Ecosystem impacts and carrying capacity assessment of stock enhancement of Portunus trituberculatus in the coastal waters of Qingdao, China

doi:10.13287/j.1001-9332.202509.037

Abstract

Abstract: Due to the impacts of human activities, coastal fishery resources have declined in recent years, and the structure and function of aquatic ecosystems have been threatened. Stock enhancement has been proved to be an important way for the conservation of fishery resources, which could effectively restore fishery resources and improve fish population structure. However, it may exert significant impacts on the structure and energy flow of ecosystems. It is therefore crucial to take a comprehensive understanding of the ecological effects of stock enhancement and to accurately assess the ecological carrying capacity for released species, in order to constitute the foundation for scientific practices of stock enhancement. We developed an Ecopath model based on the survey data of fishery resources and the environment in the coastal waters of Qingdao during 2019-2020, and analyzed the trophic structure and characteristics of the ecosystem. We estimated the ecological carrying capacity of Portunus trituberculatus and assessed the effects of stock enhancement on ecosystem energy flow. The results showed that the connectivity index and the omnivory index were 0.458 and 0.225, respectively. The total primary production/total respiration was 2.63 and total transfer efficiency was 8.5%, reflecting that the ecosystem was at an unstable state. According to the results of the model, the theoretical carrying capacity of P. trituberculatus was 0.907 t·km^-2, which was 33.6 times of the current biomass, indicating substantial potential for stock enhancement in this region. The release of P. trituberculatus did not affect the overall stability and maturity of the Qingdao coastal ecosystem, while it exerted notable impacts on the energy flow of specific trophic levels. When the biomass of P. trituberculatus reached the carrying capacity, the export of the 3rd and 4th trophic levels was increased by 3.22 and 1.86 times, respectively.

Key words: Ecopath, Portunus trituberculatus, stock enhancement, ecological carrying capability, stocking capacity

FU Danyang, XU Maozhen, SHI Wenkai, ZHANG Chongliang, REN Yiping. Ecosystem impacts and carrying capacity assessment of stock enhancement of Portunus trituberculatus in the coastal waters of Qingdao, China[J]. Chinese Journal of Applied Ecology, 2025, 36(9): 2604-2614.

