Use of Ensemble Model for Modeling the Larval Fish Habitats of Different Ecological Guilds in the Yangtze Estuary
Estuaries provide nursery habitats for a variety of fish species of different ecological guilds and have complicated environmental conditions. In this study, we applied ensemble species distribution models (SDMs) to four abundant and different ecological guild larval fish species (<i>Hemiculte...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2023-04-01
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| Series: | Fishes |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2410-3888/8/4/209 |
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| author | Rong Wan Pengbo Song Zengguang Li Xiangyu Long Dong Wang Lu Zhai |
| author_facet | Rong Wan Pengbo Song Zengguang Li Xiangyu Long Dong Wang Lu Zhai |
| author_sort | Rong Wan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Estuaries provide nursery habitats for a variety of fish species of different ecological guilds and have complicated environmental conditions. In this study, we applied ensemble species distribution models (SDMs) to four abundant and different ecological guild larval fish species (<i>Hemiculter bleekeri</i> (freshwater guild), <i>Pseudolaubuca sinensis</i> (freshwater guild), <i>Coilia mystus</i> (brackish water guild), and <i>Engraulis japonicus</i> (marine guild)) to explore their suitable habitats and the fish–habitat relationships in the Yangtze Estuary. The results showed that random forest (RF) demonstrated the best performance in all single algorithms and the surface range envelop (SRE) model was scarcely accurate. The ensemble SDMs demonstrated a superior predictive ability compared with any single algorithm, with the true skill statistic (TSS) and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) scores being above 0.899 and 0.641, respectively. Binary presence–absence maps showed the different spatial distribution patterns of the four species. We primarily found the freshwater species (<i>P. sinensis</i> and <i>H. bleekeri</i>) present in the South Branch (west of 122° E), whereas we found the marine species (<i>E. japonicus</i>) anywhere except inside the South Branch (west of 121.8° E). The area for <i>P. sinensis</i> (1615.93 km<sup>2</sup>) was relatively larger than that for <i>H. bleekeri</i> (1136.87 km<sup>2</sup>). We predicted that the brackish water species (<i>C. mystus</i>) would most likely be present inside the North Branch (west of 122° E), Eastern Chongming, and outside the South Branch (east of 121.8° E). Salinity, as a key environmental variable, contributed to the spatial variability. A low salinity (sea surface salinity (SSS) < 3) was beneficial for <i>P. sinensis</i> and <i>H. bleekeri</i> but was not suitable for <i>E. japonicus</i>. The SSS suitable range for <i>C. mystus</i> was 5–10 and 12–20. Multiple ecological guild species dwelled in the confluence of salt and fresh water. Our results will play an important role in the design of specific conservation strategies for fishery resources in this area. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T05:02:29Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-cfbd6b51d87544cbb8110d56b94bcf74 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2410-3888 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T05:02:29Z |
| publishDate | 2023-04-01 |
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| spelling | doaj.art-cfbd6b51d87544cbb8110d56b94bcf742023-11-17T19:12:47ZengMDPI AGFishes2410-38882023-04-018420910.3390/fishes8040209Use of Ensemble Model for Modeling the Larval Fish Habitats of Different Ecological Guilds in the Yangtze EstuaryRong Wan0Pengbo Song1Zengguang Li2Xiangyu Long3Dong Wang4Lu Zhai5Fisheries College, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266000, ChinaFisheries College, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266000, ChinaNational Engineering Research Center for Oceanic Fisheries, Key Laboratory of Sustainable Exploitation of Oceanic Fisheries Resources (Ministry of Education), College of Marine Sciences, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, ChinaScientific Observing and Experimental Station of Fishery Resources for Key Fishing Grounds, Ministry of Agriculture, Key Laboratory of Sustainable Utilization of Technology Research for Fisheries Resources of Zhejiang Province, Marine Fisheries Research Institute of Zhejiang, Zhoushan 316000, ChinaNational Engineering Research Center for Oceanic Fisheries, Key Laboratory of Sustainable Exploitation of Oceanic Fisheries Resources (Ministry of Education), College of Marine Sciences, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, ChinaNational Engineering Research Center for Oceanic Fisheries, Key Laboratory of Sustainable Exploitation of Oceanic Fisheries Resources (Ministry of Education), College of Marine Sciences, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, ChinaEstuaries provide nursery habitats for a variety of fish species of different ecological guilds and have complicated environmental conditions. In this study, we applied ensemble species distribution models (SDMs) to four abundant and different ecological guild larval fish species (<i>Hemiculter bleekeri</i> (freshwater guild), <i>Pseudolaubuca sinensis</i> (freshwater guild), <i>Coilia mystus</i> (brackish water guild), and <i>Engraulis japonicus</i> (marine guild)) to explore their suitable habitats and the fish–habitat relationships in the Yangtze Estuary. The results showed that random forest (RF) demonstrated the best performance in all single algorithms and the surface range envelop (SRE) model was scarcely accurate. The ensemble SDMs demonstrated a superior predictive ability compared with any single algorithm, with the true skill statistic (TSS) and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) scores being above 0.899 and 0.641, respectively. Binary presence–absence maps showed the different spatial distribution patterns of the four species. We primarily found the freshwater species (<i>P. sinensis</i> and <i>H. bleekeri</i>) present in the South Branch (west of 122° E), whereas we found the marine species (<i>E. japonicus</i>) anywhere except inside the South Branch (west of 121.8° E). The area for <i>P. sinensis</i> (1615.93 km<sup>2</sup>) was relatively larger than that for <i>H. bleekeri</i> (1136.87 km<sup>2</sup>). We predicted that the brackish water species (<i>C. mystus</i>) would most likely be present inside the North Branch (west of 122° E), Eastern Chongming, and outside the South Branch (east of 121.8° E). Salinity, as a key environmental variable, contributed to the spatial variability. A low salinity (sea surface salinity (SSS) < 3) was beneficial for <i>P. sinensis</i> and <i>H. bleekeri</i> but was not suitable for <i>E. japonicus</i>. The SSS suitable range for <i>C. mystus</i> was 5–10 and 12–20. Multiple ecological guild species dwelled in the confluence of salt and fresh water. Our results will play an important role in the design of specific conservation strategies for fishery resources in this area.https://www.mdpi.com/2410-3888/8/4/209larval fishecological guildensemble modelhabitat suitabilitythe Yangtze Estuary |
| spellingShingle | Rong Wan Pengbo Song Zengguang Li Xiangyu Long Dong Wang Lu Zhai Use of Ensemble Model for Modeling the Larval Fish Habitats of Different Ecological Guilds in the Yangtze Estuary Fishes larval fish ecological guild ensemble model habitat suitability the Yangtze Estuary |
| title | Use of Ensemble Model for Modeling the Larval Fish Habitats of Different Ecological Guilds in the Yangtze Estuary |
| title_full | Use of Ensemble Model for Modeling the Larval Fish Habitats of Different Ecological Guilds in the Yangtze Estuary |
| title_fullStr | Use of Ensemble Model for Modeling the Larval Fish Habitats of Different Ecological Guilds in the Yangtze Estuary |
| title_full_unstemmed | Use of Ensemble Model for Modeling the Larval Fish Habitats of Different Ecological Guilds in the Yangtze Estuary |
| title_short | Use of Ensemble Model for Modeling the Larval Fish Habitats of Different Ecological Guilds in the Yangtze Estuary |
| title_sort | use of ensemble model for modeling the larval fish habitats of different ecological guilds in the yangtze estuary |
| topic | larval fish ecological guild ensemble model habitat suitability the Yangtze Estuary |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2410-3888/8/4/209 |
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