Open AccessUse of artificial structures to enhance fish diversity in the Youjiang River, a dammed river of the Pearl River in China
Author(s) -
Guo Dingli,
Zhou Lei,
Wang Gongpei,
Lai Han,
Bi Sheng,
Chen Xiaoli,
Zhao Xiaopin,
Liu Shuang,
Luo Yong,
Li Guifeng
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
ecology and evolution
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.17
H-Index - 63
ISSN - 2045-7758
DOI - 10.1002/ece3.6949
Subject(s) - habitat , fishery , species richness , juvenile fish , tributary , ecology , environmental science , geography , fish <actinopterygii> , biology , cartography
The fragmentation and homogenization of habitats have seriously affected the fishery resources of the Pearl River. To protect the fishery resources, a novel artificial habitat, constructed using bamboo and palm slices, was deployed in the Youjiang River, a tributary of the Pearl River in China. The results of field and laboratory experiments showed that fish abundance, species richness and Shannon–Wiener diversity index were higher in the artificial habitats than at the control sites. There was no significant impact on fish biomass, as the artificial habitats attracted more Cultrinae and Gobioninae fish that are of a smaller size. Artificial habitats can serve as spawning grounds for fish that produce sticky eggs and refuges that improve the survival rates of juvenile fishes. This study revealed that this novel artificial habitat created suitable habitats and suitable spawning substrate for fish, improved fish richness and diversity in the structureless freshwater ecosystem like the Youjiang River.