential AhR-Mediated Activities in Coastal Sediments

The Hebei Spirit oil spill occurred in December 2007 approximately 10 km off the coast of Taean, South Korea, on the Yellow Sea. However, the exposure and potential effects remain largely unknown. A total of 50 surface and subsurface sediment samples were collected from 22 sampling locations at the spill site in order to determine the concentration, distribution, composition of residual crudes, and to evaluate the potential ecological risk after two years of oil exposure. Samples were extracted and analyzed for 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), 20 alkyl-PAHs, 15 aliphatic hydrocarbons, and total petroleum hydrocarbons using GC-MSD. AhR-mediated activity associated with organic sediment extracts was screened using the H4IIE-luc cell bioassay. The response of the benthic invertebrate community was assessed by mapping the macrobenthic fauna. Elevated concentrations of residual crudes from the oil spill were primarily found in muddy bottoms, particularly in subsurface layers. In general, the bioassay results were consistent with the chemistry data in a dose-dependent manner, although the mass-balance was incomplete. More weathered samples containing greater fractions of alkylated PAHs exhibited greater AhR activity, due to the occurrence of recalcitrant AhR agonists present in residual oils. The macrobenthic population distribution exhibits signs of species-specific tolerances and/or recolonization of certain species such as Batillaria during weathering periods. Although the Hebei Spirit oil spill was a severe oil exposure, it appears the site is recovering two years later.

Bioaccumulation characteristics of perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) in coastal organisms from the west coast of South Korea

Year-round monitoring for perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) along the west coast of South Korea targeting long-term changes in water and coastal organisms has been conducted since 2008. In this study, we present the most recent 5-years of accumulated data and scrutinize the relationship between concentrations in water and biota highlighting bioaccumulation characteristics. Twelve individual PFAAs in samples of water (n=43) and biota (n=59) were quantified by use of HPLC-MS/MS after solid phase extraction. In recent years, concentrations of PFAAs in water have been generally decreasing, but profiles of relative concentrations of individual PFAAs vary among location and year. Bioaccumulation of PFAAs in various organisms including fishes, bivalves, crabs, gastropods, shrimps, starfish, and polychaetes varied among species. However, overall bioaccumulation of PFAAs was dependent on corresponding concentrations of PFAAs in water within an area. In organ-specific distributions of PFAAs, greater concentrations of PFAAs were found in intestine of fish (green eel goby). This result suggests that PFAAs are mainly accumulated via dietary exposure, while greater concentrations were found in gill and intestine of bivalve (oyster) which suggests both waterborne and dietary exposures to these organisms. Concentrations of PFAAs in biota did not decrease over time (2008-2010), indicating that continuing bioaccumulation followed by slow degradation or excretion of PFAAs accumulated in biota. Overall, spatio-temporal distributions of PFAAs in water and bioaccumulation characteristics seemed to be associated with recent restrictions of PFOS-based products and uses of PFBS-based substitutes.

A review of Leptocaris including a description of L. ryukyuensis sp. nov. (Copepoda: Harpacticoida: Darcythompsoniidae)

We provide a review on scientific contributions concerned with Leptocaris (Harpacticoida: Copepoda) that includes the zoogeography, ecology, biology, and morphology of this genus. A tabular key is given to aid in the identification of the ignavus-group. Leptocaris ryukyuensis sp. nov. is included on the basis of specimens collected from Akeijima sandy beach of the Ryukyu Islands in Japan. The new species can be distinguished from its congeners by an abexopodal seta and 3 exopodal setae on A2, a barbed inner seta on the proximal, endopodal segment of female P1 to P3, setae of the caudal ramus (setae I and II are very small, and the basal seta is transformed to a big spine), and modified inner setules of P2 enp-2 and P3 enp-2 in the males. The new species belongs to the ignavus-group established by Kunz (1994) and is the third species of the genus Leptocaris in East Asia.

A new species of amonardia (copepoda: Harpacticoida: Miraciidae) from the cultivated brown alga, Undaria pinnatifida

Abstract Both sexes of a new species of Miraciidae belonging to the genus Amonardia Lang, 1948 are described. All materials collected from the cultivated brown alga, Undaria pinnatifida of Gijang, Korea. So far only one species, A. normani (Brady, 1872) from the algal bed at Jindo Island was recorded in Korea. The new species can easily be distinguished from its congeners by the combination of characters as follows: (1) shape of first antennular segment in female, (2) setal formular of mandible and maxillule, (3) setae of female sixth leg in female, and (4) shape of P2 endopod and exopod of fifth leg in male.

Two new thalestrid harpacticoids (copepoda, harpacticoida, thalestridae) from Korea

Two new harpacticoid species of family Thalestridae are described on the basis of the specimens collected from the shallow sublittoral sand bottom or seagrasses of rocky shore in South Korea. Dactylopusia pauciarticulata n. sp. is discernible from its 19 congeners by the 6‐articulated antennule. Paradactylopodia koreana n. sp. most resembles P. striata Kunz, 1973 of its seven congeners, but obviously distinguished from it by the shape of male leg 2 endopod.

