https://repository.kopri.re.kr/handle/201206/15721 2026-04-11T22:15:20Z https://repository.kopri.re.kr/handle/201206/16588 Title: Analysis of the Science-Policy Interface and Political Influences in Antarctic Governance: Implications for Marine Life Science Research Authors: Kim, Hyungjoon; Seong, Yeong Bae; Kim, Jeong-Hoon; Park, Hyun Abstract: Antarctica has emerged as a key region for addressing global environmental change and ensuring the sustainable future of humanity. Concurrently, the significance of evidence-based policymaking at the science？policy interface, including its political dimensions, has grown in Antarctic governance. This study examines the operational mechanisms of Antarctic governance through the lens of the science？policy interface and political dynamics, discussing the roles of marine bioscientists and the implication for policy. Recent policy proposals, such as the establishment of Marine Protected Areas and the designation of emperor penguins as a specially protected species, have failed to reach a consensus due to limited scientific evidence, economic interests, and political conflicts. These cases exemplify the politicization of science, illustrating how knowledge gaps, scientific uncertainty, and the selective use of data can delay policy decisions. Accordingly, Antarctic marine bioscience should extend its role beyond providing empirical evidence to serving as a foundation for effective policy frameworks and informed decision-making. To this end, marine life scientists should broaden their engagement with policy issues within the Antarctic governance system, strengthen science？policy communication, and actively participate in international collaborative mechanisms such as SCAR’s Ant-ICON, CCAMLR’s CEMP, and MEASO, thereby advancing the Antarctic Treaty’s core principle of contributing science to the common interests of mankind and enhancing the effectiveness of policy implementation.; 남극은 전 지구적 환경 변화에 대응하고 인류의 지속가능한 미래를 보장하기 위한 핵심 지역으로 부상하였다. 이와 함께 남극 거버넌스에서는 과학과 정책의 상호작용을 기반으로 한 근거 기반 정책 결정의 중요성이 커지고 있다. 본 연구는 남극 거버넌스의 작동 원리를 과학-정책의 상호작용과 정치적 영향력 관점에서 분석하고, 이를 통해 해양생명과학자의 역할과 정책적 시사점을 제시하고자 하였다. 최근 남극 해양보호구역 설정이나 황제펭귄 특별보호종 지정과 같은 주요 정책 제안들이 과학적 근거의 부족, 국가 간 경제적 이해관계, 정치적 갈등 등의 이유로 합의 도출에 실패하고 있다. 이러한 사례는 과학의 정치화 문제를 명확히 보여준다. 즉, 지식 격차를 이유로 과학적 정책 결정을 지연시키거나, 특정 입장을 위해 과학 데이터가 선택적으로 활용될 수 있음을 드러낸다. 따라서 남극 해양생명과학 연구는 단순히 경험적 사실을 제공하는 수준을 넘어, 효과적인 정책 수립과 제도 설계를 위한 기반을 마련하고 실질적인 의사결정을 뒷받침하는 역할로 적극적으로 확장되어야 한다. 나아가 해양생명과학자는 남극 거버너스 내 정책 현안에 대한 관심 증대, 과학과 정책과의 소통 강화, SCAR의 Ant-ICON, CCAMLR의 CEMP, MEASO와 같은 국제 협력 체계에 주도적 참여 등을 통해 남극조약의 핵심 가치인 과학의 인류 공동 이익에 대한 기여를 실현하고, 정책 구현의 실효성을 강화해야 할 것이다. 2025-12-01T00:00:00Z https://repository.kopri.re.kr/handle/201206/16573 Title: Metabarcoding analysis reveals hidden eukaryotic plankton biodiversity in the Ross Sea, Antarctica Authors: Choi, Soyun; Choi, Eunkyung; Cho, Minjoo; Lee, Seung Jae; Kim, Inseo; Shin, Doyoon; Kim, Jangyeon; La, Hyoung Sul; Rhee, Jae-Sung; Kim, Jeong-Hoon; Park, Hyun Abstract: Environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis is a highly sensitive, non-destructive method that enables the detection of various species through DNA shed into environmental samples without requiring direct organism collection. This study sought to investigate the biodiversity and community structure of eukaryotic plankton, including phytoplankton and zooplankton, in the Ross Sea marine protected area (RSR MPA) using eDNA metabarcoding analysis. By examining their spatial and vertical distributions, the study underscores the importance of continuous monitoring for the conservation of the RSR MPA. We collected 48 seawater samples from 16 sites in the Ross Sea region for eDNA metabarcoding analysis, targeting the 18S rRNA gene region of eukaryotic plankton in Antarctica. Bioinformatic processing and taxonomic classification were conducted to assess the diversity and community composition of phytoplankton and zooplankton. Phytoplankton communities were primarily composed of six phyla with their distribution patterns and the grouping of samples with similar community structures was found to be shaped by the ocean currents of the RSR MPA and various environmental factors, such as salinity and dissolved oxygen levels. Zooplankton communities consisted of 18 major taxonomic groups, exhibiting distinct horizontal and vertical