Environmental Characteristics and Macrobenthic Community Structure of Yubu Island, a UNESCO-Designated Migratory Bird Sanctuary in the South Korea

A UNESCO-designated migratory bird sanctuary on Yubu Island, South Korea, exhibits unique sediment characteristics and macrobenthic community structures that differ significantly from other tidal flats in the Yellow Sea. Research reveals a sedimentation rate of 0.99 to 1.66 cm per year, higher than previously recorded, with sediments primarily of marine origin containing 50% mud, 0.35% total carbon, and 0.05% total nitrogen. The study identified 13 macrobenthic species, dominated by Heteromastus filiformis (23.1%), Perinereis linea (19.2%), and Tubuca arcuata (17.3%), with mean densities of 92 individuals per square meter and biomass of 58.6 grams wet weight per square meter. These findings provide critical data for developing conservation policies to protect migratory birds in this ecologically significant region.

Kim, H. S., & Kim, H. (2021). Environmental Characteristics and Macrobenthic Community Structure of Yubu Island, a UNESCO-Designated Migratory Bird Sanctuary in the South Korea. Journal of Marine Science and Engineering, 9(5), 455. https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse9050455