Distribution Pattern of Coral Reef Fishes in China

Juan Shi, Chunhou Li, Teng Wang (), Jinfa Zhao, Yong Liu () and Yayuan Xiao
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Juan Shi: Key Laboratory of South China Sea Fishery Resources Exploitation & Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, South China Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou 510300, China
Chunhou Li: Key Laboratory of South China Sea Fishery Resources Exploitation & Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, South China Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou 510300, China
Teng Wang: Key Laboratory of South China Sea Fishery Resources Exploitation & Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, South China Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou 510300, China
Jinfa Zhao: Key Laboratory of South China Sea Fishery Resources Exploitation & Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, South China Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou 510300, China
Yong Liu: Key Laboratory of South China Sea Fishery Resources Exploitation & Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, South China Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou 510300, China
Yayuan Xiao: Key Laboratory of South China Sea Fishery Resources Exploitation & Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, South China Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou 510300, China

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 22, 1-16

Abstract: Coral reefs are known as “tropical rain forests” in the ocean. Fish diversity is extremely high, accounting for one-third of marine fishes. To better protect and manage coral reef fishes, this study systematically compiled documents and databases published in China. We counted 2855 species of coral reef fishes in China, which belong to 3 classes, 41 orders, 252 families, and 1017 genera. Among these, Perciformes was the dominant order, accounting for 57.31% of the total species. Gobiidae (7.43%), Labridae (5.36%), Pomacentridae (4.52%), and Serranidae (4.38%) were the main families, while other families accounted for less than 4%. Furthermore, 5.56% of coral reef fish species have entered the IUCN Red List. The present study found that coral reef fishes can be divided into nearshore and offshore. This was mainly because the nearshore coral reef fishes were more affected by human disturbance and runoff from the mainland, whereas offshore coral reef fishes were in areas with high salinity and temperature far from the mainland, where human disturbance was less. Coral reef fish species’ diversity had a significant positive correlation with coral species diversity ( p < 0.05), mainly because corals provide habitat and shelter. This study is the first systematic compilation and analysis of coral reef fishes in China and provides a basic reference for global protection management and biological geographical analysis.

Keywords: coral reef fishes; species composition; endangered status; coral fish diversity index; coral reef ecosystems (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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