Journal of Tropical Oceanography ›› 2020, Vol. 39 ›› Issue (5): 62-70.doi: 10.11978/2020007CSTR: 32234.14.2020007

• Marine Biology • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Growth characteristics of four representative fishes and their responses to seagrass resource changes in typical tropical seagrass beds of Hainan Island

CHEN Qiming1,2,3,4(), LIU Songlin1,2,4, ZHANG Chi5, CUI Lijun1,2,3,4, JIANG Zhijian1,2,4, WU Yunchao1,2,4, HUANG Xiaoping1,2,3,4()   

  1. 1. Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, China
    2. Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Guangzhou 511458, China
    3. University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
    4. Innovation Academy of South China Sea Ecology and Environmental Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, China
    5. College of Fisheries, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China
  • Received:2020-01-12 Revised:2020-03-09 Online:2020-09-10 Published:2020-03-19
  • Contact: Xiaoping HUANG E-mail:qmcxtzgg@163.com;xphuang@scsio.ac.cn
  • Supported by:
    National Natural Science Foundation of China(41730529);National Natural Science Foundation of China(41806147);Key Special Project for Introduced Talents Team of Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou)(GML2019ZD0405);Guangzhou Science and Technology Program(201904010370);Innovation Academy of South China Sea Ecology and Environmental Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences(ISEE2018PY01);Innovation Academy of South China Sea Ecology and Environmental Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences(ISEE2018ZD02)

Abstract:

The functions of seagrass beds to provide food and shelter in response to changes in seagrass coverage are still unclear. Xincun Bay, Li’an Port and Tanmen Port seagrass beds of Hainan Island were chosen as our research areas; and Siganus fuscessens, Siganus guttatus, Pelates quadrilineatus, and Terapon jarbua were selected for our research. The relationships between body length and body mass of these four representative fishes, and their responses to seagrass resource changes were addressed. The results showed that the four species inhabiting the Tanmen seagrass bed had negative allometric growth, and the ones in other seagrass beds had positive allometric or constant growth. The body mass growth rate (allometric growth factor b) and the fatness of these four fishes showed the trend of Li’an Port > Xincun Bay > Tanmen Port, which was consistent with the trend of seagrass coverage, density and biomass of the three seagrass beds. We speculate that the decreasing resources of seagrass increase the predation pressure of fish and reduce their food sources, and might consequently decrease growth rates of these representative fishes. Therefore, the protection of seagrass beds needs to be strengthened to promote the restoration of coastal fishery resources.

Key words: seagrass bed, fish, growth characteristics, seagrass resource

CLC Number: 

  • P735.121