%0 Journal Article %T Sand Grain Size and Organic Matter Concentration in the Intertidal Zones on the Southwest Coast of Taiwan %A Yih-Tsong Ueng %A Feng-Jiau Lin %A Chun-Wen Tsao %A Han-Chang Chen %A Wu-Chanl Chang %J Natural Resources %P 108-123 %@ 2158-7086 %D 2021 %I Scientific Research Publishing %R 10.4236/nr.2021.124009 %X From April 2013 to April 2014, the average pH and water temperature of the Taisi oyster cultivation area (TS, Yunlin County, Taiwan) were 8.05 (7.35 - 8.45) and 24.7˚C (13.7˚C - 32.8˚C) (N = 8226) The average organic matter (OM) concentration at sites TS-A and TS-B were 6.9% ¡À 1.3% and 6.9% ¡À 1.2%, and the weight of drift sand was 40.3 ¡À 19.1 g/d/m² and 28.5 ¡À 34.3 g/d/m² (N = 27). Considerable sand drifting typically occurs during the southwest monsoon season in summer. The average OM concentration at five dunes from Zhuoshui estuary to Zengwun estuary was 23.9 ¡À 4.5 g/kg. The percentage of sand grain weight of 0.15 - 0.25 mm and 0.25 - 0.60 mm was 82.5% ¡À 14.2% and 10.5% ¡À 12.0%. In the spring and autumn of 2015, the average OM concentration at the eight intertidal zones from Hanbao to Cigu was 49.8 ¡À 34.1 g/kg (N = 177), and the OM concentrations at Huwei estuary and Hanbao and Fangyuan intertidal zones were relatively high. The OM concentration (95.3 ¡À 75.7 g/kg) of the low tide zone of Huwei estuary was the highest among all tidal zones. The OM concentration during spring (59.4 ¡À 41.7 g/kg, N = 95) was higher than that in autumn (39.1 ¡À 17.8 g/kg, N = 84). For sand grain size ranges 0.15 - 0.25 and 0.063 - 0.15 mm, the weight ratio of intertidal sediment was 39.4% ¡À 26.9% and 27.6% ¡À 20.1%, respectively. The broad and flat intertidal zone was marked by fine sand and long intertidal zone; the weight ratio of SGSs < 0.25 mm exceeded 65%, and the OM concentration was between 20 and 30 g/kg. Coastal habitat diversity creates differences in biological communities, especially among crabs and benthic organisms. A greater understanding of coastal environments can aid in the management of coastal wetlands. %K Drift Sand %K Intertidal Zone %K Organic Matter %K Sand Grain Size %K Food Chain %U http://www.scirp.org/journal/PaperInformation.aspx?PaperID=108790