• Journal of Fisheries and Marine Sciences Education
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.273-283
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• 2015

This study was carried out to examine the species composition and community structure of benthic marine algae at the subtidal zones of Daepo, Wolpyeong, Wimi and Jigwido in south Jeju, Korea from March to December 2009. Total 87 species including 14 green algae, 23 brown algae, and 50 red algae were collected and identified. Among these species, 9 species were found throughout the year. The dominant species which contributed significantly to the total biomass were Ecklonia cava, Undaria pinnatifida, Peyssonnelia capensis, Cladophora wrightiana, Sargassum serratifolium, Grateloupia angusta, Codium coactum, Plocamium cartilagineum, and Sargassum macrocarpum. The average seaweed biomass was 7,578.2 g wet weight $m^{-2}$ and maximum biomass was recorded seasonally in spring ($9,627.6g\;m^{-2}$), while minimum was recorded in autumn ($5,963.0g\;m^{-2}$), by sites maximum biomass Jigwido ($12,889.9g\;m^{-2}$), while minimum was recorded in Daepo ($5,403.8g\;m^{-2}$). The seasonal and regional flora were investigated as six functional groups. A coarsely branched form was the most dominant functional group constituting from 42.9~52.8% of the total flora. Ecological state group (ESG) II, as an opportunistic species, including sheet form, filamentous form, and coarsely branched form, consisted of 31~59 species, constituting 77.5~84.9%.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.287-304
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• 2007

This study was carried out to investigate spatio-temporal variations of benthic environment and macrobenthic polychaete communities in Gamak Bay where excessive organic matters from untreated sewage effluents and fish and shellfish farming activities have been accumulated in certain regions. Such environmental variables as sediment composition, organic content, acid volatile sulfide and dissolved oxygen content etc. were measured and polychaete specimens were taken in September 1999 and February 2000. In September 1999, organic contents were up to three times higher in the northwestern part of the bay and the area closed to Gukdong harbor than in the rest of the bay. In particular, benthic environment of the northwestern part of the bay was extremely deteriorated by the occurrence of hypoxia and highly concentrated sulfide. Of 28 stations investigated in summer, 5 stations located in the northwestern part were azoic. In the rest of the stations, a total of 119 polychaete species were sampled with a mean density of 900 $ind./m^2$. While species richness was higher in the entrance and central part of the bay where water exchanges with open sea were relatively active, density was higher in the moderately enriched stations neighbouring Gukdong harbor and fish farms where such potential indicators of organic pollution as Aphelochaeta monilaris, Lumbrineris longifolia were largely dominant. In February 2000, a total of 81 polychaete species appeared with a mean density of 2,802 $ind./m^2$ from 12 stations sampled in winter. Azoic areas were recolonized by Capitella capitata, Pseudopolydora paucibranchiata and Dipolydora socialis which showed maximum density in the innermost station. On the other hand, the rest of the stations were dominated by Euchone alicaudata and Praxillella affinis. The configuration of the stations sampled in summer and winter on the multidimensional scaling plots reflected the position of each stations within the bay in which there were great differences in organic content, sulfide concentration and oxygen content rather than in sediment composition. Therefore, heterogeneities in polychaete community structure in Gamak Bay were primarily influenced by the degree of the disturbance depending on the position within the bay.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.43-55
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• 2004

Meiobenthic community structure was studied in intertidal mud flat and sand flat of Yeochari in Ganghwado in May and August, 1998. Sixteen groups of meiofauna were found at all study sites in the Yeochari tidal flats. Nematodes were the most dominant animal group among the meiofaunal groups as a whole. Sarcomastigophorans, harpacticoid copepods, nauplius larvae of crustaceans and ciliophorans which were also important components of the meiofaunal community. All of these five faunal groups comprised more than 90% of total meiofauna. The maximum total density of meiobenthos was $5.8{\times}10^6ind./m^2$ at the station of sand flat in August and the minimum density was $4.0{\times}10^6ind./m^2$ at same station in May. Biomass of meiobenthos was $1.5g/m^2$(May), $2.3g/m^2$(August) at mud flat and $1.7g/m^2$(May), $2.6g/m^2$(August) at sand flat. At the station of mud flat in May, the highest density was observed within 1cm in depth of upper sediment and steeply decreased increasing depth of sediment. At the sand flat station in August, the highest density was also observed within 1cm in depth of upper sediment and decreased with depth, while the concentration of the animals at the surface was not conspicuous as the mud flat. The value of N/C(nematodes/benthic harpacticoids) ratio was the highest at the station of sand flat in May and the lowest at the sand flat in August.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.44 no.5
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• pp.524-532
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• 2011

