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Article

Spatiotemporal Variations in Macrobenthic Community Structure according to Environmental Gradients from the Seomjin River Estuary to the Yeosu Sea

섬진강 하구역–여수해만의 환경구배에 따른대형저서동물군집 구조의 시·공간적 변동

Geon Kim1
,
Sung Wan Park1
,
Ji Su Yu1
,
Ihn Sil Kwak2
,
Hyun Chool Shin2*
김 건1
,
박 성완1
,
유 지수1
,
곽 인실2
,
신 현출2*
1Department of Environmental Oceanopraphy, Graduate School, Chonnam National University, Yeosu 59626, Korea
2Department of Ocean Integrated Science, College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, Chonnam National University, Yeosu 59626, Korea
1전남대학교 대학원 환경해양학과 (59626) 전라남도 여수시 대학로 50
2전남대학교 수산해양대학 해양융합과학과 (59626) 전라남도 여수시 대학로 50
*Corresponding Author
28 August 2026. pp. 1-15
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Abstract

This study investigated the spatiotemporal variations in macrobenthic community structure within a complex aquatic system—encompassing the Seomjin River estuary, Gwangyang Bay, and the Yeosu Sea from 2020 to 2025, and aimed to identify the primary environmental drivers governing these patterns. A total of 199 macrobenthic species were identified, with polychaetes (Annelida) emerging as the most dominant group in terms of both species richness and abundance. Major dominant species, including the bivalve Corbicula japonica and the polychaetes Aphelochaeta monilaris and Prionospio japonica, exhibited distinct spatial distribution patterns following environmental gradients such as salinity, depth, and sedimentary facies. Cluster analysis categorized the study area into four distinct groups: Group A (freshwater-brackish zone), Group B1(brackish-marine transition zone), Group B2(marine zone in Gwangyang Bay), and Group B3(marine zone in the Yeosu Sea). Principal Component Analysis (PCA) revealed that the first axis (PC1) accounted for 71.4% of the total variance, indicating that a clear spatial gradient comprising salinity, water depth, and sediment composition was the fundamental factor structuring the community. Meanwhile, the second axis (PC2) reflected seasonal variations (18.5%) driven by water temperature, suggesting that community distribution patterns could be partially modulated by sampling periods even within the same spatial extent. These findings demonstrate that while the macrobenthic distribution in this study area is primarily structured by natural salinity gradients and sedimentary facies, seasonal temperature fluctuations also contribute significantly to the spatiotemporal dynamics of the community. This study provides essential baseline data for the systematic management and conservation of interconnected estuarine and coastal ecosystems, such as the Seomjin River estuary.

Keywords
macrobenthic community structure
benthic environment
estuarine ecosystem
spatiotemporal variation
environmental gradient
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Information
  • Publisher :Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology
  • Publisher(Ko) :한국해양과학기술원
  • Journal Title :Ocean and Polar Research
  • Journal Title(Ko) :Ocean and Polar Research
  • Volume : 48
  • Pages :1-15
  • Received Date : 2026-07-01
  • Revised Date : 2026-08-05
  • Accepted Date : 2026-08-07
  • Published Date : 2026-08-28
  • DOI :https://doi.org/10.4217/OPR.2026020
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