Spatiotemporal distributions of butyltin compounds in various intertidal organisms along the Samcheok and Tongyeong coasts of Korea

Thirteen years ago, the Korean Government introduced a regulation prohibiting the use of tributyltin (TBT), which was a component of antifouling paints. A subsequent decline in the concentration of butyltins (BTs) was recorded in seawater and the sediment, however, the current concentration of BTs in biota has not been well documented. The spatiotemporal distribution and concentration of BTs was recorded in biota from 2013 to 2015 along the coasts of Samcheok and Tongyeong using GS/MSD analysis. Crustaceans contained the greatest concentrations of BTs, followed by gastropods, fishes, and bivalves. We found that the concentration of BTs was greater at Tongyeong compared to Samcheok, because of the geographical characteristics of the area. We also confirmed that the regulation has been effective by showing that the TBT concentration decreased over the 3-year study period. The TBT levels of gastropods and bivalves fell within the limits of the guidelines and/or the effective concentration of the toxicological endpoint reported previously. The concentration of BTs also varied among species, being dependent on the weight of the soft tissue. Furthermore, the greater quantities of BTs degradation products compared to TBT confirmed the absence of recent inputs of pollutants during the study periods. However, compared with other Asian countries, biota BTs were greater in Korea, with noticeably greater concentrations along the south coast. Thus, further investigation of the distribution of BTs along the Korean coasts is required in the future. In conclusion, our results provide useful information about the recent trends of BTs in Korea.

Korea Barcode of Life Database System (KBOL)

A major concern regarding the collection and storage of biodiversity information is the inefficiency of conventional taxonomic approaches in dealing with a large number of species. This inefficiency has increased the demand for automated, rapid, and reliable molecular identification systems and large-scale biological databases. DNA-based taxonomic approaches are now arguably a necessity in biodiversity studies. In particular, DNA barcoding using short DNA sequences provides an effective molecular tool for species identification. We constructed a large-scale database system that holds a collection of 5531 barcode sequences from 2429 Korean species. The Korea Barcode of Life database (KBOL, http://koreabarcode.org) is a web-based database system that is used for compiling a high volume of DNA barcode data and identifying unknown biological specimens. With the KBOL system, users can not only link DNA barcodes and biological information but can also undertake conservation activities, including environmental management, monitoring, and detecting significant organisms.

First record of the family Cletopsyllidae (Copepoda: Harpacticoida) from Korean waters, with description of a new species

Abstract A new species of the Cletopsyllidae belonging to the genus Isocletopsyllus Huys and Lee, 1999 is described from the materials collected from subtidal sandy bottoms at Jeju Island and Ulleung Island, Korea. So far, only two species of the genus Isocletopsyllus, viz. I. tertius (Por, 1964) from Israel and I. quartus (Soyer, 1966) from Banyuls-sur-Mer (France) are recorded, both from the Mediterranean Ocean. The new species can be clearly distinguished from its congeners by the combination of the following characters: (1) female antennule with a large process on the outer margin of first segment, (2) caudal rami with a bulbous proximal inner expansion, and shorter than those of other species (about four times long as wide in the new species), (3) second segment of P1 exopod with a short rod-like inner seta, (4) sexual dimorphism presented in the second endopodal segment of male P2, not in exopod of P4, and (6) female P5 with a very long exopod with very short second outer seta. A table comparing the modifications of swimming legs in the family Cletopsyllidae Huys and Lee, 1999 is presented. This is the first record of this family from Korea.

Biodiversity hotspot for marine invertebrates around the Dokdo, East Sea, Korea Ecological checklist revisited

We extensively reviewed the macrozoobenthos around Dokdo, Korea, by analyzing metadata collected over the past 50years. The Dokdo macrozoobenthos was represented by 578 species belonging to 243 families from 12 phyla, where four major phyla (or classes) collectively accounted for 86% to total. Mollusks, arthropods, and cnidarians were semi-equally occurred in intertidal and subtidal areas, while polychetes dominated the subtidal zone. The northern most region of Dokdo had the greatest biodiversity (173 species). The taxonomic distinctness analysis (delta+) indicated a close association between species by region, although the number of species varied greatly. About half of the species did not occur cross the locations (n=20), indicating strong habitat preferences of Dokdo macrofaunal assemblages. Overall, the diversity of Dokdo was greater than that of Ulleung Island (east coast), but comparable to that of the well-developed tidal flats in the western Korean waters, highlighting its status as a biodiversity hotspot.

Postembryonic development of Amenophia orientalis (Copepoda, Harpacticoida), with a review of thalestridomorph development

Abstract Symbiosis is an evolutionary trend in several phylogenetic clades of the taxonomically and functionally diverse Copepoda. However, little attention has been paid to associated and parasitic taxa that infest macroalgae. Harmful effects of phytal harpacticoids that are borers or produce galls, have been reported for several species of wild and farmed macroalgae. Besides being food for human consumption, marine macroalgae provide promising products for the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries and biomass for the production of biofuel. A study of their consumers and parasites is, therefore, of great significance for fundamental marine ecology, as well as for their mass production in mariculture. We describe here the naupliar and copepodid stages of Amenophia orientalis, with illustrations of naupliar stages II–IV and copepodid stages II–V. Postembryonic characters of the naupliar and copepodid phases of development are discussed in the context of phylogenetic relationships among the Thalestridae. Remarks are provided on the ecology of the species.