The intertidal benthic macroalgal floras of 19 uninhabited islands were investigated in the Goheung area, South Sea, Korea, in June 2008. Seaweed community structures on the rocky shores of four (Naemaemuldo, Ceoldo, Araedombaeseom, and Jinjioedo) of the 19 islands were also examined. Eighty macroalgal species were identified, including 13 green, 19 brown, and 48 red algae. The maximum number of species was found at Naemaemuldo, with 35 species, and the minimum was at Aredombaeseom, with 21 species. Seaweed biomass ranged from 21.39-76.22 g dry wt/$m^2$, with a maximum at Naemaemuldo, and minimum at Jinjioedo. Sargassum thunbergii was a representative species, distributed widely in the intertidal zone of the four islands. Subdominant seaweeds were Corallina pilulifera and Ulva pertusa at Naemaemuldo and Jinjioedo, respectively. Also, Ishige okamurae was dominant at Ceoldo and Araedombaeseom. Six functional seaweed forms were found at each study site, except for Araedombaeseom, which had four functional groups. On the rocky shores of the four sites, a coarsely-branched form was the most dominant functional group ranging from 44.44-61.90% in species number and 72.42-91. 09% in biomass. In conclusion, among the four study sites, the shore of Naemaemuldo Island had the best ecological status, with the highest number of species, and greatest biomass (mainly brown and red algae) and functional form diversity of seaweeds. Furthermore, on the rocky shore of Naemaemuldo, coarsely branched- and joint calcareous-form seaweeds, which grow in clean and undisturbed environmental conditions, were the representative functional forms.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.210-219
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• 2007

The benthic marine algal flora and community structure were examined at five sites of the Taean Peninsula, Korea, during July-August 2005. Ninety-six algal species were Identified, including 14 green, 21 brown, and 60 red algae, and 1 marine plant. The common species that occurred at the five sites were Sargassum thunbergii, Gelidium divaricatum, Caulacanthus okamurae, Gracilavia vermiculophylla, and Neorhodomela aculeata. Sthunbergii was the dominant species in terms of coverage and biomass at ail of the study sites. The average biomass varied from $23.72g/m^2$ in dry weight at Chaeseokpo to $66.43g/m^2$ at Padori. The species could be divided into six functional groups in terms of morphological characteristics: 41 coarsely branched forms, 25 filamentous forms, 16 sheet forms, 7 thick leathery forms, including the marine plant Phyllospadix iwatensis, 4 crustose forms, and 3 Jointed calcareous forms. The seaweed communities at the five study sites were unstable and the environmental conditions were bad or very bad. Among the five study sites, the ecological evaluation index (EEI) and diversity index (H') were maximal at Padori at 2.29 and 1.98, respectively. By contrast, the dominance index (DI) was minimal at Padori (0.55) and maximal at Baramarae (0.96). Therefore, we conclude that the rocky shore at Padori has the best environment among the five study sites, although the species richness and biomass of seaweeds have declined continuously over the last 10 years.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.47-61
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• 2019

