Changes in Marine Algal Flora settled on the Artificial Seaweed Reefs Before and After Rocky Cleaning and the Early Succession of the Seaweeds attached to the Test Panels

Abstract

The marine algal flora assemblages settled on the artificial seaweed reefs in Jeju-do before and after rocky cleaning were investigated during summer and the early succession of seaweeds attached to the test panels on the structures of the artificial reef after rocky cleaning were observed by visual observations and under the dissecting microscope in order to evaluate the effects of this rocky cleaning operation. Species composition and algal biomass on the Bboolsamgak-typed seaweed artificial reefs before and after rocky cleaning were measured and compared before and after rocky cleaning. Before rocky cleaning in July 2012, only nine algal species had existed on the Bboolsamgak-typed seaweed artificial reefs, however, twenty algal species occurred on the seaweed artificial reefs after rocky cleaning in July 2013. Particularly, 15 species among them in July 2013 were not found in July 2012 and they seemed to occur newly on the artificial reefs. A large quantity of algal biomass increased in July 2013 after rocky cleaning. Based on the importance value, there was a drastic change in the dominant species between July 2012 and July 2013 after rocky cleaning. By dissecting micrographs, an epiphytic diatom, Licmophora sp. and flagellates, were observed on the 9th day. A chlorophyte, Ulothrix flacca was observed after 14 days, Ulva pertusa, Bryopsis pulmosa, crustose coralline algae, and Cladophora spp. were after one month. After two months, a significant species succession was observed from three previous chlorophyte species to crustose coralline algae existed as a dominant species on the panels. In this study, however, any brown algae were not found until three months in the early seaweed succession. All above results indicates that the rocky cleaning is a very efficient method for the establishment of macroalgal assemblages on the artificial reefs.