Connectivity of fish assemblages along the mangrove-seagrass-coral reef continuum in Wenchang, China

Jianguo Du; Meiling Xie; Yuyu Wang; Zehao Chen; Wenhua Liu; Jianji Liao; Bin Chen

doi:10.1007/s13131-019-1490-7

Volume 39 Issue 8

Aug. 2020

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Jianguo Du, Meiling Xie, Yuyu Wang, Zehao Chen, Wenhua Liu, Jianji Liao, Bin Chen. Connectivity of fish assemblages along the mangrove-seagrass-coral reef continuum in Wenchang, China[J]. Acta Oceanologica Sinica, 2020, 39(8): 43-52. doi: 10.1007/s13131-019-1490-7

Citation:

Jianguo Du, Meiling Xie, Yuyu Wang, Zehao Chen, Wenhua Liu, Jianji Liao, Bin Chen. Connectivity of fish assemblages along the mangrove-seagrass-coral reef continuum in Wenchang, China[J]. Acta Oceanologica Sinica, 2020, 39(8): 43-52. doi: 10.1007/s13131-019-1490-7

Citation:

Jianguo Du, Meiling Xie, Yuyu Wang, Zehao Chen, Wenhua Liu, Jianji Liao, Bin Chen. Connectivity of fish assemblages along the mangrove-seagrass-coral reef continuum in Wenchang, China[J]. Acta Oceanologica Sinica, 2020, 39(8): 43-52. doi: 10.1007/s13131-019-1490-7

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Connectivity of fish assemblages along the mangrove-seagrass-coral reef continuum in Wenchang, China

doi: 10.1007/s13131-019-1490-7

Jianguo Du^{1
,
,},
Meiling Xie^{2, 1},
Yuyu Wang³,
Zehao Chen^{1, 4},
Wenhua Liu²,
Jianji Liao¹,
Bin Chen^{1
,
,}

1.
Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen 361005, China
2.
Marine Biology Institute, Shantou University, Shantou 515063, China
3.
School of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
4.
College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China

Funds: The National Natural Science Foundation of China under contract No. 41676096; the Natural Science Foundation of Fujian Province of China under contract No. 2017J01075; the Technology Foundation for Selected Overseas Chinese Scholar Project “Impacts of Climate Change on Biology and Economy in the East China Sea”; the National Key Research and Development Program of China under contract No. 2018YFC1406503; the China-ASEAN Maritime Cooperation Fund Project “Monitoring and Conservation of The Coastal Ecosystem in The South China Sea”.

More Information

Corresponding author: E-mail: dujianguo@tio.org.cn; chenbin@tio.org.cn
Received Date: 2019-07-09
Accepted Date: 2019-09-30

Available Online: 2020-12-28

Publish Date: 2020-08-25

Abstract

Abstract

Understanding the connectivity of fish among different typical habitats is important for conducting ecosystem-based management, particularly when designing marine protected areas (MPA) or setting MPA networks. To clarify of connectivity among mangrove, seagrass beds, and coral reef habitats in Wenchang, Hainan Province, China, the fish community structure was studied in wet and dry seasons of 2018. Gill nets were placed across the three habitat types, and the number of species, individuals, and body size of individual fish were recorded. In total, 3 815 individuals belonging to 154 species of 57 families were collected. The highest number of individuals and species was documented in mangroves (117 species, 2 623 individuals), followed by coral reefs (61 species, 438 individuals) and seagrass beds (46 species, 754 individuals). The similarity tests revealed highly significant differences among the three habitats. Approximately 23.4% species used two habitats and 11.0% species used three habitats. A significant difference (p<0.05) in habitat use among eight species (Mugil cephalus, Gerres oblongus, Siganus fuscescens, Terapon jarbua, Sillago maculata, Upeneus tragula, Lutjanus russellii, and Monacanthus chinensis) was detected, with a clear ontogenetic shift in habitat use from mangrove or seagrass beds to coral reefs. The similarity indices suggested that fish assemblages can be divided into three large groups namely coral, seagrass, and mangrove habitat types. This study demonstrated that connectivity exists between mangrove–seagrass–coral reef continuum in Wenchang area; therefore, we recommend that fish connectivity should be considered when designing MPAs or MPA network where possible.
- connectivity,
- fish,
- mangrove,
- seagrass,
- coral reef,
- Wenchang,
- northern South China Sea

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References(47)

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