|
|
|
| Spatial and temporal distribution characteristics of macrobenthos at subtidal zone in islands, China |
|
|
|
|
Abstract Based on the data of Comprehensive Investigation and Assessment of Chinese Coastal Waters (908 surveys), 26 representative islands were selected according to the island types and their locations, to analyze the spatial and temporal variation of macrobenthos community at subtidal zone of Chinese islands. Totally 767 macrobenthos species were recorded at subtidal zone of these 26 islands. Among these species, polychaeta, mollusca and crustacea were the dominant groups, while echinoderm had lower species numbers. The species numbers were obvious different among the 26 islands, with value increasing southward. For species number, inhabit density and Shannon-Wiener index, the descending orders of their values were spring> summer> winter> autumn, but it was autumn> spring> summer> winter for biomass. In those islands with intense human activities, such as islands in Yangtze River Delta, alongshore-islands and estuarine-islands, species number of macrobenthos and Shannon-Wiener index were lower than other islands, indicating that the community structure of macrobenthos was significantly disturbed by human activities.
|
|
Received: 18 December 2011
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
