Checklist and new records of Christmas Island fishes: the influence of isolation, biogeography and habitat availability on species abundance and community composition

摘要: Christmas Island (Indian Ocean) is an oceanic high island that situated 300 km southwest of Java, Indonesia. From 2010 to 2014, the fish community was surveyed using underwater visual surveys for shallow water (0-60 m) fishes, and line fishing (bottom trolling) deepwater (60-300 pelagic fishes. Forty-seven new records (from 22 families) were identified, thereby increasing total number fishes described from 681 91 families). Notable include first families Alopiidae, Anomalopidae, Muraenesocidae, Tetrarogidae Trichonotidae, reports Pacific Ocean species Plectranthias yamakawai, Polylepion russelli in Indian Ocean. The ten most species-rich accounted 58% included: Labridae (13%), Pomacentridae (8%), Epinephelidae (6%), Acanthuridae (5%), Chaetodontidae Muraenidae Gobiidae Blenniidae (4%), Apogonidae (4%) Scorpaenidae (3%). majority (89%) inhabit coral reefs, with deep reefs waters only accounting 7% 2% community. Approximately 76% are widespread Indo-Pacific species, 12% 5% circumtropical, 4% approximately 1% endemic. Abundance revealed endemic at edge their geographic range, do not conform terrestrial-based predictions low abundance. structure composition influenced by three main factors. Firstly, isolation means poor dispersal abilities (e.g., syngnathids) underrepresented. Secondly, biogeographic position results a unique mixing species. Thirdly, lack lagoonal habitats use these ophichthids, lethrinids, epinephelids) underrepresented or have