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<p>Estuarine-lagoon systems provide essential nursery habitats for fish, yet mechanisms supporting species coexistence during early life stages remain unclear, particularly in tropical estuaries. From May 2021 to May 2022, we surveyed the Wanquan Estuarine-lagoon ecosystem in southeastern China to compare the ecological strategies of two dominant larval fish species, <i>Fibramia amboinensis</i> and <i>Neopomacentrus taeniurus</i>. Larvae were sampled at seven sites, and spatiotemporal patterns, environmental drivers, gut contents, otolith-based growth and mortality, and carbon–nitrogen stable isotopes ratios were analyzed. The two species exhibited distinct temporal segregation, with <i>F. amboinensis</i> peaking in May, while <i>N. taeniurus</i> reached its peak in March. Both concentrated near the estuary outlet but responded to different drivers, with <i>F. amboinensis</i> influenced mainly by ammonia nitrogen and pH, and <i>N. taeniurus</i> by chlorophyll <i>a</i>, temperature, dissolved oxygen, and total nitrogen. Gut content and isotopic analyses revealed trophic differentiation, with <i>F. amboinensis</i> specializing on copepods and occupying a slightly higher trophic position, while <i>N. taeniurus</i> maintained a generalist diet and broader isotopic niche<i>.</i> Growth rates were similar, but <i>F. amboinensis</i> experienced higher mortality, suggesting a growth-mortality trade-off. These multi-dimensional differences likely reduce competition and facilitate coexistence, highlighting the importance of protecting spawning peaks and core nursery habitats in tropical estuarine-lagoon systems.</p>

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Multi-dimensional niche differentiation and coexistence of two dominant larval fishes in a tropical estuarine-lagoon ecosystem

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年5月3日

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  • Lichuan Hong,
  • Yisi Luo,
  • Zubing Yao,
  • Zhihao Wang,
  • Zhirui Chen,
  • Wenlei Wu,
  • Fei Cheng,
  • Songguang Xie,
  • Yiqing Song

摘要

Estuarine-lagoon systems provide essential nursery habitats for fish, yet mechanisms supporting species coexistence during early life stages remain unclear, particularly in tropical estuaries. From May 2021 to May 2022, we surveyed the Wanquan Estuarine-lagoon ecosystem in southeastern China to compare the ecological strategies of two dominant larval fish species, Fibramia amboinensis and Neopomacentrus taeniurus. Larvae were sampled at seven sites, and spatiotemporal patterns, environmental drivers, gut contents, otolith-based growth and mortality, and carbon–nitrogen stable isotopes ratios were analyzed. The two species exhibited distinct temporal segregation, with F. amboinensis peaking in May, while N. taeniurus reached its peak in March. Both concentrated near the estuary outlet but responded to different drivers, with F. amboinensis influenced mainly by ammonia nitrogen and pH, and N. taeniurus by chlorophyll a, temperature, dissolved oxygen, and total nitrogen. Gut content and isotopic analyses revealed trophic differentiation, with F. amboinensis specializing on copepods and occupying a slightly higher trophic position, while N. taeniurus maintained a generalist diet and broader isotopic niche. Growth rates were similar, but F. amboinensis experienced higher mortality, suggesting a growth-mortality trade-off. These multi-dimensional differences likely reduce competition and facilitate coexistence, highlighting the importance of protecting spawning peaks and core nursery habitats in tropical estuarine-lagoon systems.