Ecological Evaluation of Marine National Parks Based on Seaweed Community Index

Abstract

Seasonal variability in the algal community structure of intertidal zones was examined at six study sites in Marine National Parks, on the western and southern coasts of Korea from March to November 2015. A total of 193 species of algae, comprising 27 green, 40 brown and 126 red algae, were identified. Algal biomass averaged 101.50 g dry wt./m2 with a maximal at Tonggae (168.12 g dry wt./m2) and minimum at Haseom (54.49 g dry wt./m2). The dominant seaweeds by biomass were Sargassum thunbergii at five sites (Tonggae, Haseom, Namdongri, Ando amd Sinjeonri), and S. fusiforme at Soando. Community indices measured as follows: dominance index (DI), 0.31–0.69; richness index (R), 7.30–11.43; evenness index (J'), 0.33–0.49; and diversity index (H'), 1.15–1.86. As evaluated using community indices and environmental states, the EEI (Ecological Evaluation Index) of the Marine National Park was “normal”. The present results indicate that seaweed community structures and indices could be used to evaluate the environmental status of coastal ecosystems.