<p>Species co-occurrence is crucial for understanding species interactions, ecological processes, and predicting community responses, which supports biodiversity conservation and ecosystem health. In this study, we explored co-occurrence patterns of macrobenthos in the intertidal and offshore zones of the Yellow River Delta (YRD) using null model and co-occurrence probabilistic model methods. Results showed that the intertidal zone had lower species diversity, mainly consisting of mollusks, crustaceans, and polychaetes. In contrast, the offshore zone consistently exhibited higher crustacean abundance, particularly shrimps and crabs, and an increased fish species count over multiple months. Null model results indicated that macrobenthic species with low mobility predominantly exhibited a random pattern across the intertidal zone, which remained generally stable over time; on the other hand, these species with high mobility showed a significant segregated pattern within offshore zone. Co-occurrence probabilistic model analysis showed that the species pairs of the macrobenthic communities were mainly randomly associated in different zones. Furthermore, species pairs exhibiting significant aggregation were more numerous than those showing separation. These findings support that macrobenthic species within the intertidal zone lack a distinct structure, likely due to reduced interspecific competition and also increased environmental impact in this unique zone of the YRD. Despite potential effects of sampling methods, the study shows that highly mobile communities tend to have structured co-occurrence patterns, while small, low-mobility communities are more likely to be randomly distributed. This study improves understanding of species co-occurrence across different ecological zones in estuarine wetlands, supporting biodiversity conservation and ecosystem management.</p>