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The aim of this study was to assess seasonal variation in the food-web structure of fish assemblages in the East (two sites) and the South (one site) Seas of Korea, and to compare the isotopic niche areas between the regions. To do this, we analyzed the community structures and the δ13C and δ15N values for fish assemblages, and their potential food sources collected during May and October 2020. There were spatial differences in the diversity and dominant species of fish assemblages between the two seas. The fish assemblages in the South Sea had relatively wide ranges of δ13C and δ15N (−22.4‰ to −15.3‰ and 7.4‰ to 13.8‰, respectively) compared to those (−22.1‰ to −18.0‰ and 9.8‰ to 13.6‰, respectively) in the East Sea. The δ13C and δ15N values of suspended particulate organic matter, zooplankton, and fish assemblages differed significantly among sites and between seasons (PERMANOVA, p < 0.05, in all cases). Moreover, isotopic niche indices were relatively higher in the South Sea compared to those in the East Sea. Such differences in food-web characteristics among sites are likely due to the specific environmental effects (especially, major currents) on the differences in the species compositions and, therefore, their trophic relationships. Overall, these results allow for a deeper understanding of the changing trophic diversity and community structure of fish assemblages resulting from climate variability.

Pacific herring (Clupea pallasii Valenciennes, 1847) is a commercially important species that inhabits the coastal waters of the North Pacific from Korea to California, USA. This study analyzed the target strength (TS, dB re 1 m2) of Pacific herring individuals (n = 14, total length (LT) = 21.3–32.3 cm) at 38 and 120 kHz using ex-situ measurements and the Kirchhoff-ray mode (KRM) model. The least-squares regressions of the TS–LT relationship for the ex-situ measurements were TS38kHz = 20 log10(LT) − 70.10 (r = 0.17) and TS120kHz = 20 log10(LT) − 70.59 (r = 0.10). The least-squares regressions for the KRM model were TS38kHz = 20 log10(LT) − 68.39 (r = 0.40) and TS120kHz = 20 log10(LT) − 69.74 (r = 0.49). The b20 value of the KRM model was 1.71 dB higher than that of the ex-situ measurement at 38 kHz but similar at 120 kHz. These results provide basic data to evaluate the distribution and abundance of Pacific herring using fisheries’ acoustic technology.

Acoustic surveys were used to locate coastal Pacific herring (Clupea pallasii) spawning grounds, and the spatial and temporal patterns of their spawning in Jinhae Bay, Korea were examined. We deployed mooring with a newly designed autonomous echosounder for ~70 days during the Pacific herring spawning season in Jinhae Bay, from January to April 2018. At the same time, ship-based acoustic surveys were conducted to identify the spatial distribution twice, at 38 and 120 kHz, onboard the fishing vessel in January and April 2018 in the bay. Fish school signals, including those from adult Pacific herring, are often detected through ship-based acoustic surveys in January, from outside the bay. In the spring, weak scattering signals from fish larvae and zooplankton were continuously detected inside the bay. Backscatter at the mooring in the center of Jinhae Bay was low from mid-January to early March, gradually increasing to higher levels until the end of March. The backscatter observed from the mooring correlated well with ship-based acoustic surveys in the center of the bay. This study proposes that the mooring type acoustic echosounder is a valuable tool for temporal abundance information and other aspects of fish behavior.

The goal of this study was to estimate the target strength (TS) of the sandfish Arctoscopus japonicus using in-situ and ex-situ methods with an echosounder. For the in-situ TS measurement, the survey was conducted by taking hydroacoustic measurements at 38 and 120 kHz and using a coastal gill net, in Goseong, in the northeastern sea of Korea in early December 2009. Ex-situ measurement of TS used live specimens and the tethering method, and was conducted at 120 kHz. The distribution of fork length (FL) was bimodal: 14.6–19.8 cm (n = 241 individuals, mean = 17.0 cm) for males and 16.3–24.5 cm (n = 105 individuals, mean = 19.6 cm) for females. The in-situ TS ranged from −79.8 to −59.1 dB (mean = −74.3 dB for males and −64.1 dB for females) at 38 kHz and −79.9 to −56.2 dB (mean = −74.3 dB for males and −64.1 dB for females) at 120 kHz. The mean TS of females was approximately 10 dB higher than that of males at each dominant frequency. The female ex-situ TS values ranged from 68.5 to −54.6 dB, and those of males was from −67.7 to −59.3 dB. The mean TS value for females was 2.9 dB higher than that of males. These results may be used in echo-integration surveys of sandfish to estimate their abundance and seasonal distribution.

