The species diversity and trophic structure of reef fishes in the waters of the Xisha Archipelago

doi:10.3724/SP.J.1003.2014.14102

Abstract

Abstract:

The aims of our study were to (1) uncover new reef fish species records using the underwater visual census method; and (2) analyze the fish community structure according to trophic groups and its response to water quality changes. The fishes on six reefs (Yongxing Island, Dongdao Island, Lingyang Atoll, Jinyin Island, Huaguang Atoll, and Zhongjian Island) along the Xisha Archipelago were investigated in May-June, 2006 using underwater visual censuses. The fishes we recorded belong to 29 families, 71 genera and 119 species. The number of newly recorded species was 50. The number of fish species increased to 717 in the Xisha area since the 1950’s. The species number and Shannon-Wiener diversity were both highest on the western reef of Yongxing Island. Most fish species were distributed narrowly in small areas. The dominant assemblages were the planktivores and bottom invertebrate feeders. The rare assemblages were the herbivores, the omnivores, and the top predator, the piscivores. The structure of trophic groups indicated that most coral reef systems were relatively healthy. The percentage of total abundance (and biomass) comprised by omnivores was largest on the western reef of Yongxing Island compared to other reefs, suggesting that the fish community structure had responded to water eutrophication around Yongxing Island.

Key words: Xisha, reef fish, diversity, trophic level, eutrophication

Yongli Gao, Hui Huang, Jiansheng Lian, Jianhui Yang. The species diversity and trophic structure of reef fishes in the waters of the Xisha Archipelago[J]. Biodiv Sci, 2014, 22(5): 618-623.

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URL: https://www.biodiversity-science.net/EN/10.3724/SP.J.1003.2014.14102

https://www.biodiversity-science.net/EN/Y2014/V22/I5/618

Figures/Tables 5

References 34

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站位 Station	种数 No. of species	多样性指数 Shannon-Wiener diversity index
1 金银岛北 The north of Jinyin Island	33	2.39
2 金银岛东 The east of Jinyin Island	35	2.35
3 羚羊礁西 The west of Lingyang Atoll	38	2.21
4 羚羊礁南 The south of Lingyang Atoll	42	1.65
5 永兴岛西 The west of Yongxing Island	57	2.86
6 中建岛北 The north of Zhongjian Island	56	2.73
7 中建岛南 The south of Zhongjian Island	32	1.67
8 华光礁北 The north of Huaguang Atoll	37	2.83
9 东岛北 The north of Dongdao Island	21	2.40
10 东岛南 The south of Dongdao Island	26	2.36

站位 Station	种数 No. of species	多样性指数 Shannon-Wiener diversity index
1 金银岛北 The north of Jinyin Island	33	2.39
2 金银岛东 The east of Jinyin Island	35	2.35
3 羚羊礁西 The west of Lingyang Atoll	38	2.21
4 羚羊礁南 The south of Lingyang Atoll	42	1.65
5 永兴岛西 The west of Yongxing Island	57	2.86
6 中建岛北 The north of Zhongjian Island	56	2.73
7 中建岛南 The south of Zhongjian Island	32	1.67
8 华光礁北 The north of Huaguang Atoll	37	2.83
9 东岛北 The north of Dongdao Island	21	2.40
10 东岛南 The south of Dongdao Island	26	2.36

食性组别 Trophic groups	东岛 Dongdao Island	永兴岛* Yongxing Island	羚羊礁 Lingyang Atoll	金银岛 Jinyin Island	华光礁* Huaguang Atoll	中建岛 Zhongjian Island
数量比例 Abundance percentages (%)
碎屑食性 Detritivores (dt)	7.0±4.1	5.2	2.2±1.2	3.5±0.1	30	12±9.3
植食性 Herbivores (hb)	2.7±3.9	4.1	1.3±0.9	2.1±0.5	7.8	6.5±5.9
无脊椎动物和鱼类食性 Invertebrate feeders and piscivore (ip)	8.2±3.8	5.3	2.6±1.3	9.7±4.9	6.4	6.6±6.0
无脊椎动物食性 Invertebrate feeders (iv)	20±2.6	22	8.6±7.7	13±1.9	34	10±8.4
杂食性 Omnivores (om)	25±19	45	6.7±1.4	3.2±0	1.4	6.7±1.9
鱼类食性 Piscivores (pi)	0±0	0.1	29±40	0.2±0.2	0.0	1.3±0.3
浮游动物食性 Planktivores (pk)	37±21	17	50±28	68±3.6	21	57±32
生物量比例 Biomass percentages (%)
碎屑食性 Detritivores (dt)	29±13	23	6.6±2.1	11±6.4	34	20±12
植食性 Herbivores (hb)	1.8±2.6	9.8	3.5±0.9	1.6±0.2	2.8	6.4±7.2
无脊椎动物和鱼类食性 Invertebrate feeders and piscivore (ip)	24±3.6	17	14±1.5	37±13	9.6	9.0±8.3
无脊椎动物食性 Invertebrate feeders (iv)	23±14	29	24±24	20±0.8	45	15±13
杂食性 Omnivores (om)	7.7±8.0	18	6.4±2.3	3.4±1.0	0.5	3.3±0.7
鱼类食性 Piscivores (pi)	0±0	0	11±12	0.4±0.6	0	4.4±3.4
浮游动物食性 Planktivores (pk)	15±6.2	3.1	35±9.4	26±5.2	7.9	43±43

食性组别 Trophic groups	东岛 Dongdao Island	永兴岛* Yongxing Island	羚羊礁 Lingyang Atoll	金银岛 Jinyin Island	华光礁* Huaguang Atoll	中建岛 Zhongjian Island
数量比例 Abundance percentages (%)
碎屑食性 Detritivores (dt)	7.0±4.1	5.2	2.2±1.2	3.5±0.1	30	12±9.3
植食性 Herbivores (hb)	2.7±3.9	4.1	1.3±0.9	2.1±0.5	7.8	6.5±5.9
无脊椎动物和鱼类食性 Invertebrate feeders and piscivore (ip)	8.2±3.8	5.3	2.6±1.3	9.7±4.9	6.4	6.6±6.0
无脊椎动物食性 Invertebrate feeders (iv)	20±2.6	22	8.6±7.7	13±1.9	34	10±8.4
杂食性 Omnivores (om)	25±19	45	6.7±1.4	3.2±0	1.4	6.7±1.9
鱼类食性 Piscivores (pi)	0±0	0.1	29±40	0.2±0.2	0.0	1.3±0.3
浮游动物食性 Planktivores (pk)	37±21	17	50±28	68±3.6	21	57±32
生物量比例 Biomass percentages (%)
碎屑食性 Detritivores (dt)	29±13	23	6.6±2.1	11±6.4	34	20±12
植食性 Herbivores (hb)	1.8±2.6	9.8	3.5±0.9	1.6±0.2	2.8	6.4±7.2
无脊椎动物和鱼类食性 Invertebrate feeders and piscivore (ip)	24±3.6	17	14±1.5	37±13	9.6	9.0±8.3
无脊椎动物食性 Invertebrate feeders (iv)	23±14	29	24±24	20±0.8	45	15±13
杂食性 Omnivores (om)	7.7±8.0	18	6.4±2.3	3.4±1.0	0.5	3.3±0.7
鱼类食性 Piscivores (pi)	0±0	0	11±12	0.4±0.6	0	4.4±3.4
浮游动物食性 Planktivores (pk)	15±6.2	3.1	35±9.4	26±5.2	7.9	43±43