ABSTRACT The Chudao oyster reef in Sanggou Bay, China represents a rare case of reef expansion in the context of global oyster reef degradation. However, its ecosystem structure and functioning remain poorly understood. To fill this knowledge gap, a whole‐biota survey was conducted in May 2024, covering plankton, microorganisms, reef‐dwelling animals, and nekton across different tidal zones. An Ecopath model was subsequently constructed to quantify trophic structure and energy flow. Results revealed a total of 30 reef‐dwelling animal species, with oysters ( Magallana gigas ) dominant in both density (1335–1605 ind m −2 ) and biomass (12.87–14.04 kg m −2 ). Biodiversity indices did not differ significantly among tidal zones ( p > 0.05), although relatively higher values were observed in the low‐tide zone. The Ecopath model comprised 17 functional groups with trophic levels ranging from 1.00 to 3.73. Total system throughput (TST) reached 36,752.52 t km −2 year −1 , with primary producers contributing 61% of total energy flow. Ecosystem indices indicated a relatively mature and stable ecosystem, while the overall energy transfer efficiency was low (4.21%). As the first ecosystem‐level assessment of the Chudao Oyster Reef Ecosystem ( CORE ), this study provides valuable quantitative insights into its structural and functional characteristics and establishes a scientific basis for the conservation, management, and sustainable development of this rare expanding oyster reef ecosystem.
Shi et al. (Wed,) studied this question.