• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.113-126
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• 2022

This study was carried out to investigate the benthic polychaetous community and benthic ecosystem quality status on the adjacent continental shelf of Jeju Island, and field surveys were conducted at 31 stations in July and August, 2020. The surface sediment was generally composed of muddy sand facies and sandy mud facies, and the average particle size was medium silt (6.1±1.6∅). The benthic polychaetous community revealed a total of 73 species with a mean density of 242 ind./m². The major dominant species were Notomastus latericeus, Ampharete arctica and Onuphis shirikishinaiensis. By the cluster analysis and nMDS results based on species composition of the benthic polychaetous community, the study area was divided into three station groups arranged from east to west by the water depth and sedimentary facies. The station group located in the west was subdivided into two station groups from south to north. From results of correlation analysis and PCA, it was found that the benthic polychaetous community in the study area had a strong correlation with the sedimentary environment and water depth. The benthic faunal community (or ecosystem) on the adjacent continental shelf of Jeju Island was assessed to be in a healthy state by biotic indices such as AMBI and BPI.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.223-235
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• 2018

This study was carried out to investigate benthic sedimentary environments and benthic polychaetous communities on the coast of Ulsan, located on the southern East Sea of Korea. This survey was conducted at 15 stations, four times seasonally in January, April, July and October 2016. From the coast to the outer sea, surface sediments turned into fine grained sediments. There were complex coarse-grained sedimentary facies in various forms in the coastal zones while those with mud facies were found in the offshore zone. Organic matter content (LOI) and sulfide amount (AVS) recorded extremely high values, and increased from the coast to the outer sea, showing a similar trend to mud content with depth. The benthic polychaetous community revealed a mean density of $525ind./m^2$, and the total species number of species was 84. The major dominant polychaetous species were Magelona japonica, Lumbrineris longifolia and Heteromastus filiformis throughout the four seasons. Magelona japonica was concentrated predominantly in shallow coastal areas, but was present in all the regions of the survey area. Lumbrineris longifolia showed higher density in offshore regions more than 30 m deep, whereas H. filiformis showed higher density in coastal areas less than 30 m in depth. As a result of cluster analysis, the study area was divided into three ecological areas according to species composition, such as the northern coastal area between Ulsan PortOnsan Port, the southern area around Hoeya River and the outer sea area. Benthic environments in the study area, as determined by AMBI and BPI index, maintained a healthy condition in all four seasons with the AMBI at a level above GOOD and BPI at a level above FAIR. As organic matter accumulation continues to take place in the Ulsan coastal area, it is essential that detailed research activities continue to be carried out and ongoing monitoring be maintained.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Marine Environment & Energy
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.297-309
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• 2016

This study was carried out to investigate the differences in sedimentary environments and benthic polychaete communities between farming grounds and natural habitats (non-farming ground) in Gamak Bay. Sampling stations of natural habitats were evenly distributed in the entire bay. And mussel farm, oyster farm and ark-shell farm were selected as farming grounds. Dominant sedimentary facies was mud in most sampling stations of farming grounds and natural habitats. However organic contents were higher in the farming grounds than natural habitats of the bay. The species number and mean density of polychaetous community in the natural habitats were greater than those from the farming grounds. Lumbrineris longifolia, known as potential organic enrichment indicator species, was first dominant species both in farming grounds and natural habitats of the bay. However, the next dominant species consisted of different species between two benthic habitats. As a result of community analysis using cluster analysis and nMDS, the natural habitats were divided into several station groups, but most of stations in farming grounds were clustered into one group. Pearson' correlation analysis and PCA showed high relationships between sedimentary environmental factors and benthic polychaetous community in natural habitats, but low or no relationships in farming grounds. That means benthic polychaetous community established in farming ground was under unusual condition such as high input of organic matter. Thus it is necessary to improve the benthic environmental quality of the farming grounds as well as the north-western inner part in Gamak Bay through long-term monitoring efforts.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.233-247
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• 2020

