Abstract: Based on the survey of macrozoobenthos at 35 locations of 7 sections in the intertidal flat of northwest Jiaozhou Bay in February, May, August, and November 2009, three zones including high tidal zone (A), mid tidal zone (B, C, and D), and low tidal zone (E) were selected to study the functional groups of macrozoobenthos in the flat. A total of 71 macrozoobenthos species were recorded, most of which were of mollusk (31 species), polychaete (20 species), and crustacean (14 species). The species number in A, B, C, D, and E was 26, 33, 35, 38, and 31, respectively. According to their food preferences, the macrozoobenthos were classified into 4 functional groups, i.e., planktonphagous, carnivorous, omnivorous, and detritivorous. The percentage of the species number of each functional group in the total species number of macrozoobenthos was in the order of carnivorous > planktophagous > detritivorous > omnivorous. Carnivorous group had the highest species diversity index, while omnivorous group had the lowest one. Overall, the species richness index, evenness index, and species diversity index were higher in mid tidal zone and lower in high and low tidal zones. The present study showed that the distribution of macrozoobenthos functional groups varied with the environment of tidal zones, being an integrative reflection of their habitat conditions.

Key words: macrozoobenthos, functional group, intertidal flat, Jiaozhou Bay, hilly apple orchard, rainwater harvesting-soil anti-seepage, empirical equation, loessial soil