Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Application of a Conceptual Ecological Model to Predict the Effects of Sand Mining around Chilsan Island Group in the West Coast of Korea

  • Article
  • Published:
Ocean Science Journal Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Chilsan Island Group, located on the west coast of South Korea, has been recognized as a critical breeding and nursery ground for endangered seabirds because food is abundant and human activity is low. Chilsan Island Group has been under protection as a Natural Monument (Article no. 389) since 1997, but attempts were made in 2004 to exploit the coastal sands around the islands. A conceptual ecological model (CEM) was employed with energy flow diagram (EFD) to predict the effects of sand mining on the islands’ ecosystem. The results showed that sand mining activities caused long-term damage to benthic ecosystems and threatened seabird communities by reducing fish populations throughout the food web. The changes in energy flow in the ecosystem due to sand mining operations predict that reduction in secondary production of benthic animal communities might reduce energy transfer to humans and seabirds by 30%. Different ranges of uncertainty provided by the Monte Carlo simulation lead to the conclusion that sand mining could bring about undesirable consequences. One concern is that such negative consequences would have a much more severe impact on seabirds than humans because seabirds cannot compete effectively against humans for the limited food sources. In this study, the complex interrelationships between ecosystem members were simplified and a CEM was established to clearly identify which elements would be affected. The CEM with EFD was found to be helpful in promoting communication between stakeholders, and it is expected to be widely used as a decisionmaking tool by public officials.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • An SM, Lee JH, Woo HJ, Koo BJ, Lee HG, Yoo JW, Je JG (2006) Benthic environmental and macrofaunal community changes during the dyke construction in Saemangeum subtidal area, Korea. Ocean Polar Res 28:369–383 (in Korean)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baird D, Evans PR, Milne H, Pienkowski MW (1985) Utilization by shorebirds of benthic invertebrate production in intertidal areas. Oceanogr Mar Biol 23:573–597

    Google Scholar 

  • Barter MA (2002) Shorebirds of the Yellow Sea: importance, threats and conservation status. Wetlands International Global Series 9, International Wader Studies 12, Wetlands International, Canberra

    Google Scholar 

  • BirdLife (2008) Fisheries are targeting smaller fish with serious implications for seabirds. BirdLife Data Zone, BirdLife International. https://doi.org/www.birdlife.org/datazone/sowb/casestudy/168 Accessed 7 Aug 2015

    Google Scholar 

  • Brey T (2001) Population dynamics in benthic invertebrates. A virtual handbook. Version 01.2. https://doi.org/www.thomas-brey.de/science/virtualhandbook Acessed 11 Jul 2017

    Google Scholar 

  • Cattrijsse A, Codling I, Conides A, Duhamel S, Gibson RN, Hostens K, Mathieson S, McLusky DS (2002) Estuarine development/habitat restoration and re-creation and their rolein estuarine management for the benefit of aquatic resources. In: Elliott M, Hemingway KL (eds) Fishes in estuaries. Blackwell Science Ltd, London, pp 266–321. doi:10.1002/9780470995228

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • CHA (1997) Designation report of national cultural heritage -natural monuments and scenic sites. Cultural Heritage Administration of Korea, 135 p

    Google Scholar 

  • CHA (2001) Survey report on the natural monument bird breeding sites and management plan. Cultural Heritage Administration of Korea, 203 p

    Google Scholar 

  • CHA (2017) Natural monument 389. Cultural Heritage Administration of Korea. https://doi.org/www.cha.go.kr/chaen/search/selectGeneralSearchDetail.do?sCcebKdcd=16&ccebAsno=03890000&sCcebCtcd=36 Accessed 11 Jul 2017

    Google Scholar 

  • Chow-Fraser P (1998) A conceptual ecological model to aid restoration of Cootes Paradise Marsh, a degraded coastal wetland of Lake Ontario, Canada. Wetl Ecol Manag 6:43–57

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chung C-S, Yang D-B (1991) On the primary productivity in the southern sea of Korea. J Oceanol Soc Korea 26:242–254

    Google Scholar 

  • Clapp RA (1998) The resource cycle in forestry and fishing. Can Geogr 42:129–144. doi:10.1111/j.1541-0064.1998. tb01560.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Clark RB (2001) Marine pollution. Oxford University Press, Oxford, 248 p

