Effects of Heated Effluents on the Intertidal Macroalgal Community nearWolseong, the East Coast of Korea

동해안 월성원전의 온배수 방출이 주변 해조군집에 미치는 영향

This study is intended to clarify the structure and seasonal dynamics of warm tolerant benthic marine algal community in Korea. The species composition and biomass of marine algae at the discharge canal of Wolseong nuclear power plant on the East Coast of Korea were investigated seasonally from February 2001 to October 2005. As a result, 43 species (6 blue-green, 8 green, 9 brown and 20 red algae) of marine algae were found at the discharge canal during the past five years. In general, the number of species observed was abundant during winter to summer and less in autumn. Lyngbya confervoides and Enteromorpha compressa always occurred at the discharge canal during the past five years, and Oscillatoria brevis, Padina arborescens and Caulacanthus ustulatus were common species found more than 80% frequency during the study period. Seasonal fluctuations of mean biomass were 2-659 g dry wt m–2 and dominant species in biomass were Caulacanthus ustulatus (contribution to a total biomass proportion 37%), Enteromorpha compressa (26%) and Padina arborescens (24%). Results showed that, in the floristic composition, the green algae occurred as common algal group at the discharge canal of Wolseong nuclear power plant. In the quantitative aspect, however, the red algae such as Caulacanthus ustulatus and Ahnfeltiopsis flabelliformis appeared as predominant group at the discharge canal, in contrast to Kori nuclear power plant where there was a definite green algal dominance. Differences in algal communities developed at the discharge canals of three nuclear power plants on the East Coast of Korea can probably be related to local environmental factors.