Author(s): Li Wang; Jin Yang; Ruqinag Zhang
Linked Author(s):
Keywords: Environmental DNA metabarcoding the upper Yangtze River fish diversity assembly patterns
Abstract: Freshwater ecosystems have been experiencing global biodiversity loss, and lose species faster than terrestrial or marine biota, which is one of the most serious environmental crises in recent centuries. Hence, conservation efforts are urgently needed to protect the species diversity of freshwater fish and ecosystems. Accurate and timely information on fish diversity is a prerequisite for freshwater ecosystem management and protection. In this study, three long-distance environmental DNA metabarcoding of water samples was conducted to characterize the structures and spatial variations of fish communities in the upper Yangtze River. We then assess fish diversity in the Nature Reserve. Finally, we assess assembly patterns of rare and endemic fishes in river sections with different function areas of the Nature Reserve. a total of 166 fish species belonging to 8 orders, 25 families, and 99 genera were identified by eDNA. The fewest species were detected in summer, while the most were detected in winter. The seasonal variation of alpha diversity was significant. The variations in species composition between different sample sites were primarily due to the species turnover rather than the nested in three seasons. the endemic fish was concentrated distribution in core and buffer area. The insights from this study will not only enhance our understanding of fish diversity in the upper Yangtze River but also illuminate the assembly patterns of rare and endemic fishes in the Nature Reserve, improving future conservation and management efforts.
Year: 2025