title: Loss and self-restoration of macrobenthic diversity in reclamation habitats of estuarine islands in Yangtze Estuary, China.
abstract: In this study, macrobenthic diversity data were collected from intertidal habitats of island wetlands in Yangtze Estuary before and after reclamation. Three survey regions based on habitat features were investigated: protected region, normal region, and self-restored region. The pattern of diversity variation showed a sharp decrease in reclamation sites and an obvious increase in vegetated sites of the self-restored region before and after reclamation. A declining trend in habitat health was observed in reclamation sites, but the degree of perturbation was relatively weaker in protected region than in normal region. The vegetated site showed a better self-restoration of biodiversity than the bald site. These results suggest that reclamation may have a negative influence on biodiversity and habitat health status in the intertidal wetland. Also, there is a possibility of self-restoration in tidal flats disturbed by reclamation and the resistance effect in nature reserve may reduce the disturbances resulting from reclamation.
authors.affiliation: School of Life Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China.
authors.forename: Weiwei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lv
authors.affiliation: School of Life Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China.
authors.forename: Zhiquan
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: School of Life Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China.
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: School of Life Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China.
authors.forename: Youhui
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: School of Life Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China.
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.affiliation: Shanghai National Engineering Research Center of Urban Water Resources Co.Ltd., Shanghai 200082, China.
authors.forename: Qichen
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: School of Life Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China. Electronic address: zhaoyl904426@sina.com.
authors.forename: Yunlong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhao
mesh_terms: D044822:Biodiversity; D002681:China; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D017753:Ecosystem; D063366:Estuaries; D006801:Humans; D062312:Islands; D053833:Wetlands
keywords: Diversity loss; Diversity self-restoration; Macrobenthos; Reclamation; Yangtze Estuary