Journal of Ecology and Rural Environment ›› 2022, Vol. 38 ›› Issue (2): 217-224.doi: 10.19741/j.issn.1673-4831.2021.0281

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Analysis of Ecosystem Structure and Function Changes in Xiamen Bay in the Past 10 Years Based on Ecopath Model

ZHANG Xin-yan1,2, CHEN Bin1, DING Shao-xiong2, YU Wei-wei1, DU Jian-guo1   

  1. 1. Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen 361005, China;
    2. College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
  • Received:2021-05-07 Online:2022-02-25 Published:2022-02-24

Abstract: Xiamen Bay is rich in ecological resources and has diversified service functions. However, due to the comprehensive action of natural, human activities and other factors, Xiamen Bay ecosystem is under great pressure. Dynamic simulation of ecosystem can provide scientific basis for the analysis of biomass variation, energy flow variation and ecosystem stability. An EwE model was developed based on the fishery resources survey data of Xiamen Bay in 2019-2020, and was compared with the model used in 2010. Totally 26 functional groups were included in this model, such as marine animals, bamboo shark, fanray, anchovy, terapon, shrimps, crabs, cephalopods, zooplankton, phytoplankton, benthos, detritus, et al, which have basically covered the whole energy flow pathway in the ecosystem of Xiamen Bay. Results show that the large predators in Xiamen Bay was relative few, leading to the low pressure on Xiamen Bay ecosystem predation, and the dominant position of low trophic level creatures like small fishes occupied in the ecosystem. The ecosystem structure of food web in Xiamen Bay was relatively simple, and the stability of the ecosystem is currently low. Compared with the results of the model used in 2010, the functional groups and energy flow in Xiamen Bay had changed in 2020. The biomass, detritus flow and total throughput in the lower trophic levels of the ecosystem in 2020 were less than that in 2010, while those in the higher trophic levels were higher than that in 2010. In general, total system throughput of Xiamen Bay ecosystem in 2020 was smaller than that in 2010. This study can provide scientific basis for the protection and management of Xiamen Bay ecosystem.

Key words: Xiamen Bay, marine ecosystem, food web, trophic level, ecopath model

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