• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.327-339
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• 2001

Community structure of macrobenthos was studied at forty one stations of Hampyung Bay, southwest coast of Korea. Three replicate sediment samples were taken at each station in October 1997, using a van Veen grab (surface area $0.1\;m^2$). The types of surface sediment in the sampling area were muddy sandy gravel between bay mouth and bay proper, and gravelly sandy mud between bay proper and inner bay stations. The particulate organic carbon content in the surface sediment was $0.23\sim0.69\%\;(0.44\pm0.10\%)$. A total of 168 species collected during the study period is composed of 58 of polychaetes, 54 of crustaceans, 34 of molluscs and 22 of miscellaneous. The former two taxa together were accounted for $66.6\%$ of the total number of species. The mean density was $1,168 ind./m^2$, comprising $684 ind./m^2$of molluscs ($58.6\%$), $381 ind./m^2$of polychaetes ($32.6\%$), and $90 ind./m^2$of crustaceans ($13.2\%$). The mean biomass was $358.65 g/m^2$, which is consisted of $302.97 g/m^2$of molluscs ($84.5\%$), $24.20 g/m^2$of echinoderms ($6.7\%$), and $19.16 g/m^2$of crustaceans ($5.4\%$). Major dominant species at the inner stations of the study area was Ruditapes philippinarum with a density of $520ind./m^2$($44.5\%$), and Lumbrineris lontifolia with $183ind./m^2$($15.7\%$), while that at bay mouth stations Pitar indecoroides with $56ind./m^2$. Reticunassa festiva, Heteromastus sp., Praxillella affinis, Chone sp. and Tharyx sp. were at from all stations. Based on the cluster analysis, the macrobenthic community in the bay was classified into five station groups depending on sediment types: Group A, a high gravel content in the sediment; Group B, stations with high mud content from bay mouth to bay proper, Group C, stations with fine and poorly sorted sediment from bay proper to the inner bay. The distribution pattern of the number of species, abundance and biomass is discussed in relation to environmental variables.