Functional diversity of fishes in the Minjiang Estuary, Southeast China

Abstract

Based on samples collected by bottom trawl in May, August, November and December 2016 in the Minjiang Estuary, species richness and functional diversity of fishes, as well as their spatial-temporal variations, were quantified by a trait-based approach. The functional diversity varied with the changes of species richness. The species richness averaged across all stations were (17.8±5.1) species in spring, (22.4±5.6) in summer, (17.7±6.3) in autumn, and (12.1±2.3) in winter. Functional diversity also showed seasonal variation, with the highest in summer as (33.94±28.70), followed by (9.93±8.83) in winter, (11.30±7.55) in spring and (19.05±19.32) in autumn. The key functional species varied seasonally, as Setipinna taty contributing to 26% of the total functional value in spring, Polydactylus sextarius at 26% in summer, Harpadon nehereus climbing to 69% in autumn, and Collichthys lucidus at 38% in winter. The seasonal variations of fish species function were determined by life history and its interaction with other species.