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Fishes
Special Issues
Trophic Ecology of Freshwater and Marine Fish Species
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Trophic Ecology of Freshwater and Marine Fish Species

A special issue of Fishes (ISSN 2410-3888). This special issue belongs to the section "Biology and Ecology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2025 | Viewed by 2402

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Davide Cicala

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Earth and Marine Sciences, University of Palermo, Rome, Italy
Interests: trophic ecology; biodiversity; stable isotopes analysis; stomach content data; eDNA metabarcoding; freshwater; marine; fishes
Prof. Dr. Ying Xue

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Fisheries, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China
Interests: trophic dynamics; fish biodiverstiy; species distribution model; habitat suitability
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Kai Wang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Oceanography and Ecological Science, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China
Interests: feeding ecology; marine ranching; physiological ecology of macroalgae; seawed beds construction and ecological restoration
Dr. Rijin Jiang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Zhejiang Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Zhou Shan, No. 28 Tiyu Road, Lincheng Street, Dinghai District, Zhoushan, China
Interests: fish community structure characteristics; fish morphology; fishery resource survey

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The trophic ecology of fish species, both freshwater and marine, is a fundamental aspect of understanding aquatic ecosystems. Trophic interactions influence nutrient cycling, food web dynamics, population structures, and ecosystem structure. This special issue aims to compile the gap and advances our knowledge of the trophic relationships in various fish species, exploring their roles as predators, prey, and competitors within their ecosystems. We invite contributions that utilize innovative methodologies, including stable isotope analysis, gut content analysis, and advanced modeling techniques, to shed light on the dietary habits and ecological roles of fish in diverse aquatic environments.

Topics of Interest:

We encourage submissions that address, but are not limited to, the following topics:

  1. Dietary Composition and Feeding Strategies: Investigations based on the dietary habits of freshwater and marine fish species, including changes in diet across different life stages.
  2. Food Web Dynamics: Studies on the structure and function of aquatic food webs, highlighting the ecological role and impact of fish species within these networks.
  3. Stable Isotope Analysis: Use of stable isotopes to trace nutrient pathways and understand dietary patterns and trophic relationships.
  4. Gut Content Analysis: Providing insights into prey selection and feeding behavior.
  5. Trophic Niches and Overlap: Examination of niche partitioning and overlap among coexisting fish species, contributing to our understanding of competition and coexistence mechanisms.
  6. Impact of Environmental Changes: Studies on how climate change, affect the trophic ecology of fish.
  7. Functional Roles of Fish: Exploration of the trophic roles of fish as ecosystem engineers, keystone species, or indicators of ecosystem funtioning.
  8. Methodological Advances: Innovative methods and approaches in studying trophic ecology, including technological advancements and interdisciplinary techniques.
  9. Case Studies: Detailed case studies from various geographical locations, providing comparative insights into the trophic ecology of fish in different ecosystems.

Dr. Davide Cicala
Prof. Dr. Ying Xue
Dr. Kai Wang
Dr. Rijin Jiang
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Fishes is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • fish
  • trophic niches
  • trophic ecology
  • food web
  • dietary composition
  • feeding strategies

