Decadal variation and temporal stability of the macrobenthic community in the Bohai Sea, China.

Biodiversity in the Bohai Sea is threatened by climate change and human activities. An analysis based on decadal macrobenthic community data was conducted to assess the ecological health. These findings revealed the temporal and spatial variations in species composition and biodiversity, which were primarily influenced by depth, temperature and dissolved oxygen content. The community structure in 2014 exhibited a 70 % dissimilarity compared to other years, and biodiversity was lower in 2014. The dominant species showed a trend towards miniaturization. Abundance-biomass comparison curves indicated that community disturbance improved by implementing various policies. Overall, communities in the Bohai Sea remained stable, except in the Bohai Strait (BH), where synchronous fluctuations with an increasing trend were observed. Enhancing biodiversity and addressing the risks associated with losing single species are essential for maintaining community stability. The community also displayed synchronous tendencies in Laizhou Bay, emphasizing the need for continued long-term monitoring. • Depth, temperature, and DO content were the main factors affecting biodiversity. • The dominant species tended to miniaturize due to overfishing. • The community had a recovery trend because marine management efforts increased. • Asynchrony and competition significantly influenced interspecific relationships. • The community in Bohai Strait needed long-term monitoring and management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]