Environmental DNA Insights into the Spatial Status of Fish Diversity in the Mainstem of the Jialing River

Preserving healthy river habitats is essential for maintaining fish diversity. Over time, anthropogenic activities have severely damaged river habitats, leading to notable changes in fish diversity patterns. Conducting thorough and reliable investigations into fish diversity is crucial for assessing...

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Main Authors: Xinxin Zhou, Xiaohan Dong, Jiaxin Huang, Shuli Zhu, Weitao Chen, Yanjun Shen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-01-01
Series:Animals
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/1/105
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author Xinxin Zhou
Xiaohan Dong
Jiaxin Huang
Shuli Zhu
Weitao Chen
Yanjun Shen
author_facet Xinxin Zhou
Xiaohan Dong
Jiaxin Huang
Shuli Zhu
Weitao Chen
Yanjun Shen
author_sort Xinxin Zhou
collection DOAJ
description Preserving healthy river habitats is essential for maintaining fish diversity. Over time, anthropogenic activities have severely damaged river habitats, leading to notable changes in fish diversity patterns. Conducting thorough and reliable investigations into fish diversity is crucial for assessing anthropogenic impacts on diversity. In August 2023, a water ecology survey was conducted across 20 terraced river sections in the mainstem of the Jialing River, resulting in the collection of 60 environmental DNA water samples. The survey identified 99 fish species, representing 74 genera across 7 orders and 20 families, with the Cyprinidae exhibiting the highest number of species. The fish communities are predominantly composed of species inhabiting slow flowing water, demersal fish, omnivores, and fish spawning adhesive eggs. Overall, small-bodied fish dominate the mainstem of the Jialing River, and the species preferring flowing habitats are relatively scarce. In addition, geographic division analyses revealed minimal variations in fish species composition and diversity among the terraced reservoirs and across the upper, middle, and lower reaches. Notably, the fish compositions in the middle and lower reaches were found to be similar, indicating a certain degree of convergence in these sections of the Jialing River. In conclusion, this study unveils the current status and distribution pattern of fish diversity in the Jialing River and highlights the extent of anthropogenic activities’ impact on fish diversity.
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spelling doaj-art-a06a28701e474b8f9e63a79c1eae51a72025-08-20T02:37:09ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152025-01-0115110510.3390/ani15010105Environmental DNA Insights into the Spatial Status of Fish Diversity in the Mainstem of the Jialing RiverXinxin Zhou0Xiaohan Dong1Jiaxin Huang2Shuli Zhu3Weitao Chen4Yanjun Shen5Laboratory of Water Ecological Health and Environmental Safety, School of Life Sciences, Chongqing Normal University, Chongqing 401331, ChinaLaboratory of Water Ecological Health and Environmental Safety, School of Life Sciences, Chongqing Normal University, Chongqing 401331, ChinaLaboratory of Water Ecological Health and Environmental Safety, School of Life Sciences, Chongqing Normal University, Chongqing 401331, ChinaPearl River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou 510380, ChinaPearl River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou 510380, ChinaLaboratory of Water Ecological Health and Environmental Safety, School of Life Sciences, Chongqing Normal University, Chongqing 401331, ChinaPreserving healthy river habitats is essential for maintaining fish diversity. Over time, anthropogenic activities have severely damaged river habitats, leading to notable changes in fish diversity patterns. Conducting thorough and reliable investigations into fish diversity is crucial for assessing anthropogenic impacts on diversity. In August 2023, a water ecology survey was conducted across 20 terraced river sections in the mainstem of the Jialing River, resulting in the collection of 60 environmental DNA water samples. The survey identified 99 fish species, representing 74 genera across 7 orders and 20 families, with the Cyprinidae exhibiting the highest number of species. The fish communities are predominantly composed of species inhabiting slow flowing water, demersal fish, omnivores, and fish spawning adhesive eggs. Overall, small-bodied fish dominate the mainstem of the Jialing River, and the species preferring flowing habitats are relatively scarce. In addition, geographic division analyses revealed minimal variations in fish species composition and diversity among the terraced reservoirs and across the upper, middle, and lower reaches. Notably, the fish compositions in the middle and lower reaches were found to be similar, indicating a certain degree of convergence in these sections of the Jialing River. In conclusion, this study unveils the current status and distribution pattern of fish diversity in the Jialing River and highlights the extent of anthropogenic activities’ impact on fish diversity.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/1/105environmental DNAanthropogenic activitiesfish diversitycommunity composition
spellingShingle Xinxin Zhou
Xiaohan Dong
Jiaxin Huang
Shuli Zhu
Weitao Chen
Yanjun Shen
Environmental DNA Insights into the Spatial Status of Fish Diversity in the Mainstem of the Jialing River
Animals
environmental DNA
anthropogenic activities
fish diversity
community composition
title Environmental DNA Insights into the Spatial Status of Fish Diversity in the Mainstem of the Jialing River
title_full Environmental DNA Insights into the Spatial Status of Fish Diversity in the Mainstem of the Jialing River
title_fullStr Environmental DNA Insights into the Spatial Status of Fish Diversity in the Mainstem of the Jialing River
title_full_unstemmed Environmental DNA Insights into the Spatial Status of Fish Diversity in the Mainstem of the Jialing River
title_short Environmental DNA Insights into the Spatial Status of Fish Diversity in the Mainstem of the Jialing River
title_sort environmental dna insights into the spatial status of fish diversity in the mainstem of the jialing river
topic environmental DNA
anthropogenic activities
fish diversity
community composition
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/1/105
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