Benthic polychaete community structure in the Yellow Sea Bottom Cold Water zone (YSBCW): Species diversity, temporal-spatial distribution, and feeding guilds

The Yellow Sea Bottom Cold Water zone (YSBCW) is a unique seasonal phenomenon in the Yellow Sea, where sea-floor cold water formed in winter is maintained until summer. This survey was conducted at 36 sites from 2018 to 2020. We identified 130 species of polychaetes, with an average density of 275 individuals/m2. The number of species and density were different outside and inside of the YSBCW, and the outside was generally high. The remaining dominant species were all deposit feeders, although differences were observed in the surface or subsurface (burrowers). Correlations between polychaete community and environmental variables strongly correlated with depth, temperature, gravel, and sand. This study investigated polychaete community distribution, environmental characteristics, and feeding guilds in the YSBCW and can be used as a basic database for comprehensive research related to the Yellow Sea in the future.