• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.339-346
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• 2002

From March 1998 to August 2000, the phonology and morphometrics change of Zostera caespitosa Miki were examined at the Duksan Port in the eastern coast of Korea. Morphometric characteristics (shoot height, leaf length, sheath length, leaf width, and number of leaf per shoot), size and number of reproductive structures (spathe, spadix, and seeds), shoot density, biomass and physiochemical parameters (water temperature and nutrient concentrations) were measured. Significant differences between months (p < 0.05) existed for morphometric characteristics except for sheath length. The sequence of shoot heights clearly showed cyclical annual variation with water temperature. Vegetative shoots of Z. caespitosa were present throughout the year, but reproductive shoots were rarely occurred from mid January to early April in water temperature of $9-12^\circ{C}$. Flowering in the spathe began in mid February, and seed maturing was occurred in early April. Water column nitrate and phosphate concentration showed seasonal variation, but ammonia concentration was variable with season. Relationships between shoot morphometrics and physiochemical parameters were not significantly correlated but water temperature seemed to regulate the re-productive phase and annual life cycle. The mean shoot density and above biomass of the populations were $511.6\pm{25.6}\;shoots\;m^{-2}$ and $413.4\pm{19.8}\;g\;dry\;wt\;m^{-2}$, respectively.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.70-77
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• 2003

From March 1998 to August 2000, the phenological and morphometric changes of Zostera marina L. were examined at the Duksan Port in the eastern coast of Korea. Morphometric characteristics, phenological stage, shoot density, biomass of Z. marina population and environmental parameters were also measured. Nutrient levels in water column varied over the season. Morphometric characteristics of vegetative shoot changed with season; shoot heights ranged from 54.2 cm (March) to 100.0 cm (October). Reproductive shoots appeared from mid-March to early September of which the height was ranged from 97.8 cm (March) to 213.0 cm (July). The flowering phase started at 12$^{\circ}C$ and the fruit development was resulted up to 21$^{\circ}C$. The seed maturing was developed at 22$^{\circ}C$-$25^{\circ}C$. Shoot density and biomass in permanent quadrate (0.25 m$^2$) were significantly different among seasons ranging from 38 to 136 shoots (mean 80.3$\pm$6.5) for shoot density, and 190 g dry wt m$^{-2}$ in October 1998 to 922 g dry wt m$^{-2}$ in June 1998 for biomass respectively. Relationships between shoot morphometrics and physico-chemical parameters were not significantly correlated. Seasonal changes in water temperature seemed responsible for the replacement of reproductive phases and the annual changes of shoot morphometrics in Z. marina populations.