[en] Marine pollution and overfishing induced the biodiversity loss and ecological degradation of the Beibu Gulf ecosystem in Guangxi, SE China. In an effort to restore the ecosystem and fishery resources, artificial reefs were deployed in the Beibu Gulf as the marine ranching area and their ecological performance need to be investigated. We constructed Ecopath ecological trophic models for the marine ranching area and a nearby control area to compare their ecosystem throughput and food web structure difference, and to calculate the ecological carrying capacity of various functional groups. Results indicate that the total system throughput of the marine ranching area was significantly higher than the control area, and the majority of system throughput occurred at trophic levels I and II in both ecosystems. The system connectance indices for the marine ranching and control areas were 0.27 and 0.32, and the omnivory indices were 0.16 and 0.19, indicating simple food web structures; both areas are in a developmental stage with TPP/TR ratios of 2.69 and 9.36, respectively. Compared to the control area, marine ranching area exhibited a higher system maturity, and the ecological carrying capacity of “large and medium-sized demersal fish” and “other bivalves” functional groups in the marine ranching area increased by 43.83% and 233.62%, respectively, allowing for more high-trophic-level predators and large benthic animals. This study provided a reference for the formulation of fishery management policies in the Beibu Gulf, to maintain ecosystem stability and biodiversity.
Disciplines :
Aquatic sciences & oceanology
Author, co-author :
Cheng, Cheng ✱; Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China ; Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, China
Yu, Haolin ✱; Université de Liège - ULiège > Freshwater and OCeanic science Unit of reSearch (FOCUS) ; Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, China
Feng, Jie; North China Sea Marine Forecasting Center of State Oceanic Administration, Qingdao, China ; Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Ecological Environment and Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, Qingdao, China
Li, Yan; Guangxi Institute of Oceanography, Nanning, China
Cao, Qingxian; Guangxi Institute of Oceanography, Nanning, China
Liu, Li; Guangxi Institute of Oceanography, Nanning, China
Yang, Cheng; Guangxi Institute of Oceanography, Nanning, China
Zhao, Shan; Guangxi Institute of Oceanography, Nanning, China
Li, Shuo; Guangxi Institute of Oceanography, Nanning, China
Zhang, Zhen; Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, China
Wang, Haiyan; Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, China
Zhang, Tao; Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, China
✱ These authors have contributed equally to this work.
Language :
English
Title :
Ecological characteristics and carrying capacity analysis of marine ranching ecosystem in Beibu Gulf based on Ecopath model
Supported by the National Key R&D Program of China (No. 2022YFD2401301), the Primary Research and Development Plan of Guangxi Province (No. GuiKe AB21220064), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 42106102, 42306151), and the Shandong Postdoctoral Science Foundation (No. SDCXZG202301009)
S. Al Ismaili S. Dutta Ecosystem characteristics and trophic model of the artificial reef ecosystem in the Sea of Oman, Sultanate of Oman Sustainability 15 24 16574 10.3390/su152416574
T.W. Baynes A.M. Szmant Effect of current on the sessile benthic community structure of an artificial reef Bulletin of Marine Science 44 2 545 566
A. Becker M.D. Taylor M.B. Lowry Monitoring of reef associated and pelagic fish communities on Australia’s first purpose built offshore artificial reef ICES Journal of Marine Science 74 1 277 285 10.1093/icesjms/fsw133
T. Brey Growth performance and mortality in aquatic macrobenthic invertebrates Advances in Marine Biology 35 153 223 10.1016/S0065-2881(08)60005-X
