Effects of an artificial reef system on demersal nekton assemblages in Xiangshan Bay, China

In 2012, an artificial reef system was deployed in Xiangshan Bay, China, to enhance its fishery resources. To determine the effect of the artificial reef system on the demersal nekton assemblages, a beforeafter- control-impact study design was applied. Comparisons of assemblages from impact and control habitats revealed that the assemblage in the impact area had a gradual response to reef deployment. The assemblages in the impact and control areas changed in different ways after reef deployment. During the study period, total biomass, species richness and average body weight in the control area remained relatively stable, whereas there were significant increases in these indicators in the impact area. Responses to the reefs differed among nekton species, inducing assemblage succession in the reefs post-deployment. Sparus macrocephalus and Cynoglossus abbreviatus benefited most from reef deployment. Conversely, smallsized shrimp Palaemon gravieri showed a progressive decrease in biomass following reef deployment. Overall, the artificial reef system diversified the demersal nekton assemblage, enhanced the total biomass, and increased the proportion of large-sized species.