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Global Fisheries Resources, Fisheries, and Carbon-Sink Fisheries

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A special issue of Animals (ISSN 2076-2615). This special issue belongs to the section "Aquatic Animals".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 December 2025) | Viewed by 10130

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Teruhisa Komatsu

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Guest Editor

Japan Fisheries Resource Conservation Association, Shintomicho Building, 3-10-9 Irifune, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0042, Japan
Interests: climate change; sea-weed and seagrass habitats; drifting seaweed; fisheries resource; fisheries oceanography; coastal habitat mapping; remote sensing
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Min Xu

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Guest Editor

East China Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Shanghai 200090, China
Interests: climate changes; oyster reef; artificial reef; sea-weed bed; cephalopod; fish larvae and eggs; sea ranch
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Prof. Dr. Zengqiang Yin

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Guest Editor

College of Marine Science and Environment, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian 116023, China
Interests: fisheries resource assessment; fisheries resource biology; fisheries oceanography
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Aquatic economic animals and fisheries are important to support the life of local fishermen and fisheries communities, also playing key roles in stabilizing and balancing global aquatic ecosystems. However, global fisheries resources and fisheries (including Japan and China in Northwest Pacific) face challenges from overfishing, habitat loss, and climate change. To identify the impacts of these factors on global fisheries resources and fisheries, mitigating the negative impacts and adding fisheries management suggestions, this Special Issue calls for the papers from around the globe, including, but not limited to, the following: surveys of aquatic living organisms’ habitats and the construction of artificial habitats (including artificial reefs, oyster reefs, seagrass and seaweed beds, floating seaweed rafts, sea ranches, and so on); the impacts from overfishing and climate change on species, community, ecosystems, and society; and the mechanisms and technologies of carbon-sink fisheries. At the same time, we also welcome papers on the topics of fishery resource biology, economic aquatic animal behavior, stock enhancement by releasing, environmental DNA, and fisheries management in addressing the above issues.

You may choose our Joint Special Issue in Biology.

Dr. Teruhisa Komatsu
Dr. Min Xu
Prof. Dr. Zengqiang Yin
Guest Editors

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Keywords

fisheries
habitats
overfishing
fishery resource biology
economic aquatic animal behavior
stock enhancement by releasing
environmental DNA
fisheries management
climate change
ecosystems
ecological models
carbon-sink
aquatic ecological ranches
fisheries products

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Published Papers (12 papers)

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15 pages, 2226 KB

Open AccessArticle

Fish Diversity and Functional Traits in the Seagrass Based on the Environmental DNA Metabarcoding in the Li’an Bay, China

by Weiwen Li, Weiyi He, Yanxu Zhang, Danyun Ou, Shangwei Wang, Yue Ni, Hao Huang and Ming Chen

Animals 2026, 16(6), 871; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani16060871 - 11 Mar 2026

Abstract

Environmental DNA metabarcoding has proven to be a powerful tool for monitoring fish diversity, and has been widely used in both freshwater and marine ecosystems. Fish diversity is a critical indicator to assess ecosystem function and its health. In this study, we took 12 samples from four areas (Area 1 (LS1) is the edge of the seagrass field adjacent to oyster reefs; Area 3 (LS3) is the edge of the seagrass field adjacent to coral reefs; Area 2 (LS2) is situated between LS1 and LS3 where there is dense seagrass distribution around the sampling sites; and Area 4 (LS4) is located between LS1 and LS3; we sample in the places at least 4 m by 4 m on the beach where no seaweed is present, each with three replicates) from Li’an Bay to detect fish diversity across multi-habitat seagrass areas based on the environmental DNA metabarcoding. A total of 312 Amplicon Sequence Variants (ASVs) were detected from 12 samples, and 58 fish species were annotated, representing 21 orders, 32 families and 48 generas. In general, the mean of Simpson and Pielou’s evenness indices followed the pattern LS1 > LS4 > LS2 > LS3, while the mean of Shannon–Wiener Diversity Index is LS4 > LS1 > LS2 > LS3. A total of 35 functional entities were observed among the four areas, with functional redundancy (FR) values of 0.800, 0.657, 0.542, and 0.7 for LS1, LS2, LS3, and LS4, respectively. All FR values were below 1.5, suggesting low ecological niche overlap among species within each area. These findings provide fundamental insights into the ecological health and stability of seagrass beds in Li’an Bay and offer a scientific basis for future ecological restoration efforts. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Global Fisheries Resources, Fisheries, and Carbon-Sink Fisheries)

