The variation of biodiversity of macrobenthic fauna with salinity and water depth near the Pearl Estuary of the northern South China Sea

doi:10.3724/SP.J.1003.2014.13141

Abstract

Abstract:

To study the relationship between macrobenthic fauna and environmental factors, we investigated four transects from coast to deep-sea waters near the Pearl Estuary in the northern South China Sea from July -August 2006 (Summer, wet season), April-May 2007 (Spring, normal water season), and October-December 2007 (Autumn, dry season). A total of 273 species, 256 species and 148 species were identified in spring, summer and autumn, respectively. Macrobenthic fauna belonging to the Annelida phylum had the greatest species richest, followed by Arthropoda, Mollusca, and Echinodermata. The species richness, abundance and biomass of macrobenthic fauna increased from estuary sites to coastal sites, and decreased from coastal sites to deep-sea sites. The Shannon-Wiener index of macrobenthic fauna was higher in coastal sites than those in estuary and deep-sea sites. The species evenness of macrobenthic fauna was the highest in deep-sea sites, followed by coast and estuary sites. The k-dominance curves of macrobenthic fauna were higher in estuary and deep-sea sites than that in coastal sites. These results show that the macrobenthic biodiversity was the highest in coastal sites. Species richness, abundance, and biomass of macrobenthic fauna are negatively correlated with water depth in spring and autumn, but only biomass of macrobenthic fauna is negatively correlated with water depth in summer. The species richness, abundance, Shannon-Wiener index, and species evenness of macrobenthic fauna are positively correlated with salinity in the bottom of the water column in summer, but are not correlated in spring and autumn.

Key words: Macrobenthic fauna, Shannon-Wiener index, k-dominance curve, Pearl Estuary

Jinghuai Zhang. The variation of biodiversity of macrobenthic fauna with salinity and water depth near the Pearl Estuary of the northern South China Sea[J]. Biodiv Sci, 2014, 22(3): 302-310.

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URL: https://www.biodiversity-science.net/EN/10.3724/SP.J.1003.2014.13141

https://www.biodiversity-science.net/EN/Y2014/V22/I3/302

Figures/Tables 7

References 27

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断面 Transect	站位 Station	沉积类型 Sediment	水深 Water depth	春季 Spring			夏季 Summer			秋季 Autumn
断面 Transect	站位 Station	沉积类型 Sediment	水深 Water depth	BWS	H'	J'	BWS	H'	J'	BWS	H'	J'
T1	T1-01	细沙或泥 Silver sand or mud	15.5	34.0	3.44	0.72	31.5	2.00	1.00	31.4	4.14	0.93
	T1-02	泥沙 Mud sand	48.1	34.3	3.41	0.90	34.3	4.22	0.82	33.1	3.48	0.87
	T1-03	泥沙 Mud sand	97.5	34.4	3.92	0.94	34.5	2.81	0.70	34.2	2.32	1.00
	T1-04	泥沙 Mud sand	259	34.5	1.58	1.00	34.5	1.37	0.86	34.5	NC	NC
	T1-05	沙 Sand	314	34.5	1.79	0.90	34.5	2.99	0.94	34.5	0.00	1.00
T2	T2-01	泥沙 Mud sand	8.5	13.7	1.91	0.95	0.8	2.15	0.83	15.0	1.45	0.72
	T2-02	泥沙 Mud sand	10.7	10.5	1.00	1.00	1.6	0.00	1.00	15.6	0.00	1.00
	T2-03	泥沙 Mud sand	7.7	18.0	2.13	0.92	6.0	2.25	0.97	17.0	2.11	0.75
	T2-04	泥沙 Mud sand	9.8	32.2	3.75	0.68	18.0	1.50	0.95	21.6	1.36	0.68
	T2-05	泥 Mud	9.0	32.5	4.04	0.81	19.8	2.05	0.79	26.5	2.59	1.00
	T2-06	泥 Mud	6.0	31.9	0.20	0.06	9.8	2.92	0.92	27.9	3.39	0.98
	T2-07	泥 Mud	7.9	31.1	2.71	0.78	28.1	2.93	0.93	29.1	3.07	0.89
	T2-08	泥沙 Mud sand	16.8	33.4	4.65	0.88	30.3	4.24	0.93	32.8	4.00	0.85
	T2-09	泥 Mud	31.0	34.4	4.14	0.92	34.3	3.67	0.92	32.9	3.12	0.90
	T2-10	泥沙 Mud sand	41.6	34.4	4.61	0.93	34.31	4.02	0.96	33.6	3.68	0.97
	T2-11	泥沙 Mud sand	54.0	34.4	3.72	0.95	34.4	4.31	0.98	34.0	3.80	0.89
	T2-12	泥沙 Mud sand	70.8	34.4	3.17	1.00	34.4	4.08	0.87	34.1	4.28	0.98
	T2-13	泥沙 Mud sand	92.4	34.4	3.48	0.94	34.4	3.67	0.94	34.2	2.95	0.98
	T2-14	泥沙 Mud sand	131	34.6	2.86	0.90	34.5	2.52	0.98	34.3	1.00	1.00
	T2-15	泥沙 Mud sand	486	34.4	3.52	0.93	34.5	2.41	0.93	34.4	2.65	0.94
T3	T3-01	泥沙 Mud sand	36	34.5	4.91	0.89	34.3	2.25	0.52	33.6	3.93	0.86
	T3-02	泥沙 Mud sand	43.6	34.5	4.72	0.88	34.3	4.54	0.96	33.8	2.71	0.90
	T3-03	泥沙 Mud sand	72.0	34.5	3.99	0.91	34.4	3.56	0.91	34.1	3.68	0.97
	T3-04	泥沙 Mud sand	127	34.6	3.73	0.98	34.5	3.73	0.98	34.1	2.50	0.97
	T3-05	泥沙 Mud sand	814	34.5	1.24	0.62	34.5	1.58	1.00	34.4	NC	NC
T4	T4-01	泥 Mud	13.5	31.5	3.18	0.71	34.3	3.36	0.81	31.9	2.41	0.58
	T4-02	泥沙 Mud sand	42.0	34.3	4.93	0.91	34.4	4.98	0.94	33.7	4.56	0.91
	T4-03	泥沙 Mud sand	65.5	34.4	3.00	1.00	34.4	4.66	0.98	34.1	2.95	0.98
	T4-04	泥沙 Mud sand	90.0	34.5	3.50	0.95	34.5	3.58	0.97	34.1	1.59	1.00
	T4-05	泥沙 Mud sand	157	34.6	NC	NC	34.6	1.79	0.90	34.5	1.50	0.95
	T4-06	泥沙 Mud sand	455	34.4	NC	NC	34.4	2.42	0.94	34.4	NC	NC

