• 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.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.85-97
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• 2011

The tidal flats of Korea today have reduced by 40% in size compared to 1964. To manage this important habitat properly, development of well-organized and nationwide-applicable grading systems is required. There have been several assessment systems proposed previously in Korea, but they are critically flawed in that selected biological indicators are not adequate and grading criteria are obscure and arbitrary. We reviewed the indicators used in these previous evaluation systems (e.g., diversity indices, quantity and quality of benthic macrofauna, halophytes, water birds, etc.) and subsequently proposed new indicators and an improved grading scheme. For the quantitative assessment of macrobenthic community, biomass reflecting production and ecosystem function is recommended over density, which is much less discriminatory among habitats. Of biodiversity indices used, within-, between-habitat and regional biodiversity indices that accurately reflect sampling efforts are suggested. In addition, we proposed to include species rarity, ecosystem engineers, and the ecological quality index ISEP (Inverse function of Shannon-Wiener Evenness Proportion). As for halophytes, their low spatial coverage on benthic habitat suggests that their presence can be used as an ecological indicator of benthic habitat, regardless of their protective status. We stress the need to introduce 1) quantile approach for quantitative indicators (e.g., diversity, biomass, etc.) in relation to grading, 2) presence-absence approach for spatial or aggregate indicators (e.g., boundaries of halophytes and feeding ground of water birds) and 3) benthic habitat mapping that combines all of these indicators.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.381-395
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• 2005

The spatial distributions of macrobenthic communities in Masan Bay were investigated during summer and winter, 2004. A total of 104 species were sampled with mean density of $448ind./m^2$ and biomass of $77.1g/m^2$ in winter. In summer, a total of 107 species occurred with $485ind./m^2$ and a biomass of $94.5g/m^2$. The most dominant species in winter were Paraprionospio pinnata (24.2%) among polychaetous worms and Theora fragilis (14.1%) among molluscs, but they were replaced in summer by Prionospio chirrifera (20.4%) and Lumbrineris longifolia (14.5%). The difference in species composition and abundance of benthic communities between the two seasons was due to the hypoxia in the bottom layer of the inner bay during summer, which defaunated the macrofauna of the sediments. In the winter when DO concentration increased to normoxia, the pelagic larvae of benthic fauna settled in the soft sediments, but there was a spatial gradient in values of total biomass, density, and H' and benthic pollution index (BPI): higher values were found toward the mouth of the bay. The multivariate analyses like the cluster analysis and MDS ordination showed that Masan Bay could be divided into two or four stational groups in winter and summer whether the hypoxia occurred or not. Group I consisted of sites at the inner bay and central area and Group II, sites at the bay mouth. In summer the inner bay area could be further divided into the shallow impoverished area and the deeper abiotic one.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.21-30
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• 2003

Seasonal fluctuations of physico-chemical and biological aspects of the environment were studied in Vladivostok harbour (Golden Horn Bay, the East Sea/Sea of Japan). The benthic community structure was described with a focus on size-spectra (bacteria, meio- and macrofauna) related with the chemical environment and chemical fluxes in sediment and to reveal their possible ecological role in the process of bioremediation of the environment. Samples from two sites with different concentrations of heavy metals (Fe, Zn, Cu, Pb, Mn, Cr, Ni Cd, Co) and petroleum hydrocarbon were assessed by a number of methods. These included plate counts of culturable bacteria, observation through a scanning electron (SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM). These approaches were complemented with microscopic assessments of the diversity of the benthic community. The specific communities had a limited number of species, tolerant to abnormally high levels of toxic compounds. The dominant species were presented by several sho.1-lived small polychaetes (Capitella capitata) and nematodes (Oncholaimium ramosum). The highest population density was recorded in microbenthos, in various diatoms, various physiological groups of bacteria which participate in biomineralization: marine heterotrophic bacteria, which oxidized oil, black oil in addition to groups resistant to heavy metals. They have the entire set of mechanisms for neutralizing the negative effect of those compounds, forming the detrital food web and biogeochemical circulation of material in sediments, which results in the biological self-recycling of sea basins. Macro- and meiobenthic organisms were more sensitive to a greater extent of $H_2S$ and petroleum hydrocarbons than to metal content, but the within-site rankings were the same as those achieved for microbiological analyses.

