Monitoring and assessment of benthic ecosystem by meiobenthos ecological index from the fish farm, Southern Coast, Korea

Abstract

This study was performed to monitoring and assessment the effects of a fish farm on the structure of meiobenthic communities. A series of samplings were carried out from fish farm and control site July 2013 to June 2014. Meiobenthic organisms was collected by SCUBA diving and three subcores of 34 ㎜ in internal diameter were taken from each sediment sample. Community structure, taxon diversity, N/C (nematodes/benthic harpacticoids) ratio and MPI (meiobenthic pollution index) were studied in the Tongyeong MRC (Marine living resources conservation & Research Center), Southern Coast, Korea. Nematoda was the most dominant group of meiobenthos. Nematoda and benthic harpacticoida was more than 80% of total meiofauna at both sites. The N/C ratio and MPI were studied as an index of pollution monitoring for benthic ecosystem at each station. The result of N/C ratio was the highest at the fish farm stations and the lowest at the control stations. MPI was the highest at the control stations and lowest at the fish farm stations.ms was collected by SCUBA diving and three subcores of 34 ㎜ in internal diameter were taken from each sediment sample. Community structure, taxon diversity, N/C (nematodes/benthic harpacticoids) ratio and MPI (meiobenthic pollution index) were studied in the Tongyeong MRC (Marine living resources conservation & Research Center), Southern Coast, Korea. Nematoda was the most dominant group of meiobenthos. Nematoda and benthic harpacticoida was more than 80% of total meiofauna at both sites. The N/C ratio and MPI were studied as an index of pollution monitoring for benthic ecosystem at each station. The result of N/C ratio was the highest at the fish farm stations and the lowest at the control stations. MPI was the highest at the control stations and lowest at the fish farm stations.