The taxonomic diversity of fish community in the coastal waters of Xiamen

Based on literature and survey data of fish composition collected by bottom trawl investigation from 2006 to 2007 in Xiamen coastal waters,the fish fauna was set up, fish community and the taxonomic diversity and distinctness by using taxonomic diversity Δ⁺ and taxonomic distinctness Λ⁺ were analyzed. The results show that: there were 649 species of fishes recorded in Xiamen coastal waters. 331 species of fishes were available at present,belonging to 2 classes, 22 orders, 90 families and 181 genera, as for the Chondrichthyes fishes were composed of 5 orders, 9 families, 9 genera and 15 species, while the Actinopterygii fishes were composed of 17 orders, 81 families, 172 genera and 316 species. The taxonomic diversity Δ⁺ and taxonomic distinctness Λ⁺ of the fish community master list in Xiamen coastal waters were 79.267 and 220.96, 77.504 and 245.34 at present, respectively. The taxonomic diversity Δ⁺ in winter and spring was higher than summer and autumn, and it was lowest in summer. While the taxonomic distinctness Λ⁺ was highest in summer and lower in winter and spring. The fish compositions in autumn and winter had the highest similarity, followed by summer, and lowest in spring. Compared with historical data, fish community in Xiamen coastal waters is being smaller in the taxonomic range and narrower in ecological amplitude. The stability of the fish community is potential recession and the ability to resist change is down.