Biological environmental characteristics in Habitats of an abalone Haliotis diversicolor in the eastern coast of jeju-do, Korea

Biological environmental characteristics in Habitats of an abalone Haliotis diversicolor in the eastern coast of jeju-do, Korea

This study describes biological environmental characteristics in natural habitats of Haliotis diversicolor in the coastal area of Sungsanpo located in the eastern coast of Jeju-do, Korea. The field survey was monthly conducted from May 2006 to February 2007. H. diversicolor, sea urchin, turban shell and marine algae were collected by two divers using SCUBA. The species composition of demersal fishes were seasonally investigated by fish traps in 2007. During the study period, more than 67% of H. diversicolor and sea urchin were found in the depth shallower than 5 m, and more than 64% of turban shell were found in the depth deeper than 3 m. The dominant algal species in May were generally Undaria pinnatifida, Ecklonia cava, Sargassum. spp. and coralline algae. Most of demersal fishes collected by the fish traps were wrasses which have been reported as a major predator of young abalone.