JOURNAL OF Research Paper ECOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENT http://www.jecoenv.org J. Ecol. Environ. 36(4): 303-314, 2013 New record of fresh-water green algae (Chlorophytes) from Korea Han Soon Kim* Department of Biology, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 702-701, Korea Abstract The present study summarized the occurrence, distribution and autecology about 31 taxa of the green algae (Chloro- phytes) collected from several swamps, reservoir and highland wet-lands in the South Korea from 2010 to 2013. This pa- per deals with a total 31 taxa including of 26 genera which are recorded for the first time in Korea. Among these algae, 18 genera including Pyrobotrys Arnoldi, Volvulina Playfair, Dicellula Svirenko, Echinocoleum Jao & Lee, Hofmania Chodat, Gloeotila Kützing, Tetrachlorella Korschikov, Botryospherella P.C.Silva etc., were newly recorded in Korean fresh-water algal flora. Key words: Chlorophytes, Korean fresh-water algal flora, newly recorded INTRODUCTION Since Kawamura (1918) reported a species of Centri- fresh-water algae within regions of Korea, including un- tractus at lake Seoho, Suwon, about 1,800 taxa of fresh- usual environments (e.g., highland moorlands, mountain water algae, excluding diatoms, have been recorded in sphagnum bogs or wet-lands and crater) is immediately Korea (Chung 1968, Chung 1970, 1975, 1976, 1979, 1993, required. Chung et al. 1972a, 1972b, Chung and Lee 1986, Chung More than 500 samples were collected from various and Kim 1992, 1993, Wui and Kim 1987a, 1987b, Kim 1992, water bodies throughout the country were investigated 1996, Kim and Chung 1993, 1994, Kim et al. 2009), and for establishment fresh-water algal flora in Korea. In the about 1,100 taxa of Chlorophytes have been recorded in present study, 18 genera and 31 species of Chlorophytes Korea. Although about 1,100 taxa of Chlorophytes have are reported for the first time in Korea. been recorded in Korea, as a similar number to those re- corded from the UK (about 1,100 species, John et al. 2011) and Japan (about 1,500 species, Hirose and Akiyama MATERIALS AND METHODS 1977) only 13.7% of the 8,000 worldwide species of Chlo- rophytes have been reported in Korea (Van den Hoek et Over 500 samples were collected from various types al. 1995). The most floristic or taxonomic studies of Chlo- of wetland habitats including eutrophic reservoirs, di- rophytes from Korea were investigated along with other verse swamps to oligotrophic and acidic mountainous taxonomic groups of freshwater algae. wetl-ands, sphagnum bogs, orum (very small and shallow Recently, the importance of biological diversity has caldera lakes) from 2009 to 2013 (Fig. 1 and Table 1). The been increasing emphasized, and the discovery of in- samples were obtained by means of plankton net (mesh digenous species as biological resources is recognized as size 25 μm), spoid or by squeezing submerged macro- an urgent national task. Therefore, the investigation of phytes and living materials were immediately examined. http://dx.doi.org/10.5141/ecoenv.2013.303 Received 29 October 2013, Accepted 18 November 2013 This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of *Corresponding Author the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial Licens (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/) which E-mail: [email protected] permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any Tel: +82-53-950-5344 medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Copyright © 2013 The Ecological Society of Korea. All rights are reserved. 303 pISSN: 2287-8327 eISSN: 2288-1220 J. Ecol. Environ. 36(4): 303-314, 2013 128°00′ RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Class Chlorophyceae Order Volvocales Family Spondylomoraceae *Pyrobotrys casinoensis (Playfair) Silva 1938 (Fig. 2A and 2B) References: Yamagishi and Akiyama 1987b, p 52; John et al. 2011, p 405, pl. 102, fig. B. Description: Colonies mulberry shaped, composed 36°00′ of 8 or 16 cells; cells ovoid to pear-shaped, with a stigma and two contractile vacuoles; two flagella at the anterior end of the cell; posterior cells tiers often protruding the posterior ends; chloroplasts single, cup-shaped, without pyrenoids; cells 18‒21 μm long, colonies up to 60 μm long. This species usually occurs in organically enriched shallow reservoir and swamps, and is distributed world- wide. Dist.: 16 (Dist. numbers indicate sampling site in Fig. 1 and Table 1) (17 Jul 2011; r). Location of sampling sites in the territory of Korea. Numbers on Fig. 1. Pyrobotrys squarrosa (Korshikov) Korshikov 1938 (Fig. the map represent as follow: 1, Guryong reservoir; 2, Otong reservoir; 3, Sayang reservoir; 4, Unmoon lake; 5, Mochje; 6, Geokpo bridge; 7, Imdang 2C) weir; 8, Okbang wet-lands; 9, Jangcheok reservoir; 10, Danjang stream; Reference: Yamagishi and Akiyama 1987a, p 62. 