• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.303-312
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• 2008

Despite the impacts of the climate changes on the pelagic ecosystem, few studies have examined the pelagic-benthic coupling in the adjacent East China Sea and Korea Strait. Therefore, the species composition and abundance of the macrobenthic community, as well as the potential food sources of benthic fauna were investigated in the present study using stable isotope analysis (${\delta}^{13}C\;and\;{\delta}^{15}N$) for suspended particulate organic matter (SPOM), sedimentary organic matter (SOM), phytoplankton, and zooplankton. A total of 157 macrobenthic fauna were collected, and the density of the macrobenthic fauna ranged from 4 to 434 ind./0.25 $m^2$, with an average density of 149 ind./0.25 $m^2$. The density of the benthic fauna increased moving from offshore shelf sites to coastal sites adjacent to the Korea Strait. Cluster analysis showed that the macrobenthic communities consisted of three distinct groups: group A in the Korea Strait, group B in the East China Sea, and group C near Ieodo. The dominant species in group A were the amphipods Photis japonica and Ampelisca miharaensis, followed by the polychaete Scolotoma longifolia. Environmental variables, such as the temperature of the seawater and sediment, and oxygen, and chlorophyll a levels, appeared to affect the structure of the community, suggesting the importance of coupling with the pelagic system. The ${\delta}^{13}C$ values of SPOM and zooplankton ranged from -22.97 to -23.5% and -19.92 to -21.86%, respectively, showing a relatively narrow range(<1%) between the two components. The difference between the ${\delta}^{13}C$ values of SOM and pelagic organic matter was also within 1%, suggesting that the SOM originated from the pelagic system, which is an important factor controlling the macrobenthic community.

• 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.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.159-171
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• 2001

Community structure, horizontal distribution, density, and ratio between nematodes and benthic harpacticoid copepods of the meiobenthos within the sediments of inner Sihwa Lake were investigated in May 1999 and May 2000. A total of 11 and 8 classes of meiobenthic animals were identified in 1999 and 2000, respectively, which were much lower than other coastal areas. The dominant animals during both sampling periods was the nematodes, followed by sarco-mastigophorans, nauplius of crustaceans, benthic harpacticoid copepods and polychaetes. These five classes of animals comprised more than 90% of total abundance of neiobenthos presented in the samples. In 2000, a lot of polychaete larvae were identified. The most abundant animal were the size that fits in 0.063 mm sieve size. Lower density was observed upper inner part of the Sihwa Lake during both sampling periods, and higher density was observed around the Sihwa floodgates. The average density between those two numbers were observed in the samples collected in the middle of the lake. Lower nematodes to betnhic harpacticoides (N/C) ratio, a relative indicator of environmental pollution, was observed to be lower around the floodgate but higher ratios were observed in the upper inner Sihwa Lake. The present study indicated that inner upper part of the lake becomes unsuitable for the meiobenthos, and the most inner upper lake was considered to be polluted.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.31-41
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• 1997

This study was carried out to investigate the composition and the distribution of the benthic community in the coastal area of Inchon seasonally from May 1994 to February 1995, and to estimate the environmental factors that effect the temporal and the spatial changes of benthic species composition. In the present study, 231 species were collected with the average density of 455 ind./$m^2$. The dominant species were Heteromastus sp., Sternaspis scutata, Chaetozone setosa, Mediomastus sp., Glycinde sp., Glycera sp. and Nephtys oligobranchia, which are in the polychaete group; abundance of these species showed seasonal and spatial variations. The study area was divided into 4 regions by cluster analysis such as outside area of Palmido (I), main channel region and adjacent are of Shihwa sea wall (II), north-eastern area of Youngjongdo (III), and the Inchon harbor and the mouth area of Sorae harbor (IV). The particle size of sediment which generally influences the distribution of the benthic community, the differences of the concentration of heavy metals, and of the dissolved oxygen, the increase of the proportion of polychaetes and molluscs, the absence of the crustacean phoxocephalids, and the increase of the abundance of pollution indicator species, indicated that the environment of the areas have been degrading gradually from Group I to Group IV.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.346-356
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• 2000