C. Champion I.M. Suthers J.A. Smith Zooplanktivory is a key process for fish production on a coastal artificial reef Marine Ecology Progress Series 541 1 14 10.3354/meps11529 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC28XhtFalsLzI
Z.Z. Chen Y.S. Qiu X.P. Jia et al. Using an ecosystem modeling approach to explore possible ecosystem impacts of fishing in the Beibu Gulf, northern South China Sea Ecosystems 11 8 1318 1334 10.1007/s10021-008-9200-x
V. Christensen D. Pauly ECOPATH II—a software for balancing steady-state ecosystem models and calculating network characteristics Ecological Modelling 61 3–4 169 185 10.1016/0304-3800(92)90016-8
V. Christensen C.J. Walters Ecopath with Ecosim: methods, capabilities and limitations Ecological Modelling 172 2–4 109 139 10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2003.09.003
V. Christensen C.J. Walters D. Pauly Ecopath with Ecosim: A User’s Guide Vancouver, Canada University of British Columbia
M. Colléter A. Valls J. Guitton et al. Global overview of the applications of the Ecopath with Ecosim modeling approach using the EcoBase models repository Ecological Modelling 302 42 53 10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2015.01.025
M. Coll A. Bundy L.J. Shannon B.A. Megrey E. Moksness Ecosystem modelling using the Ecopath with Ecosim approach Computers in Fisheries Research Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 225 291 10.1007/978-1-4020-8636-6_8
R. Danovaro C. Gambi A. Mazzola et al. Influence of artificial reefs on the surrounding infauna: analysis of meiofauna ICES Journal of Marine Science 59 S1 S356 S362 10.1006/jmsc.2002.1223
J.M. Dupont Artificial reefs as restoration tools: a case study on the West Florida shelf Coastal Management 36 5 495 507 10.1080/08920750802395558
K.E. Esquivel M.H.K. Hesselbarth J.E. Allgeier Mechanistic support for increased primary production around artificial reefs Ecological Applications 32 6 e2617 10.1002/eap.2617
J. Feng H.L. Yu L.J. Wu et al. Evaluating ecosystem characteristics and ecological carrying capacity for marine fauna stock enhancement within a marine ranching system Animals 15 2 165 10.3390/ani15020165
J.T. Finn Measures of ecosystem structure and function derived from analysis of flows Journal of Theoretical Biology 56 2 363 380 10.1016/S0022-5193(76)80080-X 1:STN:280:DyaE287psVOlsg%3D%3D
J.S. Gao G.D. Wu H.Z. Ya Review of the circulation in the Beibu Gulf, South China Sea Continental Shelf Research 138 106 119 10.1016/j.csr.2017.02.009 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC2sXktFWgsbY%3D
S.K. Gao Z. Chen Y.N. Lu et al. Comparison of marine ecosystems of Haizhou Bay and Lvsi fishing ground in China based on the Ecopath model Water 14 9 1397 10.3390/w14091397
K.M. Gorbatenko N.T. Dolganova Comparing the catch efficiency with different types of plankton nets in the high production zones of the Pacific Ocean Oceanology 47 2 205 212 10.1134/S0001437007020075
S.L. Hale J.L. Koprowski Ecosystem-level effects of keystone species reintroduction: a literature review Restoration Ecology 26 3 439 445 10.1111/rec.12684
D.Y. Han Y. Chen C.L. Zhang et al. Evaluation of effects of shellfish aquaculture and capture fishery on a semi-closed bay ecosystem Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science 207 175 182 10.1016/j.ecss.2018.04.005
J.J. Heymans M. Coll S. Libralato et al. Global patterns in ecological indicators of marine food webs: a modelling approach PLoS One 9 4 e95845 10.1371/journal.pone.0095845
J.J. Heymans M. Coll J.S. Link et al. Best practice in Ecopath with Ecosim food-web models for ecosystem-based management Ecological Modelling 331 173 184 10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2015.12.007
J.J. Heymans M.T. Tomczak Regime shifts in the Northern Benguela ecosystem: challenges for management Ecological Modelling 331 151 159 10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2015.10.027
