Health Assessment of the Benthic Ecosystem in Jiaozhou Bay:Ecological Characteristics of the Macrobenthos

Based on survey data from Jiaozhou Bay in July 2017,the ecological characteristics of macrobenthos were analyzed using cluster analysis,and biodiversity and Multivariate-AZTI's Marine Biotic Index(M-AMBI)methods.A total of 64 species were identified,including 25 species of Polychaeta,23 species of crustaceans,nine species of mollusks,and seven species belonging to other benthic groups and echinoderms.The average biomass and abundance were 70.0 g/m2 and 132 ind./m2,respectively.There were three dominant species,including Ruditapes philippinarum,Nephthys oligobranchia,and Nemertinea.The ranges of the Margalef species richness index,Shannon-Wiener diversity index,Pielou's evenness index,and M-AMBI were 0.69~3.77,0.67~3.12,0.25~1.00 and 0.26~0.60,respectively.According to the results of the cluster analysis,the macrobenthos at the 15 stations could be clustered into three infaunal communities at 15%similarity.The station communities with higher density of clam larvae were divided into the same community,clusterin