湛江外罗海上风电场运营初期对底栖生物群落的影响

Effects of initial operation phase of Wailuo offshore wind farm in Zhanjiang on benthic biotic communities

  • 摘要: 为评估海上风电运营与季节性环境变化的耦合效应,本研究以湛江外罗海上风电场为例,于秋、冬两季对近风电场区域 (NO)、远风电场区域 (FO) 共18个站点开展沉积物与底栖生物调查。通过多样性指数、Mantel检验及生态位分析,探讨运营初期风电场对底栖环境质量的影响,并解析底栖生物群落应对运营干扰的生态适应机制。结果表明:风电场运营初期未对沉积物环境产生不良影响,沉积物环境总体良好,pH、有机碳及重金属含量与对照区域无显著差异 (p>0.05),风电场区石油烃含量偏高可能源于施工期船舶活动残留。但底栖生物群落响应呈现明显季节耦合效应。秋季NO区域物种丰富度低于FO区域,群落结构却稳定,其香农多样性指数与FO区域相近 (如Q2期,1.34±0.73 vs. 1.34±0.71),且广适性滤食种如三刻纹楔樱蛤 (Cadella narutoensis) 在桩基区域生物量显著上升;而冬季NO区域物种数与生物量显著降低 (p<0.05),香农指数降至0.50±0.67,群落趋于以小型化、耐受型机会种 如平小榧螺 (Oliva plana) 为主导。生态位分析显示,宽生态位物种 如圆滑织纹螺 (Nassarius terefiusculas) 通过较强的资源利用能力维持群落功能。研究表明,风电场运营初期对底栖群落的影响呈现显著季节差异,其中冬季运营扰动与自然压力叠加,导致近风电场区生物量下降并驱动群落向机会种优势化演变。

     

    Abstract: To assess the coupled effects of offshore wind farm operation and seasonal environmental changes, we conducted sediment and benthic organism surveys at 18 stations (9 near-turbine area, NO; 9 far-from-turbine area, FO) in Wailuo offshore wind farm in Zhanjiang during autumn and winter. By integrating diversity indices, Mantel tests, and niche analysis, we examined the effects of the initial operational phase on benthic environmental quality and elucidated the ecological adaptation mechanisms of benthic communities to operational disturbances. The results indicate that the initial operation did not adversely affect sediment quality, with overall favorable conditions and no significant differences in pH, organic carbon, or heavy metal contents between areas (p<0.05). Elevated petroleum hydrocarbons in the wind farm area may be attributed to residual ship activities during construction. However, benthic community responses showed distinct seasonal coupling effects. In autumn, although species richness was lower in the NO area, the community structure remained stable, with comparable Shannon diversity indexes between areas (e.g., 1.34±0.73 vs. 1.34±0.71 in Q2). Broadly adaptable filter-feeding species such as Cadella narutoensis also exhibited significantly increased biomass near foundations. In winter, the NO area experienced a sharp decline in species richness and biomass, with the Shannon index dropping to 0.50±0.67, and the community shifted toward dominance by small-sized, tolerant opportunistic species such as Oliva plana. Niche analysis reveals that broad-niche species like Nassarius terefiusculas sustained community function through efficient resource utilization. The study demonstrates that the impact of the initial wind farm operation on benthic communities varies significantly with season, with winter operational disturbances and natural stressors leading to reduced biomass near turbines and driving the community toward opportunist-dominated evolution.

     

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