Current meta-community theories posit that the structure of a local community is constructed though environmental filtering, biotic interactions, and dispersal limitations. We assessed the spatiotemporal distribution, niche breadth, niche overlap, and relationships with environmental factors of Centropages species in Xiangshan Bay (XSB). A null model was applied to identify the pattern driving the structuring of the community assembly of Centropages species. Redundancy analysis (RDA) was used to analyze the relationships between species and environmental factors based on annual data. Generalized additive models (GAMs) were employed to examine the species-environment relationships during the co-occurrence periods. The results revealed alternating temporal dominance among Centropages species. Biotic interactions played a significant role in the temporal community assembly, as indicated by the measured value (Ojk=0.052 9), which was significantly (P<0.05) lower than the simulated value (Ojk=0.192 0). Temporal niche breadth was generally narrow (Bi<0.5), whereas the spatial niche breadth was broad (Bi>≥0.7). Temporal niche overlap between species pairs was low (Qik<0.3), whereas the spatial niche overlap was moderate (0.6≥Qik≥0.3). The co-existence of Centropages species adheres to niche differentiation theory. Specifically, Centropages abdominalis was dominant from December to April, Centropages dorsispinatus from June to September and November, and Centropages tenuiremis dominated in June and December. In contrast, Centropages furcatus was not the dominant species during the study period. Temporal succession of dominant species reflects temporal niche differentiation. In June, C. tenuiremis and C. dorsispinatus co-dominated, C. tenuiremis showed a positive correlation with bottom dissolved oxygen (BDO), whereas C. dorsispinatus exhibited a more complex relationship with bottom temperature (BT). In December, C. tenuiremis and C. abdominalis co-dominated. C. tenuiremis was positively correlated with BT and was mainly distributed at the top of the bay, whereas C. abdominalis was negatively correlated with BT and was primarily distributed in the middle of the bay. This spatial segregation indicates that niche differentiation also occurs spatially when multiple Centropages species coexist as the dominant species in the ecosystem.

Biotic interactions driving the Centropages species co-existence in temporal Xiangshan Bay, China

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发表日期：

2026年3月7日

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Jieqing Yang,
Yunrong Shi,
Jinchen Yu,
Lang Chen,
Yuekai Wang,
Tao Sun,
Sen Li,
Xinran Li,
Qinghe Liu,
Jing Fu,
Wei Tian,
Jin Zhou

摘要

Current meta-community theories posit that the structure of a local community is constructed though environmental filtering, biotic interactions, and dispersal limitations. We assessed the spatiotemporal distribution, niche breadth, niche overlap, and relationships with environmental factors of Centropages species in Xiangshan Bay (XSB). A null model was applied to identify the pattern driving the structuring of the community assembly of Centropages species. Redundancy analysis (RDA) was used to analyze the relationships between species and environmental factors based on annual data. Generalized additive models (GAMs) were employed to examine the species-environment relationships during the co-occurrence periods. The results revealed alternating temporal dominance among Centropages species. Biotic interactions played a significant role in the temporal community assembly, as indicated by the measured value (O_jk=0.052 9), which was significantly (P<0.05) lower than the simulated value (O_jk=0.192 0). Temporal niche breadth was generally narrow (B_i<0.5), whereas the spatial niche breadth was broad (B_i>≥0.7). Temporal niche overlap between species pairs was low (Q_ik<0.3), whereas the spatial niche overlap was moderate (0.6≥Q_ik≥0.3). The co-existence of Centropages species adheres to niche differentiation theory. Specifically, Centropages abdominalis was dominant from December to April, Centropages dorsispinatus from June to September and November, and Centropages tenuiremis dominated in June and December. In contrast, Centropages furcatus was not the dominant species during the study period. Temporal succession of dominant species reflects temporal niche differentiation. In June, C. tenuiremis and C. dorsispinatus co-dominated, C. tenuiremis showed a positive correlation with bottom dissolved oxygen (BDO), whereas C. dorsispinatus exhibited a more complex relationship with bottom temperature (BT). In December, C. tenuiremis and C. abdominalis co-dominated. C. tenuiremis was positively correlated with BT and was mainly distributed at the top of the bay, whereas C. abdominalis was negatively correlated with BT and was primarily distributed in the middle of the bay. This spatial segregation indicates that niche differentiation also occurs spatially when multiple Centropages species coexist as the dominant species in the ecosystem.