[OANNES Foro] The effects of exposure in sandy beach surf zones on larval fishes

[Mario Cabrejos]

Journal of Fish Biology

 <http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jfb.2014.84.issue-5/issuetoc> Volume 84, Issue 5, pages 1354–1376, May 2014

Article first published online: 31 MAR 2014

DOI: 10.1111/jfb.12360

 


 


The effects of exposure in sandy beach surf zones on larval fishes


1.     P. Pattrick* and N. A. Strydom

Department of Zoology, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Port Elizabeth, South Africa. *Author to whom correspondence should be addressed. Tel. +27 041–504 2690; email: <mailto:paula.pattrick en gmail.com> paula.pattrick en gmail.com

 

·         Abstract

The influence of wind and wave exposure on larval fish assemblages within a large bay system was investigated. Larval fishes were sampled from two areas with vastly different exposure to waves and wind, namely the windward and leeward sectors of Algoa Bay. In total, 5702 larval fishes were collected using a modified larval seine. Of these, 4391 were collected in the leeward and 1311 in the windward sector of the bay, representing a total of 23 families and 57 species. Dominant fish families included Clinidae, Engraulidae, Kyphosidae, Mugilidae, Soleidae and Sparidae, similar to the situation elsewhere, highlighting continuity in the composition of larval fish assemblages and the utilization of surf zones by a specific group of larval fishes. Nineteen estuary-associated marine species occurred within the surf zones of Algoa Bay and dominated catches (86·7%) in terms of abundance. Postflexion larvae comprised > 80% of the catch, indicating the importance of the seemingly inhospitable surf zone environment for the early life stages of many fish species. The greatest species diversity was observed within the windward sector of the bay. Distance-based linear modelling identified wave period as the environmental variable explaining the largest proportion of the significant variation in the larval fish assemblage. The physical disturbance generated by breaking waves could create a suitable environment for fish larvae, sheltered from predators and with an abundance of food resources.

 



---
This email is free from viruses and malware because avast! Antivirus protection is active.
http://www.avast.com
------------ próxima parte ------------
Se ha borrado un adjunto en formato HTML...
URL: <http://lista.oannes.org.pe/pipermail/oannes-oannes.org.pe/attachments/20140429/a3ce61dc/attachment.html>