• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.73-88
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• 2021

The community structure and health status of macrobenthos assemblages were investigated in the subtidal area of the Nakdong River estuary, Southern Coast of Korea. Benthic fauna samples were collected seasonally at 8 stations in the subtidal area of the Nakdong River estuary from February 2013 to October 2015. During the survey, a total of 380 species and 4,603 ind./m² of macrobenthos in all sampling areas were collected. The major dominant species were the polychaetes Minuspio japonica, Pseudopolydora kempi, Heteromastus filifomis, Capitella capitata, the amphipod Grandidierella japonica and the bivalvia Arcuatula senhousia. Some species of polychaetes found in the study area consisted of opportunistic species that showed high densities when habitat condition was poor. On the other hand, macrobenthos assemblages in the study area were divided into brackish water and marine groups. Abundance was high in the brackish group, while the number of species and diversity index were high in the oceanic group. The three indices (AMBI, M-AMBI, and BHI) in the assessment of health levels based on the ecological characteristics and number of species in macrobenthic were commonly shown to be in good condition in the group of oceanic stations, while relatively poor conditions were reflected in the group of brackish stations. Compared to other indices, the M-AMBI index of the three indices for health assessment was considered to be a relatively more suitable one to assess benthic ecological conditions.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.22 no.12
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• pp.1551-1559
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• 2013

This study was conducted to compare benthic macroinvertebrate communities of urban stream and nature stream in Daegu-si, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsan-si, Andong-si, and Cheongsong-gun. The survey was carried out with 12 points in total six points for urban stream, six points for nature stream from Sept. 2011 to July 2012. In the urban stream were 33 species belonged to 24 families, 11 orders, 7 classes and 4 phyla while in the nature stream were 73 species belonged to 38 families, 12 orders, 5 classes and 4 phyla. In general, species diversity indices and species richness indices appeared low in urban stream but dominance indices was high. Functional feeding groups and Habitat Oriented Groups appeared comparatively simple in urban stream rather than nature stream. As a result of analysis of community stability, species included to area I and area III equally appeared in nature stream while species included to area I mostly appeared in urban stream. An analysis of the correlation between the population density and the number of species, the population number and biological indicators such as DI, H', RI, and ESB revealed that there was a significant correlativity with the diversity index and a very high correlativity with the number of species, abundance index and the ESB. On the other hand, the population number and the dominance index did not reveal any correlativity. For indicator species, Hydroptila KUa, Physa acuta appeared in urban stream while Paraleptophlebia chocolata, Epeorus pellucidus appeared in nature stream.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.233-241
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• 2008

Functional feeding groups (FFGs) of benthic macroinvertebrates are guilds of invertebrate taxa that obtain food in similar ways, regardless of their taxonomic affinities. They can represent a heterogeneous assemblage of benthic fauna and may indicate disturbances of their habitats. The proportion of different groups can change in response to disturbances that affect the food base of the system, thereby offering a means of assessing disruption of ecosystem functioning. In this study, we used benthic macroinvertebrate communities collected at 650 sites of 23 different water types in the province of Overijssel, The Netherlands. Physical and chemical environmental factors were measured at each sampling site. Each taxon was assigned to its corresponding FFG based on its food resources. A multilayer perceptron (MLP) using a backpropagation algorithm, a supervised artificial neural network, was applied to evaluate the influence of environmental variables to the FFGs of benthic macroinvertebrates through a sensitivity analysis. In the evaluation of input variables, the sensitivity analysis with partial derivatives demonstrates the relative importance of influential environmental variables on the FFG, showing that different variables influence the FFG in various ways. Collector-filterers and shredders were mainly influenced by $Ca^{2+}$ and width of the streams, and scrapers were influenced mostly with $Ca^{2+}$ and depth, and predators were by depth and pH. $Ca^{2+}$ and depth displayed relatively high influence on all four FFGs, while some variables such as pH, %gravel, %silt, and %bank affected specific groups. This approach can help to characterize community structure and to ecologically assess target ecosystems.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.265-280
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• 2011