断面 Transect	站位 Station	沉积类型 Sediment	水深 Water depth	春季 Spring			夏季 Summer			秋季 Autumn
断面 Transect	站位 Station	沉积类型 Sediment	水深 Water depth	BWS	H'	J'	BWS	H'	J'	BWS	H'	J'
T1	T1-01	细沙或泥 Silver sand or mud	15.5	34.0	3.44	0.72	31.5	2.00	1.00	31.4	4.14	0.93
	T1-02	泥沙 Mud sand	48.1	34.3	3.41	0.90	34.3	4.22	0.82	33.1	3.48	0.87
	T1-03	泥沙 Mud sand	97.5	34.4	3.92	0.94	34.5	2.81	0.70	34.2	2.32	1.00
	T1-04	泥沙 Mud sand	259	34.5	1.58	1.00	34.5	1.37	0.86	34.5	NC	NC
	T1-05	沙 Sand	314	34.5	1.79	0.90	34.5	2.99	0.94	34.5	0.00	1.00
T2	T2-01	泥沙 Mud sand	8.5	13.7	1.91	0.95	0.8	2.15	0.83	15.0	1.45	0.72
	T2-02	泥沙 Mud sand	10.7	10.5	1.00	1.00	1.6	0.00	1.00	15.6	0.00	1.00
	T2-03	泥沙 Mud sand	7.7	18.0	2.13	0.92	6.0	2.25	0.97	17.0	2.11	0.75
	T2-04	泥沙 Mud sand	9.8	32.2	3.75	0.68	18.0	1.50	0.95	21.6	1.36	0.68
	T2-05	泥 Mud	9.0	32.5	4.04	0.81	19.8	2.05	0.79	26.5	2.59	1.00
	T2-06	泥 Mud	6.0	31.9	0.20	0.06	9.8	2.92	0.92	27.9	3.39	0.98
	T2-07	泥 Mud	7.9	31.1	2.71	0.78	28.1	2.93	0.93	29.1	3.07	0.89
	T2-08	泥沙 Mud sand	16.8	33.4	4.65	0.88	30.3	4.24	0.93	32.8	4.00	0.85
	T2-09	泥 Mud	31.0	34.4	4.14	0.92	34.3	3.67	0.92	32.9	3.12	0.90
	T2-10	泥沙 Mud sand	41.6	34.4	4.61	0.93	34.31	4.02	0.96	33.6	3.68	0.97
	T2-11	泥沙 Mud sand	54.0	34.4	3.72	0.95	34.4	4.31	0.98	34.0	3.80	0.89
	T2-12	泥沙 Mud sand	70.8	34.4	3.17	1.00	34.4	4.08	0.87	34.1	4.28	0.98
	T2-13	泥沙 Mud sand	92.4	34.4	3.48	0.94	34.4	3.67	0.94	34.2	2.95	0.98
	T2-14	泥沙 Mud sand	131	34.6	2.86	0.90	34.5	2.52	0.98	34.3	1.00	1.00
	T2-15	泥沙 Mud sand	486	34.4	3.52	0.93	34.5	2.41	0.93	34.4	2.65	0.94
T3	T3-01	泥沙 Mud sand	36	34.5	4.91	0.89	34.3	2.25	0.52	33.6	3.93	0.86
	T3-02	泥沙 Mud sand	43.6	34.5	4.72	0.88	34.3	4.54	0.96	33.8	2.71	0.90
	T3-03	泥沙 Mud sand	72.0	34.5	3.99	0.91	34.4	3.56	0.91	34.1	3.68	0.97
	T3-04	泥沙 Mud sand	127	34.6	3.73	0.98	34.5	3.73	0.98	34.1	2.50	0.97
	T3-05	泥沙 Mud sand	814	34.5	1.24	0.62	34.5	1.58	1.00	34.4	NC	NC
T4	T4-01	泥 Mud	13.5	31.5	3.18	0.71	34.3	3.36	0.81	31.9	2.41	0.58
	T4-02	泥沙 Mud sand	42.0	34.3	4.93	0.91	34.4	4.98	0.94	33.7	4.56	0.91
	T4-03	泥沙 Mud sand	65.5	34.4	3.00	1.00	34.4	4.66	0.98	34.1	2.95	0.98
	T4-04	泥沙 Mud sand	90.0	34.5	3.50	0.95	34.5	3.58	0.97	34.1	1.59	1.00
	T4-05	泥沙 Mud sand	157	34.6	NC	NC	34.6	1.79	0.90	34.5	1.50	0.95
	T4-06	泥沙 Mud sand	455	34.4	NC	NC	34.4	2.42	0.94	34.4	NC	NC

