Journal of Tropical Oceanography ›› 2024, Vol. 43 ›› Issue (6): 104-113.doi: 10.11978/2023178CSTR: 32234.14.2023178

• Marine Biology • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Characteristics of carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes of major fish species in coral reefs of the Nansha Islands in spring 2023

QIU Xingyu1,2(), LIU Qingxia2, CHEN Zuozhi1,2, CAI Yancong2, HUANG Honghui1,2,3()   

  1. 1. College of Fisheries and Life Science, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China
    2. South China Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Fishery Ecology and Environment, Guangzhou 510300, China
    3. Sanya Tropical Fisheries Research Institute, Sanya 572018, China
  • Received:2023-11-27 Revised:2024-01-12 Online:2024-11-10 Published:2024-12-05
  • Contact: HUANG Honghui
  • Supported by:
    Central Public-interest Scientific Institution Basal Research Fund, CAFS(2023TD15); Fund of Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Fishery Ecology and Environment(FEEL-2022-9); Central Public-interest Scientific Institution Basal Research Fund, South China Sea Fisheries Research Institute, CAFS(2021SD03); Financial Fund of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, P.R. China(NFZX2021)

Abstract:

To investigate the trophic structure characteristics of the main fish species in the coral reefs of the Nansha Islands, twenty three fish species were collected from waters of the Yongshu Reef and Meiji Reef during the spring of 2023, and the stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen of fish were measured and used to analyze their trophic structure, and a trophic level spectrum was constructed for the fish. The δ13C and δ15N values of fish from the Yongshu Reef ranged from -18.74‰ to -14.33‰ and 5.96‰ to 9.37‰, with an average value of (-16.33±1.28)‰ and (8.46±0.48)‰, respectively. The δ13C and δ15N values of fish from the Meiji Reef ranged from -18.01‰ to -12.70‰ and 7.31‰ to 8.82‰, with an average value of (-15.02±1.53)‰ and (8.21±0.93)‰, respectively. The δ13C values of fish from the Yongshu Reef and Meiji Reef showed significant differences, indicating a wider food source for fish in the Meiji Reef. However, there was no significant difference in the δ15N values of fish between the two the reefs, indicating no difference in trophic structure composition between them. Cluster analysis based on the values of carbon and nitrogen stable isotope of fish divided the fishes from the two reefs into the benthic fish group and the mixed group of benthic and pelagic fishes. The trophic groups in the Meiji Reef were more vaguely defined, with evident feeding competition among carnivorous fishes. The trophic levels of fish from the Meiji Reef and the Yongshu Reef were (2.79-3.23) and (2.39-3.39), respectively. Both coral reefs were dominated by carnivorous fish at medium and low trophic levels. Most carnivorous fish were in relatively narrow ecological niches. These results suggest that the fish from the coral reefs of the Nansha Islands had a more complex trophic structure composition, wider food sources and lower community redundancy, compared with the fish from coastal tropical and subtropical bays. This study provides basic data and scientific basis for the protection and sustainable management of fishery resources in the coral reef waters of the Nansha Islands.

Key words: coral reefs, fish, carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes, trophic structure

CLC Number: 

  • Q958