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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Artículo científico |
| Language: | en |
| Published: |
Marine pollution bulletin
2026
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41576870/ |
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Table of Contents:
- Comparative and experimental analyses of meiofaunal community responses to submerged marine debris in Ulleung Island, Korea. Jeon, Mu Gyeom Shin, A-Young Min, Won Gi Oh, Je-Hyeok Woo, Min-Su Yu, Ok Hwan Oh, Chulwoong Kim, Dongsung Republic of Korea Environmental Monitoring Animals Waste Products Ecosystem Aquatic Organisms Islands Geologic Sediments Submerged marine debris (SMD) on the seafloor adversely affects benthic ecosystems. However, research focusing on the meiofauna remains limited. In particular, in-situ experiments examining debris exposure and removal effects on meiofauna are rare. Therefore, this study contributes to filling a research gap by investigating the effects of SMD on meiofaunal communities through in-situ exposure and removal experiment. Meiofaunal density was lower at sites with SMD, and community structure also differed compared with sites without SMD. In the exposure experiment, meiofaunal density was lower in all experimental groups than in the control group after three months, and community structures began to diverge. However, after seven months, all SMD was removed, and the experimental and control groups exhibited no significant differences. By five months after SMD removal, meiofaunal density and community composition largely recovered to levels comparable to those of the control group. Moreover, we found that changes in meiofaunal density tended to precede changes in community structure. Furthermore, the communities were influenced by SMD and multiple environmental variables, such as temperature, dissolved oxygen, and sediment characteristics. In conclusion, SMD can reduce meiofaunal density and substantially alter community structure. Although the differences between the debris types were generally small, tire exposure produced comparatively pronounced effects. This study indicated that meiofaunal density and community structure became similar to pre-exposure levels within approximately five months following SMD removal, as inferred from the available sampling intervals. However, under specific conditions, the magnitude and direction of the impact can be mitigated or altered.