Chengyou Wang

Development of 27 novel cross-species microsatellite markers for the endangered Hucho bleekeri using next-generation sequencing technology

In this study, we developed 27 polymorphic microsatellite loci in Hucho bleekeri, a glacial relict and freshwater resident salmonid fish in China. The number of alleles varied from 2 to 8 for each primer set. The observed and expected heterozygosity ranged from 0.250 to 0.906 and 0.508 to 0.845, respectively. The polymorphic information content ranged from 0.371 to 0.808. These microsatellite loci should be useful to study population genetics, paternity identification, speciation and adaptive evolution of this lineage.

Length-weight relations of 14 endemic fish species from the upper Yangtze River basin, China

Length–weight relations were estimated for 14 endemic fish species of the upper Yangze River, namely Sinogastromyzon szechuanensis Fang, 1930; Jinshaia sinensis (Sauvage et Dabry de Thiersant, 1874); Megalobrama pellegrini (Tchang, 1930); Coreius guichenoti (Sauvage et Dabry de Thiersant, 1874); Rhinogobio cylindricus Gunther, 1888; Rhinogobio ventralis (Sauvage et Dabry de Thiersant, 1874); Procypris rabaudi (Tchang, 1930); Ancherythroculter kurematsui (Kimura, 1934); Ancherythroculter nigrocauda Yih et Wu, 1964; Acrossocheilus monticola (Gunther, 1888); Leptobotia elongata (Bleeker, 1870); Hemiculterella sauvagei Warpachowski, 1888; Hemiculter tchangi Fang, 1942; and Xenophysogobio boulengeri (Tchang, 1929). The a values obtained ranged from 0.006 to 0.023, and b values ranged from 2.955 to 3.377. The t-test results indicated the first seven species grew isometrically and the other 7 species grew allometrically.

Spatiotemporal Distribution and Assemblages of Fishes below the Lowermost Dam in Protected Reach in the Yangtze River Main Stream: Implications for River Management

Now more and more ecologists concern about the impacts of dam construction on fish. However, studies of fishes downstream Gezhouba Dam were rarely reported except Chinese sturgeon (Acipenser sinensis Gray). In this study, catch investigations and five hydroacoustic detections were completed from 2015 to 2016 to understand the distribution, size, and categories of fishes and their relationship with the environmental factors below Gezhouba Dam in protected reach in the Yangtze River main stream. Results showed significant differences in fish distribution and TS (target strength) between wet and flood seasons. Mean TS in five hydroacoustic detections were −59.98 dB, −54.70 dB, −56.16 dB, −57.90 dB, and −59.17 dB, respectively, and dominant fish species are Coreius guichenoti (Bleeker), Siniperca chuatsi (Basilewsky), and Pelteobagrus vachelli (Richardson). In the longitudinal direction, fish preferred to stay in some specific sections like reaches 2, 4, 7, 8, 11, and 16. Since hydrology factors change greatly in different seasons, environmental characteristics vary along the reaches, and human activities play an important role in the fish behavior, it is concluded that great cross-season changes in hydrology lead to the differences in TS and fish assemblages and that geography characteristics, especially channel geography, together with human activities influence fish longitudinal distribution. This finding provides basic knowledge of spatiotemporal distribution and assemblages of fishes in the extended reaches downstream Gezhouba Dam. In addition, it offers implications for river management. It could also serve as reference of future research on fish habitat.