| Summary: | At present, the resources of anadromous fish in the world are drastically reduced and one of the solutions to promote its recovery may be to identify and protect its feeding grounds. To determine whether the feeding grounds of anadromous <i>Coilia nasus</i> in the Yangtze River are still in the sea area, the quantitative line analysis of Sr and Ca contents (Sr/Ca ratios) and the area distribution analysis of Sr content in the otoliths of <i>C. nasus</i> in three water areas (Poyang Lake, Yangtze River estuary and Shengsi Sea area) were carried out by electron probe microanalysis (EPMA) to analyze the habitat use and the migratory patterns of different estuarine <i>C. nasus</i>. These results showed that the Sr/Ca ratios of all otoliths fluctuated significantly. By comparison, it was found that <i>C. nasus</i> of Yangtze River might exist in the Shengsi Sea area, and the Shengsi Sea area might be one of the feeding grounds of migratory <i>C. nasus</i>. Therefore, it is urgent to carry out a comprehensive investigation on the distribution of related groups in the Shengsi Sea area and the influence of potential threat factors, such as fishing and harsh habitat, to effectively protect the resources and habitats of <i>C. nasus</i> in the Shengsi Sea area.
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