연안해역 수질 평가를 위한 섬모충 군집을 이용한 생물학적 방법

Abstract

This study aims at the development of a biological tool for assessing coastal water quality using pollution indicative species of ciliate plankton occurred in Korean coastal waters. Firstly, the distributional pattern of protists and relationships between their distribution and environmental factors in Masan Bay are understood and then indicative species to monitor water pollution are also detected. Masan Bay is spatially divided into several zones according to the distribution of COD concentrations, a pollution parameter. Indicative weight and saprobic valency of each indicative species are estimated and then saprobic index is calculated by an established process. A total of 117 ciliate species was identified. Ciliate abundances were higher in the inner area of Masan Bay and decreased toward the outer area. Species specific distribution was clear with temporal and spatial changes in the investigation. 14 ciliate species showing a good correlation with COD change were detected as a pollution indicative species. Saprobic index was calculated based on the occurrence and abundances of indicative species, which polysaprobic index was higher in three areas of Masan Bay, innermost area, Dukdong sewage treatment area, and Haengam Bay, while higher xenosaprobic index was obtained in the outer area of Masan Bay where is less affected from pollution source. Especially, the highest value of xenosaprobic index was measured in November when the effect of oceanic water (Kuroshio Current) is relatively significant. Conclusively, it is suggested that saprobic index based on the protist community is a useful tool to assess biologically the coastal water quality.