X.F. Hong K. Zhang J.J. Li et al. Effects of climate events on abundance and distribution of major commercial fishes in the Beibu Gulf, South China Sea Diversity 15 5 649 10.3390/d15050649 1:CAS:528:DC%2BB3sXht1SqsLjO
K.A. Ismail M.R. Al Shehhi Upwelling and nutrient dynamics in the Arabian Gulf and Sea of Oman PLoS One 17 10 e0276260 10.1371/journal.pone.0276260 1:CAS:528:DC%2BB38XislaqtLjO
W.M. Jiang M.T. Gibbs Predicting the carrying capacity of bivalve shellfish culture using a steady, linear food web model Aquaculture 244 1–4 171 185 10.1016/j.aquaculture.2004.11.050
P.L. Ju W.W.L. Cheung M.R. Chen et al. Comparing marine ecosystems of Laizhou and Haizhou Bays, China, using ecological indicators estimated from food web models Journal of Marine Systems 202 103238 10.1016/j.jmarsys.2019.103238
S. Jung T. Van Chau M. Kim et al. Artificial seaweed reefs that support the establishment of submerged aquatic vegetation beds and facilitate ocean macroalgal afforestation: a review Journal of Marine Science and Engineering 10 9 1184 10.3390/jmse10091184
K. Karlson E. Bonsdorff R. Rosenberg The impact of benthic macrofauna for nutrient fluxes from Baltic Sea sediments AMBIO: A Journal of the Human Environment 36 2 161 167 10.1579/0044-7447(2007)36[161:TIOBMF]2.0.CO;2 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD1cXksFSktLk%3D
W. Krohling D.S. Brotto I.R. Zalmon Functional role of fouling community on an artificial reef at the northern coast of Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil Brazilian Journal of Oceanography 54 4 183 191 10.1590/S1679-87592006000300002
C.A. Layman J.E. Allgeier An ecosystem ecology perspective on artificial reef production Journal of Applied Ecology 57 11 2139 2148 10.1111/1365-2664.13748
C.L. Lee W.J. Lin P.J. Liu et al. Highly productive tropical seagrass beds support diverse consumers and a large organic carbon pool in the sediments Diversity 13 11 544 10.3390/d13110544
H.T. Lee Y.C. Chang C.H. Liao et al. Development of integrated multitrophic aquaculture-based cage rearing system in an underutilized fishing port and its application in marine stock enhancement Frontiers in Marine Science 9 998198 10.3389/fmars.2022.998198
F. Leitão M.N. Santos C.C. Monteiro Contribution of artificial reefs to the diet of the white sea bream (Diplodus sargus) ICES Journal of Marine Science 64 3 473 478 10.1093/icesjms/fsm027
Z.P. Li Y. Chen G. Wang et al. Ecological carrying capacity and carbon sequestration potential of bivalve shellfish in marine ranching: a case study in Bohai Bay, China Frontiers in Marine Science 10 1174235 10.3389/fmars.2023.1174235
S. Libralato V. Christensen D. Pauly A method for identifying keystone species in food web models Ecological Modelling 195 3–4 153 171 10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2005.11.029
H.Y. Lin P.Y. Lin N.N. Chang et al. Trophic structure of megabenthic food webs along depth gradients in the South China Sea and off northeastern Taiwan Marine Ecology Progress Series 501 53 66 10.3354/meps10681 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC2cXhtV2jsb3I
R.L. Lindeman The trophic-dynamic aspect of ecology Ecology 23 4 399 417 10.2307/1930126
K. Lorenzen K.M. Leber H. Lee Blankenship Responsible approach to marine stock enhancement: an update Reviews in Fisheries Science 18 2 189 210 10.1080/10641262.2010.491564
N. Mace A new role for MSY in single-species and ecosystem approaches to fisheries stock assessment and management Fish and Fisheries 2 1 2 32 10.1046/j.1467-2979.2001.00033.x
P.M. Machado F.S. de Sá C.E. de Rezende et al. Artificial reef impact on macrobenthic community on south-eastern Brazil coast Marine Biodiversity Records 6 e40 10.1017/S1755267213000183
R.M. May Thresholds and breakpoints in ecosystems with a multiplicity of stable states Nature 269 5628 471 477 10.1038/269471a0
