Register      Login
Marine and Freshwater Research Marine and Freshwater Research Society
Advances in the aquatic sciences
RESEARCH ARTICLE

Assessment of fish vulnerability to climate change in the Yellow Sea and Bohai Sea

Yunlong Chen A B , Xiujuan Shan A B E , Ning Wang C , Xianshi Jin A B , Lisha Guan A B , Harry Gorfine D , Tao Yang A B and Fangqun Dai A B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Qingdao, 266071, PR China.

B Function Laboratory for Marine Fisheries Science and Food Production Processes, Pilot National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology (Qingdao), Qingdao, 266100, PR China.

C Global Ocean Fleet, Pilot National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology (Qingdao), Qingdao, 266100, PR China.

D School of Biosciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Vic. 3010, Australia.

E Corresponding author. Email: shanxj@ysfri.ac.cn

Marine and Freshwater Research 71(7) 729-736 https://doi.org/10.1071/MF19101
Submitted: 22 March 2019  Accepted: 22 July 2019   Published: 23 October 2019

Abstract

Vulnerability assessments provide a feasible yet infrequently used approach to expanding our understanding and evaluating the effects of climate change on fish assemblages. Here, we first used a fuzzy-logic expert system to quantitatively estimate the vulnerability and potential impact risks of climate change for fish species in the Bohai Sea and Yellow Sea (BSYS). The mean (±s.d.) vulnerability and the impact-risk indices for 25 dominant fish species were 51 ± 22 and 62 ± 12 respectively (with the highest possible value being 100 under the Representative Concentration Pathway 8.5 scenario). Miiuy croaker (Miichthys miiuy) was found to have the highest impact risk, whereas the glowbelly (Acropoma japonicum) had the lowest. Demersal fishes tended to be more vulnerable than pelagic fishes, whereas the opposite was found for impact risks. No significant correlation was found between species biomass and vulnerability (P > 0.05). The assessment provided a comprehensive framework for evaluating climate effects in the BSYS and suggested that interspecific and habitat group differences should be considered when developing future climate-adaptive fishery policies and management measures in this region, as well as similar systems elsewhere in the world.

Additional keywords: dominant fish species, fishery management, vulnerability assessments.


References

Adger, W. N., Arnell, N. W., and Tompkins, E. L. (2005). Successful adaptation to climate change across scales. Global Environmental Change 15, 77–86.
Successful adaptation to climate change across scales.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Allison, E. H., Perry, A. L., Badjeck, M., Adger, W. N., Brown, K., Conway, D., Halls, A. S., Pilling, G. M., Reynolds, J. D., Andrew, N. L., and Dulvy, N. K. (2009). Vulnerability of national economies to the impacts of climate change on fisheries. Fish and Fisheries 10, 173–196.
Vulnerability of national economies to the impacts of climate change on fisheries.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Belkin, I. M. (2009). Rapid warming of large marine ecosystems. Progress in Oceanography 81, 207–213.
Rapid warming of large marine ecosystems.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Chen, Y. L., Shan, X. J., Jin, X. S., Johannessen, A., Yang, T., and Dai, F. Q. (2018). Changes in fish diversity and community structure in the central and southern Yellow Sea from 2003 to 2015. Chinese Journal of Oceanology and Limnology 36, 805–817.
Changes in fish diversity and community structure in the central and southern Yellow Sea from 2003 to 2015.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Cheung, W. W. L., and Oyinlola, M. A. (2018). Vulnerability of flatfish and their fisheries to climate change. Journal of Sea Research 140, 1–10.
Vulnerability of flatfish and their fisheries to climate change.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Cheung, W. W. L., Pitcher, T. J., and Pauly, D. (2005). A fuzzy logic expert system to estimate intrinsic extinction vulnerabilities of marine fishes to fishing. Biological Conservation 124, 97–111.
A fuzzy logic expert system to estimate intrinsic extinction vulnerabilities of marine fishes to fishing.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Cheung, W. W. L., Lam, V. W. Y., Sarmiento, J. L., Kearney, K., Watson, R., and Pauly, D. (2009). Projecting global marine biodiversity impacts under climate change scenarios. Fish and Fisheries 10, 235–251.
Projecting global marine biodiversity impacts under climate change scenarios.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Chin, A., Kyne, P. M., Walker, T. I., and Mcauley, R. B. (2010). An integrated risk assessment for climate change: analysing the vulnerability of sharks and rays on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. Global Change Biology 16, 1936–1953.
An integrated risk assessment for climate change: analysing the vulnerability of sharks and rays on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Comte, L., and Olden, J. D. (2017). Climatic vulnerability of the world’s freshwater and marine fishes. Nature Climate Change 7, 718–722.
Climatic vulnerability of the world’s freshwater and marine fishes.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Denney, N. H., Jennings, S., and Reynolds, J. D. (2002). Life-history correlates of maximum population growth rates in marine fishes. Proceedings. Biological Sciences 269, 2229–2237.
Life-history correlates of maximum population growth rates in marine fishes.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 12427316PubMed |

