Distribution of Zostera species in the Eastern Coast of Korea

Jung-Im Park; Byeong Hyeon Jeon; Jeong Bae Kim; Seung Hyeon Kim; Kun-Seop Lee; Sung Il Hwang

doi:10.23135/an.2025.5.1.1

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2025 Vol.5, Issue 1

Original Articles

Distribution of Zostera species in the Eastern Coast of Korea 한국 동해 연안 거머리말속(genus Zostera) 잘피 분포 현황

30 June 2025. pp. 1-14

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Abstract

As the ecological importance of seagrass has become increasingly recognized, the need to understand the current status of seagrass habitats has been emphasized. This study provides the first report on the distribution of Zostera species seagrass along the eastern coast of Korea. Specifically, the distribution status of Zostera species was investigated from Goseong-gun, Gangwon Province, to Gijang-gun, Busan, through surveys of fishermen’s unions, on-site inspections, snorkeling, and scuba diving using boats. In the eastern coast, four Zostera species were identified: Zostera marina, Z. asiatica, Z. caulescens, and Z. caespitosa. The total area of Zostera seagrass beds was 1,591,350 m², with species-specific coverage as follows: Z. marina 962,397 m² (60.5%), Z. asiatica 363,524 m² (22.8%), Z. caulescens 261,918 m² (16.5%), and Z. caespitosa 3,511 m² (0.2%). Regionally, the largest seagrass coverage was found in Gyeongsangbuk-do (1,195,092 m², 75.1%), followed by Gangwon-do (318,449 m², 20.0%), Busan (51,746 m², 3.3%), and Ulsan (26,063 m², 1.6%). Z. marina and Z. caespitosa were primarily found in low-energy environments within harbors at relatively shallow depths of 2.5±0.1 m and 3.0±1.5 m, respectively. Z. caulescens was observed outside harbors, where wave energy was relatively low, at a depth of 12.0±3.9 m. In particular, Z. caulescens in Ulleungdo was found at significantly greater depths (18.7±1.3 m) than those along the mainland’s eastern coast. Z. asiatica was mainly distributed in deeper waters (12.2±0.9 m) in open coastal areas, where it was relatively less affected by wave energy. The habitat types of Zostera species seagrass along the eastern coast of Korea were categorized as harbor interiors (77.5%), areas outside harbors with relatively low wave energy (15.3%), and open coastal areas (7.2%). The findings of this study provide fundamental data for the conservation and management of the seagrass, Zostera species in the eastern coast of Korea.

Keywords

Eastern Coast

Habitat area

Seagrass

Water depth

Zostera spp.

잘피의 생태적 중요성이 인식되면서 최근 잘피 서식지 현황 파악에 대한 필요성이 강조되고 있다. 본 연구에서는 한국 동해 연안의 거머리말속 잘피 분포 현황을 최초로 밝히고 있다. 즉, 강원도 고성군부터 부산시 기장군까지 거머리말속 잘피 분포 현황을 어촌계 설문조사, 도보 확인, 선박을 이용한 스노클링과 스쿠바다이빙으로 조사한 결과를 제공한다. 거머리말속 잘피 총면적은 1,591,350 m²이었고, 종별 서식 면적은 거머리말 962,397 m² (60.5%), 왕거머리말 363,524 m² (22.8%), 수거머리말 261,918 m² (16.5%)와 포기거머리말 3,511 m² (0.2%) 순으로 나타났다. 지역별 거머리말속 잘피 서식 면적은 경북(1,195,092 m², 75.1%)이 가장 넓었고, 다음으로 강원도(318,449 m², 20.0%), 부산(51,746 m², 3.3%)과 울산(26,063 m², 1.6%)이었다. 거머리말과 포기거머리말은 주로 파랑에너지가 낮은 항 내의 각각 2.5±0.1 m와 3.0±1.5 m의 비교적 낮은 수심에 서식하였다. 수거머리말은 파랑에너지가 비교적 낮은 항 외의 12.0±3.9 m 수심에 서식하였고, 울릉도의 수거머리말은 동해안 내륙 연안의 수거머리말보다 현저히 깊은 수심(18.7±1.3 m)에서 관찰되었다. 왕거머리말은 개방된 해역에서 파랑에너지의 영향을 비교적 적게 받을 수 있는 깊은 수심(12.2±0.9 m)에 서식하였다. 한국 동해 연안 거머리말속 잘피 서식지 유형은 항 내(77.5%), 파랑에너지가 비교적 낮은 항 외(15.3%)와 개방된 해역(7.2%) 순으로 나타났다. 본 조사 결과는 동해 연안 거머리말속 잘피 보전과 관리에 기초적인 자료를 제공할 것이다.

키워드

거머리말속

동해 연안

서식 면적

수심

잘피

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Information

Publisher :The Korean Society of Phycology
Publisher(Ko) :한국조류학회
Journal Title :Aquatic Nature
Journal Title(Ko) :수생생물
Volume : 5
No :1
Pages :1-14
Received Date : 2025-02-26
Revised Date : 2025-03-08
Accepted Date : 2025-03-08
DOI :https://doi.org/10.23135/an.2025.5.1.1

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

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