• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.57-69
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• 2011

This study examined the relationship between Phragmites australis' growth and sediment properties at mud tidal flat of Donggum-ri, Gilsang-myeon, Gangwha-gun, Incheon city. Field survey was carried out from May, 2010 to October, 2010. Water content, soil texture, electric conductivity and water table depth for sediment, density, height, dry weight and flowering for P. australis were examined at several plots from the starting point (the coastal embankment) to the end point of the two populations. The result was as follows. Firstly, the water table increased along distance from the embankment at one line (N-line) but was similar at the other line (S-line) in a P. asustralis population. Water tables were higher out of than within a P. australis population at two populations. Secondary, in N-line, the height and dry weight of P. australis decreased along the distance from embankment but, in S-line, those were similar in its population. P. australis' growth was dependent on electric conductivity at lower layer (water table level) rather than upper one (the surface). Thirdly, density of P. australis changed during growing season and was similar in a population, except for the end point of patch. In summary, the growth and distribution of P. australis were dependent on salt content of tidal flat's sediment (water table level) and this was affected by fresh water of the inland.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.19-30
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• 2005

To investigate the seasonal distribution and grazing impacts of benthic protozoa in mud flat, their abundance, biomass and grazing rates of benthic protozoa were evaluated at interval of two or three month in Gangwha Island from April, 2002 to April, 2004. Heterotrophic flagellates and ciliates accounted for an average 98% of benthic protozoa biomass. Abundance and carbon biomass of heterotrophic flagellates ranged from $0.2{\times}10^5$ to $5.9{\times}10^5\;cells\;cm{-3}$ and from 0.02 to $9.2\;{\mu}gC\;cm^{-3}$, respectively. Biomass of heterotrophic flagellates was high in spring and fall, and showed no differences among stations. Abundance and biomass of heterotrophic flagellates decreased with the depth and were high within the surface 2.5 m sediment layer. The majority of heterotrophic flagellates were less than $10\;{\mu}m$ in length, and few euglenoid flagellates were larger than $20\;{\mu}m$. Abundance and carbon biomass of ciliates ranged from $0.1{\times}10^3$ to $17.8{\times}10^3\;cells\;cm^{-3}$ and from 0.02 to $9.1\;{\mu}gC\;cm^{-3}$, respectively, and those of ciliates were high in spring and fall. Biomass of ciliates was high within the surface 2.5 mm sediment layer and was higher at st. J2 and st. J3 than st. J1. Among the revealed benthic ciliates, the hypotrichs were the most important group in terms of abundance and biomass. During the sampling periods, an average 66% of benthic protozoa biomass was covered by ciliates. The seasonal distribution of benthic protozoa showed an almost similar fluctuation pattern to that of chlorophyll-a. The results suggest that the biomass of benthic protozoa were mainly controlled by prey abundance, for example, diatoms. Based on ingestion rates, benthic protozoa removed from 13.4 to 40.7% of bacterial production and from 20.1 to 36.4% of primary production. Ingestion rates of benthic protozoa on bacteria and microphytobenthos were high in April. Benthic protozoa in this study area may play a pivotal role in the carbon flow of the benthic microbial food web during spring.