Epibiotic macroalgae on the scallop <Emphasis Type="Italic">Mizuhopecten yessoensis</Emphasis> in Peter the Great Bay,Sea of Japan

The composition and structure of the epibiotic flora of the Japanese scallop Mizuhopecten yessoensis were studied on the basis of data from long-term (1979 to 2007) observations on the scallop beds in Peter the Great Bay (Sea of Japan). In all, 52 species of macroalgae belonging to three phyla were found on the scallop shells; 3 species were new records for the benthic flora of the area studied. Red algae constituted the bulk of the species richness of algal epibionts; brown algae were represented by the lowest number of species. Species of Chlorophyta predominated in terms of biomass; species of Rhodophyta were found in lower numbers. The main form of the thallus of epibiotic algae was bushy or filamentous. The ratio of common to rare species was 30 : 70. As compared to the benthic flora, the epibiotic flora on the scallop shells was characterized by a greater number of warm-water species.