Journal of Tropical Oceanography ›› 2025, Vol. 44 ›› Issue (4): 106-118.doi: 10.11978/2024170

• Marine Ecology • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Comparison of macrobenthic community structure between seagrass beds in Xincungang and Li’angang, Hainan

HE Chen1,2(), WANG Jianing1,2, ZHOU Linbin1, KE Zhixin1, LIU Weiwei1, LIU Jiaxing1, WANG Junxing3, TAN Yehui1,2(), CHEN Zhiyun1()   

  1. 1. Marine Biodiversity Collection of South China Sea, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, China
    2. University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
    3. Ocean Technology Center of Huizhou, Department of National Resources of Huizhou Bureau, Huizhou 516003, China
  • Received:2024-09-06 Revised:2024-10-13 Online:2025-07-10 Published:2025-07-31
  • Contact: TAN Yehui, CHEN Zhiyun
  • Supported by:
    National Investigation of Technological Basic Resources Project(2015FY110600); Science and Technology Planning Project of Guangdong Province(2023B1212060047); Science and Technology Planning Project of Guangdong Province(2024B1212040008); Taxonomist Project, Chinese Academy of Sciences(CAS-TAX-24-043); National Animal Collection Resource Center, China

Abstract:

Based on the ecological survey data of macrobenthos in the seagrass beds of Xincungang (20152016) and Li’angang (20172018) across four seasons, we compared their community structures. The results showed that: (1) A total of 96 species of macrobenthos were recorded in the seagrass beds of the two areas, with 50 species in Xincungang and 62 species in Li’angang. Both seagrass beds were dominated by annelids, and Dasybranchus caducus was a common dominant species. Except in autumn, the average density of inhabited macrobenthos in Xincungang was higher than in Li’angang, while, except in summer, the biomass in Li’angang was higher than in Xincungang. (2) The Shannon-Wiener diversity index (H′), Pielou’s evenness index (J′), and Margalef’s richness index (d) in Li’angang were all higher than those in Xincungang. The W value of the abundance/biomass curves (ABC) in Li’angang was also significantly higher than in Xincungang, indicating that the macrobenthos community structure in Li’angang’s seagrass beds was more stable and less disturbed. (3) Cluster analysis of community inhabited density and biomass revealed that the communities in the two areas could be divided into two distinct groups at a similarity level of approximately 15%, demonstrating significant differences in the macrobenthos community structure between Xincungang and Li’angang. Combined with historical research, these differences are likely attributed to variations in hydrological conditions and pollution from aquaculture activities. Compared with historical data, the macrobenthos communities in the seagrass bed protected areas of both locations have shown signs of recovery, suggesting that ongoing protection and restoration efforts are effective and necessary.

Key words: seagrass beds, macrobenthos, community structure, biodiversity, Hainan

CLC Number: 

  • P735