The Dokdo coast is known for its high biodiversity. However, few studies have examined the biodiversity and macrobenthic community on the subtidal soft-bottom. Therefore, we collected macrobenthos (> 1 mm) using a Smith-McIntyre grab ($0.1m^2$) at 15 stations along the Dokdo coast in September 2016. The sediments consisted of badly sorted (1.7) coarse sand with gravel and the mean sediment grain size was $-0.4{\phi}$. In total, 177 macrobenthic species were collected; their mean density was $1,566ind./m^2$. The number of species and density of macrobenthic fauna decreased significantly with the mean grain size. The dominant species were the amphipods Melita denticulata (16.5%) and Melita shimizui (5.5%), polychaete Salvatoria clavata (5.4%), bivalve Glycymeris aspersa (4.4%), and ophiuroid Ophionereis dubia (4.3%). The dominant macrobenthos species on the subtidal soft-bottom differed from the coastal areas of the East Sea, suggesting that the difference in the sediment grain size affected the macrobenthos. Cluster analysis was performed to divide the study area into four groups, and environmental factors which correlated with species composition and distribution in the study area were the combination of the four parameters of salinity, dissolved oxygen, total organic carbon and depth. A future seasonal investigation is needed to understand the species composition and characteristics of the Dokdo macrobenthos.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.67-82
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• 2008

This study was performed to investigate changes in benthic environment and macrobenthic polychaete communities in Gamak Bay where various environmental quality improvement projects have been implemented in recent years. Field surveys were carried out in February, 2005 and February, 2006 and twenty stations were selected to explore whether or not there were between-year differences in biotic and abiotic variables. Of 10 environmental variables measured, only three variables including dissolved oxygen (DO), total ignition loss (IL), acid volatile sulfide (AVS) showed significant between-year differences. Specifically, IL and AVS were, on average, 1.5 and 3 times lower in 2006 compared to those in 2005, respectively, which was more pronounced in the northern part of the bay. A total of 95 polychaete species was sampled from the two sampling occasions. Between-year differences in the number of species, abundance, and diversity were varied from place to place. In the northern part of the bay, fewer species were found in 2006 rather than in 2005, but diversity increased in 2006 due to the reduction in dominance of a few species. On the contrary, in the central part of the bay, the number of species, abundance and diversity prominently increased in 2006. In the southern part of the bay, all the biological indices maintained similarly during the two years. Dominant species in 2005 were such opportunistic or organic pollution indicator species as Lumbrineris longifolia, Capitella capitata, Mediomastus californiensis, Pseudopolydora paucibranchiata, etc. and most of them were mainly distributed in the northern part of the bay and in the proximity of it. In 2006, however, Euchone alicaudata, L. longifolia, Paraprionospio pinnata, Flabelligeridae sp., etc. were dominant and distributed mainly in the central part of the bay. Multivariate analyses showed that the whole polychaete community could be divided into 5 groups reflecting the geographical positions of the sampling stations and temporal variation particularly in the northern part of the bay. According to the results of BIO-ENV procedure, TOC (${\rho}=0.52$) and AVS (${\rho}=0.49$) as a single variable best explained the polychaete community structure. The best combination was made by such variables as TOC, AVS, sorting coefficient, and water temperature (${\rho}=0.60$). In conclusion, between-year differences in biotic and abiotic variables imply that recent efforts for the environmental improvement produced positive influences on the benthic environment of Gamak Bay, particularly the northern part of the bay.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.129-144
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• 2006

Small-scale effects of sand mining on macrobenthic communities have been reported previously. However, little information is available as to how dredging affects the macrobenthic community structure. The objective of this study was to determine the impacts of large-scale exhibition dredging on the macrobenthic community of Gyeonggi Bay, Korea, where sand mining has continued for 20 years. Prior to dredging, the macrobenthic species composition was similar to that of areas near the dredging site, with several common dominant species found before dredging. After dredging, the number of species, density, and diversity (H') in the experimental area (sites 0 and 1) decreased significantly, but no difference was observed at other sites. Multivariate analysis (multidimensional scaling) revealed significant differences in community structure before and after dredging. The amphipod Urothoe grimaldii japonica, which was the most dominant species at sites 0,1, and 2, decreased rapidly at sites 0 and 1 after dredging, but no difference was observed at site 2. In addition, the index of multivariate dispersion (IMD) and the relative IMD (r. IMD) were large at sites 0 and 1, suggesting that the effects of dredging were direct at site 0 and 1, but indirect at site 2. The macrobenthic communities at sites 3 and 4 were not affected by dredging, but they were affected by physical conditions and biological interactions. We suggest that benthic biotope indices such as the IMD and r.IMD may constitute a valid tool for assessing the effects of dredging on the macrobenthic community; long-term monitoring is required to verify this.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.262-270
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• 2012

