Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Middle-Scale Spatial and Temporal Patterns in Estuaries: Rocky Intertidal Macrobenthic Communities in the Hangzhou Bay and Zhoushan Sea

  • Published:
Estuaries and Coasts Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Salinity gradient directly influences the composition and distribution of biological communities from upstream to downstream of the estuary. In this middle-scale study, a large dataset (10 rocky sections of 3 islands) of the Hangzhou Bay and Zhoushan Sea allowed thoroughly analyzing salinity and seasonal gradients and relating macrobenthos distributions and community structure to environment factors. In general, distinct regional differences were found in the distribution, diversity and community structures of macrobenthos. Abundance and biomass in all regions were dominated by suspension feeders and increased along the estuarine gradient. Significant seasonal differences were found in the abundance and biomass of herbivores, and significant regional differences were found in the abundance and biomass of suspension feeders. Redundancy analysis showed that water temperature was the dominant factor for the low-salt region, suspended particulate matter was the dominant factor for the mid-salt region, and water temperature as well as chlorophyll-a were the dominant factors for the high-salt region. These results showed that at a middle-scale estuary a considerable fraction of the variation in distribution and community structure of the intertidal macrobenthos correlated very well with environmental factors (salinity, water temperature, chlorophyll-a and suspended particulate matter).

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

Data Availability

Raw data used in this study is available upon request.

References

  • Anderson, M.J., R.N. Gorley, and K.R. Clarke. 2008. PERMANOVA+ for PRIMER: Guide to Software and Statistical Methods. PRIMER-E, Plymouth, UK.

  • Avramidi, E., S.C.G. Gómez, S. Papaspyrou, V. Louca, D. Xevgenos, and F.C. Küpper. 2022. Benthic biodiversity near brine discharge sites in the Port of Rotterdam. Water Resources and Industry 27: 100173.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bian, J.Y., L. Yuan, Q. Wang, J.M. Jiang, J.Y. Li, H. Zhuang, J.Z. Xue, and H.X. Wu. 2013. Analysis on the trend of seawater quality variation and assessment of eutrophication at Yangshan Deep-water Port. Marine Science Bulletin 1: 107–112.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bremner, J. 2008. Species’ traits and ecological functioning in marine conservation and management. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 366: 37–47.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cai, R.X., and Z.G. Huang. 1981. Studies on the biology of Balanus reticulatus utinomi in the harbour of xiamen. I. Breeding, attachmentand growth. Acta Zoologica Sinica 3: 75–81.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen, C.C., L.Y. Xiang, and H.Q. Liu. 2012. Adhesion mechanism and prevention of marine biofouling barnacle. Marine Environmental Science 4: 4.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen, H., and Z. L. Xu. 2010. Effects of Yangshan Project in Hangzhou Bay on distribution of zoo- plankton biomass in the adjacent waters. Journal of Fishery Sciences of China 17(6): 1319–1326.

  • Chen, L., Q. Li, Q.Z. Wang, L.F. Kong, and X.D. Zheng. 2011. Techniques of Artificial Breeding of the Oyster Ostrea denselamellosa. Periodical of Ocean University of China 41: 43–42.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clarke, K.R., and R.N. Gorley. 2006. Primer v6: User Manual/Tutorial. Plymouth, UK: PRIMER-E Ltd.

    Google Scholar 

  • Costanza, R., O. Pérez-Maqueo, M. L. Martinez, P. Sutton, S. J. Anderson, and K. Mulder. 2008. The value of coastal wetlands for hurricane protection. Ambio 37(4), 241–248.