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

14 pages, 1449 KiB  
Article
Dietary Composition of Big Head Croaker, Collichthys lucidus, in the Early Stage of the “10-Year Fishing Ban” Policy
by Zihan Ma, Jianhua Li, Guanyu Hu, Leqing Liu, Jianhui Wu and Dongyan Han
Fishes 2025, 10(5), 193; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes10050193 - 23 Apr 2025
Viewed by 163
Abstract
Big head croaker (Collichthys lucidus) is a dominant fish species in the Yangtze River estuary, with significant economic and ecological value in the local ecosystem. In this study, the dietary composition of big head croaker in the Yangtze River estuary from [...] Read more.
Big head croaker (Collichthys lucidus) is a dominant fish species in the Yangtze River estuary, with significant economic and ecological value in the local ecosystem. In this study, the dietary composition of big head croaker in the Yangtze River estuary from 2022 to 2023 was determined using stomach content analysis. Statistical methods such as cluster analysis and canonical correspondence analysis were also applied to study the ontogenetic variation in the feeding habits of big head croaker and their relationships with environmental factors. The results indicated that big head croaker in the Yangtze River estuary fed primarily on 15 prey groups and 33 prey species. Copepods were the dominant prey group, followed by mysids, shrimp, and fish. The dominant prey species included Acanthomysis longirostris, Neomysis awatschensis, and Calanus sinicus. Compared with historical studies, the proportion of large prey such as fish and crustaceans in the diet of big head croaker has increased since the implementation of the “10-Year Fishing Ban” on the Yangtze River, which reflects the improved aquatic habitat for organisms in the Yangtze River estuary to some extent. The feeding habits of big head croaker exhibited clear ontogenetic and seasonal variations. The empty stomach rate gradually decreased as the body size of big head croaker increased and their main prey shifted from small individuals such as Acetes chinensis and A. longirostris to larger individual fishes and Brachyura. In addition, big head croaker primarily fed on N. awatschensis in spring, A. longirostris in summer and autumn, and Acrocalanus gibber in winter. Canonical correspondence analysis indicated that salinity and length were the factors most strongly correlated with the feeding habits of big head croaker, followed by latitude and longitude. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Trophic Ecology of Freshwater and Marine Fish Species)
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17 pages, 4850 KiB  
Article
In Situ Ecological Floating Bed Remediation Alters Internal Trophic Structure: A Case Study of Meiliang Bay, Lake Taihu
by Bingyin Cao, Long Ren, Yuan Wang, Xuwen Bing, Zhen Kuang and Dongpo Xu
Fishes 2025, 10(2), 44; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes10020044 - 26 Jan 2025
Viewed by 659
Abstract
Ecological floating beds are effective in mitigating lake eutrophication. To examine the effects of their in situ remediation processes on the food sources and trophic structures of consumers, particularly fish, this study used stable isotope techniques to compare cage enclosures, net enclosures, and [...] Read more.
Ecological floating beds are effective in mitigating lake eutrophication. To examine the effects of their in situ remediation processes on the food sources and trophic structures of consumers, particularly fish, this study used stable isotope techniques to compare cage enclosures, net enclosures, and natural lake area in Meiliang Bay, Lake Taihu. The results revealed that among basic carbon sources, only the δ13C values of phytoplankton and POM differed significantly, while most consumers showed no significant differences in carbon and nitrogen stable isotope characteristics across the three remediation areas. In cage enclosures, the food chain transitioned from being grazing-based, dominated by phytoplankton, to detritus-based, primarily relying on SOM. In contrast, net enclosures enhanced the utilization of phytoplankton. The trophic levels of most consumers in cage enclosures were significantly lower than those in net enclosures and the natural lake area. Trophic niche indices indicated that cage enclosures exhibited the highest trophic diversity and the lowest trophic redundancy. The in situ remediation using ecological floating beds altered the food resource conditions within the remediation areas due to differences in the degree of enclosure provided by the floating beds and interception facilities. These changes have consequently reshaped the internal trophic structure through trophic cascade effects. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Trophic Ecology of Freshwater and Marine Fish Species)
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20 pages, 9275 KiB  
Article
Community Dynamics of Fish Larvae in Coastal Zhejiang: Seasonal Variations in Spatiotemporal Distribution and Environmental Driving Factors
by Peng Zhao, Rijin Jiang, Qiqun Li, Rui Yin, Yuelian He, Qingxi Han and Guangjie Fang
Fishes 2025, 10(1), 24; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes10010024 - 8 Jan 2025
Viewed by 780
Abstract
The coastal waters of Zhejiang feature a complex aquatic environment and abundant biological resources, creating an ideal habitat for various fish species. However, the systematic monitoring of fish larvae in these offshore waters is limited. This study collected 24,232 fish larvae using large [...] Read more.
The coastal waters of Zhejiang feature a complex aquatic environment and abundant biological resources, creating an ideal habitat for various fish species. However, the systematic monitoring of fish larvae in these offshore waters is limited. This study collected 24,232 fish larvae using large plankton nets during April and November 2022, as well as February and July 2023, and identified 93 species, primarily warm-temperate and warm-water species, with a peak occurrence in summer. The dominant species include Larimichthys croceus, Sebastiscus marmoratus, Lateolabrax japonicus, and Odontamblyopus lacepedii, among others, and these species exhibit frequent seasonal changes. Fish larvae are typically found to be aggregated along estuaries and bays in spring, autumn, and summer, while in winter, they tend to shift towards areas near the boundaries of motor trawler fisheries areas. Our cluster analysis revealed spatial heterogeneity in the community structure, driven by an abundance of dominant and important species. Our Mantel tests and canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) identified seawater temperature and salinity as core drivers of the aggregation and distribution of fish larvae, interacting with factors such as the chlorophyll-a concentration, water turbidity, water depth, and dissolved oxygen. This research provides a scientific basis for the dynamic monitoring of spawning grounds and effective management of fishery resources in Zhejiang’s coastal waters. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Trophic Ecology of Freshwater and Marine Fish Species)
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