季节 Seasons	项目 Items
季节 Seasons	S	ABU	BIO	H'	J'
春季 Spring (n=29)
水深 Water depth (m)	-0.443^*	-0.524^**	-0.428^*	-0.306	-0.248
底层海水水温 Water temperature in the bottom of water column (°C)	0.528^**	0.413^*	0.421^*	0.447^*	0.319
底层海水盐度 Salinity in the bottom of water column	0.228	0.184	0.195	0.099	-0.121
底层海水溶解氧 Dissolved oxygen in the bottom of water column (mg/L)	0.643^**	0.672^**	0.481^**	0.494^**	0.371^*
底层海水pH pH in the bottom of the water column	0.470^**	0.351	0.324	0.324	0.074
底层海水碱度 Alkalinity in the bottom of water column (mmol/L)	0.096	-0.013	0.003	0.023	-0.160
底层海水悬浮物 Suspended substance in the bottom of water column (mg/L)	-0.076	0.230	0.226	-0.141	-0.013
底层海水叶绿素a Chlorophyll a concentration in the bottom of water column (mg/m³)	0.556^**	0.642^**	0.506^**	0.352	0.220
夏季 Summer (n=31)
水深 Water depth (m)	-0.136	-0.17	-0.520**	0.082	0.212
底层海水水温 Water temperature in the bottom of water column (°C)	0.152	0.146	0.379*	-0.094	-0.246
底层海水盐度 Salinity in the bottom of water column	0.469**	0.372*	-0.038	0.603**	0.547**
底层海水溶解氧 Dissolved oxygen in the bottom of water column (mg/L)	0.373*	0.27	0.362*	0.342	0.208
底层海水pH pH in the bottom of the water column	0.677**	0.532**	0.146	0.836**	0.723**
底层海水碱度 Alkalinity in the bottom of water column (mmol/L)	0.487**	0.386*	0.001	0.659**	0.614**
底层海水悬浮物 Suspended substance in the bottom of water column (mg/L)	-0.348	-0.241	0.230	-0.588**	-0.588**
底层海水叶绿素a Chlorophyll a concentration in the bottom of water column (mg/m³)	0.031	0.16	0.481**	-0.199	-0.295
秋季 Autumn (n=27)
水深 Water depth (m)	-0.618**	-0.651**	-0.633**	-0.524**	-0.490**
底层海水水温 Water temperature in the bottom of water column (°C)	0.670**	0.661**	0.607**	0.633**	0.626**
底层海水盐度 Salinity in the bottom of water column	0.048	-0.016	-0.119	0.126	0.089
底层海水溶解氧 Dissolved oxygen in the bottom of water column (mg/L)	0.710**	0.658**	0.570**	0.717**	0.699**
底层海水pH pH in the bottom of the water column	0.415*	0.311	0.144	0.484**	0.453*
底层海水碱度 Alkalinity in the bottom of water column (mmol/L)	-0.043	-0.099	-0.225	0.030	0.001
底层海水悬浮物 Suspended substance in the bottom of water column (mg/L)	0.261	0.348	0.306	0.099	0.039
底层海水叶绿素a Chlorophyll a concentration in the bottom of water column (mg/m³)	0.655**	0.714**	0.647**	0.532**	0.456**

