Search

The community structure of meiobenthos was studied at 16 stations within sandy tidal and subtidal zones in Jangbongdo in the Yellow Sea, Korea from Aug. 2006 to Jan. 2007. Meiobenthic organisms were collected by three core samples, with a 3.6 ㎝ diameter, from each sediment sample taken with a Smith-McIntyre Grab. Mean grain size of study stations ranged from 1.49φ to 3.55φ. Composition of sand ranged from 80.38% to 99.89%. There was reduction in total abundance and biomass of meiobenthos from summer to winter. Total densities of meiofauna ranged between 17 inds./10 ㎠ and 853 inds./10 ㎠. Nematodes, gastrotricha, nauplius and harpacticoids appeared as major taxa in decreasing order. This study shows that major taxa comprised 90 percent of total abundance. Most meiofaunal organisms are concentrated in the upper sediment layers and the total abundance and biomass of organisms in the tidal zone is higher than the subtidal zone.

This study was conducted to investigate the community structure and distributional pattern of meiobenthos in the deep-sea bottom of the Clarion-Clipperton Fracture Zone of northeastern Pacific during July 2001. Examination of sediment samples collected on the eight survey station showed that there were 10 different types of meiobenthos. The most abundant meiobenthic animals were nematodes in all stations. Sarcomastigophorans, benthic harpacticoids were next abundant meiobenthos. Vertical distribution of meiobenthic animals showed the highest individual numbers in the surface sediment layers of 0-1 cm depth and showed more steep decreasing trend as sediment gets deeper on the stations of high latitude located in . Horizontal distribution of meiobenthic animal in the study area within CCFZ showed high densities of meiobenthos at the stations had few manganese nodules on their sediment surface in the site of low latitude. For size distribution analyses showed that animals which fit into the sieve mesh size of 0.063 mm were abundant.

This study was conducted to investigate the community structure and distributional pattern of meiobenthos in the deep-sea bottom of the Clarion-Clipperton Fracture Zone of the northeastern Pacific during July 2003. The samples were collected using the multiple corer at 13 stations along the transects from 5 o N to 17 o N. The most abundant meiobenthos was nematodes and followed by sarcomastigophorans; these two taxa comprised more than 70% of the total abundance at all stations. For size distribution analyses showed that animals which fit into the sieve mesh size of 0.063 mm were abundant. The maximum density of meiobenthos was 147 inds./10 cm 2 at station located in 7 o N, and the minimum density was 6 inds./ 10 cm 2 at station located in 14 o N. More than 60% of meiobenthos were distributed at surface sediment layer within 1.0 cm, and the peak abundance was found at 0~0.25 cm layer. The latitudinal distribution pattern of meiobenthos in the study area seemed to be related w ith the primary productivity of the surface water that is also connected to the water circulation pattern of the Pacific Ocean near the Equator, diverging at latitude of 8 o N and conversing at 5 o N.

Meiobenthic community structure near Dokdo was investigated during two survey periods of June, 1999 and October 2000. Meiobenthos were separated from the sediment core samples collected from eight stations. A total of 19 meiobenthic animal groups were identified from those core samples. The most abundant meiobenthic animals belonged to Phylum Nematoda in both seasons and all stations. Sarcomastigophorans, nauplius of crustaceans, and benthic harpactiocoids were the next abundant meiobenthos. Vertical distribution of meiobenthic animals showed the highest individual numbers in the surface sediment layers of 0-1cm depth with a steep decreasing trend with depth for the three sampling stations (A0, A9', A19) located in the continental slope. Horizontal distribution of meiobenthic animals for the study area near Dokdo showed lower density at the sampling stations near Dokdo and the lowest density of meiobenthos in A19 (depth-2261 m). For size distribution, analysis showed that animals which fit onto the mesh size of 0.125mm were abundant. This study suggested that the continental shelf near Dokdo have a more unstable environment fo meiobenthos than the continental slope.

Symbiosis of chemoautrophic bacteria with the members of hydrothermal vent and cold seep communities in the deep-sea were examined by histology using transmission electron microscopy; Bathymodiolus spp. from Sagami Bay, the Iheya Ridge and the North Fiji Basin; and Ifremeria nautilei from the North Fiji Basin. Two species of Bathymodiolus, each from Sagami Bay and the Iheya Ridge harbored methane-oxidizing symbionts within their gill tissues. Vent gastropod Ifremeria nautilei from the hydrothermal vents of the North Fiji Basin housed two types of symbionts; one sulfur-oxidizing type and the other methane-oxidizing type. The occurrence of chemosynthetic symbionts in these organisms were expected before-hand based on the ecological observations of their habit. The other members of these groups from world oceans and the recent advances in the symbiosis of the vent and seep communities were reviewed.