Jeng-Ping Chen

Ain't no mountain high enough: the impact of severe typhoon on montane stream fishes

Typhoons are a regular occurrence in tropical Taiwan. Local flora and fauna should be adapted to typhoons, however more severe storms in the past decade most likely due to climate change have caused an apparent impact on local ecosystems and diversity. Heavy rainfall from typhoon events has been associated with declines in density and biodiversity of low altitude freshwater fish. Montane streams on the other hand are assumed to be more resilient to typhoons as these habitats receive less washed-off pollutant and is buffeted by established vegetation. However, as access to isolated montane streams, especially after a typhoon, is difficult, the effects of typhoons on these habitats are rarely studied. In this study, we overcame many obstacles to survey montane freshwater fishes in Beikeng Creek shortly after a typhoon event. We demonstrated extreme changes in physical characteristics, but little changes in chemical characteristics of the stream. We also documented the absence of the endemic Rhinogobius rubromaculatus (red spotted goby) and the crashed population of Onychostoma barbatulum, (Taiwan shovel-jaw carp) after typhoon. Although these two endemic species are expected to survive in other unaffected montane creeks and streams in the vicinity, the dramatic decline in montane fish population in Beikeng Creek suggests that conservation management may need to be reconsidered to prevent possible extinction under increasing human and natural perturbations.

Two new species of shrimp gobiid, Amblyeleotris (Teleostei: Gobiidae), from the West Pacific

Two new species of shrimp goby, genus Amblyeleotris Bleeker, 1852, are described herein from the West Pacific. Amblyeleotris bleekeri, collected from Taiwan, is distinguished from all congeners by the unique combination of the following features: (1) D1VI; D2 I/13; A. I/14; P 19; LR 62–63; (2) V with very low connecting membrane and lacking frenum; and (3) colouration: head and body of pale white background with five brown bands; interspaces of bands with 111‐shaped brown marks; a longitudinal blackish‐brown stripe behind orbit and a dark spot behind upper lip. Amblyeleotris taipinensis, collected from the South China Sea, is distinguished from all congeners by the unique combination of the following features: (1) D1VI; D2 I/13; A I/14; P 19, LR 73–76; (2) V with very low connecting membrane and lacking frenum; and (3) colouration: snow white body with six straw yellow bands and dorsal side with two rows of tiny black spots.

New Species of Cardinalfish, Archamia goni (Pisces: Apogonidae), from Taiwan

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