• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.173-177
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• 2004

The number and abundance of epiphytic algae growing on Sargassum thunbergii and their functional forms were examined. Thalli of S. thunbenii were collected on the nine islands of southern coast and at Gyeokpo on the western coast of Korea in summer 2001. A total of 25 species, 6 green (24%), 2 brown (8%), 17 red algae (68%) were identified in the present study. Caulacanthus okamurae, Ulva pertusa, Sphacelaria furcigera were found on the thalli of S. thunbegii that collected at the all regions. Caulacanthus okamurae, Champia bifida and Laurencia venusta grew on the lower parts of S. thunbergii thalli whereas, Polysiphonia spp. attached to the apical parts of the plants. Four functional forms, such as sheet-form (8%), filamentous-form (52%), coarsely branched-form (32%) and articulated-calcareous algal form (8%) were distinguished. The epiphytic algae on the thalli of S. thunbergii are mainly annual opportunistic algae, filamentous-form algae and smaller red algae. Also, most epiphytic seaweeds of S. thunbergii produce and release spores before pseudoperennial host plants are necrotic in late autumn.

• ALGAE
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.33-42
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• 2012

Population ecology of Palmaria palmata is described from the intertidal zone of Digby Neck and adjacent islands of Nova Scotia. The primary objectives were: to evaluate the difference in habitat specialization and population structure of P. palmata between harvest and non-harvest shores, and to characterize differences in thallus structure and frond sizes between epilithic and epiphytic populations. Harvest shores were gently sloping boulder fields with boulders typically about 0.5-1.0 m with dense cover of P. palmata on many of the rocks. Non-harvest shores (with or without P. palmata) consisted of boulders that were smaller or larger than harvest shores, or bedrock; when P. palmata was present on nonharvest sites it was typically epiphytic on other algae (e.g., Fucus spp., Mastocarpus stellatus, Devaleraea ramentacea). Harvestable epiphytic populations occurred only in high current areas. While there was little difference in average cover of P. palmata harvest and non-harvest shores ($31.2{\pm}13.7%$ vs. $19.4{\pm}7.3%$, mean ${\pm}$ standard deviation [SD]), the cover of P. palmata on harvest shores was highly skewed such that individual boulders often had >90% cover while adjacent rocks had little. Frond length of large fronds was greater on harvested shores, and mean frond density ($g\;m^{-2}$) was three times higher than the mean density on the non-harvested shores. Frond lengths of entire epiphytic and epilithic frond complements of 119 thalli from harvest beaches showed no difference in mean size of the largest fronds, and no difference in frond number per holdfast when epiphytic and epilithic thalli were compared.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.133-143
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• 2015

Freshwater macrophytes improve the structural heterogeneity of microhabitats in water, often providing an important habitat for zooplankton. Some studies have focused on the overall influence of macrophytes on zooplankton, but the effects of macrophyte in relation to different habitat characteristics of zooplankton (e.g., epiphytic and pelagic) have not been intensively studied. We hypothesized that different habitat structures (i.e., macrophyte habitat) would strongly affect zooplankton distribution. We investigated zooplankton density and diversity, macrophyte characteristics (dry weight and species number), and environmental parameters in 40 shallow wetlands in South Korea. Patterns in the data were analyzed using a self-organizing map (SOM), which extracts information through competitive and adaptive properties. A total of 20 variables (11 environmental parameters and 9 zooplankton groups) were patterned onto the SOM. Based on a U-matrix, 3 clusters were identified from the model. Zooplankton assemblages were positively related to macrophyte characteristics (i.e., dry weight and species number). In particular, epiphytic species (i.e., epiphytic rotifers and cladocerans) exhibited a clear relationship with macrophyte characteristics, while large biomass and greater numbers of macrophyte species supported high zooplankton assemblages. Consequently, habitat heterogeneity in the macrophyte bed was recognized as an important factor to determine zooplankton distribution, particularly in epiphytic species. The results indicate that macrophytes are critical for heterogeneity in lentic freshwater ecosystems, and the inclusion of diverse plant species in wetland construction or restoration schemes is expected to generate ecologically healthy food webs.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.95-106
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• 2009