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30 pages, 15126 KB

Open AccessArticle

Single- and Multi-Trait Genome-Wide Association Analyses Identify the Genetic Loci and Candidate Genes for Growth Traits in Plecoglossus altivelis

by Zhongyu Chang, Ao Chen, Shuo Liang, Chenling Ma, Tao Zhou, Yunfeng Zhao and Li Jiang

Animals 2026, 16(4), 670; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani16040670 - 20 Feb 2026

Viewed by 286

Abstract

With the rapid development of genomic big data and genome-wide association study technologies, massive genomic data are available for the genetic dissection, development and utilization of important economic traits. Various GWAS algorithms have become increasingly efficient, enabling high-performance processing of these massive datasets. This has made it possible to conduct genetic dissection of economic traits based on big data and advanced statistical methods, which will provide accurate target loci for future trait improvement and genetic manipulation, greatly accelerating the process of genetic breeding. In this study, genotyping of 426 fish was performed using the T7 sequencing platform and 555,242 SNPs distributed across all the chromosomes were screened by data cleaning. We compared the performance of two GWAS methods, GCTA and GEMMA, in both single-trait and multi-trait frameworks. Twenty-nine SNPs significantly associated with seven traits were identified through single and multi-trait combined GWAS. Single-trait GWAS analysis using GCTA identified 1047 and 1452 significant loci for six growth traits and one sex trait (phenotypic sex, male or female) respectively, ultimately revealing 10 candidate genes, including slc48a1a, filip1L, nedd9, Crebbpa, LOC134024622, zbtb18, LOC117378376, LOC131530706, syde2, and col24a1. Similarly, 671 and 642 significant SNPs were detected with GEMMA for single-trait GWAS associated with six growth traits and the sex trait, respectively. In total, 16 candidate genes were mapped for these seven traits. Multi-trait GWAS was also performed using GEMMA for the six growth traits (sex was included as a covariate). The traits were grouped into five combinations based on their genetic correlations. A total of 37 SNPs were identified, corresponding to 10 candidate genes: LOC131530706, LOC134022516, abat, maml3, cica, LOC124013321, slc25a12, dnah10, syt9a, and LOC136932979. Notably, five overlapping candidate genes (LOC131530706, LOC134022516, abat, slc25a12 and dnah10) were also identified in both single- and multi-trait GWAS methods of GEMMA, highlighting their genetic stability and significance. The two GWAS methods, GCTA and GEMMA, identified two genes that were the same. The results of this study provide molecular markers and genetic resources for the improvement of growth traits in Plecoglossus altivelis. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Global Fisheries Resources, Fisheries, and Carbon-Sink Fisheries)

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15 pages, 6178 KB

Open AccessArticle

Histological Observation and Functional Gene Expression Analysis of Gonadal Development in Ruditapes philippinarum Under Artificial Culture Conditions

by Tao Wei, Yaoran Fan, Zhiguo Dong, Baojun Tang and Hanfeng Zheng

Animals 2026, 16(4), 558; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani16040558 - 11 Feb 2026

Viewed by 248

Abstract

This study employed an artificial greenhouse-based system to enhance gonadal development in the Manila clam, Ruditapes philippinarum. The dynamics of gonadal development and expression patterns of five regulatory genes were analyzed through histological sections and quantitative PCR. Under the controlled conditions (Chlorophyll a: 18.61 ± 1.36 μg/L; temperature: 27.3 ± 2.0 °C), the clams’ gonads reached full maturity within approximately one month, underscoring the critical importance of appropriate food availability and temperature. Gene expression analysis revealed sex- and stage-specific patterns. The gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) gene was more expressed in males at day 7, reaching a significant peak at day 7. In contrast, females exhibited synchronized expression peaks for both estrogen-related receptor (ERR) and 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17β-HSD) at day 14 (p < 0.05). Cytochrome P450 17 (CYP17) exhibited a dynamic, sex-specific profile, with significantly higher levels in males at day 7 but elevated expression in females at day 14 and day 21. Furthermore, doublesex and mab-3-related transcription factor 4-like (Dmrt4-like) showed clear sex-dependent temporal patterns: it peaked early during maturation in males, while in females, the peak occurred significantly later, at day 21 (p < 0.05). These dynamic changes in gene expression were closely synchronized with histological alterations, providing mechanistic insights into the regulation of gonadal maturation in R. philippinarum. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Global Fisheries Resources, Fisheries, and Carbon-Sink Fisheries)

