Temporal variations in component levels of Ulva pertusa Kjellman in Jeju

Abstract

This study, we confirmed temporal variations in components of U. pertusa with environmental factors over a two-year period, using Pearson’s multiple range tests at p < 0.05 (SPSS version 12.0). According to the nitrogen (N) and carbon (C) concentrations, protein and lipid levels increased during the winter&#8211 spring period and decreased in the summer&#8211 autumn period, excluding carbohydrate. Aspartic acid, glutamic acid and lucine showed significant seasonal variations (p < 0.05) and had strong positive correlations with N and C (p < 0.05). The carbohydrate of U. pertusa is mainly rhamnose and glucose, and did not show significant seasonal variations. Rhamnose concentrations were high during the autumn and spring, and glucose levels were high during the summer and winter these components exhibited a negative correlation (p < 0.001). On the contrary, ash contents occurred during summer-autumn and decreased during winter-spring by N and C (p < 0.05). Especially, Ca and Fe of major elements and Cu of trace element observed more dependent N and C. Organic components were positively related to N and C, and inorganic components were negatively related to N and C (p < 0.05). This study determined biochemical compositions values of U. pertusa by idntifying their organic and inorganic components on the seasonal variations. We suggest that the aim of the present study was to determine ecological, physiological significance and knowledge of U. pertusa.