MEPS

Marine Ecology Progress Series

MEPS is a leading hybrid research journal on all aspects of marine, coastal and estuarine ecology. Priority is given to outstanding research that advances our ecological understanding.

Online: ISSN 1616-1599

Print: ISSN 0171-8630

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/meps

Impact Factor2.1 (JCR 2025 release)

Article Acceptance Rate52.2% (2024)

Average Time in Review216 days (2024)

Total Annual Downloads2.901.565 (2025)

Volume contents
Mar Ecol Prog Ser 730:95-111 (2024)

Trace elemental and stable isotopic signatures to reconstruct the large-scale environmental connectivity of fish populations

ABSTRACT: Animal movements and connectivity across different environments constitute essential components of virtually all ecological and evolutionary processes. In the present study, we measured multiple trace-element profiles and stable isotopes to reconstruct life cycle patterns of Eleutheronemarhadinum, and patterns of connectivity among populations of E.rhadinum across 3 distinct ecoregions in the eastern China Sea. Our results indicated that E.rhadinum larvae from different regions exhibited distinct otolith core levels of trace elements and stable isotopes, serving as discriminative markers of geographical origin. We used the maximum likelihood approach and linear discriminant analysis to trace back the origins of the mixed adult fish stocks. After leaving their nursery areas, juvenile fish from colder northern regions migrated south to overwinter in the South China Sea, where they mixed with the local populations. After overwintering, the adult fish began their long journey north, with the migrating population including individuals of both East China Sea and South China Sea origins. Meanwhile, fish in the Beibu Gulf exhibited a lower degree of interaction with the South China Sea populations and minimal interaction with those in the East China Sea. Trace elements and stable isotopes revealed the spatiotemporal connectivity of E.rhadinum across the 3 different ecoregions. This study provides critical information on how marine connectivity supports temperature-mediated fish community movement patterns within coastal ecosystems.

KEYWORDS

Zhongya Xuan (Co-author)

  • School of Energy and Environment and State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong, PR China
  • Research Centre for the Oceans and Human Health, City University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen 518057, PR China

Wen-Xiong Wang (Corresponding Author)

  • School of Energy and Environment and State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong, PR China
  • Research Centre for the Oceans and Human Health, City University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen 518057, PR China
wx.wang@cityu.edu.hk