This study was conducted in three different tidal levels within the intertidal zone of Xunpu, Quanzhou Bay, namely a sandy flat (on high鄄tide level) , a Spartina alterniflora鄄dominated flat (on middle鄄tide flat) and an oyster鄄 dominated flat (on middle鄄tide flat). Investigations were repeated four times between 2011 and 2012. We aimed to understand the spatial and temporal variation of macrobenthic community structure and to evaluate differences among three habitats in the study area. A total of 85 macrobenthic species were recorded, including 39 annelida (38 polychaeta and 1 oligochaeta) , 21 crustacea, 20 mollusca (6 gastropoda and 14 bivalvia) , 1 cnidaria, platyhelminthes, nemertea, sipuncula and chordata. The results of MDS analysis showed different macrobenthic communities among the three sites in spring and winter, while communities at the S. alterniflora鄄dominated and oyster鄄dominated flats were similar in summer and autumn. Within each season, the species number in the S. alterniflora鄄dominated flat was higher than that at the other two sites, probably due to a mixed sediment type and the shadowing of S. alterniflora acting as a shelter to animals. Instead,
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