Abstract:To understand the temporal and spatial distribution characteristics of the early resources of Siniperca chuatsi (Basilewsky) in the lower reaches of the Xiangjiang River and their correlation with habitat characteristics, the early resources of the Siniperca chuatsi were sampled every other day using cone nets in the Changsha section of the Xiangjiang River from May to July in 2020 and 2021. Statistical analysis of the S. chuatsi seedling growth stage, water distribution, and time distribution of the hydrological environment factors was conducted. The main breeding period in the Xiangjiang River was studied and the hydrologic characteristics of seedling height were used to calculate the fish group's ability to escape the cone net. Redundancy analysis (RDA) was used to analyze the association between S. chuatsi fry abundance and environmental factors. The results showed that the peak breeding period of S. chuatsi in the Xiangjiang River was from mid-May to late June, and the spawning grounds were scattered and varied in size. The surface layer is larger than the middle and lower layers (P<0.05), but the yolk sac stage larvae are more inclined to the middle and lower layers, and the distribution difference is mainly caused by its swimming ability and flow velocity. There was no structural fry escape phenomenon. The reproduction of Siniperca chuatsi in the Xiangjiang River was mainly stimulated by floods, and the abundance of fry was positively correlated with water temperature (P<0.05) and negatively correlated with transparency (P<0.05). The water temperature during the peak breeding period was between 19.3 and 28.0 ℃ and the transparency was less than 30 cm. At present, the water temperature, transparency, flow rate, and dissolved oxygen in the Xiangjiang River all meet the requirements of S. chuatsi breeding habitats. In 2021, the abundance of S. chuatsi fry was more than twice that of 2020, which is an important reason for the recovery of the feed fish resources or the improvement of the reproductive capacity of S. chuatsi population. It is suggested that, to further strengthen the early resource protection and monitoring of S. chuatsi and other fish in the waters of the Xiangjiang River, promoting the restoration of the ecological stability of the fish community is necessary. In addition, full play must be accorded to its role in supplementing fish resources in the waters of Xiangjiang-Dongting Lake-Yangtze River.