• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.655-665
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• 2013

This study was carried out to investigate the community structure and biomass of benthic marine algae at the intertidal and subtidal zones of Eocheongdo on the western coast of Korea seasonally from July 2008 to April 2009. Total 101 species including 12 of green algae, 23 of brown algae and 66 of red algae were collected and identified. Among these species, 19 species were found throughout the year. The dominant species which contributed significantly to the total biomass were Corallina pilulifera, Gelidium elegans, Sargassum thunbergii, Sargassum fusiforme, Saccharina japonica, Sargassum honeri and Sargassum filicinum. Annual seaweed biomass in dry weight was $237.5gm^{-2}$ and maximum biomass was recorded seasonally in winter ($272.1gm^{-2}$), while minimum was recorded in summer ($204.5gm^{-2}$). The number of species and biomass of the subtidal zone were greater than those of the intertidal zone. The number of species and biomass in Eocheongdo seem to be higher than those of other islands in the western coast of Korea, due to the environmental conditions characterized by the increased transparency, and the well established rocky shore.

• ALGAE
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.145-155
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• 2020

Specimens of red algae corresponding to the peyssonnelioid genus Sonderophycus were collected at Kure Atoll, Hawai'i, at a depth range of 88-94 m depth during mesophotic surveys of the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, Hawaiian Islands, and were analyzed using morphological and molecular approaches. Analyses of mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 and chloroplast rbcL DNA sequences demonstrated that the Hawaiian specimens were identical to one another yet distinct from the three other species currently recognized within the genus (S. capensis [Montagne] M. J. Wynne, S. coriaceus [Womersley & Sinkora] M. J. Wynne, and S. fervens Dixon), as well as the likely congener, Peyssonnelia caulifera Okamura, and are proposed here as a new species: Sonderophycus copusii A. R. Sherwood. Sonderophycus copusii is morphologically distinct from other members of the genus by the following combination of characters: the presence of occasional secondary perithallial growth, emergence of rhizoids from the hypobasal cuticle at a strongly acute angle, a lack of horizontally directed filaments in the lower perithallus, and the lack of a stipe. This is the first record of the genus Sonderophycus in the Hawaiian Islands. Sonderophycus copusii was documented as a dominant member of the algal community at Kure Atoll, and thus may play a significant ecological role in the deep-water benthic community of Kure Atoll, along the lines of reports of deep water peyssonnelioid beds in the Mediterranean, Red Sea, and Caribbean. This study further highlights the unexplored diversity of the Peyssonneliales in Hawai'i, and emphasizes more generally the degree of as yet undiscovered biodiversity of algae at mesophotic depths.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.21 no.11
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• pp.1407-1418
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• 2012

The purpose of this study is to analyze seasonal variations of seaweed community structure according to ocean environment at three areas in the east coast of Korea. Mean water temperatures of Gosung, Samchuk, and Gyeongju were $8.3^{\circ}C$, $11.2^{\circ}C$, and $13.1^{\circ}C$, respectively, during the growing winter season of 2011. Subtidal benthic macroalgal flora and community structure were investigated at the sites between February to November 2011. The numbers of seaweed species at the areas were 38, 12, and 15, respectively. The amounts of biomass were 7.35 kg $m^{-2}$, 1.80 kg $m^{-2}$, and 0.84 kg $m^{-2}$, respectively, during the period. The values of C/P, R/P, and (R+C)/P representing flora characteristics at Sokcho area were 0.1, 1.1, and 1.2, respectively. The values of flora characteristics at Samchuk were 0.3, 0.6, and 1.0, respectively. The values of flora characteristics at Gyeongju were 0.4, 4.0, and 1.2, respectively.

• Journal of Plant Biology
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.389-398
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• 1995

The species composition and biomass of intertidal benthic algae at 12 widely dispersed stations representative of mid-western coast of Korea were studied. A total of 151 species of marine algae including 19 Cyanophyta, 20 Chlorophyta, 32 Phaeophyta and 80 Rhodophyta is listed. Three species were found at all 12 stations: Sargassum thunbergii, Stylonema alsidii and Gracilaria verrucosa. Biomass per unit area exhibited a wide range of variation, ranging from a low of 41 g dry $wt{\cdot}m^{-2}$ at both Paeksajang and Taechon to a high of 549 g dry $wt{\cdot}m^{-2}$ at Uihangri, the northernmost station of the study area. The latter value is higher than those reported from any other stations in western coast of Korea. Biomass was composed largely of Phaeophyta at nearly every station. Sargassum thunbergii was dominant over the study area. The distribution of Corallina spp., however, is disjunct, since those occur as dominant species in biomass at the northern stations and to a lesser extent at the southern stations, but are nearly absent from the middle part of the study area.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.262-270
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• 2012

