Based on the environment and nekton data obtained from seasonal surveys in Lidao artificial reef (AR) and control zones of Shandong province between May 2009 and February 2010, this paper analyzed the species composition of nekton community in the two zones. Variations on temporal-spatial distribution patterns and community structure of nekton community were determined by using Margalef's species richness index, Shannon-Wiener diversity index, Pielou's evenness index. The relationships between abiotic environmental variables and nekton community pattern were investigated with gradient analysis, combining Monte Carlo test to determine limiting factors affecting nekton community structure of artificial reef zones. A total number of 18 fish species belonging to 15 families and 8 orders were collected during the surveys. Sebastes schlegeli, Hexagrammos otakii and Hexagrammos agrammus were the most abundant species. S. schlegeli was the absolutely dominant species in weight composition of catch(41%).The species number and catch of nekton at AR were higher than that at the control site, but the difference was not significant(P>0.05). The highest average CPUE by season of investigation zones appeared in the reef zone near shore (NA) and reached 830.24 g/(net·d) during the surveys. It was noted that the parameters of community structure were highest in spring or autumn. However, no significant differences were found in community structure parameters between artificial reef zones and the control zones (P >0.05). Cluster analysis showed that similarities among quadrats of different zones were relatively high in spring, summer and winter, while similarities among quadrats between the reef and control zones off shore in autumn and all zones in spring were higher than those NA and control zones. 37.1% of the variation in composition of nekton community was explained by water temperature in the RDA analysis, which suggested water temperature was main explanatory factor(Monte Carlo test P=0.002).The water temperature and depth were key environmental variables for temporal-spatial variation of nekton community structure in Lidao artificial reef zones.