• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.135-148
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• 2005

Macrobeilthic fauna were collected using a van Veen grab $(0.1m^2)$ to investigate the spatial characteristics of the macrobenthos community at 28 stations near the Nakdong River estuary, Southeast Korea, in September 2001. A total of 203 species were sampled with a mean density of $1,554 ind./m^2$ and a biomass of $252.3 gWWt/m^2$. Annelids were the dominant faunal group in terms of species and density, with 68 species and a mean density of $1,031ind./m^2$, which comprised 33.5% and 66.3% of the total benthic animals, respectively. Based on density, three Polychaetes were dominant Tharyx sp· $(420ind./m^2)$, Lumbrineris longifolia $(143ind./m^2)$, and Sternaspis scutata $(118ind./m^2)$, along with a bivalve Theora fragilis $(129 ind./m^2)$. On cluster analysis, the benthic community was classified into four groups based on the species composition: Group-1 occurred in disturbed areas, Group-II in coastal regions, Group-III in central mariculture grounds, and Group-IV offshore. Environmental factors (mean gain size, organic carbon, and depth) were primarily correlated with the macrobenthos community structure. A benthic pollution assessment based on the macrobenthos community structure showed that Group-I and Group-II were located in a coastal area that had been severely disturbed by construction of Busan new port and various pollutants, Group-III was gradually polluted, while offshore Group-IV was the most stable.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.209-223
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• 2014

The community structure of benthic meiofauna was investigated from seasonal surveys at seventeen stations off the Saemangeum area, in 2007. Ten meiofaunal taxa were identified. Nematodes were the dominant faunal group in all seasons and harpacticoids were dominant only at a few stations. The mean density of meiofauna was 383 indiv. $10cm^{-2}$, highest in May and November (434 indiv. $10cm^{-2}$), lowest in February (284 indiv. $10cm^{-2}$). Meiofaunal mean biomass was $80.49{\mu}gC{\cdot}10cm^{-2}$, highest in November ($99.54{\mu}gC{\cdot}10cm^{-2}$), lowest in February ($51.56{\mu}gC{\cdot}10cm^{-2}$). Cluster analysis revealed that the study area was composed of three benthic meiofaunal communities. There were significant correlations between major meiofaunal groups and sediment composition and the concentrations of heavy metals. The abundance of harpacticoids are positively correlated with silt (0.559, p < 0.01) and clay (0.340, p < 0.01), and negatively correlated with sand (-0.548, p < 0.01). Harpacticoids also showed positive correlations with heavy metals. The community structure of meiofauna in the study area varied seasonally in response to the change of sediment composition.

• Proceedings of the National Institute of Ecology of the Republic of Korea
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.28-42
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• 2023

Seed dispersal supports community structure, maintains genetic connectivity across fragmented landscapes, and influences vegetation assemblages. In the Philippines, only two seed dispersal studies have compared different dispersal agents. We examined the seed dispersal patterns of water, wind, birds, and bats in the Caliraya Watershed, Philippines. We aimed to determine the floral species that were dispersed and how the forest characteristics influenced seed dispersal. By running seed rain traps and drift litter collection from March to June 2022, we analyzed 14,090 seeds in a privately owned study site within the watershed. Water did not exclusively disperse any species and acted as a secondary disperser. Seed density (seeds/trap) was significantly higher for bird-dispersed (n=166) and bat-dispersed (n=145) seeds than for wind-dispersed (n=79) seeds (One-way analysis of variance [ANOVA]: F_2,87=16.21, P<0.0001). Species number (species/trap) was significantly higher for bird-dispersed (n=3.7) and bat-dispersed (n=3.9) seeds than for wind-dispersed (n=0.2) seeds (One-way ANOVA: F_2,87 =16.67, P<0.0001). Birds dispersed more species because they are more diverse and access a wider variety of fruits, unlike bats. Birds and bats target different fruits and provide separate seed dispersal services. Generalized linear model analyses revealed that the number and basal area of fleshy fruit trees most strongly influenced the bird seed dispersal patterns. Therefore, we recommend a three-way approach to restoration efforts in the Caliraya Watershed: (1) ensure the presence of fleshy fruit trees in restoration zones, (2) assist the establishment of mid-successional and wind-dispersed trees, and (3) intensify the conservation efforts for both flora and faunal diversity.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.9-23
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• 2007