Frainer, A., Primicerio, R., Kortsch, S., Aune, M., Dolgov, A. V., Fossheim, M., and Aschan, M. M. (2017). Climate-driven changes in functional biogeography of Arctic marine fish communities. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 114, 12202–12207.
Climate-driven changes in functional biogeography of Arctic marine fish communities.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 29087943PubMed |

Fulton, E. A. (2011). Interesting times: winners, losers, and system shifts under climate change around Australia. ICES Journal of Marine Science 68, 1329–1342.
Interesting times: winners, losers, and system shifts under climate change around Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Graham, N. A. J., Chabanet, P., Evans, R. D., Jennings, S., Letourneur, Y., Macneil, M. A., McClanahan, T. R., Öhman, M. C., Polunin, N. V. C., and Wilson, S. K. (2011). Extinction vulnerability of coral reef fishes. Ecology Letters 14, 341–348.
Extinction vulnerability of coral reef fishes.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Hare, J. A., Morrison, W. E., Nelson, M. W., Stachura, M. M., Teeters, E. J., Griffis, R. B., Alexander, M. A., Scott, J. D., Alade, L., Bell, R. J., Chute, A. S., Curti, K. L., Curtis, T. H., Kircheis, D., Kocik, J. F., Lucey, S. M., McCandless, C. T., Milke, L. M., Richardson, D. E., Robillard, E., Walsh, H. J., McManus, M. C., Marancik, K. E., and Griswold, C. A. (2016). A vulnerability assessment of fish and invertebrates to climate change on the northeast US continental shelf. PLoS One 11, e0146756.
A vulnerability assessment of fish and invertebrates to climate change on the northeast US continental shelf.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 26901435PubMed |

Henson, S. A., Beaulieu, C., Ilyina, T., John, J. G., Long, M., Seferian, R., Tjiputra, J., and Sarmiento, J. L. (2017). Rapid emergence of climate change in environmental drivers of marine ecosystems. Nature Communications 8, 14682.
Rapid emergence of climate change in environmental drivers of marine ecosystems.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 28267144PubMed |

Hoegh-Guldberg, O., and Bruno, J. F. (2010). The impact of climate change on the world’s marine ecosystems. Science 328, 1523–1528.
The impact of climate change on the world’s marine ecosystems.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 20558709PubMed |

Hollowed, A. B., Barange, M., Beamish, R. J., Brander, K., Cochrane, K., Drinkwater, K., Foreman, M. G. G., Hare, J. A., Holt, J., Ito, S., Kim, S., King, J. R., Loeng, H., MacKenzie, B. R., Mueter, F. J., Okey, T. A., Peck, M. A., Radchenko, V. I., Rice, J. C., Schirripa, M. J., Yatsu, A., and Yamanaka, Y. (2013). Projected impacts of climate change on marine fish and fisheries. ICES Journal of Marine Science 70, 1023–1037.
Projected impacts of climate change on marine fish and fisheries.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Jin, X. S., and Tang, Q. S. (1996). Changes in fish species diversity and dominant species composition in the Yellow Sea. Fisheries Research 26, 337–352.
Changes in fish species diversity and dominant species composition in the Yellow Sea.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Jones, M. C., and Cheung, W. W. L. (2018). Using fuzzy logic to determine the vulnerability of marine species to climate change. Global Change Biology 24, e719–e731.
Using fuzzy logic to determine the vulnerability of marine species to climate change.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 28948655PubMed |