季节 Seasons	项目 Items
季节 Seasons	S	ABU	BIO	H'	J'
春季 Spring (n=29)
水深 Water depth (m)	-0.443^*	-0.524^**	-0.428^*	-0.306	-0.248
底层海水水温 Water temperature in the bottom of water column (°C)	0.528^**	0.413^*	0.421^*	0.447^*	0.319
底层海水盐度 Salinity in the bottom of water column	0.228	0.184	0.195	0.099	-0.121
底层海水溶解氧 Dissolved oxygen in the bottom of water column (mg/L)	0.643^**	0.672^**	0.481^**	0.494^**	0.371^*
底层海水pH pH in the bottom of the water column	0.470^**	0.351	0.324	0.324	0.074
底层海水碱度 Alkalinity in the bottom of water column (mmol/L)	0.096	-0.013	0.003	0.023	-0.160
底层海水悬浮物 Suspended substance in the bottom of water column (mg/L)	-0.076	0.230	0.226	-0.141	-0.013
底层海水叶绿素a Chlorophyll a concentration in the bottom of water column (mg/m³)	0.556^**	0.642^**	0.506^**	0.352	0.220
夏季 Summer (n=31)
水深 Water depth (m)	-0.136	-0.17	-0.520**	0.082	0.212
底层海水水温 Water temperature in the bottom of water column (°C)	0.152	0.146	0.379*	-0.094	-0.246
底层海水盐度 Salinity in the bottom of water column	0.469**	0.372*	-0.038	0.603**	0.547**
底层海水溶解氧 Dissolved oxygen in the bottom of water column (mg/L)	0.373*	0.27	0.362*	0.342	0.208
底层海水pH pH in the bottom of the water column	0.677**	0.532**	0.146	0.836**	0.723**
底层海水碱度 Alkalinity in the bottom of water column (mmol/L)	0.487**	0.386*	0.001	0.659**	0.614**
底层海水悬浮物 Suspended substance in the bottom of water column (mg/L)	-0.348	-0.241	0.230	-0.588**	-0.588**
底层海水叶绿素a Chlorophyll a concentration in the bottom of water column (mg/m³)	0.031	0.16	0.481**	-0.199	-0.295
秋季 Autumn (n=27)
水深 Water depth (m)	-0.618**	-0.651**	-0.633**	-0.524**	-0.490**
底层海水水温 Water temperature in the bottom of water column (°C)	0.670**	0.661**	0.607**	0.633**	0.626**
底层海水盐度 Salinity in the bottom of water column	0.048	-0.016	-0.119	0.126	0.089
底层海水溶解氧 Dissolved oxygen in the bottom of water column (mg/L)	0.710**	0.658**	0.570**	0.717**	0.699**
底层海水pH pH in the bottom of the water column	0.415*	0.311	0.144	0.484**	0.453*
底层海水碱度 Alkalinity in the bottom of water column (mmol/L)	-0.043	-0.099	-0.225	0.030	0.001
底层海水悬浮物 Suspended substance in the bottom of water column (mg/L)	0.261	0.348	0.306	0.099	0.039
底层海水叶绿素a Chlorophyll a concentration in the bottom of water column (mg/m³)	0.655**	0.714**	0.647**	0.532**	0.456**