Jong-Hyeob Kim

Growth Dynamics and Carbon Incorporation of the Seagrass, Zostera marina L. in Jindong Bay and Gamak Bay on the Southern Coast of Korea

Since seagrasses in the coastal and estuarine ecosystems achieve high levels of production, they require high inorganic carbon and nutrient incorporation. Thus, seagrasses may play a significant role in carbon and nutrient cycling in the coastal and estuarine ecosystems. To examine growth dynamics of Zostera marina L. environmental factors such as underwater irradiance, water temperature, and salinity, and biological parameters such as shoot density, biomass, shoot morphology, and leaf productivity were measured in two bay systems (Jindong Bay and Gamak Bay) on the southern coast of Korea. While underwater irradiance did not show distinct seasonal trend, water temperature at both sites exhibited clear seasonal trend throughout the experimental period. Shoot density increased dramatically during winter due to the increased seedlings through germination of seeds in Jindong Bay and due to the increased lateral shoots in Gamak Bay. Eelgrass biomass increased during winter and decreased during summer. Maximum biomass in Jindong Bay and Gamak Bay was 250.2 and 232.3 g dry weight m ‐2 , respectively. Carbon incorporation into the eelgrass leaf tissues was estimated from productivity and leaf tissues carbon content. The calculated annual carbon incorporations at the Jindong Bay and Gamak Bay sites were 163 and 295 g C m ‐2 y ‐1 , respectively. This high carbon incorporation into seagrass tissues suggests that seagrass habitats play an important role as a carbon absorber in the coastal and estuarine ecosystems.

Seasonal growth dynamics of the seagrass Zostera caulescens on the eastern coast of Korea

Zostera caulescens is an endemic seagrass species in Northeastern Asia. Estimated distributional area of this species is approximately 1–5 km2 on the coasts of Korea. Because Z. caulescens has a very limited distribution, the growth dynamics of Z. caulescens is little known in the coastal waters of Korea. In the present study, we investigated the growth dynamics of Z. caulescens in relation to coincident measurements of environmental factors, such as underwater irradiance, water temperature, and nutrient availability. The study was conducted on a monotypic meadow of Z. caulescens in Uljin on the eastern coast of Korea from September 2011 to September 2012. Shoot density and biomass of Z. caulescens showed distinct seasonal variations, and exhibited strong correlations with water temperature suggesting that the seasonal growth of this species was regulated by water temperature. Shoot density and biomass rapidly decreased during the high water temperature period in summer, and thus Z. caulescens is considered a cold water adapted species like other temperate seagrass species on coasts of Korea. Biomass of photosynthetic leaf tissues on reproductive shoots was approximately 4 times higher than that on vegetative shoots. The height of reproductive shoots ranged from 1.2 m in February 2012 to 3.2 m in August 2012, whereas the height of vegetative shoots was usually less than 1.0 m. Leaf tissues on reproductive shoots probably received much more light for photosynthesis than those on vegetative shoots. Thus, reproductive shoots may play an important role in total production of Z. caulescens.

Selection of the Optimal Transplanting Method and Time for Restoration of Zostera marina Habitats

【Seagrass bed is an important component in coastal and estuarine ecosystems, providing food and shelter to a wide variety of fauna. Recently, seagrass coverage has declined significantly due to anthropogenic influences such as reclamation, dredging, and eutrophication and consequently, necessity of seagrass habitat restoration is rising. Transplantation experiments with Zostera marina using TERFS, staple method, and shell method have been conducted at Dadae Bay, Kosung Bay and Jindong Bay on the south coast of Korea to select an optimal transplanting method for restoration of Z. marina habitat. Three experimental sites located at the vicinity of natural Z. marina beds with an average water depth of about 4m. Z. marina plants, which were collected from donor bed in Koje Bay were also transplanted at 7 different time from October 2003 to July 2004 to find appropriate transplanting time. Density of Z. marina was monitored monthly at both transplanted areas and natural beds. Transplantation using the staple method showed the highest survival rate of transplant. Shell method was also an effective transplanting method at muddy areas in Kosung Bay and Jindong Bay, but not suitable at sandy areas in Dadae Bay. These results suggest that sediment composition of transplanting areas should be considered for the selection of the optimal transplanting method. Z. marina transplanted during fall usually showed the highest survival rate, while most Z. marina plants transplanted in summer died due to high lethal temperature during this period.】