Seaweeds provide habitats in which marine animals can spawn and develop, and serve as a food supply for algaegrazing species such as sea urchins and abalone. Recently, seaweed species have disappeared from coastal ecosystems, leaving barren ground, defined as habitats that have lost their algae forests and where coralline algae containing calcium carbonate components have become encrusted on rocks. The biological causes of barren ground include grazing by herbivores and excessive seaweed harvest. The environmental harm caused by the spread of barren ground includes accelerated eutrophication following the reduction in seaweed, which plays an important role in oceanic purification. In the present study, we identified the relationships between various seaweed species and the occurrence of barren ground. Subtidal benthic macroalgal flora and community structure were observed seasonally on barren ground along vertical transects of rocky shores of Bihwa, Samchuck, and the east coast of Korea from February to November 2006. Fifty-eight seaweed species were identified, including 7 green, 15 brown, and 36 red algae species. There were between 6 and 28 species among seasons. Over the whole study period, average seaweed biomass (g wet wt $m^{-2}$) was 241.90 g, with a seasonal range of 25.26 to 760.34 g. Seaweed biomass declined with increasing seawater depth and ranged between 91.26 and 422.08 g. The vertical distribution of algae was characterized by Undaria pinnatifida and Sargassum honeri at 5 m, S. honeri and U. pinnatifida at 10 m, and U. pinnatifida and Agarum clathratum at 15 m depth. Seasonal patterns in community indices were not found. Community indices showed different patterns along vertical shoreline gradients; the dominance index increased but the richness, evenness, and diversity indices decreased with seawater depth. Sea urchin density was 8 to 24 individ. $m^{-2}$ in Bihwa. These urchin populations had significantly aggregated spatial patterns and recurrent destructive grazing appeared to be occurring.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.10-23
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• 2014

This study was carried out to examine seaweed community structure and distribution of crustose coralline algae at the intertidal and subtidal zones of Gallam, Samchuk, eastern coast of Korea. Total 112 species including 14 of green algae, 33 of brown algae, and 65 of red algae were collected and identified. Among these species, 29 species were found throughout the year. The dominant species which contributed significantly to the total biomass were Ulva pertusa, Colpomenia spp., Sargassum fulvellum, Sargassum fusiforme, Sargassum muticum, Sargassum thunbergii, Corallina pilulifera, and Gelidium elegans. Annual seaweed biomass in dry weight was 66.7 $gm^{-2}$ and maximum biomass was recorded seasonally in summer (107.5 $gm^{-2}$), while minimum was recorded in autumn (36.2 $gm^{-2}$). In seaweed functional group analyses, coarsely branched form was the most dominant functional group constituting from 40.0 to 48.6% of the total flora. Ecological state group ESG II, as an opportunistic species, including sheet form, filamentous form, and coarsely branched form, consisted of 46~61 species, constituting 76.7~82.4%. Crustose coralline algae was observed throughout all seasons. Species of the crustose coralline algae were largely classified into Lithothamnion lemoineae, Lithophyllum okamurai, Lithophyllum yessoense, and Hydrolithon gardineri. The coverage of crustose coralline algae seems to be lower than that of other studies from 36.8% to 11% on average.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.87-94
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• 2012

To compare monthly variations of phytoplankton biomass and community composition between in seawater and sediment of the Gomso Bay (tidal flat: approximately 75%), the photosynthetic pigments were analyzed by HPLC every month in 1999 and every two months in 2000. Ambient physical and chemical parameters (temperature, salinity, nutrients, dissolved oxygen, and chemical oxygen demand) were also examined to find the environmental factors controlling structure of phytoplankton community. The temporal and spatial variations of chlorophyll a concentration in seawater were correlated well with the magnitude of freshwater discharge from land. The biomass of microphytobenthos at the surface sediments was lower than that in other regions of the world and 2-3 times lower than phytoplankton biomass integrated in the seawater column. Based on the results of HPLC pigment analysis, fucoxanthin, a marker pigment of diatoms, was the most prominent pigment and highly correlated with chlorophyll a in seawater and sediment of the Gomso Bay. These results suggest that diatoms are the predominant phytoplankton in seawater and sediment of the Gomso Bay. However, the monthly variation of chlorophyll a concentration in seawater at the subtidal zone was not a good correlation with that in sediment of the Gomso Bay. Although pelagic plankton was identified in seawater by microscopic examination, benthic algal species were not found in the seawater. These results suggest that contribution from the suspended microphytobenthos in the tidal flat to the subtidal zone of the Gomso Bay may be low as a food source to the primary consumer in the upper water column of the subtidal zone. Further study needs to elucidate the vertical and horizontal transport magnitude of the suspended microphytobenthos in the tidal flat to the subtidal zone.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.186-194
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• 1998

Species composition and biomass of intertidal benthic algae were studied at the coast of Yonggwang Nuclear Power Plant area and its adjacent stations over 4 seasons (October 1995-August 1996), Of 68 species identified, 7 were Cyanophyta, 12 were Chlorophyta, 14 were Phaeophyta and 35 were Rhodophyta. The largest number of algal species (44) was found at Sangnok, the northernmost station of the study area, whereas the smallest number of species (15) was found from Tongho, ca. 13 km north of the power plant site. Number of species showed highest during the spring (44) and minimum was recorded in autumn (28). Biomass per unit area showed maximum in spring ($189.5\;g\;dry\;wt{\cdot}m^{-2}$ in average) and minimum in winter ($107.9\;g\;dry\;wt{\cdot}m^{-2}$ in average). Biomass values exhibited a wide range of variation among the stations, ranging from a low of $22.0\;g\;dry\;wt{\cdot}m^{-2}$ in annual average at Tongho to a high of $295.7g\;dry\;wt{\cdot}m^{-2}$ in average at Sangnok. Dominant species in biomass were Corallina pilulifera, Sargassum thunbergii, Gymnogongrus flabelliformis and Enteromorpha compressa. There have been little variation in the dominant algal species around the power plant site during the past 10 years and also these algae appeared throughout the west coast of Korea with higher frequency.