  • Danielsen, F., M.K. Sørensen, M.F. Olwig, V. Selvam, F. Parish, N.D. Burgess, T. Hiraishi, V.M. Karunagaran, M.S. Rasmussen, L.B. Hansen, A. Quarto, and N. Suryadiputra. 2005. The Asian Tsunami: A Protective Role for Coastal Vegetation. Science 310 (5748): 643–643.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dauvin, J. 2007. Paradox of estuarine quality: Benthic indicators and indices, consensus or debate for the future. Marine Pollution Bulletin 55 (1–6): 271–281.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Day, J.W., W.M. Kemp, A. Yanez-Arancibia, and B.C. Crump. 2012. Estuarine ecology, 2nd ed. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley-Blackwell.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Dethier, M.N., and G.C. Schoch. 2005. The consequences of scale: Assessing the distribution of benthic populations in a complex estuarine fjord. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science 62 (1–2): 253–270.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dias, H.Q., S. Sukumaran, T. Srinivas, and J. Mulik. 2018. Ecological quality status evaluation of a monsoonal tropical estuary using benthic indices: Comparison via a seasonal approach. Environmental Science and Pollution Research 25 (23): 22672–22688.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Donald, S. M., and M. Elliott. 2004. The estuarine ecosystem: ecology, threats and management: OUP Oxford.

  • Elliott M., and V. Quintino. 2007. The estuarine quality paradox, environmental homeostasis and the difficulty of detecting anthropogenic stress in naturally stressed areas. Marine Pollution Bulletin 54(6): 640–645.

  • Frank, P.W. 1965. The biodemography of an intertidal snail population. Ecology 46 (6): 831–844.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gaitán-Espitia, J.D., L.D. Bacigalupe, T. Opitz, N.A. Lagos, S. Osores, and M.A. Lardies. 2017. Exploring physiological plasticity and local thermal adaptation in an intertidal crab along a latitudinal cline. Journal of Thermal Biology 68: 14–20.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ganesh, T., M. Rakhesh, A.V. Raman, S. Nanduri, S. Moore, and B. Rajanna. 2014. Macrobenthos response to sewage pollution in a tropical inshore area. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 186 (6): 3553–3566.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gao, A.G. 2011. Distribution characteristics of shellfish in intertidal zone on the north bank of Qiantang Estuary. Abstract collection of the 9th General Meeting and 15th Academic Symposium of Shellfish Branch of China Zoological Society and Chinese Society for Oceanology and Limnology.

  • Gray, J.S., and M. Elliott. 2009. Ecology of marine sediments: from science to management: Oxford University Press.

  • Harley, C.D.G., and B.S.T. Helmuth. 2003. Local-and regional-scale effects of wave exposure, thermal stress, and absolute versus effective shore level on patterns of intertidal zonation. Limnology and Oceanography 48 (4): 1498–1508.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Harley, C.D.G. 2008. Tidal dynamics, topographic orientation, and temperature-mediated mass mortalities on rocky shores. Marine Ecology Progress Series 371: 37–46.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Herman, P.M.J., J.J. Middelburg, J. Widdows, C.H. Lucas, and C.H.R. Heip. 2000. Stable isotope labelling experiments confirm the importance of microphytobenthos as food for macrofauna. Marine Ecology Progress Series 204: 79–92.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hillebrand, H., and B. Matthiessen. 2009. Biodiversity in a complex world: Consolidation and progress in functional biodiversity research. Ecology Letters 12 (12): 1405–1419.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hochachka, P.W., and G.N. Somero. 2002. Biochemical adaptation: Mechanism and process in physiological evolution. Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Huang, B., J. Wu, J. Tang, J. Hu, and J. Wang. 2010. The study on the correlation between zooplankton community and water mass in the Hangzhou Bay. Acta Oceanologica Sinica 32: 170–175.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hughes, T.P., K.D. Anderson, S.R. Connolly, S.F. Heron, J.T. Kerry, J.M. Lough, A.H. Baird, J.K. Baum, M.L. Berumen, T.C. Bridge, D.C. Clarr, C.M. Eakin, J.P. Gilmour, N.A.J. Graham, H. Harrison, J.A. Hobbs, A.S. Hoey, M. Hoogenboom, R.J. Lowe, M.T. McCulloch, and PAndolfi, J.M., Pratchett, M., Schoepf, V., Torda, G., and Wilson, S.K. 2018. Spatial and temporal patternsof mass bleaching of coralsin the Anthropocene. Science 359: 80–83.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hughes, T.P., M.L. Barnes, D.R. Bellwood, J.E. Cinner, G.S. Cumming, J.B.C. Jackson, J. Kleypas, A. van de Ingrid, I.A. Leemput, J.M. Lough, T.H. Morrison, S.R. Palumbi, E.H. van Nes, and M. Scheffer. 2017. Coral reefs in the Anthropocene. Nature 546 (7656): 82–90.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jiang, Z.B., J.J. Liu, S.L. Li, Y. Chen, P. Du, Y.L. Zhu, Y.B. Liao, Q.Z. Chen, L. Shou, X.J. Yan, J.N. Zeng, and J.F. Chen. 2020. Kelp cultivation effectively improves water quality and regulates phytoplankton community in a turbid, highly eutrophic bay. Science of the Total Environment 707: 135561.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kennish, M.J. 2002. Environmental threats and environmental future of estuaries. Environmental Conservation 29 (1): 78–107.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Khedhri, I., A. Afli, and L. Aleya. 2017. Structuring factors of the spatio-temporal variability of macrozoobenthos assemblages in a southern Mediterranean lagoon: How useful for bioindication is a multi-biotic indices approach? Marine Pollution Bulletin 114 (1): 515–527.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kohn, A.J. 1993. Episodic mortality of limpets on a shore platform at Rottnest Island, Western Australia. The 5th Int Mar Biol Workshop: the marine flora and fauna of Rottnest Island, Western Australia. Western Australia Museum, Perth: 495–508.

