ABSTRACT
To investigate the effects of algal detritus export on the trophic structure of macrozoobenthic community in the adjacent benthic habitat during the bloom and decline of macroalgae, we collected macrozoobenthos from the adjacent sea area of Dalian Island in the North Yellow Sea in May (the algal bloom period) and August (the algal decay period) of 2020. We quantifyied the seasonal changes in the trophic structure of macrozoobenthic community by using carbon and nitrogen stable isotope techniques. Results showed that δ13C and δ15N values of macrozoo-benthos in May ranged from -23.14 to -14.24, 6.21 to 12.90, respectively, and -22.36 to -14.13, 5.33 to 12.00, respectively in August. Results of PERMANOVA analysis showed that δ13C values of macrozoobenthos differed significantly between the two months, while δ15N values were not significantly different. Based on the Euclidean distance, the macrozoobenthic communities in both months could be classified into five trophic functional groups. The trophic levels of macrozoobenthos ranged from 2.00 (Nitidotellina minuta) to 3.97 (Glycera onomichiensis) in May and from 2.00 (N. minuta) to 3.96 (G. onomichiensis) in August. The δ13C range, δ15N range, mean centroid distance, total area and corrected standard ellipse areas which represented community trophic structure indices in August were higher than those in May. Our results indicated that the trophic diversity level and trophic niche width of the macrozoobenthic community in the adjacent sea area of the seaweed bed were higher in the algal decline season.
Subject(s)
Seaweed , Vegetables , Seasons , Carbon , Nitrogen Isotopes , ChinaABSTRACT
Carbon and nitrogen stable isotope analysis was carried out on pelagic fishery organisms caught in light traps and falling nets in the central and western South China Sea in the spring of 2018. The stable isotope values of the sampled individuals were used to elucidate the isotopic variations for the pelagic fishery organisms, to classify species into trophic functional groups, and to compare the differences of trophic structure among the classified trophic functional groups. The results showed that among 23 fishery species the mean δ13C value of Coryphaena hippurus was the lowest (-17.58±0.21), and that of Grammistes sexlineatus was the highest (-19.86±0.33). The mean δ15N values ranged from 8.31 in Psenes cyanophrys to (12.46±0.74) in Chirocentrus dorab. The continuous trophic spectrum indicated that the trophic level (TL) for the sampled pela-gic fishery organisms ranged from 3.01 to 4.23, of which 19 species (83% of the total) fell between TL 3.0 and 4.0. The 23 species of fishery organisms were classified into three trophic functional groups, i.e., plankton feeding functional group (PFFG), nekton feeding functional group (NFFG), and mixed feeding functional group (MFFG). The analysis of standard ellipse area (SEA) showed that the PFFG occupied the largest trophic niche width (SEA=1.562), followed by the MFFG (SEA=0.992) and NFFG (SEA=0.312). The MFFG overlapped with PFFG and NFFG in the trophic niche, with a relative percentage of 17% and 26%, respectively. There was no overlap between PFFG and NFFG.
Subject(s)
Carbon , Nitrogen , Animals , Carbon Isotopes/analysis , China , Fisheries , Food Chain , Humans , Nitrogen Isotopes/analysisABSTRACT
To assess the fish attraction and shelter effects of the artificial reefs in Qingshan Bay of Qingdao, the species composition and distribution patterns of ichthyoplankton in artificial reefs were investigated using vertical and horizontal tows in 2014 and 2015. In total, 7306 fish eggs and 52 fish larvae, belonging to 4 orders, 9 families, 11 genera and 12 species, were collected during 7 cruises in spring, summer and autumn of 2014. In 2015, 10373 eggs and 159 fish larvae, belonging to 6 orders, 11 families, 14 genera and 15 species, were collected in the same period as in 2014. Perciformes were the majority for both fish eggs and larvae collected during the two surveys, followed by Pleuronectiformes. Among fish eggs, Sillago japonica and Cynoglossus joyneri were the most dominant species. Among fish larvae, S. japonica exhibited the highest dominance but was not the dominant species. The high dominant species in both fish eggs and larvae appeared alternately in diffe-rent seasons. The Margalef richness index (R), Shannon diversity index (H) and Pielou evenness index (J) of ichthyoplankton community were low during the spring, summer, and autumn, showing an instable community structure of ichthyoplankton. The average trophic level of adult fish corresponding to the ichthyoplankton collected in the two years were 3.71 and 3.78, respectively, and both belonged to low carnivorous fish of third trophic level. All the species were either warm-tempe-rate species or warm-water species, which was coincident with the warm-temperate zone characteristic. Comprehensive analysis showed that the biodiversity of the ichthyoplankton community within the artificial reef areas was higher than that outside the artificial reef areas, which might be linked to flow velocity, flow field characteristics, or spatial heterogeneity of artificial reef areas.