The temporal dynamics of the meiofauna community in Marian Cove, King George Island, Antarctica were observed from March 7 to December 21 2007. Nine meiofauna taxa were found, with nematodes the most dominant group, making up 92.97% of the total meiofauna density, followed by harpacticoid copepods (3.18%). Meiofauna abundance ranged from 123 to 874 individuals per 10 $cm^2$ (mean 464 inds.10 $cm^{-2}$), which is lower than that found in some polar and temperate regions. The lowest meiofauna abundance was found in the 26th April sample (III) and the highest meiofauna abundance was found in the March 23rd sample (II). There was no correlation between meiofauna abundance and season. The seasonal changes were likely caused by meltwater runoff, and there were the physical disturbances on the bottom sediment by huge iceberg. Biomass of meiofauna varied between 20.36 and 101.02 ${\mu}gC{\cdot}10\;cm^{-2}$, and overall mean biomass was 54.17 ${\mu}gC{\cdot}10\;cm^{-2}$ during the study periods. More than 80% of meiofauna was concentrated in the upper 2 cm of the sediment, and density decreased with depth. The mean diversity index was 0.37, and the ratio between the abundance of nematodes: and harpacticoids (N/C) ratio ranged from 7.31 to 95.04 (mean 26.39). NMDS analysis divided the community into three groups: A (III, IV, V, VII, VIII), B (II, IX, XI, XII) and C (I, V, X). The results of ANOSIM and SIMPER analysis revealed significant differences in community structure among three groups and major contributed meiofauna taxon in grouping were nematodes and copepods. No significant correlations were observed between major meiofauna taxon and environmental factors. Thirteen species in 12 genera representing nine families of harpacicoids were recorded. Ancorabolidae was the most diverse family, and Heteropsyllidae was the most abundant. The correlation analysis between benthic harpacticoid copepods and environmental factors showed that some species were affected by water temperature, sediment temperature, salinity, chlorophyll a concentration, grain size of the sediments and heavy metal contents of the sediments. These data describe the usefulness of benthic harpacticoid copepods as biological indicator species in Antarctic regions.

• 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.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.389-397
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• 2011

The benthic algal community structures of the seaweed biomass, vertical distribution of dominant seaweeds, and species composition were examined on the rocky shores of Ongdo, Jusamdo, and Woejodo Islands, Korea, in August 2006. A total of 68 seaweeds were identified, comprising 5 green, 11 brown, and 52 red algae from the three study sites. The number of species at Ongdo (32 species) was less than that at Jusamdo (45 species) and Woejodo (44 species). Jusamdo exhibited the maximum seaweed biomass (73.99 g dry $wt/m^2$), while the minimum value was found at Woejodo (36.90 g dry $wt/m^2$). On the three islands, coarsely branched forms were the most dominant functional group in terms of species number and biomass among benthic algal species. The dominant species were Gelidium amansii, Chondrus ocellatus, and Chrysymenia wrightii at Ongdo, Sargasum thunbergii, Ulva pertusa, and Sargassum fusiformis at Jusamdo, and U. pertusa, Undaria pinnatifida, and Corallina pilulifera at Woejodo. Perennial seaweeds were abundant at Ongdo (G. amansii and C. ocellatus) and Jusamdo (S. thunbergii and S. fusiformis), whereas the sheet form of U. pertusa was relatively abundant at Woejodo Island.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.175-187
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• 1997

Benthic community structure was studied in Chinhae Bay during 3 years from June 1987 to May 1990, based on the samples from 12 stations on the seasonal, bimonthly or monthly basis (lim and Hong, 1994a, b). A total of 287 species was sampled with mean density of $1045.5\;ind./m^2$ and biomass of $98.48g/m^2$ during studyperiods. Of these species, there were 91 species of crustaceans $(31.7\%)$, 88 of polychaetes $(30.7\%)$, 56 of molluscs $(19.5\%)$, 22 of echinoderms and 30 of the micellaneous species. Polychaetes were density-dominant faunal group with a density of $824.7\;ind./m^2$, comprising of $18.6\%$ of the total density of the benthic animals. It was followed by molluscs with $14.62\;ind./m^2$ $($14.4\%\;of\;the\;total\;density)$ crustaceans with $50.5\;ind/m^2\;(4.6\%)$ and echinoderms with $13.4\;ind/m^2\;(4.6\%)$. Molluscs were the biomass-dominant faunal group with a mean biomass of $54.62\;g/m^2$. It was followed by polychaetes with $21.74\;g/m^2$ and echinoderms with $6.66\;g/m^2$. Based on community analysis, species richness, diversity and evenness showed decreasing trends toward the inner bay from outer stations, whereas dominance showed increasing. The three most dominant species Lumbrineris longifolia, Paraprionospio pinnata and Theora fragilis had densities over $40\%$ of the total density of benthic organisms in Chinhae Bay. Seasonal changes of benthic communities in the inner bay were high compared to those of the outer bay. It was mainly due to the occurrence of hypoxic condition in the inner area of the bay. Cluster analysis showed that the benthic community could be divided into four stational groups, that is, Group 1, the innermost area, which received the most heavy anthropogenic effects including seawage and waste water, Group II, the central area of the bay, Group III, the transitional area, Group IV, the mouth pan of the bay exposed to the open sea. The areal groups based on the environmental factors coincided with the zonal groups from the species composition. This fact suggests that the overall spatial distribution of macrobenthos in Chinhae Bay was controlled by the sediment organic carbon content of the bay.