  • Leonard, G.H. 2000. Latitudinal variation in species interactions: A test in the New England rocky intertidal zone. Ecology 81 (4): 1015–1030.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lewis, J.R. 1954. Observations on a high-level population of limpets. The Journal of Animal Ecology 85–100.

  • Li, X., L.Z. Cai, Y. Zhuo, T. Guo, Y.Y. Rao, L.L. Yan, S.J. Fu, and X.W. Chen. 2014. Functional groups of macrofauna in Xunpu intertidal zone, Quanzhou Bay. Marine Science Bulletin 33: 497–504.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li, X.L., J.Z. Xue, and H.X. Wu. 2016. The community succession and structure characteristics of phytoplankton in Yangshan port. Journal of Biology 33 (6): 62–67.

    Google Scholar 

  • Liao, Y.B., L. Shou, Z.B. Jiang, Y.B. Tang, P. Du, J.N. Zeng, Q.Z. Chen, X.J. Yan, and J.F. Chen. 2019. Effects of fish cage culture and suspended oyster culture on macrobenthic communities in Xiangshan Bay, a semi-enclosed subtropical bay in eastern China. Marine Pollution Bulletin 142: 475–483.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liao, Y.B., J.N. Zeng, Q.Z. Chen, A.G. Gao, L. Shou, and X.Q. Xu. 2010. Macrobenthos community patterns in the intertidal zone of the Shengsi archipelago in spring and autumn. Acta Zoologica Sinica 1000–1010.

  • Little, C. 2000. The biology of soft shores and estuaries, 1st Edn. Oxford: Oxford University Press 252.

  • Loreau, M., and N.S. Inchausti. 2001. Ecology: Biodiversity and ecosystem functioning: Current knowledge and future challenges. Science 294: 804–808.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Luo, M.B., J.J. Lu, X.Q. Shen, Y.L. Wang, Z.L. Xu, and J.X. Zhu. 2007. Impact of Huge Ocean Engineering on Distribution Characteristics of Macrobenthos in Waters Around Yang-shan Islands in Hangzhou Bay. Journal of Agro-Environment Science 26 (1): 97–102.

    Google Scholar 

  • Magalhães, W.F., and F. Barros. 2011. Structural and functional approaches to describe polychaete assemblages: Ecological implications for estuarine ecosystems. Marine and Freshwater Research 62 (8): 918–926.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mannino, A., and P.A. Montagna. 1997. Small-scale spatial variation of macrobenthic community structure. Estuaries 20 (1): 159–173.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Michaelis, H. 1981. Intertidal benthic animal communities of the estuaries of the rivers Ems and Weser. by N. Dankers, H. Kdhl & WJ Wolff. Balkema, Rotterdam 158–188.

  • Newell, R.C. 1979. Biology of intertidal animals. Marine ecological surveys. Biology of Intertidal Animals 781.

