한국 동해 연안 거머리말속(genus Zostera) 잘피 분포 현황

초록

As the ecological importance of seagrass has become increasingly recognized, the need to understand the current status of seagrass habitats has been emphasized. This study provides the first report on the distribution of Zostera species seagrass along the eastern coast of Korea. Specifically, the distribution status of Zostera species was investigated from Goseong-gun, Gangwon Province, to Gijang-gun, Busan, through surveys of fishermen’s unions, on-site inspections, snorkeling, and scuba diving using boats. In the eastern coast, four Zostera species were identified: Zostera marina, Z. asiatica, Z. caulescens, and Z. caespitosa. The total area of Zostera seagrass beds was 1,591,350 m², with species-specific coverage as follows: Z. marina 962,397 m² (60.5%), Z. asiatica 363,524 m² (22.8%), Z. caulescens 261,918 m² (16.5%), and Z. caespitosa 3,511 m² (0.2%). Regionally, the largest seagrass coverage was found in Gyeongsangbuk-do (1,195,092 m², 75.1%), followed by Gangwon-do (318,449 m², 20.0%), Busan (51,746 m², 3.3%), and Ulsan (26,063 m², 1.6%). Z. marina and Z. caespitosa were primarily found in low-energy environments within harbors at relatively shallow depths of 2.5±0.1 m and 3.0±1.5 m, respectively. Z. caulescens was observed outside harbors, where wave energy was relatively low, at a depth of 12.0±3.9 m. In particular, Z. caulescens in Ulleungdo was found at significantly greater depths (18.7±1.3 m) than those along the mainland’s eastern coast. Z. asiatica was mainly distributed in deeper waters (12.2±0.9 m) in open coastal areas, where it was relatively less affected by wave energy. The habitat types of Zostera species seagrass along the eastern coast of Korea were categorized as harbor interiors (77.5%), areas outside harbors with relatively low wave energy (15.3%), and open coastal areas (7.2%). The findings of this study provide fundamental data for the conservation and management of the seagrass, Zostera species in the eastern coast of Korea.

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