Page 192 - 《水产学报》2026年第04期

4 期 水 产 学 报 50 卷

Fish community structure and functional diversity in
the southern offshore waters of the Shandong Peninsula

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LI Jinhan , LIU Shude , DONG Xiuqiang , LIU Chunqiao ,
WANG Zhiyang 1,4,5 , TANG Yongzheng 1,4,5 , WANG Lei 1,4,5*
(1. School of Ocean, Yantai University, Yantai 264006, China;
2. Shandong Fisheries Development and Resources Conservation Center, Yantai 264003, China;
3. Laiyang Natural Resources and Planning Bureau, Laiyang 265200, China;
4. Yantai Engineering Research Center of Deep-Sea Aquaculture of Economic Fish, Yantai 264003, China;
5. Shandong Engineering Research Center of Healthy Land-Sea Relay Farming of Economic Fish, Yantai 264003, China)

Abstract: The fish community is a critical component of aquatic ecosystems, playing an irreplaceable role in maintaining eco-
logical balance and biodiversity. Functional diversity, which reflects the variation in species' traits and ecological niches,
provides a valuable perspective for assessing ecosystem functioning and stability. To understand the current state of the fish
community structure and the spatiotemporal patterns of functional diversity in the offshore waters of the southern Shandong
Peninsula, this study conducted four seasonal bottom trawl surveys in the southern offshore waters of the Shandong Peninsula
during spring (May), summer (August), autumn (October), and winter (December) of 2024. Using the dominance index and
abundance-biomass comparison (ABC) curves, we analyzed the species composition, dominant species, and the level of com-
munity disturbance of fish in this area. Twelve functional traits from three categories (feeding, locomotion, and habitat adapta-
tion) were selected. Using methods such as the community-weighted mean (CWM) and functional diversity indices, the spati-
otemporal variations of fish functional diversity in the study area have been investigated. A total of 51 fish species were collec-
ted, belonging to 49 genera, 33 families, and 10 orders across 2 classes. The fish biomass was highest in summer and lowest in
winter, whereas the abundance peaked in summer and reached its minimum in autumn. Although the dominant species fluctu-
ated across seasons, they were consistently dominated by small-bodied fishes. The fish community was subjected to varying
degrees of disturbance across the four seasons, with a moderate level of disturbance observed in autumn, while severe disturb-
ance was recorded in the remaining seasons. CWM index analysis showed that, across all four seasons, the dominant functional
traits were typical of fishes with moderate-to-high resilience, small adult body size, numerous but small offspring, rapid devel-
opment, and low trophic levels. Functional diversity indices showed no significant differences among seasons but exhibited
substantial spatial variation. In the Southern offshore waters of the Shandong Peninsula, the fish community was dominated by
r-selected opportunistic species, making the assemblage susceptible to disturbance and the ecosystem relatively fragile. The
functional space occupied by fishes remained relatively stable across seasons, with no significant edge expansion or contraction.
This study can provide a scientific basis for the assessment of fish resources and the sustainable utilization of fishery resources
in the Southern offshore waters of the Shandong Peninsula.
Key words: fish community; functional diversity; Southern Shandong Peninsula; dominant species
Corresponding author: WANG Lei. E-mail: snowylei738@aliyun.com
Funding projects: National Key Research and Development Program of China (2024YFD2400405); Shandong Province Fish-
ery Resources Survey and Monitoring Project (37000022P11000111802T)

https://www.china-fishery.cn 中国水产学会主办 sponsored by China Society of Fisheries
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