Habitat traits of Lateolabrax japonicus in different subhabitats of Yangtze River Estuary

In order to explore the selection and utilization of Chinese seabass (Lateolabrax maculatus) in different subhabitats of the salt marsh of the Yangtze River Estuary, we investigated three subhabitats of tidal creek, mudflat and Scirpus mariqueter vegetation area, and took samples in spring, summer, autumn and winter. The results show that L. maculatus was the dominant species in that area. The spatial niche breadth of L. maculatus decreased gradually in spring, summer and autumn, while the temporal niche breadth was in a descending order of tidal creek>S. mariqueter vegetation area>mudflat. There was a significant spatial-temporal difference in the population distribution of L. maculatus (highest in spring but lowest in autumn; most in tidal creek, followed by S. mariqueter vegetation area and mudflat). The majority of L. maculatus entering the Yangtze River Estuary were juveniles, which occurred mainly in spring. Small-size individuals preferred to inhabit in tidal creek, while large-size ones preferred to inhabit in mudflat and S. mariqueter vegetation area. For the average feeding grade of L. maculatus, it increased gradually from spring to winter in tidal creek, and increased gradually from spring to autumn but decreased sharply in winter in mudflat, reaching the maximum in summer and decreased gradually in autumn and winter in S. mariqueter vegetation area. In spring, summer and autumn, the average feeding grade of L. maculatus was in a descending order of S. mariqueter>tidal creek>mudflat. However, it was in a descending order of tidal creek>S. mariqueter> mudflat in winter.