Abstract:
Three intertidal transects including 1 rocky intertidal and 2 mudflats in the north of Quanzhou Bay was investigated in September 2014 and May 2015. A total of 166 macrobenthic species are identified among which 80 species are in the mudflats, and 96 species on the rocky transect. Annelid, mollusks and arthropods, in total 145 species, are the main taxa group in study areas. The average density and biomass of macrobenthos are 133 ind./m
2 and 24.48 g/m
2 in mudflats, 1 412 ind./m
2 and 958.78 g/m
2 on rocky shore, respectively. The average density and biomass of macrobenthos is higher at middle tidal zone than at low tidal zone and it is the lowest at the high tidal zone. The abundance varies seasonally and obviously. The average density and biomass of macrobenthos in mudflats are higher in spring (170 ind./m
2 and 32.04 g/m
2) than in autumn (96 ind./m
2 and 16.92g/m
2, respectively). The average density of macrobenthos on rocky shore is lower in spring (1 360 ind./m
2) than in autumn (1 464 ind./m
2). However, the average biomass of macrobenthos is higher in spring (1 122.83 g/m
2) than in autumn (794.75 g/m
2). Abundance biomass curve analysis shows that the communities of intertidal benthos are less disturbed and the community structure is much stable.