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14 pages, 748 KB

Open AccessArticle

Size Selectivity of Square-Mesh Codends in Stownet for Coilia mystus in the South China Sea

by Lei Yan, Qingcheng Zhu, Peng Zhang, Jie Li, Bingzhong Yang, Teng Wang and Chuanxiang Hua

Animals 2025, 15(24), 3571; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15243571 - 11 Dec 2025

Viewed by 286

Abstract

Stownet is one of the most important items of fishing gear for catching Coilia mystus in China’s coastal waters. To improve the selectivity of stownet for C. mystus, a series of selectivity experiments were conducted using the covered net method with 4 square-mesh codends of different mesh sizes of 25 mm, 30 mm, 35 mm, and 40 mm. The selectivity curves of C. mystus under different mesh sizes were fitted using the Logistic and Richards models, and the selectivity parameters were compared among codends. The results showed that the 50% selection length (L50) increased with mesh size, reaching 105.83 mm, 109.02 mm, 114.36 mm, and 116.66 mm, respectively. The proportion of juvenile C. mystus in the codends decreased correspondingly, indicating that larger mesh sizes improved the selectivity of the square-mesh codend. Based on the linear relationship between L50 and mesh size, the minimum mesh size for C. mystus was estimated to be 43.81 mm. Considering the management regulation of the minimum landing size (120 mm) for C. mystus, the L50 obtained for the 40 mm square-mesh was still below this standard, suggesting that the selectivity of the current codend requires further optimization to promote the sustainable utilization of C. mystus resources. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Global Fisheries Resources, Fisheries, and Carbon-Sink Fisheries)

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15 pages, 1041 KB

Open AccessArticle

The Efficacy of Fisheries Management: A Length-Based Stock Assessment of Eight Fish Species in Xingkai Lake, China

by Chen Zhao, Zhongsi Gao, Xuehao Wang, Wanting Wang, Huibo Wang, Le Wang and Tangbin Huo

Animals 2025, 15(22), 3350; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15223350 - 20 Nov 2025

Viewed by 617

Abstract

Standardized fishing gear represents a common fisheries management intervention, yet its effectiveness in multi-species freshwater ecosystems remains insufficiently assessed. This study presents the first application of the Length-Based Bayesian Biomass (LBB) method to systematically evaluate the stock status of eight major commercial fish species in Xingkai Lake (located within China). Length-frequency data collected in 2019 (marking the policy initiation) and 2024 (after five years of implementation) were used to estimate key population parameters and exploitation indicators. The results revealed that the four species (Carassius gibelio, Acheilognathus macropterus, Hemiculter lucidus, and Hemiculter leucisculus) recovered to healthy status (B/B_MSY ≥ 1.0), demonstrating the policy’s effectiveness for small-bodied, fast-growing species. In contrast, three species (Chanodichthys abramoides, Chanodichthys mongolicus, and Chanodichthys erythropterus) remained grossly overfished (B/B_MSY < 0.5), while Culter alburnus experienced increased fishing pressure, indicating limited efficacy for larger, slow-growing species with collapsed initial stocks. Although the mesh size increase facilitated recovery of specific populations, fisheries resources in Xingkai Lake continue to face overfishing pressure. Management strategies lacking an ecosystem perspective may not only fail to achieve conservation objectives but could also trigger ecological risks. This study underscores that ecosystem-based management is essential for sustainable management of multi-species fisheries. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Global Fisheries Resources, Fisheries, and Carbon-Sink Fisheries)

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12 pages, 1739 KB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Temperature, Light and Digestive Fluid on the Stability of Major Arsenic Species in Antarctic Krill (Euphausia superba)

by Zhongquan Jiang, Haiyan Zhang, Yunyun Ji, Guangxin Yang, Cong Kong, Peng Wang, Tao Yuan and Xiaosheng Shen

Animals 2025, 15(21), 3148; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15213148 - 30 Oct 2025

