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Abstract: The spatial and temporal distribution pattern of stranded cetaceans in Korean waters was investigated for the conservation and management of cetaceans in this area. A total of 154 cetacean [...]

Abstract: Status of Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops aduncus) around Jeju Island, Korea, was assessed using potential biological removal (PBR) and mortality data. Considering the 2009 estimated abundance of Indo-Pacific bottlenose [...]

Abstract: Structure of the southwestern East Sea ecosystem and role of common minke whales (Balaenoptera acutorostratd) in this ecosystem during the postcommercial whaling moratorium (post-CWM) period (1986-2007) were examined using [...]

We investigated the stomach contents of 54 minke whales (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) from bycatch in Korean waters from 2000 to 2008 to examine their diet and feeding habits. Body length of the whales ranged from 3.9 to 8.5 m with a mean of 5.45 m (SD =1.07 m). A total of 10 prey species (3 crustacean, 5 fish and 2 cephalopod) were identified from the whale stomachs. We used the Combined Rank Index (CRI) to estimate the relative importance of prey species.Euphausia pacificawas the most important prey species in this sample, occurring in 70.4% (n=38) of the stomachs. Pacific anchovy (Engraulis japonicus) was the second most important prey species, occurring in 11.1% (n=6) of the stomachs. Most minke whale stomachs contained a single prey species (74.5%). Euphausiids were found in the majority of the stomachs of all whale length-classes and they also were the dominant prey species in most seasons except for autumn. This information can be useful for the understanding of the trophic role of minke whales in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The feeding habits of the sand shrimpCrangon hakodateiin the East Sea (Korea) were investigated through analysis and comparison of the stomach contents of 602 individuals according to season, shrimp size class, and prey diversity. The diet ofC. hakodateiconsisted of 17 prey categories mainly comprising crustaceans, molluscs, polychaetes, nematodes, algae, and fishes, with crustaceans dominating the diet. Molluscs, nematodes, and fishes were also important prey, whilst other categories including polychaetes and algae comprised small percentages of the diet. For smallC. hakodateiindividuals (<10 mm carapace length [CL]), amphipods and mysids comprised more than 67% of the prey in both relative abundance and frequency of occurrence. Large individuals (>10 mm CL) tended to be more dependent on amphipods than mysids. Amphipods and mysids together constituted the dominant prey, accounting for more than 50% of the diet in terms of both percent occurrence and relative abundance. The abundance and occurrence of prey showed a seasonal variation, with amphipods and mysids being the predominant prey in autumn (45%), winter (30%), and spring (40%). Amphipods were the dominant prey with regard to season, size class, sex, and area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aimed to describe the conceptualization, development, and implementation processes of the newly established Korean Cardiac Arrest Resuscitation Consortium (KoCARC) to improve out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) outcomes., Methods: The KoCARC was established in 2014 by recruiting hospitals willing to participate voluntarily. To enhance professionalism in research, seven research committees, the Epidemiology and Preventive Research Committee, Community Resuscitation Research Committee, Emergency Medical System Resuscitation Research Committee, Hospital Resuscitation Research Committee, Hypothermia and Postresuscitation Care Research Committee, Cardiac Care Resuscitation Committee, and Pediatric Resuscitation Research Committee, were organized under a steering committee. The KoCARC registry was developed with variables incorporated in the currently existing regional OHCA registries and Utstein templates and were collected via a web-based electronic database system. The KoCARC study population comprises patients visiting the participating hospitals who had been treated by the emergency medical system for OHCA presumed to have a cardiac etiology., Results: A total of 62 hospitals volunteered to participate in the KoCARC, which captures 33.0% of the study population in Korea. Web-based data collection started in October 2015, and to date (December 2016), there were 3,187 cases compiled in the registry collected from 32 hospitals., Conclusion: The KoCARC is a self-funded, voluntary, hospital-based collaborative research network providing high level evidence in the field of OHCA and resuscitation. This paper will serve as a reference for subsequent KoCARC manuscripts and for data elements collected in the study.