• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.165-175
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• 2010

Dietary lipid biomarkers (fatty acids, fatty alcohols, and sterols) in adult specimens were analyzed to compare and understand the feeding ecology of the euphausiid, Euphausia pacifica, from three geographically and environmentally diverse Korean waters (Yellow Sea, East China Sea, and East Sea). Total lipid content of E. pacifica from Korean waters was about 10% dry weight (DW) with a dominance of phospholipids (>46.9% of total lipid content), which are known as membrane components. A saturated fatty acid, C16:0, a monounsaturated fatty acid, C18:1(n-9), and two polyunsaturated fatty acids, C20:5(n-3) and 22:6(n-3), were most abundant (>60% of total fatty acids) in the fatty acid composition. Some of the fatty acids showed slight differences among regions although no significant compositional changes of fatty acids were detected between these regions. Phytol, originating from the side chain of chlorophyll and indicative of active feeding on phytoplankton, was detected all samples. Trace amounts of various fatty alcohols were also detected in E. pacifica. Specifically, krill from the Yellow Sea showed relatively high amounts of longchain monounsaturated fatty alcohols (i.e. 20:1 and 22:1), generally found in herbivorous copepods. Three different kinds of sterols were detected in E. pacifica. The most dominant of these sterols was cholest-5-en-$3{\beta}$-ol (cholesterol). The lipid compositions and ratios of fatty acid trophic markers are indicative of herbivory in E. pacifica from the Yellow Sea and East Sea (mainly feeding on dinoflagellates and diatoms, respectively). The lipid compositions and ratios of fatty acid trophic markers are indicative of carnivory or omnivory in E. pacifica from the East China Sea, mainly feeding on microzooplankton such as protozoa. In conclusion, lipid biomarkers provide useful information about krill feeding type. However, further analyses and experiments (i.e. gut content analysis, in situ grazing experiment, etc.) are needed to better understand the feeding ecology of E. pacifica in various marine environments.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.56 no.5
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• pp.701-707
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• 2023

We investigated Euphausia pacifica population in Korean waters in 2016 By samplings for genetic structur at five stations. Three sampling stations were located in the middle of the water masses which were clustered by temperature and salinity whereas the other stations were at the boundaries of the water masses. We amplified a 566 bp region and compared it with sequences of E. pacifica distributed in other waters. Sequences were classified two clades, and a clade was formed in the station E. Genetic distance of station E was close to E. pacifica present in Bering Sea, while it was distant to E. pacifica present in Yellow Sea near China. In genetic analysis, seven haplotypes were formed. Hap-1 and Hap-2 were shared in all five stations, while Hap-3 was shared in station W and WS. Four independent haplotypes were present in station E. Haplotype and nucleotide diversity were the highest in station E and the lowest in station S. The F_ST distances between station E and other stations were the highest, but distances among other stations were low. As a result, we concluded that E. pacifica, which is distributed in Korean waters, has a genetic population differentiation in the East Sea (station E).

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.749-756
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• 2003

Hydroacoustic and open-closing zooplankton net survey were conducted to understand the characteristics of the sound scattering layer (SSL) and to estimate the density of an euphausiid (Euphausia pacifica) in the SSL, in the northwestern part of the East China Sea. The survey was carried out during July 6-9 2002 at 8 sampling stations for zooplankton. The virtual echogram technique was used to identify E. pacifica from all acoustic scatters. Mean volume backscattering strength difference $(MVBS_{120kHz-38kHz})$ and target strength equation for E. pacifica were derived from the Distorted-wave Born Approximation (DWBA) model. Although vertical migration of the SSL is similar to the general pattern, dispersion at night shows some differences. Estimated mean density using acoustic data ranged from $20.4-221.4\;mg/m^3$ over the whole depth, and $87.1-553.5\;mg/m^3$ in the SSL. The density using the zooplankton net ranged from $0.2-362.4\;mg/m^3$ and was not related to net deploying method. The results from the acoustic and net survey suggest that E. pacifica might be an important zooplankton community in the northwestern part of the East China Sea.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.56 no.2
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• pp.259-264
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• 2023