The present study focuses on the influence of target strength (TS) changes in the swimming angle of the hairtail (Trichiurus lepturus). We measured in-situ TS at 38 and 120 kHz with luring lamps at a fishing ground for jigging boats near the coastal waters of Jeju-do in Korea. Swimming angle and size of hairtails were measured using an acoustic camera. Results showed that mean preanal length was estimated to be 13.5 cm (SD = 2.7 cm) and mean swimming tilt angle was estimated to be 43.9° (SD = 17.6°). The mean TS values were −35.7 and −41.2 dB at 38 and 120 kHz, respectively. The results will assist in understanding the influence of swimming angle on the TS of hairtails and, thus, improve the accuracy of biomass estimates.

Pre-metamorphic leptocephali of Pisodonophis sangjuensis (n = 91, 10.4−90.2 mm in total length, TL) were collected in the East China Sea for the first time. Pre-metamorphic leptocephali of P. sangjuensis, which were identified using mitochondrial DNA cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene (mtDNA COI), are characterized by various combinations of morphological characters: 8 moderate to pronounced gut loops with the kidney terminating on the 6-7th loops; and 8 subcutaneous pigment patches on the tail just ventral to the notochord. Pisodonophis sangjuensis leptocephali were more numerously collected offshore than inshore around Jeju Island. The smallest leptocephali ( 100.0 mm TL) were collected from around Jeju Island and the southern coast of Korea. Our findings indicate that P. sangjuensis spawns offshore south of Jeju Island that is an area associated with high water temperature, and then the hatched leptocephali are transported to Jeju Island or the southern coast of Korea by the Tsushima Warm Current.

Nemopilema nomurai jellyfish, which are believed to complete their development in the East China Sea, have started migrating into the Yellow Sea in recent years. We obtained biomass estimates of this species in the Yellow Sea using bottom trawl fishing gear and sighting surveys over a 5-year period. These methods are effective for obtaining N. nomurai jellyfish density estimates and information about the community distribution near the bottom or surface of the sea. To verify the vertical distributions of giant jellyfish between, we used hydroacoustic equipment, including an optical stereo camera system attached to a towed sledge and an echo counting method with scientific echosounder system. Acoustic and optical data were collected while the vessel moved at 3 knots, from which the distribution and density of N. nomurai jellyfish were analyzed. Subsequently, the camera system was towed from a 7 m mean depth to sea level, with the detection range of the acoustic system extending from an 8 m depth to the bottom surface. The optical and acoustic methods indicated the presence of vertical distribution of 0.113 (inds/m3) and 0.064 (inds/m3), respectively. However, the vertical distribution indicated that around 93% of individuals occurred at a depth range of 10–40 m; thus, a 2.4-fold greater density was estimated by acoustic echo counting compared to the optical method.

A subtidal marine benthic algal vegetation at Ulleungdo Island, the eastern coast of Korea was investigated to clarify the community structure and vertical distribution by quadrat method at seven stations in May and August 2014. The total number of marine algal species was 148 species composed of the green algae of 12 species, the brown algae of 40 species and the red algae of 96 species. Mean biomass in dry weight was 94.8 g dry weight m -2 in study sites, 98.1 g dry weight m -2 in upper tidal level, and 86.6 g dry weight m-2 in middle level. The R/P and (R+C)/P value reflecting flora characteristic were 1.9 and 2.3, respectively. Three groups produced by cluster analysis, one including sites Neunggeol, Daepung, Jukdo, second including sites Gongam, Ssangjeongcho and the other including sites Gwaneum, Hangnam, showed meaningful difference in similarity (about 40%), each other. The number of marine algal species and biomass in Ulleungdo Island area were markedly reduced comparing that in the previous studies. This result may suggest probably change of algal vegetation in future, considering the physical and chemical pollutions loaded in the coastal marine environment of this area.

