Assessing benthic habitat quality using biotic indices in the Laizhou Bay, China

摘要: As an important part of the Bohai economic rim, Laizhou Bay has been stressed by serious eco-environmental problems in recent years. In this study, Shannon-Wiener index (H'), AZTI’s marine biotic (AMBI) and multivariate AMBI (M-AMBI) were used to assess ecological quality status (EQS) according macrobenthos data collected annually August 2011-2014. The results showed that overall benthic habitat was assessed as “Good”. However, 25% samples classified “Moderate”, “Bad” or “Poor” under degraded conditions. Ecological group III (EGIII) species which had a certain tolerance environmental disturbances higher proportion each station, most them appeared pollution indicator Capitella capitata. This indicated disturbed polluted some extent. comparison three indices evaluation result RDA analysis H' M-AMBI more suitable when relative abundance single high macrobenthic community significantly imbalanced; opportunistic (EGIV EGV) high, could reflected EQS objectively; undisturbed environment, all indicate habitats quality. summary, better correlation between factors they well responsive tendency Bay.