This study was carried out to investigate the distribution pattern of macrobenthos in the subtidal sandy bottoms of the east coast of Korea, and seasonal samplings were performed from April 1993 to February 1994. The species number of macrobenthos was in the range from 70 in winter to 109 in spring season. Polychaete worms were the most dominant faunal group in species richness and abundance, but mollusks showed the highest biomass. The mean density of macrobenthos fluctuated from 631 individuals/m$^2$ in autumn to 1,995 individuals/m$^2$ in summer. The major macrofauna in abundance were polychaetes, Spiophanes bombyx which occurred all seasons with top rank and Prionospio sp. and a mollusk, Alvenius ojianus, and crustaceans, Wecomedon sp. and Urothoidae spp. were also numerically dominant macrobenthic fauna. The macrobenthos in the study area were classified into two assemblages by water depth. However, they showed a different community structure near small rivers in autumn and winter seasons.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.343-352
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• 1998

The relationship between summer hypoxia in bottom water layer and benthic community structure was discussed at forty sampling stations in semi-enclosed Youngsan River estuarine bay, Korea. The oxygen deficient layer less than $2.0 mg/\ell$ was widely developed in the inner estuarine stations in summer due to the summer stratification. A total of 141 species was occurred, with a mean density of $1,923 ind./m^2$ and biomass of $79.44\;g/m^2$ in summer season. The species number was significantly increased with the increment of the bottom dissolved oxygen, whereas density and biomass were partially correlated within the low oxygen level of $2.0\;mg/\ell$. These results imply that benthic community structures are affected by bottom oxygen depletion in summer. Cluster analysis showed that the benthic community could be classified into three station groups. These station groups from the species composition coincided with the groups based on the environmental factors. This fact suggests that the overall spatial distribution of macrozoobenthos in Youngsan River estuarine bay in summer should be controlled by the summer hypoxia and clay content of the area. Group-I was located the innermost estunrine bay from Mokpo Harbour to near the dike, where summer hypoxia was developed and one bivalve Theora fragilis, two polychaetes, Tharyx sp. and Lumbrineris longifolia were dominated. Group-II, the central transitory area of the estuarine bay between two another stational groups, where two bivalves Theora fragilis, Raetellops pulchella and a polychaete Tharyx sp. predominated with relatively low density compared to that of Group-I. Group-III, the mouth part of the estunrine bay exposed to the open sea, where a polychaetes Poecilochaetus johnsoni and a bivalve Yoldia Johanni predominated.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.27-41
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• 2016

This study was performed to investigate the community structure and health assessment of macrobenthic assemblages in Geoje-Hansan Bay, Southern Coast of Korea. Macrobenthos were collected by van Veen grab sampler at May (spring) and August (summer) 2013. The total species number and mean density were 300 species $7.6m^{-2}$ and $1,994ind.\;m^{-2}$, respectively. The major dominant species were the polychaetes Lumbrineris longifolia ($299{\pm}164ind.\;m^{-2}$), Aphelochaeta monilaris ($100{\pm}57ind.\;m^{-2}$), the bivalve Musculista senhousia ($91{\pm}96ind.\;m^{-2}$) and the polychaete Praxillella affinis ($80{\pm}66ind.\;m^{-2}$). From the community statistics [cluster analysis and nonmetric multidimentional scaling (NMDS) ordination], the macrobenthic community was distinguished into two groups of inner bay (farming ground of near Sandal Island) and channel station(from Hansan Island to Chubong Island) group. In this study, the ecological status was assessed by four biotic indices Shannon's H', the ATZI Marine Biotic Index (AMBI), multivariate-AMBI (M-AMBI) and the Environment Conservation Index (ECI). The ecological status of the macrobenthic community in Geoje-Hansan Bay were poorer in the inner bay station than in the channel station. The results of the present study showed that three biotic indices (Shannon's H', M-AMBI and ECI) were valid as an index for evaluating the ecological status than the AMBI.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.326-344
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• 2011