  • Petes, L.E., B.A. Menge, and G.D. Murphy. 2007. Environmental stress decreases survival, growth, and reproduction in New Zealand mussels. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 351 (1–2): 83–91.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sánchez-Moyano, J.E., I. García-Asencio, and J.C. García-Gómez. 2010. Spatial and temporal variation of the benthic macrofauna in a grossly polluted estuary from southwestern Spain. Helgoland Marine Research 64 (3): 155–168.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schlenk, D. 1999. Necessity of Defining Biomarkers for Use in Ecological Risk Assessments. Marine Pollution Bulletin 39 (1): 48–53.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Smith, S.V., D.P. Swaney, L. Talaue-Mcmanus, J.D. Bartley, P.T. Sandhei, C.J. Mclaughlin, V.C. Dupra, C.J. Crossland, R.W. Buddemeier, and B.A. Maxwell. 2003. Humans, hydrology, and the distribution of inorganic nutrient loading to the ocean. BioScience 53 (3): 235–245.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Suchanek, T.H. 1978. The ecology of Mytilus edulis L. in exposed rocky intertidal communities. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 31 (1): 105–120.

  • Sun, L.S., J.Z. Xue, and H. Zhuang. 2012. Ecological features of phytoplankton community of Yangshan Port. Transactions of Oceanology and Limnology 3: 50–57.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sutherland, J.P. 1970. Dynamics of high and low populations of the limpet, Acmaea scabra (Gould). Ecological Monographs 40 (2): 169–188.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tang, Z.H., J. Zhong, and J.S., Hu, M., Hou, S.T., and Qiu, Y.F. 2016. The composition and seasonal changes of surface zooplankton in the north shore of Hangzhou Bay. Journal of Shanghai Ocean University 6 (25): 9.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ter Braak, C.J.F., and P.F.M. Verdonschot. 1995. Canonical correspondence analysis and related multivariate methods in aquatic ecology. Aquatic Sciences 57 (3): 255–289.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ter Braak., C.J.F., and P. Smilauer. 2002. CANOCO reference manual and CanoDraw for Windows user's guide: software for canonical community ordination (version 4.5). www.canoco.com.

  • Thrush, S.F., S.M. Lawrie, J.E. Hewitt, and V.J. Cummings. 1999. The problem of scale: uncertainties and implications for soft-bottom marine communities and the assessment of human impacts. In Biogeochemical cycling and sediment ecology: Springer, Dordrecht: 195–210.

  • Tsuchiya, M. 1983. Mass mortality in a population of the mussel Mytilus edulis L. caused by high temperature on rocky shores. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 66 (2): 101–111.

  • Walker, B. 1995. Conserving biological diversity through ecosystem resilience. Conservation Biology 9 (4): 747–752.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wethy, D.S. 1984. Sun and shade mediate competition in the barnacles Chthamalus and Semibalanus: A field experiment. The Biological Bulletin 167 (1): 176–185.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Winberg, P.C., T.P. Lynch, A. Murray, A.R. Jones, and A.R. Davis. 2007. The importance of spatial scale for the conservation of tidal flat macrobenthos: An example from New South Wales. Australia. Biological Conservation 134 (3): 310–320.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wu, Q.S., Z.N. Zeng, Y. Ning, J.F. Qi, and Y. Wen. 2015. Industrial artificial breeding technology of Crassostrea angulata. Journal of Fujian Fisheries 5: 399–405.

    Google Scholar 

  • Xu, Z.D. 2015. Preliminary study of functional groups and ecological study of macrofauna in Jiaozhou Bay, Ocean University of China.

  • Yan, L.L., L.Z. Cai, X.W. Chen, G.Q. Li, W.J. Li, J.L. Zeng, and Y.Y. Rao. 2016. Functional groups of benthic macrofauna in the 14th Yong intertidal zone of Nansha, Guangzhou. Biodiversity Science 24 (7): 802.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yang, C., X.R. Su, and T.W. Li. 2003. The Cultural Technique of Pacific oyster, Crassostrea Gigas. Fisheries Science 5 (22): 3.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yang, W.X., and Y.S. Chen. 1996. Community ecology of intertidal zone of Shengsi archipelago I. Species constitution and seasonal variation of benthic biocommunity in rocky intertidal zone. Chinese Journal of Applied Ecology 7 (3): 305.

