Journal of Tropical Oceanography ›› 2022, Vol. 41 ›› Issue (3): 135-146.doi: 10.11978/2021125CSTR: 32234.14.2021125

• Marine Biology • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Community structure evaluation of epifaunal macrozoobenthos in the near-island waters of marine ranching in Wuzhizhou Island, Sanya

MA Wengang(), XIA Jingquan, WEI Yifan, YIN Hongyang, QIN Lezheng, LIU Xiangbo, HU Xueqing, XU Qiang(), LI Xiubao(), WANG Aimin   

  1. College of Marine Science, Hainan University, State Key Laboratory of Marine Resources Utilization in South China Sea, Haikou 570228, China
  • Received:2021-09-15 Revised:2021-11-23 Published:2021-11-29
  • Contact: XU Qiang,LI Xiubao E-mail:956497289@qq.com;xuqianghnu@hainanu.edu.cn;xiubaoli@163.com
  • Supported by:
    National Key R&D Program of China(2019YFD0901304);National Natural Science Foundation of China(42076097);Hainan Natural Science Foundation(2019RC070)

Abstract:

Marine ranching in Wuzhizhou Island was rich in reef biological resources. The composition, distribution characteristics, and influencing factors of epifaunal macrozoobenthos community in the near-island area of marine ranching were studied; and the health status of marine ranching ecosystem was evaluated, based on samples obtained from the epibenthic macroinvertebrates community during 2020-2021. Ninety species of echinoderms, molluscs, and arthropods were identified in the near-island coral reef area, of which 55 species were the most in autumn and 16 species were the least in summer. The average annual abundance of epifaunal macrozoobenthos was 0.87±0.26 ind.·m-2, and the average annual biomass was 76.99±34.32 g·m-2. Community cluster analysis and Multi-dimensional scaling analysis showed that the seasonal difference of community structure in this area was not significant. The community structure among stations was affected by the nature of sediments and the frequency of human activities, forming two cluster groups in the north and south areas. The Margalef's richness index (d) was 2.7±1.16, Shannon-Wiener index (H') was 3.14±0.88, and Pielou's evenness index (J) was 0.76±0.11. Based on the diversity evaluation index and Multivariate-AZTI′s marine biotic index (M-AMBI), the environment of marine ranching near the island was not polluted in most seasons except for summer when it was lightly polluted. The stability of macrozoobenthos community was evaluated by abundance-biomass curves. We conclude that the epifaunal macrozoobenthos community was disturbed to a certain extent in all seasons except winter, especially in summer. We should continue to pay attention to the changes of epifaunal macrozoobenthos community and adjust recreational tourism activities so as to ensure the long-term health and stability of marine ranching ecosystem in Wuzhizhou Island.

Key words: marine ranching, coral reef, epifaunal macrozoobenthos, community structure, environmental factors

CLC Number: 

  • Q958