• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.354-365
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• 2019

Megabenthos samples were collected using 10-min trawls towed at 17 stations from 2015 to 2016. The dominant species (>1% of the total density) were Stegophiura sterea (10.4%) and two subtropical species, Mactrinula dolabrata (9.0%) and Acila divaricate (8.3%), respectively. The community structure of the megabenthos fell into four groups: the southeast, the southernmost region off Jeju Island, the frontal zone of the South Sea with C3, and a diagonal area from the south coast to the western side of Jeju Island. The total numbers of species, diversity, density and biomass were higher in the C3 region of the South Sea. Environmental factor analysis showed that differences in the megabenthos community were related to depth, gravel contents, and sorting value (${\sigma}$). These results indicate that changes in the marine environmental conditions in the South Sea of Korea affect the megabenthos species' composition and diversity.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.447-454
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• 2014

In August, 2013, we collected epifaunal megabenthos using a deep sea camera (DSC) around a benthic impact study (BIS) site. This was located in the KR5 block of the Korea Deep Ocean Study (KODOS) area in the Northeastern Pacific. The DSC was positioned at $6.8{\pm}2.9m$ (SD) from the sea bottom and was operated from a position at $131^{\circ}56.85^{\prime}-131^{\circ}55.02^{\prime}W$ for 2.3 h at a speed of 1-2 knot. The geographical features of the study area consisted of two structures; a trough in the middle and hills at the east and west sides. Sediment conditions were consistent within six blocks and were affected by slope and polymetallic nodule deposits. We analyzed 226 megafaunal species. Sipunculida comprised the highest percentage of individuals (39%), and the dominant epifaunal megabenthos were Hormathiidae sp., Primnoidae sp., Hexactinellida sp., Hyphalaster inermis, Freyella benthophila, Paelopatides confundens, Psychropotes longicauda, and Peniagone leander. More than 80% of the total density of megafauna occurred on sea plain (D- and E-blocks). We found two distinct groups in the community, one located on sea plains and the other along both sides of the sea slop. Our results suggest that geographical features such as slope and polymetalic nodule deposits are important in controlling the distribution of the epifaunal megabenthos around the KODOS area.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.262-272
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• 2007

Diurnal and tidal variation in the abundance of the macro- and megabenthic assemblages were studied in the macrotidal flat, Incheon, Korea. The samples were collected by modified otter trawl during 8-9, June 2000. The macro- and megabenthic assemblages comprised a total of 60 species, including 6,309 individuals and 67,835.5 gWWt. As a result, the abundance pattern showed two different categories relating to diel and tidal cycles. First, the diel pattern of these assemblages was subdivided into 3 groups. 1) Diurnal species such as Hexagrammos otakii, Thryssa baelama, Loligo beka, Metapenaeus joyneri. 2) Nocturnal species such as Cynoglossus joyneri, Sebastes schlegeli, Charybdis japonica, Crangon affinis, Trachysalambria curvirostris, Metapenaeopsis dalei. 3)Other species showing no obvious pattern with Johnius grypotus, Platycephalus indicus, Repomucenus richardsonii. However, based on the result of Mann-Whitney U-test, diel patterns of macro- and megabenthos did not reveal any significant differences. Second, tidal variation in the macro- and megabenthic assemblages was significant between ebb and flood tides. Total macro- and megafaunal species number, abundance and biomass were higher in ebb tide$(13^h30',\;16^h30',\;1^h30',\;4^h30')$ than in flood tide$(19^h30',\;21^h30',\;10^h30',\;13^h00')$. As a consequence, the macro- and megabenthic assemblages were clearly influenced by tides but their diel variations were not significantly different.