Numerical Study on the Transport and Settlement of Larval <i>Hippocampus trimaculatus</i> in the Northern South China Sea
The three-spot seahorse (<i>Hippocampus trimaculatus</i>) is an economically important marine species in the northern South China Sea (NSCS). However, due to overfishing and marine environmental changes, its wild populations have been gradually depleted. To investigate the transport and...
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MDPI AG
2025-04-01
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| author | Chi Zhang Zengan Deng |
| author_facet | Chi Zhang Zengan Deng |
| author_sort | Chi Zhang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The three-spot seahorse (<i>Hippocampus trimaculatus</i>) is an economically important marine species in the northern South China Sea (NSCS). However, due to overfishing and marine environmental changes, its wild populations have been gradually depleted. To investigate the transport and settlement mechanisms of <i>H. trimaculatus</i> larvae in the NSCS, a physical–biological coupled model was developed based on the ocean model CROCO and the biological model Ichthyop for the period 2016–2018. The results indicate that the transport and settlement processes of larvae are primarily regulated by the combined influence of the South China Sea Warm Current, coastal upwelling, and Kuroshio intrusion. The larvae predominantly undergo short distance (0–300 km) and mid-short distance (300–600 km) transport, exhibiting significant spatial aggregation along coastal waters, particularly in the Gulf of Tonkin, the Pearl River Estuary, Shantou, Xiamen, and the western coast of Taiwan. Furthermore, extreme weather events, such as typhoons, significantly enhance larval settlement success rates. Notably, Typhoon Hato in August 2017 increased settlement success by 12.2%. This study elucidates the transport and settlement mechanisms of <i>H. trimaculatus</i> larvae, providing a scientific foundation for the conservation and management of its populations in the NSCS. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-064edd4432b44a0e8c4fdd2cf20dd4b5 |
| institution | OA Journals |
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| language | English |
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| series | Journal of Marine Science and Engineering |
| spelling | doaj-art-064edd4432b44a0e8c4fdd2cf20dd4b52025-08-20T02:34:01ZengMDPI AGJournal of Marine Science and Engineering2077-13122025-04-0113590010.3390/jmse13050900Numerical Study on the Transport and Settlement of Larval <i>Hippocampus trimaculatus</i> in the Northern South China SeaChi Zhang0Zengan Deng1School of Marine Science and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, ChinaSchool of Marine Science and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, ChinaThe three-spot seahorse (<i>Hippocampus trimaculatus</i>) is an economically important marine species in the northern South China Sea (NSCS). However, due to overfishing and marine environmental changes, its wild populations have been gradually depleted. To investigate the transport and settlement mechanisms of <i>H. trimaculatus</i> larvae in the NSCS, a physical–biological coupled model was developed based on the ocean model CROCO and the biological model Ichthyop for the period 2016–2018. The results indicate that the transport and settlement processes of larvae are primarily regulated by the combined influence of the South China Sea Warm Current, coastal upwelling, and Kuroshio intrusion. The larvae predominantly undergo short distance (0–300 km) and mid-short distance (300–600 km) transport, exhibiting significant spatial aggregation along coastal waters, particularly in the Gulf of Tonkin, the Pearl River Estuary, Shantou, Xiamen, and the western coast of Taiwan. Furthermore, extreme weather events, such as typhoons, significantly enhance larval settlement success rates. Notably, Typhoon Hato in August 2017 increased settlement success by 12.2%. This study elucidates the transport and settlement mechanisms of <i>H. trimaculatus</i> larvae, providing a scientific foundation for the conservation and management of its populations in the NSCS.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/13/5/900<i>Hippocampus trimaculatus</i>northern South China Seaphysical–biological coupled modellarval transport processes |
| spellingShingle | Chi Zhang Zengan Deng Numerical Study on the Transport and Settlement of Larval <i>Hippocampus trimaculatus</i> in the Northern South China Sea Journal of Marine Science and Engineering <i>Hippocampus trimaculatus</i> northern South China Sea physical–biological coupled model larval transport processes |
| title | Numerical Study on the Transport and Settlement of Larval <i>Hippocampus trimaculatus</i> in the Northern South China Sea |
| title_full | Numerical Study on the Transport and Settlement of Larval <i>Hippocampus trimaculatus</i> in the Northern South China Sea |
| title_fullStr | Numerical Study on the Transport and Settlement of Larval <i>Hippocampus trimaculatus</i> in the Northern South China Sea |
| title_full_unstemmed | Numerical Study on the Transport and Settlement of Larval <i>Hippocampus trimaculatus</i> in the Northern South China Sea |
| title_short | Numerical Study on the Transport and Settlement of Larval <i>Hippocampus trimaculatus</i> in the Northern South China Sea |
| title_sort | numerical study on the transport and settlement of larval i hippocampus trimaculatus i in the northern south china sea |
| topic | <i>Hippocampus trimaculatus</i> northern South China Sea physical–biological coupled model larval transport processes |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/13/5/900 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT chizhang numericalstudyonthetransportandsettlementoflarvalihippocampustrimaculatusiinthenorthernsouthchinasea AT zengandeng numericalstudyonthetransportandsettlementoflarvalihippocampustrimaculatusiinthenorthernsouthchinasea |