Abstract:
The intertidal macrobenthos within the muddy coastal ecosystem constitute a critical ecological group. Examining the community structure and distributional patterns of these organisms is essential for providing theoretical data underpinning the conservation and restoration of ecosystems. Utilizing monitoring data from two intertidal zones (Bachimen and Qianqi) within Shacheng Harbour, this study assesses the current status and trends of benthic organisms in the intertidal zones of the muddy coastline. The findings reveal that in Bachimen, 47 species of benthic macrobenthos were identified, with crustaceans and mollusks as the predominant taxa. The average density was 62.33 ind/m
2, and the average biomass was 135.16 g/m
2. In Qianqi, a total of 40 species of intertidal benthic organisms were identified, with annelids and crustaceans being dominant. The average density was 132.44 ind/m
2, and the average biomass was 86.86 g/m
2. Cluster analysis revealed distinct geographical zoning of species distribution. Redundancy analysis indicated that zinc and sulfide were key environmental factors influencing the distribution of intertidal macrobenthos in Bachimen, while pH and total phosphorus were key environmental factors influencing the distribution of intertidal macrobenthos in Qianqi.