References

[1] Woods JS, Verones F. Ecosystem damage from anthropogenic seabed disturbance: A life cycle impact assessment characterisation model. Science of the Total Environment, 2019, 649: 1481-1490
[2] Worm B, Barbier EB, Beaumont N, et al. Impacts of biodiversity loss on ocean ecosystem services. Science, 2006, 314: 787-790
[3] 任一平, 徐宾铎, 叶振江, 等. 青岛近海春、秋季渔业资源群落结构特征的初步研究. 中国海洋大学学报: 自然科学版, 2005, 35(5): 792-798
[4] 曾晓起, 朴成华, 姜伟, 等. 胶州湾及其邻近水域渔业生物多样性的调查研究. 中国海洋大学学报:自然科学版, 2004, 34(6): 977-982
[5] 卢晓, 董天威, 涂忠, 等. 山东省三疣梭子蟹增殖放流回顾与思考. 渔业信息与战略, 2018, 33(2): 104-108
[6] Leber KM. Marine fisheries enhancement, Coming of Age in the New Millennium// Christou P, Savin R, Costa-Pierce BA, eds. Sustainable Food Production. New York: Springer, 2013: 1139-1157
[7] Einum S, Fleming IA. Implications of stocking: Ecological interactions between wild and released Salmonids. Nordic Journal of Freshwater Research, 2001, 75: 56-70
[8] Blankenship HL, Leber KM. A responsible approach to marine stock enhancement. American Fisheries Society Symposium, 1995, 15: 167-175
[9] Lorenzen K, Leber KM, Blankenship HL. Responsible approach to marine stock enhancement: An update. Reviews in Fisheries Science, 2010, 18: 189-210
[10] Wang ZG, Feng J, Lozano-Montes HM, et al. Estimating ecological carrying capacity for stock enhancement in marine ranching ecosystems of Northern China. Frontiers in Marine Science, 2022, 9: 936028
[11] Kitada S, Kishino H. Lessons learned from Japanese marine finfish stock enhancement programmes. Fisheries Research, 2006, 80: 101-112
[12] 张崇良, 徐宾铎, 薛莹, 等. 渔业资源增殖评估研究进展与展望. 水产学报, 2022, 46(8): 1509-1524
[13] Taylor MD, Brennan NP, Lorenzen K, et al. Generalized predatory impact model: A numerical approach forassessing trophic limits to hatchery releases and controlling related ecological risks. Reviews in Fisheries Science, 2013, 21: 341-353
[14] Salvanes AGV, Aksnes DL, Giske J. Ecosystemmodel for evaluating potential cod production in a west Norwegian fjord. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 1992, 90: 9-22
[15] 章欣仪, 郑春芳, 秦松, 等. 基于Ecopath模型的瓯江口斑鰶、刀鲚和鮻的增殖生态容量评估. 水产学报, 2025, 49(2): 97-108
[16] Christensen V, Walters CJ. Ecopath with Ecosim: Methods, capabilities and limitations. Ecological Modelling, 2004, 172: 109-139
[17] Byron C, Link J, Costa-Pierce B, et al. Calculating ecological carrying capacity of shellfish aquaculture using mass-balance modeling: Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island. Ecological Modelling, 2011, 222: 1743-1755
[18] Han DY, Tian SQ, Zhang YY, et al. An evaluation of temporal changes in the trophic structure of Gulf of Maine ecosystem. Regional Studies in Marine Science, 2021, 42: 101635
[19] Taghavimotlagh SA, Vahabnezhad A, Shojaei MG. A trophic model of the coastal fisheries ecosystem of the northern Persian Gulf using a mass balance Ecopath model. Regional Studies in Marine Science, 2021, 42: 101639
[20] Yang W, Zhang ZY, Wu Y, et al. Ecosystem-based fishery management that accounts for trade-offs between fishing and enhancement stocking: A case study of Juehua Island in the Bohai Sea. Ecological Indicators, 2023, 156: 111081
[21] 任晓明, 刘阳, 徐宾铎, 等. 基于Ecopath模型的海州湾及邻近海域生态系统结构研究. 海洋学报, 2020, 42(6): 101-109
[22] Wang W, Zuo P, Wang JJ. Coupling isotopic analysis and Ecopath model to detect the ecosystem features based on functional groups of the southwestern Yellow Sea, China. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 2022, 29: 7936-7951
[23] Polovina JJ. Model of a coral reef ecosystem. Coral Reefs, 1984, 3: 1-11
[24] Christensen V, Pauly D. ECOPATH II: A software for balancing steady-state ecosystem models and calculating network characteristics. Ecological Modelling, 1992, 61: 169-185
[25] Lü SG, Wang XC, Han BP. A field study on the conversion ratio of phytoplankton biomass carbon to chlorophyll-a in Jiaozhou Bay, China. Chinese Journal of Oceanology and Limnology, 2009, 27: 793-805
