시화호 내해의 저서퇴적물에 서식하는 중형저서생물의 군집구조, 수평분포, 서식 밀도, 선충류/저서성 요각류비 등을 연구하기 위하여 1999년 5월과 2000년 5월에 총 19개의 정점에서 조사를 실시하였다. 중형저서동물은 1999년 총 11개의 분류군, 2000년 8개의 분류군이 출현하여, 다른 연안 해역에 비하여 아주 낮은 분류군이 출현하였다. 두 시기 모두 출현 분류군 중 선충류(nemato-des)가 가장 우점하고 있었고, 그 다음으로 중요한 출현분

This study investigated the distributional pattern of meiobenthos associated with future deep-sea mining in the Korea Deep Ocean Study area present in the Clarion-Clipperton Fracture Zone (CCFZ) located in the southeastern part of the North Pacific Ocean. Standing stocks of meiobenthos were investigated in benthic impact experiment sites (BIS) and Korea Institute of Ocean Science & Technology long-term monitoring (KOMO) sites during the 2008-2014 annual field survey. A total of 14 taxa of meiobenthos were identified. Nematodes were the most abundant taxon (60-86%). Harpacticoid copepods (5-26%) and benthic foraminifera (1-12%) were also dominant at all sites. The total meiobenthic densities varied from 4 to 150 ind./10 cm2. The mean value of total meiobenthic abundance was higher at BIS than at KOMO sites, but there was no significant difference between the two sites. The mean values of the number of taxa and biomass at BIS and KOMO sites were similar. The mean abundance of nematodes that were the most dominant taxa was also higher at BIS than at KOMO sites. The standing stocks in our study sites were relatively lower than those previously reported at other CCFZ sites. These results seem to reflect a low organic concentration in the study area.