Viewed by 622

Abstract

Antarctic krill, an important marine resource, contains significant arsenic levels, predominantly as the low-toxicity arsenobetaine (AsB). However, the stability of AsB during post-harvest storage and its transformations during human digestion are poorly understood, which is critical for a comprehensive safety assessment. This research investigated the effects of temperature, light exposure, and in vitro simulated digestion on the stability and transformation dynamics of major arsenic species in Antarctic krill. The results revealed that AsB predominated among the arsenic species. AsB remained stable during long-term frozen storage (−18 °C for 5 months) and short-term refrigeration (4 °C for 2 days). However, AsB content decreased significantly during storage at ambient temperature (25 °C) and after prolonged light exposure (>8 h), indicating that improper storage conditions can lead to its degradation. During simulated gastrointestinal digestion, a significant transformation of arsenic species was observed. The content of toxic inorganic As(III) decreased significantly during the gastric phase, while the less-toxic AsB content markedly increased. Furthermore, dimethylarsinic acid (DMA) and As(V) were newly detected during the intestinal phase. These findings demonstrate that arsenic stability in krill is highly dependent on storage conditions. Moreover, the transformations during digestion—notably the decrease in As(III) and increase in AsB—suggest a potential reduction in overall arsenic toxicity upon consumption. This provides a critical theoretical basis for developing storage guidelines and improving human health risk assessments for Antarctic krill products. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Global Fisheries Resources, Fisheries, and Carbon-Sink Fisheries)

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15 pages, 2899 KB

Open AccessArticle

Habitat Shifts in the Pacific Saury (Cololabis saira) Population in the High Seas of the North Pacific Under Medium-to-Long-Term Climate Scenarios Based on Vessel Position Data and Ensemble Species Distribution Models

by Hanji Zhu, Yuyan Sun, Yang Li, Delong Xiang, Ming Gao, Famou Zhang, Jianhua Wang, Sisi Huang, Heng Zhang and Lingzhi Li

Animals 2025, 15(19), 2828; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15192828 - 28 Sep 2025

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1217

Abstract

Global climate change poses a significant management challenge for vital transboundary resources like the Pacific saury (Cololabis saira). To address this, we developed an innovative framework that uses high-resolution Automatic Identification System (AIS) data and deep learning to define species distribution, which then informs a robust Ensemble Species Distribution Model (ESDM). The model (TSS > 0.89, AUC > 0.97) identifies sea surface temperature (SST) and chlorophyll-a (CHL) as key habitat drivers. Projections under future climate scenarios reveal two critical threats: (1) a continuous northeastward migration of the habitat’s centroid, exceeding 400 km by 2100 under a high-emission SSP5-8.5 scenario, and (2) a drastic contraction of highly suitable habitat (suitability > 0.8), shrinking by up to 94% under the high-emission SSP3-7.0 scenario. By directly linking key oceanographic features to these climate-driven risks, this study delivers an essential scientific decision-support tool for management bodies like the North Pacific Fisheries Commission (NPFC) to develop climate-adaptive strategies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Global Fisheries Resources, Fisheries, and Carbon-Sink Fisheries)

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16 pages, 2135 KB

Open AccessArticle

Population Structure and Resource Dynamics of Three Schizothoracinae Species in the Duoxiong Zangbo River Tributary of the Yarlung Zangbo River, Tibet: Threat Assessment and Conservation Insights

by Haoxiang Han, Lin Wang, Chi Zhang, Hongchi Li and Bo Ma

Animals 2025, 15(16), 2340; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15162340 - 10 Aug 2025

Viewed by 1069

Abstract

The Yarlung Zangbo River (With a total length of 2057 km, the river forms part of the Ganges–Brahmaputra River system), located in the core region of the Tibetan Plateau, hosts a unique yet fragile aquatic ecosystem. Fish populations inhabiting this ecosystem have been significantly impacted by external factors, leading to declining resources. This decline is particularly evident in local tributaries, including the DuoXiong Zangbo River—a main tributary where scientific research remains scarce due to its geographic remoteness. Consequently, the status of schizothoracinae in this river remains poorly understood, necessitating research on their population structure, growth characteristics, and resource dynamics, as well as the extent of external disturbances. During the 2023–2024 season, fishery surveys were conducted during two sampling periods: summer (June–July) and autumn (September–October). This study focuses on the Duoxiong Zangbo River, a tributary of the Yarlung Zangbo River, targeting three schizothoracinae fish species: Schizothorax o’connori, Oxygymnocypris stewartii, and Ptychobarbus dipogon. The results show that their body lengths ranged from 23.02 to 440.00 mm, 23.02 to 460.00 mm, and 45.18 to 418.00 mm, with body weights ranging from 0.30 to 1394.30 g, 0.20 to 1013.00 g, and 1.20 to 814.30 g. Age distributions spanned 0–14, 0–16, and 0–13 years, respectively, indicating a trend toward younger and smaller individuals. Von Bertalanffy growth modeling revealed asymptotic body lengths (L_∞) of 591.233 mm, 507.557 mm, and 515.292 mm, with growth coefficients (k) of 0.098, 0.122, and 0.118, respectively. These parameters suggest that the populations are exhibiting accelerated growth strategies in response to fishing pressure. Using FiSAT II, exploitation rates (E) were calculated as 0.547, 0.758, and 0.711 for the three species, with predicted maximum sustainable exploitation rates of 0.579, 0.882, and 0.884, respectively. These findings indicate that the three schizothoracinae species have approached the threshold of overexploitation and are facing threats of overexploitation. In summary, this study demonstrates that schizothoracinae in the DuoXiong Zangbo River are experiencing adverse effects from external pressures, with populations at risk of decline. These results underscore the urgent need for targeted conservation and management strategies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Global Fisheries Resources, Fisheries, and Carbon-Sink Fisheries)

