Macrobenthic Community of the Subtidal Soft Bottom of Aenggang Bay in the Southern Coast of Korea

This study was conducted to describe the community structure of macrobenthos in Aenggang Bay, the southern coast of Korea. Sampling was performed seasonally using van Veen grab from October 1994 to August 1995. A total of 233 species occurred; polychaetes accounted for 90 species, crustaceans 66 species, and mollusks 46 species. The mean density of macrobenthos was 1,358 ind./, and polychaetes accounted for 64% of total abundance with its density of 874 ind./. Mean macrobenthic biomass was 261.96 gWWt/, and echinoderms accounted for 52.6% of total biomass with its biomass of 137.76 gWWt/. Dominant species were a serpulid worm, Ditrupa arientina (245 ind./), a cirratulid worm, Tharyx sp. (166 ind./), and a scaphopod Fustaria nipponica (132 ind./). Ditrupa arientina and Fustaria nipponica were distributed mainly in the mouth of Aenggang Bay, whereas Tharyx sp. showed its high density in the central region of the bay. The study area showed a regional difference in species richness, abundance, and biomass; the eastern region of the bay sustained relatively more abundant and richer macrobenthos than the western part. The study area could be divided into 5 regions by the cluster analysis based on the species composition of macrobenthos; the inner bay, two central regions, and two mouth areas of the bay.