Community Structures of Macrobenthos in Chonsu Bay, Korea

Based on 53 quantitative samples collected in April (23 stations) and August (30 stations) of 1993, the species composition, distribution and abundance of macrobenthic invertebrates and bottom characteristics in Chonsu Bay were conducted. Bottom sediments consisted of mud at the close to the dyke, sandymud in the central bay, and coarse sand in the mouth of the bay. A total of 273 species (177 species in April and 200 species in August) were identified. Mean density per sampling station was 480 ind./m$^2$ in April and 1126 ind./m$^2$ in August, respectively. Number of species and densities decreased in the northern part of the bay. The macrobenthos showed a temporal difference in species composition, range of distribution, and community delimitation caused by larval settling. Although during the settling period in summer, large numbers of juveniles added in most of regions, unrelated to environmental conditions, but, successful recruitment may has been a rare event locally Theora fragilis (bivalve), Lumbrineris longifolia(polychaete), Neptys oligobranchia (polychaete) were numerically dominant, but their densities varied seasonally. Community structures of macrobenthos in Chonsu Bay were affected by several bottom environmental conditions, related to tidal current speed, regionally.