Although anthropogenic disturbance of 20 years duration affects benthic habitats, few studies have examined its effects on the macrobenthic communities of a bay. The aim of this study was to determine the influence of environmental variables on the macrobenthic communities after the construction of the Hwaong dike. Macrobenthos were collected at 22 sites using a Smith McIntyre grab (0.1 $m^2$) in August 2007 and February 2008. Total organic content was very low around the Hwaong dike. Sediment grain size increased from the Hwaong dike to the outer bay. In total, 317 species of macrobenthic fauna were collected and the mean density was 1,155 ind. $m^{-2}$, both of which were higher than the results of previous studies. The dominant species, $Hetermastus$ $filiformis$, known to be a potential pollution indicator, was more abundant near the Hwaong dike. Conversely, species sensitive to organic pollution, such as the polychaete $Ampharete$ $arctica$ and the ophiuroid $Amphioplus$ $squamata$, exhibited higher mean densities in areas distant from the dike. A cluster analysis indicated that the macrobenthic community was divided into two distinct groups: group I near the dike and group II in the outer bay, which were affected by sediment grain size and total organic content. This study suggests that variations in sediment grain size and organic content after dike construction are important factors controlling the macrobenthic community in Asan Bay.

• 한국해양학회지
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.46-54
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• 1992

An investigation on the benthic polychaete community in Youngil Bay was conducted during four seasons of 1991. Polychaetes. the dominant macrofaunal group occupying 71.3% in total macro-faunal density, comprised a total of 72 species with a mean density of 1,485 indiv. m/SUP -2/. The highest species number of 54 spp. and density of 3,207 undiv. m/SUP -2/ was recorded in summer, while the lowest in autumn. The most abundant species was Spiophanes nombyx (37.5%), followed by Pseudopolydora sp.(8.4%), Lumbrineris longifolia(7.0%), Madden cristata(6.5%), Polydora ciliata(4.9%) and so on. Maldane cristata was dominated in winter, Polydora ciliata in spring and Spiophanes bombyx in summer and autumn. The density and species number of Polychaetes were high in the southeastern area of Youngil Bay, and poor near the mouth of Hyoungsan River. Based on the species composition, study area was divided into three regions. Each region sustained its specific benthic faunal assemblage; Maldane-Praxillella assemblage from the middle to the southeastern region of Youngil Bay, Spiophanes-Nephtys assemblage in the northwestern region, and Pseudopolydora-Polydora-Capitella assemblage from the mouth of Hyoungsan River to Pohang Hobour. Maldane Praxillella assemblage showed the highest species number of 55 spp.. and the highest species diversity and species richness indices. Spiophanes-Nephtys assemblage had the highest density of 2,675 indiv. m/SUP -2/ and the highest dominance index because of the predominance of Spiophanes bombyx with a density of 2,073 indiv. m/SUP -2/. Pseudopolydora-Polydora-Capitella assemblage was found in the polluted area and it was a specific assemblage mainly composed of the dominance of organic pollution indicator species. The dominant Polychaetes were Pseudopolydora sp., Polydora ciliata, Capitella capitata, and Dorvillea sp.

• 한국해양학회지
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.164-172
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• 1992

This study was carried out to investigate the benthic polchaete community in the southern area of Kyeonggi Bay, Korea. The species composition was examined in Asan Bay in 1985, the coastal area near Yibug in 1987, the area between Daeranjido and Asan Bay for 1988-1989, and the offshore south of Deogjeogdo in 1992. Polychaetes, the dominant faunal group occupying 57.4% in total density, comprised a total of 124 species with a mean density of 211 indiv.m/SUP -2/. The dominant polychaete was Prionospio sp. (28.8%), followed by Nephtys polybranchia (6.0%), Tharyx sp. (4.8%) Stermaspis scutata (4.4%), Lumbrineris longifolia (3.9%). The Number of species and density were higher in the coastal area near Yibug, Asan Bay and the mouth of Namyang Bay, while lower in the channels of offshore region. The cluster analysis revealed that the study area could be divided into 5 regions, which were distributed serially along the coast from Asan Bay to open sea. Each region sustained its specific Bay, Stermaspis-Heteromastus assemblage from Asan Bay to Daeranjido, Hemipodus assemblage in the channels of offshore, Lumbrineris assemblage on the coastal area o Yibug and Prionospio assemblage in the coastal area south of Yibug. Tharyx-Chone assemblage had the highest species number of 75 spp. and Prionospio assemblage had the highest density of 3,695 indiv.m/SUP -2/ due to the predominance of prionospio sp.. Hemipodus assemblage with the lowest density occupied the largest area in offshore region. The southern Kyeonggi Bay showed higher species number and lower density than the northern Kyeonggi Bay. But the dominant Polychaetes were similar between the southern Bay and the channel regions of the northern Bay.