Abstract
The variations of physico-chemical factors and the species compositions of phytoplanktons were investigated to analyze the marine ecosystem at the depths during summer in the coast of Dokdo (stations DOK 1-3). The mean values of conductivity (48.9 mS $cm^{-1}$), salinity (32.9 psu) and total suspended solids (57.9 mg $L^{-1}$) were the highest in DOK 1. The biomass (Chl-a) of phytoplanktons was the highest in the surface of DOK 1 (2.61 ${\mu}gL^{-1}$). By the means of physicochemical factors (salinity, turbidity, Chl-a, TN, TP and Si), the water estimated in the coast of Dokdo was more eutrophicated than that in 2008. The phytoplanktons were a total of 42 species in Dokdo, which were composed of 33 species (78.6%) for Bacillariophyceae and 9 species (21.4%) for Dinophyceae. The standing crops of phytoplanktons were the highest ($18{\times}10^3$ cells $L^{-1}$) in the surface of DOK 2 and in the surface of DOK 3, while they were the lowest ($2{\times}10^3$ cells $L^{-1}$) at depth of 40 m of DOK1 and at depth of 30 m of DOK 3. The dominant species of phytoplanktons were Chaetoceros castracanei ($6{\times}10^3$ cells $L^{-1}$) in the surface, Rhizosolenia alata f. gracillima ($3{\times}10^3$ cells $L^{-1}$) at depth of 20 m and Protocentrum compressum ($4{\times}10^3$ cells $L^{-1}$) at the depth of 30 m of DOK 1. At the surface of DOK 2, the dominant species was Bacillaria paxillifer ($6{\times}10^3$ cells $L^{-1}$), while it was Hemiaulus indicus ($12{\times}10^3$ cells $L^{-1}$) at the surface of DOK 3. The DOK 1, which is affected by upwelling, whirlpool and circulation due to the East Korean Warm Current, was the most eutrophicated water body among three stations. The monitoring of marine ecosystem in the coast of Dokdo should be continued to propose the alternatives for water quality and species conservation and to purify the eutrophicated water body due to artificial pollutants as well as natural effectors by the global warming, the climatic change, etc.