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16 pages, 2243 KB

Open AccessArticle

Behavioral Characteristics of Largefin Longbarbel Catfish Hemibagrus macropterus: Effects of Sex and Body Size on Aggression and Shelter Selection

by Xiaoli Li, Yongjiu Zhu, Siqi Chen, Tingbing Zhu, Xingbing Wu and Xuemei Li

Animals 2025, 15(9), 1192; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15091192 - 22 Apr 2025

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1028

Abstract

This study investigated the aggressive behavior of Hemibagrus macropterus (Bleeker) by examining the effects of size combinations (large vs. large (LL), large vs. small (LS), small vs. small (SS)), sex combinations (male vs. male (MM), male vs. female (FM), female vs. female (FF)), and shelter availability (tiles, pebbles, grass) under varying group densities (1, 3, and 6 fish). The results revealed that H. macropterus exhibited nocturnal behavior, engaging in exploration, territorial defense, and aggressive interactions such as chasing and biting, with significantly higher aggression at night. A social hierarchy distinguishing between dominant and subordinate individuals emerged. Larger fish displayed higher aggression frequencies compared to LS and SS groups, though the presence of shelters reduced aggression, particularly in environments with ample shelters. Females exhibited stronger aggressive tendencies, with FF and FM groups showing higher aggression than MM groups. Shelter preference experiments indicated a preference for tile and pebble caves, with no cohabitation in these shelters, while aquatic plant caves allowed cohabitation. Aggression was significantly higher in competitive (6 fish) versus non-competitive (3 fish) groups. These findings suggest that nocturnal feeding, sufficient shelters, and size-segregated rearing can mitigate aggression and improve cultivation efficiency in H. macropterus. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Global Fisheries Resources, Fisheries, and Carbon-Sink Fisheries)

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17 pages, 2297 KB

Open AccessArticle

Spatiotemporal Dynamics of Fish Density in a Deep-Water Reservoir: Hydroacoustic Assessment of Aggregation Patterns and Key Drivers

by Zihao Meng, Feifei Hu, Miao Xiang, Xuejun Fu and Xuemei Li

Animals 2025, 15(7), 1068; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15071068 - 7 Apr 2025

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1272

Abstract

Understanding spatiotemporal patterns of fish density and their environmental drivers is critical for managing river–lake ecosystems, yet dynamic interactions in heterogeneous habitats remain poorly quantified. This study combined hydroacoustic surveys, spatial autocorrelation analysis (Moran’s I), and generalized additive models (GAMs) to investigate seasonal and spatial fish distribution, aggregation characteristics, and regulatory mechanisms in China’s Zhelin Reservoir. The results reveal pronounced seasonal fluctuations, with summer fish density peaking at 13.70 ± 0.91 ind./1000 m³ and declining to 1.95 ± 0.13 ind./1000 m³ in winter. Spatial heterogeneity was evident, with the Xiuhe region sustaining the highest density (15.69 ± 1.09 ind./1000 m³) and persistent hotspots in upstream bays. Transient high-density clusters (90–99% confidence) near the Zhelin Dam during summer suggested thermal or hydrodynamic disturbances. GAM analysis (R²adj = 0.712, 78.5% deviance explained) identified seasonal transitions (12.26% variance), water depth (16.54%), conductivity (13.75%), and dissolved oxygen (13.29%) as dominant drivers, with nonlinear responses to depth and bimodal patterns for conductivity/oxygen. These findings demonstrate that hydrological seasonality and habitat heterogeneity jointly govern fish aggregation, underscoring the ecological priority of Xiuhe and upstream bays as core habitats. This study provides a mechanistic framework for guiding reservoir management, including targeted conservation, dam operation adjustments to mitigate hydrodynamic impacts, and integrated strategies for balancing hydrological and ecological needs in similar ecosystems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Global Fisheries Resources, Fisheries, and Carbon-Sink Fisheries)