Day-night vertical euphausiid distribution was investigated at three stations in the East Sea using a Multiple Opening/Closing Net and Environmental Sensing System (MOCNESS). Three euphausiid species were recognized. Euphausia pacifica was more dominant than Thysanoessa longipes. Euphausiids were collected at Station 1 at night, Station 2 at sunset, and Station 3 during the daytime. At Station 1, calyptopis and furcilia stages were concentrated from the surface to 30 m and 20-40 m, respectively. Juveniles and E. pacifica were distributed in strata shallower than 30 m. At Station 2, calyptopis and furcilia stages were dominant in strata from the surface to 40 m. Juveniles were not recorded in strata at 30-100 m. However, E. pacifica occurred in these strata. At Station 3, calyptopis and furcilia stages occurred in the upper 40 m of strata. E. pacifica was distributed deeper than 100 m and rarely occurred above 100 m. The furcilia stages weakly migrated, whereas the calyptopis stages did not. Juveniles and E. pacifica showed a clear migration pattern. Vertical distribution of euphausiids in the northern East Sea varied by life stage and time of day.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.475-482
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• 2019

Over 3,200 large baleen whales including 3,173 fin whales, 7 blue whales and 28 humpback whales were hunted by Japanese whaling companies in the Yellow Sea during Japanese colonial period (1916~1944). As a result, these large baleen whales are under the endangered state in the Yellow Sea. The Yellow Sea had good living conditions for large baleen whales in the water temperature ($4{\sim}26^{\circ}C$) and food supply. The whaling on the large baleen whales was carried out mainly from early winter to late spring. The possibility of large scale whaling was caused by the migration of these baleen whales from other areas for the feeding on abundances of Euphausia pacifica in the surface layer during these seasons. During summer and autumn season, the baleen whales moved to other areas (good feeding ground as Woolsan offshore waters), because Euphausia pacifica stayed below the strong themocline which was formed from June to October in the Yellow Sea.

• Journal of the korean society of oceanography
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• v.33 no.1-2
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• pp.35-40
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• 1998

In February and April 1997, three temporary interruptions of electric power production at the Uljin Nuclear Power Plant in the east coast of Korea were caused by the malfunction of the cool-ing-water supply unit. The clogging of the drum screens inside the unit caused by the surface swarm of the euphausiid Euphausia pacifica Hansen might be responsible for the malfunction. These incidents were of particular interest since such interruption of reactors' operation by krill swarms had not previously been reported. Using samples caught by the drum screens inside the cooling water-supply unit, we investigated the population structure of surface swarms. One occasion of nighttime and three occasions of daytime surface swarms were found in February and April 1997, respectively. The foreguts of more than 60% of E. pacifica in nighttime surface swarm were in full condition. This evidence suggests that E. pacifica aggregates to the surface water at night for feeding. In daytime surface swarms consisting of mature E. pacifica, however, foreguts in full condition were only found in less than 10eio of krill examined, suggesting that daytime surface swarms are closely related to breeding activity. During the study period, the growth rate of mature females was more than twice higher than that of mature males. Analyses of the sex-ratio and length-frequency data show a decrease in the portion of males with increasing size. There was a decline in the number of males of 19 mm in length. Energy loss during spermatophore transfer may result in the death of male E. pacifica, as found in male E. superba.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.205-213
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• 2005

A hydroacoustic and a close-open-close zooplankton net survey were conducted to understand the distribution characteristics of the deep scattering layer (DSL) and to estimate the density of zooplankton in the DSL, in the Uljin coastal area. The survey was carried out during March 13-14 and June 4-5, 2003 at each station for zooplankton. The vertical migration mechanisms of zooplankton are very variable to the taxa. In this study, after we grasp the vertical migration of zooplankton through the results of an echo-sounder survey, we verified the mechanisms of their vertical migration in the Uljin coastal area. Also, to estimate effectively the biomass of zooplankton, we researched the acoustic scattering strength according to the species. On the basis of these results, we devised a method for estimating zooplankton biomass through comparing net and echo-soundings. We obtained the results as a follows; 1) According to the examination of collections from the net sampling, in March, 2003, Euphausia pacifica comprised $38\%$ of zooplanktons inhabiting the sound scattering layer, while copepods, chaetognaths, and amphipods accounted for $29\%,\;23\%\;and\;10\%$, respectively. And in June, 2003, the ratio of E. pacifica was $51\%$, copepods $43\%$, and the others comprised $6\%$. In both March and June E. pacifica showed dominance among the species of zooplankton. 2) The analysis of vertical distribution through acoustic data in the scattering layer was more apparent in June (spring/summer) of 2003, than in March (winter/spring) of that year. The vertical migration of zooplankton peaked around sunrise and sunset in both March and June. 3) As for the sound scattering layer, it distributed in the open sea in March, and in the inland sea in June. Therefore it is suggested that some zooplankton species such as E. pacifica performed ontogenic horizontal migration througth the spring and early summer.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.305-312
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• 2018