• Journal of Fisheries and Marine Sciences Education
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.83-90
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• 2016

A subtidal marine benthic algal vegetation at Ulleungdo Island, the eastern coast of Korea was investigated to clarify the community structure and vertical distribution by quadrat method at seven stations in May and August 2014. The total number of marine algal species was 148 species composed of the green algae of 12 species, the brown algae of 40 species and the red algae of 96 species. Mean biomass in dry weight was $94.8g\;dry\;weight\;m^{-2}$ in study sites, $98.1g\;dry\;weight\;m^{-2}$ in upper tidal level, and $86.6g\;dry\;weight\;m^{-2}$ in middle level. The R/P and (R+C)/P value reflecting flora characteristic were 1.9 and 2.3, respectively. Three groups produced by cluster analysis, one including sites Neunggeol, Daepung, Jukdo, second including sites Gongam, Ssangjeongcho and the other including sites Gwaneum, Hangnam, showed meaningful difference in similarity (about 40%), each other. The number of marine algal species and biomass in Ulleungdo Island area were markedly reduced comparing that in the previous studies. This result may suggest probably change of algal vegetation in future, considering the physical and chemical pollutions loaded in the coastal marine environment of this area.

• ALGAE
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.235-243
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• 2006

Benthic sediment samples ranging from poorly aggregated sand to complex, stratified mats were collected from six hypersaline ponds from March and July 1995 in the British Virgin Islands. Assemblages were analyzed with respect to species composition and abundance within visibly distinct layers in each mat sample. In individual ponds there was no apparent association between changing depth and the development of the benthic mats. Some species were present in all samples (e.g. Oscillatoria sp.) while others were restricted to single sites (e.g. Johannesbaptistia pellucida). Primary species included Microcoleus chthonoplastes, Phormidium spp., Coccochloris stagnina, and purple sulfur bacteria. Quantitative analysis of community structure included cluster and principal component analysis. Samples from individual ponds were often clustered; however, this was subject to seasonal variation. Mats collected in March were generally thicker and contained more layers than those in July. Variation among sites was not explained by the measured variation in environmental factors such as average pond salinity, depth, and oxygen concentration (mg/L). This study provides a detailed analysis of mat communities in hypersaline ponds and compares them with similar mat communities from other areas.

• ALGAE
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.463-470
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• 2006

Studies have been made of the species composition and variation of benthic marine algae at subtidal zone of Uljin on the east coast of Korea. Destructive method was employed to measure biomass over four seasons (2000-2002). Of 87 marine algae species identified, 11 were Chlorophyta, 29 were Phaeophyta and 47 were Rhodophyta. Dominant species in biomass were Ulva pertusa, Undaria pinnatifida and Sargassum piluliferum in summer, Laminaria religiosa, Sargassum fulvellum and Gigartina tenella in autumn, Codium fragile, Undaria pinnatifida, Sargassum horneri, S. piluliferum and S. ringgoldianum in winter, and Undaria pinnatifida, Dictyopteris divaricata, Sargassum confusum and S. horneri in spring. In general, green algae (Ulva pertusa, Codium fragile) and brown algae (Undaria pinnatifida, Sargassum fulvellum, S. horneri, S. piluliferum) appeared predominantly in the 3, 6 m depths and red algae (Gelidium amansii, Plocamium telfairiae) in the 9, 12 m depths. The barren ground of the rocky shore might provide the decrease of benthic marine algae biomass and species.