Distribution and habitat characteristics of fishes in the Pearl River Estuary北大核心CSCD

To explore the current situation and distribution of fish in the eight major estuaries of the Pearl River Estuary in China, acoustic detection and water quality monitoring were conducted in 2018. The results showed that almost living in eight major estuaries were juvenile, the proportion of strong echo was higher in winter, and Jiaomen and Modaomen Estuary were relatively rich in adult fish. In winter, the Humen, Jiaomen, and Yamen Estuary had a high density relatively, for 46.05 (± 50.30), 33.12 (± 93), and 32 (± 78) ind/103 m3, respectively. However, the fish densities of the Hengmen, Modaomen, and Hutiaomen estuaries were higher in summer at 55.72 (± 83.23), 37.52 (± 55) and 36 (± 99) ind/103 m3, respectively. Thus, fish are mainly concentrated in the flood tidal estuary in winter and in the ebb tidal estuary in summer. In addition, fish density was higher in flood tide than in ebb tide, and the strong echo proportion was lower. In winter, the key water quality factors affecting the biodiversity of estuary fish Shannon were chlorophyll a (P < 0.05), while what affected the fish density were turbidity and salinity (P < 0.05). This study showed that the Pearl River estuary was still the main habitat for juvenile fish. However, habitat variability is obvious; hence, it is important to flexibly carry out the delimitation of estuarine fish reserves and ecological restoration. © 2022 Authors. All rights reserved.