A pagurid hermit crab Catapaguroides fragilis was collected in Jeju Island, and described as new to the Korean fauna. It is the first member of the genus Catapaguroides known from Korea. Morphological descriptions of C. fragilis are presented with illustrations.

Acoustical backscattering characteristics of Japanese anchovy can be estimated by Kirchhoffray mode model (KRM model) due to estimate exact body and swim-bladder shape of the fish, the samples were rapidly frozen by dry-ice and alcohol. X-ray photos for ventral and lateral direction for 6 samples were taken and the 3D coordinates of the body swim-bladder were estimated by digitizing from the photos. The angles between the axis of body and swim-bladder were about at 38kHz and at 120kHz, 200kHz. General formula of TS and BL estimated were >

We compiled and analyzed past time-series data to evaluate changes in oceanographic conditions and marine ecosystems near the Ieodo ocean research station (IORS) in the East China Sea (N 31°15′–33°45′, E 124°15′–127°45′) in relation to longterm changes in climate and global warming. The environment data we used was a depth-specific time-series of temperature and salinity for the water columns at 175 fixed stations along 22 oceanographic lines in Korean waters, based on bimonthly measurements since 1961 taken by the National Fisheries Research & Development Institute. As an indicator for the ecosystem status of the waters off Ieodo, we analyzed species composition in biomass of fishes caught by Korean fishing vessels in the waters near the IORS (1984–2010) and summarized the data in relation to the environmental changes using canonical correspondence analysis (CCA). To detect step changes in the time-series of environmental factors, we applied a sequential t-test analysis of regime shift. Correspondence analysis detected a major shift in fish assemblage structure between 1990 and 1993: the dominant species was filefish during 1981–1992, but chub mackerel during 1992–2007. This shift in fish assemblage structure seemed to be related to the well-established 1989 regime shift in the North Pacific, which was confirmed again with respect to temperature in the Yellow Sea and the Korea Strait (but not in the waters off the IORS). In overall from 1984 to 2010, salinity was more important than water temperature in CCA, implying that the fluctuation of the Tsushima warm current is a most important force driving the long-term changes in fish assemblage structure in the waters off the IORS. Further multidisciplinary researches are required to identify oceanographic and biological processes that link climate-driven physical changes to fish recruitment and habitat range fluctuations.

The common squid is a dominant species in Korean waters, where it is captured preponderantly by the angling fishery. The spawning and nursery grounds of extend from the southern East Sea to the northern East China Sea. Consequently, the environmental conditions in this area during the spawning and nursery seasons might affect the abundance of . This study, analyzed the relationship between the distribution of zooplankton and the abundance of and variation in the squid angling fishing grounds in Korean waters. There was a positive relationship between the fluctuations in zooplankton and the catch per unit effort (CPUE; ) of the angling fishery in the East Sea of Korea. The main fishing season is from July to December and the CPUE was closely related to the zooplankton biomass in April in the East Sea. Recently, the center of the squid jigging ground has moved drastically from the area around Ulleung Island to the northern East Sea. We postulate that the fishing grounds of the squid angling fishery will move farther north with climate change.

Using artificial neural network (ANN) technique, auction prices for common mackerel were forecasted with the daily total sale and auction price data at the Busan Cooperative Fish Market before introducing Total Allowable Catch (TAC) system, when catch data had no limit in Korea. Virtual input data produced from actual data were used to improve the accuracy of prediction and the suitable neural network was induced for the prediction. We tested 35 networks to be retained 10, and found good performance network with regression ratio of 0.904 and determination coefficient of 0.695. There were significant variations between training and verification errors in this network. Ideally, it should require more training cases to avoid over-learning, which leads to improve performance and makes the results more reliable. And the precision of prediction was improved when environmental factors including physical and biological variables were added. This network for prediction of price and catch was considered to be applicable for other fishes.

