• ALGAE
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.139-146
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• 2015

Urchin barrens have been a major issue of rocky coastal ecosystems in temperate regions. In South Korea, the east coast and Jeju Island have especially been a focus because the area of barren ground increases in spite of continual efforts to install artificial reefs. This study approached the urchin barrens issue in South Korea, by focusing on a correlational analysis of urchin and macroalgal abundance. Urchin density and algal species coverage were obtained using a quadrat image analysis. Subtidal sites were then classified into three groups according to the average densities of urchins to evaluate the characterization of the macroalgal community: no urchin (NU) zone; transition (TR) zone, $4inds.\;m^{-2};$ and urchin (UR) zone, ${\geq}8inds.\;m^{-2}$. The average urchin density in the study site was $4.7inds.\;m^{-2}$ and 57 macroalgal species were found in the study site. From the NU zone to UR zone, total species number, species diversity index and evenness gradually decreased, whereas the dominance index increased. The algae species with negative correlations were Grateloupia divaricata, Polysiphonia morrowii, Chondracanthus intermedius, Delesseria violacea, Desmarestia viridis; and those with positive correlations were the crustose corallines, Sargassum horneri. Other species were not significantly correlated with urchin density. The significant correlations indicate that the abundance of some macroalgal species is proportionally regulated by sea urchin density. This study also shows how macroalgal vegetation changes in response to an urchin's density gradient in a natural condition; and there is a TR zone that existed with respect to an intermediate level of algal abundance.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.57 no.3
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• pp.262-277
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• 2024

The mid-eastern coast of Korea is located at the boundary between cold and warm currents, which causes changes in the distribution and composition of marine organisms in response to fluctuations in the marine environment. To understand the seasonal changes in the seaweed community, we investigated its species composition, biomass, coverage, and frequency from November 2022 to August 2023. A total of 45 species (7 green, 18 brown, and 20 red algae) were found in the study area. In the intertidal zone, the number of species decreased from autumn to summer; the biomass peaked during winter (471.94 g wet weight m^-2). Seaweed groups were the dominant functional groups, which were coarsely branched, filamentous, and sheet-like during autumn, winter, spring, and summer. The morpho-functional group was dominated by turf species. In the subtidal zone, the number of species increased during autumn to spring, whereas the biomass peaked during spring (655.27 g wet weight m^-2). The functional group was dominated by coarsely branched species throughout all four seasons, whereas the morpho-functional group was dominated by canopy species. Consequently, changes in the biomass of brown and red algae are recognized as key drivers of seasonal changes in seaweed communities.

• 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 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.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.574-584
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• 1997

Benthic marine algae of Shinjido located on the southern coast of Korea have been investigated to know the floristic composition and community structure. The study was conducted from the intertidal to subtidal zones at two different locations (Kangdok and Donggori) using a line transect method from January to October, 1994. A total of 120 species of marine algae were identified, and they includes 15 green algae, 31 brown algae and 74 red algae. Of these, 87 and 104 species of marine algae occurred at Kangdok and Donggori, respectively. Algal vegetations were divided into three different zonations: the upper, the middle and the lower zones. The representative species are Enteromorpha compressa, Ulva pertusa, Porphyra suborbiculata, lshige okamurae in the upper zone; Hizikia fusiformis, Sargassum thunbergii, Gigatina intermedia, Corallina pilulifera in the middle zone; Pachymeniopsis elliptica, Gelidium amansii, Sargassum horneri in the lower zone. In terms of biomass the dominant species were U. pertusa, I. okamurae, H. fusiformis, C. thunbergii, C. pilulifera, C. amansii, C. tenella. The flora could be classified into six functional form groups such as the coarsely branched form $(36.7\%)$ the filamentous form $(27.5\%)$, the sheet form $(15.8\%)$, the thick leathery form $(10.0\%)$, the jointed calcarious form $(5.0\%)$ and the crustose form $(5.0\%)$.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.727-743
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• 1996

To know the floristic composition, vortical distribution and community structure of marine benthic algae inhabiting in the intertidal and subtidal zones of Yongil Bay, east coast of Korea, the study has performed using the quadrat method along a transect line from July, 1995 to June, 1996. In this area, a total of 144 species including 2 new red algae to Korea was found: 5 blue-green, 18 green, 20 brown and 101 red algae. The representative species throughout the year were Ulva pertusa, Gelidium amansii and Symphyocladia latiuscula. Dominant species were Sargassum thunbergii in spring, U. pertusa in summer and autumn. In winter, Chondrus ocellatus and Monostroma grevillei occurred dominantly. The standing crop exhibited mean value as $185.8g/m^2$ dry weight. Maximum value was recorded in spring $(267.3g/m^2)$ and minimum was observed in winter $(93.7g/m^2)$. Shannon's species diversity (H') and evenness (J') as maximum value were recorded in spring, whereas minimum values were shown in winter. Vertical distribution, rerognized by cluster analysis based on relative coverage of the species, could be divided into two or three algal groups except spring. In general, green algae (M. grevillei, Capsosiphon fulvescens, U. pefusa, Enteromorpha compressa) and brown algae (Sargassum fulvellum, S. thunbergii) were represented in the upper and middle zone and red algae (G. amansii, C. ocellatus, S. latiuscula, Crateloupia okamurae, Pachymeniopsis eilliptica) in the lower zone. The algal community varied according to season and environmental conditions. Particularly, seasonal variation of vortical distribution seemed to be affected primarily by water temperature. Also seasonal tidal level and tolerance of algal species to desiccation appeared to be associated with it in this area.

• 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.