The Shihwa constructed wetland was established for the treatment of severely poluted water from Banwoul, Donghwa and Samhwa streams. This study was focused on investigating the structure of epiphytic diatom communities on reed (Phragmites communis) planting area at Banwoul high wetland (3 stations) and low wetland (3 stations) from March to October 2005. The concentration of T-N of inlet stations from the streams were decreased by flowed through the wetland, but the concentration of T-P were increased at outflow part. Epiphytic diatoms on the reed were a total 109 taxa which were composed of 103 species, 5 varieties, 1 unidentified species. The standing crops were rapidly decreasing tendency from spring to autumn but chlorophyll-a concentration were showed a very irregulated changes. Dominant species were 6 taxa which were Achnanthes minutissima in the early investigation, and were changed to the genus Navicula and the genus Nitzschia in the summer. DAIpo were ranged the values of $20.2{\sim}51$, which were mesosaprobic states at the high wetland and ranged the values of $12.4{\sim}52$, which were polysaprobic to mesosaprobic states at the low wetland. TDI were ranged the values of $28.8{\sim}94.5$, which were oligotrophic to eutrophic state at the high wetland and ranged the values of $33.3{\sim}89.7$ which were mesotrophic to eutrophic states at the low wetland. The healthy assessment (DAIpo and TDI) of water ecosystem were showed clean-bad from spring to autumn. These epiphytic diatom communities were determinated by the biological factor such as the growth of reed and the physical factors such as water temperature, light penetration and SS and so on.

• ALGAE
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.311-320
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• 2004

A great portion of the marginal zone in Lake Gocheonam was covered with reed plants. Algae attached to the reed stems were exclusively composed of diatoms. Sixty-six species of diatoms were encountered in a floral survey. The important species were Nitzschia liebetruthii Rabh., Nitzschia acicularis (Ku¨tz.) W. Sm., Navicula gregaria Donk., Cocconeis placentula var. lineata (Ehr.) V.H. etc. Among the diatom flora, six species - Navicula nivalis Ehr., Navicula recens Lange-B., Nitzschia angustatula Lange-B., Nitzschia compressa (Bail.) Boyer, Nitzschia lanceola var. minutula Grin. and Surirella crumena Bre´b. - were recorded in Korea for the first times. Life forms of the reed-attached diatoms were simply prostrate. The biomass of epiphytic algae ranged from 0.05㎍ chl-$\alpha$ cm$^{-2}$ to 2.32$\mu$g chl-$\alpha$ cm$^{-2}$. The algal biomass of dead stems was higher than that of the living stems, and their flora were rich. The algal biomass reached a maximum in the spring after the death of the reed plants. The reed plants exhibited rich diatom flora and significantly high algal biomass on their stems to have taxonomical and ecological importance in the freshwater.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.31 no.10
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• pp.893-900
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• 2009

To estimate the contribution of epiphytic algae attached on reed to organic matter production in constructed wetland, primary productivity by epiphytic algae was investigated in two sub-wetlands (Banweol and Donhwa wetlands) of the Sihwa Constructed Wetland (CW) with different chemistry of inflows. Chlorophyll a concentration of epiphytic algae was higher in the Banweol wetland (range:37~3,581 mgChl.a/$m^2$surface stem, average:655 mgChl.a/$m^2$surface stem) than the Donhwa wetland (range:87~2,093 mgChl.a/$m^2$surface stem, average:527 mgChl.a/$m^2$surface stem). In contrast, assimilation number (AN) representing photosynthetic activity was higher in the Donhwa wetland with low TN/TP ratio than the Banweol wetland. A negative correlation (r=0.46) was observed between TN/TP ratios of inflows and AN in two wetlands, implying that high photosynthetic activity of epiphytic algae may be related with low TN/TP ratio. The areal primary productivity ranged from 307 to 2,473 mgC/$m^2$/day in the Banweol wetland and from 756 to 2,096 mgC/$m^2$/day in the Donghwa wetland, showing high productivity in summer. Average primary production was lower in the Banweol wetland (1,166 mgC/$m^2$/day) than the Donghwa wetland (1,467 mgC/$m^2$/day), although the standing crop (as chlorophyll a concentration) was high in the Banweol wetland. This result may be due to the low photosynthetic activity of epiphytic algae in the Banweol wetland with high TN/TP ratio. The annual primary production (300 tonC/year) of epiphytic algae contributed 33% of the total production in the Sihwa CW. An excessive organic matter production in constructed wetland can negatively affect the efficiency of water treatment. Therefore, the role of epiphytic algae should be considered in management of constructed wetland for water treatment.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.39 no.3 s.117
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• pp.402-412
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• 2006

The Shihwa constructed wetland was established to treat the severely polluted water from Banwoul, Donghwa and Samhwa streams. This study was focused on investigating the dynamics of epiphytic algal communities on reed (Phragmites communis) planting area at 5 stations from October 2001 to June 2002. The concentration of total nitrogen and phosphorus of inlet stations from the streams were decreased after flowing through the wetland. However, the TN : TP ratios at all stations were slightly over 16 indicating that the total phosphorus may play some role as a limitation factor. Epiphytic algae on the reed were total 329 taxa which were composed of 295 species, 13 varieties, 3 forma and 18 unidentified species. The species numbers were recorded in the order of Chlorophyceae-Bacillariophyceae-Cyanophyceae-Euglenophyceae-Chrysophyceae. The relative percentage showed a seasonal variation from Cyanophyceae to Bacillariophyceae and to Chlorophyceae. The biomass of epiphytic algae measured by chlorophyll-a concentration ranged from 0.6 to $36.4\;{\mu}g\;cm^{-2}$. Dominant species were 16 taxa which were Lyngbya angusta of Cyanophyceae in the early investigation, and were changed to Stigeoclonium lubricum of Chlorophyceae, and Nitzschia palea of Bacillariophyceae etc. in the late. Species number, standing crops and chlorophyll-a concentrations of epiphytic algae showed higher values at the inlet stations than the stations after flowing through the wetland.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.355-361
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• 2012

