A Study on the Correlation Between Acid Volatile Sulfide and Benthic Polychaete Communities

The purpose of this study was to investigate the distribution characteristics of benthic polychaete communities in Gwangyang Bay and to examine their relationship with sediment Acid Volatile Sulfide (AVS) concentrations. To analyze AVS and benthic polychaetes in the subtidal of Gwangyang Bay, a total of 12 seasonal field surveys were conducted at 7 stations from April 2010 to October 2013. The mean AVS concentration during the study period was 0.24 ± 0.08 mgS/g-dry. Total species number of benthic polychaetes was 83 species, and the mean density was 381 ± 99 ind./m². Heteromastus filiformis was the most dominant species, with a mean density of 83.8 ind./m², followed by Sternaspis scutata (57.7 ind./m²), Prionospio spp. (50.2 ind./m²), Lumbrineris longifolia (38.7 ind./m²), Magelona japonica (17.4 ind./m²).<br/>Spearman rank correlation analysis revealed that both density (r = −0.322, p < 0.01) and species number (r = −0.568, p < 0.01) of benthic polychaetes showed significant negative correlations with AVS concentrations. These results indicate that AVS concentration is closely associated with variations in the density and species composition of benthic polychaete communities and can be regarded as an important environmental factor reflecting structural changes in benthic ecosystems in Gwangyang Bay.