LAUSR

Marine fish species check-lists from six Chinese coastal waters were combined for the analysis of taxonomic diversity. The Genus-Family index (G-F index) ranged between 0.39 and 0.84, which generally indicated a decreasing trend with increasing latitude, with the exception of the southernmost area. Average taxonomic distinctness showed a slight increasing trend from northern to central study areas; however, whether the taxonomic distinctness indices represent a latitudinal gradient of biodiversity requires further study. The multivariate analysis revealed a distinct latitudinal variation in fish assemblages. These results indicate that species check-list data are helpful in understanding the diversity distribution of fish species in the coastal zone. The potential of a species inventory should be exploited for fully understanding biodiversity. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.