Variation of macrobenthic community on Rocky intertidal shore after Hebei Spirit oil spill, South of Korea

Abstract

In this study, we evaluated changes in the ecosystem and recovery pattern of rocky shores after the oil spill. Macrobenthos monitoring was carried out seasonally form January 2008 to January 2013 in mid-shores of the polluted (Gurepo and Padori) and control (Yeonpo) sites. At the polluted sites, the ecological index increased gradually since 2009 and showed signs of recovery. However, mean density was still less than 50% of the level at the control site, indicating that ecosystem at the polluted sites had not yet recovered. The community structure of macrobenthos was divided into 2 groups (control and polluted sites) on the basis of the difference in the abundance of dominant species 5 years after the oil spill. Result of ANOSIM test showed a significant difference between the polluted and control sites until recently.dori) and control (Yeonpo) sites. At the polluted sites, the ecological index increased gradually since 2009 and showed signs of recovery. However, mean density was still less than 50% of the level at the control site, indicating that ecosystem at the polluted sites had not yet recovered. The community structure of macrobenthos was divided into 2 groups (control and polluted sites) on the basis of the difference in the abundance of dominant species 5 years after the oil spill. Result of ANOSIM test showed a significant difference between the polluted and control sites until recently.