Algae. 1991; 6(2): 157-192.

Marine Algal Communities around Three Nuclear Power Plants in Korea

Hong Kee Kim, Young Hwan Kim

Department of Biology, Chungbuk National University

Marine algal flora and biomass in the vicinity of nuclear power plants were investigated seasonally at Ulchin and Wosong in eastern coast and Yonggwang in western coast of Korea from 1986 to 1988. A total of 250 species (21 blue-green, 31 green, 64 brown and 134 red algae) of marine algae was identified in the present study. Among three sites, the number of species observed was the highest at Wolsong as 189 species and the least at Yonggwang as 99 species. This is presumably due to the fact that turbidity is generally low in the Japan Sea and, on the other hand, high in the Yellow Sea. Seasonally, the number of species observed was the highest in spring as 121 species and the least in autumn as 63 species. As a whole, The occurrence of marine algae was decreased in 1998. Particularly, the Yonggwang area had a greater blue-green algae proportion(9.1%) than those of Wolsong(7.9%) and Ulchin area(4.4%). Mean biomass per unit area was the most abundant at the Wolsong area and the least at the Yonggwang area. Annual at Wolsong and 72.54-115.98 g-dry wt/m super(2) at Yonggwang area, respectively. the dominant species in biomass were Ulva pertusa, Sargassum thunbergii and Corallina pilulifera, which were all common to three investigated sites. The effects of thermal effluents from nuclear power plants upon marine algal community have been discussed.

Keywords : marine algae, flora, biomass, dominant species, nuclear power plants