Abstract
The effects of environmental factors on the growth of Enteromorpha compressa germlings from Daeyulri (34$^{\circ}$36'N; 127$^{\circ}$47'E), the southern cost of Korea were examined in laboratory culture through combinations of irradiance and salinity and temperature and salinity. They showed a maximum growth rate at 125 $\mu$E.m-2.s-1 and 32$\textperthousand$ of irradiance and salinity combination, and at 15$^{\circ}C$ and 32% of temperature and salinity combination. Optimal parameters for the growth of germlings were 15$^{\circ}C$, 125 $\mu$E.m-2s-1 and 32$\textperthousand$. The germlings of E. compressa were survived in a wide range of irradiance, temperature and salinity levels, even though they had relatively low irradiance optimum. In the field E. compressa occurred commonly during autumn and spring seasons and disappeared in summer, except for particular habitats. This may be caused by the salinity and water temperature of this area rarely drop below 26$\textperthousand$ and 8$^{\circ}C$ during winter. A broad tolerance to environmental and rapid growth of germlings made them a wide geographical distribution over the world and a survival in both the upper and lower intertidal zones.