• The Journal of Natural Sciences
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.49-56
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• 1998

The survey of the macrobenthic animals near Hwasoo wharf, Inchon, Korea was carried out during October, 1995 through September, 1996. Polychaeta was the most dominant taxons were Mollusca and Crustacea. Only one species of Echinomermata, Protankyra bidentata, was collected. Capitella capitata collected from site 1 indicates that the site was more polluted, and Heteromasmus sp. collected from sites 2 and 3 suggests that these sites were polluted with organic materials.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.146-156
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• 2000

Zonation pattern of macro-invertebrate community structure was examined from Okjukpo sandy beach, Taechongdo, Korea. Macrofauna were collected in June 1998 using a can corer from ten stations along one transect. Mean grain size ranged from 1.97 to 2.23${\phi}$ and sediment organic contents ranged from 0.52 to 1.02%. A total of benthic macro-invertebrates comprised 25 species, providing 10,705 individuals and 89.13 g wet weight in biomass. Peracaridean crustaceans such as amphipods and isopods are the most prominant components in this exposed sandy beach. The dominant species were Eohaustorius setulosus (33%), Excirolana chiltoni (26%), Haustorioides koreanus (12%), Platorchestia crassicornis (8%), and Cycladicama cumingii (6%). The zonation patterns by these animals were very similar to those noted by Dahl(1952) and Jo(1990). They are divided into three faunal zones: 1) subterrestrial fringe dominated by a talitrid amphipod Platorchestia crassicornis, 2) midlittoral zone by a cirolanid isopod Excirolana chiltoni, 3) sublittoral fringe by more diverse amphipods communities.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.69-88
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• 2005

Distribution of benthic macrofauna was surveyed in the subtidal area and on the sand flat of Sindu-ri coast during July 2002. A total of 134 species, 3,511 individuals and 388g biomass of macrobenthos were sampled inclusively from the study sites. 109 species with a mean density of $1,298ind./m^2$ and biomass of $69.4g/m^2$ were collected from 10 stations established in the subtidal area. Polychaetes were represented as a dominant faunal group of the subtidal area in both species richness and density with values of 54 species and $813ind./m^2$. Cluster analysis based on the faunal composition showed that the subtidal area could be divided into four stational groups according to sedimentary characteristics: Cirrophorus armatus - Lumbrineris longifolia association on the mud sediment with pebbles near aqua-farms; Aonides oxycephala association on the rocky bed; Scoloplos armiger - Grandifoxus cuspis association on the sand-dominated sediment along the lowest low water; a association with higher evenness on the sand-dominated sediment in the depth. Although having characteristics of high value in species richness, density and species diversity, the macrobenthic association around the farming area was dominated by the opportunistic species such as Lumbrineris longifolia and Tharyx sp. Natural community represented by S. armiger and G. cuspis was developed in most sand-dominated areas. 50 species were sampled with a mean density of $2,443ind./m^2$ and biomass of $381.3g/m^2$ from eight+ stations along two transects on Sindu-ri sand flat. Mollusks were represented as a dominant faunal group of the sand flat in species richness, density and biomass with values of 20 species, $1,345ind./m^2$ and $350.4g/m^2$, respectively. Umbonium thomasi, Veneridae sp., Mandibulophoxus mai, Armandia lanceolata, Eohaustorius spinigerus, Urothoe convexa were dominant species and these species accounted for over 83% of total individuals. There were three distinct zones of macrobenthos on Sindu-ri sand flat according to the extent of exposure time. The upper zone was dominated by Scopimera globosa, the middle zone was characterized by M. mai, and the lower zone was dominated by E. spinigerus. Sindu-ri coastal area was considered as a healthy habitat for macrobenthos, except for around the farming area. It was considered that Sindu-ri coastal area including the sand flat connected to the sand dune of natural monument was a valuable habitat as a protected site in having no pollution source and no artificial structure.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.341-350
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• 2004

