An Ecological Study of the Intertidal Macroalgae in Kwangyang Bay, Southern Coast of Korea

Algae > Volume 1(1); 1986 > Article

Algae 1986;1(1): 203-223.

Choon-Bok Song

Biological Oceanography Laboratory, KORDI

ABSTRACT

The intertidal macroalgae in Kwangyang Bay were investigated in aspects to the flora, vegetation analysis and phytosociology. The influence of turbidity on the algal vegetation, caused by dredging and land-reclamation works, was also studied. As a results, 171 species of marine benthic algae, 8 blue-green, 24 green, 31 brown and 108 red algae. were identified. Vertical zonation was clear by the representative algae such as, Gelidium divaricatum, Ulva conglobata, and Enteromorpha compressa in the upper tidal zone, Sargassum thunbergii and Ectocarpus confervoides in the middle zone, and Ulva pertusa, Corallinaceae, Chondria crassicaulis, and Undaria pinnatifida in the low tidal zone. Species diversity indices appeared to be higher at Hangumi than Myodo. The period of higher standing crops was both in April by Sargassum thunbergii, Hizikia fusiforme and Enteromorpha linza, and in August by Ulva pertusa. According to cluster analysis based on the coverage, algal vegetation was recognized into three groups; spring type, summer type and autumn type. From the phytosociological point of view, algal community in Kwangyang Bay appeared to have intermixed characteristics both of west and middle to east half of the southern coast and of inland-sea and open-sea. On the other hand, the increment of mean turbidity less than 20 ppm seemed not to affect the intertidal algal vegetation in this area.

Key words: Algal vegetation, flora, Kwangyang Bay, southern coast of Korea