To investigate the degree of pollution using the species composition of benthic community and environments, the present study was conducted in Jinhae Bay, May of 1998. In Jinhae Bay, benthic macrofaunal community was investigated on the base of the samples from 67 stations. The main facies of the surface sediment was silty clay and clay. The total species number and the mean density of macrobenthic animals were 255 species and 984 $ind./m^2$, respectively. There were 90 species and 773 $ind./m^2$ of polychaetes as the most major faunal group in Jinhae Bay. At the region between the eastern mouth of Jinhae Bay and Gadeok Is., the species number and density were higher, while lower at the western area of Jinhae Bay. The most dominant benthic macrofauna in Jinhae Bay was the polychaetes, Lumbrineris longifolia(16.9%), and followed by polychaetes Tharyx sp.(6.7%), Clone teres(4.7%), Glycinde sp.(4.2%), bivalves Theora fragilis(4.0%), crustaceans Corophium sp.(4.0%) and so on. The most of the predominant species appeared mainly on the region between the eastern mouth of Jinhae Bay and Gadeok Is. Cluster analysis based on the macrobenthic faunal composition showed that Jinhae Bay could be divided into three station groups: The western Jinhae Bay(Station group A), the mouth of Jinhae Bay(Station groupe B), and offshore area between Gadeok Is. and Geoje Is.(Station group C). The mouth of Jinhae Bay had the highest mean species number and the mean density, and its important species was Lumbrineris longifolia. The offshore area between Gadeok Is. and Geoje Is. had medium mean species number and the mean density. The western Jinhae Bay had the lowest mean species number and the mean density. The distribution of BPI and BC values, used to assess benthic pollution, showed similar patterns. According to the classification proposed by Borja et al.(2000), the stations of the western inner-bay were heavily polluted sites, the stations between mouth of the bay and the offshore area were slightly polluted sites, and the stations of the other area were meanly polluted sites. Benthic community healthiness of the western Jinhae Bay was classified to 'Transitional to pollution' by BC values. The degree of pollution in Jinhae Bay may have extended gradually from the western Jinhae Bay to the mouth of the bay.

• Journal of Marine Life Science
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.95-108
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• 2016

This study was performed to investigate the community structure of macrobenthic assemblages in the Environmental Conservation area, Korea. Benthic animals were collected by van Veen grab sampler at spring (May) and summer (August) 2009. The total species number and mean density were 195 species 5.6 m^-2 and 667 individuals m^-2, respectively. Polychaetes were the most dominant faunal group in species (96 species) and abundance (431 individuals m^-2). The major dominant species were the polychaetes Lumbrineris longifolia (76±224 individuals m^-2), Mediomastus californiensis (42±117 individuals m^-2), Tharyx sp.3 (26±110 individuals m^-2), the bivalvia Theora fragilis (54±78 individuals m^-2) and the amphipod Eriopisella schellensis (70±146 individuals m^-2). Based on the cluster and nMDS ordination analysis, macrobenthic communities were divided into three faunal groups. The first group was characterized by high abundance of the polychaeta Sternaspis scutata and the amphipod Ampelisca cyclops iyoensis, which is located by most stations of Hampyeong Bay and St. 4 of Deungnyang Bay. The second group was numerically dominated by the polychaeta Capitella capitata at St. 4 and St. 5 in Gamak Bay where was most pollutant area. Finally, the third group was dominated by the polychaetes Heteromastus filiformis, Tharyx sp.3 and the amphipod Sinocorophium sinensis. Therefore, geochemical characteristics such as the bay shape and pollution gradient may be important factors controlling of the macrobenthic community structure in Environment Conservation Area.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.203-214
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• 2021

Assessment of benthic quality status was implemented along the subtidal areas of Jindo and Jejudo to understand faunal structure of polychaete assemblages and ecological quality of the benthic environment. Sediment analysis was characterized by well sorted of both mud and sand in Jindo, and a little higher sand in Jejudo instead. A total of 68 polychaete species were found at 14 sampling stations with a mean density of 231 inds./m², and 61 species, 167 inds./m² and 62 species, 295 inds./m² in Jindo areas and Jejudo areas. Dominant species found in Jindo areas were Heteromastus filiformis, Ampharete arctica, Prionospio sp., Sigambra tentaculata, Thelepus sp. and Amphicteis gunneri, Ampharete arctica, Prionospio sp., Spiochaetopterus costarum, Heteromastus filiformis in Jejudo. With a help of cluster analysis, it was found that the sampling stations showed distinctive pattern of the distribution pattern and benthic quality status in Jindo and Jejudo except sampling station numbers 5 and 6, respectively. AMBI analysis the results were 1.2-3.4, grade V benthic polychaetes did not appear. It was evident that both Jindo and Jejudo had different sedimentary characteristics as well as distribution pattern of polychaete assemblages.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.97-107
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• 2006

The nektonic assemblages of upper tidal flat area located in the Jangbong Island, near Incheon, were studied using a fence net from March to November 2001. A total of 49 species were recorded, with a mean abundance and biomass of 489 individuals and 5,170.4 g, respectively. The most abundant species by number were Exopalaemon carinicauda(40.9%) and Johnius grypotus(13.2%). By catch weight the dominant species were Acanthogobius hasta(33.7%), Johnius grypotus(14.6%) and Scomberomorus niphonius(10.2%). The conventional multivariate statistics(Cluster analysis and non-metric Multi-Dimensional Scaling) applied to assess temporal variation in nektonic communities. As a result of cluster analysis and MDS ordination, the faunal group could be divided into spring and summer/autumn dominant species group. The spring species included the pisces Acanthogobius luridus, the crab Macrophthalmus japonicus and the gastropods Bullacta exarata and Lunatia gilva. The summer/autumn species were the pisces J. grypotus, Sardinella zunasi, Konosirus punctatus, Chelon haematocheila, S. niphonius and Takifugu niphobles, the shrimp Metapenaeus joyneri and the cephalopod Loligo beka.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.406-425
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• 2019

