A preliminary study on changes in macrobenthic assemblages in the fenced experimental plots for restoring tidal marsh, Hogok-ri tidal flat, west coast of Korea

Abstract

This preliminary study on the changes of macrobenthic assemblages in experimental sediment fences was conducted as a part of tidal marsh restoration project. Intertidal sediment fences were designed to increase the efficiency of trapping sediments on unvegetated tidal flats in order to raise sediment elevation and to allow colonization of intertidal vegetation. Although increment of soil surface level was not observed over the first three months of the study, it was possible to obtain some effects of the sediment fence. Three months later, the particle sizes of the surface sediment at experimental plots became much finer compared to unfenced areas on the natural mudflats located in the same tide level as that of the plots. The difference was much greater on the plot with drainage canals than on the plot without ones. Species diversity of the experimental plots became much higher than that of natural sites. Perinereis aibuhitensis and Glauconome chinensis which were absent from initial community appeared with high density in the plot with drainage canals. Those species were significantly different in abundance between the experimental plot and the natural mudflat. Changes in species composition were not detected in another experimental plot without drainage canals.