E.P. Odum The strategy of ecosystem development: an understanding of ecological succession provides a basis for resolving man’s conflict with nature Science 164 3877 262 270 10.1126/science.164.3877.262 1:STN:280:DyaF1M7ltFOqtw%3D%3D
L. Outeiro C. Byron R. Angelini Ecosystem maturity as a proxy of mussel aquaculture carrying capacity in Ria de Arousa (NW Spain): a food web modeling perspective Aquaculture 496 270 284 10.1016/j.aquaculture.2018.06.043
M.L.D. Palomares D. Pauly Predicting food consumption of fish populations as functions of mortality, food type, morphometrics, temperature and salinity Marine and Freshwater Research 49 5 447 453 10.1071/MF98015 1:CAS:528:DyaK1cXntFWqtb8%3D
Y. Pan H.H. Tong D.Z. Wei et al. Review of structure types and new development prospects of artificial reefs in China Frontiers in Marine Science 9 853452 10.3389/fmars.2022.853452
S. Pasquaud M. Pillet V. David et al. Determination of fish trophic levels in an estuarine system Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science 86 2 237 246 10.1016/j.ecss.2009.11.019 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD1MXhs1aqtbvE
D. Pauly Length-converted catch curves and the seasonal growth of fishes Fishbyte 8 3 24 29
A.B. Paxton D.N. Steward Z.H. Harrison et al. Fitting ecological principles of artificial reefs into the ocean planning puzzle Ecosphere 13 2 e3924 10.1002/ecs2.3924
S. Perkol-Finkel Y. Benayahu Recruitment of benthic organisms onto a planned artificial reef: shifts in community structure one decade post-deployment Marine Environmental Research 59 2 79 99 10.1016/j.marenvres.2004.03.122 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2cXnsFSitb4%3D
D.M. Post Using stable isotopes to estimate trophic position: models, methods, and assumptions Ecology 83 3 703 718 10.1890/0012-9658(2002)083[0703:USITET]2.0.CO;2
M.E. Power D. Tilman J.A. Estes et al. Challenges in the Quest for Keystones: identifying keystone species is difficult—but essential to understanding how loss of species will affect ecosystems BioScience 46 8 609 620 10.2307/1312990
Y. Qu Z.M. Wang Y.D. Zhou et al. Ecosystem structure and function in the Sea Area of Zhongjieshan islands based on Ecopath model Journal of Marine Science and Engineering 12 11 2086 10.3390/jmse12112086
K.D. Raj G. Mathews J.K.P. Edward Long-term benefits of artificial reef modules for reef recovery in gulf of Mannar, Southeast India Journal of Coastal Conservation 24 5 53 10.1007/s11852-020-00773-5
L.A.W. Ramm J.H. Florisson S.L. Watts et al. Artificial reefs in the Anthropocene: a review of geographical and historical trends in their design, purpose, and monitoring Bulletin of Marine Science 97 4 699 728 10.5343/bms.2020.0046
A. Raoux J. Salaun J.P. Pezy et al. Ecosystem approach of artificial reef through trophic web modelling IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering 1245 1 012004 10.1088/1757-899X/1245/1/012004
S.E. Reeves J.J. Renzi E.K. Fobert et al. Facilitating better outcomes: how positive species interactions can improve oyster reef restoration Frontiers in Marine Science 7 656 10.3389/fmars.2020.00656
K. Sambrook A.S. Hoey S. Andréfouët et al. Beyond the reef: the widespread use of non-reef habitats by coral reef fishes Fish and Fisheries 20 5 903 920 10.1111/faf.12383
N. Srithong K.R. Jensen A. Jarernpornnipat Application of the Ecopath model for evaluation of ecological structure and function for fisheries management: a case study from fisheries in coastal Andaman Sea, Thailand Regional Studies in Marine Science 47 101972 10.1016/j.rsma.2021.101972
L. Su Z.Z. Chen K. Zhang et al. Decadal-scale variation in mean trophic level in Beibu Gulf based on bottomtrawl survey data Marine and Coastal Fisheries 13 3 174 182 10.1002/mcf2.10144
A.N. Suo H.Y. Li W.G. Zhou et al. Estimation of ecological carrying capacity of small-scale fish in marine ranch of the Pearl River Estuary, China Regional Studies in Marine Science 61 102901 10.1016/j.rsma.2023.102901
