Fish species composition, distribution and community structure in the lower reaches of Ganjiang River, Jiangxi, China

The Ganjiang River (length: 823 km; drainage area: 82,809 km²) is the largest river that flows into Poyang Lake and an important tributary of the Yangtze River. In this study, fish fauna were collected from 10 stations in the lower reaches of the river (YC: Yichun, XY: Xinyu, SG: Shanggao, GA: Ganan, ZS: Zhangshu, FC: Fengcheng, NC: Nanchang, QS: Qiaoshe, NX: Nanxin, CC: Chucha) from March 2017 to February 2018. The species composition and distribution as well as spatio-temporal variation in biodiversity and abundance were then examined. Overall, 12,680 samples comprising15 families and 84 species were collected, the majority of which belonged to the Order Cypriniformes (69.05% of the total species collected) and Cyprinidae (64.29%). Moreover, of these 84 species, 36 (42.86%) were endemic to China. Dominant species were Cyprinus carpio (index of relative importance (IRI): 17.19%), Pseudobrama simoni (IRI: 10.81%) and Xenocypris argentea (IRI: 10.20%). Subsequent cluster analysis divided the samples into three significantly different groups by sample site. Meanwhile, Margalef species richness and Shannon-Wiener diversity indices were both low, and along with analyses of abundance-biomass curves suggested moderate disturbance. Current threats to the conservation of fish biodiversity in the lower reaches were also reviewed and management solutions suggested. The results will help form the basis for reasonable exploitation and protection of freshwater fish in the lower reaches of the Ganjiang River.