• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.172-186
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• 2017

Current study is a part of the efforts to assess the estuarine barrage effects on the coastal ecosystem induced by the Si flux changes. Surface sediments from Seomjin and Nakdong estuary and sediment cores from Nakdong estuary was analysed to investigate the effect of estuarine barrage on the distribution of grain size, organic matter (loss on ignition: LOI) and biogenic silica (BSi). The samples of Seomjin estuary were collected in March, 2015 and those of Nakdong estuary were collected in November, 2014. Generally, the longitudinal distribution of grain size, LOI and BSi in Seomjin estuary, natural estuary, was gradually changed. However mud (silt and clay), LOI and BSi increased from station mid-estuary where tide reaches year-round. The distribution of grain size, LOI and BSi in Nakdong estuary, however, were entirely different between inside and outside of estuarine barrage. The mud percentage and LOI were low and consistent in inside of the barrage except R05, inside of right gate, yet those of outside of the barrage were higher and varied by adjacent sluices. Mud, LOI and BSi of ND1 and ND2 decreased immediately after the construction of Nakdong estuarine barrage due to disturbance of sediment and decrease of sediment supply. To exclude the physical effects by the barrage, BSi excess ($BSi_{exc}$) was calculated using regression equation of BSi-LOI and BSi-mud of Seomjin estuary. $BSi_{exc}$ of Seomjin estuary decreased gradually from upper estuary to lower estuary. $BSi_{exc}$ of Nakdong estuary were positive in inside of the barrage and negative in outside of the barrage. BSi retention and shift of species composition of diatom by the barrage would affect $BSi_{exc}$ distribution. Before the construction of Nakdong estuarine barrage, $BSi_{exc}$ of ND2 was negative and consistent owing to high mud sedimentation. After the construction, $BSi_{exc}$ of ND2, however, fluctuated due to continuous disturbance of sediment due to construction of Eulsuk bridge and East gate.