Variations in species composition of demersal organisms caught by trawl survey in the East Sea

Abstract

To examine species composition, abundance and biomass of demersal organisms in the East Sea, bottom trawl survey was conducted at 7 sea areas from 2005 to 2007. A total of 107 species were collected and were composed of 54 fish species, 16 crustacea, and 37 mollusks in the East Sea from 2005 to 2007. Yearly abundance per area which caught by trawl survey in the East Sea from 2005 to 2007 ranged from a high of <TEX>$292,234inds./km^2$</TEX> in 2005 to a low of <TEX>$192,092inds./km^2$</TEX> in 2006. The abundance by sea area showed a peak in 76 sea area, and the lowest in 63 sea area. The abundance per area by season showed a peak in summer, and the lowest in spring. The most dominant species in abundance were Clupea pallasii, Neocrangon communis, Chionoecetes opilio. Yearly biomass per area which caught by trawl survey in the East Sea from 2005 to 2007 ranged from a high of <TEX>$10,322kg/km^2$</TEX> in 2006 to a low of <TEX>$7,096kg/km^2$</TEX> in 2005. The most dominant species in biomass were Chionoecetes opilio, Clupea pallasii, Dasycottus setiger. The biomass by sea area also showed a peak in 76 sea area, and the lowest in 93 sea area. The abundance by season also showed a peak in summer, and the lowest in spring. As a result of cluster analysis, demersal organisms community of 76 sea area showed a large difference with other sea area, and that of summer showed a large difference with other season.