Abstract: Species composition and dominant species of macrobenthic fauna were investigated in the intertidal zone of Zhelin Bay-Nanao Island in August 2011, February 2012, and February and August 2013. A total of 112 species belonging to 7 phyla were identified in the four surveys. The top 3 phyla in species number were Mollusca (59.82%), Arthropoda (18.75%) and Annelida (13.39%). The species number was higher in summer and lower in winter. Significant difference in species number existed between two summer surveys (P<0.05), and no significant difference between two winter surveys (P>0.05) and between winter and summer (P>0.05). Species replacement was obvious from winter to summer and community stability was lower during this period. There were 23 dominant species in the four surveys and Mollusca (>50%) was dominant. Macrobenthic fauna species and distribution was determined by the bottom sediment types in intertidal zone of Zhelin Bay-Nanao Island, and human activities caused certain pressure on the organisms and their ecology in the intertidal zone.

Key words: wetland landscape, evolution of patterns, grid transformation, landscape gradient