Growth Dynamics and Carbon Incorporation of the Seagrass, Zostera marina L. in Jindong Bay and Gamak Bay on the Southern Coast of Korea

doi:2008.23.3.241

Algae > Volume 23(3); 2008 > Article

Algae 2008;23(3): 241-250. doi: https://doi.org/10.4490/algae.2008.23.3.241

Tae Hwan Kim¹, Sang Rul Park¹, Young Kyun Kim¹, Jong-Hyeob Kim¹, Seung Hyeon Kim¹, Jeong Ha Kim², Ik Kyo Chung³ and Kun-Seop Lee¹^*

¹Department of Biology, Pusan National University, Pusan 609-735, Korea
²Department of Biological Science, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 440-746, Korea
³Division of Earth Environmental System, Pusan National University, Pusan 609-735, Korea

*Corresponding Author

Email: klee@pusan.ac.kr

ABSTRACT

Since seagrasses in the coastal and estuarine ecosystems achieve high levels of production, they require high inorganic carbon and nutrient incorporation. Thus, seagrasses may play a significant role in carbon and nutrient cycling in the coastal and estuarine ecosystems. To examine growth dynamics of Zostera marina L. environmental factors such as underwater irradiance, water temperature, and salinity, and biological parameters such as shoot density, biomass, shoot morphology, and leaf productivity were measured in two bay systems (Jindong Bay and Gamak Bay) on the southern coast of Korea. While underwater irradiance did not show distinct seasonal trend, water temperature at both sites exhibited clear seasonal trend throughout the experimental period. Shoot density increased dramatically during winter due to the increased seedlings through germination of seeds in Jindong Bay and due to the increased lateral shoots in Gamak Bay. Eelgrass biomass increased during winter and decreased during summer. Maximum biomass in Jindong Bay and Gamak Bay was 250.2 and 232.3 g dry weight m?2, respectively. Carbon incorporation into the eelgrass leaf tissues was estimated from productivity and leaf tissues carbon content. The calculated annual carbon incorporations at the Jindong Bay and Gamak Bay sites were 163 and 295 g C m?2 y?1, respectively. This high carbon incorporation into seagrass tissues suggests that seagrass habitats play an important role as a carbon absorber in the coastal and estuarine ecosystems.

Key words: carbon incorporation, growth dynamics, productivity, seagrass, Zostera marina L.