Biodiv Sci ›› 2026, Vol. 34 ›› Issue (5): 25487.  DOI: 10.17520/biods.2025487  cstr: 32101.14.biods.2025487

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Species diversity and distribution of pteropods in the South China Sea

Junce Liang1,2, Kaizhi Li1,3,*()(), Yehui Tan1,2()   

  1. 1 State Key Laboratory of Tropical Oceanography, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, China
    2 University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
    3 Daya Bay Marine Biology Research Station, Chinese Academy of Sciences, National Field Observation and Research Station (Guangdong Daya Bay) for Marine Ecosystem, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518121, China
  • Received:2025-12-06 Accepted:2026-02-14 Online:2026-05-20 Published:2026-07-01
  • Contact: Kaizhi Li
  • Supported by:
    The Biological Resources Program, Chinese Academy of Sciences(KFJ-BRP-017-095);The Biological Resources Program, Chinese Academy of Sciences(CAS-TAX-24-044);Science and Technology Planning Project of Guangdong Province(2023B1212060047);Science and Technology Planning Project of Guangdong Province(2024B1212040008);Science and Technology Planning Project of Guangdong Province(2025A1515012008);Science and Technology Basic Resources Investigation Program of China(2025FY101400)

Abstract:

Aims: Pteropods (Mollusca: Gastropoda) play a key role in marine ecosystems, contributing to critical processes such as the marine food web and carbon cycle. However, their diversity and distribution in the South China Sea remain poorly understood. To address these gaps and enhance the understanding of their regional biogeography, this study aimed to systematically investigate the species diversity and spatial distribution patterns of pteropods (Mollusca: Gastropoda) in the South China Sea.
Methods: Zooplankton samples were collected during four cruises across various ecological regions, including estuarine, shelf, basin, and island/reef areas of the South China Sea between 2022 and 2023. Species were identified based on morphological examination using stereomicroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Ecological indices, including abundance, Shannon-Wiener diversity index, and Pielou evenness index, were calculated to analyze community structure.
Results: A total of 26 pteropod species belonging to 13 families and 18 genera were identified, including four new records for the South China Sea: Diacavolinia elegans, Desmopterus gardineri, Notobranchaea tetrabranchiata, and Cliopsis krohnii. Notable regional heterogeneity was observed: the Pearl River Estuary-western South China Sea shelf showed the highest species richness (22 species), while the Northern South China Sea islands and reefs had the lowest (6 species). Horizontally, coastal areas exhibited higher abundance but lower diversity, whereas open-sea areas showed the reverse pattern. Vertically, pteropods were predominantly concentrated in the 0-200 m layer, with abundance and diversity declining sharply with depth. The composition of dominant species varied markedly among different ecological regions.
Conclusion: This study updates the species checklist of pteropods in the South China Sea and reveals clear spatial partitioning in their community structure, reflecting adaptations to distinct habitats. The findings provide essential baseline data for understanding regional marine biodiversity and monitoring ecosystem changes in this marginal sea.

Key words: Pteropoda, zooplankton, new records, species diversity, South China Sea