11, Mujechineup; 12, Namji great bridge; 13, Sinbulsanneup; 14, Junam reservoir; 15, Yangsan great bridger; 16, Samlak wet-lands; 17, Dongbaek- Description: Colonies star-shaped, consisting of 8 cells; dongsan; 18, Micheongul; 19, Mulyoungari. See detailed information of cells irregularly pear-shaped with a strongly inflated, ven- sampling site in Table 1. tral side and a long posterior tail with a somewhat blunted end; two flagella situated on the anterior dorsal side, more After first examination living materials, they were pre- or less apart from the anterior end of the cell; chloroplasts served in Lugol’s solution for permanent preservation single, cup-shaped, without pyrenoids; cells 22‒24 μm and detail identification. Microscopic examinations were long, 10 μm in diameter; colonies up to 35 μm long. made at ×200 to ×1,000 magnification using an Axio Im- This species usually occurs in organically enriched ager microsope (A2; Carl Zeiss, Oberkochen, Germany) shallow reservoir and swamps, and distributed world- and photographs were taken with an AxioCam HRC cam- wide. era (Carl Zeiss). Water temperature, pH, and conductivity Dist.: 16 (17 Jul 2011; rr). were measured in the field by means of a HI8314 mem- brane pH meter (Hanna instruments, Smithfield, RI, USA) Family Volvocaceae and a HI9835 EC meter (Hanna instruments). A total of 31 species of Chlorophyta which had not previously been *Volvulina steinii Playfair 1915 (Fig. 2D and 2E) recorded from Korea are depicted with photographs and References: Yamagishi and Akiyama 1995a, p 72; John briefly discussed with regard to their ecology and distri- et al. 2011, p 405, pl. 102, fig. D. bution in Korea. Genus which had not previously been Description: Colony spherical to ellipsoidal, up to 60 recorded from Korean fresh-water algal flora was marked μm in diameter, usually with 16 cells 10‒20 μm in diam- with an asterisk (*). The materials are deposited at the eter; cells lenticular to hemispherical, with two equal National Institute of Biological Resources (NIBR) and De- flagella and many contractile vacuoles on the surface; partment of Biology, Kyungpook National University. Fol- chloroplast single, cup-shaped, absent pyrenoid in young lowing abbreviations are used: (Basion.) Basionym; (Syn.) cultures, but usually developing a single in old cultures; Synonym; (Dist.) distribution; (rr) very rare; (r) occasion- anterior part of cell with stigma. This species is similar to al; (c) abundant; (cc) very abundant. Eudorina and Pandorina, but it distinguished from the http://dx.doi.org/10.5141/ecoenv.2013.303 304 New records of Chlorophytes letters by its flattened and almost hemispherical cells. *Gloeodendron ramosum Korschikov 1916 (Fig. 4C and This species distributed worldwide, and it rarely occurs 4D) in mesotrophic shallow reservoirs, ponds and temporary Syn.: Prasadiella indica Srivastava 1978. puddles, often associated with other volvocales. Reference: Yamagishi and Akiyama 1997b, p 31. Dist.: 5 (12 Aug 2010; rr), 14 (17 Jul 2011; rr), 19 (12 Aug Description: Thalli simple or di-to tetrachotomously 2010; rr). branched in dendroid, gelatinous, cylindrical strand, con- taining cells sparsely arranged singly or in pair, sometimes Order Tetrasporales in colony, along the whole length, attached to the substra- Family Palmellopsidaceae tum; gelatinous strands unequal in width and compact transversely layered, cross-lamellations, between the cell *Asterococcus superbus (Cienkowski) Scherffel 1908 (Fig. or cell colony, and concentrically layered surrounding the 2F and 2G) cells; cells ovoid to globose; chloroplasts single, cup-like, Syn.: Chlamydomonas scherffeli Korshikov 1917. with a pyrenoid; cells 5‒10 μm in diameter; strands with a References: Yamagishi and Akiyama 1997b, p 6; John et single row of the cell 20‒25 μm in diameter. al. 2011, p 376, pl. 96, fig. B. This species distributed worldwide, and it rarely oc- Description: Cells spherical to ellipsoidal, solitary or curs associated with marginal vegetation in nutrient poor in 2, 4, 8 celled colonies, with a broad lamellate and mu- shallow waters. cilaginous envelope, individual cell envelope conspicu- Dist.: 19 (12 Aug 2010; r). ous; cell wall smooth; chloroplasts a single, stellate with several rays flattened against the cell wall, with a central Family Tetrasporaceae pyrenoid; cells 20‒25 μm in diameter. This species is distributed worldwide, and it frequently *Paulschulzia pseudovolvox (P. Schultz) Skuja 1948 (Fig. occurs associated with marginal vegetation in nutrient 2H) poor shallow reservoir, ponds and bog pools as well as or- Basion.: Tetraspora pseudovolvox P. Schultz 1923. ganically enriched temporary puddles and shallow ponds. Syn.: Tetraspora nygaardii Teiling. Dist.: 5 (12 Aug 2010; r),