This study was carried out at 5 sites 11 times over two years to identify the variation of benthic environments and benthic polychaetous community and analyze the benthic healthiness in Dangdong Bay, a small semi-enclosed inner bay of Jinhae Bay. The temperature of bottom water showed the typical temporal fluctuation of a temperate zone and was in the range of 5.94 ~ 23.94℃. The salinity did not change significantly during the study period and was in the range of 32.93 ~ 35.72 psu. The concentration of dissolved oxygen of bottom water fluctuated a great deal and was in the range of 0.31 ~ 10.20 mg/L. The lowest DO value was recorded in July 2015, as 0.31±0.04 mg/L corresponding to the hypoxic water mass. The hypoxic water mass was formed continuously at some sites also in July and August 2016. The mean grain size was in the range of 7.57 ~ 9.81Ø and the average was 8.89±0.20Ø. The surface sediments were mainly composed of fine sediment (mud) above 85%. The mean of TOC was 3.09±0.22% and LOI was 13.30±0.47%, showing very high levels in Korean coastal waters. The concentration of AVS was in the range of 0.33 ~ 1.28 mgS/g-dry. The high values of organic contents and AVS indicated that there had been the serious organic enrichment in Dangdong Bay. The number of species and the density of the benthic polychaetous community in Dangdong Bay were in the range of 2 ~ 38 species and 2 ~ 2,185 ind./㎡ during the study period. The number of species and density were highly sustained in winter and spring, and then decreased gradually with the formation of a hypoxic water mass in summer, and the lowest number of species and density were recorded in autumn. In September and November 2015, the dead zone expanded to almost the whole study area. Dominant polychaetous species were Capitella capitata, Lumbrineris longifolia, Paraprionospio patiens and Sigambra tentaculata, each known as opportunistic species and potential organic pollutant indicator species. In particular, Paraprionospio patiens showed a very high population density of 2,019 ind./㎡ in December 2016. Polychaetous communities at each sampling time were classified into 4 temporal groups according to dominant species in each period by cluster analysis and nMDS. 'Period Group AI' was formed in winter and spring of 2015, dominated by Capitella capitata, 'Period AII' in summer dominated by Lumbrineris longifolia, 'Period B' in autumn with no fauna in the dead zone, and particularly 'Period C' in winter of 2016 dominated by Paraprionospio patiens. As a result of analysis of benthic healthiness, the study area was estimated to be in a Fair~Very Poor condition by AMBI and in a Poor~Very Poor condition by BPI during the study period. Both AMBI and BPI showed that the study area was in a Very Poor condition in September and November 2015, and when the dead zone occurred. In Dongdong Bay, the fact that the formation of a hypoxic water mass occurred in summer and a dead zone in autumn were confirmed. In addition, the dominance of opportunistic and organic pollutant indicator species was also observed clearly. The benthic healthiness indexes such as AMBI and BPI showed that organic enrichment was serious in Dangdong Bay.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.261-270
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• 1998

This study was carried out in order to investigate the distribution and species composition of benthic polychaetous community in northern Kyeonggi Bay in September 1995. Mean density of benthic animals was 557 indiv./$m^2$. Benthic polychaetes were the most dominant faunal group, comprising 60 species with a mean density of 488 indiv./$m^2$. Benthic polychaetes were most abundant in Yumha Channel centering on Incheon Harbor, whereas relatively poor in the intertidal zones fringing Yongjong Island and Songdo area, and in the offshore main channel. The most dominant polychaete was Heteromastus filiformis (47.3% of polychaetous community), followed by Nephtys palybranchia, Tharyx sp., Sternaspis scutata and so on. Kyeonggi Bay could be divided into 4 regions from cluster analysis based on the dominant species composition: offsea/channel region, Incheon Harbor, intertidal zone of Yongjong Island, and intertidal zone of Songdo area. Highest species number and diversity index (H') were recorded at offsea/channel region, whereas highest faunal density at Incheon Harbor. Incheon Harbor was characterized by high abundance of H. filiformis. Compared with the previous studies carried out in Kyeonggi Bay, faunal density and species number have little changed for the recent 10 years. Dominant species was different between each study, but has been among opportunistic species of small-sized polychaetes belonging to capitellids, cirratulids or spionids. These results indicate that Kyeonggi Bay has been organically polluted steadily; specifically, this study reveals that Incheon Harbor has been the center of pollution and that the benthic community in the outer sea off Sihwa dike has become unstable.

