Effect of Environmental Variables on Changes in Macrobenthic Communities in the Coastal Area of Inchon, Korea

摘要: In coastal area of Inchon, dredging and the disposal dredged material for sea-wall construction reclamation have increased in recent years. These activities may impact benthic environment result changes communities, but little information is available on extent direction these changes. We investigated whether there been dominant macrobenthic species community over last decade, explored relationship between environmental variables spatial patterns structure. sampled macrobenthos recorded habitats Inchon March June 2004. total, 212 were during this study, predominately crustaceans , mollusks polychaetes . The mean density was .The most abundant Amphioplus japonicus followed by Heteromastus filiformis Theora fragilis Ampharete sp. Over past decade shifted. Multivariate analysis (multidimensional scaling) revealed significant differences structure among three regions: middle part sampling (B), site 8 (C) other sites (A). Mean varied significantly regions, no number diversity (H`) observed. distribution affected such as percentage sand content sediment kurtosis. Species that important different areas included A. region A, Raeta puchella B T. C. regions C filter-feeding bivalves, abundance be related to increase content. suggest composition (percentage content) an factor determining communities Inchon. Long-term monitoring programs are necessary understand ongoing area.