Abstract: To understand the effects of ecological restoration on macrobenthos, a monitoring survey was carried out in a restored coastal wetland in the Yellow River Delta, China. Four macrobenthic sampling surveys were conducted before and after the restoration, and changes in the benthic community were analyzed. A total of 40 macrobenthic species were recorded, belonging to 4 phyla, 7 orders and 25 families, with Crustaceans and Polychaetes being the dominant species. After one year of restoration, the benthic fauna increased from 10 species to 23 species, with average density and biomass showing 166.7% and 1033.8% increases, respectively. The species richness index and Shannon diversity index also exhibited significant increases. There were significant spatial differences in the benthic density and biomass of the benthos. The average density followed the order: mid-tidal flats > high-tidal flats > low-tidal flats, while average biomass followed: high-tidal flats > mid-tidal flats > low-tidal flats. The microtopographic construction and vegetation restoration during the ecological restoration effectively improved habitat quality, thereby facilitating the recovery and reconstruction of the benthic community. This study provides scientific support for ecological restoration strategies and the implementation of restoration projects in coastal wetlands.

Key words: ecological restoration, macrobenthos, diversity, coastal wetland