• 한국해양학회지
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.250-261
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• 1995

This study was carried out to investigate the distribution of the benthic polychaetous community in Kamak Bay, in summer of 1993. Polychaetes, the dominant faunal group comprising 74.5% of the total number of fauna, consisted of a total of 84 species with a mean density of 112 indiv.m/SUP -2/. The number of species and density were higher in the mouth area of the bay than in the rest of the bay. The most dominant Polychaete was Tharyx sp.(31.9%), followed by Lumbrineris longifolia (27.5%), Chone sp.(4.5%) and Glycera chirori (4.2%). The correspondence analysis revealed that the study area could be divided into four regions. Northeastern channel and southern mouth region of the bay, named Tharyx-Chone assemblage, sustained higher polychaetous density and species number due to the active water exchange with the outer off-sea, whereas northwestern region of the bay had the poorest polychaetous assemblage in the species number and faunal density owing to the blocking water exchange, high organic enrichment in sediment, and low dissolved oxygen content of bottom water. The central region, named Praxillella-Terebellides assemblage and Gly-cera assemblage, was the transition zone between another two region in species composition.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.23 no.3 s.59
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• pp.238-249
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• 2005

The present study was carried out to apprehend that the pollutants originating from Jinhae Industrial Complex affect benthic polychaetous community in the northern Jinhae bay. An investigation on the macrobenthic community in Jinhae bay was conducted in September, December of 2002 and March of 2003. The benthic fauna showed mean density of 2,151 ind. $m^{-2}$ in September of 2002, 2,427 ind. $m^{-2}$ in December of 2002 and 2,394 ind. $m^{-2}$ in March of 2003. Major faunal groups are polychaetes, crustaceans and mollusks, corresponding to $73.7\%,\;12.0\%\;and\;11.7\%,$ in total mean density during all of the sampling season, respectively. The most abundant species was Lumbrineris longifolia $(24.85\%),$ followed by Tharyx sp. $(21.70\%),$ Mesochaetopterus sp. $(6.20\%),$ Heteromastus filiformis $(5.39\%),$ Prionospio sp. $(5.18\%),$ Clycinde sp. $(4.29\%),$ etc. Tharyx sp. was the highest abundant species in September of 2002, and Lumbrineris longifolia was the dominant species in another sampling seasons. The density and the species number of polychaetes were high around Chori Is. and poor near Jinhae Industrial Complex area. Cluster analysis based on the species composition showed that Jinhae bay could be divided into three regions except in March of 2003. In December of 2002, there are very distinct regions by the cluster analysis. The density of benthic polychaetes in Jinhae bay was higher than that in the other coastal area of Korea, due to the predominance by some of opportunistic species, such as Lumbrineris longifolia, Tharyx sp. and Heteromastus filiformis, etc. It means that the study area were in the process of organic enrichment.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.256-264
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• 2014

