First comprehensive ecological checklist of Brachyura in Korea: 1879–2020. (October 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lee, Sang-kyu; Lee, Changkeun; Noh, Junsung; Song, Sung Joon; Khim, Jong Seong
• Is Part Of: Marine pollution bulletin. Volume 171(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-10
• Subjects: Crab fauna -- Marine invertebrates -- Macrozoobenthos -- Decapoda -- Biodiversity -- Habitat diversity; Marine pollution -- Periodicals; Marine Biology -- Periodicals; Water Pollution -- Periodicals; Mer -- Pollution -- Périodiques; Publications périodiques; Pollution des mers; Lutte antipollution; Electronic journals; 363.7394
• DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112742
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0025-326X

Abstract

Abstract: The increasing concerns and management needs on marine biodiversity have escalated the requirement for timely documentation of the marine taxa. We first established a comprehensive ecological checklist of Korean Brachyura through a meta-analysis of 74 documents (since the 1870s). A total of 247 species inhabiting the Korean coastal waters are listed with some key ecological information; habitat, substrate, distribution, and delta +. The crabs predominated on Jejudo Island, at the southernmost point of Korea, followed by the South Sea, West Sea, and East Sea. Portunus trituberculatus and Hemigrapsus sanguineus were cosmopolitan species widely distributed across the three seas. Dynamic oceanographic settings of the South Sea, such as archipelago, Rias coast, varied habitats, and (in)direct influence of Kuroshio warm current, seemed to support high crab diversity. The rocky and subtidal habitats represented biodiversity hotspots. The present study would be a useful baseline for gathering further ecological information of globally important marine taxa in Korea and elsewhere. Graphical abstract: Unlabelled Image Highlights: Highlighted first an ecological checklist on crabs inhabiting along the Korean coastal waters Provided the most up to dated information on the taxonomic diversity of brachyuran in Korea Characterized species compositions and regional distributions by type habitats and substrates Meta-analysis revealed rocky and subtidal habitats as biodiversity "hotspots" in Korea. Geographical habitat dynamics and complexity led to great diversity of the Korean crabs