Journal of Tropical Oceanography ›› 2024, Vol. 43 ›› Issue (5): 69-83.doi: 10.11978/2023146CSTR: 32234.14.2023146

• Marine Biology • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Influence of raft-string oyster culture on the functional structure of macrobenthic communities: a case study in the Dapeng Cove*

RAO Yiyong1,2(), ZHAO Meirong1, KUANG Zexing1, HUANG Honghui1,2(), TAN Erhui3   

  1. 1. South China Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou 510300, China
    2. Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Fishery Ecology and Environment, Guangzhou 510300, China
    3. State Key Laboratory of Marine Resource Utilization in South China Sea, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
  • Received:2023-10-10 Revised:2023-10-31 Online:2024-09-10 Published:2024-10-10
  • Supported by:
    National Natural Science Foundation of China(42206119); Open Project of State Key Laboratory of Marine Resource Utilization in South China Sea, Hainan University(MRUKF202101); Central Public-interest Scientific Institution Basal Research Fund, South China Sea Fisheries Research Institute, CAFS(2020TS02); Fujian Provincial Social Science Foundation Youth Project(FJ2021C083)

Abstract:

The environmental and ecological effects of oyster culture are controversial, and the mechanism of its impact on macrobenthic fauna remains unclear. In this study, two comprehensive investigations referring to macrobenthic communities and environmental variables were conducted in November 2020 (autumn) and January 2021 (winter) in a raft-string oyster culture zone and its adjacent waters in the Dapeng Cove. A total of 103 species were obtained, with polychaetes, bivalves, and crustaceans dominating the species composition. Significant seasonal variations were observed, emphasizing the influence of seasonality on macrobenthic communities. Distinct regional differences were also noted between the culture zone and control zone, highlighting the impact of oyster culture on community composition. The community parameters, including species number, density, and biomass, exhibited higher values during winter and in the control zone compared to autumn and the culture zone. The results of biological traits analysis (BTA) indicated that the trait composition of macrobenthic communities differed significantly only between seasons. There was no significant difference in the trait composition of macrobenthic communities between the culture zone and control zone. Nevertheless, regional disparities in bioturbation mode, body size, and feeding type were evident. Functional richness (Fric) displayed lower values in the culture zone compared to the control zone, whereas functional evenness (Feve) and functional divergence (Fdiv) indices remained relatively consistent across regions. This study identified several critical environmental variables shaping macrobenthic community composition, including chlorophyll a, suspended matter, nutrients, sediment organic carbon, sulfide levels, and sediment particle size. Notably, the feeding type, living habit, and larval development patterns of macrobenthic fauna closely correlated with environmental variables. Furthermore, both the species richness (d) and the functional richness (Fric) indices emerged as valuable environmental indicators.

Key words: macrobenthic fauna, oyster culture, species diversity, functional diversity, biological traits analysis