Movement Patterns of Juvenile Loggerhead Turtles (Caretta caretta L. 1758) and Green Turtles (Chelonia mydas L. 1758) Hatched in Captivity and Released in the Korean Waters.

With most sea turtle populations declining, activities to conserve their habitat and nesting grounds and restore their populations are being implemented worldwide. To preserve the Northwestern Pacific populations, the National Marine Biodiversity Institute of Korea has been releasing artificially propagated sea turtles, but whether these individuals join the wild population remains unknown. The present study aimed to determine the movement patterns of artificially propagated juvenile loggerhead (Caretta caretta) and green (Chelonia mydas) turtles fitted with satellite transmitters on their carapaces and released in the waters of Jeju or Yeosu, Republic of Korea, between August 2018 and April 2022. Loggerheads traveled northward to the East Sea, whereas green turtles moved west or southwest. Two 36-month-old and two 48-month-old loggerheads moved toward their potential nursery grounds and toward their feeding grounds, respectively. Three green turtles with a curved carapace length (CCL) of <40 cm moved toward their nursery or feeding grounds, while three individuals (CCL > 45 cm) moved toward their inshore foraging areas. The travel paths were closely related to the direction of local sea currents. Our results implied that releasing artificially propagated sea turtles, considering their age and CCL, can positively contribute to the conservation of Northwestern Pacific populations.

Minke whale genome and aquatic adaptation in cetaceans.

The shift from terrestrial to aquatic life by whales was a substantial evolutionary event. Here we report the whole-genome sequencing and de novo assembly of the minke whale genome, as well as the whole-genome sequences of three minke whales, a fin whale, a bottlenose dolphin and a finless porpoise. Our comparative genomic analysis identified an expansion in the whale lineage of gene families associated with stress-responsive proteins and anaerobic metabolism, whereas gene families related to body hair and sensory receptors were contracted. Our analysis also identified whale-specific mutations in genes encoding antioxidants and enzymes controlling blood pressure and salt concentration. Overall the whale-genome sequences exhibited distinct features that are associated with the physiological and morphological changes needed for life in an aquatic environment, marked by resistance to physiological stresses caused by a lack of oxygen, increased amounts of reactive oxygen species and high salt levels.

Occurrence and accumulation features of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and synthetic musk compounds in finless porpoises (Neophocaena phocaenoides) from Korean coastal waters.

Reports of the occurrence and accumulation patterns of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and synthetic musk compounds (SMCs) in marine mammals are scarce. In this study, the concentrations and accumulation profiles of PAHs and SMCs were determined in blubber from finless porpoises in Korean coastal waters. Total concentrations of PAHs and SMCs ranged from 6.0 to 432 (mean: 160) ng/g lipid weight and from 17 to 144 (mean: 52) ng/g lipid weight, respectively. Residue levels of PAHs were lower than those reported from other studies, while residue levels of SMCs were relatively higher than those reported in other studies. Naphthalene was the most abundant PAH and HHCB was the dominant SMC observed in finless porpoises. The concentrations of PAHs and SMCs were not correlated with each other, but were significantly correlated within the same chemical groups. No correlations were found between body size and residue levels of PAHs and SMCs.

Contamination status and accumulation features of PCDDs, PCDFs and dioxin-like PCBs in finless porpoises (Neophocaena phocaenoides) from Korean coastal waters.

Data on the concentrations and accumulation profiles of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (DL-PCBs) in cetaceans are scarce. In this study, concentrations and accumulation profiles of PCDD/Fs and DL-PCBs were measured in the blubber of finless porpoises (Neophocaena phocaenoides) collected from Korean coastal waters. Total dioxin-like toxic equivalent (TEQ) concentrations (6.5-31 pg/g lipid weight) in finless porpoises were lower than those reported for cetaceans and pinnipeds from other countries. Significant gender-specific differences were found in the concentrations and accumulation profiles of PCDD/Fs and DL-PCBs and this difference was associated with maternal and lactation transfer of contaminants from mature females to their fetus. All of the PCDD/F homologue groups were detected in all of the samples and the proportions of PCDFs were higher than those of PCDDs. The dominant congeners found in finless porpoise blubber were 2,3,4,7,8-PeCDF, 1,2,3,4,7,8-HxCDF and OCDD for PCDD/Fs and PCB 118 for DL-PCBs. The accumulation profiles of PCDD/Fs in finless porpoise in our study were different from those found for cetaceans from other countries. Total TEQ levels in finless porpoises in Korea were below the suggested threshold values for adverse health effects in marine mammals.

Perfluorinated compounds in minke whales (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) and long-beaked common dolphins (Delphinus capensis) from Korean coastal waters.

This is the first study to report the concentrations and accumulation profiles of PFCs in marine mammals from Korea. The concentrations and profiles of 10 PFCs in the liver of minke whales and common dolphins from Korean coastal waters were recorded in this study. The mean concentrations of PFOS and PFUnDA were 3-20 times higher than that found for other PFCs analyzed. The concentrations of PFOS in cetaceans from Korea were relatively lower than those reported in other countries. Inter-species differences in the concentrations of PFOS, PFOSA and PFNA were found between two cetacean species, while no difference was observed in the concentrations of PFDA, PFUnDA and PFDoDA between the species. The dominant PFC compounds found in cetaceans were PFUnDA and PFOS, accounting for 70-80% of the PFCs. The accumulation profiles and correlation analysis indicated that two cetacean species have different exposure routes and metabolic capacity for PFCs.

Paracoccus fistulariae sp. nov., a lipolytic bacterium isolated from bluespotted cornetfish, Fistularia commersonii.

A Gram-stain-negative, non-motile, non-spore-forming and short rod- or rod-shaped bacterial strain, designated 22-5(T), was isolated from a bluespotted cornetfish, Fistularia commersonii, and subjected to taxonomic study. Strain 22-5(T) grew optimally at 30 °C and in the presence of 2-5 % (w/v) NaCl. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain 22-5(T) belonged to the genus Paracoccus and joined the cluster comprising Paracoccus homiensis DD-R11(T) and Paracoccus zeaxanthinifaciens ATCC 21588(T), with which strain 22-5(T) exhibited 97.4 and 96.9 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity, respectively. Strain 22-5(T) exhibited 94.0-96.6 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity with the other type strains of species of the genus Paracoccus. Strain 22-5(T) contained Q-10 as the predominant menaquinone and C(18 : 1)ω7c as the predominant fatty acid. In this study, P. zeaxanthinifaciens KCTC 22688(T) also contained Q-10 as the predominant isoprenoid quinone. The DNA G+C content of strain 22-5(T) was 63.6 mol%. Strain 22-5(T) exhibited 44 and 32 % DNA-DNA relatedness to P. homiensis KACC 11518(T) and P. zeaxanthinifaciens KCTC 22688(T), respectively. On the basis of phenotypic, phylogenetic and genetic data, strain 22-5(T) is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Paracoccus, for which the name Paracoccus fistulariae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is 22-5(T) (=KCTC 22803(T) =CCUG 58401(T)).