• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.340-348
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• 1997

Sledge net samples were taken over the neap and spring tide cycles in January 1993 from the bottom and surface of 1 m depth and at the water's edge in the sandy shore surf zone of Dolsando, southern Korea. Zonation pattern of three dominant gammarid amphipods was compared. The amphipods were more abundant on the bottom and at water's edge than in the surface. Average densities at both sites of Pontogeneia rostrata and Allorchestes angusta were higher during the neap tide than the spring tide, whereas that of Synchelidium lenorostralum was lower during the neap tide. P. rostrata migrated horizontally during the flooding and ebbing tides, but S. lenorostralum and A. angusta did not. Unlike other species, P. rostrata was significantly more abundant at night, suggesting its active nocturnal movement. During flooding tide, P. rostrata was not found on the shore above the mean sea level (MSL) during daytime, but found in 100 cm above MSL at night. Zonal distribution of P. rostrata which was restricted from MSL to 250 cm below MSL, however, did not vary with the day-night cycle during ebbing tide. S. lenorostralum and A. angusta were not found during flooding tide but ebbing tide. The upper distribution limit of the former was 150 cm below MSL, and the distribution of the latter ranged from MSL to 150 cm below MSL. The highest densities of P. rostrata, S. lenorostralum and A. angusta were 32, 26 and 3 ind. $m^{-2}$, respectively. We discussed the relationships between the distribution pattern of three dominant species of gammarid amphipods and their life styles in the sandy shore.