Aquaculture and natural habitats: Comparison of diversity and community structure of benthic ciliates in China’s intertidal zones

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1000-5641.2026.03.008

Abstract

Abstract:

In recent years, continuous coastal development has led to large-scale conversion of natural mudflats to aquaculture mudflats in intertidal zones, resulting in the loss of benthic biodiversity and alterations in community structure. However, systematic understanding of the differences in benthic biodiversity and community structure between aquaculture and natural mudflats, as well as their driving mechanisms—particularly large-scale spatial drivers—remains limited. This study focused on benthic ciliate communities in China’s intertidal aquaculture and natural mudflats. Using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), linear regression (LR), distance-based redundancy analysis (dbRDA), and variation partitioning analysis (VPA), we examined the differences in three dimensions of α-diversity (taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic diversity) and community structure (species composition and functional composition) of benthic ciliates between the two types of mudflat, along with their driving factors. The results revealed that: ① no significant differences exist in local environmental variables between the two regions, indicating that aquaculture activities did not significantly modify habitat physicochemical conditions; ② significant differences existed in α-diversity, species composition, and functional composition of benthic ciliates between aquaculture and natural mudflats; ③ mean annual temperature (MAT) emerged as the primary driver of the observed differences in ciliate α-diversity and community structure. The results of this study demonstrate that large-scale climatic variables, rather than aquaculture impacts, are the key drivers of divergent patterns in benthic ciliate diversity and community structure between the two mudflat types. These findings provide critical insights for balancing intertidal mudflat aquaculture development with biodiversity conservation.

Key words: intertidal mudflats, benthic ciliates, α-diversity, community structure

CLC Number:

Q958.1

Xu LI, Yuan XU. Aquaculture and natural habitats: Comparison of diversity and community structure of benthic ciliates in China’s intertidal zones[J]. J* E* C* N* U* N* S*, 2026, 2026(3): 98-109.

Figures/Tables 8

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生境	优势物种组合
养殖泥滩	Holophrya caspica (28.34%)、Blepharisma steini (28.04%)、Holophrya aklitolophon (13.05%)、Prorodon diaphanus (11.24%)
自然泥滩	Zosterodasys minutus (37.97%)、Holophrya caspica (17.99%)、Holophrya aklitolophon (17.40%)

响应变量	驱动因子	系数	标准误差	95%置信区间	p值
丰度	PO₄^3–	–0.846	0.247	[–1.36, –0.33]	**
分类多样性指数TD	MAT	7.674	1.450	[4.62, 10.73]	***
	Chl a	5.468	1.481	[2.34, 8.59]	**
	NO₂^–	4.974	1.363	[2.10, 7.85]	**
功能多样性指数FD	MAT	1.595	0.411	[0.73, 2.46]	**
功能多样性指数FD	SiO₃^2–	–0.954	0.411	[–1.82, –0.09]	*
系统发育多样性指数PD	MAT	0.286	0.105	[0.07, 0.51]	*
系统发育多样性指数PD	SiO₃^2–	–0.266	0.105	[–0.49, –0.05]	*

组成类型	驱动因子	单因子解释率/%	AIC值	Pseudo-F值	p值
物种组成	MAT	8.1	42.093	2.754	***
	PO₄^3–	7.7	41.117	2.740	***
	SED	2.2	41.364	1.479	0.063
功能组成	MAT	6.7	10.488	2.428	*
	PO₄^3–	5.6	7.693	4.617	**
	SED	1.5	11.615	1.309	0.256

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