Coastal Ecological Connectivity between Seagrass Bed and Marine Ranching 30 km Apart: A Case STUDY of Apostichopus japonicus Feeding on Seagrass Debris in the Bohai Sea, China

Shaochun Xu, Xu Wang, Shidong Yue, Xiaomei Zhang, Yunling Zhang, Chenggang Lin () and Yi Zhou
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Shaochun Xu: CAS Key Laboratory of Marine Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao 266071, China
Xu Wang: CAS Key Laboratory of Marine Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao 266071, China
Shidong Yue: CAS Key Laboratory of Marine Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao 266071, China
Xiaomei Zhang: CAS Key Laboratory of Marine Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao 266071, China
Yunling Zhang: Hebei Provincial Technology Innovation Center for Coastal Ecology Rehabilitation, Tangshan Marine Ranching Co., Ltd., Tangshan 063000, China
Chenggang Lin: CAS Key Laboratory of Marine Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao 266071, China
Yi Zhou: CAS Key Laboratory of Marine Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao 266071, China

Sustainability, 2024, vol. 16, issue 7, 1-12

Abstract: Coastal ecosystems form interconnected networks that are essential for the maintenance of marine biodiversity. This study investigates the dietary patterns of Apostichopus japonicus (sea cucumber) within a marine ranching ecosystem and reveals the influence of Zostera marina (seagrass) leaves from a distant bed on nutrient availability and trophic connectivity. Samples collected between September 2020 and March 2021 from Xiangyun Bay included A. japonicus , macroalgae, phytoplankton, and seagrass leaves. Stable isotope analysis (δ 13 C and δ 15 N), in conjunction with Bayesian mixing models, elucidated the contributions of different food sources to A. japonicus ’ diet. Macroalgae constituted more than 50% of A. japonicus ’ diet, while seagrass contributions ranged between 5.7% and 11.3%. The isotopic analysis confirmed the presence of seagrass debris in the marine ranching environment, indicating significant nutrient transport from a remote seagrass bed. This study underscores the crucial role played by macroalgae as the primary source of nutrients for A. japonicus within a marine ranching setting. Furthermore, detecting seagrass debris from a distant habitat highlights previously unrecognized ecological connectivity between seagrass ecosystems and artificial reef environments along coastal areas. This understanding of long-range nutrient transfers is vital for effective management and conservation strategies in coastal marine systems, emphasizing intricate yet significant ecological interdependencies across coastal environments.

Keywords: seagrass; marine ranching; mariculture; connectivity; Zostera marina L.; Apostichopus japonicus (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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