We examined estuarine macrobenthos in Namdaecheon estuary, Gangneung, Korea, September 22, 1997. A total of 56 species were found together with an abundance of 378 individuals $m^{-2}$/ and a biomass of 20.79 gWWt $m^{-2}$. The major dominant species were unidentified oligochaete followed by different species of polychaetes Hediste japonica, Rhynchospio glutaea, Poecilochaetus trilobatus, Scoloplos armiger, Spiophanes bombyx and a talitrid amphipod Platorchestia crassicornis. The study area was divided into two different groups of stations and species, based on the q -mode and r-mode clustering analysis. In case of q-mode, there are two groups: one is a marine station group and the other is estuarine group. The r-mode clustering analysis showed the two main communities as follows; 1) Marine species group occurred only at station 7, 8 and 9 and 2) Estuarine species group composed of the species present at station 1 to 6 and 10 to 15. In the number of species, the estuarine station group includes 13 species, whereas 43 species were presented in the marine station group. Total macrofaunal abundance and total biomass were higher in the marine station group than those in the estuarine group. The species diversity index was also high in the marine group (> 2), whereas it was less than ca. 1 in the estuarine group.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.225-238
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• 2008

In order to investigate the effects of intertidal sediments on the nutrient cycle in coastal environments, the benthic fluxes of ammonium, nitrate, nitrite, phosphate, and silicate at two stations on the intertidal flat of Keunso Bay were determined during each season. The efflux of ammonium was observed at S1 and resulted from the diffusion of remineralized ammonium and acceleration caused by the bioirrigation of macrofauna. The influx of ammonium at S2 was probably due to nitrification in the water column. The influx of nitrate was observed at both stations during all seasons, indicating that the nitrate in the pore water was removed by denitrification. Vigorous bioirrigation led to the efflux of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) at S1, whereas the influx of DIN at S2 was predominantly caused by denitrification. Contrary to the diffusive and bio-irrigated release of remineralized phosphate from the sediment at S1, the influx of phosphate was observed at S2, which may be attributable to adsorption onto iron oxides in the aerobic sediment layer. Silicate, which is produced by the dissolution of siliceous material, was mostly released from the sediment by molecular diffusion and bioirrigation. However, the influx of silicate was observed at S2 during spring and winter, which was ascribed to adsorption by particulate matter or assimilation by benthic microphytes. The annual fluxes of DIN were 328 mmol $m^{-2}yr^{-1}$ at S1 and -435 mmol $m^{-2}yr^{-1}$ at S2. The annual fluxes of phosphate were negative at both sites (-2.8 mmol $m^{-2}yr^{-1}$ at S1 and -28.9 mmol $m^{-2}yr^{-1}$ at S2), whereas the annual fluxes of silicate were positive at both sites (843 mmol $m^{-2}yr^{-1}$ at S1 and 243 mmol $m^{-2}yr^{-1}$ at S2).

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.39 no.spc1
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• pp.142-150
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• 2006

We examined the effect of predation by observing the changes in macrobenthic communities in a tidal flat at Seonjae, Korea, following the exclusion of large predators such as birds, fishes and crustaceans using protective screens. We conducted two interference experiments in the field from April to November 2004: (1) Experiment 1 was conducted at a mid-tidal flat in the western part of Seonjae-do, Incheon, Korea, (2) Experiment 2 was set up at a low tidal flat in the eastern part of Seonjae-do. predator exclusion showed different effects in the two experiments. Both the number of species and density were reduced by 20% in Experiment 1. Whereas in Experiment 2, they increased by up to 13% and 69%, respectively. In Experiment 1, a high density of brachyuran crabs observed in the treatment may have caused the difference in community composition between the treatment and the control, and this probably resulted from active predation of macrofauna (e.g., small crabs) under protection from megafaunal predators such as birds and fishes. However, in Experiment 2, as typically observed in other predator exclusion experiments, a lower density of benthic predators and the subsequent reduction of over predation probably resulted in a more diverse and abundant benthic community in the treatment. We confirmed that predation was a contributing factor in the formation of the macrobenthic community. We also demonstrated relationships that exist among different trophic groups (large predators, macrobenthic predators and prey) and what effects and responses occur in each component of the tidal flats.