[26] Bundy A. Mass balance models of the eastern Scotian Shelf before and after the cod collapse and other ecosystem changes. Canadian Technical Report of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 2520. Ottawa: Canadian Department of Fisheries and Oceans, 2004
[27] Pauly D. Length-converted catch curves and the seasonal growth of fishes. Fishbyte, 1990, 8: 24-29
[28] 丛旭日, 董贯仓, 李秀启, 等. 东平湖刀鲚生物学参数、单位补充量渔获量及产卵亲体量评估. 中国水产科学, 2023, 30(10): 1236-1245
[29] Palomares MLD, Pauly D. Predicting food consumption of fish populations as functions of mortality, food type, morphometrics, temperature and salinity.Marine and Freshwater Research, 1998, 49: 447-453
[30] Garcia CB, Duarte LO. Consumption to biomass (Q/B) ratio and estimates of Q/B-predictor parameters for Caribbean fishes. Naga, 2002, 25: 19-31
[31] 马孟磊, 陈作志, 许友伟, 等. 基于Ecopath模型的胶州湾生态系统结构和能量流动分析. 生态学杂志, 2018, 37(2): 462-470
[32] 仝龄, 唐启升, Daniel P. 渤海生态通道模型初探. 应用生态学报, 2000, 11(3): 435-440
[33] Lin Q, Jin XS, Zhang B. Trophic interactions, ecosystem structure and function in the southern Yellow Sea. Chinese Journal of Oceanology and Limnology, 2013, 31: 46-58
[34] 欧阳力剑, 郭学武. 东、黄海主要鱼类Q/B值与种群摄食量研究. 渔业科学进展, 2010, 31(2): 23-29
[35] 林群, 袁伟, 马玉洁, 等. 基于Ecopath模型的海州湾三疣梭子蟹增殖生态容量研究. 水生态学杂志, 2022, 43(6): 131-138
[36] 程济生, 朱金声. 黄海主要经济无脊椎动物摄食特征及其营养层次的研究. 海洋学报, 1997, 19(6): 102-108
[37] 盛福利, 曾晓起, 薛莹. 青岛近海口虾蛄的繁殖及摄食习性研究. 中国海洋大学学报:自然科学版, 2009, 39(增刊1): 326-332
[38] 韩东燕, 薛莹, 纪毓鹏, 等. 胶州湾5种虾虎鱼类的营养和空间生态位. 中国水产科学, 2013, 20(1): 148-156
[39] 山东省农业农村厅. 2020年山东渔业统计年鉴 [EB/OL] (2021-11-11) [2025-07-11]. http://nync.shandong.gov.cn
[40] Christensen V, Walters CJ, Pauly D. Ecopath with Ecosim: A User’s Guide. Vancouver: Fisheries Centre, University of British Columbia, 2005
[41] Heymans JJ, Coll M, Link JS, et al. Best practice in Ecopath with Ecosim food-web models for ecosystem-based management. Ecological Modelling, 2016, 331: 173-184
[42] Pauly D, Christensen V, Sambilay V. Some features of fish food consumption estimates used by ecosystem modelers. Aarhus, Denmark: ICES Annual Science Conference, 1990: 1-9
[43] Abdul WO, Adekoya EO. Preliminary Ecopath model of a tropical coastal estuarine ecosystem around bight of Benin, Nigeria. Environmental Biology of Fishes, 2016, 99: 909-923
[44] Finn JT. Measures of ecosystem structure and function derived from analysis of flows. Journal of Theoretical Biology, 1976, 56: 363-380
[45] 林群, 王俊, 李忠义, 等. 黄河口邻近海域生态系统能量流动与三疣梭子蟹增殖容量估算. 应用生态学报, 2015, 26(11): 3523-3531
[46] Yao YQ, Zhang S, Gao SK, et al. Release capacity of Portunus trituberculatus enhancement in coastal waters: A case study in the marine ranching area of Haizhou Bay. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 2024, 299: 108684
[47] Rogers SI, Greenaway B. A UK perspective on the development of marine ecosystem indicators. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 2005, 50: 9-19
[48] Su M. Preliminary analysis of the Jimo coastal ecosystem with the Ecopath model. Journal of Ocean University of China, 2016, 15: 1059-1066
[49] Han DY, Xue Y, Zhang CL, et al. A mass balanced model of trophic structure and energy flows of a semi-closed marine ecosystem. Acta Oceanologica Sinica, 2017, 36: 60-69
[50] 黄梦仪, 徐姗楠, 刘永, 等. 基于Ecopath模型的大亚湾黑鲷生态容量评估. 中国水产科学, 2019, 26(1): 1-13
[51] 冯瑞玉, 陶峰, 郭禹, 等. 基于Ecopath模型的增殖放流对南朗水域生态系统的影响. 水产学报, 2025, 49(5): 94-108
[52] Ullah MH, Rashed-Un-Nabi M, Al-Mamun MA. Trophic model of the coastal ecosystem of the Bay of Bengal using mass balance Ecopath model. Ecological Modelling, 2012, 225: 82-94
[53] 郝辉擘, 蒋日进, 兰丹, 等. 基于Ecopath模型的舟山海域褐菖鲉(Sebastiscus marmoratus)生态容量评估. 海洋与湖沼, 2023, 54(6): 1672-1681
[54] Bootsma HA, Hecky RE, Hesslein RH, et al. Food partitioning among Lake Malawi nearshore fishes as revealed by stable isotope analyses. Ecology, 1996, 77: 1286-1290
[55] 孔业富, 尹成杰, 王林龙, 等. 基于Ecopath模型的三门湾生态系统结构与功能. 应用生态学报, 2022, 33(3): 829-836
[56] 秦玉雪, 王珊, 郭良勇, 等. 黄海北部中国明对虾增殖放流效果评估与效益分析. 大连海洋大学学报, 2020, 35(6): 908-913