M.I. Toledo P. Torres C. Díaz et al. Ecological succession of benthic organisms on niche-type artificial reefs Ecological Processes 9 1 38 10.1186/s13717-020-00242-9
A. Valls M. Coll V. Christensen Keystone species: toward an operational concept for marine biodiversity conservation Ecological Monographs 85 1 29 47 10.1890/14-0306.1
X. Wang J. Feng C.G. Lin et al. Structural and functional improvements of coastal ecosystem based on artificial oyster reef construction in the Bohai Sea, China Frontiers in Marine Science 9 829557 10.3389/fmars.2022.829557
Z.G. Wang J. Feng H.M. Lozano-Montes et al. Estimating ecological carrying capacity for stock enhancement in marine ranching ecosystems of Northern China Frontiers in Marine Science 9 936028 10.3389/fmars.2022.936028
Z.X. Wu J.R. Tweedley N.R. Loneragan et al. Artificial reefs can mimic natural habitats for fish and macroinvertebrates in temperate coastal waters of the Yellow Sea Ecological Engineering 139 105579 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2019.08.009
M. Xu L. Qi L.B. Zhang et al. Ecosystem attributes of trophic models before and after construction of artificial oyster reefs using Ecopath Aquaculture Environment Interactions 11 111 127 10.3354/aei00284
M. Xu X.Y. Yang X.J. Song et al. Seasonal analysis of artificial oyster reef ecosystems: implications for sustainable fisheries management Aquaculture International 29 1 167 192 10.1007/s10499-020-00617-x
P. Xu W.G. Zhou M.J. Xie et al. Temporal and spatial comparison of food web structure in marine pastures in the Pearl River Estuary: implications for sustainable fisheries management Ecology and Evolution 12 5 e8903 10.1002/ece3.8903
S.C. Xu X. Wang S.D. Yue et al. Coastal ecological connectivity between seagrass bed and marine ranching 30 km apart: a case study of Apostichopus japonicus feeding on seagrass debris in the Bohai Sea, China Sustainability 16 7 2944 10.3390/su16072944 1:CAS:528:DC%2BB2cXpsVyisb4%3D
Y.R. Yan Y.Y. Li S.Y. Yang et al. Biological characteristics and spatial—temporal distribution of mitre squid, Uroteuthis chinensis, in the Beibu Gulf, South China Sea Journal of Shellfish Research 32 3 835 844 10.2983/035.032.0327
Y.R. Yan Y.Y. Zhang G.R. Wu et al. Seasonal feeding habits, reproduction, and distribution of Harpiosquilla harpax (Stomatopoda: Harpiosquillidae) in the Beibu Gulf, South China Sea Journal of Crustacean Biology 35 6 776 784 10.1163/1937240X-00002386
W. Yang Z.Y. Zhang Y. Wu et al. Ecosystem-based fishery management that accounts for trade-offs between fishing and enhancement stocking: a case study of Juehua Island in the Bohai Sea Ecological Indicators 156 111081 10.1016/j.ecolind.2023.111081
Y. Yuan J. Feng W.W. Xian et al. Analysis of the ecosystem characteristics and ecological carrying capacity of the main commercial fish in the artificial reef ecosystem in Laizhou bay using the Ecopath model Sustainability 14 21 13933 10.3390/su142113933
R.L. Zhang Q.Q. Zhang J.M. Zhao et al. Using ecopath models to explore differences in ecosystem characteristics between an artificial reef and a nearby natural reef on the coast of the North Yellow Sea, China Frontiers in Marine Science 9 911714 10.3389/fmars.2022.911714
X.P. Zhang H.J. Song H.F. Zhuang et al. Calculating the carrying capacity of bivalve mariculture in the Changshan Archipelago (Bohai Strait, China): ecopath modeling perspective Journal of Sea Research 192 102367 10.1016/j.seares.2023.102367
Q.S. Zhao H.M. Huang Y.G. Zhu et al. Analysing ecological carrying capacity of bivalve aquaculture within the Yellow River Estuary ecoregion through mass-balance modelling Aquaculture Environment Interactions 14 147 161 10.3354/aei00430
X.J. Zhou X. Zhao S.Y. Zhang et al. Marine ranching construction and management in East China Sea: programs for sustainable fishery and aquaculture Water 11 6 1237 10.3390/w11061237
