Understanding the distribution of seagrass meadows is the first critical step toward their effective conservation and management. This study provides the first comprehensive assessment of Zostera species distribution along the southeastern coast of Korea’s South Sea. The survey encompassed coastal areas from Haeundae in Busan to Changwon, Geoje, Tongyeong, Sacheon, Goseong, Namhae, and Hadong in Gyeongsangnam-do, using local fisheries cooperative questionnaires, boat-based snorkeling, and SCUBA diving. Four Zostera species were identified: Zostera marina, Z. caespitosa, Z. caulescens, and Z. japonica. Among the 162 surveyed sites, Z. marina was the most prevalent, occurring at 140 sites (86.4%), followed by Z. japonica (10 sites, 6.2%), Z. caespitosa (9 sites, 5.6%), and Z. caulescens (3 sites, 1.9%). The total seagrass coverage by Zostera species in the region was 1,174.2 hectares, with species-specific coverage as follows: Z. marina (798.7 ha, 68.0%), Z. japonica (339.4 ha, 28.9%), Z. caulescens (29.0 ha, 2.5%), and Z. caespitosa (7.1 ha, 0.6%). The mean occurrence depths were 2.0±0.1 m for Z. marina and 2.7±0.2 m for Z. caespitosa, with the latter found slightly deeper. Z. caulescens occurred at the greatest depths, averaging 6.8±0.5 m (range: 5.0~8.8 m), while Z. japonica was limited to the intertidal zone. Z. marina predominated in all regions except Busan, while the Nakdong River estuary contained the nation’s largest Z. japonica habitat. Z. caespitosa was observed in Geoje, Changwon, and Tongyeong, whereas Z. caulescens was restricted to Geoje. These findings provide essential baseline data for the conservation and management of Zostera species in Korean coastal waters.

Photosynthesis and respiration of seagrasses are mainly controlled by water temperature. In this study, the photosynthetic physiology and respiratory changes of the Asian surfgrass Phyllospadix japonicus, which is mainly distributed on the eastern and southern coasts of Korea, were investigated in response to changing water temperature (5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30°C) by conducting mesocosm experiments. Photosynthetic parameters (maximum photosynthetic rate, Pmax; compensation irradiance, Ic; and saturation irradiance, Ik) and respiration rate of surfgrass increased with rising water temperature, whereas photosynthetic efficiency (α) was fairly constant among the water temperature conditions. The Pmax and Ik dramatically decreased under the highest water temperature condition (30°C), whereas the Ic and respiration rate increased continuously with the increasing water temperature. Ratios of maximum photosynthetic rates to respiration rates (Pmax : R ) were highest at 5°C and declined markedly at higher temperatures with the lowest ratio at 30°C. The minimum requirement of Hsat (the daily period of irradiancesaturated photosynthesis) of P. japonicus was 2.5 hours at 5°C and 10.6 hours at 30°C for the positive carbon balance. Because longer Hsat was required for the positive carbon balance of P. japonicus under the increased water temperature, the rising water temperature should have negatively affected the growth, distribution, and survival of P. japonicus on the coast of Korea. Since the temperature in the temperate coastal waters is rising gradually due to global warming, the results of this study could provide insights into surfgrass responses to future severe sea warming and light attenuation.