  • Yang, W.X., and Y.S. Chen. 1999. Community ecology of intertidal zone of Shengsi islands III. Species distribution of benthos in rocky intertidal zone. Donghai Marine Science 17 (1): 60–65.

  • Yang, W.X., and Y.S. Chen. 1998. Community ecology of intertidal zone of Shengsi archipelago II. Communiry structure of benthic invertebrates in rocky intertidal zone. Chinese Journal of Applied Ecology 9 (1): 75–78.

  • Yang, Y.P., and M.H. Hu. 1995. Distribution and transformation of phosphorus forms in estrarine suspended matter. Journal of Oceanography in Taiwan Strait 14 (4): 313–319.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yang, Z.Y., H.Q. Cheng, J.R. Zhu, and S.D. Li. 2012. Tidal dynamics of Yangshan harbor sea area and its response to the project. Acta Geographica Sinica 67 (9): 1282–1290.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ysebaert, T., P.M.J. Herman, P. Meire, J. Craeymeersch, H. Verbeek, and C.H.R. Heip. 2003. Large-scale spatial patterns in estuaries: Estuarine macrobenthic communities in the Schelde estuary, NW Europe. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science 57 (1): 335–355.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ysebaert, T., P.L. Meininger, P. Meire, K. Devos, C. Berrevoets, R.C.W. Strucker, and E. Kuijken. 2000. Waterbird communities along the estuarine salinity gradient of the Schelde estuary NW-Europe. Biodiversity & Conservation 9 (9): 1275–1296.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ysebaert, T., P. Meire, J. Coosen, and K. Essink. 1998. Zonation of intertidal macrobenthos in the estuaries of Schelde and Ems. Aquatic Ecology 32 (1): 53–71.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ysebaert, T., P. Meire, D. Maes, and J. Buijs. 1993. The benthic macrofauna along the estuarine gradient of the Schelde estuary. Netherland Journal of Aquatic Ecology 27 (2): 327–341.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yuan, J.M., H. Zhang, and X.H. Tang. 2019. Macrozoobenthic functional groups in intertidal zone of southern Jiangsu Province. Marine Fisheries 41 (1): 43–52.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang, L.X., Z.G. Huang, C.Y. Li, F.R. Li, and C.X. Zheng. 1981. Ecological studies on marine fouling and boring organisms in leusyh, jiangsu. Acta Oceanologica Sinica 3 (1): 139–148.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang, Q.L. 2004. Climatological analysis of water masses in Zhoushan fishing ground and adjacent region. Journal of Oceanology and Limnology 35: 48–54.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The present work was supported financially by the Key R&D Program of Zhejiang Province, China (2023C02003, 2022C03044) and the Scientific Research Fund of the Second Institute of Oceanography, MNR, China (SZ2001, JG2209).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Marine Ecosystem Dynamics, Ministry of Natural Resources, Second Institute of Oceanography, Hangzhou, 31002, China

    Hanren Liu, Yanbin Tang, Qinghe Liu, Rongliang Zhang, Lu Shou, Jiangning Zeng & Yibo Liao

  2. Key Laboratory of Engineering Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Second Institute of Oceanography, Hangzhou, 31002, China

    Hengtao Xu & Zhifu Wang

Authors
  1. Hanren Liu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Hengtao Xu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Yanbin Tang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Zhifu Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Qinghe Liu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Rongliang Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Lu Shou
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Jiangning Zeng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. Yibo Liao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yibo Liao.

Additional information

Communicated by Masahiro Nakaoka

Supplementary Information

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

Supplementary file1 (DOCX 103 KB)

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Liu, H., Xu, H., Tang, Y. et al. Middle-Scale Spatial and Temporal Patterns in Estuaries: Rocky Intertidal Macrobenthic Communities in the Hangzhou Bay and Zhoushan Sea. Estuaries and Coasts 46, 1302–1315 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12237-023-01200-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12237-023-01200-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation