Spatio-seasonal patterns of fish diversity, Haizhou Bay, China

Abstract

Spatial-seasonal patterns in fish diversity in Haizhou Bay were studied based on stratified random surveys conducted in 2011. Principal component analysis was conducted to distinguish different diversity components, and the relationships among 11 diversity indices were explored. Generalized additive models were constructed to examine the environmental effects on diversity indices. Eleven diversity indices were grouped into four components: (1) species numbers and richness, (2) heterogeneous indices, (3) evenness, and (4) taxonomic relatedness. The results show that diversity indices among different components are complementary. Spatial patterns show that fish diversity was higher in coastal areas, which was affected by complex bottom topography and spatial variations of water mass and currents. Seasonal trends could be best explained by the seasonal migration of dominant fish species. Fish diversity generally declined with increasing depth except for taxonomic distinctness, which increased with latitude. In addition, bottom temperature had a significant effect on diversity index of richness. These results indicate that substrate complexity and environmental gradients had important influences on fish diversity patterns, and these factors should be considered in fishery resource management and conservation. Furthermore, diversity in two functional groups (demersal/pelagic fishes) was influenced by different environmental factors. Therefore, the distribution of individual species or new indicators in diversity should be applied to examine spatio-seasonal variations in fish diversity.