Spatial and temporal variation of marine benthic invertebrate assemblages around the Dokdo Island, East Sea, Korea

Abstract

The spatial and temporal variation of coastal benthic species abundance, diversity and assemblage compositions around the Dokdo Island were investigated in 2014, 2016 and 2017. We selected five different sites to understand the benthic ecological characteristics around the Dokdo Island. In total, 3,416 individuals belonging to 142 taxa were collected from all site and during three years. The most abundant taxa across all sites and years was Chthamalus challengeri following ny Balanus trigonus, Corynactis viridis. The species abundance and diversity differed significantly among all sites and years. This might indicate that the benthic species composition around the Dokdo was constantly affected by the variation of surrounding environment such as sea-water temperature and nutrition input by current.ogical characteristics around the Dokdo Island. In total, 3,416 individuals belonging to 142 taxa were collected from all site and during three years. The most abundant taxa across all sites and years was Chthamalus challengeri following ny Balanus trigonus, Corynactis viridis. The species abundance and diversity differed significantly among all sites and years. This might indicate that the benthic species composition around the Dokdo was constantly affected by the variation of surrounding environment such as sea-water temperature and nutrition input by current.