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Seasonal Dynamics of Algal Communities and Key Environmental Drivers in the Subpolar Front Zone off Eastern Korea
by
, , ,
Pyo Il Han
1, 
Hyun Soo Rho
2,
Joo Myun Park
3
,
Beom-Sik Kim
1,
Jong Won Park
1,
Dongyoung Kim
1,
Dong Young Lee
1 and
Chung Il Lee
1,*
1
Department of Marine Ecology and Environment, Gangneung-Wonju National University, Gangneung-si 25457, Republic of Korea
2
East Sea Research Institute, Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology, Uljin-gun 36315, Republic of Korea
3
Department of Marine Biology, Kunsan National University, Gunsan 54150, Republic of Korea
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Biology 2025, 14(7), 738; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology14070738
Submission received: 27 May 2025
/
Revised: 13 June 2025
/
Accepted: 19 June 2025
/
Published: 20 June 2025
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biology, Ecology and Management of Aquatic Macrophytes and Algae—2nd Edition)
Simple Summary
In this study, we investigated key environmental factors influencing seasonal changes in algal communities within the subpolar front zone. Water temperature was the main driver of community shifts in the north and was composed of species with varying thermal tolerances. In contrast, nutrient concentrations shaped the southern community, which was dominated by eurythermal species. These results indicated that the environmental factors affecting algal community structure may vary across sites and suggested that the environmental characteristics of seaweeds influence algal community structure. Overall, these results enhance our understanding of how marine environments influence changes in community structure.
Abstract
Located within the subpolar front (SPF) zone, the eastern coast of Korea is subject to frequent environmental changes on both spatial and temporal scales. In this study, we analyzed seasonal changes in the algal community structure and related environmental factors at two sites, Chodo (CD) and Sageunjin (SG), which were influenced by cold and warm-water masses, respectively, in the SPF zone. Sea surface temperature (SST) exhibited greater seasonal change in CD, whereas significant wave height was higher in SG. The salinity and nutrient concentrations decreased during summer and increased in winter at both sites. Seasonal shifts in the dominant species were distinct, with turf species positively correlated with SST dominating the intertidal zone of SG during winter, and canopy species were associated with nutrient concentrations dominating the intertidal zone of CD. Bryopsidales, which was positively correlated with the N:P ratio, dominated the SG subtidal zone in summer, whereas Fucales, which was positively correlated with the SST, dominated the CD subtidal zone. These results enhance our understanding of seaweed responses to environmental changes in SPF zones and provide a basis for predicting future changes in coastal ecosystems.
