Depositional environment classification based on environmental variables of South Korea's Nakdong River Estuary barrier-lagoon system

Anthropogenic activities have altered the geomorphological and ecological conditions of the Nakdong River Estuary (NRE) dramatically over the last century. The objectives of this study were to classify NRE sub-environments and to identify their unique ecological functions. The first step in classifi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Marine pollution bulletin 2019-01, Vol.138, p.30-36
Main Authors: Choi, Jae Ung, Kang, Jeongwon, Lee, Jun-Ho, Woo, Han Jun
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Anthropogenic factors
Barrier-lagoon system
Brackishwater environment
Classification
Dyke
Ecological conditions
Ecological function
Ecology
Ecosystem
Environmental conditions
Environmental organizations
Estuaries
Estuarine dynamics
Estuarine environments
Geologic Sediments - analysis
Geomorphology
Human influences
Landscape
Marine environment
Multivariate Analysis
Nakdong River Estuary
Organic matter
Republic of Korea
Rivers
Sediments
Sub-environments
Terrestrial environments
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Summary:Anthropogenic activities have altered the geomorphological and ecological conditions of the Nakdong River Estuary (NRE) dramatically over the last century. The objectives of this study were to classify NRE sub-environments and to identify their unique ecological functions. The first step in classification was the establishment of 14 a priori sub-environmental groups based on landscape factors. Surface sediments obtained for these groups were analyzed for factors related to grain size and organic matter. Based on the results, the NRE was divided into two primary estuarine environment divisions: (1) a mixed marine and terrestrial environment influenced primarily by land; and (2) a principally marine environment influenced primarily by the ocean. Using multivariate analysis, we subdivided these primary estuarine divisions into six sub-environments, including Sub-1 and -2 in the former and Sub-3, -4, -5, and -6 in the latter. •NRE depositional environments were divided into 14 a priori groups based on landscape.•The NRE was divided into six sub-environments based on environmental factors determined by multivariate analysis.•These presently reported baseline classifications are valuable for future environmental assessments of the NRE.
ISSN:0025-326X
1879-3363
DOI:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2018.11.025