Biodiversity of Nearshore Benthic Habitats in Gwangyang Bay, Korea

Hong Jae-Sang, Yoon Sang-Pil

doi:10.5179/benthos1996.59.1_21

Abstract: Gwangyang Bay is one of the most quickly developing coastal areas in Korea. In the 1970s, a mainly estuarine delta and tidal flats along the bay were reclaimed to develop a huge industrial complex. Therefore, the various habitats around Seomjin river estuary and the shallow water embayment in Gwangyang Bay have been seriously impacted during the last three decades by industrial pollutants and increased freshwater discharges. This study focused on the spatial variability of macrofaunal assemblages. Samples were collected along a 3km transect extending from the intertidal to subtidal zones, including an eelgrass bed.Different assemblages were identified by multi-dimensional scaling(MDS)ordination andcluster analysis. Five different communities were identified in three major habitats. The eelgrass bed and subtidal shallow water embayment contained discrete communities. The unvegetated tidal flat was subdivided into three different communities according to tidal elevation. A total of 254 species of benthic macrofaunal invertebrates was recorded in this survey. Polychaetes dominated species richness, but molluscs dominated abundance and biomass. Macrobenthic biodiversity was highest in the eelgrass bed(48.3 species/0.1m²), followed by the subtidal zone(45.4 species/0.1m²)and unvegetated tidal flat(24.6 species/0.1m²). Each community can be identified by a few characteristic species.

Biodiversity of Nearshore Benthic Habitats in Gwangyang Bay, Korea

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