Carbon and nitrogen dynamics of the intertidal seagrass, Zostera japonica, on the southern coast of the Korean peninsula

Seagrasses require a large amount of nutrient assimilation to support high levels of production, and thus nutrient limitation for growth often occurs in seagrass habitats. Seagrasses can take up nutrients from both the water column and sediments. However, since seagrasses inhabiting in the intertidal zones are exposed to the air during low tide, the intertidal species may exhibit significantly different carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) dynamics compared to the subtidal species. To examine C and N dynamics of the intertidal seagrass, Zostera japonica, C and N content and stable isotope ratios of above- and below-ground tissues were measured monthly at the three intertidal zones in Koje Bay on the southern coast of Korea. The C and N content and stable isotope (δ13C and δ15N) ratios of seagrass tissues exhibited significant seasonal variations. Both leaf and rhizome C content were not significantly correlated with productivity. Leaf δ13C values usually exhibited negative correlations with leaf productivity. These results of tissue C content and δ13C values suggest that photosynthesis of Z. japonica in the study site was not limited by inorganic C supply, and sufficient inorganic C was provided from the atmosphere. The tissue N content usually exhibited negative correlations with leaf productivity except at the upper intertidal zone, suggesting that Z. japonica growth was probably limited by N availability during high growing season. In the upper intertidal zone, no correlations between leaf productivity and tissue elemental content and stable isotope ratios were observed due to the severely suppressed growth caused by strong desiccation stress.

Growth dynamics of the deep-water Asian eelgrass, Zostera asiatica, in the eastern coastal waters of Korea

Among the seagrasses that occur along the coast of Korea, Zostera asiatica inhabits the deepest depth; however, to date, there is limited information on its ecology. This study presents the first quantitative data on the seasonal growth dynamics of Z. asiatica in Korea. We measured seasonal growth and morphological characteristics, as well as environmental factors, including underwater irradiance, water temperature, salinity and nutrient concentrations of the water column and sediment pore water, bimonthly from July 2012 to May 2015. Underwater irradiance showed clear seasonal trends, increasing in the spring and summer and decreasing in the fall and winter, ranging from 2.4 ± 0.2 mol photons m-2 d-1 in November 2012 to 12.8 ± 1.3 mol photons m-2 d-1 in July 2014. Water temperature also followed a strong seasonal trend similar to underwater irradiance, ranging from 9.8 ± 0.1°C in January 2013 to 20.5 ± 0.2°C in September 2013. Nutrient availability fluctuated substantially, but there was no evidence of distinct seasonal variations. Shoot density, biomass, leaf productivity, and morphological characteristics of Z. asiatica exhibited significant seasonal variations: maximum values of these variables occurred in summer, and the minima were recorded in winter. Total shoot density was highest (218.8 ± 18.8 shoots m-2) in July 2012 and lowest (106.3 ± 6.3 shoots m-2) in January 2013. Total biomass ranged from 182.6 ± 16.9 g dry weight (DW) m-2 in January 2015 to 310.9 ± 6.4 g DW m-2 in July 2014.Areal leaf production was highest (4.9 ± 0.0 g DW m-2 d-1) in July 2012 and lowest (1.4 ± 0.2 g DW m-2 d-1) in January 2013. The optimum water temperature for the growth of Z. asiatica was between 16-19°C. Growth of Z. asiatica was more strongly correlated with underwater irradiance than water temperature, suggesting that light is the most important factor determining seasonality of Z. asiatica at the study site.