Interdecadal variability in ecosystem health of Changjiang (Yangtze) River estuary using estuarine biotic integrity index

Interdecadal variability in ecosystem health of Changjiang (Yangtze) River estuary using estuarine biotic integrity index

Ichthyoplankton samples were collected from Changjiang (Yangtze) River estuary in May 2016. Species composition was studied by DNA barcoding and morphological identification. To make better use of the estuarine biotic integrity index (EBI) to assess the ecosystem health of the Changjiang River estua...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of oceanology and limnology Vol. 39; no. 4; pp. 1417 - 1429
Main Authors: Liu, Shouhai, Zhang, Haijing, He, Yanlong, Cheng, Xiangsheng, Zhang, Haofei, Qin, Yutao, Ji, Xi, He, Riguang, Chen, Yaohui
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: Heidelberg Science Press 01-07-2021
Springer Nature B.V
Key Laboratory of Marine Ecological Monitoring and Restoration Technologies,Ministry of Natural Resources,Shanghai 201206,China%East Sea Marine Environmental Investigating and Surveying Center,State Oceanic Administration,Shanghai 200137,China%Shanghai Ocean University,Shanghai 201306,China
East China Sea Environment Monitoring Center,State Oceanic Administration,Shanghai 201206,China
Subjects:
Aquatic ecosystems
Benthos
Brackishwater environment
Carnivores
Community composition
Composition
DNA barcoding
Earth and Environmental Science
Earth Sciences
Ecology
Ecosystem assessment
Ecosystems
Estuaries
Estuarine dynamics
Estuarine ecosystems
Gene sequencing
Ichthyoplankton
Ichthyoplankton surveys
Insectivores
Integrity
Mathematical analysis
Nurseries
Nursery grounds
Oceanography
Omnivores
Pelagic fisheries
Pollution
Population decline
Restoration
River ecology
Rivers
Sedentary species
Spawning
Species composition
Variability
Changjiang River
estuarine ecological restoration
ichthyoplankton
interdecadal variability
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Summary:Ichthyoplankton samples were collected from Changjiang (Yangtze) River estuary in May 2016. Species composition was studied by DNA barcoding and morphological identification. To make better use of the estuarine biotic integrity index (EBI) to assess the ecosystem health of the Changjiang River estuary over the past 30 years, we collected the data of a spring ichthyoplankton survey in the estuary from 1986 to 2016. The EBI was calculated using 12 evaluation metrics, namely, the number of total ichthyoplankton species, estuarine spawning species, estuarine nursery species, estuarine resident species, benthic species, pelagic species, and intolerant species, and the percentages of tolerant species, omnivores, insectivores, carnivores, and natural hybrid species. EBI was calculated in spring in four periods (1986, 1999, 2007, and 2016) by assigning points of 1, 3 or 5, giving values of 50, 38, 36, and 32, respectively, corresponding to “Good”, “Fair-Poor”, “Fair-Poor”, and “Poor” EBI levels, respectively. Changes in species composition were the primary reason for the significant decreases in EBI between 1986 and 1999, and for the large differences between 1986 and 2007 and between 2007 and 2016. The changes in species composition were influenced by declines in ichthyoplankton species, pollution sensitive species, estuarine nursery species and estuarine sedentary species, and an increase in pollution resistant species. An analysis of EBI interdecadal variability showed that the health status of the Changjiang River estuary ecosystem over the last 30 years first declined and then stabilized at a lower level. This result further settled the argument for urgent protection and restoration of the Changjiang River estuary.
ISSN:2096-5508
2523-3521
DOI:10.1007/s00343-020-0188-1