Work

Assessment of Habitat Suitability for Amphioxus in the Changli Marine Reserve and Adjacent Coastal Waters, Hebei Province

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Amphioxus, a key model organism in vertebrate evolution, is essential for understanding ecological balance and species diversity. This study examined the spatiotemporal distribution of Branchiostoma japonicum and assessed its habitat suitability in the Changli Golden Coast Nature Reserve and adjacent coastal waters from 2008 to 2023 (excluding 2020). The maximum abundance showed marked fluctuations, with a sharp decline between 2008 and 2015 followed by recovery after 2016, reaching a peak of 345 ind./m2 in 2022. The average abundance also increased, peaking at 34 ind./m2 in 2022. Spatially, the higher abundances occurred in central stations, while peripheral sites were much lower, sometimes absent. Spearman’s correlation and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) identified sediment grain size (1~0.25 mm), water depth and sediment sulfide as key environmental factors. A habitat suitability index (HSI), constructed using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), showed higher values in central stations, indicating more favorable conditions. These findings highlight the importance of long-term monitoring, clarify the ecological requirements of amphioxus, and provide guidance for habitat conservation and management in regions affected by environmental change and human activities.

Source: Animals

DOI: 10.3390/ani15213203