A global functional analysis of fish-estuary associations and selected environmental factors
摘要
A global analysis of the functional characteristics of meta-assemblages of estuary-associated fishes was undertaken at the marine ecoregion level. Marine ecoregions were grouped into broad biogeographic regions (bioregions) and functional attributes of the fish assemblages compared based on a numerical fish estuary association score, as well as estuarine use functional groups. Relationships between selected environmental characteristics and fish functional attributes were also examined. A significant relationship between ecoregion environmental variables and estuarine fish functional assemblages was recorded, with the key environmental factors identified being related to habitat (estuarine area and macrophyte vegetation), connectivity (mean annual runoff), and physico-chemical (sea surface temperature and sea surface salinity) variables.