Estimates of autumntime benthic secondary production in Laizhou Bay and adjacent Bohai Sea waters

Abstract

The whole metazoan community inhabiting Laizhou Bay and adjacent Bohai Sea waters were sampled in late autumn, 2006. Secondary production estimates for macrofauna and meiofauna were made separately. Total benthic secondary production was as high as 8.38 ± 4.08 g ash-free dry weight (AFDW) m−2 a−1, which represented the autumn production level. In general, macrofaunal secondary production in Laizhou Bay was much lower than that in adjacent Bohai Sea areas. In contrast, meiofaunal secondary production in Laizhou Bay was higher than that in adjacent Bohai Sea areas. Macrofauna contributed 61% to benthic secondary production (5.09 ± 3.26 g AFDW m−2 a−1), lower than the value in previous studies in Bohai Sea. Sediment granulometric characteristics and bottom-water salinity could explain the substantial variability in the macrofauna biomass and production. Meiofaunal production was an important component of benthic production and exceeded macrofauna production under exceptional conditions, e.g. in Laizhou Bay, where macrofauna was restricted. Chlorophyll pigments (Chl-a) concentrations in sediment explained the general meiofaunal biomass and production distribution here.