Aquatic Nature ISSN:2765-7876(Print) 2799-3000(Online) 수생생물

This study was conducted in order to understand the distribution status of seagrass growing in the Southwest Coast and Dadohae National Park. The field study identified and calculated the area of the species appearing in seagrass through aerial imaging using drones and scuba diving. As a result of the study, the growth of 6 species of Zostera marina Linnaeus, Z. caulescens Miki, Z. caespitosa Miki, Z. japonica Ascherson & Graebner, Phyllospadix iwatensis Makino, and Halophila nipponica J.Kuo was confirmed in the seagrass appearing in the study area. Most of them grew in quiet inner bays that were less affected by the waves, and the substrate was mud and sand, and the depth of habitat was about 4~5 m. The total area of seagrass habitat identified in this study was 4,412,944 m², and the Bija-ri sea area on Soando was the widest at 1,977,698 m².The habitat area for each species was Z. marina 4,324,894 m² (97.1%), Z. caulescens 70,248 m² (1.6%), Z. japonica 45,180 m² (1.0%), H. nipponica 10,721 m² (0.2%), P. iwatensis 1,105 m² (less than 0.1%), and Z. caespitosa 350 m² (less than 0.1%) in the order. Compared to the past, the habitat density and area of seagrass have decreased, and it is estimated that it is due to various causes such as environmental pollution, coastal development, and inflow of domestic sewage. A continuous and systematic monitoring study should be conducted to determine the exact cause of the decrease.