• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.55 no.2
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• pp.171-182
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• 2022

The habitat degradation caused by large-scale reclamation leads to devastating impacts, such as fine sediment and mud shrimp Upogebia major settlement on Manila clam Ruditapes philippinarum aquaculture in the eastern Cheonsu Bay tidal flats, Republic of Korea. Despite these impacts, there is a lack of studies on the influence of fine sediments on tidal flats that constitute key mud shrimp habitats. This study provides information on the seawater-sediment environment and the influence of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) fluctuations depending on mud shrimp burrow hole density. Additionally, it discusses countermeasures for Manila clam habitat management. The results show that mean DIN effluxes in areas with a high-density of burrow holes were up to 4 times (0.12 mmol m^-2 d^-1) higher than those in sites of low-density (0.03 mmol m^-2 d^-1) within the Saho and Songhak-ri tidal flats. To manage interference within the competition zone of Songhak-ri tidal flat, it is important to utilize the settlements of spawning season in all three dimensions. Consequently, additional studies in other tidal flats are essential and research in zones where mud shrimps and juvenile clams coexist will help to determine the priorities in the efficient management of clam aquaculture.