Differences in trophic structure and trophic pathways between artificial reef and natural reef ecosystems along the coast of the North yellow Sea, China, based on stable isotope analyses

Artificial reefs have been employed to promote enrichment of degraded habitats communities and support local fisheries. To better evaluate the performance artificial reefs, simultaneous comparisons with relatively undisturbed natural nearby are essential. With inclusion stable isotope method characterize compare ecosystem functioning for two reef systems, both trophic structure flow at an a evaluated in present work. We found that: 1) macrobenthos fish can be clustered into five groups each site, similar grouping configurations structures, 2) energy pathways from basal resources between reef, although pathway magnitudes may spatially different. elucidate comprehensive viewpoint, we reconstructed general model up fishes where pelagic based on POM benthic either Chlorophyta or mixture microphytobenthos, identified. conclude that has established years those provided by ecosystem. In future, call specific compartments combination ecology community structure, understand development systems.