Temporal variations of diversity and community structure of epifauna along the latitudinal and depth gradients in China seas over nearly 60 years

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To examine the diversity and community structure of epifauna along latitudinal and depth gradients in China seas and its temporal variations over nearly 60 years, a total of 61,424 records of epifauna were compiled. Latitudinal gradients of γ-diversity from 28 to 37°N showed two peaks of increase in 1958–1960; however, only one peak was observed near 28°N in 2000–2015. Along depth gradient, the peak of species richness shifted about 10 m deeper from about 50 m in 1958–1960 to about 60 m in 2000–2015. Values of α-diversity were higher in 2000–2015 than that in 1958–1960 in latitudes from 30 to 33°N and in depth from 50 to 75 m, respectively. Epifaunal communities were distributed basically along latitudinal and depth gradients. Spatial patterns of communities in the southern Yellow Sea and northern East China Sea were found relatively stable over nearly 60 years.