2022년 춘계에서 하계까지 제주 표선 사질 조간대에서 서식하는 저서와편모조류의 군집 특성

Benthic dinoflagellates are a major component of benthic ecosystems, and some species are highly toxic. Jeju Island is one of the areas most affected by climate change and is in urgent need of monitoring toxic species to prevent ecological and health damages. This study investigated the distribution and species diversity of the benthic dinoflagellates community in the sandy intertidal zone of Pyoseon Beach, Jeju Island, during the 2022 spring and summer. The surface seawater temperature and salinity in the nearby waters ranged from 13.7 to 26.9°C and 30.9 to 34.8 psu, respectively. A total of 24 genera and 50 species were identified, including five potentially toxic species and eight species previously unrecorded in Korea. The genera Amphidinium, Prorocentrum, Heterocapsa, and Sinophysis were the most frequently encountered. The abundance of benthic dinoflagellates varied from 1 to 23 cells/cm³, with the highest abundance observed in June. Species richness at each station ranged from 2 to 13, with Shannon's diversity index ranging from 0.25 to 2.31. Benthic dinoflagellates exhibited a higher abundance in the middle and lower intertidal zones compared to the upper intertidal zones, and species diversity generally tended to increase towards the lower intertidal zone. Notably, the prevalence of potential toxic species was higher during the summer months. This study established a methodology for investigating the ecology and species diversity of benthic dinoflagellates in benthic ecosystems, while also confirming the ecological and health risks posed by the presence of potentially toxic species, thereby emphasizing the importance of research in sandy intertidal zones. KCI Citation Count: 0