Trophic Structure of Fish Community in Artificial Reef Ecosystem Based on Body Mass Using Stable Isotope

Abstract

Artificial reefs are widely recognized for their role in improving the ecological environment and creating protected habitats for marine organisms, ultimately enhancing biodiversity within the food web and fisheries resources. This study utilizes stable isotopes to analyze fish samples ranging from 3.4 to 1067 g in body mass, collected within the artificial reef area of Haizhou Bay. The objective is to determine if the δ15N-based fish body mass acts as a driving factor in shaping the food web structure. The results showed a certain level of overlap among all trophic guilds, suggesting that most trophic guilds within this region share similar living environments and feeding habits. The multiple linear regression showed a slight increasing trend between δ15N values and body mass. Furthermore, the predator–prey mass ratio (PPMR) was calculated to be 430:1 based on the δ15N–body mass relationship. This implies that larger reef fish within this artificial reef ecosystem tend to have higher δ15N values compared to smaller fish, indicating a shorter food chain in this ecosystem. In summary, this analysis provides valuable insights into the fish community structure within artificial reef ecosystems. Therefore, it is recommended that future studies focus on further characterizing the fish community structure using body mass information.