Three species of the family Processidae, Hayashidonus japonicus (De Haan, 1844), Processa sulcata Hayashi, 1975 and Processa zostericola Hayashi, 1975 described with illustrations from Korea. Two of these species, H. japonicus and P. zostericola, represent new records for the Korean carcinological fauna. The genus Hayashidonus included the single species, H. japonicus is distinguished from other genera of Processidae by the broadly triangular rostrum, the obscure or absent dorsolateral spines of the telson, and the exceptionally long molar process of the mandible. Two species of the genus Processa, P. zostericola and P. sulcata are distinguishable each other by presence or absence of an obtuse process of the basicerite of antenna on the anteroventral margin. The basicerite of antenna arms with the obtuse process in P. zostericola, while in P. sulcata the basicerite of antenna lacks the process but is smooth on the ventral margin. A key to these species is presented.

Two penaeoid shrimps, Hadropenaeus lucasii (Bate, 1881) and Sicyonia truncata (Kubo, 1949), were collected from the northeastern waters of Jeju Island, Korea. These represent the only Korean reports of a member of the genus Hadropenaeus, family Solenoceridae and of a member of family Sicyonidae, respectively. Morphological descriptions and illustrations with a color photograph of each species are given. Korean Penaeoidea presently includes 27 species in three families.

A hippolytid shrimp, Lebbeus grandimana, is described from the southern part of the East Sea and this is the first record of the species in Korea. The genus Lebbeus of the family Hippolytidae currently comprises four species in Korea. A key to identify the four species of the genus Lebbeus from Korean waters is provided.

Reproductive ecology of the snow crab Chionoecetes opilio was investigated in terms of the reproductive organs, abdominal flap, fecundity, and maturity. Specimens were collected with gill nets and trawls from June 2002 to May 2003 in the eastern waters of Korea. The female and male C. opilio are distinguished only by the shape of the abdominal flap, which is triangular in males and circular in females. The gonads of female and male crabs are generally X-shaped. The male gonad is white, while the female gonad appears milk-white after spawning and then turns from light orange to dark orange with maturation. The female gonads matured from June, and mature and immature groups could be distinguished from December to February or March. Brooding eggs changed from bright orange to dark brown with formation of the compound eye immediately before hatching. Accordingly, the main spawning season is February and March. The minimum maturity carapace width of female crabs was 61.1 mm, and the mean fecundity is about 108,300 eggs.

This paper examines the long-term variation in zooplankton biomass in response to climatic and oceanic changes, using a neural network as a nonlinear multivariate analysis method. Zooplankton data collected from 1951 to 1990 off the shore of northeastern Japan were analyzed. We considered patterns of the Kuroshio and the Oyashio, sea surface temperature, and meteorological parameters as environmental factors that affect zooplankton biomass. Back propagation neural networks were trained to generate mapping functions between environmental variables and zooplankton biomass. The performance of the network models was tested by varying the numbers of input and hidden units. Changes in zooplankton biomass could be predicted from environmental conditions. The neural network yielded predictions with smaller errors than those of predictions determined by linear multiple regression. The sensitivity analysis of networks was used to extract predictive knowledge. The air pressure, sea surface temperature, and some indices of atmospheric circulation were the primary factors for predictions. The patterns of the Kuroshio and the Oyashio demonstrated different effects among sea areas.

In this paper the supervised learning paradigm with three layered networks and backpropagation algorithm of artificial neural networks were used for forecasting catches of multiple species in set nets. Three-month means of CPUE of jack mackerel Trachurus japonicus, Japanese sardine Sardinops melanostictus, chub mackerel Scomberjaponicus and total catch for all species in set nets of the Seishyo region in Sagami Bay were collected as output vectors. The input vectors of oceanic conditions were the average temperature anomalies around the set nets and at the surface and 50m depth in Sagami Bay, the Kuroshio path type, and the distances of the Kuroshio current from Cape Irou-zaki and Cape Nojima-zaki. We examined four cases of networks considering fish species and fishing seasons. The CPUE of jack mackerel and total catch in the set nets can be predicted from those of the preceding period and oceanic conditions. Predictions using the same season data were more successful than those using the preceding seasons.