Huang, J.-F.; Chen, C.-T.A.; Chen, M.-H.; Huang, S.-L.; Hsu, P.-Y. Structural Equation Modeling of the Marine Ecological System in Nanwan Bay Using SPSS Amos. Sustainability2023, 15, 11435.
Huang, J.-F.; Chen, C.-T.A.; Chen, M.-H.; Huang, S.-L.; Hsu, P.-Y. Structural Equation Modeling of the Marine Ecological System in Nanwan Bay Using SPSS Amos. Sustainability 2023, 15, 11435.
Huang, J.-F.; Chen, C.-T.A.; Chen, M.-H.; Huang, S.-L.; Hsu, P.-Y. Structural Equation Modeling of the Marine Ecological System in Nanwan Bay Using SPSS Amos. Sustainability2023, 15, 11435.
Huang, J.-F.; Chen, C.-T.A.; Chen, M.-H.; Huang, S.-L.; Hsu, P.-Y. Structural Equation Modeling of the Marine Ecological System in Nanwan Bay Using SPSS Amos. Sustainability 2023, 15, 11435.
Abstract
In order to sustain the marine environment relationship between the environmental factors and marine biota must be investigated. This study aims to study such a correlation in the adjacent waters of Nan Wan Bay, Kenting, Taiwan, and to explore the covariance of environmental factors on marine life (whether they enhance or diminish it). To achieve these objectives, factor analysis was used to identify potential latent variables that could affect the water quality of the adjacent waters, including phytoplankton (quantity), zooplankton (quantity), and fish (quantity and species). These potential variables were named based on the results of past studies and related literature. Finally, a structural equation model (SEM) was constructed to establish a marine ecological model among the potential variables. The factor analysis results revealed that nutrients, upwelling, and primary productivity are the primary factors affecting the environmental changes in the adjacent waters of Nan Wan Bay. The comprehensive SEM showed that nutrients and primary productivity significantly impact plankton. Path analysis indicated that primary productivity has the highest direct effect on the phytoplankton cluster. However, the upwelling has a low significance in its effect on phytoplankton, zooplankton, and fish clusters. Compared to the results of past related studies, the SEM proposed in this study can reflect a considerable degree of change in the waters.
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