Abstract: Based on the bottom trawl surveys in the waters off southern Shandong Peninsula in spring 1986, 1998 and 2000, the yearly variat ions of nekton, dominant species were analyzed. The mult ivariate gradient analysis was used in the study of community characteristics. The result s indicate that the period of shifts of species was reduced, the species dominance decreased and the diversity increased in the surveyed areas of the Yellow Sea. Therefore, the community structure has greatly changed, and succession increased.