Macrobenthic Communities on the Tidal Flats around Yongjong and Yongyu Islands, Inchon, Korea

Abstract

Four tidal flats, covering two dissipative type beaches and two other tidal mud flats, around Yonaiong-Yongyu Islands, Inchon, Korea were studied in May 1991 to analyze the spatial distribution patterns of benthic communities on macrotidal flats. From the statistical test on spatial patterns of species number, density, and biomass, significant trends were found in species number and biomass. Although quantitative analysis was not performed, the interpretation showed that the variations were ruled out by environmental gradients such as sediment grain size and tidal elevation. The eight communities revealed in this study are as follows: Moerella-Mactra(Group 1), llyoplax-Glycera -Magelona japonica-Magelona sp.-Pe riserrula ( Group 2), Amphiura-Nephtys californiensis-Bullacta-Eohaustorius (Group 3), Leonnates-Heteromastus-Pretankyra-Nephtys polybranchia (Group4), Nephtys chemulpoensis-Macrophthalmus (Group 5), Ceratonereis-Scopimera (Group 6), Haustorioides-Urothoe (Group 7) and Cycladicama-Armandia-Minuspio community (Group 8). Some of these communities were classified into substratum-specific (Group 1 to 3) and tidal elevation-specific communities (Group 4). It was difficult to identify the predominant governing agent in Groups 5,6,7 and 8 because of their presence at extreme types of sediment and at uppermost elevations. Mixed effects seemed to act upon the latter four communities (Group 5 to 8). Based on the number of samples, 60% of the target samples were influenced by substratum properties, 20% by tidal elevation effect and 20% by mixed effect of the two factors. From this, it was concluded that substratum properties serve as the most important factors on soft bottom inhabitants in the area studied.

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