Two marine ulvalean species (Chlorophyta) were collected from the southern and eastern coasts of Korea. One is morphologically characterized by usually unbranched or little branched ribbon-shaped thalli, fronds with spirally twisted basal portions and usually undulate margins and 1 (-2) pyrenoids per cell. The other has irregularly shaped thalli, undulate and dentate margins in the fronds, small macroscopic denticulations along the margin and (1-) 2-3 pyrenoids per cell. In phylogenetic tree based on molecular data, the two species nest in the same clade with Ulva flexuosa and U. rigida, respectively. These two Korean entities are identified as U. flexuosa and U. rigida, respectively, based on morphological and molecular analyses. This is the first record of Ulva flexuosa and U. rigida in Korea.
Rhodophyta is one of major groups in the number of species and diversity of the marine algal flora. The occurrence of Korean 5 red algal species is reported for the first time on the list of Korean marine algal flora based on morphology: Ceramium pacificum, Cumathanmnion serrulatum, Gayliella fimbriata, Leptofauchea rhodymenioides, Sorella pulchra. Ceramium pacificum from Korea is recognized by complete cortication, many adventitious branches in a radial arrangement, 7-8 periaxial cells, and plant length of 1-2 cm. Cumathanmnion serrulatum is characterized by cartilaginous single main axis with a prominent midrib, serrulate blade, many higher orders of bladelets on each blade, and tetrasporagia produced near the midrib acropetally and then outwardly. Gayliella fimbriata is featured by clavate gland cell and 5-7 periaxial cells. Leptofauchea rhodymenioides is characterized by erect with flattened, dichotomously branched fronds, 1-2 cortical cells loosely arranged, 2-3 cell medullar layers with large colourless cells. Sorella pulchrais recognized by short branches produced alternately pinnate manner from margins of axial, mostly polystromatic frond, and tetrasporangial sori on the center of branches.
For the ecological evaluation of marine algal vegetation, flora and their communities were surveyed seasonally at Goseong, on the southern coast of Korea. A total of 102 algal species, comprising 17 green, 18 brown and 67 red algae, was identified. Representative dominant species were assessed as Ulva australis, Sargassum thunbergii, and Gelidium amansii. Of these, Ulva australis was remarkably dominant in all seasons. High biomass of the dominant species were recorded. The total seasonal biomass was highest in winter and lowest in summer. The mean biomass value was 1315.6 g/m 2 across the four seasons. Each species was classified into six functional groups, and two ecological state groups (ESG) were evaluated based on these groups. While ESG I, the late successional species group, formed only 18.6% of the algal community; ESG II, composed of opportunistic species, comprised 81.4%. This suggests that environmental stress has been continuously imposed on the marine algal vegetation of the present study area.
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