MOLLUSK ASSEMBLAGES ASSOCIATED WITH CORALLINE ALGAE IN A SMALL TIDAL POOL AT HAMO BEACH ON THE NORTH-WEST COAST OF JEJU ISLAND, KOREA

Tide pools in the rocky intertidal of Jeju Island are characterized by a rich molluscan biodiversity, often associated with macro algae; however, few studies have reported on the unique algae-mollusk association in tide pools in Jeju Island. In May 2012, we collected mollusk species associated with the coralline algae Corallina confusa Yendo, 1902 from a tide pool at Hamo beach on the south-west coast of Jeju Island. A total of 24 species associated with the coralline algae were identified, including one chiton in the Mopaliidae, 4 bivalves, and 19 gastropods. Most of the molluscs isolated from the coralline algae were juvenile and sub-adults, suggesting that C. confusa clusters in tide pools are utilized as a shelter or source of food for grazing gastropods.