Species composition and succession of coral reef fishes on Qilianyu Island, Xisha Islands

doi:10.17520/biods.2023481

Abstract

Abstract:

Aims: Qilianyu Island, situated within the northeastern region of the Xisha Islands, harbors rich coral reef ecosystems. However, overfishing and habitat degradation have led to a significant decline in coral reef fish resources. To aid in the conservation and management of these resources, this study aimed to summarize the current composition of coral reef fish on Qilianyu Island and short-term species dynamics.
Methods: A continuous survey of coral reef fish from 2018 to 2023 was conducted on Qilianyu Island, utilizing data compiled from various research methods, including diving surveys, fishing logs, underwater videos, and environmental DNA analysis. Fish species were categorized based on feeding habits (herbivores, carnivores, and omnivores) and individual size (small, medium, and large). Human disturbance impacts were assessed using classification diversity and similarity indices.
Results: Since 2017, a total of 412 coral reef fish species have been identified on Qilianyu Island, representing 2 classes, 16 orders, 60 families, and 168 genera. Perciformes comprised the highest number of species (320), with Labridae being the most abundant family (47 species). Small fish species dominated the coral reef fish community, while carnivorous fish being the most prevalent in terms of diet. However, there has been a notable decrease in the proportion of large and medium-sized fish, as well as carnivorous species, from 2017-2020 compared to 2021-2023, accompanied by a significant increase in small and herbivorous fish. The dissimilarity indices between the two periods revealed changes in species composition and diversity. The study revealed that herbivorous fish exhibited the highest similarity, with a moderate level of similarity observed, indicating relatively stable composition over time. Conversely, small fish displayed the lowest similarity, suggesting significant variability in their presence between time periods. Large fish showed dissimilarity, indicating notable shifts in their abundance and composition. Furthermore, dominant fish species exhibited a lower number of large and small fish species compared to rare fish species, suggesting a more diverse composition among less abundant species. Additionally, dominant fish species had fewer carnivorous species but a higher number of herbivorous species compared to rare fish species, indicating potential impacts on trophic interactions within the community. Moreover, both Delta+ and Lambda+ indices decreased during the two time periods, suggesting a decline in overall species turnover and evenness over time, potentially reflecting ongoing disturbances to the coral reef ecosystem.
Conclusions: Our study reveals the coral reef fish community of Qilianyu Island has undergone significant changes due to overfishing and habitat degradation, leading to altered fish species composition and succession patterns. The study provides essential data for predicting future trends in fish species succession within Xisha Coral Reefs and offers insights into the conservation and restoration of these ecosystems.

Key words: Xisha Islands, coral reef fish, overfishing, taxonomic diversity, succession

Teng Wang, Chunhou Li, Guanghua Wang, Jinfa Zhao, Juan Shi, Hongyu Xie, Yong Liu, Yu Liu. Species composition and succession of coral reef fishes on Qilianyu Island, Xisha Islands[J]. Biodiv Sci, 2024, 32(6): 23481.

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URL: https://www.biodiversity-science.net/EN/10.17520/biods.2023481

https://www.biodiversity-science.net/EN/Y2024/V32/I6/23481

Figures/Tables 6

Fig. 1 Composition of coral reef fish species on Qilianyu Island of the Xisha Islands

Fig. 2 The distribution characteristics of species number in the maximum total length of coral reef fishes on Qilianyu Island

Fig. 3 Distribution characteristics of coral reef fishes with different sizes and feeding habits on Qilianyu Island

Fig. 4 Characteristics of the percentage distribution of reef fishes with different body size (a) and different feeding habits (b) on Qilianyu Island in two periods

Fig. 5 Distribution characteristics of the dominant and rare coral reef fishes with different feeding habits (a) and different sizes (b) on Qilianyu Island

Fig. 6 Funnel plots of 95% confidence intervals for the average taxonomic distinctness (a) and the variation taxonomic distinctness (b) at different time periods on Qilianyu Island

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