Seaweeds provide habitats in which marine animals can spawn and develop, and serve as a food supply for algaegrazing species such as sea urchins and abalone. Recently, seaweed species have disappeared from coastal ecosystems, leaving barren ground, defined as habitats that have lost their algae forests and where coralline algae containing calcium carbonate components have become encrusted on rocks. The biological causes of barren ground include grazing by herbivores and excessive seaweed harvest. The environmental harm caused by the spread of barren ground includes accelerated eutrophication following the reduction in seaweed, which plays an important role in oceanic purification. In the present study, we identified the relationships between various seaweed species and the occurrence of barren ground. Subtidal benthic macroalgal flora and community structure were observed seasonally on barren ground along vertical transects of rocky shores of Bihwa, Samchuck, and the east coast of Korea from February to November 2006. Fifty-eight seaweed species were identified, including 7 green, 15 brown, and 36 red algae species. There were between 6 and 28 species among seasons. Over the whole study period, average seaweed biomass (g wet wt $m^{-2}$) was 241.90 g, with a seasonal range of 25.26 to 760.34 g. Seaweed biomass declined with increasing seawater depth and ranged between 91.26 and 422.08 g. The vertical distribution of algae was characterized by Undaria pinnatifida and Sargassum honeri at 5 m, S. honeri and U. pinnatifida at 10 m, and U. pinnatifida and Agarum clathratum at 15 m depth. Seasonal patterns in community indices were not found. Community indices showed different patterns along vertical shoreline gradients; the dominance index increased but the richness, evenness, and diversity indices decreased with seawater depth. Sea urchin density was 8 to 24 individ. $m^{-2}$ in Bihwa. These urchin populations had significantly aggregated spatial patterns and recurrent destructive grazing appeared to be occurring.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.11-23
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• 2016

An ecological study on subtidal macrobenthic fauna was conducted off the Namhaedo Island, south coast of Korea from July 2012 to April 2013. A total of 247 species of macrobenthos occurred with a mean density of $1,027ind./m^2$ and a mean biomass of $148.7g/m^2$. Polychaetes was the richest and most abundant faunal group that comprised 37% in both total species number and density whereas echinoderms were biomass-dominant faunal group that accounted for 44% of the mean biomass. There was a seasonal variation in the species richness and abundance of macrobenthos with more species in winter and higher density in spring. Mean faunal density was relatively high at the stations near Namhaedo Island, but gradually decreased toward offshore stations. The most dominant species in terms of density was an amphipod species, Eriopisella sechellensis which occurred as a top ranker during three seasons except spring recorded the fourth rank. E. sechellensis showed its high density at the near shore stations of Namhaedo Island, but this species did not occur around the entrance of Gwangyang and Saryang Bays where Theora fragilis and Lumbrineris longifolia showed high densities. In particular, Tharyx sp., recorded high density between Gwangyang Bay entrance and offshore after Sea Prince oil spill, did not occur in the same area during this study period. The bottom temperature and sorting value of the surface sediments were highly correlated to the spatial distribution of macrobenthic fauna from the Bio-Env analysis. From the cluster analysis, the study area has five station groups with more similar faunal affinities from inner area toward offshore area. Based on the SIMPER analysis T. fragilis, Magelona japonica, E. sechellensis, L. longifolia and Paraprionospio cordifolia were mainly contributed to the classification of station groups. From the BPI, benthic communities in the entrance of Gwangyang Bay and Saryang Bay were considered to be in a slightly polluted condition in contrast to the normal healthy community at the offshore of Namhaedo Island. These results suggested that the benthic community of this area should be regularly monitored to assess the health status of this benthic ecosystem.