Genus of Gambierdiscus, Ostrepsis, Prorocentrum, Coolia and Amphidinium are epiphytic ciguatoxin-producing armored dinoflagellate, often attached on macroalgae. These organisms are the primary causative agent of ciguatera fish poisoning which occurs in tropical and subtropical regions. However, regardless of the fact that population of epiphytic dinoflagellates have expanded to such temperate areas from sub-trophic and trophic areas, monitoring of the epiphytic dinoflagellates was greatly lacked in coastal water of Korean Peninsula. This study was performed in the Korean Peninsula in November, 2011. Cell densities of Gambierdiscus spp. on macroalgae ranged from zero to 10 cells $g^{-1}$ and the maximum density was recorded at St.18 (Pohang guryongpo). The abundance of Ostreopsis spp. was highest on macro-algaes Chondrus ocellatus, Lomentaria catenata and Plocamium telfairiae (140 cells $g^{-1}$). The maximum abundance of Prorocentrum, Coolia and Amphidinium were 52, 3 and 1 cells $g^{-1}$, respectively. Of these, Prorocentrum lima was observed at most stations of East Sea. Therefore, our results suggest that the epiphytic armored dinoflagellates may have adapted to Korean coastal water of temperate areas (i.e., East Sea) and those abundances may be related to the macroalgal species.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.265-272
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• 2001

The diversity of acid-tolerant epiphytic bacterial communities on deciduous oak tree (Quercus dentate Thunb.) leaves was examined both in the natural forest area with a clean air and in the industrial estate to assess effects of acidic depositions to the phyllosphere using 16S rDNA sequence data. A total of 444 acid-tolerant epiphytic bacterial clones were obtained, resulting in 17 phylotypes by performing a analysis of restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) for PCR-amplified 16S rDNA products. A very low diversity of dominating acid tolerant bacterial communities in both areas was found, just 2 subphyla groups, $\gamma$-Proteobacteria and low-G+C gram-positive bacteria. As tree leaves grow older, diversities of acid-tolerant bacteria on them significantly increased. The community structure of acid-tolerant epiphytic bacteria consisted of Pseudomonas and Enterobacteriaceae groups in the $\gamma$-Proteobacteria subphylum, and Streptococcaceae and Staphylococcus groups in the low-G+C gram-positive bacteria subphylum. The direct influence of acidic depositions on bacterial phylogenetic composition could not be detected especially when higher taxonomic levels such as subphylum, but at narrower or finer levels it could be observed by a detection of Xanthomonadales group belonged to the $\gamma$-Proteobacteria only in the industrial area and of Acetobacteraceae group belonged to the $\alpha$-Proteobacteria. There remains that these specific acid-tolerant epiphytic bacterial groups could be used as indicators for assessing effects of acidic depositions on the phyllosphere.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.37-43
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• 2000

Epiphytic communities on marine plants of Seychelles (Indian Ocean Island group associated with East Africa) were investigated in January - March of 1989 during the $15^{th}$ biological voyage of the research vessel cademic Alexander Nesmeyanov. A seagrass species, Thalassodendron ciliatum, and macroalgae (Sargassum spp. and Halimeda spp.) were tested for host substrates and biomass of their dominant epiphytes were assessed. Also, in order to understand the effect of shading and nutrient filtering by epiphytes, two series of photosynthetic rates were compared for Th. ciliatum host leaves having 10% and no epiphytes. Total of 84 species of algae and main taxons of benthic animals were identified from three different host plants. An average biomass of the epiphytes on Th. cihiatum was $184.6g\;kg^{-1}$ and dominant species were green alga Halimeda opuntia, red algae Dictyurus occidentalis and Gelidiella myrioclada. These dominant species and their biomass were remarkably varied with depth increment. On Sargassum spp., an average biomass of the epiphytes was $0.18g\;kg^{-1}$ and the maximum biomass was never exceeded $0.16g\;kg^{-1}$. In the case of Halimeda spp. an average biomass of the epiphytes was $8.0g\;kg^{-1}$, and dominant species were Peyssonnelia dubyi, sponges and decapods. Photosynthetic rates of Th. ciliatum were significantly reduced in the leaves having 10% epiphytes (1.72 times lower, t=6.718, p<0.001).