Changes of Community Structure and Functional Feeding Groups of Benthic Macrofauna After Mangrove Afforestation in a Subtropical Intertidal Zone, China

Afforestation is a primary response to the loss and degradation of mangroves worldwide. The successful restoration mangrove ecosystems in part indicated by rebuilding macrobenthic community. However, community dynamic benthic macrofauna after afforestation was poorly known. Here, three quarterly surveys (2006–2007, 2014–2015, 2019–2020) sediment grain size were conducted mix-planted stand (Kandelia obovata + Sonneratia apetala) Xiamen Tong’an Bay, China. Our results showed that structure differed significantly afforestation. These differences accompanied declines species number, abundance, biomass, diversity (H’), as well fining sediments. We also found epifauna infauna exhibited different adaptabilities vegetation. Additionally, shifts composition functional feeding groups observed, indicating modification trophic recommend future programs call for guide coordinate habitats taxa.