To better understand the community patterns and their interconnections between different habitats in coastal areas, it is essential to explore the potential factors influencing species distribution and ecological connectivity between artificial and natural habitats. This study conducted a comprehensive survey of fish and invertebrate communities across four typical habitats in Haizhou Bay, Jiangsu Province: artificial reef area (ARA), nori culture area (NCA), oyster culture area (OCA), and natural area (NA). The results showed significant differences in species abundance among the four habitats (P < 0.05), with some important species occurring across multiple habitats, and some endemic species restricted to a single habitat. The biomass of Oratosquilla oratoria in ARA was significantly higher compared to other habitats, and the body length of Chaeturichthys stigmatias in ARA, NCA, and OCA was significantly greater than in NA (P < 0.05), which was strongly associated with the distribution of prey organisms. Differences in body length distributions of fish with different life habits indicate that species migration behavior plays an important role in species distribution and habitat connectivity. Migratory fish species, such as Larimichthys polyactis and Sardinella zunasi, exhibited significantly greater body lengths in artificial habitats compared to natural habitats (P < 0.05). Resident fish species, such as Chaeturichthys stigmatias, exhibited significantly larger body lengths in OCA compared to ARA and NCA (P < 0.05), while Cynoglossus joyneri exhibited a significantly greater body length in NCA than in ARA and OCA (P < 0.05). This study demonstrates that artificial habitats, by enhancing habitat complexity, provide favorable environmental conditions for the restoration of marine biological resources and the development of individuals. The distribution of prey organisms and species migration characteristics are likely associated with connectivity between different habitats.
| 科 Family | 属数 Number of genus | 种数 Number of species | 占总种数比例 Percentage of total species (%) | 属 Genus | 种数 Number of species | 占总种数比例 Percentage of total species (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 鹅膏菌科Amanitaceae | 2 | 11 | 5.26 | 鹅膏菌属 Amanita | 10 | 4.78 |
| 小菇科 Mycenaceae | 2 | 12 | 5.74 | 丝盖伞属 Inocybe | 5 | 2.39 |
| 多孔菌科 Polyporaceae | 8 | 14 | 6.70 | 蜡蘑属 Laccaria | 5 | 2.39 |
| 红菇科 Russulaceae | 3 | 23 | 11.00 | 小皮伞属 Marasmius | 6 | 2.87 |
| 小菇属 Mycena | 11 | 5.26 | ||||
| 光柄菇属 Pluteus | 5 | 2.39 | ||||
| 红菇属 Russula | 17 | 8.13 | ||||
| 栓菌属 Trametes | 5 | 2.39 |