Thermal Preference May Facilitate Spatial Coexistence of Two Invasive Fish Species in Lake Bosten, China

As aquaculture food production is expected to increase, introduced species play an important role in meeting the rising demand for aquatic products and contributing great societal benefits. Species introduction forces sympatric coexist within same ecosystem by niche segregation. Japanese smelt Hypomesus nipponensis sharpbelly Hemiculter leucisculus are ecologically similar were Lake Bosten, largest inland lake Northwest China, accounting more than 60% of total production. We predicted that coexistence two invasive mediated habitat analyzed spatiotemporal patterns abundance Bosten determine spatial segregation between dominant fish species. Our results showed that, typically littoral dwellers when surface temperature increases spring summer, while often prefer pelagic waters, especially during summer autumn rises. affinity deeper using median depths 1.7 m those sharpbelly, irrespective sampling season. Water was main underlying driver such these closely related Bosten. Spawning, resources, fishing also possible factors affecting provide new information on partitioning as strategies non-native supporting idea can avoid resource competition through