    Google Scholar 

  • Cramp S, Simmons KEL, Brooks DC, Collar NJ, Dunn E, Gillmor R, Hollom PAD, Hudson R, Nicholson EM, Ogilvie MA, Olney PJS, Roselaar CS, Voous KH, Wallace DIM, Wattel J, Wilson MG (1983) Handbook of the birds of Europe, the Middle East and North Africa: the birds of the Western Palearctic volume 3: waders to gulls. Oxford University Press, Oxford, 913 p

    Google Scholar 

  • C-CORE (1996) Proposed mining technologies and mitigation techniques: a detailed analysis with respect to the mining of specific offshore mineral commodities. Contract Report for U.S. Department of Interior, Minerals Management Service, C-CORE Publication 96-C15

    Google Scholar 

  • Daskalov GM, Grishin AN, Rodionov S, Mihneva V (2007) Trophic cascades triggered by overfishing reveal possible mechanisms of ecosystem regime shifts. P Natl Acad Sci USA 104:10518–10523. doi:10.1073/pnas.0701100104

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • de Groot S (1979) The potential environmental impact of marine gravel extraction in the North Sea. Ocean Manage 5:233–249. doi:10.1016/0302-184x(79)90003-9

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ehrlich PR, Dobkin DS, Pimm SL, Wheye D (1994) The birdwatcher’s handbook: a guide to the natural history of the birds of Britain and Europe. Oxford University Press, Oxford, 704 p

    Google Scholar 

  • Furness R, Cooper J (1982) Interactions between breeding seabird and pelagic fish populations in the southern Benguela region. Mar Ecol-Prog Ser 8:243–250. doi:10.3354/meps008243

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gorke M, Brandl R (1986) How to live in colonies: spatial foraging strategies of the black-headed gull. Oecologia 70:288–290. doi:10.1007/bf00379253

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gubbay S (2003) Marine aggregate extraction and biodiversity: information, issues and gaps in understanding. Report to the Joint Marine Programme of the Wildlife Trusts and WWF-UK, 20 p

    Google Scholar 

  • Heip C, Hummel H, van Avesaath P, Appeltans W, Arvanitidis C, Aspden R, Austen M, Boero F, Bouma TJ, Boxshall G, Buchholz F, Crowe T, Delaney A, Deprez T, Emblow C, Feral JP, Gasol JM, Gooday A, Harder J, Ianora A, Kraberg A, Mackenzie B, Ojaveer H, Paterson D, Rumohr H, Schiedek D, Sokolowski A, Somerfield P, Sousa Pinto I, Vincx M, Węsławski JM, Nash R (2009) Marine biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. Printbase, Dublin, 91 p

    Google Scholar 

  • Hwang SW, Lee HG, Choi KH, Kim CK, Lee TW (2014) Impact of sand extraction on fish assemblages in Gyeonggi Bay, Korea. J Coastal Res 298:1251–1259. doi:10.2112/jcoastresd-12-00145.1

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • ICES (2001) Report of the ICES Working Group on the effects of extraction of marine sediments on the marine ecosystem. International Council for the Exploration of the Sea, ICES Cooperative Research Report No. 247, 80 p

    Google Scholar 

  • ICES (2003) Report of the ICES Working Group on the effects of extraction of marine sediments on the marine ecosystem. International Council for the Exploration of the Sea, ICES CM 2003/E:07

    Google Scholar 

  • Jin X, Tang Q (1996) Changes in fish species diversity and dominant species composition in the Yellow Sea. Fish Res 26:337–352

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kang YS, Choi JK, Chung KH, Park YC (1992) Primary productivity and assimilation number in the Kyonggi Bay and the mideastern coast of Yellow Sea. J Oceanol Soc Korea 27:237–246 (in Korean)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kenny AJ, Rees HL, Greening J, Campbell S (1998) The effects of gravel extraction on the macrobenthos at an experimental dredging site off North Norfolk, UK (Results 3 years postdredging). ICES CM 1998/V:14, 14 p

    Google Scholar 

  • Kuipers B, Wilde PD, Creutzberg F (1981) Energy flow in a tidal flat ecosystem. Mar Ecol-Prog Ser 5:215–221. doi:10.3354/meps005215

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kwon YS, Yoo JC (1997) Some aspects of laying incubation and hatching in the black-tailed gull, Larus crassirostris. Korean J Ornithol 4:1–5 (in Korean)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kwon YS, Yoo JC (2007) Growth rates of black-tailed gull (Larus crassirostris) chicks in Hongdo Island. Korean J Ornithol 14:39–44 (in Korean)

