We examined stable carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios for a large variety of consumers in intertidal and subtidal habitats, and their potential primary food sources [i.e., microphytobenthos (MPB), phytoplankton, and Phragmites australis] in a coastal bay system, Yeoja Bay of Korea, to test the hypothesis that the transfer of intertidal MPB-derived organic carbon to the subtidal food web can be mediated by motile consumers. Compared to a narrow δ13C range (−18 to −16‰) of offshore consumers, a broad δ13C range (−18 to −12‰) of both intertidal and subtidal consumers indicated that 13C-enriched sources of organic matter are an important trophic source to coastal consumers. In the intertidal areas, δ13C of most consumers overlapped with or was 13C-enriched relative to MPB. Despite the scarcity of MPB in the subtidal, highly motile consumers in subtidal habitat had nearly identical δ13C range with many intertidal foragers (including crustaceans and fish), overlapping with the range of MPB. In contrast, δ13C values of many sedentary benthic invertebrates in the subtidal areas were similar to those of offshore consumers and more 13C-depleted than motile foragers, indicating high dependence on phytoplankton-derived carbon. The isotopic mixing model calculation confirms that the majority of motile consumers and also some of subtidal sedentary ones depend on intertidal MPB for more than a half of their tissue carbon. Finally, although further quantitative estimates are needed, these results suggest that direct foraging by motile consumers on intertidal areas, and thereby biological transport of MPB-derived organic carbon to the subtidal areas, may provide important trophic connection between intertidal production and the nearshore shallow subtidal food webs.

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract

A subtidal marine benthic algal vegetation at Ulleungdo Island, the eastern coast of Korea was investigated to clarify the community structure and vertical distribution by quadrat method at seven stations in May and August 2014. The total number of marine algal species was 148 species composed of the green algae of 12 species, the brown algae of 40 species and the red algae of 96 species. Mean biomass in dry weight was 94.8 g dry weight m -2 in study sites, 98.1 g dry weight m -2 in upper tidal level, and 86.6 g dry weight m -2 in middle level. The R/P and (R+C)/P value reflecting flora characteristic were 1.9 and 2.3, respectively. Three groups produced by cluster analysis, one including sites Neunggeol, Daepung, Jukdo, second including sites Gongam, Ssangjeongcho and the other including sites Gwaneum, Hangnam, showed meaningful difference in similarity (about 40%), each other. The number of marine algal species and biomass in Ulleungdo Island area were markedly reduced comparing that in the previous studies. This result may suggest probably change of algal vegetation in future, considering the physical and chemical pollutions loaded in the coastal marine environment of this area.