Getbol, Korean Tidal Flats

Description

The four getbol sites that are listed are the Seocheon Getbol, Gochang Getbol, Shinan Getbol and Boseong-Suncheon Getbol. Three sites are located on Korea's western coast while the Boseong-Suncheon Getbol is located on the southern coast. They were listed under criterion (x), which covers sites that "contain the most important and significant natural habitats for in-situ conservation of biological diversity, including those containing threatened species of outstanding universal value from the point of view of science or conservation." Some of the species present in getbols include the mud octopus, Japanese mud crabs, fiddler crab, bristle worms, Stimpson's ghost crab, and Yellow Sea sand snail. There are also several species of suspension feeders, such as clams. Getbols support endangered species of migratory birds on their route across the Yellow Sea, as stopover sites on the East Asian–Australasian Flyway. There were 22 IUCN Red List species recorded as visitors, including the critically endangered spoon-billed sandpiper. Furthermore, 375 species of benthic diatoms, 118 waterbirds, 857 macrobenthos, 152 marine macroalgae, 47 endemic and 5 endangered marine invertebrate species have been recorded in the protected areas.

The tidal flats developed after the Last Glacial Maximum, in an interplay of rivers depositing the sediments and their dispersal by tidal currents, wave action, and wind-induced currents. They formed especially in the estuaries of large rivers and in the island coasts. As a result of monsoon climate, erosion and chemical weathering in the coast is taking place in winter while the deposition of sediment is taking place in summer.