First record of Haematococcus sp. (Chlorophyta) existence and its distribution in Korea

Abstract

Haematococcus sp. is a green motile phytoplankton which is well known as a good source of astaxanthin when it forms red cyst under stress condition. In search of useful microalgae in Korea, we have found the Haematococcus sp. in different water-bodies with higher abundance in spring, followed by early autumn and summer. Haematococcus sp. was found on the multi-stored building roofs, lakes, irrigation canal and tiny freshwater pole on the island. Haematococcus sp. was present on two stored building roof in the residential area, on three stored building roof at the campus of Korea Ocean Research and Development Institute (KORDI) and on the five stored building roof of (Korea Exchange Bank) KEB where water was retained after rain or any buckets or water holding pots being left for few weeks to few months at Ansan, GyeongGi-Do. It was found in Kyongyu Bomoon lake and lake Shiwa of South-East and North-West part of Korea, respectively. In the irrigation canal at Dongjin in the South-West part of Korea, Haematococcus sp. was present. This species was also found at the tiny freshwater pole on the small island which was 30 meter far from seawater at Tongyeong and Dokdo Island in South and East part of Korea, respectively. Single strain Haematococcus sp. bloom was found on KORDI campus building roof among the three buildings whereas in other two buildings roof Haematococcus sp. was the most dominant microalgae, followed by Scenedesmus sp. In case of lakes, irrigation canal and tiny freshwater pole on the island, the Haematococcus sp. was found as low abundance among the microalgae. During sampling the temperature varied from 24 to 28 C with the higher on the roofs and lowest in the lakes and irrigation canal. The pH ranged from 7.5 to 8.8 with the average of 7.4, and the lowest was recorded on the roofs whereas the highest was in the irrigation canal. However, the environmental data will be very helpful to make industrial scale mass culture of Haematococcus sp whi