Species Composition of the Epiphytic Diatoms on the Leaf Tissues of Three Zostera Species Distributed on the Southern Coast of Korea

doi:2008.23.1.75

Algae > Volume 23(1); 2008 > Article

Algae 2008;23(1): 75-81. doi: https://doi.org/10.4490/algae.2008.23.1.075

Mi Hee Chung¹^* and Kun-Seop Lee²

¹The Institute of Environmental Studies, Pusan National University, Busan, 609-735, Korea
²Department of Biology, Pusan National University, Busan, 609-735, Korea

*Corresponding Author

Email: miheechung@hanmail.net

ABSTRACT

The epiphytic diatom flora living on leaf tissues of Zostera marina, Z. japonica and Z. caespitosa at three study sites (Dadae, Gabae, and Jangmok) located in Geoje Island has been examined from July 2001 to March 2002 bimonthly. Total 81 species in 26 genera of diatoms have been observed on leaf tissues of the 3 Zostera species throughout the present study. Cocconeis spp. were predominant on Z. japonica, whereas Navicula spp. and Nitzschia spp. were predominant on Z. marina and Z. caespitosa. The community structure of the diatom assemblages varied according to the seagrass species. Species compositions of epiphytic diatoms appear to be closely related to morphology and lifespan of seagrasses.

Key words: epiphytic diatom, Zostera caespitosa, Z. japonica, Z. marina, seagrass