This study was carried out to estimate the benthic environments and polychaetous community in Garolim Bay, through five field surveys from April 2006 to April 2007. Garilim Bay is a semi-enclosed bay and composed of a biramous tidal channel and nearby wide tidal flats. Surface sediment in the inner bay was composed of fine grained particles whereas that in the mouth area of bay was of coarse grained ones. Benthic polychaete worms were the most dominant taxa occupying 65.1% of total benthic macrofauna. Species number was higher in the inner bay than mouth and outer area of bay, and in the bay higher on the tidal flat than channel area. Density was higher on the tidal flat than channel area. Dominant polychaetous species were Prionospio sp., Heteromastus filiformis, Lumbrineris longifolia and so on, which is known as opportunistic species. Prionospio sp. and H. filiformis inhabited mainly on the tidal flats in inner bay, while L. longifolia in the channel area and mouth of the bay. Cluster analysis and nMDS showed the typical inner-to-outward distribution of station groups, which indicated the sequential difference of the species composition of each station group. To assess the benthic healthiness of Garolim Bay by AMBI and BPI analysis, the benthic condition was analyzed from slightly polluted in the outer and mouth of the bay to moderately polluted in the inner bay. Assumed from dominant species composition and benthic healthiness condition, benthic environments of Garolim Bay was slightly unstable and disturbed and organic enrichment was currently underway by massed fisheries farms.

• 한국해양학회지
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.305-312
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• 1993

This study was carried out to investigate the benthic polychaetous community in the coastal area near Samchunpo City, in September and October of 1989. Polychaete, the dominant faunal group occupying 61.7% in the total faunal density, comprised a total of 50 species with a mean density of 112 indiv.m/SUP -2/. The Number of species and density were higher on the coastal area near Samchunpo Harbor and Samyang Sang-do. The most dominant Polychaete was Terebellides horikoshii (17.1%), followed by Lumbrineris longifolia (14.7%), and Mediomastus sp. (11.5%). The cluster analysis revealed that the study area could be divided into two areas. Each area sustained its specific benthic Polychaete assemblage; Terebellides-Heterogamous assemblage was located in the inner area from Samyang-do, and Lumbrineris-Mediomastus assemblage in the outer area. Lumbrineris-Heterogamous assemblage had higher polychaetous density and species number. Heterogamous sp. was the characteristic species occurring only in Terebellides-Heteromastus assemblage, whereas Mediomastus sp. only in Lumbrineris-Mediomastus assemblage.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.20-31
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• 2002

This study was carried out to investigate the composition and the distribution of the benthic polychaetous communities in Deugryang Bay, semi-enclosed bays, on the southern coast of Korea and to deduce temporal changes in community with the comparison of the past studies. In Deugryang Bay, benthic polychaetous community structure was investigated on the base of the samples from 98 stations in 1996 and 1997. The main facies of surface sediment was clayey silt. The overall benthic macrofaunal density was 871 ind./m$^{2}$. The density was highest in the middle part of the bay because Musculus senhousia (Bivalvia) and cumaceans (Crustacea) had their highest densities in some stations. Benthic polychaetes were comprised of 100 species with a mean density of 138 ind./m$^{2}$. Their abundances were higher in the inner bay, in the middle bay, and in the mouth of bay, but poor community structures were established in the whole bay. The dominant species over 1.0 percentage were composed of the total 21 species, and they occupied 78.3% of the total abundance of the benthic polychaetes. The most dominant species was Lumbrineris longifolia (9.3%), followed by Eteone longa (7.3%), Heteromastus filifomis (7.1%), Sternaspis scutata (6.1%). From the cluster analysis, the study area could be divided into three station groups. Station group AI was located in the inner bay and in the shallow coastal region, and its most dominant species was Heteromastus filiformis. At the station group AII in the mouth of bay and in some channel region, its most dominant species were Lumbrineris longifolia and Eteone longa. And at the station group B located in middle part of the bay, the most dominant specis was Sternaspis scutata. In comparison with previous studies, the benthic polychaetous community experienced great change in the view of species number, density and dominant species. The dominant species were Sternaspis scutata and Eteone longa, but their densities declined greatly. Instead of these species, Lumbrineris longifolia and Heteromastus filiformis, known as the potential organic enrichment indicator species, appeared to the new dominant species even if their low densities. These facts mean that Deugryang Bay was maintained yet as little organic enriched area compared to other bays on the coast of Korea, but needed some caution of marine environmental management.