    Google Scholar 

  • K-Water (2016) Marine environmental impact assessment of the EEZ sand mining zone in South Sea of Korea. Korea Water Resources Corporation, 1600 p (in Korean)

    Google Scholar 

  • Lalli CM, Parsons TR (1997) Biological oceanography: an introduction-second edition. Butterworth-Heinemann, Oxford, 320 p

    Google Scholar 

  • Levinton JS (1995) Marine biology: function, biodiversity, ecology. Oxford University Press, New York, 420 p

    Google Scholar 

  • Libralato S, Coll M, Tudela S, Palomera I, Pranovi F (2008) Novel index for quantification of ecosystem effects of fishing as removal of secondary production. Mar Ecol-Prog Ser 355: 107–129

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Link JS (2010) Ecosystem-based fisheries management: confronting tradeoffs. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 224 p

    Google Scholar 

  • Mann KH (1982) Ecology of coastal waters. Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford, 322 p

    Google Scholar 

  • McKay SK, Pruitt BA, Anderson CJ, Curran J, Arco Ochoa AD, Freeman MC, Rashleigh B, Trawick ED (2011) Constructing a conceptual model linking drivers and ecosystem services in Piedmont streams. In: Proceedings of the 2011 Georgia Water Resources Conference, University of Georgia, 11–13 April 2011

    Google Scholar 

  • Mendonça VM, Raffaelli DG, Boyle PR (2007) Interactions between shorebirds and benthic invertebrates at Culbin Sands lagoon, NE Scotland: effects of avian predation on their prey community density and structure. Sci Mar 71:579–591. doi:10.3989/scimar. 2007.71n3579

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mistri M, Rossi R, Fano EA (2001) Structure and secondary production of a soft bottom macrobenthic community in a brackish lagoon (Sacca di Goro, north-eastern Italy). Estuar Coast Shelf S 52:605–616

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • MLTM (2009a) Final report on the environmental friendly management plan of sand mining (V). Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime affairs of Korea, No. 11-1611000-000402-10, 824 p (in Korean)

    Google Scholar 

  • MLTM (2009b) National investigation of marine ecosystemsouthern part of the west coast (35.5°N Younggwang-34.5°N Jindo). Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime affairs of Korea, No. 11-1611000-00444-10, 692 p (in Korean)

    Google Scholar 

  • MOMAF (2000) Environmental impact assessment (EIA) report for the proposed construction of fishing port facilities in Gusipo Port, Gochan-gun, North Jeolla Province. Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries of Korea, 601 p (in Korean)

    Google Scholar 

  • MOMAF (2003) Candidate area survey for the East, West coasts and Jeju Island marine ranching program. Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries of Korea, unpublished dataset

    Google Scholar 

  • Nakamura Y (2013) Beneficial reuse of dredged material-a Japanese perspective. PIANC AS Sustainable Ports Workshop, Syndey, 9–10 September 2013. https://doi.org/pianc.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/6.-A-Japanese-Perspective-Nakamura.pdf Accessed 12 July 2017

    Google Scholar 

  • Newell RC, Seiderer LJ, Hitchcock DR (1998) The impact of dredging works in coastal waters: a review of the sensitivity to disturbance and subsequent recovery of biological resources on the sea bed. Oceanogr Mar Biol 36:127–178

    Google Scholar 

  • Quammen ML (1984) Predation by shorebirds, fish and crabs on invertebrates in intertidal mudflats: an experimental test. Ecology 65:529–537

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reynolds RT, Graham RT, Boyce DA (2006) An ecosystem-based conservation strategy for the northern goshawk. Stud Avian Biol 31:299–311

    Google Scholar 

  • Shim JH (2003) Plankton ecology. Seoul Nationall University Press, Seoul, 382 p

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith CJ, Papadopoulou KN, Barnard S, Mazik K, Elliott M, Patrício J, Solaun O, Little S, Bhatia N, Borja A (2016) Managing the marine environment, conceptual models and assessment considerations for the european marine strategy framework directive. Front Mar Sci 3:1–19. doi:10.3389/fmars.2016.00144

    Google Scholar 

  • Steele JH (1975) The structure of marine ecosystems. Harvard University Press, Cambridge, 128 p