distribution patterns with differences in taxonomic community structure and species diversity across depth groups. Notably, previously undetected Antarctic species were identified in the Ross Sea region, demonstrating the effectiveness of eDNA in revealing hidden biodiversity. Analyzing eukaryotic plankton communities in the vast and extreme Antarctic environment based on eDNA has proven to be highly efficient, enabling the detection of a greater number of species, including those that were difficult to identify in previous studies. It was observed that in the Ross Sea Marine Protected Area, various species form distinct community structures such as phytoplankton and zooplankton, each inhabiting the area according to different environmental variables and habitat preferences. As a designated marine protected area, the Ross Sea’s unique ecosystem requires continuous monitoring and conservation efforts to address environmental changes. The genetic data obtained in this study contributes to expanding the database of Antarctic-specific species, facilitating more accurate and efficient analyses of Antarctic ecosystems in the future. 2025-10-01T00:00:00Z https://repository.kopri.re.kr/handle/201206/16548 Title: Vertical Structure and Functional Diversity of Microbial Communities in the Ross Sea, Antarctica Authors: Yeo, In-Cheol; Shim, Kyu-Young; Min, Jun-Oh; Kim, Jeong-Hoon; Ha, Sun-Yong; Jeong, Chang-Bum Abstract: The Ross Sea, Antarctica, encompasses distinct water masses, each characterized by unique physicochemical conditions influencing microbial community composition and functional diversity. This study examined microbial communities across five stations covering various water masses, including Antarctic Surface Water (AASW), Circumpolar Deep Water (CDW), and Shelf Water (SW). Despite limited horizontal variability, significant vertical structuring was observed, potentially driven by vertical microbial dispersal from surface waters. Surface communities exhibited lower alpha diversity due to abundant labile organic matter favoring fast-growing heterotrophic taxa, whereas deeper communities displayed increased microbial richness, reflecting adaptation to more refractory organic matter. Functional diversity revealed distinct depth-related patterns, with metabolic pathways associated with organic matter predominantly enriched in surface layers. Concurrently, rare taxa became more abundant with depth, emphasizing their potential role as keystone organisms in deep-ocean nutrient cycling. These findings highlight the critical role of vertical microbial connectivity and organic matter composition in shaping microbial community structure and functional specialization, contributing significantly to our understanding of microbial-mediated biogeochemical processes in polar marine ecosystems. 2025-09-01T00:00:00Z https://repository.kopri.re.kr/handle/201206/16104 Title: Genome survey and microsatellite marker development in the Antarctic Eaton's skate, Bathyraja eatonii (Rajiformes, Arhynchobatidae) Authors: Kim Jangyeon; Kim Jinmu; Choi Soyun; Cho Minjoo; Choi Eunkyung; Lee Seung Jae; Kim, Jeong-Hoon; Park Hyun Abstract: Eaton's skate (Bathyraja eatonii) is an endemic Antarctic cartilaginous fish species that primarily inhabits the southern coast of the Antarctic Peninsula and is also distributed across the Kerguelen Plateau near the South Shetland and South Orkney Islands. However, genomic resources for this species remain notably scarce, limiting our understanding of its genetic diversity, population structure, and evolutionary history. To address this knowledge gap, we conducted the first whole-genome survey of B. eatonii. Using 25-mer analysis, we estimated the genome size to be 1.84 Gb, with a heterozygosity rate of 0.26 %. De novo assembly using MaSuRCA yielded over 877,000 scaffolds, with an N50 value of 3572 bp. A total of 1383,652 microsatellite loci were identified, the majority of which were dinucleotide repeats (1163,997; 84.12 %). Among 30 randomly selected primer pairs, 15 consistently produced single, specific amplification bands. These findings provide critical baseline data on the genomic architecture of B. eatonii and represent the first set of molecular markers available for future studies focused on the conservation, evolutionary biology, and population genetics of this species. 2025-08-01T00:00:00Z