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14 pages, 2106 KB

Open AccessArticle

Seasonal Spatial Distribution Patterns of Abralia multihamata in the East China Sea Region: Predictions Under Various Climate Scenarios

by Min Xu, Shuhao Liu, Chunhui Yang and Linlin Yang

Animals 2025, 15(7), 903; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15070903 - 21 Mar 2025

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 944

Abstract

The enoploteuthid squid species Abralia multihamata plays an important role in the epi- and mesopelagic food web. However, little is known about its seasonal and spatial distribution, life history traits, and environmental threats that may affect it. In this study, we used independent scientific bottom trawling surveys conducted in the southern Yellow and East China Seas during 2018–2019 to identify the seasonal spatial distribution characteristics of biomass, number, and size of this species as well as the relationships among these features and measured environmental factors. We also predicted the habitat distribution variations of the species under different climate scenarios (the present, SSP1–2.6, SSP2–4.5, SSP3–7.0, and SSP5–8.5) and seasons. The results revealed a continuously increasing individual size from the southern Yellow Sea to the East China Sea in spring, summer, and autumn, which suggests the possibility of growth differences in different water temperature conditions. The seasonal order of regional mean biomass and number was autumn > spring > summer and winter in the study area, and, for size, it was spring > summer and autumn > winter. This result shows that the majorities of recruitment and breeding groups occurred in autumn and spring, respectively. In addition, our results showed that the most beneficial case in terms of average habitat area was SSP3–7.0 in 2050, and the most loss occurred under SSP1–2.6 and SSP5–8.5 in 2100. Few benefits were predicted for the other cases under the various climate scenarios. This study provides a new understanding of the distribution and life history of A. multihamata in the East China Sea region. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Global Fisheries Resources, Fisheries, and Carbon-Sink Fisheries)

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16 pages, 3039 KB

Open AccessArticle

Bacterial Community Composition and Its Relationship with Environmental Factors in the Artificial Reef Area for Marine Ranching in Changhai County

by Jiamin Yan, Xu Wei, Liwei Si, Zheng Zhang, Jingsi Zhao, Liyu Deng, Tao Tian, Qingxia Li, Zengqiang Yin and Zhongxin Wu

Animals 2025, 15(5), 639; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15050639 - 22 Feb 2025

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1110

Abstract

In this study, samples were collected from different types of artificial fish reefs and prevention and control areas in the sea areas of the northern part of Da Changshan Island and the northeastern part of Xiao Changshan Island in the North Yellow Sea. The purpose is to compare the differences in the bacterial communities among different regions, determine the impacts of environmental factors on the bacterial communities, and evaluate the ecological effects of artificial fish reefs on the marine bacterial communities. We obtained a total of 2,128,186 effective sequences and 4321 bacterial operational taxonomic units (OTUs), which were classified into 14 phyla and 76 genera. Proteobacteria were the most abundant phylum across the 32 samples, followed by Bacteroidetes. We found that all samples from the deep-sea control area exhibited the highest bacterial richness. In addition, all samples from the shallow-water concrete reef exhibited high community richness. The distribution of bacterial communities showed differences among different regions. In two specific sea areas, the bacteria in the sediment samples exhibited particularly remarkable characteristics of high diversity. Importantly, environmental factors significantly influence bacterial communities. In seawater samples, salinity (Sal) and dissolved oxygen (DO) were the primary factors affecting bacterial communities. Furthermore, grain size (GS) emerged as the most critical physicochemical factor influencing bacterial communities in sediment. This study compared the characteristics of bacterial communities in different types of artificial reefs and control areas in two marine ranches and revealed the main environmental factors affecting the bacterial communities. This is of great significance for protecting biodiversity and evaluating the ecological effects of artificial reef placement. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Global Fisheries Resources, Fisheries, and Carbon-Sink Fisheries)

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