This study was carried out to investigate euphausiid abundance in an acoustic survey from March 2010 to July 2010 to suggest reasonable usage and management of the euphausiid Euphausia pacifica in the coastal area of Guryongpo Pohang. The acoustic data were analyzed by the 2-frequency difference method and the distorted wave born approximation acoustical theoretical model, which is used for organisms of weak target strength with small scatter, such as euphausiid scatter, among other marine organisms. The distribution and monthly density of euphausiids were estimated in the survey area. The results show that the volume back scattering strength frequency difference for euphausiid was 13.91-7.6 dB, and their monthly averag density was $28.2g/m^2$.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.54 no.4
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• pp.456-466
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• 2021

The distribution and abundance of euphausiids were investigated in Korean waters in 2016. Euphausiids were sampled with a Bongo net. A CTD (Sea Bird Electronics 9 plus) measured the water temperature and salinity while sampling. Mean water temperature ranged from 4.2-31.0℃. The highest temperatures occur in September and lowest temperatures in February. The mean water salinity ranged from 27.9-34.8 psu, with the highest salinities in March and lowest in September. Euphausiid species in group W consisted of four species. Among the euphausiid species, Euphausia pacifica was the dominant species with peak densities in September. The E. pacifica from group W was distributed in the bottom cold water during summer when a thermocline was formed. Five euphausiid species occurred in group S. E. pacifica and E. nana were the dominant species. In group S, E. nana was located in the warm and saline Tsushima Warm Current, a branch of the influential Kuroshio Current. Five euphausiid species occurred in group E. E. pacifica and T. longipes were the dominant species. In group E, E. pacifica and T. longipes were distributed in the deep and cold waters, these species prefer low water temperatures and perform vertical migration. The distribution of euphausiids in Korean waters were highly influenced by mass water characteristics, such as temperature and salinity.

• Ocean Science Journal
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.11-29
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• 2006

We investigated species composition and spatial distribution of the euphausiid community in the Yellow Sea and identified the relationship with environmental factors (temperature, salinity, chlorophyll $\alpha$, nitrate, phosphate, and silicate) using bimonthly data from June, 1997 to April, 1998. The environment varied during the sampling period. In warm seasons, thermocline was well developed rendering lower temperature and higher salinity and nutrient concentrations in the bottom layer. During cold seasons the water column was well mixed and no such vertical stratification was noted. Horizontal distribution of temperature, however, differed slightly between near-coast and offshore areas because of the shallow depth of the Yellow Sea, and between southern and northern areas because of the intrusion of water masses such as Yellow Sea Warm Current and Changjiang River Diluted Water. Four euphausiid species were identified: Euphausia pacifica, E. sanzoi, Pseudeuphausia sp. and Stylocheron affine. E. sanzoi and S. affine were collected, just one juvenile each, from the southern area in June and December, respectively. Pseudeuphausia sp. were collected in the eastern area all the year round except June. E. pacifica occurred at the whole study area and were the predominant species, representing at least 97.6% of the euphausiid abundance. Further, the distribution pattern of the species was varied in regards to developmental stages (adult, furcilia, calyptopis, egg). From spring to fall, E. pacifica adults were abundant in the central area where the Yellow Sea Bottom Cold Water prevailed. Furcilia and calyptopis extended their distribution into nearly all the study area during the same period. From late fall to winter, adults were found at the near-coastal are a with similar pattern for furcilia and calyptopis. The distribution pattern of E. pacifica was consistent regarding temperature, salinity, and three nutrients during the sampling period, whereas chlorophyll $\alpha$ showed a different pattern according to the developmental stages. The nutrients should indirectly affect via chlorophyll $\alpha$ and phytoplankton concentration. With respect to these results, we presented a scenario about how the environmental factors along with the water current affect the distribution of E. pacifica in the Yellow Sea.