Characteristics of Marine Environment and Primary Productivity of Phytoplankton in the Seaweed Bed of Northwestern Coast of Jeju Island During Autumn 2014

Marine environmental characteristics and primary productivity of phytoplankton were investigated in seaweed bed of northwestern coast of Jeju Island during Autumn, 2014. The trophic state based on dissolved inorganic nitrogen and phosphorus was mesotrophic. The Redfield ratio was less than 16, indicating that nitrogen was the limiting factor for the growth of phytoplankton. Dissolved organic nitrogen and phosphorus accounts for 63 and 46% of the dissolved total nitrogen and phosphorus, respectively. Light utilization efficiency () and maximum photosynthetic capacity () were highest in the Donggwi (third-year marine forest), followed by Gonae (one-year marine forest), Biyangdo (natural seaweed bed) and Geumneung (whitening area). The primary productivity of phytoplankton in the Donggwi, Gonae and Biyangdo also was higher than that in the Geumneung. Although nitrogen is the limiting factor, enriched dissolved organic nitrogen might play an important role to maintain primary productivity. In addition, phytoplankton community through photosynthesis could produce about 14% of phytoplankton carbon in one hour. These results will be able to use the important information for material cycle and ecological valuation of seaweed bed.