Detailed Reference Information

Marine invertebrates are abundant in Korean waters.However, biological researches on marine invertebrates are limited to the faunal studies in most of the taxa.About 2 800 species of the marine invertebrates (excluding Protozoa) have been reported from Korea.In crustacean decapods, one of the well known group in Korea.83 species of shrimps (including 116 freshwater species, and infraorders Astacidea and Palinura), 187 of crabs, and 59 of anomurans (including infraorder Thalassinidea) are known.Looking at decapod biodiversity, southern form and temperate zone form are abundant and the highest species diversity is observed in the Cheju Island waters.29 species of shrimp, 4 of anomuran, and 24 of crab are economically important and 10 species of shrimp, 19 of anomuran, and 55 of crab are considered as rare species.Molecular phylogenetic studies based on the nucleotide sequences of macromolecules are limited to some animal groups such as anthozoans, crustacean decapods, copepods, molluscans, brachiobdellidans.With the current knowledge about the marine invertebrate fauna as well as the crustacean decapods in Korea, it is difficult to discuss the various aspects of biodiversity.Therefore, the continuous collections, inventory, faunal and systematic studies including molecular approaches one very marine invertebrates are urgently in need