Collected fish taxon-occurrences of the Yongding River Basin, China.

Study Extent

Freshwater fish diversity of the Yongding River, the largest river flowing through Beijing.

Sampling

Fish specimens were collected at 46 sites in the Yongding River Basin in 2019. Samples were collected by hand net (dense mesh), cast net (aperture 1cm×1cm, diameter 5m, length 3.5 meters), and traps (aperture 0.5cm×0.5cm, length 10 meters) in various of aquatic environments. Samples were collected by hand net and cast net in fast-flowing and shallow water. Traps were used in slow-flowing waters and pools. Four traps were usually placed at the sampling point overnight for 12 hours. The collection time using hand nets is one hour. When using cast net sampling, a single sample is collected at each sampling point for 30 minutes. The specimens were fixed in 95% ethanol or 10% formaldehyde solution in the field. Coordinates of sampling locations were recorded using a hand-held GPS locator. The specimens were stored in 95% ethanol at the National Zoological Museum, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (ASIZB).

Method steps

1. Fish species were identified by three professional fish taxonomists each time and referred to relevant ichthyology research of Yongding River and its surrounding rivers. Valid species names were in accordance with the taxonomic literature.

1. Osteichthyes
   rank: class

The entire main stream and nearly all the tributaries of the Yongding River basin, excluding river sections that had dried up.