McClanahan, T., Allison, E. H., and Cinner, J. E. (2015). Managing fisheries for human and food security. Fish and Fisheries 16, 78–103.
Managing fisheries for human and food security.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Merino, G., Barange, M., Blanchard, J. L., Harle, J., Holmes, R., Allen, I., Allison, E. H., Badjeck, M. C., Dulvy, N. K., Holt, J., Jennings, S., Mullon, C., and Rodwell, L. D. (2012). Can marine fisheries and aquaculture meet fish demand from a growing human population in a changing climate? Global Environmental Change 22, 795–806.
Can marine fisheries and aquaculture meet fish demand from a growing human population in a changing climate?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Morrison, W. E., Nelson, M. W., Griffis, R. B., and Hare, J. A. (2016). Methodology for assessing the vulnerability of marine and anadromous fish stocks in a changing climate. Fisheries 41, 407–409.
Methodology for assessing the vulnerability of marine and anadromous fish stocks in a changing climate.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Morzaria-Luna, H. N., Turk-Boyer, P., and Moreno-Baez, M. (2014). Social indicators of vulnerability for fishing communities in the northern Gulf of California, Mexico: implications for climate change. Marine Policy 45, 182–193.
Social indicators of vulnerability for fishing communities in the northern Gulf of California, Mexico: implications for climate change.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Ning, X. R., Lin, C. L., Su, J. L., Liu, C. G., Hao, Q., Le, F. F., and Tang, Q. S. (2010). Long-term environmental changes and the responses of the ecosystems in the Bohai Sea during 1960–1996. Deep-sea Research – II. Topical Studies in Oceanography 57, 1079–1091.
Long-term environmental changes and the responses of the ecosystems in the Bohai Sea during 1960–1996.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Savo, V., Morton, C., and Lepofsky, D. (2017). Impacts of climate change for coastal fishers and implications for fisheries. Fish and Fisheries 18, 877–889.
Impacts of climate change for coastal fishers and implications for fisheries.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Shan, X. J., Jin, X. S., Dai, F. Q., Chen, Y. L., Yang, T., and Yao, J. P. (2016). Population dynamics of fish species in a marine ecosystem: a case study in the Bohai Sea, China. Marine and Coastal Fisheries 8, 100–117.
Population dynamics of fish species in a marine ecosystem: a case study in the Bohai Sea, China.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Shen, G., and Heino, M. (2014). An overview of marine fisheries management in China. Marine Policy 44, 265–272.
An overview of marine fisheries management in China.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Sievert, N. A., Paukert, C. P., Tsang, Y. P., and Infante, D. (2016). Development and assessment of indices to determine stream fish vulnerability to climate change and habitat alteration. Ecological Indicators 67, 403–416.
Development and assessment of indices to determine stream fish vulnerability to climate change and habitat alteration.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Steen, V., Sofaer, H. R., Skagen, S. K., Ray, A. J., and Noo, B. R. (2017). Projecting species’ vulnerability to climate change: which uncertainty sources matter most and extrapolate best? Ecology and Evolution 7, 8841–8851.
Projecting species’ vulnerability to climate change: which uncertainty sources matter most and extrapolate best?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 29152181PubMed |

Stortini, C. H., Shackell, N. L., Tyedmers, P., and Beazley, K. (2015). Assessing marine species vulnerability to projected warming on the Scotian Shelf, Canada. ICES Journal of Marine Science 72, 1731–1743.
Assessing marine species vulnerability to projected warming on the Scotian Shelf, Canada.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Sumaila, U. R., Cheung, W. W. L., Lam, V. W. L., Pauly, D., and Herrick, S. (2011). Climate change impacts on the biophysics and economics of world fisheries. Nature Climate Change 1, 449–456.
Climate change impacts on the biophysics and economics of world fisheries.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

ter Hofstede, R., and Rijnsdorp, A. D. (2011). Comparing demersal fish assemblages between periods of contrasting climate and fishing pressure. ICES Journal of Marine Science 68, 1189–1198.
Comparing demersal fish assemblages between periods of contrasting climate and fishing pressure.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

van Walraven, L., Dapper, R., Nauw, J. J., Tulp, I., Witte, J. I., and van der Veer, H. W. (2017). Long-term patterns in fish phenology in the western Dutch Wadden Sea in relation to climate change. Journal of Sea Research 127, 173–181.
Long-term patterns in fish phenology in the western Dutch Wadden Sea in relation to climate change.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Woodworth-Jefcoats, P. A., Polovina, J. J., and Drazen, J. C. (2017). Climate change is projected to reduce carrying capacity and redistribute species richness in North Pacific pelagic marine ecosystems. Global Change Biology 23, 1000–1008.
Climate change is projected to reduce carrying capacity and redistribute species richness in North Pacific pelagic marine ecosystems.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 27545818PubMed |

Zhao, X., Hamre, J., Li, F., Jin, X., and Tang, Q. (2003). Recruitment, sustainable yield and possible ecological consequences of the sharp decline of the anchovy (Engraulis japonicus) stock in the Yellow Sea in the 1990s. Fisheries Oceanography 12, 495–501.
Recruitment, sustainable yield and possible ecological consequences of the sharp decline of the anchovy (Engraulis japonicus) stock in the Yellow Sea in the 1990s.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |