Restoration of Aegiceras corniculatum mangroves in Jiulongjiang Estuary changed macro-benthic faunal community

Macro-benthic faunal communities were compared between non-vegetation mudflat and Aegiceras corniculatum mangroves with different ages in Jiulongjiang Estuary, China. Faunal species number was highest in the mature mangrove and was higher in mangroves than in the mudflat, as snails and some crustaceans species were only collected in mangroves. The 5-year-old mangrove had the highest infaunal abundance and crustacean biomass. Snails had more abundance in the young mangroves. Uca arcuata was the dominant crab species in the non-vegetation mudflat and 5-year-old mangrove. Mangrove vegetation and sediment characteristics analyses indicated different habitats due to A. corniculatum mangrove restoration. However, overall poor correlations between faunal assemblage and sediment properties indicated that sediment properties were not the major factors influencing faunal distribution.