The southern Persian/Arabian Gulf experiences extreme seasonal temperature variation (> 20 °C) making it among the most hostile reef environments on Earth. Previous anecdotal evidence has suggested that seasonal temperature changes may influence regional reef fish assemblages, but to date research has been limited. To examine the influence of temperature on reef fish abundance and composition, we performed visual surveys in summer and in winter over three years at three reefs in the southern Gulf (Dhabiya, Saadiyat and Ras Ghanada). Overall abundance of fishes was 40% higher in summer than in winter, and multivariate analyses showed strong and significant differences in overall seasonal community structure, consistent at all sites and across all years. Seasonal differences were largely driven by nine of the 30 observed species, which together accounted for 70% of the divergence in community structure between summer and winter. Of these nine species, Lutjanus ehrenbergii, Lutjanus fulviflamma , Plectorhinchus sordidus and Abudefduf vaigiensis were significantly more abundant in summer, Parupeneus margaritatus and Acanthopagrus bifasciatus , were significantly more common on reefs in winter. We discuss these changes in terms of seasonal physiological and ecological constraints, and explore the implications of these changes on the functional ecology of reef fishes in this thermally variable and extreme environment.

中文翻译：

---

波斯湾/阿拉伯湾南部环境极端地区珊瑚鱼群落的季节性变化

波斯湾南部/阿拉伯湾经历了极端的季节性温度变化 (> 20 °C)，使其成为地球上最恶劣的珊瑚礁环境之一。以前的轶事证据表明，季节性温度变化可能会影响区域珊瑚鱼群落，但迄今为止的研究还很有限。为了检查温度对珊瑚礁鱼类丰度和组成的影响，我们在夏季和冬季对南部海湾的三个珊瑚礁（Dhabiya、Saadiyat 和 Ras Ghanada）进行了三年的目视调查。夏季鱼类的总体丰度比冬季高 40%，多变量分析显示整体季节性群落结构存在强烈而显着的差异，在所有地点和所有年份都是一致的。季节性差异主要由观察到的 30 个物种中的 9 个引起，共同占夏季和冬季群落结构差异的 70%。在这 9 种物种中，Lutjanus ehrenbergii、Lutjanus fulviflamma、Plectorhinchus sordidus 和 Abudefduf vaigiensis 在夏季的数量显着增加，Parupeneus margaritatus 和 Acanthopagrus bifasciatus 在冬季的珊瑚礁上更常见。我们从季节性生理和生态约束的角度讨论了这些变化，并探讨了这些变化对这种热变和极端环境中珊瑚鱼功能生态的影响。Parupeneus margaritatus 和 Acanthopagrus bifasciatus，在冬季的珊瑚礁上更为常见。我们从季节性生理和生态约束的角度讨论了这些变化，并探讨了这些变化对这种热变和极端环境中珊瑚鱼功能生态的影响。Parupeneus margaritatus 和 Acanthopagrus bifasciatus 冬季在珊瑚礁上更为常见。我们从季节性生理和生态约束的角度讨论了这些变化，并探讨了这些变化对这种热变和极端环境中珊瑚鱼功能生态的影响。