SIZE DISTRIBUTION, GROWTH AND PRODUCTION OF SARGASSUM-THUNBERGII IN AN INTERTIDAL ZONE OF PADORI, WEST-COAST OF KOREA

This paper considers an estimation of population parameters by mathema tical equations on the basis of size distribution and biomass obtained from a field survey. Sargassum thunbergii, a dominant alga in the sur f zone of Korean coast, was investigated from June 1990 to August 1991 . We divided the population into interval groups according to the time of recruitment. A separation of the population by age or size was imp ossible because of difficulties arising from continuous recruitment ov er the growing season. The basic idea for the solution is based on the assumption that the estimated values of the growth rate, number of bi rths and deaths reflect real values, if the biomass and coefficient of variation obtained from the field investigation are coincident with t hose calculated by equations. The predicted behavior of the population is as follows: the proportion of numbers of recruits is large, but th e contribution of recruits to biomass and production is insignificant, and the growth curve shows a sigmoid pattern.