Abstract
During July 2015 to June 2016, two permanent sampling sites were established in Scirpus mariqueter salt marsh and its adjacent mudflat on the intertidal zone of Chongming-Dongtan in the Yangtze Estuary. Based on monthly trap net surveys of fishes, the characteristics of the fish assemblages in the different subhabitats, including the salt marsh and mudflat, and the monthly variations were analyzed. A total of 19 species of fishes were found belong to 12 Families. The characteristics including the dominant fish species were different in these two subhabitats. 18 species of fish were recorded in the mudflat, of which the dominant species were the Coilia ectenes, Pelteobagrus nitidus and Lateolabrax maculatus. Ten species of fish were recorded in the salt marsh of which the dominant species were the Coilia ectenes, Saurogobio dumerili, Liza haematocheila, Lateolabrax maculatus and Acanthogobius ommaturus. Pelteobagrus nitidus prefers to use the mudflat, while Lateolabrax maculatus and Liza haematocheila prefer to use the salt marsh. There was a significant difference in the monthly variation of fish abundance between the fish abundance of salt marsh and mudflat, while there was no significant difference in fish biomass. The Simpson index of the fish of the mudflat was significantly higher than that of the salt marsh, while the Margalef index and the Pielou index were lower than the salt marsh. The community can be divided into two groups: winter-spring (A) and summer-autumn (B). The abundance of fish in the mudflat and the salt marsh show a very significant correlation with the water temperature (r = 0.773, 0.830, respectively) and a significant correlation with the water salinity(r = 0.654, 0.648, respectively). The abundance of fish in mudflat and salt marsh are both significantly correlated with water temperature and salinity. The abundance of fish of the mudflat (r = 0.470, P > 0.05) is more related to the highest submerged depth than of the salt marsh (r = 0.087, P > 0.05).
Highlights
The intertidal wetland in the estuary is the area where the river runoff flows into the ocean; it has both freshwater and saltwater habitats, which results in its diversification of topographical features and differences of habitat [1]
The characteristics including the dominant fish species were different in these two subhabitats. 18 species of fish were recorded in the mudflat, of which the dominant species were the Coilia ectenes, Pelteobagrus nitidus and Lateolabrax maculatus
Many studies have shown that fish species and their abundance are generally declining from the mudflat to the salt marsh [9] [11]
Summary
The intertidal wetland in the estuary is the area where the river runoff flows into the ocean; it has both freshwater and saltwater habitats, which results in its diversification of topographical features and differences of habitat [1]. Zhang and Zhu [15] studied the intertidal wetland in the Yangtze River estuary and found that the abundance of spring fish assemblages in the intertidal zone was different from other seasons, but the difference between summer and autumn was not significant. Composition of fish assemblages in the different subhabitats of intertidal zone of the Chongming-Dongtan wetland, and found out the fish species, abundance and biomass of the fish assemblage in the mudflat were all higher than those in the salt marsh. Authors analyzed the species composition and biodiversity of fish species in intertidal salt marsh zone and mudflat of the Chongming-Dongtan wetland in the Yangtze River estuary, and discussed the value of different subhabitats for fish, providing a theoretical basis for protecting and scientific using of the Yangtze River estuary intertidal wetland
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