Journal of Tropical Oceanography ›› 2019, Vol. 38 ›› Issue (2): 67-77.doi: 10.11978/2018058CSTR: 32234.14.2018058

• Marine Biology • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Study on the macrozoobenthic community structure in intertidal zone of Fangchenghe Estuary of Guangxi, China

Tinghe LAI1,2(), Binyuan HE1,2(), Zhongjian HUANG2, Qiao TANG3, Luyan QIN2, Ting ZHU2, Zhenni MO2, Li LIU2, Yunxu ZHONG4   

  1. 1. Qinzhou University, Qinzhou 535011, China
    2. Guangxi Academy of Oceanography, Nanning 530022, China
    3. Guangxi Beilun Estuary National Reserve, Fangchenggang 538100, China
    4. Guangxi Mangrove Research Center, Beihai 536000, China
  • Received:2018-05-31 Revised:2018-08-29 Online:2019-03-20 Published:2019-04-15
  • Supported by:
    Science and Technology Project of State Oceanic Administration (YLFCJ20164006-F);Science and Technology Project of Guangxi Oceanic Administration (GXHYJ100);National Key Research and Development Program of China (2017YFC0506100)

Abstract:

Based on the survey in May, August and November 2016 and February 2017, the effects of natural and anthropogenic factors on macrozoobenthic community structure in the intertidal zone of Fangchenghe Estuary of Guangxi, China were studied. A total of 252 species belonging to 10 phyla of intertidal macrozoobenthos were collected, among which Mollusca, Arthropoda and Annelida were richer in species abundance. Cerithidea cingulata, Ruditapes philippinarum, Mictyris longicarpus, Batillaria zonalis, Cyclina sinensis, Laternula nanhaiensis, Meretrix meretrix, and Gelolna coaxans were ranked as the top eight dominant species in this study area through the whole year. The annual average density and biomass of the study area were 203 ind?m-2 and 276.58 g?m-2, respectively, in which Mollusca occupied 69.58% and 83.73% to the total, respectively. ANOVA showed that salinity and sediment type factors had significant influences (p<0.05 and less) on macrozoobenthos density, biomass, species diversity H′, Richness d, Evenness J, and quadrat-based species abundance, while season and tidal zone factors had very small influences (p>0.05) on them. Salinity had larger influences on density and biomass than sediment type did, while sediment type had larger influences on species diversity H′, Richness d, Evenness J, and quadrat-based species abundance than salinity did. Both clustering analysis and multidimensional scaling analysis obtained the same results that the 21 sampling stations could be divided into three groups, basically owing to the effects from salinity and sediment type. The status of diversity index H′ showed that in general the intertidal macrozoobenthic communities were under middle-level fluctuation. Comprehensively, three factors, i.e., salinity, sediment type and anthropogenic fluctuation, played combined roles on the spatial distribution pattern of macrozoobenthic communities in the intertidal zone of Fangchenghe Estuary.

Key words: Fangchenghe Estuary, intertidal macrozoobenthos, community structure, environmental fluctuation

CLC Number: 

  • P735.542