Community Structure and Health Assessment of Macrobenthos in Tidal Flats along the West Coast of Korea in Spring and Summer

Korean tidal flats along the west coast exhibit good ecological health, with high ISEP and BHI indices indicating favorable conditions. However, pollution indicator species like Theora lata and Capitella capitata suggest localized environmental stress, necessitating periodic monitoring and intervention to prevent deterioration. The study analyzed macrobenthos communities across spring and summer seasons (2017–2018) from Ganghwa-do to Mokpo, identifying four distinct groups based on sediment grain size and species dominance—such as Ruditapes phillipinarum in clam farm areas and Eteone longa in finer sediments. Cluster similarity analysis revealed regional variations, with coarser sediments in Chungcheongnam-do and finer sediments in Gyeonggi-do, Incheon, Jeollanam-do, and Jeollabuk-do. The findings underscore the resilience of these ecosystems while highlighting vulnerabilities that require proactive management.

Ong, G., Jeon, S. R., Koo, J. H., Park, J.-W., Jeung, H.-D., Kang, J.-H., & Cho, Y.-S. (2021). Community Structure and Health Assessment of Macrobenthos in Tidal Flats along the West Coast of Korea in Spring and Summer. Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment and Safety, 27(4), 500–509. https://doi.org/10.7837/kosomes.2021.27.4.500