To observe the seasonal fluctuation of the meiobenthic fauna community around the coastal area of Jeju island, 20 stations were selected and seasonal surveys were conducted. Three-replicate meiobenthic samples were collected from each station in April, July, and November 2017; February, May, August, and November 2018; and February in 2019, in a total of eight months from 2017 to 2019. The total density of meiobenthos at each station ranged from 733 to 2,505 ind. 10 cm^-2. The month in which the highest habitat density appeared in most stations was April 2017 and the month in which the lowest habitat density was seen was February 2019. Nematodes were the most dominant faunal group among the representative 13 meiofaunal groups at all stations. The subdominant groups were benthic harpacticoid copepods and nauplius. The nematode/copepod (N/C) ratio, reflecting the health indices within the ecosystem, varied from 0.02 to 87.40 over the entire season and the average station values ranged from 2.00 to 16.80. The lowest N/C ratio value was found in April 2017 (0.02) and the highest N/C ratio was found at Station 11 in February 2019, which was 87.40, indicating the highest level of pollution. Seasonal and regional meiobenthos community structure similarity was divided into three groups through group analysis and multi-dimensional scaling (MDS) analysis, which showed that the meiobenthos community structure was affected by seasonal variations, rather than by regional differences.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.329-345
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• 2016

In order to study the community structure and distribution pattern of macrobenthos in the subtidal area of Shia Sea between Haenam peninsula and Shinan-Jindo area at southwest coast of Korea, duplicate sediment samples were taken seasonally by van Veen grab (surface area, $0.1m^2$) from 49 stations between November 2001 and August 2002. The surface sediment facies were muddy sandy gravel near Mokpo-Gu channel, gravel in the Myoungrang channel with high tidal currents, and sandy muddy in the southern Uido area. Ignition loss in the sediment ranged from 0.5 to 1.5% with a mean of 0.6%. A total of 271 taxa were collected with a mean density of $166ind.\;m^{-2}$ and a mean biomass of $29.2g\;m^{-2}$. Polychaetes were dominant faunal group in terms of species richness and abundance, accounting for 34% and 40% of total species number and abundance, respectively. Molluscs accounted for 44% of biomass. Bio-Env analysis revealed that sediment composition and ignition loss affected the spatial distribution of subtidal macrobenthic community in the study area. Major dominant species were Photis longicaudata, Septifer keenae, Maldane cristata, Lumbrineris longifolia, Heteromastus filiformis and Coptothyris grayi. Based on cluster analysis, four station groups were classified. They were associated with sediment types. Bivalve, Striarca symmetrica, polychaetes, Glycera chirori, Heteromastus filiformis and decapod Latreutes planirostris were major contributing fauna in station group A, B, C, and D, respectively. These results suggest that macrobenthic community of the Shia Sea is normally influenced by sediment type and related ignition loss.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.23 no.3 s.59
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• pp.238-249
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• 2005

The present study was carried out to apprehend that the pollutants originating from Jinhae Industrial Complex affect benthic polychaetous community in the northern Jinhae bay. An investigation on the macrobenthic community in Jinhae bay was conducted in September, December of 2002 and March of 2003. The benthic fauna showed mean density of 2,151 ind. $m^{-2}$ in September of 2002, 2,427 ind. $m^{-2}$ in December of 2002 and 2,394 ind. $m^{-2}$ in March of 2003. Major faunal groups are polychaetes, crustaceans and mollusks, corresponding to $73.7\%,\;12.0\%\;and\;11.7\%,$ in total mean density during all of the sampling season, respectively. The most abundant species was Lumbrineris longifolia $(24.85\%),$ followed by Tharyx sp. $(21.70\%),$ Mesochaetopterus sp. $(6.20\%),$ Heteromastus filiformis $(5.39\%),$ Prionospio sp. $(5.18\%),$ Clycinde sp. $(4.29\%),$ etc. Tharyx sp. was the highest abundant species in September of 2002, and Lumbrineris longifolia was the dominant species in another sampling seasons. The density and the species number of polychaetes were high around Chori Is. and poor near Jinhae Industrial Complex area. Cluster analysis based on the species composition showed that Jinhae bay could be divided into three regions except in March of 2003. In December of 2002, there are very distinct regions by the cluster analysis. The density of benthic polychaetes in Jinhae bay was higher than that in the other coastal area of Korea, due to the predominance by some of opportunistic species, such as Lumbrineris longifolia, Tharyx sp. and Heteromastus filiformis, etc. It means that the study area were in the process of organic enrichment.