한국에 자생하는 거머리말속(Zostera, Zosteraceae) 거머리말 (Zostera marina L.)의 시간적인 변동에 따른 형태 및 생태학적 특성을 파악하기 위하여 생육 환경, 형태학적 특징, 생육 밀도, 생물량, 잎의 성장을 비교 분석하였다. 거머리말 생장특성들은 수온과 기온의 변화에 영향을 크게 받는 것으로 나타났다. 수온의 증가에 따라 생장이 증가하지만 여름의 높은 수온은 생장을 저해하는 요소로 작용하였다. 거머리말은 높은 수온에 민감한 반응을 보였으며, 매우 낮은 수온도 생장을 저해하는 요소로 작용한 것으로 나타났다. 거머리말 서식지에 투입되는 수중광량은 조석의 변화에 따라 계절적인 차이가 있는 것으로 분석되었다. 해남사구미 연안 거머리말 서식지의 광량은 낮은 값으로 생존에 지장은 없으나 계절변화에 따라 거머리말 생산성에 제한요소로 작용한 것으로 판단된다. 결론적으로 거머리말은 수온, 광량 등 환경변화의 영향으로 뚜렷하게 시간적인 변동이 나타났으며, 특히 고수온과 저수온에 의해 생장이 크게 저하되는 것으로 나타났다.

The autecology of the Zostera marina and Z. japonica was studied in populations growing in the same locality (Sagumi Bay, southwestern coast of Korea). Environmental factors and plant characteristics were examined monthly from August 2008 to September 2011. Along intertidal zone, Z. japonica (0.1-0.5 m above mean lower low water, MLLW) occurred above Z. marina (0.5-2.5 m MLLW). Tidal exposure at low tide during day was the highest in the spring and the lowest in the summer. Underwater Irradiance showed seasonal fluctuation that was the highest in spring and summer caused by tidal pattern. Strong seasonal patterns in water temperature appeared to control the seasonal variations in morphology, biomass and leaf growth. The seasonal pattern of Z. japonica resembled that of the Z. marina in morphological characteristics, above-and below-ground biomass, whereas it differed in shoot density and leaf elongation. Despite some similarities in seasonal growth patterns, the patterns of Z. japonica were lagged by 2 month of Z. marina. Seasonal variation in the above biomass of Z. marina was caused by changes in density and plant size, whereas that of Z. japonica was mainly caused by changes in shoot density. Zostera marina was more sensitive to high temperatures than Z. japonica, and the increasing water temperature during the summer became the factor that inhibits the growth of the Z. marina. Zostera Japonica, there is no clear change according to the amount of the light. It is because its habitat locates above that of Zostera marina so that the amount of the light that is necessary to growth is enough and in this condition, any preventing factor does not seem to work at all. Although underwater light getting into Zostera marina's habitat is very low level and there is no any hindrance to the survival of them, it prevents them from their productivity a bit.