Comparison of floating and traditional artificial reef areas using an ecosystem-based approach in the Dashentang area of Bohai Bay, China

• Published in: Fisheries research 2024-09, Vol.277, p.107085, Article 107085
• Main Authors: Han, Chenglong, Pang, Xiaoke, Liu, Wanni, Fu, Wenjing, Guo, Biao, Kinoshita, Toshihisa, Zheng, Debin, Yamashita, Osamu, Feng, Jianfeng, Lu, Xueqiang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Comparative analysis; Ecological network analysis; Ecological restoration; Ecopath model; Ecosystem properties
• ISSN: 0165-7836; 1872-6763
• DOI: 10.1016/j.fishres.2024.107085

Instead of the conventional fishery survey-based approach, this study used an ecosystem-based approach to evaluate the ecological impacts of artificial reefs (ARs). Trophic models were initially employed for floating artificial reef area (FARA), traditional artificial reef area (TARA), and reef-free control area (CONA) in the Dashentang area of Bohai Bay, China. Ecosystem-based analyses of FARA and TARA highlighted similar trophic functioning characteristics. A substantial proportion of energy occurred at trophic levels I and II, and most of the primary production was utilized through grazing pathways. As a structuring group, zoobenthos played a pivotal role in enabling pelagic-benthic coupling in both ecosystems. Additionally, the top-down control in the FARA and TARA ecosystems was enhanced. Conventional surveys and comparative ecosystem-based analyses revealed distinct differences between the two ecosystems. In FARA, a significant increase was observed in pelagic fish and zoobenthos, with increases of 3.60- and 4.44-fold, respectively, compared with CONA. Conversely, TARA showed a considerable increase in demersal fish, approximately 2.6 times greater than that of CONA. Based on the biomass disparity between the two ARs, the ecosystem-based approach revealed that the FARA ecosystem led to enhanced energy pathways from detritus, greater total system throughput, higher energy cycle proportion, and more efficient nutrient transfer. Furthermore, the FARA ecosystem showed relatively high stability and maturity (total primary production/total respiration, 1.616