The study of trophic niche and potential food sources of benthic animals in mangrove from Yanpu Bay

Qu Yuwei; Guo Meirong; Shui Bonian; Zhu Daqian; Zhang Na; Ma Yadong; Feng Jiayu; Hu Chengye

doi:10.12284/hyxb2025034

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Qu Yuwei，Guo Meirong，Shui Bonian, et al. The study of trophic niche and potential food sources of benthic animals in mangrove from Yanpu Bay[J]. Haiyang Xuebao，2025, 47(3)：1–11 doi: 10.12284/hyxb2025034

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The study of trophic niche and potential food sources of benthic animals in mangrove from Yanpu Bay

doi: 10.12284/hyxb2025034

1.
School Of Fishery, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan 316022, China
2.
Zhejiang Marine Ecology and EnvironmentMonitoring Center , Zhoushan 310012, China

Received Date: 2024-11-08
Rev Recd Date: 2025-01-06

Available Online: 2025-04-24

Abstract

Abstract

Abstracts: Mangroves represent the most productive ecosystem along the coastline. The mangrove forest is a source of diverse organic carbon, which contributes to the complexity of the trophic structure of the benthic food web. This study employed the benthic animals in the mangroves along Yanpu Bay as the research object, analysing the community trophic structure and determining the potential food sources through the utilisation of the stable isotope technique in conjunction with the Stable Isotope Bayesian Ellipses (SIBER) model and the Stable Isotope Mixing Models (Simmr). The study demonstrated that the carbon stable isotope (δ¹³C) values of benthic animals ranged from −22.04‰ to −11.27‰, while the nitrogen stable isotope (δ¹⁵N) values ranged the trophic levels ranged from 1.33 (Cerithidea rhizophorarum) to 3.95 (Periophthalmus cantonensis), with carbon stable isotope (δ¹³C) values from 5.86‰ to 16.21‰. The trophic level of fish is relatively high, ranging from 2.38 to 3.95, while that of crustaceans is 2.61 to 3.52. In contrast, the trophic level of mollusc is relatively low, ranging from 1.33 to 3.15. These differences are related to the feeding preferences of the different groups. The analysis of the nutritional structure indicates that the length of the food chain and the nutritional diversity of fish are greater than those of crustaceans and mollusc. The diversity of food sources and nutritional uniformity of crustaceans are the highest, while the nutritional diversity and similarity of mollusc are the highest. Overall, there is a varying degree of overlap between the core nutritional niches of fish, crustaceans and mollusc. An analysis of the potential food sources of benthic animals based on a Simmr mixed model revealed that SOM was the primary carbon source, accounting for 78.2% of the total, followed by phytoplankton, which constituted 21.6% of the total, while litter and POM represented the lowest proportions, at 3.7% and 3.3%, respectively. The findings of this study enhance our comprehension of the trophic relationships of benthic animals in mangrove ecosystems along the northern coast of China. They will facilitate more effective conservation and restoration of mangrove biodiversity from a trophic regulation perspective.
- mangrove,
- benthic animals,
- trophic niche,
- food sources

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References(49)

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