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The environment effect on fish assemblage structure in waters adjacent to the Changjiang (Yangtze) River estuary (1998–2001)

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Abstract

We collected fish abundance data in the Changjiang (Yangtze River) estuary and adjacent waters in November 1998, May 1999, November 2000, and May 2001. Using the data, we evaluated the characteristics of the fish assemblages at each site and investigated the effect of several environmental factors. We used a multivariate analysis, including community ordination methods such as detrended correspondence analysis (DCA) and canonical correspondence analysis (CCA), and two-way indicator species analysis (TWINSPAN). We analyzed the biological community structure and environmental factors to determine their spatial distributions, temporal dynamics, and seasonal variations. Among the fish species, five exceeded 5% of the total abundance: Harpodon nehereus (42.82%), Benthosema pterotum (13.85%), Setipinna taty (11.64%), Thryssa kammalensis (9.17%) and Apogonichthys lineatus (6.49%). These were separated into four ecological assemblages: hypsithermal-saline, hypsithermal-brackish, hypothermal-brackish, and hypothermal-saline. We evaluated the degree of influence of environmental factors on the fish community. Our analyses suggested that environmental factors including water depth, salinity, turbidity, transparency, nutrient, and suspended matter formed a synthetic spatial gradient between the coastal and pelagic areas. Ecological and environmental factors changed temporally from 1998 to 2001, and drove the fish community succession. The environmental factors driving the fish community structure included bottom temperature, water depth, bottom and surface pH, surface total phosphorous, and bottom dissolved oxygen. This investigation was completed before completion of the Three Gorges Dam; therefore the results of this study provide an important foundation for evaluating the influence of the human activities.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Marine Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, 266071, China

    Haicheng Yu  (于海成) & Weiwei Xian  (线薇微)

  2. Graduate University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China

    Haicheng Yu  (于海成)

Authors
  1. Haicheng Yu  (于海成)
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  2. Weiwei Xian  (线薇微)
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Weiwei Xian  (线薇微).

Additional information

Supported by the High Technology Research and Development Program of China (863 Program)(Nos. 2006AA09Z180, 2004AA639790), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 40106013), and the National Basic Research Program of China (973 program)(No. 2001CB409703)

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Yu, H., Xian, W. The environment effect on fish assemblage structure in waters adjacent to the Changjiang (Yangtze) River estuary (1998–2001). Chin. J. Ocean. Limnol. 27, 443–456 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00343-009-9155-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00343-009-9155-6

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