Community structure of meiofauna and its correlation with environmental factors in Xiangshan Bay

In order to clarify the composition and structure of meiofauna communities,we collected and analyzed sediment samples from 12 stations in October( autumn) 2011,February( winter),May( spring),and August 2012( summer) in Xiangshan Bay. The results showed that 12 meiofauna taxa were identified,which included nematodes,ostracods,bivalves,gastropods,oligochaetes,polychaetes,t u rbellarians,copepods,amphipods,cumaceans,hydra larvae,and others. Average abundance of meiofauna in spring,summer,autumn,and winter was( 22.3+ or - 34.4),( 74.8 + or - 140.8),( 31.4 + or - 64.5),and( 97.4+ or -206.5) individuals per 10 cm~2( ind/10 cm~2),respectively,and nematodes and ostracods were the dominant groups.The average biomass for the corresponding season was( 73. 0 + or - 144. 4),( 1261. 7 + or - 2244. 1),( 440. 7 + or - 1003. 7),and( 1010.5+ or - 2365. 6) [mu]g/10 cm~2,respectively,and ostracods were the main contributing group. Analysis of similarity( ANOSIM) indicated that meiofauna community structures between different sea