Algae. 1994; 9(1): 47-58.

Macroalgal Vegetation of Maxwell Bay in King George Island, Antarctica

Hosung Chung, Yoon Sik Oh, In Kyu Lee, Dong-Yup Kim

Department of Biology, kyeongsang National University, Department of Biology, Kyeongsang National University, Department of Biology, Seoul National University

The community structure of littoral and infralittoral marine algae was investigated in Maxwell Bay, King George Island during the austral summer 1988/1989. A total of 36 species, 5 green, 1 yellow-brown, 12 brown, and 18 red algae, was identified. Ephemeral or pseudoperennial algae grew up rapidly at the littoral and upper-infralittoral zones since the thawing season, whereas some perennial brown algae were dominant at the lower-in ralittoral zone. The vertical zonation was represented by Palmaria decipiens from the surface to 5m, Desmarestia menziesii and Ascoseira mirabilis at 5-15 m, and Himantothallus grandifolius below 15m. Horizontally, the abundance and diversity of macroalgal vegetation were changed according to the exposed outward or protected embayment with mud deposit and freshwater inflows, and the rocky or pebble-bouldered substrata.

Keywords : macroalgal vegetation, Maxwell Bay, King George Island, Antarctica