An Occurrence and Distribution of Phytoplankton in Korean Coastal Waters, 1930's-1980's

Algae > Volume 1(1); 1986 > Article

Algae 1986;1(1): 135-143.

Chang-Hwan Cho

Tong-yeong Fisheries Technical College

ABSTRACT

The occurrence and distribution on phytoplankton in the waters surrounding Korea for 50 years (1930's-1980's) were reviewed. Total 27, 745 data was assorted, regulated and analyzed using a personal computer. Species found are 719 in total, 539 diatoms, 165 dinoflagellates and 15 others (cyanophyceans, silicoflagellates, euglenophyceans and cryptophyceans altogether). In result, taxonomical constitutions show 75.0% in diatoms, 22.9% in dinoflagellates and 2.1% in others. On the other hand, occurrence rations consist of 90.4%, 8.6% and 1.0%, respectively. Genera of high occurrence are Chaetoceros, Rhizosolenia, Coscinodiscus in diatoms and Ceratium in dinoflagellates. Major species belonged to the above genera are Chaetoceros affinis, Ch. compressus, Ch. curvisetus, Ch. decipiens Ch. didymus, Rhizosolenia stolterfothii, Rh. setigera, Rh. styliformis, Rh. alata, Coscinodiscus asteromphalus, Cos. devius, Cos. gigas, and Ceratium fuses. A genus of the highest occurrence is Chaetoceros, 26.8%. Chaetoceros and Rhizosolenia are frequently found in the South Sea and the East Sea, while Coscinodiscus is in the West Sea. Besides, many species of Paralia and Synedra occur in the West, and relatively many dinoflagellates, specially Ceratium in the South. The species frequently occurred all over the sea are Thalassionema nitzschioides, Nitzschia seriata, Chaetoceros affinis, Skeletonema costatum, Thalassiothrix frauenfeldii, Asterionella gracialis, Ditylum brightwellii, Eucampia zodiacus, and Rhizosolenia setigera. Species of the most frequently occurred in the West sea are Coscinodiscus devius and Actinoptychus senarius, in the South are Thalassionema nitzschioides and Nitzschia seriata, and in the East are Chaetoceros decipiens and Thalassionema nitzschioides. Among the whole phytoplankton, 44 species of diatoms, 5 species of dinoflagellates and 1 species of silicoflagellate are found throughout the year.

Key words: Diatoms, dinoflagellates, phytoplankton distribution in Korean coasts