Diatom biogeography: abundance and species diversity of a major phytoplankton group in Korean coastal waters during winter

Abstract

Diatom composition and abundance during winter were determined for 114 sites along Korean coastal waters. We recorded 190 taxa (87.5% of total phytoplankton species) and a mean abundance of 2.89 × 105 cells L-1 (95.1% of total abundance). The Yellow, South, and East Seas contained 100 (mean: 2.31 × 105 cells L-1), 110 (5.56 × 105 cells L-1), and 143 (0.33 × 105 cells L-1) diatom species, respectively. The best represented of 28 common species were the Skeletonema dohrnii-marinoi complex in all three seas Paralia sulcata in the Yellow Sea Thalassiosira nordenskioldii, Chaetoceros laciniosus, and Eucampia zodiacus in the South Sea and Licmophora grandis, Chaetoceros socialis, and Odontella aurita in the East Sea. Cluster analyses revealed seven groups: Yellow Sea communities formed one, but South and East Sea communities clustered into two and four groups, respectively. Our results are the first to clarify diatom winter biogeography throughout Korean coastal waters.The Yellow, South, and East Seas contained 100 (mean: 2.31 × 105 cells L-1), 110 (5.56 × 105 cells L-1), and 143 (0.33 × 105 cells L-1) diatom species, respectively. The best represented of 28 common species were the Skeletonema dohrnii-marinoi complex in all three seas Paralia sulcata in the Yellow Sea Thalassiosira nordenskioldii, Chaetoceros laciniosus, and Eucampia zodiacus in the South Sea and Licmophora grandis, Chaetoceros socialis, and Odontella aurita in the East Sea. Cluster analyses revealed seven groups: Yellow Sea communities formed one, but South and East Sea communities clustered into two and four groups, respectively. Our results are the first to clarify diatom winter biogeography throughout Korean coastal waters.