    Google Scholar 

  • Takahashi T, Nakata H, Hirano K, Matsuoka K, Iwataki M, Yamaguchi H, Kasuya T (2009) Upwelling of oxygen-depleted water (Sumishio) in Omura Bay, Japan. J Oceanogr 65:113–120. doi:10.1007/s10872-009-0011-2

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tang Q (1989) Changes in the biomass of the Yellow Sea ecosystem. In: Sherman K, Alexander LM (eds) Biomass yields and geography of large marine ecosystems. AAAS Selected Symposium 111, Westview Press, Boulder, pp 7–35

    Google Scholar 

  • Tang Q, Guo X, Sun Y, Zhang B (2007) Ecological conversion efficiency and its influencers in twelve species of fish in the Yellow Sea Ecosystem. J Marine Syst 67:282–291. doi:10.1016/j.jmarsys.2006.04.013

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tian JH, Wang JH, Liu ZC, Li HC, Wang XZ, Xie DY, Tian YK, Liu FC, Yu XJ (2010) A conceptual ecological model of Cangzhou coastal wetlands, Hebei Province, China. Procedia Environ Sci 2:1002–1011

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Uścinowicz S, Jegliński W, Miotk-Szpiganowicz G, Nowak J, Pączek U, Przezdziecki P, Szefler K, Poręba, G (2014) Impact of sand extraction from the bottom of the southern Baltic Sea on the relief and sediments of the seabed. Oceanologia 56:857–880

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Uusitalo L, Lehikoinen A, Helle I, Myrberg K (2015) An overview of methods to evaluate uncertainty of deterministic models in decision support. Environ Modell Softw 63:24–31

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • van Dalfsen JA, Essink K (1997) RAICON: risk analysis of coastal nourishment techniques in the Netherlands. Senck Marit 29:51–53

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • van Dalfsen JA, Essink K (2001) Benthic community response to sand dredging and shoreface nourishment in Dutch coastal waters. Senck Marit 31:329–332

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • van Dalfsen JA, Essink K, Toxvig Madsen H, Birklund J, Romero J, Manzanera M (2000) Differential response of macrozoobenthos to marine sand extraction in the North Sea and the Western Mediterranean. ICES J Mar Sci 57:1439–1445. doi:10.1006/jmsc.2000.0919

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wiens JA, Scott JM (1975) Model estimation of energy flow in Oregon coastal seabird populations. Condor 77:439–452. doi:10.2307/1366091

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wilson JG, Parkes A (1998) Network analysis of the energy flow through the Dublin Bay ecosystem. Biol Environ 98B:179–190

    Google Scholar 

  • Yoo S, Shin K (1995) Primary productivity properties in the nearshore region of Taean Peninsula. Ocean Res 17:91–99 (in Korean)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yoon MB (2004) The diversity of reproductive and foraging behaviors on breeding season of Eurasian oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus). J Ecol Environ 27:383–390 (in Korean)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Korea Institute of Coastal Ecology Inc., Bucheon, 14449, Korea

    Jae-Won Yoo, Chang-Soo Kim & Chang-Gun Lee

  2. Gyeongsangnamdo Ramsar Environmental Foundation, Changnyeong, 50304, Korea

    Chan-Woo Lee

  3. Office of Science & Technology, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Silver Spring, MD, 20910, USA

    Yong-Woo Lee

  4. Department of Oceanography and Ocean Environmental Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, 34134, Korea

    Keun-Hyung Choi

  5. Library of Marine Samples, South Sea Research Institute, KIOST, Geoje, 53201, Korea

    Seung Won Jung

  6. Department of Environmental Engineering, College of Engineering, Kwangwoon University, Seoul, 01897, Korea

    Sung-Joo Jin

  7. Aggregate Resources Management Team, Korea Marine Environment Management Corporation, Seoul, 05718, Korea

    Kyu-Hee Son

Authors
  1. Jae-Won Yoo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Chan-Woo Lee
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Yong-Woo Lee
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Chang-Soo Kim
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Chang-Gun Lee
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Keun-Hyung Choi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Seung Won Jung
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Sung-Joo Jin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. Kyu-Hee Son
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jae-Won Yoo.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Yoo, JW., Lee, CW., Lee, YW. et al. Application of a Conceptual Ecological Model to Predict the Effects of Sand Mining around Chilsan Island Group in the West Coast of Korea. Ocean Sci. J. 53, 521–534 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12601-018-0042-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12601-018-0042-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation