• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.212-219
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• 2019

This study was conducted to investigate marine algal community characteristics and the status of barren ground in the summer at study sites on Jeju Island, Korea. Sampling was carried out from July to September 2017 using a qualitative and quantitative survey (including coverage of non-geniculated coralline algae and density of grazer) by scuba diving. A total of 121 species were identified, including 11 (9.1 %) green algae, 24 (19.8 %) brown algae, and 86 (71.1 %) red algae. Hyeongjeseom had the greatest diversity, with 60 species, and Harye the least, with 18 species. The mean biomass at the study sites was $1,503.0g{\cdot}m^{-2}$, while the mean for the neighboring islets ($3,268.7g{\cdot}m^{-2}$) was higher than that of the main island ($914.7g{\cdot}m^{-2}$). Also, dominant species was identified: Sargassum macrocarpum at the neighboring islets, and Ecklonia cava at the main island, with differences showing not only in biomass but also species composition. In conclusion, the marine algal community status in summer at the study sites was evaluated based on the algal community characteristics (species composition, biomass, biomass ratio of kelp species), coverage of non-geniculated coralline algae, and density of grazer. As a result, both Hyeongjeseom and Marado require preservation and management to maintain their excellent marine algal communities, and other sites on the main island require the creation and/or restoration of marine algal communities. In addition, as the generation of barren ground accelerates, it is urgent not only to grasp existing monitoring research but also to identify the status of the marine algal community where it is not known at present.