Succession Pattern of Intertidal Benthic Algal Communities in Cheju Island

Algae > Volume 12(1); 1997 > Article

Algae 1997;12(1): 23-30.

Young Hwan Kim, Seon Hong Park

Department of Biology, Chungbuk National University, Namnyon High School

ABSTRACT

Studies have been made of the recolonization and succession of benthic marine algae on cleared natural surfaces over a 24-mo period (October 1994 to October 1996) at intertidal zone of Shinchang, Cheju Island Non-destructive method was employed monthly to measure cover as well as species composition. A total of 51 species of algae (3 green, 15 brown and 33 red algae) was found in the permanent quadrats. Numbers of marine algal species found in the permanent quadrats, on the whole, showed highest at the lower tidal zone among the tidal levels. Pioneer species found in the permanent quadrats within first three months since denudation were mostly perennial algae. Major species in the succession sere were Hizikia fusiformis in the upper and middle, and Ulva conglobata and Corallina pilulifera in the middle and lower tidal zones. Since annual algae found in the permanent quadrats were mostly ephemerals and also perennial algae occurred at the start of succession, it therefore seems likely that annual species do not play significant role in successional pattern in the intertidal zone. It was assumed that, in Cheju Island, the climax phase can be attained after one year since the substrata were cleared.

Key words: Cheju Island, intertidal community, marine algae, recolonization, succession