동해 독도 주변 동물플랑크톤 분포의 향상된 이해를 위한 접근

Abstract

By frequent unaccessibility to Dok-do due to unfavorable weather conditions, previously published literature have not encompassed dynamics of zooplankton distribution but focused on the species composition and abundance of zooplankton collected in the limited area around Dok-do. Island effects of Dok-do can provide surrounding environments with plenty of nutrients with relatively cold bottom water, leading to active bottom-up regulation to higher trophic levels. The intrusion of nutrients into surface water is likely available by several physical mechanisms as results of a variety of directions and magnitude of currents across the island. Zooplankton distribution is directly and indirectly subjected to the diverse scale of physical phenomenon as results of interaction between currents. Literature and currently obtained data indicated that there could be four representative physical forcing affecting the distributional pattern of zooplankton around Dok-do. The physical forcing can give us clues which zooplankton distribution around Dok-do could be dynamically influenced by factors stemming from distinctively different pattern of currents. The major physical features could be summarized into 1) Meandering EKWC (East Korean Warm Current) detached from the East Coast, 2) Strong northward expansion of warm waters (Tsushima Currents), 3) Existence of the Ulleung Warm Eddy 4) Existence of Subpolar Front by southward advance of cold waters. Approaches to understand distributional pattern of zooplankton considering the major features suggests that Dok-do can be a base station for better understanding of zooplankton dynamics around Dok-do associated with the mesoscale physical features frequently observed in the East Sea.