Tintinnid species as biological sensors for monitoring the Kuroshio Extension in Korean coastal waters

Abstract

Tintinnids are the best planktonic indicators of mass water movement. This study examined the seasonal and annual fluctuations of the effect of the Kuroshio Current on southern Korea coastal waters by monitoring tintinnids using three approaches: monitoring from cruises traveling from the warm pool in the Northwestern Pacific to the Korea/Tsushima Strait; biweekly and monthly monitoring in the Korea/Tsushima Strait; and daily monitoring in a nearshore site off southern Korea. These observations showed annual pulses of Kuroshio Current indicator species in the Korea/Tsushima Strait, with a maximum number of indicator species recorded in September 2008.